Chapter 13: The Trial and The LocketNotes:And here we are, lucky number 13. Thank you everyone that's been reading, your feedback and support have been incredible.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextMinister for Magic Cornelius Fudge sat in his office, trying to focus on the paperwork before him. It was the early morning hours, and most of the Ministry was just beginning to show up for work. Fudge, on the other hand, had not just shown up for work. In fact, he never even left his office. He spent the entire night there, sleeping in a conjured bed. Ever since the trial the day before, he had been pursued by a small army of reporters. All of them hounding him with questions regarding his connections with the now Kissed Lucius Malfoy.
'All these years, he was a willing Death Eater!' The revelation had horrified Fudge. For years now, ever since his ascendance to the office of Minister for Magic, he had enjoyed a good relationship with the man, believing him to be a victim of the Dark Lord's machinations. Instead, he had been a willing and devoted follower of that monster!Now, with all his horrifying crimes revealed, Fudge was forced to look back on everything he remembered about the man. All the matters of state he had discussed with him, the laws he had delayed, and the confidential information he had revealed.
'Merlin's Beard, I told him about the Tournament!' That was yet another thing he needed to worry about, the Tournament. If Lucius knew about the Tournament, who else had he told? Was he planning something like the World Cup riot, or did he have something worse in mind? He had been a vocal opponent of Arthur and his Muggle Protection Act. He had thought it was simple antagonism between the two men. Now it reeked of something far more sinister.
There was no denying that his reputation had now taken an extreme hit. He could already see the headlines: Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Death Eaters! It was fortunate then, that no one had objected to awarding Harry and the girls Orders of Merlin. He needed to show the Wizengamot that while he had made an error in judgment, he was not a supporter of the Dark Lord.
Uncertain of his next move, he all but jumped out of his chair when he heard the door to his office open. Bracing himself, he breathed a small sigh of relief when in walked Amelia Bones. Far better than a reporter, though if she had suspicions about his loyalties, this would go downhill, and fast.
"Madam Bones... a pleasure to see you."
"Thank you, Minister. I trust you are well?"
"Not nearly as well as I'd hoped. Merlin... everything that came out at yesterday's trial... Lucius and his true loyalties... it's a lot to process."
"I can imagine, Minister. He was a major supporter of you."
"Amelia, I-I swear, I had no idea that he was-" He paused when Amelia raised her hand to stop him.
"I believe you, Minister. You have your faults, but you are no Death Eater."
"Heh. Well, those faults, as you say, allowed a Death Eater potential access to classified information."
"Minister, did you-?"
"I told him about the Tournament."
There was a brief moment of silence, as Amelia processed his words and their full implications. She looked at Fudge as he turned his head, shame and guilt filling his face.
"I'll make certain there's additional security during the Tournament. If he had anything planned, I doubt it lasted longer than him. But just to be safe..."
"Thank you, Amelia. Merlin's Beard, the school year hasn't even started, and I've already bungled it up."
"Well, I have something to tell you that might make your day." Fudge perked up at that, and turned his head towards her. Seeing she had his full attention, she continued. "Earlier this month, I received correspondence which led me to look into the incident that occurred on November 1st, 1981."
"The day Peter Pettigrew and a dozen Muggles were killed."
"Well, I found the evidence storage, and it contained the wrong wand."
"What?"
"Oh it possessed a wand, and that wand was responsible for enough death and destruction it could have easily caused a dozen deaths. But I knew Sirius from our Hogwarts days, and this was not his wand."
"Could it have been misplaced?"
"That's what I thought, so I had assistance in finding it, and found it in a completely different section. But more importantly, there's no sign the wand was ever used for murder, or even violence recently. The last spells that were cast were cleaning and defensive charms, and the likelihood of Sirius using both wands is between slim and none.
"But that's not all. Minister, are you aware that Sirius Black, who is now Lord Black by decree of Lord Arcturus Black III, was never given a trial?"
"Never given a-?! That's insane!"
"Indeed, but that's not all. Yesterday, after the conclusion of the trial, I was approached by Harry Potter. He asked me, first to pass on his thanks to you, for seeing justice to its completion. But then he asked for access to a pensive, as he had memories he wished me to see."
"What... what did he show you?"
"At the end of his school year, he came face-to-face with Sirius Black, as I'm sure you recall. However, in that same meeting, he learned that it wasn't Sirius that betrayed his parents, but Peter Pettigrew."
"Peter!? But then why-?!"
"There's more. Minister, Peter Pettigrew is still alive."
Fudge went pale in the face, and looked completely gobsmacked at that revelation.
"For twelve years he was living in hiding, using his animagus form to stay hidden, while we believed all that was left of him was his finger. Coincidentally, Minister, were you aware that the Weasleys had a pet rat, for twelve years? A rat that was missing a toe."
It took Fudge a moment, but then a look of horrified realization spread across his face. "Merlin's Beard! He was hiding with the Weasleys!"
"Based on the memory I witnessed, it seems unlikely they knew. It's possible they never suspected, or he used Charms or Obliviation to keep them from getting suspicious."
"Bloody hell, they've got a daughter! Do you think he-?!"
Amelia's face took a similar horrified look. In her focus on getting Sirius Black cleared, she had completely forgotten about Ginny. "I don't know. But here's what I do know: All evidence points to Sirius being innocent, yet he spent twelve years in Azkaban without trial."
Nodding his head, Fudge could see where she was going with this. "Give me an hour, and I'll have the Kiss-On-Sight order revoked. Hopefully, when word of this gets out, Sirius will turn himself in, and we can have his innocence declared."
"Excellent Minister. Once the order has been revoked, I will visit the Weasleys, and get them taken to St. Mungo's. Incidentally, Harry Potter is staying with the Weasleys. Perhaps he'll be able to get word to Sirius Black himself."
"If he can, we might even be able to get his trial tomorrow."
At The Burrow, Harry and the rest of the Weasleys came downstairs for breakfast. As they ate, the morning post arrived, along with the Daily Prophet. Arthur reviewed the front page, before handing it to Harry, with the comment "It looks like they've given you a new name."
Taking the paper, Harry looked at the headlining article, and its bold title:
THREE DEATH EATERS CONDEMNED TO BE KISSED
CRIMES REVEALED THANKS TO HARRY POTTER: THE-BOY-WHO-CANNOT-DIE
By Barnabas Cuffe
Ever since the fall of You-Know-Who, we have been deceived. In the aftermath of his fall, several Death Eaters claimed innocence via an Unforgivable, the Imperius Curse. It wasn't difficult to believe. The Dark Lord was guilty of many an atrocity, and forcing innocent men and women to join him hardly stretched credulity. For years, we accepted them, welcomed them, and pitied them as victims of one depraved monster.
But it was all a LIE.
All these years, we believed the Lords Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, and others were forced to do the Dark Lord's dirty work. Instead, they were his most loyal supporters, guilty of the most heinous of crimes: murder, torture, and deeds so vile they cannot be printed. For years, they lived among us, Lords of the Wizengamot, presenting themselves as respectable Lords of our society, while hiding their true natures—those of depravity and malevolence.
