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Chapter 1 - 2 | 17 septembre 2008
Harry Potter 7
HARRY POTTER AND THE VICTORY OF LOVE
by Kitty
Chapter 1: The Last Visit to Privet Drive
The last rays of a late July sunset still lingered on the tops of the trees bordering Privet Drive. On the windowsill of a small room on the second floor of number four, a black haired adolescent had been leaning for hours, his eyes staring into space; a sad and preoccupied expression sharpened his pale, thin face. He was only a teen-aged boy, and yet a tragic past had marked him through his whole life. "Yes," he said to himself, "it's he, Voldemort. It's all because of him !"
Voldemort was the greatest dark wizard of the century. He had killed Harry's parents and made him an orphan. Voldemort had tried to kill him, Harry Potter, too, but the sacrifice of his mother had given him a magical protection until today, his seventeenth birthday, the day he came of age. Seventeen years old, yes, it was so in the Wizarding world ... because Harry was a wizard.
At the thought of his mother, a surge of love flooded his heart. He saw passing in his mind his father James who tried holding off Voldemort to give his mother time to flee with him, Harry. Voldemort, after having killed his father, turned to his mother to kill him, Harry. "Not Harry ! Not Harry ! Please ..." begged his mother, sobbing. "Stand aside ... stand aside, silly girl", ordered Voldemort in his cold high-pitched voice, and his mother went on pleading: "Please, kill me instead, kill me !" That tragic scene happened sixteen years before at Godric's Hollow where his parents had lived, when Harry was barely one year old.
He didn't really remember the scene. But over the years, he had seen his parents in the mirror of Erised, heard the echoing voice of his father, the pleadings of his mother, and the merciless voice of Voldemort during the attack of the Dementors, the monsters who made you relive your worst memories. And little by little, that scene had taken shape clearly and vividly in his mind.
However, he still remembered the bright green flash that dazzled him, which, as he understood only later on, was the killing curse Voldemort had cast on him after he had disposed of his mother. But the curse backfired ripping off Voldemort and reducing him into a wandering spirit no more palpable than a dark shadow. And he, Harry, became famous with just a lightning shaped scar on his forehead, because he was the only one to ever survive a killing curse cast by the greatest wizard of the century. People in the Wizarding world named him The-Boy-Who-Lived or The Chosen One.
Yes, the Chosen One, because of a stupid prophecy, which made Voldemort hunt down his parents in order to kill him. A sad and ironic smile took shape on his face. But Voldemort had come back. Harry was there himself at his rebirth, two years ago, in the cemetery of Little Hangleton, where Voldemort had killed Cedric Diggory, a friend of Harry's, just because the latter was an undesirable witness. Moreover, Harry himself should not have survived. That was not in Voldemort's plan. Harry had duelled against him, and had managed to escape, thanks to the « ghosts » of his parents that appeared out of their two wands under the effects of the « Priori Incantatem » spell.
After the image of Cedric came that of his godfather, Sirius, a close friend of his parents, then that of Dumbledore, the former Headmaster of Hogwarts, the school he attended. Dumbledore was the greatest wizard, Harry's most powerful protector, the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared.
During the whole last school year, Dumbledore had explained to Harry many things concerning Voldemort. How Voldemort had conquered death and gained immortality, and how to defeat him. Voldemort had created Horcruxes. They were objects in which he had concealed a bit of his soul, so they rendered him indestructible. According to Dumbledore's researches, Voldemort had created six Horcruxes. The diary which Harry had destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets at the end of his second year at Hogwarts was one of these, and Dumbledore had destroyed a second one, the ring belonging to Gaunt, Voldemort's grandfather, the only known descendant of Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore thought that Voldemort had transferred to Harry, not intentionally of course, a bit of his own powers on the night he had attacked him and given him that scar on the forehead. That was why Harry could speak Parseltongue, the language of snake, spoken by Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort himself.
It was to fetch the third Horcrux, Salazar Slytherin's locket, that Dumbledore and Harry went to the cave by the seaside on the tragic night when Dumbledore died. But it was an unsuccessful operation, because the Horcrux had been stolen away by a certain R.A.B., and in its place was a fake one. Therefore, there were still four Horcruxes somewhere out there to track down and to destroy before he could think of the possibility of eliminating Voldemort himself. At this thought, a sharp pain oppressed Harry's heart. Dumbledore should not have sacrificed himself and drunk all that potion in the cave. Harry realized now how much he had loved his Headmaster, he had loved him like a grandfather he had never had nor known. It was for Harry an inestimable comfort at the beginning of each term to see him again in his throne-like chair at the staff table, his face illuminated by an inner light exuding wisdom, knowledge and kindness, and to receive from him a small smile full of understanding and complicity that meant a lot.
His father, his mother, Sirius, Dumbledore, they all were dead directly or indirectly by the hand of Voldemort. Those who had cared for him, who had loved him, had stood in front of him, all determined to protect him, and they had one after the other perished in their attempt. His love for those he loved, and who had loved him, overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. " Yes, I'll take revenge for you, mother, for all of you ! " Harry said in a sob, while leaving the windowsill.
The street lamps in Privet Drive had just been switched on, bathing all the area in its yellow and misty light, chasing the last crepuscular rays.
The day before, Ron, his best friend, had sent him a letter saying that his father Mr Weasley would come today at nightfall with Fred, one of his joker twin brothers, to escort him to The Burrow, where Ron's family lived. Ron had told him that his parents invited him to stay at The Burrow as long as he would wish. But after deep reflection he decided he would go and live at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the house he had inherited from his Godfather. He would settle himself there after Bill's and Fleur's wedding, and once he had passed his Apparition Test.
"It would be wiser that way, for many reasons," Harry thought. He didn't want to endanger Ron's family by his presence at The Burrow. And on top of all this, at The Burrow, there was Ginny, Ron's young sister, whom Harry loved. He had known her for quite a long time, since his second year at Hogwarts, but it was only recently that he was conscious of that feeling. He realized that this feeling had always been in him, latent, but he was too young to understand it. He had spent many summers at Ron's house, had been in close contact with her. They had played Quidditch together. He had looked upon her as a sister; so much he was accustomed to her presence. But in reality it was not so. He still remembered how he had felt in the Chamber of Secrets, when he had knelt beside her inert and cold body, and how he had begged her not to die. He had felt as if part of his life was going away with her.
Hardly a month before, at the end of the last school year Harry had taken a decision not to get involved with her any more, never to show himself with her, so as to avoid drawing Voldemort's attention upon her. Surely Voldemort would use her as a bait to reach him, as he had already made use of her to open the Chamber of Secrets, and draw him into an ambush, just because she was his best friend's sister. Yes, it would be too dangerous for Ginny. And also he should not tie up Ginny to his life, because he, himself, didn't know whether he would be able to survive once more his last encounter with Voldemort. He, Harry, an apprentice wizard in front of a Voldemort, the most powerful and most pitiless sorcerer whom everybody feared, and whose name nobody dared pronounce. People called him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Since his return to Privet Drive, Harry could not help turning these thoughts over and over again and wondering how he could eliminate Voldemort. The Prophecy said that only he, Harry, could vanquish Voldemort, and Dumbledore said that he possessed a power that Voldemort ignored, which was Love and that Harry possessed « in such quantities ? » and that Voldemort had not at all ! But how to destroy that crazed killer of Voldemort with Love as an only weapon ! And to begin with, Harry thought he should have at least a minimum basis of magical power to survive through attacks, before he could « use » Love to destroy him !
He had ordered from Flourish & Blotts, the greatest bookshop in Diagon Alley, high level books of Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA), and every day he read them, dissected them, learnt the movements of the hand, and arm, and trained relentlessly, on the sly, in his room, leaving it just the necessary time for meals, if one could say so. He realized that he had made lots of progress, and he understood now that what was most important in a curse, was the concentration and determination of the spirit on the result one aimed at. Concentration and determination Harry had. Already in his fourth year, the fake professor of DADA had demonstrated the three Unforgivable Curses and had tested the Imperius one upon him. He had been able to defeat the curse while other wizards much more experienced in magical power as well as much older in age had already been overwhelmed. He also trained to master the Non-verbal curses he now understood their immense importance.
Mr Weasley and Fred would come any moment now. Harry left the windowsill, and cast a quick look around his room : His trunk was packed, and set in the middle of the room, Hedwig, his owl, was in her cage, his Firebolt broom on his trunk. The room was cleaned. All the posters on the wall as well as the photos of his parents on the bedside table had already been removed.
Harry had informed his uncle Vernon Dursley and his aunt Petunia, his mother's sister, of his departure today. The attitude of the Dursley towards him had somehow changed since he had come back to Privet Drive this year, as if they had expected his going away to show some kindness, or perhaps, they now understood that Harry would soon come of age, and that he would be able to use magic, and they feared that Harry would turn them into a pig family if he wanted to. That idea probably amused him as a smile replaced the preoccupied expression on his face when he arrived in the kitchen. His cousin Dudley was on the sofa, with his eyes riveted on the large screened television, following a stupid entertainment programme while nibbling potato chips. In anyway, there was no need to turn him into a pig; he looked already like a sow in the full meaning of the word. All by himself he occupied half the surface of the large sofa.
Aunt Petunia had never loved him. She was not really wicked, but simply indifferent as if he didn't exist. But since last summer, when Dumbledore explained to him why he was with the Dursley while many other wizard families would very much like to adopt him as their own son. It was because of the blood link she had with his mother that procured the lingering magical protection he had enjoyed during those last sixteen years, and since, Harry had felt differently towards his aunt. There was a note of gratitude in his feelings for her.
His aunt was in the kitchen, halfway through her usual pre-bedtime cleaning; uncle Vernon was reading his evening paper in his usual armchair.
"Aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon, you both know that I am leaving today. Some friends will come to fetch me at any moment now. Before leaving I would like to thank you for having taken me under your roof."
"Where are you going to live ?" asked Petunia.
"I'll stay first at Ron's parents', then afterwards, perhaps I'll settle in the house I inherited from my God father Sirius Black", replied Harry, then he took his wand out from the back pocket of his faded jean, turned it in a smooth wave and a bunch of orchids appeared from nowhere in the air, which Harry took and placed in the hand of Petunia who was still holding the cleaning cloth. He had just wonderfully succeeded a Non-verbal curse, thought Harry, with a smile.
"They are real flowers", he said to his aunt, "put them in a vase to keep them fresh."
As soon as Harry had finished his sentence, sounds on the gravelled alley in front of the house were heard. Someone just rang the doorbell:
"Harry ? It's Arthur and Fred !" Mr Weasley was calling with his booming voice from outside the door, to announce that it was friends and not some Death Eaters, Voldemort's faithful followers.
"I'm coming", answered Harry while hurrying up towards the door.
"Evening Harry !" greeted Mr Weasley, then turning to uncle Vernon who had just arrived behind Harry, he went on::
"Good evening, Mr Dursley, here I am with my son, Fred, whom you have already met two years ago. You may remember him."
Harry thought that it was not very "diplomatic" from Mr Weasley to remind uncle Vernon of that visit when Fred and Georges, his twin brother, had transformed Dudley's tongue into a foot-long python, testing one of the joker toffees of their own creation.
"Good evening, Mr Weasly, Fred !" Harry hastened to reply, trying to divert the conversation.
"Are you ready, Harry ?" Mr Weasley inquired.
"Yes, I'll go and fetch my things. They are still upstairs."
"I'll help you", said Fred.
Fred followed Harry upstairs onto his room and grabbed the handle of Harry's trunk. Harry took the broom and Hedwig's cage, and then cast again a quick look around the room. It was strange, he loathed this place where he had to return every summer under Dumbledore's order, but now as the time had come to leave it forever, he felt like a kind of nostalgia. No ! It was not possible. He could not regret this place, where he had known nothing but sufferings and loneliness. It was only his childhood that he would leave forever. He would come of age this evening, at five minutes to midnight. He would take his life in hand and will allow nobody else to stand between him and Voldemort. All his protectors were already dead for having defended him. The last one, the most powerful wizard the world had ever known, had also left him. He felt lonelier than ever, lonelier than when he was only one year old. In the entrance hall, he found his aunt and Dudley who had just arrived from the kitchen; Petunia still had the flowers in her hands. Harry placed Hedwig's cage in Mr Weasley's stretched hand.
"Well, Good-bye, Mr, Mrs Dursley, Good bye Dudley," said Mr Weasley. "We'll wait for you in the garden, Harry !"
"Er ... bye then," said Harry to all the Dursleys, while turning to follow Mr Weasley.
Bye, Harry", it was aunt Petunia who replied, in a trembling voice, "you'll give us news from time to time, we completely ignore where you are going, and thanks for the flowers". A drop of tears shined in the corner of her eyes.
And all of a sudden, without having prepared himself for it, Harry dashed towards her and kissed her on both cheeks. He had never fully appreciated that aunt Petunia was his mother's sister.
In the courtyard, Harry remained silent, still under the emotion of the moment he had just lived. Mr Weasley sent Harry's things to the Burrow by a wave of his wand.
"Hold on to my arm tightly. We'll Apparate to The Burrow," said Mr Weasly while proffering his arm to Harry.
And the unpleasant and well known sensation oppressed Harry as if he was forced through a narrow and thick rubber tube depriving him of his breath until the moment he thought he could no longer bear it and would suffocate, he was already in the courtyard of The Burrow, the second place he loved most in the world, the first one being Hogwarts, the school he attended.
"Will the school be opened this year, Mr Weasley ?" asked Harry, speaking for the first time since he had left Privet Drive.
"Yes, I think so, McGonagall has mentioned it the other day."
