The dementor backed off a bit. "Sometimes," she
answered, "to bring in fresh blood we marry muggles, but
never magic folk. The incantations to make magic powerless
against us wouldn't work on them."
"Thank you!" Harry remarked. "I know those are
probably private things, and I assure you I will not discuss
them. But I needed the information."
The dementor nodded. Harry started to walk off and then it said
"Wizard Potter!"
"Yes?" Harry asked. "There was a rumor some years
ago that a wizard had bewitched one of our young sisters, a kind
of magic we were not protected against, and she had a child by
him. That child lived with us a couple of years and then had to
be removed. I was not involved in this incident myself, it was
not a member of my family, but the story was well told."
"Thank you!" Harry again praised. He went back to his
dorm and found Draco there visiting Ginny.
"Draco," Harry asked, "you don't talk much about
your mother. Do you remember her?"
"Oh yes!" Draco answered. She was with me a lot then
one day I woke up in a different house. It was a lot brighter.
There was a woman taking care of me, and a man who said he was my
father, and that my mother had died, and I would now be living
with him. For a long time I missed her. I can remember her smile
and she used to sing to me all the time. Why do you ask?"
"The thought just came to me," Harry answered. He went
up to his bed and laid there pondering, for some time. Had he put
all the pieces together right? Should he act, or should he just
leave things alone? Professor Potter had said "Do good even
when others don't want it." Harry had to think on this, he
had to think on it quite a bit.
Christmas was growing near. Professor Potter had told everyone to
follow their normal routine. Harry knew that Christmas would a
good time to attack Hogwarts. Over fifty per cent of the students
would be away. Some of the teachers might even be away! It would
be a time that the school would be vulnerable. Having had thought
if he was going to attack Hogwarts that's when he would. The days
dragged by. Then again Harry saw the dementor creeping around
like it was waiting for potions. Finally one day when he saw it
arriving he grabbed Malfoy. "Come with me!" he snapped.
"Ginny, stay here!"
Ginny looked startled but obeyed. Harry led Malfoy up to the
balcony where the dementor waited for the potions. When the one
there saw them coming she started to walk off and Harry cried
"Stop!" She turned back. "Take on your other
form!" Harry insisted. The dementor shimmered and changed.
Harry saw the other Malfoy appear beside her. "Draco,"
Harry simply commented, "this is your mother. Say
hello!"
Harry then turned and headed off. He looked back to see the elder
Malfoy fading away. He sensed completion, an end, peace. Harry
smiled and went about his business. About the same time the next
day he saw Malfoy leading Ginny towards the balcony. "Where
are we going?" Ginny was asking.
"Someone you have to meet!" Malfoy explained
"Something you have to know before we go on."
Harry watched them go and smiled to himself. "Not going to
make a bit of difference!" he muttered. He looked up to see
snowflakes start falling. "Going to be a white
Christmas!" he sighed. He hurried on. They were ready as
they could be, but he just wanted to double check everything.
Professor Potter had told him on the train. The real students
would stay here at Hogwarts and and you will have to stay
concealed, not move around, only the students that are still
supposed to be here must be out and about. We must create the
illusion that Hogwarts is just as it should be at the Christmas
season. We are in hopes this will draw the enemy to us, that he
will attack when we want him to attack, when we are ready for
him. If he sees what he expects to see he will believe what he is
expected to believe.
Many great muggle tacticians have said that surprise is your best
weapon, taking the enemy unprepared will give you your best
opportunity. And we want our best opportunity. Missing one
Christmas season with our families will be worthwhile. Now, go
about your business! Make it look like you're carrying on your
normal activities and let's prepare to give our guests a very
warm welcome if they come."
Everyone agreed, and the plan was put into operation. Harry was
amazed at the people they had gathered. If he didn't know any
better he would've sworn the young man playing him was his twin!
Though the moment he spoke his accent quickly gave away that he
was very American, but the illusion spell took care of that. And
the Hermione was a little bit older, but she, too, would easily
fool anyone without a spell.
Harry asked the professor about this. "We're all brothers
and sisters, Harry, " the professor answered. "We all
carry the same genetic inheritance. Though we are spread around
the world we all come from the same stock. It is little wonder
that many of us resemble each other. A girl from South Africa
resembles Hermione. A boy from The United States resembles you.
And they all share our magical powers! We're all related, Harry,
that's why we should all live in peace!"
Harry nodded. Christmas morning he was woken by Hermione.
"What's the matter?" he asked, "Is it the
attack?" "No," Hermione answered, "It's the
baby!"
Harry hurried to the hospital. Many of the students were gathered
outside of it. They were all talking, laughing, when Neville ran
up. "Harry!" he cried, "the owls on patrol,
they've all come in and they're pecking the warning bells!"
"Let's go, everybody!" Harry cried. "Apparently
they've taken the bait! They're coming! Get to your
positions!"
He grabbed Fred and George Weasley.
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