Old habits die hard it seems, for one of the condemned, Lord Lucius Malfoy, admitted under questioning via DOM Truth Stone, the riots were a means of entertainment. These vile men took joy in the spreading of pain and fear to the innocent. During these riots, two young witches, Hermione Granger and Ginevra Weasley, attempted to assist the Malcolm family, consisting of Brian Malcolm, his wife Victoria, and their two daughters. In doing so, they were cornered by twelve Death Eaters, including the above-mentioned Lords.
The vile Lord Parkinson then cast the Cruciatus Curse, an Unforgivable, on the brave Miss Granger, her screams punctuated by cruel laughter. That laughter was cut short by a powerful Confringo, reducing Lord Parkinson to little sticky pieces. That was how Harry Potter made his entrance, declaring in a voice laced with iron, they would not harm his friends ever again. What followed was a brief and terrifying duel, in which Harry Potter utterly destroyed the Death Eaters, striking down nine, and capturing three.
Perhaps the most shocking thing of all, revealed via memories presented to the Wizengamot, was Harry Potter was shown to be immune to the Killing Curse! To be more specific, he caught the Curse as though it were a mere ball. After a brief moment, the Curse was sent back at the Death Eater, Lord Goyle in this case, striking him down! The remaining Death Eaters were killed or subdued moments later.
It is thanks to his efforts that three Death Eaters were imprisoned and placed on trial. And it is thanks to Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE, who questioned these men using a Truth Stone, a right granted to her by the Act Concerning the Unforgivables of 1717. It remains a question to many, however, why this law was not invoked when the Death Eaters were first brought to trial in the 80s. Why has it taken a decade for justice to be properly dispensed??
But more importantly, how were these men able to become such vital members of the Wizengamot!? Walden Macnair and Corban Yaxley were both employees of the Wizengamot, while Lucius Malfoy was not only a Lord, he was recognized as a close confidant of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge! What secrets did these men have access to? What information may have already been passed on to other Death Eaters, looking for a chance to spread chaos and fear in the name of their fallen master?
These questions, and many more, must be answered by the Wizengamot as soon as possible! If only to ensure security for Magical Britain in the immediate future.
"'The-Boy-Who-Cannot-Die?' Well, I'll admit, it is catchy." Harry couldn't help but smirk as he read the new title he had been given by the media. The moment was ruined, however, by Ron snorting. "There a problem, mate?"
"I thought you hated that 'Boy-Who-Lived' stuff?"
"I do hate it because it's synonymous with me becoming an orphan. This-" he pointed to the paper now in Arthur's hands "-is synonymous with twelve Death Eaters getting what they deserved. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?"
Before Ron could put his foot in his mouth, the Floo lit up with green flames, and in stepped Amelia Bones, along with Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks.
"Madam Bones? What's going on?"
"Morning Arthur, Weasley's. I'm here to escort you to St.Mungo's. After which, I'll likely need to question some of you."
That got Molly's attention. "What the devil do you mean 'escort us to St.Mungo's?!"
Madam Bones, annoyed by Molly's attitude, replied calmly that their home had been the secret hideout of Peter Pettigrew, a man thought dead for twelve years, now the prime suspect in the murder of twelve Muggles and the betrayal of the Potter Family. Confusion briefly took hold of the house, as Molly demanded answers, while Arthur attempted to calm her, and the remaining Weasleys became both shocked and confused at the revelation. All of them save for Ron himself, who went pale at the reminder of how the school year ended.
Only Hermione seemed to retain control of her senses. "But Madam Bones, how did you even learn Pettigrew was still alive?"
"I had a meeting with Mr.Potter after yesterday's trial. He provided the memories, and Saul Croaker, Head of the Department of Mysteries, verified they were genuine. Speaking of, Mr.Potter-" She turned from Hermione to face Harry, "By chance, are you able to contact Sirius Black? The Minister has ordered a trial be prepared for him at the earliest possible convenience."
Harry was genuinely surprised at this. He fully expected it to take longer to get Sirius his trial. Still, if he could get the trial sooner rather than later...
"Might I step outside for a few minutes?" When Amelia nodded in the affirmative, he walked out the front door. For five minutes they waited, while Molly pestered Amelia and the Aurors with questions on the necessity of visiting St.Mungo's when the door finally opened. Everyone turned to face it, expecting to see Harry and, in Molly's case, question what he had been doing out there.
To their surprise, he wasn't alone. In walked Harry, while behind him came 'notorious mass murderer' Sirius Black. Molly shrieked at the sight of him, while Arthur and his sons, minus Ron, readied their wands to protect their home. Madam Bones put a stop to all of it, raising her voice in a command laced with her iron will. "ENOUGH! Weasleys, stand down!"
While Amelia got control of the situation, Hermione looked over Sirius, surprised at his new, and sudden, appearance. The last time she had seen him was when she and Harry broke him out of Hogwarts. Back then, he had been a dishevelled mess, with messy hair, filthy clothes, and a figure attained through years of Dementor exposure. Now, he looked to be in his prime, with hair and beard clean and neatly trimmed, wearing well-made wizard robes, and showing minimal signs, if any, of ever having lived in Azkaban.
When Sirius noticed Hermione, he gave her a cheeky grin, before turning to the stern visage of Madam Amelia Bones.
"Hello there Amy. Harry says you needed something. Or did you just miss me?"
"Order in the courtroom!" Albus Dumbledore's voice bellowed out. "Seal the doors!" A spider web of magical chains crisscrossed the large doors to the courtroom. "Bring in the Accused!"
Once again, Harry and Hermione sat on the witness bench, but this time they were joined by Ron and Remus. The four of them turned to see Sirius Black being escorted by two Aurors, Shacklebolt and Tonks. Madam Bones followed right behind them. Today, instead of serving the prosecution, Amelia had elected to serve the defence, with Rufus Scrimgeour serving as Chief Prosecutor.
As the trial began, Harry glanced next to him. On his right sat Hermione, while between her and Ron, sat Remus. He knew Hermione was burning to ask him questions, questions he wasn't prepared to answer her. He knew how she felt about house elves at this point in her life and was probably already preparing her S.P.E.W badges. When she learned about the bond between him and Dobby, she would be told the truth, but for now, he needed to keep her in the dark.
Ron, on the other hand, had hardly been of help to anyone. Yesterday, when the Weasleys had been brought to St.Mungo's, he had been a proper git when the healers were examining him. He'd been uncooperative, rude, and otherwise unpleasant to the men and women attempting to examine him. The irony was this was all done under the orders of Madam Bones, to see if any damage had been done to them by Peter while hiding with them. Thankfully, they only found evidence of Compulsion Charms and Obliviation. Molly almost cried with relief when they confirmed Peter hadn't done anything to Ginny.
You would think he'd be happy about this.
Happy about what?
This is the first time he's been brought into the spotlight. Granted, it's because of the rat, but this is his chance to present himself to the Wizengamot.
He's probably still upset his breakfast got interrupted yesterday.
How you ever tolerated this fool's presence is a wonder for the ages.