Harry thought of Ron and Hermione, his two best friends. Hermione was a Muggle born witch. Her parents were both Muggles, i.e. non wizards. Will he come back to school ? He had been asking himself that question many times for the last month now, but had come to no definite and satisfactory decision. He had now so many things to do, all a programme for tracking down and destroying the remaining Horcruxes and the final confrontation with Voldemort himself.
Then he unconsciously recited in his head : the locket, the cup, the snake, something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's. That was the remaining Horcruxes according to Dumbledore. He had kept reciting this mantra to himself for more than a month now, as though by listing them he could bring them within reach.
***
Chapter 2: Back to The Burrow
Harry didn't expect to meet so many people at The Burrow at that late hour. Mrs Weasley deplored his bad look, and stated that she would stuff him up with food during his stay here. That remark instead of making him laugh, on the contrary reminded him of an insignificant but painful anecdote still fresh in his memory. It was on this very doorway of The Burrow that Dumbledore had said about this time last year when he had escorted him here: "Let us not deprive Molly any longer of the chance to deplore how thin you are, Harry". He still heard echoing in his mind the warm and gentle voice of his former Headmaster and a twinge of pain oppressed him for a moment. He succeeded in pulling himself together in time to answer Mrs Weasley with a pale smile.
Apart from the members of Ron's large family, (Harry noticed that Percy, the third eldest Weasley brother, was not there. He had fallen out with the rest of the family.) many people were there: Mad Eye Moody, Lupin and Tonks, all members of the Order of the Phoenix founded by Dumbledore. There were also Fleur, Bill's fiancée, her sister Gabrielle and Hermione. Harry breathed easier at the sight of the latter. He had so many things to talk about with his friends Ron and Hermione. Fleur's parents, Mr and Mrs Delacour, stayed at the village hotel. Harry was not surprised to see Fleur and Gabrielle here, because Bill's and Fleur's wedding was due in three days' time. Gabrielle didn't want to stay at the hotel with her parents; she wished to get better acquaintance with Ginny who would be a bridesmaid like her. Harry had met her three years ago at Hogwarts. He had almost practically fetched her from the bottom of the lake during the second task of the Triwizard Tournament in which he and Fleur were competitors, and after that Fleur had failed and abandoned the task for having been attacked by the underwater monsters. Gabrielle was only a child but now she had become a young girl with a promising beauty as captivating as her sister, a beauty that deprived you from breath, as Ron would say. At the Triwizard Tournament Fleur was a student of the seventh year of Beauxbatons, the School of sorcerers in France.
Harry was mostly afraid at the prospect of meeting Ginny again, and he longed to leave The Burrow as quickly as possible after Bill's marriage. He was afraid he would be overwhelmed by Ginny's charms, and that he would not be able to maintain his decisions to remain aloof from her. He was thankful to Gabrielle for being here; she kept Ginny busy and followed her everywhere. Already the familiar and vague perfume of garden flowers that exuded from Ginny had dangerously softened him on his arrival here when he embraced her (in a very formal way, though, in front of everybody !). Fortunately, he had succeeded in pulling himself together in time. In the rush of a big reunion after a long absence, he didn't have to face with a private meeting with Ginny, and he thought he was very lucky then.
Mrs Weasley had planned a delicious and copious supper. Everybody enjoyed it in a warm family atmosphere animated by Fred and George who made publicity advertisement for their most recent inventions, still in testing stage, the Bumper Coat and the Misleading Cloak which made you appear up to five yards closer than where you were really, and according to the distance between you and your opponent, yet within the efficient range of spell casting distance. The farther you were from your opponent, the more the misleading distance was important. Harry thought that Fred and George had very ingenious ideas. He had a suggestion and decided to speak to them as soon as possible. Apart from that, the catching chases to dragons who had escaped from the breeding centre, as recounted by Charlie, an other one of Ron's brothers, made everybody's blood run cold. They spoke of everything, and of anything, except of Dumbledore. But it was Harry who first started talking about him. He was between Hermione and Ron, facing Mad-Eye Moody and Lupin, a werewolf who was a close friend of James, his father.
How is the Order of the Phoenix, now that Professor Dumbledore is dead ?', asked Harry addressing Lupin.
Everybody froze when hearing Harry pronounce Dumbledore's name, and suddenly the whole room was deep in such a complete silence as if the time had just stopped in its course. Hermione put her hand on her mouth, Ginny from the other end of the table, between Bill and Gabrielle, looked up, staring at Harry with observatory eyes mingled with compassion, which intrigued Harry. A circular look about the whole assembly told him enough, that surely they've passed the word around not to speak of Dumbledore in front of him, at least, during this night, the night of reunion, when Dumbledore's death was still too fresh in everyone's memory, and specially in Harry's.
Listen !', said Harry, Dumbledore's death affected me deeply, more than you can imagine, and I think you all understand me well. But I'm no longer a child, and you should understand that too. I've decided to take my life in hand and no more will I allow anyone to stand between me and Voldemort to protect me. And I would like to become a member of the Order of the Phoenix, if the Order is still active, of course.'
Me too', stated Hermione.
Me too', added Ron.
We both too', said Fred and George all together.
Ginny opened her mouth as if about to speak but thought better of it. She foresaw what would be the answers of the old people and knew that her battle was lost. She remained silent and sulky for the rest of the evening, which was already very late.
Listen, Harry', Moody replied. We've talked about you in the last meeting of the Order the other day. Well, we've spoken a lot about you in our last meetings, and because you are too important a person in this battle, in spite of your young age, we've decided to let you join the Order and we accepted also the membership of Ron and Miss Granger if ever you wished to. We've been a little knocked out lately, of course, by Dumbledore's death. He was our Leader and Secret Keeper. We've had to change temporarily our Head Quarters to Hogwarts because of Snape. Well, it was more precisely Dumbledore who had forecast everything in case he should disappear in a sudden way. He has left a letter for you. I intended to inform you by the end of the supper, but because you've asked, I tell you now. I cannot give you the letter, for I don't have it. It will be given to you at the next meeting of the Order, which is scheduled for the day after the wedding. Apart from that, the Order is still operating. For the time being, we still follow the directives Dumbledore has left before his death. As for George and Fred, they've come of age ... er ... a long time ago, Arthur and Molly do agree to let them join the Order of the Phoenix too.'
Mum ! Dad ! You haven't told us anything', protested Fred and George in chorus.
At the mention of Snape, his former professor of Potions, Harry felt a surge of rage and hatred overwhelm him. Yes, it was also Snape who had started it all. He was the one who had informed Voldemort of the contents of the prophecy, who had killed Dumbledore, cold bloodedly, on the steps of the Astronomy tower. Harry didn't know which one of the two, Voldemort or Snape, he now hated most. Still lost in his fury, Harry heard from the other end of the table, Mr Weasley's voice replying to Fred and George:
We wanted just to test your maturity', then in front of Fred and George's eyes full of protest, he added ... And also, we have been too busy with the preparations for the wedding.'
And who did know about the arrangements made by Dumbledore in case he died suddenly ?', Harry inquired.
His brother Aberforth; you'll meet him at the next meeting. What a hell of a leader, Albus Dumbledore ! We would never have a leader so perceptive and far-sighted as him, not to mention his magical power that nobody could compare with, of course. Dumbledore's death is a very great lost for us all, not only on the ground of our strength against Voldemort, which is evident, but also on the affective level. We all have loved him.'
At the name of Voldemort pronounced by Moody, Harry felt a little better, as if a fresh draught had just crossed the room, because most people dared not pronounce his name, and that irritated him badly.
Because you've been busy with the preparations for the wedding', said Fred to his parents, we'll forget our grief against you, for not having told us earlier about our admission to the Order.'
Yes, we'll forget', George reinforced.
You are hugely indebted to us both, for that', insinuated Bill, laughing and winking mischievously to Mr Weasley. Fleur then displayed a beautiful smile on her Venus face to support Bill's statement.
Hum !' let out Mrs Weasley from the sink where she was laying down her plate.
And with this touch of cheerful mood, the light in the room was switched off all of a sudden, and replaced by a timid flickering glimmer from small candles that progressed floating from a dark corner of the room, nearly at ground level. Then, as a single voice, everybody started singing:
Happy birthday...' ... On the word Harry' at the end of the sentence, Harry's heart burst into tears. He saw the tray of the birthday cake coming towards him, and a small and familiar voice from under the tray made itself heard:
Happy birthday, Mr Harry Potter !'
Dobby !' Harry cried out, taking off the tray and discovered the little elf at his feet, what are you doing here ?'
Dobby asked Professor McGonagall whether Dobby could come to serve Mr Potter, now that Mr Potter has come of age, Dobby will follow Mr Potter everywhere Mr Potter goes, and Winky too !'
Oh ! That's very nice of you, thank you very much. It's OK, we'll talk about that later.'
With a smile from ear to ear, Dobby stepped aside rapidly, revealing another tray carried by Winky, this one much larger, and full of presents wrapped in colourful paper.
Thank you, Winky, said Harry taking away the tray from the elf, and turning to the whole room, with watering eyes and trembling voice full of emotion, he continued: Thank you very much, thank you all, I'll remember this day all my life', but he wondered within himself Shall I survive Voldemort once again after the final battle and remember this evening ?' Then to the whole assembly he went on I'll think about Voldemort later. For the time being, I'll enjoy your warm company and this unforgettable evening, thank you again, I don't know how to express myself, but I'm very touched !'
The kitchen exploded with thunderous applause and the evening ended in a commotion of hugging and laughter and when the members of the Order hastily took leave to Disapparate home, it was already two o'clock in the morning. I've come of age since more than two hours', Harry thought.
Children ! Up to bed !' Mrs Weasley shouted from the door where she bade Good-Bye' to the last guests. We'll have a busy day tomorrow. We'll have to go to Diagon Alley for the last minute purchases for the wedding. Harry ! Do you need a new dress robe for the occasion ? Because Ron's one has become a little too short, you may buy yours tomorrow at the same time !'
Yes, I think, Mrs Weasley', Harry answered, in a loud voice. He longed to be alone with Ron and Hermione.
Dobby, Winky, I need to speak to you, please come with me' said Harry to the elves, then to his friends: Come on !'
After having wished good-night' in haste to everybody, as well as to Ginny, (Harry thought he was lucky for being able to leave Ginny in such a simple way) he ran up to the last floor where Ron's room was and where Mrs Weasley had added a little bed for him, as usual. The three friends sat down on Harry's bed to speak to the elves.
It's very nice of you coming to serve me. I'm very touched. For the time being, I stay here with my friend Ron, so you will help Mrs Weasley in the household work and the preparations for the wedding'.
It's already done, Mr Potter has no worries about that' replied Dobby promptly.
How long have you been here ?'
Since this morning, Sir. The Professor McGonagall had asked Dobby to come and help Mrs Weasley in the preparations for the wedding and Dobby took the opportunity to ask the professor whether Dobby and Winky could leave the school to come and serve Mr. Potter. As Professor Dumbledore is dead, and Mr Potter has come of age, Dobby thought that Dobby could come and serve Mr. Potter. And Dobby has told Winky of his intention and Winky agreed with Dobby. Winky is no longer ill. Since Professor Dumbledore's death, Winky has woken up from her illness, and agreed to think that Mr Crouch Jr. was wrong in his choice of being one of You-Know-Who's followers', the elf replied at one go that deprived you from your breath if you wanted to follow him.
It's OK. I accept your service on the condition that you do agree that I pay you.'
Dobby will obey every order from Mr. Potter'.
But, at the idea of being paid, Winky began crying.
Winky didn't expect to fall as low as being paid by the master Winky will serve ... hic ... hic...'
No, Winky, you should not think that way. You should think that you make me happy by receiving a pay from me. You like making me happy, don't you ?'
Yes, Mr. Potter, Winky likes making you happy, because Dobby loves you very much.'
Well, that's settled ! I'll pay you each twenty Galleons a month, and you'll have a day off every week.'
Dobby must obey Mr Potter. But twenty Galleons a month is too much. Professor Dumbledore has agreed to lower Dobby's pay, on Dobby's express request, to one Galleon a week, and one day off every month', Dobby said sadly, tears dropping on his chest.
Don't cry, Dobby. Well, I'll pay you ten Galleons a month, and you'll have one day off every week. I will not accept to pay you less than that, OK ? And I want you to get yourselves properly and beautifully dressed, and I don't want you to punish yourselves each time you think you have made a mistake. Everybody can make mistakes. There are serious mistakes and less serious ones. You will come to me and tell me about your mistakes whenever you think you have committed one, and we'll find a solution together. OK ?
Yes, Mr Potter, Mr Potter is too generous', Dobby replied.
Winky, you should not be sad because I pay you. You should think that in receiving a pay from me, you make me happy. And I'm glad to learn that you are no longer ill. Now, it's late, and I think that I'll go to bed. Good night to you both.
Good night, Mr Potter, and thank you,' said the elves in the same and one voice.
***
Woouuawh !' Ron blurted out, once the elves had left the room. You have two elves to serve you alone ! Really, everything happens to you !'
Yes, everything' thought Harry. Even Voldemort who wanted to kill him when he was just one year old. That didn't happen to anybody !' then:
No' replied Harry in a loud voice. I don't think I'll need two elves. I've taken some decisions that I would like to share with you. You said in your letter, Ron, that your parents invited me to stay here so long as I wished to. That's very nice of them. But on reflection, I think that I'll settle down at Grimmauld Place after Bill's wedding. By the way, when is your Apparition test, Ron ?'
