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[alt_poppy]

After the St Mungo's contingent left me alone, last night was reasonably quiet. Today? Chaos.

This always happens when exams and lessons have finished and the pupils have nothing in particular to occupy them, but it's far worse today than I remember it. The Maze has inspired mayhem. Pranks of sundry sorts and duelling in the corridors--either in imitation of the Champions or in furtherance of disputes about their conduct. (I've had no fewer than seven Durmstrang students in here with hex injuries because it's alleged that Viktor Krum used unsportsmanlike tactics against the Hogwarts champions. And there have been altercations between the French and others, though I cannot tell whether it was the task or the defection that set them off.)

Most spectacularly, someone managed to replicate the fire-breathing dragon illusion and set several of them racing through the corridors. I have been treating the singed and trampled for the past hour and a half, and have only now got through the lot of them. Meanwhile, my reception has filled up with other duellists, plus those with sun poisoning and other ailments attending on various overindulgences.

Which makes me think. Minerva, I would feel very much better if you would check in with me and let me know whether you are in need of my care.

Sirius. It was good to see you.

Kingsley. How goes it with your guest?

Albus. I would appreciate a word at your earliest convenience. Today, that is.

Comments

[alt_pomona]

Who on earth managed the dragon illusions? Quite a bit more complex than our usual run of pranks.

I've been trying to clear the chaos as best I can but we've had any number of high spirits nearer the outdoor plantings than I'd like. And especially with various staff not so available as might be. (Minerva. Albus. And Aurora and her Raz for other reasons.)

And then, while we've not foreign students in our common room, a good dozen students wanting a word with me about our new addition one way or another. I am glad to report that Diggory's being his reliable self, which is a blessing.

I am also curious as to the answers to your questions.

[alt_gredforge]

For once, we can truthfully claim that the mayhem wasn't due to us! We've been keeping our noses really clean since joining the Order.

But we must admit a sneaking admiration for whoever pulled off that dragon illusion (if sorry for the extra work it gave you).

[alt_sirius]

Poppy, I just saw Justin's declaration. Bugger all. I truly thought he'd come to his senses and realise how foolish it is to stay.

Just as I'm coming to realise how foolish it was not to stay. At least not without trying to see Albus. Ask him what in Merlin's name he's doing, leaving Harry in the hands of that madman. In person. Though of course, I'd welcome your answer anytime, Albus, if you'd care to share it.

I can't even begin to think how Harry's coping with it all. I know Hermione tried to report what Harry was able to tell her but it's even worse than she described.

Voldemort tried to make Harry cast the Killing Curse on Ms Ridley. And when Harry wouldn't do it, Voldemort made to cast a spell against him - to punish him or to force him, he wasn't sure which. He cast a disarming charm purely by reflex and the spells met. Their wands .... It had to have been Priori Incantatem, from the sound of it. Harry said all sorts of horrible things started streaming from Voldemort's wand, screams from people he'd tortured, aftereffects of the spells he'd cast. Harry wasn't sure that's what it was until Warrington's shade came out, from the gladiatorial games at the Frost Faire. He wasn't sure what to do and was afraid to break the contact.

That's when Albus showed up, told Harry to run for cover. He started duelling against Voldemort himself. Eventually he grabbed Ms Ridley and disappeared. (Feel free to jump in, Albus, if you've anything to add.)

After that ... Voldemort had summoned all his Death Eaters and they arrived just in time to miss seeing Dumbledore leave. Guess he did his nut, screaming at them that they were useless and traitorous. He singled out Rabastan for the Cruciatus, as punishment for failing to protect Harry. Then he told everyone that Albus had actually been there, called out Malvasius Travers and killed him where he stood.

And then if you can believe it, he looked straight at Harry and said, 'That is how it is done.' He knew Harry was there and he wanted him to see him murder someone.

Next he chose to direct his anger at Lucius Malfoy but either he remembered that he needs the great poncy git or else he was getting bored, because he tortured him rather than killed him.

Well, after that he really did get bored, apparently, because Harry says he stormed out. No one followed him. Raz brought Harry back and I've no idea what else might have happened.

Albus. Do you want to tell them about taking Harry to Godric's Hollow or shall I?

And you might share with us how you've managed to change your appearance so thoroughly without Polyjuice. We could all use the ability now and then.

[alt_kingsley]

Frank's made his own post about the run around we've been having with Ridley. As he mentioned, we'll probably need a medical opinion from you, as soon as you can be spared. I'm concerned over the question of whether her suspicion and paranoia are to be expected, given what she's gone through, and she can recover--or whether MLE permanently scrambled her brains. I couldn't begin to venture a guess, after today's interrogation.

Frank's being a pro about it in front of her, he always is. But when he's out of her sight, it's obvious he wants to put a fist through a wall.