As Harry and Goliath were 'talking' the trial got underway. Amelia gave her opening argument, revealing the misplacement of Sirius' wand, and how it couldn't have been used to commit the murders in question. But more importantly, she revealed the survival of Peter Pettigrew, discovered via the memories obtained from Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The trial was an unimpressive affair, though admittedly, it was fun to watch Dumbledore squirm when the question of why Sirius was imprisoned without trial.
His defence amounted to claiming he advised against it, while then Minister Millicent Bagnold and DMLE Head Bartemius Crouch Sr. had both wanted a scapegoat so they could wash their hands of Voldemort. In his own words 'While I believed Sirius was magically competent enough to defeat Peter, and in a distraught enough state of mind to get carried away', he opposed his arbitrary imprisonment.
What a load of utter garbage! Does he truly believe that will convince anyone!?
It probably will. He's Albus Dumbledore, the 'Leader of the Light' after all.
Everything was proceeding as expected. Amelia had laid out the proof of Peter's survival, thanks to the memories, and with Dumbledore all but admitting the likelihood of Sirius being innocent, it was a sure conclusion. Until one toad with a perpetual need for cough drops decided to voice her opinions.
"Hem-hem"
Madam Bones bit her tongue as she turned to face the vile woman. "You have something to say, Undersecretary Umbridge?"
"I merely wish to understand how Peter Pettigrew was able to escape. From what you've told us, it sounds as though his arrest was a sure thing. How did he get away from such... brave individuals?"
It was obvious to Harry what she was after. She wanted to out Remus as a werewolf, hoping it would somehow delay Sirius's release. At the very least, she wanted to spread some misery. Much as he hated to admit it, Harry and Remus had gone over such a thing with Bones. She wanted to avoid it, but as it wasn't a secret, no thanks to Snape, they couldn't hide it if asked.
"Sadly, Professor Lupin missed his Wolfsbane Potion that night, and in the chaos, Pettigrew was able to transform back into a rat." The gallery came alive with murmuring, as everyone in attendance began whispering, and Harry knew then and there that all eyes were on Remus.
No. I'm putting a stop to this before that toad says anything else.
Careful Harry. She doesn't have the Mark, so you can't kill her... yet.
Rising from his seat, Harry turned to Amelia. "Madam Bones, might I say something before we proceed with the trial?"
The toad attempted to speak against it, but Fudge beat her to the punch. "I'll allow it Mr.Potter. But please make it brief."
Nodding to Fudge, Harry cleared his throat. "Since attending Hogwarts, I have had three Defence Against the Dark Arts professors, and I can say without reservation that Professor Remus Lupin is the best of them all. He's intelligent, and dedicated, and managed to teach three years' worth of curriculum in a single year. But more than that, he is a loyal friend and a good and honourable man-" He paused to look over the entire Wizengamot. "-and I will duel anyone who suggests he is anything less." As his eyes settled upon Umbridge, with a slight glow to them, she trembled in her seat, offering no rebuttal.
No further voices could be heard from the gallery. No one said anything, because it was clear what Harry meant. If they wished to demean Remus, they would face Harry, in a duel nobody believed they'd walk away from.
With the Wizengamot tamed, and the toad scared out of her mind, the trial proceeded with ease. Sirius was declared innocent, his name cleared, and 1,200,000 Galleons were awarded to him as compensation for his wrongful imprisonment. Running up to him, Harry gave his godfather a hug as intensely as he could. Tears were falling from his eyes, as Sirius now had what he had been denied by Dumbledore's meddling: his freedom.
Hermione was right behind him, wrapping the two of them in a Hermy-hug. When she broke the hug, Remus stepped up to hug Sirius, and the two men were laughing with joy at the results. Ron was last, still grumbling about the lack of food in his stomach. Much as the three men wanted badly to rip the Weasley brat a new one, Sirius was diplomatic enough to shake his hand, with a forced smile.
With Sirius now free and innocent, it was time for the next step of the plan.
"Are you sure about this, Sirius?"
Harry and his godfather were in one of the last places he ever expected to be, upon his return to 1994: sitting in a boat in the Crystal Cave. The very same cave that held an army of Inferi beneath its waters, and the former hiding place of the Locket of Salazar Slytherin. During their two weeks together, Sirius had asked about his brother, how he died, and how he stole the Horcrux.
It hadn't been easy for him. For years, he had hated his family, his mother most of all, but his brother too. He had always believed Regulus was their "perfect pure-blood prince" ready and willing to kill for Voldemort, obsessed with blood status, and utterly convinced of his own inherent superiority, despite all evidence to the contrary. That Regulus had not only turned against Voldemort but had pulled a fast one on him in the process, was both a source of joy and utter shock.
Because of this, he had made a request of Harry, once they secured his freedom.
"I'm sure, pup. I know this can't be easy, given your memories of this place."
"It's not the memories that concern me."
With a gentle bump, the boat reached the island. Stepping out, the two men approached the basin containing the Draught of Despair. Looking down into it, Harry recognized the familiar emerald potion, that contained the locket Regulus had switched the Horcrux with.
Looking down into the basin, Sirius hesitated. His face took on a grim look, as his eyes began misting over, "Reg, why didn't you tell me?? I could have helped!"
Harry said nothing, his thoughts focusing on Regulus. He himself had wondered why Regulus never told anyone, save for Kreacher. After all, if Voldemort ever figured it was Regulus who stole the Horcrux, he wouldn't have held back in torturing the Black Family, regardless of whether they knew anything. If not to find the location of the Horcrux before it could be destroyed, then some spiteful means of revenge against a dead man.
"I think he knew there was no way to escape from Voldemort. Not after taking the Dark Mark. Or maybe, he thought this was his only path to redemption."
Sirius wiped his eyes as Harry finished, then looked at him with a grin on his face. "He would have made one hell of a Marauder."
Smiling, Harry looked down at the basin. "Now, we don't have to drink this. It'll be difficult, but I can interfere with the enchantments surrounding the basin, and the potion..."
"I'm sensing a 'but.'"
"However..."
"Close enough."
"I need to use my full concentration. That means I can't grab the locket once it's free of the potion. That job falls to you, so be quick once you get the chance!"
Sirius then stood at attention and saluted Harry. "Yes sir, Harry Potter, sir!"
Rolling his eyes, Harry held his wand over the basin and began moving his hand. At first, it was slow and steady. Every move was deliberate, part of a grander scheme that would disable the enchantments, at least temporarily. As the seconds ticked by, Sirius could swear he felt something in the cave shift, and then he saw the potion begin to bubble. At first, he worried something was wrong, but his fears were allayed as the locket his brother had placed rose to the surface. The moment it breached the potion, he grabbed it as quickly as he could, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he released the spell.
Before either of them could do anything, the cave trembled ever so slightly. It was just enough to be felt, and plenty to cause concern for the two men.
"Did that happen last time?"
"No, it very well didn't."
Raising both their wands, they scanned the darkness for any signs of movement. At first, they saw nothing, and Harry prayed they were simply being paranoid. But then, he heard something. A very familiar, very distressing sound. Water was being parted, as something, many somethings it would seem, had begun to emerge from the lake.