It's on the same day as yours, Dad said so, on the wedding day, at 9 o'clock in the morning. He said he'd take us to the Ministry. But if you decide to stay at Grimmauld Place, I would like to come with you, if you agree, of course. I don't know whether Mum and Dad would accept this idea ?'
Me too', added Hermione,' if you agree, Harry.'
It's very kind of you both. I think that your parents will accept that idea, we are of age, ain't we ?' replied Harry. Then, I think we will need just Dobby. I'll leave Winky here; she will help your mother. I'll talk to your parents tomorrow my intention to settle at Grimmauld Place and I'll speaki of Winky on the same occasion. As for my other decisions, we can see later on, after the wedding.'
My parents are Muggle', said Hermione. I'll come of age in September, in two months, I'll be eighteen years old, according to Muggle law.'
Brilliant !' let out Ron.
They went on discussing till late in the night, and when Hermione left the room to go to bed it was already four o'clock in the morning. Only some hours to sleep before Mrs Weasley awoke them to go to Diagon Alley. But Harry remained awake in his bed, thinking about his new life as an adult, the missions he gave himself to accomplish, and the dark future that awaited him. When he finally fell asleep, a faint glimmer of the morning sun already broke through the splits of the window.
***
He was so pale, I dared not tell him yesterday'. The voice of Hermione could be heard in a whisper.
And what if we let him sleep a little more', Ron replied her in a low voice.
There's no need', said Harry, opening his eyes, and sitting up in his bed. I'm already awake. Is it time ?' added Harry seeing both his friends already dressed.
Morning, Harry ! It's ten o'clock, replied Ron, but you'll still have time for your breakfast. Mother wants that you eat correctly.'
She rather wants to stuff me up,' and they all burst into laughter.
Morning Harry, greeted Hermione, bending down to kiss him on the cheek. We'll wait for you downstairs. You'd better take your breakfast properly', then pulling on Ron's sleeve, she walked out of the room.
Smiling to himself, Harry put his feet down on the floor, and began to dress. He'would think of Voldemort later, for the time being, he was happy to be back with his best friends.
***
By Floo powder, they got to the Leaky Cauldron's. Harry was glad to see the giant figure of Hagrid, the keeper of keys of Hogwarts, sitting at a table, sipping quietly his Butter Beer.
Morning Hagrid ! Thank you for the gift. It was brilliant.
Happy birthday, Harry. I've made it myself. The bow is made of thousand-year-old willow wood and the string is of plaited unicorn hair. Did it please you ?'
Yes, it was great.'
I couldn't come yesterday. I've found a wounded baby unicorn in the forest and I had to tend him urgently, because he has lost a lot of blood. He's much better now, and I think I'll be able to release him by tomorrow, in trying to go as far as possible into the Forbidden Forest.'
They divided into two groups, Mr and Mrs Weasley for the wedding purchases, Hagrid to accompany Ginny, Gabrielle, Harry, Ron and Hermione in their Diagon Alley walk. Only Ron and Harry had to buy their new robes. Hermione had had hers bought in a High fashioned Muggle shop in London. Ginny wanted to show to Gabrielle the joke shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes run by Fred and George.
We'll meet in two hours at Fred and George's, OK ?' said Mr Weasley. And you won't give Hagrid the slip, you three !' he added pointing with his finger Harry, Ron and Hermione, then pulling on Mrs Weasley's sleeve, he left in the direction of the shops for furniture and decoration.
Diagon Alley was no longer as attractive as in the old days since Voldemort was back and operated in the open. It seemed even gloomier since Dumbledore's death. People seemed to be in haste, they didn't any more linger before the shop windows. Once they had bought their robes at Madam Malkin's (Harry's a dark green one, and Ron's a chocolate maroon one, all proposed by the three girls) they went directly to Fred and George's. Their shop was always packed with young customers. Parents often left their children there, and did their shopping quietly on their own.
I'll stand guard outside, all right ? And don't give me the slip, you three !', said Hagrid in winking and smiling at Harry, Ron and Hermione, when they arrived in front of the joke shop.
Mr and Mrs Weasley were not yet there. Ginny, at once pulled Gabrielle towards the Wonder Witch products shelves. George and Fred led Harry, Ron and Hermione to the back of the shop after asking their assistants not to disturb them.
Well, will you show us the Misleading Cloak ?' Ron asked when the door separating the two parts of the shop was closed.
Yes !' reinforced Harry. I found your invention ingenious, and I have an idea. Who else does know about your inventions ?'
Nobody, why this question ?', replied George. As long as we haven't deposited our invention for a patent, it's top secret. We don't want people to steal our idea !'
And if we keep that secret for us, I mean for our camp side', suggested Harry. I mean, your invention is really brilliant. The enemy cannot aim correctly at you. But ... it's your Darkness powder that gave me that idea. You might have known that thanks to your powder Draco succeeded in smuggling the Death Eaters into Hogwarts last year. Ron and Ginny were there but they couldn't do anything. I think that as for the products, which may be used as combat weapons, we should not sell them to anybody. And what about speaking of your invention at the meeting of the Order ?'
We regret very much for having sold that Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to Malfoy, Ron taught us a long lesson about that', replied George, I'll go and fetch the Cloak', and he darted away to the staircase.
Stay here, Harry', suggested Fred, near Ron, on that line. And Hermione, stay against the window. The distance between Ron and the window is about five yards. Ah, yes, here is George. Harry ! Put on the Cloak. Yes, now, Hermione ! How do you see Harry and Ron ?'
Er... they are no longer on the same line. Ron is always on the line, but Harry appears to be nearer er... he is about four yards away from me or a little more ? But ... Harry's image is weird, it's floating, changing, it's unreal... Oh ! It gives me sort of headache, no, it makes me rather dizzy !!!'
Yes, that's why our invention is not quite ready yet. We still don't know how to remove that floating effect. But it's double edged. On one hand it makes it too evident and the enemy knows at once that the image is unreal, but on the other hand, it makes you more difficult to aim at. You see what I mean ? Try and cast him a spell, Hermione !'
Nooo !', cried out Harry. Let me see', said Harry while removing the cloak and giving it to Hermione. Take my place'. Then Harry and Hermione swapped around.
Yes, it's right ! It's brilliant' said Harry. Er ... No ! ... Yes ! ... Not only Hermione is no longer on the same line as Ron, but also it seems to me that she has drifted a little to the right. If I close my eyes, I have her image in my mind more to the left, nearer to Ron ... Remove the Cloak, Hermione, so that I see you without it first. Stay on the intersection of the two lines, yes, like that. When I close my eyes, you put on the Cloak. Now, put on the Cloak', said Harry, staying with his eyes closed, and facing Hermione. Then he opened his eyes: Yes, it's exactly as I thought, Hermione has drifted a little to the right, well about three or four inches far from the intersection of the two lines. It's brilliant !'
Yes, this drifting effect, we've just succeeded in working out. And the farther we are from the enemy, the more important this gap becomes, and I'm glad that you've noticed it too.
Stay in my place', said Ron to Harry, I would like to see it for myself too'.
Woouawh ! It's really ingenious' Ron burst out after a moment, and how do you see me, Hermione ?'
But normal. You don't have the Cloak, you fool ! Well, your right elbow is about four inches from the frame of the window.'
Ron turned aside, trying to keep his elbow in place and measured the space between his right elbow and the window frame with his other hand.
If you stay within the maximum efficient range of a spell casting, the enemy will aim at you too short, but you always can reach him, you see ? We are thinking of creating a misleading cloak in two ways, that is to say, which gives an image of you either closer or farther as you want by mean of an incantation. It's but an idea', said George...
It's great ! The inventions are always born from ideas. Have many ideas', encouraged Harry, while giving a friendly pat on Fred's shoulder.
At that moment, some one knocked at the door and Mr Weasley's voice came from the other side:
Children ! It's time to go.'
Yes, Dad, we are coming' replied George.
We'll talk again about it. Bye !' said Harry.
Bye everybody' Fred and George replied in chorus.
***
Woouaawh ! We'll have a wonderful day for dreaming !' said Ron as he opened the window, flooding the room with the bright morning sun.
We are not daydreaming !' answered Hermione who just came into the room, already dressed, with a piece of parchment in her hand. We'll work !'
You are a real killjoy ! Tomorrow is the wedding, we'll not start working today !'
Harry, amused as he saw his two best friends started bickering once more, remained silent, pursuing his thoughts.
Drop it', said Hermione, weary of discussing. I've made a list of interesting and important spells, and of high level, we could look together and choose which ones are the most interesting for us. I have ordered from Flourish & Blotts high-level books of Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Great minds think alike' thought Harry holding out his hand to take the parchment from Hermione. He read it in silence, then pointed with his finger:
Yes, this is interesting, I've done it, and this too, and I've done this too...
But ! ...', Hermione looked up at Harry in astonishment.
One, two, three' ... Harry continued counting ... twenty, twenty-one, said Harry, I've done twenty-one among the list. During the last month, at Privet Drive, I've done nothing else all day long, with no eating, no sleeping, well ... nearly so !'
Hermione looked at Harry half admiringly half with compassion:
Then you can show us how to do ! It's always easier when some one shows us how to do things than to read in the book and grope one's ways alone.'
No wonder you have but the skin on the bones !' said Ron from the window.
I've a better idea', proposed Harry. We'll go down to the garden and try to Apparate from one end to the other. Because tomorrow is the test for Ron and me. We'll choose specific places and cross mark them with branches, because accuracy counts too. Your garden from one end to the other may be about one mile long, no ?' Then Harry thought that the Apparition licence was really important for their projects and that it would be very annoying if Ron failed the test. He would have to wait months and months again.
Oh ! you'll have no problem', said Ron, leaving the window. You've already Apparated and succeeded !'
Exactly, we'll then see whether you'll still have both your eyebrows ! And also I would like to sit in the shade of a tree, I miss the open air badly', added Harry.
At the bottom of the staircase, Fleur intercepted:
Hermione ! Could you give me a hand, or rather an eye, for the decoration ? We are really lucky to have the two elves in the house.
***
Publié par chieuduongvien à 15:24:30 dans Harry Potter's Fan | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens
Chapter 3 - 4 | 17 septembre 2008
Chapter 3: For Love's Sake
It was nearly eleven o'clock in the morning. Hermione, Ginny and Gabrielle were in the garden of The Burrow.
They should be back any moment now, if everything was fine', said Hermione. I've told them we'll meet them here at this point which I've marked with a circle for them.'
Then suddenly Harry appeared from thin air in front of them, with a tiny Pop', as if by magic.
Congratulations, Harry ! Where's Ron ? Hasn't he got it ?' asked Hermione, looking very concerned.
Yes, he has, he was near me when I Apparated', replied Harry.
Then with a tiny Pop' Ron materialized too, about fifteen yards away.
I've got it ! I've got it !', Ron shouted at the top of his voice, running towards them. I've had both my eyebrows'. He then pulled a small pocket mirror out of his jean: I took it from Mum's handbag this morning, to check if I would have all my eyebrows ! At King's Cross, I was quite far from the head of the train, where I should have landed. The examiner noted it on my paper, but he said it didn't matter much; I was still in the acceptable boundaries.'
Wonderful !' said Hermione, kissing Harry and Ron on the cheek by way of congratulations.
Ginny and Gabrielle imitated her. The familiar garden flower scent filled Harry's lungs and his heart started beating so loudly that he feared the others would hear it. He then tried a diversion looking in the opposite direction from Ginny, to hide his emotion:
At the Ministry, when the clerk looked for my test sheet, I saw Malfoy's one on top of mine. When I returned my sheet, I still saw Malfoy's on the desk, intact, clean, no stamp, no mark on it at all. He hasn't come for the test.
Well done for him', said Ron, clearly very glad of the news.
At what time does the wedding ceremony start ?', asked Harry, just to have something to say.
At four o'clock', replied Gabrielle in her small and timid voice, but the guests will be there by three o'clock'.
It was boiling hot at King's Cross, I'll go and freshen up, said Harry, and they all returned to the house.
***
The elves had worked wonders. The garden was practically unrecognisable. No more wellington boots scattered around the garden, no more heaps of dead leaves and branches; the hens were in their enclosure. The lawns, freshly mowed, were like a green velvet carpet that stretched far away. Here and there, some flowering bushes in pastel colours contributed, like the last painting touches, to make the whole scene a masterpiece. At the end of the garden, in front of the row of thousand-year-old poplars, a platform was erected, lined with flowerbeds. Garlands, hung above the platform under the branches, completed the decoration, and gave the impression that one was facing a fairy's cave.
Two rows of chairs in semi circle faced the platform. Harry counted the chairs. No, there wouldn't be too many people. The members of the families from both sides, bride and groom, would occupy about twenty chairs, then there would only be about twenty guests: some members of the Order, some colleagues of Bill and Mr Weasley, one or two friends of Fred and George. Ron had invited Neville, a school friend, who would come with her grandmother, and Luna Lovegood, a friend of Ginny, who would come with his father. Harry was glad to get to know Mr Lovegood, the editor of the Quibbler, who, two years ago, had agreed to publish his interview by Rita Skeeter, on Voldemort's return, when nobody, including the Ministry, wanted to believe him.
Still lost in his thoughts, Harry saw Hermione from the kitchen door, as she stately walked out in her diaphanous ash mauve coloured dress that moulded her adolescent body harmoniously, like an apparition that emerged from the blue agapanthus bushes behind her. A timid smile in the corner of her small mouth gave her a specific expression of her own. She was even more beautiful than at the Yull Ball of the Triwizard Tournament, three years ago, Harry thought.
You are very beautiful, Hermione !' Harry blurted out.
