A Potter Secret

The Grey Lady

Lupin and Shacklebolt stride out into the night as Dean tags after. Shacklebolt gives instructions to Dean. "Tell Professor McGonagall Remus and I will handle this side of the castle," Shacklebolt instructs.

"Yes, sir," Dean replies. As Dean starts off, the grounds beyond and below come into view, a sea of Death Eaters. Kingsley and Remus stop dead, narrow their eyes.

"Dean!" Shacklebolt calls. Dean stops. "On second thought, tell Professor McGonagall we might need one or two more wands this side." Dean nods, continues on, merely trading a glance with Arthur, Fred and George as they appear, staring in stunned disbelief at the deadly throng across the landscape.

"It's the quality of one's conviction that determines success, not the number of one's followers," Remus reminds. Lupin stares straight ahead, as does Shacklebolt.

"Who said that?" Shacklebolt asks.

"Me," Remus replies. For the first time, they look at each other, share a fatalistic smile. Just then Tonks appears. "Speaking of quality." Tonks rushes past the Weasleys, lightly touching Arthur's arm as she leaps into Lupin's embrace. He hugs her deeply. "You shouldn't have. It's Teddy who needs you."

"He'll sleep 'til dawn and snore like his father. It's you who needs me tonight," Tonks assures.

He looks her in the eye, not denying it. Then a thunderous boom shatters the night and acrid plumes of smoke strafe the sky. As they plummet, we trace their arcs. Shadows streak across the walls of the corridor Harry walks. Up ahead, a gauzy shadow plays eerily in the corner, undulating like the fins of a goldfish. As he turns the corner, Harry finds a beautiful ghost, Helena Ravenclaw, floating before a veined mirror, her reflected eyes distant and sad. As her face comes into view, he reacts, recognizing her from his visions. "It's you," Harry realizes.

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The sea of Snatchers close on the bridge, their howls deafening. As Neville looks on in terror, a fresh volley of rockets lace the night sky, his skin throbbing with a kaleidoscope of light, Blood red. Blue moon. Bright sun. He glances up, watching as the bombs strike the shield and the sky shivers like water. Suddenly, his expression changes, faint hope displacing dread as- thwack! Teeth bared, the first Snatcher runs flat into Flitwick's shield and bounces back. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! One after another, the Snatchers bounce back. A grin blooms on Neville's face. "Ha! Ha!" Neville cheers. Scabior stops short, eyeing the area ahead warily. Neville begins to laugh, in faint disbelief at first, then harder, almost maniacally, consumed by a fear turned to ecstasy. Hoarsely, he bellows at Scabior. "Yeah! You and whose army!"

He grins, raises his wand and, with a triumphant whoop, whips his arm vigorously into the air and fires a shot into the night sky. "Woah! Easy up there!" Seamus replies.

Neville looks down, sees Seamus, draped in charges, glaring up at him. "Sorry," Neville mutters. Rubbing his elbow, he adds, "Ow."

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Ron and Hermione reach the serpent's hatch that bars the way to the chamber. Ron takes out his wand. "Take me inside," Ron says in parseltongue. Hermione's eyes widen in shock. Ron shrugs. "Harry talks in his sleep. Haven't you noticed?"

"No. Of course not," Hermione replies. The hatch swings open.

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Ron and Hermione make their way through the shadowy cavern, bones snapping like fish scales under their feet. As they reach a low wall of rocks, waist-high, Ron stops. "I've never got this far before," Ron mutters.