"Dammit, the inferi are awake! Sirius hit them with whatever you've got!"
Without hesitation, the two men began casting blasting curses, exploding jinxes, and a variety of fire spells. Harry wanted to call Dobby, but couldn't risk his friend getting grabbed or bitten by the walking dead. Unfortunately, there must have been hundreds of inferi, maybe more, and they just kept coming. They needed something with more power to get rid of them. All of them, so they didn't risk leaving the cave.
I could really use some ideas!
Remain calm, I have the very spell we need. But it will take some effort on your part. First, clear your mind, and focus solely on what you seek to protect...
Sirius, meanwhile, was in the fight of his life. Only the hundreds of Dementors had been such a danger to him. For his part, he knew alone it was a losing battle. There was no telling how many inferi had been left in this cave, ready to rise to kill any who sought to claim the Horcrux. To make matters worse, they were on a small island in the middle of an underground lake. As far as he knew, only Fiendfyre would burn under the water, but he didn't know the spell and didn't want to risk losing control of it. Still, he figured Harry knew something that they could use to survive.
It was then he realized he was the only one casting. Turning his head, he saw that Harry was standing perfectly still, breathing ever so slightly. He wasn't in a panic, no, he was simply, focused. Sirius wanted to call out to him, to see what he was doing, and he got his answer when Harry suddenly raised his wand in the air with a flourish and bellowed out a spell he had never heard before.
"Ignes cælestium!"
From the tip of his wand came a flash of bright light, and Sirius briefly thought it looked like a Lumos. But then he realized the light was growing, and in truth, it was fire. But this was like no other fire he had seen before. It was white, as white as snow, with tinges of gold to it. As it grew, it took on the form of a bird, maybe a phoenix, or even a dove perhaps?
Regardless, once the flame took its chosen form, it dove straight into the inferi. Each of the corpses it struck was reduced to ash, and the fire just grew bigger, and bigger. But there was no malevolence that Sirius could feel. With this, it gave a feeling of serene calm, like nothing was wrong, and nothing could go wrong.
As the flame's light grew bigger, the bird shone brighter and brighter, its light filling the whole cave, and bathing it in its radiance. No shadows were left, as it consumed the very darkness itself. Even from atop the island, Sirius could now see clearly into the lake. What he saw was disturbing, as he could see the hundreds of inferi rising to the surface. Only now, they hesitated, as if recoiling from the fire itself.
Sensing an opportunity, Harry called for Dobby, and a few moments later, they were home free, standing in Ragnok's office. Ragnok sat behind his desk, with Remus sitting across from him, the two waiting for Sirius and Harry.
"Well, you two look like you had an adventure." Ragnok looked over the two of them with a grin.
"Wow." Sirius could only say one word in response.
"We...did." Harry was bent over, taking deep breaths.
"Are you two alright? You didn't get bitten did you!?" Remus rose from his seat, worry clouding his eyes and filling his voice.
"We're... fine... Moony. Just need... a minute."
"Harry, what was that spell? I've never seen anything like it." Sirius recovered his senses as Harry slowly sat in an empty chair.
"Ignes... cælestium... the Heavenly Flame... also called... the Fires... of Creation." As he finished the sentence, he let out a deep exhale and seemed to recover his energy.
The others went, Remus in particular, went wide-eyed at his words. "The Heavenly Flame??? Merlin's Beard, the last time it was conjured, it only lasted ten seconds, and that was with seven of the world's greatest wizards working together!"
"That's because it requires a lot of magic to fuel it. It's one thing to conjure it, it's another thing altogether to keep it going long enough to be of use."
"Fascinating as this is-" Ragnok interrupted Remus before he could ask any more questions, "we'd best get started. The ritual chamber has been prepared, and Sirius can summon the house elf Kreacher from there."
At the mention of his childhood nemesis, Sirius went from having a look of awe to one of extreme dissatisfaction. "Right, I forgot about him for a moment. Well, let's get this over with. Lead on Keeper."
The three men followed Ragnok out of his office and boarded one of the mining carts. Descending deeper into Gringotts, past the family vaults, Harry was reminded that the Goblins took security very seriously. Goblins were posted at various intersections, where the rail lines crossed, allowing the carts to change direction. Each one was wielding a large battleaxe or vicious-looking halberd, and Harry swore he could see they were just waiting for one of them to try something stupid.
Finally, after a few minutes' descent, they arrived at a pair of large, iron doors. Standing beside the doors were six Goblins, wielding similar weapons, and wearing full suits of chainmail, complete with a full helmet.
Ragnok stepped out of the cart and approached the doors before turning to face his entourage. "Before we go any further, I should mention a few things. First, you've been given the right to draw your wands once we step inside the Ritual Chamber. However, I must emphasize that right only applies within the Chamber. Second, I must ask, Heir Potter, are you sure you wish to be present for this?"
"Absolutely Keeper."
"We can get past Parseltongue locks, the added risk is of no concern to us."
"I understand Keeper, and I apologize if I insinuated that it would be difficult to deal with. But this locket attempted to strangle and drown me. I very much feel I should be present for its destruction, for posterity if nothing else."
"Heh. Fair enough, now follow me."
With that, they entered the Chamber, and Harry was impressed by what he saw. The room was a massive rotunda, the domed ceiling reaching several meters high, and was big enough to fit a Horntail with ease. The walls were lined with torches in iron sconces, and six braziers were present, scattered through the room. In the center, lay two runic circles, each big enough to hold two bull elephants, so close together they formed a runic figure-8.
The centre of one of the circles was empty. The second had a large boar chained to the ground. To Harry, it looked big enough for Ragnok to ride, like an insane knight charging into battle. Two dozen goblins surrounded the runic circles, forming a similar shape, dressed in ritual garbs, some of which looked older than Gringotts itself.
Harry was startled by Sirius calling out "Kreacher! Come to me, at once!"
Suddenly, in popped Kreacher, looking as surly as ever. "Kreacher answers call of blood-traitor, even though he does not want to. What does blood-traitor Master want with Kreacher?"
Harry half expected Sirius to lose his temper, but he took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Kreacher, I know of the last order my brother, Regulus, gave you." Kreacher went wide-eyed and stared at Sirius. "I know he ordered you to take the locket and destroy it. I also know you still have it."
At that Kreacher began bawling his eyes out, and clawed his head, rocking back and forth. "Kreacher failed! Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy it! But Kreacher failed Master Regulus! Kreacher is a bad elf!!!"
"Kreacher, stop! We know how to destroy the dark magic within the locket. Bring it to us, and we will finish my brother's final orders."
The elf immediately stopped crying and stood up. "At once." With that, he disappeared, and a moment later returned, carrying the locket in his hands. Presenting it to Sirius, he took it and gave it to the goblins, who levitated it into the runic circle.
Once it was in place, Ragnok turned to Harry. "Whenever you're ready, Heir Potter."
Nodding, he stepped forward and gave the locket a familiar command.