Thank you !', Hermione replied ... I thought Ron was with you' she added to dispel the heavy atmosphere, conscious of her beauty and of its effects.
No !,' replied Harry, glad to be back down to earth. I've been here for nearly a quarter of an hour. Ron had just got out of his bath when I came down. But he won't be long, I think ... I wonder whether Percy would be there. It's his brother's wedding, isn't it ?'
I don't know.... As far as I know there was a present from Percy and Bill said he wouldn't open it ! It's sad ! Don't you think so ?'
Yes, but if Percy sent him a gift, that means he's trying to make the first steps. It would be better to give him a chance to redeem himself !'
Their conversation was interrupted by the general arrival of guests by Apparition. Neville and his grandmother, Luna and her father, some members of the Order: McGonagall, the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-eye Moody, Hagrid ... Ron chose that moment to come too. And the friends of the Dumbledore's Army were glad to meet again and they went to take their seats in the corner, on the second row, so that they could discuss quietly amongst themselves. Mr Weasley and Charlie received the guests and led them to their seats. Tonks arrived hand in hand with Lupin. She looked radiant with her bright chewing-gum-pink coloured hair artistically twisted into a bun and a few stray locks floating in the wind. Lupin, very smart in his brand new black robe, smiled widely in the direction of Harry's group.
Bill, dressed in black Muggle style, with a red-wine coloured robe thrown over his jacket, and with a serious expression on his face, had just reached the foot of the platform with Mrs Weasley. He still showed traces of the bites by Greyback, a dreadful werewolf, smooth and pale scars on his suntanned face. He had lost a bit of his right eyebrow ! Harry thought that a micro aesthetic surgery in a Muggle hospital could certainly remove the scars, or at least make them less visible. But fortunately, his feature was still beautiful, and his profile intact.
McGonagall was on the platform, looking serious. She was going to unite the bride and groom in Dumbledore's place.
At that moment, the wedding music was heard from somewhere in the air, unreal, and ... from the kitchen door, Fleur, held by the arm by her father, walked out stately in her long, tight, pearly white low cut dress. A twisted string of pearls was dropping to the bottom of her breasts, and the famous goblin-made tiara of great auntie Muriel sat gracefully on her hair. People might say that Venus had just come back to life. Behind her, Ginny and Gabrielle, in misty pale-yellow dresses with a pastel coloured floral crown on their heads and a posy in their hands, processed in Fleur's wake, slightly shy, conscious of their role and of the guests' scrutiny. Ginny's flaming red hair melted away in the sunrays that succeeded in breaking through the dense poplar foliage. Harry thought that Ginny was lovely, simply lovely and his heart started beating so rapidly that he had to press his hand on his chest to calm it down. No, I should absolutely forget her' he thought.
When he got to the foot of the platform, Mr Delacour placed Fleur's hand in Bill's stretched one, then the bride and groom went up the platform. After Professor McGonagall had pronounced the ritual phrases for the circumstances, she said:
I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss !'
Booming applause burst out from the gathering. And multicoloured confetti rained down on everyone from the branches. There was a total euphoria.
Suddenly, Dobby appeared in front of Harry.
Mr Potter ! The Death Eaters are everywhere in the bushes !
Harry jumped onto the platform and cried to the whole gathering:
THE DEATH EATERS !'
Then he Apparated into Ron's room, wrapped himself in his Invisibility Cloak. He then Apparated back into the garden, where a merciless and disorderly battle started doing damages. Bill and Fleur, with the tiara in one hand and the wand in the other, sided together facing Greyback who shouted to another Death Eater:
The red haired girl ! Quick !'
Harry understood at once what that meant. Ginny was on the platform, behind Mr Weasley. He jumped onto the platform, took off his Invisibility Cloak and wrapped Ginny in it:
Quick here, Ginny !', and he Apparated, with Ginny in his arms, to Diagon Alley in front of Fred's and George's shop.
Jump up to the attic, and stay there', said Harry in a firm tone. Wrap yourself in the cloak and don't make any noise. I have to return to The Burrow to help the others, and don't try to stop me. You've heard what they said; it's you they want. It's Voldemort who wants to get to me through you. And I'm not yet ready to face him. I have things to do first before I can confront him.'
Then Harry Apparated back to The Burrow where the battle was still fierce. Bill and Lupin were lying one on top of the other in a pool of blood, visibly badly hurt or perhaps already dead. At the foot of the platform, Fleur facing Greyback, was in a very difficult situation, for the werewolf trapped her between an upturned table and the platform where Bill and Lupin were lying, which blocked every escape for Fleur.
Greyback cried: AVA...'
Harry aimed at Greyback and cast in a clear and firm voice Sectumsempra'. Blood spurted from Greyback's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backwards and collapsed onto the steps of the platform.
Fleur gave him the final stroke: Avada Kedavra', her face was twisted with rage.
There were about thirty Death Eaters. They formed small groups to fight against the guests. Nevile's grandmother, in spite of her advanced age, revealed herself to be a dreadful witch. Ron and Luna sided together against a Death Eater. Harry succeeded an anti-apparition'' curse with a smooth swing of his wand which nailed the Death Eater down on the ground tied up from head to foot in a rope, with his wand dropped near him. Harry picked it up and launched it back to him after smashing it into two. Mr Weasley pursued a Death Eater up to the middle of the garden, but the Death Eater succeeded in Disapparating, narrowly escaping an Incarceration' curse cast by Mr Weasley. Then suddenly, the blow of a whistle was heard and the Death Eaters beat a hasty retreat and Disapparated all.
Fleur dropped down over Bill and burst into tears:
I've taken revenge for you, my darling!' Fleur cried in a sob. Harry knelt down near her, felt Bill's pulse, which was still beating, though weakly.
He is only wounded', said Harry, then he removed Bill aside to examine Lupin. He also is only wounded. We must take them quickly to St Mungo's Hospital, we may still save them'.
Tonks came running from the other end of the garden where she pursued a Death Eater. She knelt down near Harry, took Lupin's hand, and wept silently.
Bill !', let out Mrs Weasley in a sob.
It was urgent to take Bill and Lupin to St Mungo's. They then agreed that Mr Weasley, Charlie, Tonks and Fleur would accompany Bill and Lupin to the hospital.
Where's Ginny ?' cried out Mrs Weasley, panic stricken, suddenly realizing that her unique girl was nowhere.
She is safe' replied Harry, I've taken her and hidden her in the attic on Fred's and George's shop.
Without asking for more explanation she Disapparated, probably to Diagon Alley.
McGonagall asked Hagrid to keep watch over Greyback and the Death Eater Incarcerated by Harry whom she tied up with more rope with her wand, then she said to Harry:
I'll Apparate with Shacklebolt to the Ministry. On our side, two of us are seriously wounded, and on their side, one dead and one prisoner, is that right ? I'll come back with someone from the Ministry; they should establish the death of Greyback and take away the prisoner. Then she Disapparated with Shacklebolt.
Night was falling. Timidly the moon, nearly full, appeared at the horizon on a crepuscular reddish sky. The guests began to take leave.
Good bye, Mr Potter', said Mr Lovegood. You were brilliant. I've seen you Incarcerate the Death Eater, with a smooth swing of your wand, without any effort. You must have a high level magical power to succeed the curses in that way. I thought I was seeing the movement of Dumbledore's hand. I am glad to know you. But now I must leave. If I have a chance, I could relate what happened here in the evening edition.'
Please, don't mention my name', Harry begged. The least people hear about me, the better for me.'
I understand you. Don't be worried, Mr Potter.' Then he grasped Luna's arm and Disapparated with her.
At that moment Mrs Weasley appeared from thin air with Ginny in the garden. Ginny broke free from her mother's grip, ran to Harry and gave him a big hug.
No, Ginny', Harry succeeded in saying so and in getting free from Ginny's embrace. Then with a firm voice, he went on: We should absolutely keep our distance, and you must understand that. I have things to do before I could confront Voldemort. But if he succeeded in having you and forced me to face him, I could not leave you, and it would mean my death certainly. And then my death wouldn't be useful, neither to you, nor to me, nor to anyone, but to Voldemort.'
Yes, Ginny,' Ron supported, You should listen to Harry. I'm your brother, I love you very much, but Harry is right'.
Ginny dropped her arms, ran to the house, and locked herself in her room. No one saw her again during the evening, Hermione brought up her dinner in her room.
Not long before midnight, Mr Weasley, Tonks and Fleur came back from St Mungo's. Bill and Lupin were out of danger. The healers had succeeded in closing the wounds, which were very deep, and stopping the bleeding, but they were still very weak, they had lost a lot of blood. They were in the same room, and Charlie stayed with them.
Fleur, with the tiara in her hand, her wedding dress speckled with blood and mud, with confetti still in her hairs, completely exhausted, dropped herself in an armchair. Tonks, in rags, came to the window and looked onto the garden, which was flooded in the silvery moonlight.
Mrs Weasley came and sat near her new daughter-in-law, took the tiara from her, and patted gently on her shoulders:
My dear, we should think that we have been very lucky. Harry has succeeded in hiding Ginny in Diagon Alley. Bill and Lupin will be all right in a few days, and Greyback is dead. You avenged Bill, haven't you realized it ?'
It was Harry who saved me. My retreat was blocked; I was looking for a way to escape. Greyback was already mid-way in his incantation of Avada Kedavra when Harry seriously wounded him. He collapsed at my feet', said Fleur. And in my fury, I gave him the last stroke, I thought Bill was dead. I used the killing curse, the worst of the three Unforgivable ones. I am a killer !' added Fleur in a tone of deepest despair.
Half our family already owes their life to Harry', replied Mrs Weasley. Arthur, Ginny, Ron and now my daughter-in-law' added Mrs Weasley.
You were right in killing him', let out Tonks from the window. You've avenged Lupin for me too. It was Greyback who had bitten Lupin when he was a kid. He deserves the Avada Kedavra a thousand times, and all our community will thank you for that.'
Tonks ! Stay here this night. Charlie's room is vacant, Winky can get it ready for you within five seconds, and tomorrow we could go together to St Mungo's before the Order's meeting.'
No, thank you', replied Tonks. I'll go home and freshen up. Good night !'
She went out and Disapparated before the kitchen door.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione were alone in Ron's room, Harry confided to his friends:
I've taken a decision. McGonagall said that Hogwarts would be opened again. I will go back to school. (Hermione let out a sigh of relief) But I will wear the Invisibility Cloak all the time. Only you two will know that, and McGonagall too, because I'll have to tell her in order to organise how I would sleep and eat and so on... Nobody else will know, Ron, nobody else, neither Ginny, nor anybody, OK ? I've the feeling that the castle still holds some secrets we do not know, and you two will be there, I can't do without you.'
They went on discussing for a long time, and when Hermione bade them good night' to go to bed, it was already two o'clock in the morning. But Harry could not sleep. He stayed in his bed, looking through the open window at the small square of dark ink sky dotted with stars in the silvery moonlight. How would he destroy Voldemort ? Would he use the killing curse and then feel remorse later as Fleur did ? It was a question he asked himself many times but had found no answer.
A loud snore came from Ron's bed breaking the flow of Harry's thoughts in their course and the idea that Ron and Hermione would always be there with him gave him a taste of wild flower perfumed honey in the back of his throat. On this comforting picture of friendship and with a smile on his lips, Harry finally let himself sink into Morpheus' embrace. The dark ink sky was already turning into a pale blue one by the first dawn glimmers.
***
Chapter 4: On the White Tomb
The meeting of the Order of the Phoenix took place at Hogwarts. As they were a bit in advance, Harry, Ron and Hermione went for a walk near the lake where Dumbledore's white tomb was. It was the first time Harry was coming back here since the funeral. His heart twisted so painfully that he had to press his hand on his chest, trying to soothe it away.
Harry knelt down in front of the tomb, held out his hand on the cold marble. He then felt a flow propagating from the marble up to his heart and a beautiful phoenix song, unreal, was heard from somewhere... from nowhere... from his own heart perhaps, and he felt his pain eased away. He didn't know how long he had been there, then he said in his mind: You've left too early, but you've shown me the path I had to follow in order to carry on your work. This work is now mine, and I swear to fulfil it should I pay it with my life ... I miss you so much,' he added in a sob. He felt a warm blood flux slowly flowing through his heart.
Harry ! We must go now', Hermione was coming near him, and put a tender hand on his shoulder.
He got up but his thoughts were still far from where he was, with the phoenix song echoing in his mind. Harry was convinced that Dumbledore was there; it was his way to manifest his presence, his way to say I'm here'. And he felt comforted, and much more confident in himself.
The meeting was held in the Staff room, where a long table was laid. There were about thirty persons, some of which Harry knew well, some others only by name or by view, and some others whom he didn't know at all. Professor McGonagall first made a round of presentation. The meeting was somewhat shortened because Lupin who should make a report on his underground' mission among the werewolves during the last month was not there.
Professor McGonagall made, for the new members, a succinct summary of the Order's main objectives, the various current missions, the temporary arrangements until the next election of a new Leader, which was planned for the next meeting.
Then she explained to Harry what was to be done about the Head Quarters at number twelve, Grimmauld Place. According to her, Dumbledore had premonitions that he might die all of a sudden or in a somewhat unnatural way, and he had planned in that case to block by his own death the entrance to the Head Quarters to all those who were in the Secret, except to Harry, the proprietor of the place.
So, there was no chance for Rogue to materialize suddenly at the former Head Quarters. By a letter he had left to Aberforth, Harry had to submit the house to new curses of dissimulation and protection and to re-name the place, and only then to allow access to the Head Quarters to the members of the Order. McGonagall said there were very good books on magical dissimulation and protection at the library and that she would show him after the meeting. She then said:
Mr Potter, now that you are a member of the Order, we would like to know what mission Professor Dumbledore had assigned to you, and what you did with him the night he died.'