S Open S
The instant the locket opened, the evil within burst forth, knocking Harry back, but it was immediately contained by a glowing golden shield. At its appearance, the goblins began chanting. It was a deep, rhythmic chant that echoed in his chest as the voices rose higher. The black cloud of evil attempted to escape, attempted to break past the barrier, but knew it couldn't. As the goblins chanted, blood-red tendrils of magic chained the cloud in place.
As the ritual progressed, it tried a different tactic. This time, it attempted to convince Sirius. Harry knew now what it was saying, but he could hear the hollow whispers, just as it had with Ron. Somewhere inside, he wished Ron had fallen if only so he had an excuse to strike him down.
"Silence abomination!" Sirius's voice bellowed out with the authority Kreacher expected from a Lord of House Black. "I'll not listen to the lies of a desperate shadow!" He then turned to Ragnok. "Keeper, I ask for the right to strike down the boar once the ritual is complete.
Ragnok let out a hearty laugh and grinned at Sirius with all of his shark teeth. "GRANTED!"
At that, the same tendrils of magic rose from the chains holding the boar down and reached across to the black mass of evil. Gripping it, they pulled the shadow over to the boar and slowly lowered into it. For a brief moment, the boar struggled, whimpering in fear, until the shadow entered its body, and its eyes turned blood red with malevolence. With that, the ritual was completed, and the boar was now possessed by the soul fragment of Voldemort.
Before anyone could move, the boar struggled violently, determined to break free from its chains, and gore and maim everyone in the room. Then, for a brief moment, it locked eyes with Harry, and let out a loud bellow, and redoubled its efforts to free itself. To the shock of all, it succeeded. The chains began to crack and break as the boar strained against its bindings. The goblins readied themselves, and Sirius drew his wand, ready to strike it down for what it tried.
Finally, the chains broke at the ground, and the possessed boar was now free. Throwing off its chains, it turned first to Harry, then to Sirius. Bellowing at the sight of the wand, it charged toward him, eager to disembowel him and stomp the remains into a bloody paste. Sirius looked neither worried nor concerned. He had a look of pure, unadulterated rage on his face, and he faced down the boar without a second thought.
Drawing his wand back, he brought it in an upwards motion, and cast an overpowered "DIFFINDO!"
The spell was powerful, shaped like a crescent blade that sped towards the charging boar. It sliced into the beast with a sickening sound, cutting it in half from snout to tail. Even in death, the boar charged forward, until it came apart in the middle, splitting in two, its pieces falling onto the floor, sliding towards Sirius, and coming to a stop inches from his feet.
The goblins cheered this display, and the promised feast of its carcass, while Kreacher approached, first the locket, then the boar. Carefully, he inspected both, until satisfied the dark magic was gone for good, and his orders from Regulus had been completed. He then turned to Sirius, as if awaiting his new orders.
"You've done well Kreacher. Now, your new orders are to clean Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Have it ready to be a proper home for a Lord of the Black Family. But first," he reached into his pocket, and pulled out the locket from Regulus, "take this, and keep it somewhere safe."
Kreacher gingerly took the locket and looked it over. He slowly turned it over, with tears forming in his eyes, as he remembered the fate of his favourite master. Then, Kreacher did something neither Harry nor Sirius, ever expected from the old elf. He bowed in reverence and spoke with a tone that held an air of obedience. "Kreacher lives to serve the Noble House of Black, Master Sirius."
Notes:Sorry for the delay everybody. Been a bloody heatwave where I live, and I don't do well in the heat. Been an uncomfortable week for me, so I haven't been at my best.
Chapter 14: Return to HogwartsChapter TextAlbus Dumbledore was not having a good day. In fact, the last week had not been a good one for him. Not at all.
First came the World Cup, and Harry's triumph over the Death Eaters. Of course, three of them had been captured, so they received a trial, and against all odds received the Kiss. But that didn't matter to Dumbledore. What mattered in that trial was getting access to the memories of the fight. What he saw was something that sent chills down his spine, for it implied the Dragon within Harry was breaking free, and the bindings placed on his core were likely coming free too. He knew Molly had been trying to get an explanation out of the boy, but that had gone nowhere. If he genuinely was creating spells, he was keeping his methodology to himself.
Then came the matter of Sirius. He had hoped that upon escaping Hogwarts, Sirius would travel far beyond the borders of Britain, well beyond the reach of the Ministry. He wasn't invested in the man's death, but he could not afford to allow Sirius any further influence over Harry. That, after all, had been the true reason he had allowed him to remain in Azkaban. He hadn't been lying during the trial. He knew Sirius wasn't the secret keeper, but genuinely believed the man had killed Peter and the twelve muggles in his grief. Peter was at best a mediocre wizard, so it wasn't hard to believe an angry member of the Black Family could destroy him.
With him being free, any chance of returning Harry to the Dursleys was dead. There was no chance he would allow himself to be taken back to them, not when Sirius was an option. Even if he tried Compulsions or Potions, anyone close to Harry, from his friends to Remus and Sirius themselves, would be able to tell something was wrong. He had considered getting Sirius declared unfit to be his Guardian but tossed that idea as quickly as it came to him. That little speech he gave during the trial, defending Remus from the insinuations of that vile toad, made it clear the lengths he would go to for his friends and family. He needed Harry under his control, and couldn't risk alienating him.
Still, he had to keep his options open. Harry's inherent resistance to Potions might become a problem, so he needed a way to, if not keep it weak, discover how strong his resistance was. To that end, he had written to Griphook, hoping to see if he could get Harry a Blood Test without him learning the results. Instead, he had gotten a very different letter than the one he had been expecting.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
I, Keeper Ragnok the 10th, am obliged to inform you the goblin you have attempted correspondence with, Griphook, is no longer available.
As of July 31st, 1994, Griphook was arrested for crimes committed against Gringotts and the Goblin Nation. The crimes were deemed to be of such significance that execution was the only appropriate punishment.
If Griphook was managing an account, organizing an event, or was otherwise providing assistance with Gringotts business, please come to Gringotts at your earliest possible convenience. One of our tellers will be ready to provide whatever assistance is required.
Keeper Ragnok the 10th
'That idiot got himself arrested!?!?' Only his skills at Occlumency kept Albus from yelling the words in anger. To anyone in the room, he appeared to barely be concerned by the contents of the letter. Then, he felt the briefest pangs of panic, for if the goblins discovered Griphook had seized gift vaults meant for Harry, it would be his and Molly's necks on the chopping block. But, he discarded that thought almost as quickly as he had it.
'The goblins don't waste time or mince words.' Albus thought over this recent revelation. 'If they knew about the vaults, Molly and I would have had our vaults seized, and they'd make sure we knew.' Goblin efficiency demanded they take immediate action on all relevant crimes. So Griphook must have managed to hide the truth from Gringotts. At least that much had gone in his favour.
Of course, it also presented another problem, as though Albus wasn't facing enough of those already. While he and Molly, evidently, still had access to their 'special' Vaults, the extra Galleons, courtesy of Mr.Potter and his gift Vaults, was now dried up.
Standing up, he walked to the Floo and tossed some powder in, and called through the green flames. "Molly, are you there?" Almost instantly he received a reply.
"Of course, Headmaster. What can I do for you?"
"I need to speak with you urgently. Can you come through now, or later?"
"Of course, I can come now. I've been meaning to speak with you."
With that, Albus allowed Molly to step through the Floo from The Burrow into the Headmaster's office.
"Thank you for taking the time, Mrs.Weasley. Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered her a lemon drop, as he offered everyone, when he sat in his chair, Molly sitting across from him.
"No thank you, Headmaster. But I wanted to talk to you about this school year."
Albus popped a lemon drop in his mouth as she spoke. "You have some concerns?"
"Mainly, I wanted to discuss the Yule Ball. I know we agreed to wait until Harry was in his fifth year, but surely we could get a head start using the Ball?"
Albus maintained a stoic, yet grandfatherly face. He had expected this, and his answer was the same as before, only now he had better excuses. "I'm afraid that may not be feasible, Mrs.Weasley."
"Why not?! Harry can attend the Yule Ball as a fourth year, and if he asks Ginny, then she can attend as well! What's the problem?"
"The problem, I'm afraid, is Harry seems to have developed a resistance to potions. A standard Attraction Potion may not be strong enough to entice him into asking her."
"Then I'll just strengthen the dose, or skip to Love potions instead. I don't see the issue here."
"The issue is that I'm uncertain just how strong his resistance is. If we give him too much, or too strong a dose, the effects could be traced back to us, and that would prove most problematic for us."
"Can't you find out how strong this 'resistance' to potions is? Why not get that goblin... what's his name? Griphook? Can't he give Harry a Blood Test?"
"He cannot. I've just received a letter from Gringotts today. As of July 31st, Griphook was executed for crimes against Gringotts and the Goblin Nation."
Molly went deathly pale at those words. "What... what did he do???"
"I'm uncertain, but because of that, I'm wary of dealing with the goblins for anything outside official Hogwarts business."
"What does that mean for us???"
"For now, nothing. I will see what I can do regarding Harry's new resistance, but beyond that, Molly, I must urge caution and patience. Harry will marry Ginny, of that I've no doubt. If possible, I will talk him into asking her to the Ball. Beyond that, we will wait, and watch for the opportunity."
Nodding her head, she found herself in agreement. "Very well Headmaster. But you said you wished to speak with me?"
"Ah, yes, I did. I wished to know if you had any success in learning about the spells Harry 'created.' I believe you mentioned Ron would be asking him how they work?"
"I'm sorry, Dumbledore, but I've got nothing for you. He won't tell Ron anything about them, beyond the fact they're dangerous, especially if they're misused. Even that nosy little mudblood couldn't get him to tell her where those spells came from."
"You doubt he actually created the spells?"
"It's' ridiculous! How could a boy his age invent spells, especially spells that potent!?"
Albus offered her a grandfatherly smile. "One should never underestimate a resourceful mind. In any event, I assume Harry has left The Burrow by now?"
"Much to my displeasure, yes. Where on earth could the boy go?! Sirius spent a decade in Azkaban, so where would they even be able to stay???"
"The Blacks had some properties, all of which now belong to Sirius as the recognized Lord Black. Regardless, the school year shall resume soon enough. I'll be able to keep an eye on him then."
"Very well then, Dumbledore. I better get back, otherwise, the twins might start getting ideas."
Dumbledore chuckled at the mention of the infamous Fred and George. "Well, we can't have that. Thank you for taking the time, Molly."
"My pleasure, Headmaster."
Moments later she was through the Floo, and back in The Burrow. With her gone, Albus sank into his chair and grabbed another lemon drop. Privately, he hoped, against the odds, that the rest of the school year was as painless as that conversation.
Seated in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry's attention was focused largely on the parchment he was reading. It was a letter from Tim Baker, first congratulating him on his exploits during the World Cup. He went on to reveal sales in his store had nearly tripled thanks to the advertising Harry had done for him. Because of this, he was asking Harry if he would consider doing further advertisements, in order to help promote his work. He hadn't written up a contract yet but had provided a few bullet points in the letter, and it seemed straightforward enough.
His thoughts were interrupted, however, by the compartment door opening. In walked the best and worst of his friendships. Hermione, with Ron in tow, took a seat in the compartment.
"What are you reading, Harry?" Hermione sat next to the window, across from Harry.
"A letter from Tim Baker, the owner of a camping store in Diagon Alley, where I got the tent we used."
Ron scowled at the mention of the tent, but Hermione didn't notice. "What's he writing to you about?"
"Well, he's thanking me for dealing with the Death Eaters, and offering a contract for advertising his products."
"Need even more Galleons for your vault?" It was muttered under his breath, but Ron was just loud enough for them to hear. Hermione looked at him with a look of shock, while Harry put down the letter and glared at his 'friend.'
"As a matter of fact, I'm not interested in the money. I'm interested in the fact that he's getting more business because of it."
Before either of them could continue, Hermione decided to speak up. "So, I'm looking forward to my classes this year. How about you two?"
Grateful to her, Harry turned to her, a slight smile on his face. "I've been reading up on Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, so I'm eager to get started on those classes."
Hermione went wide-eyed, a look of glee briefly flitting across her face. "You've decided to take both classes???"
Before Harry could answer, Ron gave his two cents on the matter. "Divination not good enough for you anymore?"
"No Ron, I simply decided I didn't want to spend another year having my death predicted on a regular basis. And now, I've decided to end this pointless conversation."
Standing up, he walked out of the compartment, slamming the door shut with enough force the windows rattled.
You should have killed him, or at least done something painful. I can help with that.
No, not yet, and not in front of Hermione. I won't force her to watch that kind of violence if I can help it.
Walking down the car, Harry heard footsteps running towards him. Turning back, he saw Hermione following him.
"Harry, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Hermione. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"It's alright. You weren't at The Burrow, but ever since the trial he's been impossible."
"That bad, huh?"
"All he does is sulk and whine if he isn't eating or playing chess. I hoped he'd get it out of his system by now, but clearly..."
"Clearly whatever his problem is, he won't mention it. Fine by me, I haven't forgotten he's the reason we had to face that troll."
Hermione looked at him with a slight shock, never expecting Harry to talk like this. But she quickly suppressed it, saying "We should find another compartment, this isn't a place to have this conversation."
"You're right... Oh! I almost forgot, there are two people I want you to meet. Come on, let's see if we can find them."
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her along as he began searching the train for the two students he met in Diagon Alley. After a few minutes of searching, he found them together in the same compartment. Opening the door, they turned to see who was visiting them, only to grin widely when they saw who it was.
"Harry!" They both shouted with glee, with Harry grinning like a loon as he sat next to Brian, while Hermione sat next to Anna.
"Hermione, this is Anna Anderson and Brian Robinsons. I met them while Professor McGonagall was showing them around Diagon Alley. Anna, Brian, this is my friend Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age."
Brian was smiling as Hermione shook his hand, happy to have met a friend of Harry Potter. Anna, on the other hand, had a look of pure awe on her face, as though she had met her idol for the very first time. The dam to contain her excitement broke almost immediately, as her questions began pouring out.