Harry had expected this question and his answer was ready in his mind. He replied promptly:
What Professor Dumbledore and I did on that night, and the mission he assigned to me, concern only Professor Dumbledore and me. He didn't tell me to disclose it to other people in case he should die, or if I became a member of the Order. The least people knew about it, the better it would be, and for that, I request the Order not to insist'.
Very well !', McGonagall let out with a resigned sigh. But I would like you to know that whenever you need help, the Order will be ready to give it to you, and that one of the main missions of the Order is to insure your protection. According to information we have received, for the time being you-know-who's followers are focussing on overthrowing the government. Yesterday's attack was only a side-show. That may give you some respite.'
Yes', Harry admitted, the idea that I could have precious help from the Order whenever I need, is a great comfort to me, and for that I thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart'.
Fred and George then made a demonstration of their Misleading Cloak. The whole Assembly thought it a very ingenious invention, and requested them to keep it a secret, available only to the members of the Order. The Assembly meant to make a general order for each member, when the problem of the floating image would be settled, as the drifting effect of the cloak was already sufficient to keep the person out of the cursing axe. Apart from that, Fred and George got an assignment to keep an eye on the people who frequented the Knockturn Alley. Ron and Hermione's mission was to stay with Harry and help him.
Mr Weasley then introduced the case of Fleur.
My daughter-in-law, Fleur Delacour Weasley, was on the verge of despair. She used the killing curse against Greyback yesterday. This morning she sent a confession letter to the Ministry. I told her that it was a specific case of self-defence and that everybody would thank her for having killed Greyback, who deserved the Avada Kedavra a thousand times. But you understand, when we are not a killer, it is difficult to accept it afterwards, even though we did it under the hold of furies or despair... She thought that Bill was dead', Mr Weasley explained.
After debate, the Assembly decided that the members of the Order would each send an individual petition to support Fleur. The Assembly was of the opinion that Fleur's letter would have but positives effects, it would prove how far our points of view could be different from those of the Death Eaters about the use of the killing curse, and the Assembly was sure that there would be lots of other petitions from the wizarding community to support Fleur, and that Fleur would be cleared of her act and probably even thanked for it.
Then Aberforth gave Harry an envelope on which Harry saw a familiar thin, slanting writing that squeezed him painfully as if the point of a sword had just gone through his heart.
Mr Potter, my brother has entrusted me with this the day before his death'.
Harry took the letter and kept it in the inside upper pocket of his robe. He had rather read it when he would be alone. He then looked up at Aberforth for the first time. The landlord appeared quite different from the image Harry had of him. He looked very much like his brother Albus Dumbledore, that was for sure, but a little younger, serious and serene. He was far from the image of the manager of the Hog's Head Harry had once seen. Harry was still in his thoughts, when Aberforth's voice went on.
My brother has named me as executor of his will', Alberforth said then he took out a piece of parchment and read:
* I leave to Harry James Potter:
- My chalet Concerto' in Austria such as it is, with all its furniture, books and ornaments, and the ground that surrounds it.
- All the books in the library of my manor in Scotland.
- All my personal ornaments and books in my office at Hogwarts (Aberforth passed to Harry a list of books and objects, and among these, Harry saw there was the Pensieve)
* I leave to my brother Aberforth Dumbledore:
- My manor in Scotland with all its furniture and ornaments and the forest that surrounds it.
- The entire amount of my account in Northwitch bank in London.
* I leave to the Order of the Phoenix the entire amount of my account in Gringotts for its expenditure and for grants to the families of its members, who might be direct or indirect victims of Voldemort or of his Death Eaters.
Very well!', McGonagall said, the meeting is over. As it's already late, I have ordered a meal in the Great Hall in a quarter of an hour, so that the members, new and old, might get better acquaintance with each other'. Then to Harry she said Come on with me to the library, Harry. As for Miss Granger, I think you can go to the Hospital wing. Mrs. Pomfrey can do something to your wound on the forehead which looks a bit nasty'.
Professor', Harry said, I would like to speak to you in private, and I see on Professor Dumbledore's list that there is a book which might do for the circumstance: The Art of Dissimulation and Protection in Ancient Greece', Harry added pointing his finger on the parchment.
In that case we'll go to the office. Well, you all over there', she went on, addressing to Fred, George, Ron and Hermione who had followed Harry out of the Staff room, you can all go to the Hospital wing, Mrs Pomfrey can tend you. You all have got small wounds here and there since yesterday, she will be so glad to have some work to do, and tell her that I send you'.
When they arrived in the office, Harry unconsciously glanced above the thronelike chair and met the portrait of Dumbledore who smiled serenely to him. Harry nearly missed a step, and succeeded in gathering himself together in time to answer him by a pale smile. With a twinge of pain in his heart, Harry greeted him Good morning Professor Dumbledore'. Then he felt better, and thought that he should absolutely provide for himself a portrait of his former Headmaster.
Professor', Harry addressed to Professor McGonagall, I intend to come back to school this year, but I fear that my presence might endanger my friends.'
Yes, but they are in danger now everywhere, whether at their house or here, you know that very well, Potter !', replied McGonagall while looking at random on the shelves for the book in question.
Yes, but my presence in the school would endanger them much more; it would attract the Death Eaters here. So, I think I will wear my Invisibility Cloak all the time. Nobody should know that I return to school, and if you could arrange and give me a separate room with toilets and bathroom and if I could take my meals in my room too, I think it would be possible, and perhaps Dobby could come here and serve me ?'
Well, yes, perhaps it would be possible, I'll think about it. Who else knows about your intention ?'
Ron and Hermione, and now, you, Professor. No one else.... Er ... Professor, I see that the books are put in alphabetical order, the letter A must be on the first shelves, I will climb on the ladder'.
When Harry was up on the ladder nearly at the same level with Dumbledore's portrait, the portrait gave him a sign of approval with a nod and a warm smile.
I'll inform you on what I could do for you about your room, said McGonagall when Harry left the office.
***
After the meal, and before leaving, Aberforth asked Harry:
When do you want to come and take your books from the Scotland manor ?'
Whenever you have a little time, I would come if I can, otherwise, I'll send my elf.'
I invite you to come; it's a beautiful place, with splendid surroundings, nearly enchanted, I would say, in a remote forest in the northern Highlands. An ideal place for rest, reading and meditation. The Austrian chalet is beautiful in a different way, and for a change of scenery, there is no better'.
In that case, could I come to Scotland with my friends Ron and Hermione, one of these days ?'
Yes, of course. You can come with your friends', Aberforth replied kindly.
And how could I go to Austria ?'
My brother used to go on the back of a Thestral, keep it on the place, and come back with it ... Good bye and see you soon'.
Children !', called out Mr Weasley, We'll go to St Mungo's Hospital before returning home'.
Yes, Mr Weasley', replied Harry. We will join you there', and then to Ron and Hermione, We would like to go to the village first !'
To Hogsmeade ?' George asked, 'We'll come with you'.
Arriving out of the Castle boundaries, they Apparated and landed right in front of Zonko shop.
Harry bought a packet of Chocolate Frogs and a small frame for photos. He had some ideas behind his head, but he kept it for himself.
***
It was nearly eleven o'clock in the morning. Hermione, Ginny and Gabrielle were in the garden of The Burrow.
They should be back any moment now, if everything was fine', said Hermione. I've told them we'll meet them here at this point which I've marked with a circle for them.'
Then suddenly Harry appeared from thin air in front of them, with a tiny Pop', as if by magic.
Congratulations, Harry ! Where's Ron ? Hasn't he got it ?' asked Hermione, looking very concerned.
Yes, he has, he was near me when I Apparated', replied Harry.
Then with a tiny Pop' Ron materialized too, about fifteen yards away.
I've got it ! I've got it !', Ron shouted at the top of his voice, running towards them. I've had both my eyebrows'. He then pulled a small pocket mirror out of his jean: I took it from Mum's handbag this morning, to check if I would have all my eyebrows ! At King's Cross, I was quite far from the head of the train, where I should have landed. The examiner noted it on my paper, but he said it didn't matter much; I was still in the acceptable boundaries.'
Wonderful !' said Hermione, kissing Harry and Ron on the cheek by way of congratulations.
Ginny and Gabrielle imitated her. The familiar garden flower scent filled Harry's lungs and his heart started beating so loudly that he feared the others would hear it. He then tried a diversion looking in the opposite direction from Ginny, to hide his emotion:
At the Ministry, when the clerk looked for my test sheet, I saw Malfoy's one on top of mine. When I returned my sheet, I still saw Malfoy's on the desk, intact, clean, no stamp, no mark on it at all. He hasn't come for the test.
Well done for him', said Ron, clearly very glad of the news.
At what time does the wedding ceremony start ?', asked Harry, just to have something to say.
At four o'clock', replied Gabrielle in her small and timid voice, but the guests will be there by three o'clock'.
It was boiling hot at King's Cross, I'll go and freshen up, said Harry, and they all returned to the house.
***
The elves had worked wonders. The garden was practically unrecognisable. No more wellington boots scattered around the garden, no more heaps of dead leaves and branches; the hens were in their enclosure. The lawns, freshly mowed, were like a green velvet carpet that stretched far away. Here and there, some flowering bushes in pastel colours contributed, like the last painting touches, to make the whole scene a masterpiece. At the end of the garden, in front of the row of thousand-year-old poplars, a platform was erected, lined with flowerbeds. Garlands, hung above the platform under the branches, completed the decoration, and gave the impression that one was facing a fairy's cave.
Two rows of chairs in semi circle faced the platform. Harry counted the chairs. No, there wouldn't be too many people. The members of the families from both sides, bride and groom, would occupy about twenty chairs, then there would only be about twenty guests: some members of the Order, some colleagues of Bill and Mr Weasley, one or two friends of Fred and George. Ron had invited Neville, a school friend, who would come with her grandmother, and Luna Lovegood, a friend of Ginny, who would come with his father. Harry was glad to get to know Mr Lovegood, the editor of the Quibbler, who, two years ago, had agreed to publish his interview by Rita Skeeter, on Voldemort's return, when nobody, including the Ministry, wanted to believe him.
Still lost in his thoughts, Harry saw Hermione from the kitchen door, as she stately walked out in her diaphanous ash mauve coloured dress that moulded her adolescent body harmoniously, like an apparition that emerged from the blue agapanthus bushes behind her. A timid smile in the corner of her small mouth gave her a specific expression of her own. She was even more beautiful than at the Yull Ball of the Triwizard Tournament, three years ago, Harry thought.
You are very beautiful, Hermione !' Harry blurted out.
Thank you !', Hermione replied ... I thought Ron was with you' she added to dispel the heavy atmosphere, conscious of her beauty and of its effects.
No !,' replied Harry, glad to be back down to earth. I've been here for nearly a quarter of an hour. Ron had just got out of his bath when I came down. But he won't be long, I think ... I wonder whether Percy would be there. It's his brother's wedding, isn't it ?'
I don't know.... As far as I know there was a present from Percy and Bill said he wouldn't open it ! It's sad ! Don't you think so ?'
Yes, but if Percy sent him a gift, that means he's trying to make the first steps. It would be better to give him a chance to redeem himself !'
Their conversation was interrupted by the general arrival of guests by Apparition. Neville and his grandmother, Luna and her father, some members of the Order: McGonagall, the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-eye Moody, Hagrid ... Ron chose that moment to come too. And the friends of the Dumbledore's Army were glad to meet again and they went to take their seats in the corner, on the second row, so that they could discuss quietly amongst themselves. Mr Weasley and Charlie received the guests and led them to their seats. Tonks arrived hand in hand with Lupin. She looked radiant with her bright chewing-gum-pink coloured hair artistically twisted into a bun and a few stray locks floating in the wind. Lupin, very smart in his brand new black robe, smiled widely in the direction of Harry's group.
Bill, dressed in black Muggle style, with a red-wine coloured robe thrown over his jacket, and with a serious expression on his face, had just reached the foot of the platform with Mrs Weasley. He still showed traces of the bites by Greyback, a dreadful werewolf, smooth and pale scars on his suntanned face. He had lost a bit of his right eyebrow ! Harry thought that a micro aesthetic surgery in a Muggle hospital could certainly remove the scars, or at least make them less visible. But fortunately, his feature was still beautiful, and his profile intact.
McGonagall was on the platform, looking serious. She was going to unite the bride and groom in Dumbledore's place.
At that moment, the wedding music was heard from somewhere in the air, unreal, and ... from the kitchen door, Fleur, held by the arm by her father, walked out stately in her long, tight, pearly white low cut dress. A twisted string of pearls was dropping to the bottom of her breasts, and the famous goblin-made tiara of great auntie Muriel sat gracefully on her hair. People might say that Venus had just come back to life. Behind her, Ginny and Gabrielle, in misty pale-yellow dresses with a pastel coloured floral crown on their heads and a posy in their hands, processed in Fleur's wake, slightly shy, conscious of their role and of the guests' scrutiny. Ginny's flaming red hair melted away in the sunrays that succeeded in breaking through the dense poplar foliage. Harry thought that Ginny was lovely, simply lovely and his heart started beating so rapidly that he had to press his hand on his chest to calm it down. No, I should absolutely forget her' he thought.
When he got to the foot of the platform, Mr Delacour placed Fleur's hand in Bill's stretched one, then the bride and groom went up the platform. After Professor McGonagall had pronounced the ritual phrases for the circumstances, she said:
I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss !'
Booming applause burst out from the gathering. And multicoloured confetti rained down on everyone from the branches. There was a total euphoria.
Suddenly, Dobby appeared in front of Harry.
Mr Potter ! The Death Eaters are everywhere in the bushes !
Harry jumped onto the platform and cried to the whole gathering:
THE DEATH EATERS !'
Then he Apparated into Ron's room, wrapped himself in his Invisibility Cloak. He then Apparated back into the garden, where a merciless and disorderly battle started doing damages. Bill and Fleur, with the tiara in one hand and the wand in the other, sided together facing Greyback who shouted to another Death Eater:
The red haired girl ! Quick !'
Harry understood at once what that meant. Ginny was on the platform, behind Mr Weasley. He jumped onto the platform, took off his Invisibility Cloak and wrapped Ginny in it:
Quick here, Ginny !', and he Apparated, with Ginny in his arms, to Diagon Alley in front of Fred's and George's shop.
Jump up to the attic, and stay there', said Harry in a firm tone. Wrap yourself in the cloak and don't make any noise. I have to return to The Burrow to help the others, and don't try to stop me. You've heard what they said; it's you they want. It's Voldemort who wants to get to me through you. And I'm not yet ready to face him. I have things to do first before I can confront him.'
Then Harry Apparated back to The Burrow where the battle was still fierce. Bill and Lupin were lying one on top of the other in a pool of blood, visibly badly hurt or perhaps already dead. At the foot of the platform, Fleur facing Greyback, was in a very difficult situation, for the werewolf trapped her between an upturned table and the platform where Bill and Lupin were lying, which blocked every escape for Fleur.
Greyback cried: AVA...'
Harry aimed at Greyback and cast in a clear and firm voice Sectumsempra'. Blood spurted from Greyback's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backwards and collapsed onto the steps of the platform.
Fleur gave him the final stroke: Avada Kedavra', her face was twisted with rage.
There were about thirty Death Eaters. They formed small groups to fight against the guests. Nevile's grandmother, in spite of her advanced age, revealed herself to be a dreadful witch. Ron and Luna sided together against a Death Eater. Harry succeeded an anti-apparition'' curse with a smooth swing of his wand which nailed the Death Eater down on the ground tied up from head to foot in a rope, with his wand dropped near him. Harry picked it up and launched it back to him after smashing it into two. Mr Weasley pursued a Death Eater up to the middle of the garden, but the Death Eater succeeded in Disapparating, narrowly escaping an Incarceration' curse cast by Mr Weasley. Then suddenly, the blow of a whistle was heard and the Death Eaters beat a hasty retreat and Disapparated all.
Fleur dropped down over Bill and burst into tears:
I've taken revenge for you, my darling!' Fleur cried in a sob. Harry knelt down near her, felt Bill's pulse, which was still beating, though weakly.
He is only wounded', said Harry, then he removed Bill aside to examine Lupin. He also is only wounded. We must take them quickly to St Mungo's Hospital, we may still save them'.
Tonks came running from the other end of the garden where she pursued a Death Eater. She knelt down near Harry, took Lupin's hand, and wept silently.
Bill !', let out Mrs Weasley in a sob.
It was urgent to take Bill and Lupin to St Mungo's. They then agreed that Mr Weasley, Charlie, Tonks and Fleur would accompany Bill and Lupin to the hospital.
Where's Ginny ?' cried out Mrs Weasley, panic stricken, suddenly realizing that her unique girl was nowhere.
She is safe' replied Harry, I've taken her and hidden her in the attic on Fred's and George's shop.
Without asking for more explanation she Disapparated, probably to Diagon Alley.
McGonagall asked Hagrid to keep watch over Greyback and the Death Eater Incarcerated by Harry whom she tied up with more rope with her wand, then she said to Harry:
I'll Apparate with Shacklebolt to the Ministry. On our side, two of us are seriously wounded, and on their side, one dead and one prisoner, is that right ? I'll come back with someone from the Ministry; they should establish the death of Greyback and take away the prisoner. Then she Disapparated with Shacklebolt.
Night was falling. Timidly the moon, nearly full, appeared at the horizon on a crepuscular reddish sky. The guests began to take leave.
Good bye, Mr Potter', said Mr Lovegood. You were brilliant. I've seen you Incarcerate the Death Eater, with a smooth swing of your wand, without any effort. You must have a high level magical power to succeed the curses in that way. I thought I was seeing the movement of Dumbledore's hand. I am glad to know you. But now I must leave. If I have a chance, I could relate what happened here in the evening edition.'
Please, don't mention my name', Harry begged. The least people hear about me, the better for me.'
I understand you. Don't be worried, Mr Potter.' Then he grasped Luna's arm and Disapparated with her.
At that moment Mrs Weasley appeared from thin air with Ginny in the garden. Ginny broke free from her mother's grip, ran to Harry and gave him a big hug.
No, Ginny', Harry succeeded in saying so and in getting free from Ginny's embrace. Then with a firm voice, he went on: We should absolutely keep our distance, and you must understand that. I have things to do before I could confront Voldemort. But if he succeeded in having you and forced me to face him, I could not leave you, and it would mean my death certainly. And then my death wouldn't be useful, neither to you, nor to me, nor to anyone, but to Voldemort.'
Yes, Ginny,' Ron supported, You should listen to Harry. I'm your brother, I love you very much, but Harry is right'.
Ginny dropped her arms, ran to the house, and locked herself in her room. No one saw her again during the evening, Hermione brought up her dinner in her room.
Not long before midnight, Mr Weasley, Tonks and Fleur came back from St Mungo's. Bill and Lupin were out of danger. The healers had succeeded in closing the wounds, which were very deep, and stopping the bleeding, but they were still very weak, they had lost a lot of blood. They were in the same room, and Charlie stayed with them.
Fleur, with the tiara in her hand, her wedding dress speckled with blood and mud, with confetti still in her hairs, completely exhausted, dropped herself in an armchair. Tonks, in rags, came to the window and looked onto the garden, which was flooded in the silvery moonlight.
Mrs Weasley came and sat near her new daughter-in-law, took the tiara from her, and patted gently on her shoulders:
My dear, we should think that we have been very lucky. Harry has succeeded in hiding Ginny in Diagon Alley. Bill and Lupin will be all right in a few days, and Greyback is dead. You avenged Bill, haven't you realized it ?'
It was Harry who saved me. My retreat was blocked; I was looking for a way to escape. Greyback was already mid-way in his incantation of Avada Kedavra when Harry seriously wounded him. He collapsed at my feet', said Fleur. And in my fury, I gave him the last stroke, I thought Bill was dead. I used the killing curse, the worst of the three Unforgivable ones. I am a killer !' added Fleur in a tone of deepest despair.
Half our family already owes their life to Harry', replied Mrs Weasley. Arthur, Ginny, Ron and now my daughter-in-law' added Mrs Weasley.
You were right in killing him', let out Tonks from the window. You've avenged Lupin for me too. It was Greyback who had bitten Lupin when he was a kid. He deserves the Avada Kedavra a thousand times, and all our community will thank you for that.'
Tonks ! Stay here this night. Charlie's room is vacant, Winky can get it ready for you within five seconds, and tomorrow we could go together to St Mungo's before the Order's meeting.'
No, thank you', replied Tonks. I'll go home and freshen up. Good night !'
She went out and Disapparated before the kitchen door.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione were alone in Ron's room, Harry confided to his friends:
I've taken a decision. McGonagall said that Hogwarts would be opened again. I will go back to school. (Hermione let out a sigh of relief) But I will wear the Invisibility Cloak all the time. Only you two will know that, and McGonagall too, because I'll have to tell her in order to organise how I would sleep and eat and so on... Nobody else will know, Ron, nobody else, neither Ginny, nor anybody, OK ? I've the feeling that the castle still holds some secrets we do not know, and you two will be there, I can't do without you.'
They went on discussing for a long time, and when Hermione bade them good night' to go to bed, it was already two o'clock in the morning. But Harry could not sleep. He stayed in his bed, looking through the open window at the small square of dark ink sky dotted with stars in the silvery moonlight. How would he destroy Voldemort ? Would he use the killing curse and then feel remorse later as Fleur did ? It was a question he asked himself many times but had found no answer.
A loud snore came from Ron's bed breaking the flow of Harry's thoughts in their course and the idea that Ron and Hermione would always be there with him gave him a taste of wild flower perfumed honey in the back of his throat. On this comforting picture of friendship and with a smile on his lips, Harry finally let himself sink into Morpheus' embrace. The dark ink sky was already turning into a pale blue one by the first dawn glimmers.
***
Chapter 4: On the White Tomb
The meeting of the Order of the Phoenix took place at Hogwarts. As they were a bit in advance, Harry, Ron and Hermione went for a walk near the lake where Dumbledore's white tomb was. It was the first time Harry was coming back here since the funeral. His heart twisted so painfully that he had to press his hand on his chest, trying to soothe it away.
Harry knelt down in front of the tomb, held out his hand on the cold marble. He then felt a flow propagating from the marble up to his heart and a beautiful phoenix song, unreal, was heard from somewhere... from nowhere... from his own heart perhaps, and he felt his pain eased away. He didn't know how long he had been there, then he said in his mind: You've left too early, but you've shown me the path I had to follow in order to carry on your work. This work is now mine, and I swear to fulfil it should I pay it with my life ... I miss you so much,' he added in a sob. He felt a warm blood flux slowly flowing through his heart.
Harry ! We must go now', Hermione was coming near him, and put a tender hand on his shoulder.
He got up but his thoughts were still far from where he was, with the phoenix song echoing in his mind. Harry was convinced that Dumbledore was there; it was his way to manifest his presence, his way to say I'm here'. And he felt comforted, and much more confident in himself.
The meeting was held in the Staff room, where a long table was laid. There were about thirty persons, some of which Harry knew well, some others only by name or by view, and some others whom he didn't know at all. Professor McGonagall first made a round of presentation. The meeting was somewhat shortened because Lupin who should make a report on his underground' mission among the werewolves during the last month was not there.
Professor McGonagall made, for the new members, a succinct summary of the Order's main objectives, the various current missions, the temporary arrangements until the next election of a new Leader, which was planned for the next meeting.
Then she explained to Harry what was to be done about the Head Quarters at number twelve, Grimmauld Place. According to her, Dumbledore had premonitions that he might die all of a sudden or in a somewhat unnatural way, and he had planned in that case to block by his own death the entrance to the Head Quarters to all those who were in the Secret, except to Harry, the proprietor of the place.
So, there was no chance for Rogue to materialize suddenly at the former Head Quarters. By a letter he had left to Aberforth, Harry had to submit the house to new curses of dissimulation and protection and to re-name the place, and only then to allow access to the Head Quarters to the members of the Order. McGonagall said there were very good books on magical dissimulation and protection at the library and that she would show him after the meeting. She then said:
Mr Potter, now that you are a member of the Order, we would like to know what mission Professor Dumbledore had assigned to you, and what you did with him the night he died.'
Harry had expected this question and his answer was ready in his mind. He replied promptly:
What Professor Dumbledore and I did on that night, and the mission he assigned to me, concern only Professor Dumbledore and me. He didn't tell me to disclose it to other people in case he should die, or if I became a member of the Order. The least people knew about it, the better it would be, and for that, I request the Order not to insist'.
Very well !', McGonagall let out with a resigned sigh. But I would like you to know that whenever you need help, the Order will be ready to give it to you, and that one of the main missions of the Order is to insure your protection. According to information we have received, for the time being you-know-who's followers are focussing on overthrowing the government. Yesterday's attack was only a side-show. That may give you some respite.'
Yes', Harry admitted, the idea that I could have precious help from the Order whenever I need, is a great comfort to me, and for that I thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart'.
Fred and George then made a demonstration of their Misleading Cloak. The whole Assembly thought it a very ingenious invention, and requested them to keep it a secret, available only to the members of the Order. The Assembly meant to make a general order for each member, when the problem of the floating image would be settled, as the drifting effect of the cloak was already sufficient to keep the person out of the cursing axe. Apart from that, Fred and George got an assignment to keep an eye on the people who frequented the Knockturn Alley. Ron and Hermione's mission was to stay with Harry and help him.
Mr Weasley then introduced the case of Fleur.
My daughter-in-law, Fleur Delacour Weasley, was on the verge of despair. She used the killing curse against Greyback yesterday. This morning she sent a confession letter to the Ministry. I told her that it was a specific case of self-defence and that everybody would thank her for having killed Greyback, who deserved the Avada Kedavra a thousand times. But you understand, when we are not a killer, it is difficult to accept it afterwards, even though we did it under the hold of furies or despair... She thought that Bill was dead', Mr Weasley explained.
After debate, the Assembly decided that the members of the Order would each send an individual petition to support Fleur. The Assembly was of the opinion that Fleur's letter would have but positives effects, it would prove how far our points of view could be different from those of the Death Eaters about the use of the killing curse, and the Assembly was sure that there would be lots of other petitions from the wizarding community to support Fleur, and that Fleur would be cleared of her act and probably even thanked for it.
Then Aberforth gave Harry an envelope on which Harry saw a familiar thin, slanting writing that squeezed him painfully as if the point of a sword had just gone through his heart.
Mr Potter, my brother has entrusted me with this the day before his death'.
Harry took the letter and kept it in the inside upper pocket of his robe. He had rather read it when he would be alone. He then looked up at Aberforth for the first time. The landlord appeared quite different from the image Harry had of him. He looked very much like his brother Albus Dumbledore, that was for sure, but a little younger, serious and serene. He was far from the image of the manager of the Hog's Head Harry had once seen. Harry was still in his thoughts, when Aberforth's voice went on.