"You're really the brightest of her age? How many spells do you know? What House are you in? What kind of classes do you take?"
Harry and Brian couldn't help but chuckle as Hermione, though slightly flustered, answered Anna's questions almost as quickly as they came. It went on for some time until a familiar voice could be heard from the compartment door.
"Anything from the trolley, dearies?"
Knowing it would be a long trip, and wanting to treat his new friends, Harry bought a little bit of everything to share, along with a pitcher of pumpkin juice for the four of them. The two teens, and two kids, enjoyed their snacks as Anna and Brian asked questions about Hogwarts and magic.
"I'm a little worried about the Sorting."
Hermione turned to Anna with a friendly, but slightly worried look on her face. "Why's that Anna?"
"What if I get put in the wrong House? What if my Housemates don't like me?"
With a softening expression, Hermione wrapped an arm around Anna. "Oh Anna, there's nothing to worry about."
Remembering his Sorting ceremony, and what the twins had told Ron, Harry couldn't resist the chance. "It's easy, you just have to wrestle a troll."
"WHAT!?"
"Harry!"
"AWESOME!"
Anna was shocked, Hermione was annoyed, and Brian was excited by what Harry had just told them.
"Yeah, they bring in a 20-foot-tall troll, and you have to wrestle it in the Great Hall. Whichever teacher likes your performance most invites you to their House."
Brian was the first to realize Harry was joking, given that he couldn't stop smiling while telling them this. He still couldn't help but laugh, especially once Anna began to pout, not happy at being the butt of a joke, even one told by her new friend. Hermione looked at Harry with a look of annoyance, a look that told him 'You better fix this.'
"Hey, Anna, listen. The Sorting Ceremony is simple and harmless. The Sorting Hat decides which House to put you in based on various traits the founders of Hogwarts valued most in their students. And as it likes to tell everyone, it never makes mistakes."
"But what if I'm the first one? What if it can't decide which House to put me in?"
Sighing, Harry took her hand with a small smile. "I was worried about the same thing, and the Hat almost put me in Slytherin."
"Really?"
"Indeed. It saw that I was resourceful, determined and that I wasn't very good at following the rules." Brian was grinning at the last one.
"So why did it put you in Gryffindor?"
"Because I asked it to. And that, Anna, is the most important thing to remember. Your choices are what will define you going forward."
That put Anna at ease, and they spent the rest of the train ride talking, with Harry telling them about some of the adventures he and his friends had gotten into, while Hermione told them about the classes they'd be taking, and what to expect from them.
Eventually, when it became clear the rain would last the rest of the night, Harry decided to teach the two first years a charm for repelling rain, as well as the Drying Charm.
It took quite a few tries for the two first years to perfect it, but by the time they got to Hogsmeade Station, they had it. As Harry and Hermione got ready to leave, he remarked to Hermione "Hopefully, they can keep the other first years dry tonight."
"Merlin, I hope so. It's practically a monsoon out there. If it gets any worse, the boats will probably flood by the time they dock. At the very least, they'll be cold and freezing until McGonagall casts a Warming Charm on them."
Eventually, the Hogwarts Express came to a stop, and the students began filtering out. Anna and Brian waved to Harry and Hermione as they went over to Hagrid with the rest of the first years. Ron, for his part, decided he didn't want to ride in the carriage with Harry and Hermione after they ditched him on the train. So, he rode with Dean and Seamus, and some other students they were with.
Harry and Hermione made their way to another carriage with Neville and Ginny, who apologized to Harry and Hermione for how Ron was acting. As they got closer, Hermione and Ginny audibly gasped at their first sighting of a Thestral. Harry knew exactly the surprise they felt, while Neville had no idea there was anything there. Pausing briefly, they were snapped out of their shock when Neville and Harry grabbed their hands and pulled them along. Before the door was closed, one final student made her way inside.
A student with near waist-length blonde hair, and silvery eyes. A student he hadn't expected to see for another year.
"You two OK?"
"What was that thing?" Ginny turned to Neville with her question.
"What's what?"
"The... 'horse' pulling the carriage."
"It's... it's pulling itself. Isn't it?"
Before Harry could respond, a distinctly feminine voice came from their new friend. "You're not going mad. I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am."
Despite her warm smile, it was obvious that Hermione and Ginny were not comforted by this. Deciding he needed to help, he told them "I can see them too. They're called thestrals. They can only be seen by people that have seen death." That got grim looks from the two, as they remembered the World Cup, and watching Parkinson get reduced to a carpet stain. Hermione began to shake, vividly remembering the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. She stopped as Harry put a hand on hers, comforting her with his presence.
When she calmed down, Harry looked at the fifth passenger with a smile. "I don't believe you've been introduced."
At that, Ginny cleared her throat. "Everyone, this is Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw in my year."
"Some people call me 'Loony' Lovegood, actually. But that doesn't matter. It's nice to see everyone." Luna never stopped smiling at everyone, like she was reunited with old friends.
Before long, the carriages had arrived at Hogwarts, and the students made their way to the Great Hall. Before they got there, Harry caught sight of one annoying as hell poltergeist, and the water balloons he was dropping.
This time, however, he was ready. Wand in his hand with record speed, he caught the balloons mid-air with a spell and launched them back at Peeves at full speed. As a poltergeist, Peeves was semi-solid, able to turn intangible or solid as he wished. Given the fact he was holding water balloons, he was very much solid at the time.
Peeves was, unfortunately for him, too busy laughing at the chaos he was about to cause to notice the balloons before they blasted him directly in the face. Blasted back by the sudden assault, he dropped the rest of the balloons. Likewise, Harry caught them mid-air and pelted Peeves with them. Unable to withstand the barrage of water balloons, the poltergeist took off through a wall at record speed.
At the sight of Peeves fleeing the scene, the students cheered and applauded Harry, especially the ones that had been victims of Peeves' pranks before. In the midst of this cheering, Professor McGonagall strode up.
"Impressive wandwork, Mr.Potter."
"Thank you, Professor. I figured Peeves was long overdue for some pranks."
"Indeed. 20 points to Gryffindor for handling that infernal poltergeist. Now, the rest of you, keep moving!"
Joining Hermione in the Great Hall, he found that she had grabbed a seat some distance from Ron, as she beckoned him over. Sitting next to her, they waited for the Sorting Ceremony to begin.
Soon enough, the first years were brought in, with Anna and Brian near the front of the group. Anna seemed nervous, taking in the fullness of the Great Hall, but she calmed at the sight of Harry and Hermione waving to her. When she was the first to be called, she walked to the stool with as much confidence as she could muster. It took a solid minute for the Hat to declare GRYFFINDOR.
While the table applauded, Harry and Hermione stood for Anna, and waved her over, letting her sit between them. The ceremony continued, with Harry waiting for Brian to be called up. While he wasn't surprised at the decision of the Hat, he was impressed that, like with Malfoy, it barely touched his head before making the decision of GRYFFINDOR. As with Anna, he was waved over to Harry and Hermione, taking a seat right next to Harry and Anna.