My brother has named me as executor of his will', Alberforth said then he took out a piece of parchment and read:
* I leave to Harry James Potter:
- My chalet Concerto' in Austria such as it is, with all its furniture, books and ornaments, and the ground that surrounds it.
- All the books in the library of my manor in Scotland.
- All my personal ornaments and books in my office at Hogwarts (Aberforth passed to Harry a list of books and objects, and among these, Harry saw there was the Pensieve)
* I leave to my brother Aberforth Dumbledore:
- My manor in Scotland with all its furniture and ornaments and the forest that surrounds it.
- The entire amount of my account in Northwitch bank in London.
* I leave to the Order of the Phoenix the entire amount of my account in Gringotts for its expenditure and for grants to the families of its members, who might be direct or indirect victims of Voldemort or of his Death Eaters.
Very well!', McGonagall said, the meeting is over. As it's already late, I have ordered a meal in the Great Hall in a quarter of an hour, so that the members, new and old, might get better acquaintance with each other'. Then to Harry she said Come on with me to the library, Harry. As for Miss Granger, I think you can go to the Hospital wing. Mrs. Pomfrey can do something to your wound on the forehead which looks a bit nasty'.
Professor', Harry said, I would like to speak to you in private, and I see on Professor Dumbledore's list that there is a book which might do for the circumstance: The Art of Dissimulation and Protection in Ancient Greece', Harry added pointing his finger on the parchment.
In that case we'll go to the office. Well, you all over there', she went on, addressing to Fred, George, Ron and Hermione who had followed Harry out of the Staff room, you can all go to the Hospital wing, Mrs Pomfrey can tend you. You all have got small wounds here and there since yesterday, she will be so glad to have some work to do, and tell her that I send you'.
When they arrived in the office, Harry unconsciously glanced above the thronelike chair and met the portrait of Dumbledore who smiled serenely to him. Harry nearly missed a step, and succeeded in gathering himself together in time to answer him by a pale smile. With a twinge of pain in his heart, Harry greeted him Good morning Professor Dumbledore'. Then he felt better, and thought that he should absolutely provide for himself a portrait of his former Headmaster.
Professor', Harry addressed to Professor McGonagall, I intend to come back to school this year, but I fear that my presence might endanger my friends.'
Yes, but they are in danger now everywhere, whether at their house or here, you know that very well, Potter !', replied McGonagall while looking at random on the shelves for the book in question.
Yes, but my presence in the school would endanger them much more; it would attract the Death Eaters here. So, I think I will wear my Invisibility Cloak all the time. Nobody should know that I return to school, and if you could arrange and give me a separate room with toilets and bathroom and if I could take my meals in my room too, I think it would be possible, and perhaps Dobby could come here and serve me ?'
Well, yes, perhaps it would be possible, I'll think about it. Who else knows about your intention ?'
Ron and Hermione, and now, you, Professor. No one else.... Er ... Professor, I see that the books are put in alphabetical order, the letter A must be on the first shelves, I will climb on the ladder'.
When Harry was up on the ladder nearly at the same level with Dumbledore's portrait, the portrait gave him a sign of approval with a nod and a warm smile.
I'll inform you on what I could do for you about your room, said McGonagall when Harry left the office.
***
After the meal, and before leaving, Aberforth asked Harry:
When do you want to come and take your books from the Scotland manor ?'
Whenever you have a little time, I would come if I can, otherwise, I'll send my elf.'
I invite you to come; it's a beautiful place, with splendid surroundings, nearly enchanted, I would say, in a remote forest in the northern Highlands. An ideal place for rest, reading and meditation. The Austrian chalet is beautiful in a different way, and for a change of scenery, there is no better'.
In that case, could I come to Scotland with my friends Ron and Hermione, one of these days ?'
Yes, of course. You can come with your friends', Aberforth replied kindly.
And how could I go to Austria ?'
My brother used to go on the back of a Thestral, keep it on the place, and come back with it ... Good bye and see you soon'.
Children !', called out Mr Weasley, We'll go to St Mungo's Hospital before returning home'.
Yes, Mr Weasley', replied Harry. We will join you there', and then to Ron and Hermione, We would like to go to the village first !'
To Hogsmeade ?' George asked, 'We'll come with you'.
Arriving out of the Castle boundaries, they Apparated and landed right in front of Zonko shop.
Harry bought a packet of Chocolate Frogs and a small frame for photos. He had some ideas behind his head, but he kept it for himself.
***
Publié par chieuduongvien à 15:20:19 dans Harry Potter's Fan | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens
Chapter 5 - 6 | 17 septembre 2008
Chapter 5: Back to the Sources
Back to The Borrow, Harry ran up to Ron's room, and locked himself in order to read Dumbledore's letter. Hermione discreetly gave Ron a significant look and pulled him to the kitchen.
The letter was undated.
Dear Harry,
If you received this letter from my brother Aberforth's hand, it means that my departure had been somehow a little precipitated. But be assured, as I once told you, that for ordered people, death is but the next great adventure.
You know now why Voldemort is indestructible, and you also know how to vanquish him. Don't forget that Love is your strength; it's the only weapon against which Voldemort would be powerless. And bear in mind that help would be given to anyone who asks for it, and that I would only truly have left, when none here are loyal to me. I am always at your side.
I am confident in our victory.
Good luck to you, Harry.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
P.S. There are Muggle style security devices at your chalet in Austria. The code is twice the date of your birth then your birth hour.
Harry fell down onto his bed, with his face in his pillow, and gave way to his sorrow. When Hermione brought up his meal, she found him in that position with the letter in his hand.
Harry, said Hermione kneeling down beside his bed, and putting a comforting hand round his shoulders. I brought your dinner.'
Harry sat up on his bed and gave her the letter.
Hermione read it slowly in silence.
It's a way for him to say Good Bye to you', said Hermione after having read the letter through to the end, so that his departure may not be too brutal to you. He certainly loved you very much.'
Hermione always proved to be thoughtful and understanding, Harry thought with gratitude. Ron just came into the room, bringing the dessert on a small plate.
Well ?', Ron asked in a carefree and rather tactless mood, What did Dumbledore say in the letter ?'
Hermione gave him a reproachful look and handed him the letter. Ron read it straight through.
It sounds perfectly like Dumbledore. That doesn't get you anywhere !' Ron snapped, handing back the letter.
Harry took it and saw that the P.S. was no longer there, but said nothing. He started taking his meal.
What's the program for tomorrow ?' Ron inquired.
I think I'll go through Dumbledore's book tonight', replied Harry. And tomorrow we'll go to number twelve, Grimmauld Place to prepare the house for our settlement. And I'd like to go to Godric's Hollow afterwards'.
We'll come with you', said Hermione and Ron together.
And the three friends stayed late in the night, to read the book and discuss about the best way to dissimulate and protect magically the Head Quarters. They finally decided to adopt an associated way of protection and dissimulation which was to be performed by many persons, (here four people including Dobby. Yes, the elves were very magically powerful, but they only used magic when their masters allowed them to do so) each one with his own formula, and then to re-christen the house under another name.
***
Harry just woke up, when Hermione, already dressed, came into the room and went straight to the window to open it widely.
Up to work ! You boys !'
Harry sat up in his bed:
I've an idea', then he called Dobby !' and the elf appeared from thin air in front of him.
Mr Potter asks for Dobby ?'
Could you prepare some sandwiches for us' asked Harry. We'll make a picnic, for you too, because I wish you to come with us, ... in an hour ...' added Harry.
Yes, Sir !'.
The three friends came down and took their breakfast hastily.
Mum ! Dobby has prepared sandwiches for us. Don't wait for us for lunch, said Ron to Mrs Weasley.
And where are you going ?' asked Mrs Weasley, then ... if I am allowed to know ?' she added with a mocking smile.
We are going to Grimmauld Place', answered Harry. And Dobby will come with us. We'd like to prepare and re-name the Head Quarters for the Order.'
Then, each of them gave Mrs Weasley a kiss on the cheek.
Dobby', said Harry, you'll wait for us discreetly at Grimmauld Place. As for us, Ron, Hermione and I, we'll go by the Muggle bus. No need for you to be there too early before us. OK ?', added Harry.
Yes, Sir ! Don't be worried Mr Potter', Dobby answered promptly.
***
The Muggle bus was very slow and not at all to Ron's taste.
Is it the way you travel ?' asked Ron in exasperation.
Yes ! But we don't fall over and get our neck broken !', Hermione snapped back.
When they reached Grimmauld Place, which was deserted like most residential quarters, they all got down.
I don't see any number twelve !', Ron burst out looking desperate.
It's normal ! Wait for me here', said Harry. I'm the only one who can still see the number twelve.'
Harry went to the house and put his hand on the doorknob. He heard sounds from behind the door: click ! click ! click ! click !' as if someone had just taken away the bars from inside. He went in and closed the door. Then with a wave of his wand and in turning a round on himself, he cast a curse to remove all the former formulas of dissimulation and protection, as was indicated in Dumbledore's book. Then he went to the door, opened it and waved for his friends to come in. From a branch on a leafy tree, Dobby dropped himself onto the ground with the picnic basket, and followed Hermione and Ron into the house. Harry then put back the bars on the door.
Harry cast a new curse of dissimulation in the same way in turning a round on himself. Then Hermione and Ron did the same thing, one after the other.
Dobby ! You'll cast a curse for the protection of the house too!', said Harry.
Dobby didn't expect to be asked to do such a thing, really very touched, and with tears in his eyes, he stood facing the main door, then with his two hands, he pushed in the air in front of him, as if he pushed out some one invisible, with a very concentrated expression on his face.
When he had finished, Harry asked:
What's the curse you've used, Dobby ?'
It's a curse of old magic, very old magic, which repels everyone who wants to enter the house with an ill intention towards my master. It's a very powerful curse, and you must do it with love. If your mother was able to protect you by her sacrifice, Dobby's curse will protect you in the same way, by love and with love.
Oh Dobby, it's very kind of you', said Harry and he lifted the elf up in the air, and gave him a kiss on each cheek.
Then Harry cast another spell pointing his wand on the door, and shouting with a firm voice: WULFRIC'
Well, I've just re-named the house Wulfric', said Harry Dobby ! Would you like to be my Secret Keeper ?
Oh, Mr Potter ! Dobby is very honoured !', replied the elf, ... Dobby will die in keeping your secret. Dobby will never betray you', the elf added in a sob.
Thank you, Dobby !'
Then Dobby turned a round on himself, and stopping before Hermione, he said: Wulfric' then before Ron he said also Wulfric'.
Thank you, Dobby' said Hermione and Ron together.
Dobby will do the cleaning of the house', said the elf, running to the kitchen to hide his emotion.
No, Dobby, we'll go and choose our rooms first.
The house was very large. And it was the first time that Harry, Ron and Hermione visited the house thoroughly, on reconnaissance. On the ground floor, there were a living room, a dining room, a cavernous kitchen and toilets. On the second floor, there were four rooms, toilets and bathrooms, the third floor with as many rooms as the second one. And the attic, as large as the surface of the house with small windows in the roof, where were stocked upside down all that was no longer in use. They have decided to set up all their rooms on the second floor, with a library-living room for them, the third floor would be for the guests. The ground floor would be entirely kept for the Order of the Phoenix.
Dobby, you'll choose a room for you on the third floor', Harry said.
No, Dobby will not sleep in a room. Dobby will sleep in the cupboard under the staircase, and that will do for Dobby'.
No, I want you to choose a proper chamber, so that you may have room to receive Winky when she comes to see you. OK ?' replied Harry. And I want you to try to take away the big portrait of the lady in the first landing, if you can, because we've tried but have not been able to remove it. Tomorrow we'll settle ourselves here, you'll bring our things here, and don't forget to give Winky permission to come and see you'.
In the cupboard under the stair, Harry found a brass plate with the name BLACK' on it. He gave it to Dobby, asking him to change it into WULFRIC', and to place it on the outside of the entrance door.
Dobby prepared their meal. Harry found in the dresser the whole set of goblets in solid silver with the Black family's crest. Surprised, Harry burst out:
But, I thought that these had been stolen by Mundungus ? They are all still here ? The silverware too ... I don't understand ,' he added.
Perhaps Dumbledore ordered him to restore them', suggested Hermione.
Perhaps ... yes, because we have no other explanations, replied Harry.
There was still some bottles of butter-beer in the cave. And they were happy to share their picnic with the feeling that their adult and independent life had just begun.
***
The three friends decided to Apparate to Godric's Hollow. They landed on the slope of a small hill dotted with pines. It was still early afternoon, during siesta hours. They saw at their feet a small village, with the spire of the village church, and its graveyard. Behind them, mid way to the top of the hill and hidden behind a thick row of pines were the ruins of an old building. Something told Harry that this was the place where his parents had lived. A large path thickly overgrown by vegetation but might still be guessed, wounding its way to the foot of the hill, where two masonry posts and an imposing wrought iron gate were still undamaged. The three friends ran down to the gate, and Harry could read on a brass plate the inscription Godric's Hollow'. His heart began to beat in a disorderly manner and he again saw the scene of his parents' murder flash in his mind. A combination of love for his parents and of fury against Voldemort overwhelmed him, and he had to lean against the post to pull himself together.
Hermione, always very attentive, put an arm on Harry's shoulder, she remained silent for a while, and then with a timid voice, she asked:
Are you alright... We are here with you.'
Ron remained silent, looking at him with compassion.
It's alright' replied Harry, then he stood up and they went back to the hill. The building must have been very important allowing for the large surface occupied by the rubble. There were two sections of wall forming a corner still partly up.