As the Feast got underway, one of the twins said to Harry "So Harry, who are your new friends?"
"Well, first of all, this is my new little brother Brian." Harry and Brian both grinned as he finished.
"That's not how that works Harry." Despite her words, Hermione couldn't help but grin alongside them.
"I don't think he minds. Do you mind, Brian?"
"Nope."
"See, he doesn't mind." The twins were snickering at the two of them, and Hermione had to giggle as well. Then she realized that Harry, Brian and Anna were staring at her. Anna in particular was giving, what could only be described as, 'Bambi eyes.'
Unable to stand up to such a display, Hermione sighed and said "This is Anna, my new little sister." She gave the girl a one-armed hug as she said this, getting giggles in response.
"Have you known them for long?" Neville sat closer than Ron, so it was easy to hear him.
"Long enough to say, that if anything happens to either of them, I will annihilate whoever's responsible." Looking over the table, he made certain all of Gryffindor heard his declaration. By tomorrow, the rest of the school would know as well.
"Harry, you can't threaten other students."
"That wasn't a threat, Hermione. That was a warning. World of difference."
"Yep." Brian was readily defending his new brother.
Hermione could only shake her head at this. Anna would copy her, soliciting giggles from those that noticed.
As all this was going on, the staff at the Head Table were watching the students with interest.
"So, Minerva, who do you expect to enter the Tournament?"
"I didn't think you were the type to gamble, Filius."
The Charms professor smiled at that. "I usually don't, but one can't help but wonder at the possibilities."
"I'm more concerned with how many students will try to enter their names, despite being underage."
Dumbledore chuckled at her worries. "Have no fear, Minerva. I will be preparing the age line myself. Not even Messrs Fred and George shall pass it."
That put some worries at ease, and for a few moments, silence dominated the Head Table. After a while, Professor Sprout decided to ask Minerva something. "So, Minerva, tell us about those two first years. Anna and Brian." Pointing to the Gryffindor table, she continued. "It looks as though Mr.Potter has all but adopted them."
Minerva had the smallest smile possible as she said that. "I am hardly surprised. He met them in Diagon Alley, and he immediately took them under his wing. As for the students themselves, Brian reminds me of James, while Anna is easily another Lily. They're both bright, and curious, and while Brian is the adventurous type, and Anna is a natural scholar, I fully expect the two of them to be inseparable."
Filius was excited at the prospect of another student as bright as Lily. "Then I look forward to seeing them in class."
Albus, for his part, had tuned out the conversation by this point. His attention was focused on Harry, as he chatted with his fellow Gryffindors. It was a cause of some consternation he noticed Ron was seated some distance away from Harry and Hermione. He didn't like the prospect of Harry evading his informant in Ron. When he saw an opportunity, he sent a Legilimency probe to Harry... and felt it get violently ejected from his mind.
His failed Legilimency gave him a splitting headache, and he could feel a pain in his stomach, as though he had been viciously punched in the gut. He let out a quiet groan, unable to help himself due to the sheer suddenness of it.
"Albus? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Minerva. I think I'm just feeling my age catching up to me."
'I can't let anyone know I failed to enter Harry's mind! Bad enough I tried, but that I FAILED? That will do no good.' He then noticed that Harry was looking at the Head Table, no doubt from feeling the Legilimency on his mind. Fortunately, he wasn't looking at him, but at Snape, shooting him a frightening glare. 'That settles it. The Dragon has broken free, at least partially, but he isn't able to communicate with Harry. Otherwise, he'd know exactly where the attack came from. I have to find a means of containing it, without the Goblins. This will be a long year.'
Why are you looking at Snape, instead of Dumbledore!?
That probe was a test, to see how close to freedom you are. By looking at Snape
You've convinced him I'm still somewhat imprisoned, as opposed to having obtained my freedom.
That'll at least keep him distracted while we get to work.
After the Feast, 'Alastor' arrived, drawing the attention of the entire Hall. Hermione quickly explained what an Auror was to her new sister, but then came the big announcement: the Triwizard Tournament was being held at Hogwarts. Of course, plenty of students were unhappy at realizing they couldn't enter to compete, though it mattered little. Harry knew that 'Alastor' was already planning to enter his name in the Tournament.
In the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry and Hermione were about to show Anna and Brian around, when they got an unexpected visitor: Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.
"Gather around, students! Gather around!"
Well, this is new.
Did she ever do something like this?
No, she was always in her office if not in class.
When everyone had gathered, as she had asked, she began her speech.
"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts! And to you first years, welcome to Gryffindor House! Here, is the House of Lions, where we value the traits of courage, daring, and chivalry." Looking to the stained glass window that carried the House motto, she continued. "Forti Animo Estote.' Be of good courage. That is what it means to be a Gryffindor, to be a lion of Hogwarts. The true mark of courage is not the absence of fear, but overcoming it."
She surveyed the room, confident she had the attention of the students now. "This coming year will be a difficult one for us all. When the Triwizard Tournament begins, one student of Hogwarts shall be selected to represent the school. While I have no doubts that some of you will be putting your names forward, even if you're not supposed too." She looked at the twins as she said this. Fred and George could only give a practiced look of innocence. "But no matter who is chosen, I will not tolerate anyone in this House giving Gryffindor, or the school, a bad name. I expect you to applaud the Hogwarts Champion, regardless of the colours they wear.
"To that end, I shall remind everyone, especially the older students, we are Lions. We are a Pride. We do not abandon one of our own, we stand together, and we protect each other, and that above all else includes the youngest. First years, these halls shall be your home for seven years, and your fellow students shall be your family. We stand together, and we do not abandon our own. If anyone is causing you problems, do not hesitate to inform me, or a prefect. That is all I have to say. Goodnight everyone."
With that, she simply walked out of the Common Room.
That was interesting.
It seems she's taken a more active interest in her duties as Head of House.
Well, let's see how long that can last.
Stepping outside the Common Room, Minerva McGonagall let out a sigh of relief. For the first time since 1990, she had stood before her House, not as their disciplinarian, but as their leader. For a few brief moments, she wasn't the Deputy Headmistress, but the Lioness of Gryffindor, the protector of her Pride. It was a good feeling.
Preparing to leave for her office, she paused and looked in a different direction than she had come from. She saw a tapestry depicting a roaring lion. Unbeknownst to most of the school, that tapestry hid not only the private rooms for the Gryffindor Head Boy and Head Girl, but it contained the office for the Head of Gryffindor House and their private quarters.
How long had it been, since she'd even slept in her old room? Years, at least. She'd sunk so much time into her role as Deputy Headmistress, she'd forgotten about her role as Head of House.
'No more.' She thought to herself as she made a beeline for the tapestry. 'For three years straight, I have failed my lions. I have left them to figure out what it means to be a Gryffindor for themselves. And I have left them to face the other Houses, Slytherin most of all, alone. No more. From now on, my lions will not be alone. From now on, they shall have the Lioness of Gryffindor at their backs.'
Tomorrow, the new year truly begins.