There must be something left here', said Harry. If only I had a photo of the house I could have it rebuilt as it was before.
Then they began to remove little by little the layers of rubble with their wands. After many hours, their efforts were rewarded. In the bottom of the corner where the two sections of wall still remained up, they found a small piece of furniture, miraculously undamaged. It was a finely carved bedside table made in solid olive wood. In the drawer they found a small photo album, an ivory comb with a silver handle artistically worked with a floral pattern, a small oval pocket mirror in its silver frame and with a handle worked in the same style (surely they were my mother's things', Harry thought, happy to have some relics belonging to her), and some pieces of parchment. On one of these, in Sirius's handwriting and bearing no date, they could read,:
« I don't know what this may mean: Regulus seems to be preoccupied and very worried. I saw him today at my parent's where I went to fetch some of my things. »
On another piece of parchment, also in Sirius's handwriting:
« They've found Regulus' corpse in the forest in Yorkshire, under the Dark Mark ! »
Harry emptied the contents of the drawer into his bag. They decided to hide the table behind the rubble, for the time being; they would come back to retrieve it after their visit to the graveyard. Then they went down the hill. They didn't meet anyone on their way because the graveyard was on the outskirts of the village and they did not need to cross it. They didn't waste much time to find out the tomb of Harry's parents. It was a grey granite vault near other vaults bearing the same name Potter. Perhaps this part of the graveyard was reserved to the Potter's family for there were still empty places in the surroundings. On the vault of James and Lily there was a bunch of garden flowers not yet really withered, in a round marble vase full of water.
Who placed flowers here?' asked Harry.
But no one could give him an answer. Hermione, always full of delicacy, discreetly pulled Ron towards other tombs, leaving Harry alone to meditate on his parents' one. When Harry stood up, the sun was already under the horizon. They returned in silence to the hill.
I must come back here again to find out who puts flowers on my parents' tomb,' said Harry, removing completely the drawer from the bedside table and giving it to Ron. Then, he took the table through the hole left by the drawer, and they Apparated to the Burrow.
Fleur's confession letter was very moving, and had been integrally published by the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. On the other hand, the Ministry of Magic has already received thousands of petitions in Fleur's favour, but Fleur has retrieved her smile only when Bill, who had sufficiently recovered to be able to speak, told her that she had been right in killing Greyback, and that if she had to do it over again, he would ask her to cast the Avada Kedavra curse against the werewolf a million times.
Mr Weasley had caught sight of Percy at the Ministry, but Percy avoided him as always, and Mr Weasley swore that he would never forgive Percy, for it was the second time that Bill was seriously wounded and that Percy had never tried to ask for news about his brother's health.
Perhaps he thought that in sending a present to Bill in that way, and every body should be thankful to him. He can wait a long time for a word of thanks !' said Mr Weasley.
How sad !', thought Harry.
Gabrielle was still at the Burrow. Fleur told them that Gabrielle had registered at Hogwarts this year, and she would be in the fifth year class, the same as if she returned to Beauxbatons.
She'll be the youngest in her class, she skipped one class at Beauxbatons last year', Fleur said.
A class below Ginny, and she is probably a very good student to have been able to skip one class !', Harry thought.
In the evening the three friends prepared their trunks for their moving the next day. Harry was glad that Ginny was not at The Burrow. She was staying at Fred and George's to give a hand to her brothers, because they were both very busy on their research to improve their Misleading Cloak. They were suddenly becoming serious to Mr and Mrs Weasley's great satisfaction and relief.
***
Chapter 6: The Third Horcrux
The elves, because Winky had helped too, had done good work. When Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived early the following day at Grimmauld Place, the house was spotlessly clean. The portrait of Sirius' mother had been removed, wound and stocked in the attic. Their own things were respectively in their cupboards, the beds were prepared and clean. The photos of Harry's parents were on the bedside table Harry that had fetched from Godric's Hollow. These attentions touched Harry very much.
We are in our home ' burst out Ron happily.
Where is your room, Dobby ?', Harry asked.
Dobby has chosen his room in the attic, Mr Potter.'
The three friends followed the elf to his room'. The attic was separated by the load-bearing walls the same way as the other floors underneath but with an alley from one end to the other. Each room had only three walls, and no door. Dobby had cleared a small corner in the first room to place a childbed he had found in the attic. The roof was very low. At the further end of the room Harry had to kneel down to be able to move.
Very well, Dobby', Harry said. But in the attic it's very hot in summer, and very cold in winter. We'll improve your room, today, Dobby.', then to Ron and Hermione, he went on: We'll do some kind of do-it-yourself work. We'll install here a partition with a door, to turn it into a room apart. We'll go to London in a D.I.Y shop and buy some wallpaper, insulation polystyrene plates for the walls and roof (which let see the tiles and beams), wooden boards for the partition, angle brackets to maintain it, and I would like to change this small skylight window into a double-glazing one... and ... I think I'll open an account in a Muggle bank and put there a small reserve of Muggle money. Well, we'll go first to Gringotts'.
Dobby,' said Harry to the elf, we'll go to London, during that time, you'll try to clean your room, put all the other things in the other rooms of the attic, I mean except your bed, of course, OK ?'.
That evening, when the three friends went down to take their first dinner in their home', (Mrs Weasley had given them, on their departure, a great basket of provisions) Dobby's room was unrecognisable. It looked like a doll's room. The wallpaper, that Harry had chosen in a shade of light green and blue, reflected the sunset rays and flooded the room in a soothing light. The evening air that came through the brand new window refreshed the whole room with its summer flowered perfume. Hermione had found others pieces of furniture from a child-chamber to complete Dobby's room: two small chairs, a small low table, a child rocking chair to relax, and a small cupboard. She had also found, bed sheets and blankets, all clean, as they had been kept in their protective covers. Dobby thought he was dreaming !
Oh, thank you Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley !' said the elf with watering eyes.
I am glad that you like your room. We'll do the same for Winky in the attic above Ron's room at The Burrow. OK ?'
After dinner, Ron relaxed in his armchair.
Woouuawh ! We are really quiet in our home, just the three of us !'
Ya !', Harry replied absent-mindedly. He was checking and re-reading the various things and parchments he had found in the drawer of the Godric's Hollow table. Then he stood up and went to have a look at the genealogical tree of the « Noble and Most Ancient House of Black ».
Ron paid no attention at all to the genealogical tree, he closed his eyes, and relaxed in his armchair, with his hands behind his head.
Hermione read her Daily Prophet of the day.
What's so interesting in that family tree of the Blacks ?' asked Ron, exasperated, and still keeping his eyes closed.
I'm wondering whether R.A.B. was not simply Regulus Black ? He might have a second Christian name with an A', replied Harry from the drapes of the embroidered genealogical tree.
In a jump, Hermione and Ron rushed to Harry...
Here the name of Regulus bears no second Christian name', said Hermione who first found the place of Regulus on the embroidered tree.
I see here that they had a grandfather of the name Arcturus', said Harry. But I remember that Sirius told me about an uncle of his whom he liked best and who left him at his death a nice fortune. That uncle must be here on that burnt spot, and ... er ...what was his name ?'
Alphard', said Ron. Dad liked very much that cousin Alphard, he often spoke about him.'
Yes, Alphard ! Suppose that R.A.B. is Regulus Arcturus Black, or Regulus Alphard Black. That sounds perfectly well, and moreover he was a Death Eater in close contact with Voldemort ! Where could he have hidden the locket ?
The glass-fronted cabinets we cleaned !' burst out Hermione after a moment of reflection.
But the cabinets were empty when they went to check.
It was Mundungus who stole them all ! To whom could he have sold it ? said Harry, looking really desperate.
There might be a chance that the Black family's elf, I mean Kreacher, had picked it up and hidden it in his den' !', said Hermione, suddenly happy at remembering this detail, which had just flashed back in her mind.
And the three friends, full of hope ran to the cupboard behind the kitchen where the boiler was, and where Kreacher had fitted out his den'. It was a true hovel. A jumble of assorted rags and smelly old blankets were piled on the floor. In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpie-like, from Sirius's purge of the house. With the long chimney tongs Hermione withdrew everything that was in the cupboard and displayed the lot on the floor. There was everything: Kreacher's blankets, mostly all the ornaments from the glass cabinets, frames for photos, pipes, jewellery cases, medals of the Order of Merlin, rings, the photo of Bellatrix, ... but Salazar Slytherin's locket wasn't there.
Disappointed, Harry asked Dobby:
Could you please, put all theses ornaments in the drawers below the glass-fronted cabinets, as we don't know exactly, perhaps one of these things is the one we should have looked for. Not the photo, you throw away the photo. As for the blankets, you throw them away or wash them and keep them in the attic, just as you like'.
When Dobby took up the blankets to fold them, something glittering fell onto the floor.
Wait a minute, Dobby,' said Harry, and he bent down to pick it up. Woouuawh ! we've got it. Hermione, Ron, we've got it !', Harry cried out because his friends had already left the kitchen. We'll go to our living room,' Harry proposed, and the three friends went up to their living room, closely followed by Dobby with a tray and three cups of hot tisane.
It's definitely the locket that I've seen in the Pensieve', Harry said.
It was in heavy gold with a tiny snake worked in relief in the form of an S on the front face.
We've all tried to open it but we couldn't. Do you remember ?' Harry went on.
They passed the locket from one hand to another to examine it under every angle.
It's very finely worked. So fine. Such a tiny snake, yet we could see its scales glitter. It must have been made by the Goblins. Only the Goblin-made objects could reach such perfection. If you have examined auntie Muriel's Tiara, it's of an incredible keenness', Ron said while passing the locked to Hermione.
We must now think over about how we can destroy it', said Harry.
First, we should get for each of us, a pair of gloves, thick ones, in double layer of dragon skin, if possible', Hermione suggested.
Yes. You are thinking of Dumbledore's wounded hand ?' asked Harry, and that makes me think that each of us should have a Bezoar, and we should keep it permanently in our pocket. I think that if I had had a Bezoar that night, perhaps I could have saved Dumbledore, or at least slowed down the effect of the poison', Harry added sadly.
That is a very good idea' said Hermione. I'll note down on a book every time we find out what we need, and so when we go to Diagon Alley we will not forget anything' added Hermione, placing the locket on the table, and standing up to go and fetch a note book.
The letter S' of the locket, under the flickering light of the candles in the living room, seemed like alive, an idea flashed in Harry's head. He jumped up.
Come here, you two, and stand behind me. He drew out his wand and kept it ready in his hand. Then he scrutinized the locket, and spoke in Parseltongue, the snake language:
Open up !'
And the locket opened up as if by magic. A wisp of dark smoke rose from the opened locket, on which Harry pointed his wand crying stately in a sharp voice:
Avada Kedavra !'
A green flash shot out from Harry's wand and stroke right in the middle of the smoke wisp, which broke into thousands of pieces then it disappeared in thin air.
I think that you've just destroyed the third Horcrux', said Hermione.
Yes, I hope so' replied Harry.
That night, again, Harry saw in his dreams, mysterious objects that he could not quite reach, though Dumbledore helpfully offered Harry a rope that turned into snakes the moment he began to climb ... He woke up in the middle of the night and lay awake thinking about the significance of that nightmare he had seen again and again.
Little by little, the life of the three friends at Grimmauld Place got itself organized. Hermione had drawn up a very strict timetable: which time for the training of new spells, which other for reading. Each one had a book to read, to dissect what was interesting and important in it, then to discuss together.
As for Dobby, he received an order from Harry, he was to learn how to write perfectly the word WULFRIC' in capitals. As the next meeting of the Order drew closer, and Harry would have to give to each member of the Order the new name on a piece of parchment so as to allow him to come to the re-christened Head Quarters. Harry feared that people might guess by a bad handwriting that Dobby was the Secret Keeper. Dobby applied himself to the task with all his good will.
It was the last meeting of the Order before the opening term of Hogwarts, and it still took place at Hogwarts. The meeting was cheerful and animated because Bill and Lupin were back.
As no member felt himself to be up to the task to present himself as candidate to the post of Leader, the Assembly decided that they would elect a coordinator and that all decisions of the Order would be taken after debate and vote. By the end of the meeting, Aberforth Dumbledore was elected Coordinator.
Harry distributed to every member of the Order a specially folded piece of parchment in which Dobby had beautifully written the word WULFRIC'. Harry warned that the parchment would destroy itself two seconds after opening (which was a piece of magic performed by Dobby).
Fleur had officially been cleared of by the Ministry, she had received piles of individual letters of congratulations and thanks from everywhere, and even wonderful wedding presents from unknown people.
Before the beginning of terms at Hogwarts, as Harry had promised, the three friends had had time to convert the attic at The Burrow into a room for Winky as nice and cosy as the one of Dobby .
***
Back to The Borrow, Harry ran up to Ron's room, and locked himself in order to read Dumbledore's letter. Hermione discreetly gave Ron a significant look and pulled him to the kitchen.
The letter was undated.
Dear Harry,
If you received this letter from my brother Aberforth's hand, it means that my departure had been somehow a little precipitated. But be assured, as I once told you, that for ordered people, death is but the next great adventure.
You know now why Voldemort is indestructible, and you also know how to vanquish him. Don't forget that Love is your strength; it's the only weapon against which Voldemort would be powerless. And bear in mind that help would be given to anyone who asks for it, and that I would only truly have left, when none here are loyal to me. I am always at your side.
I am confident in our victory.
Good luck to you, Harry.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
P.S. There are Muggle style security devices at your chalet in Austria. The code is twice the date of your birth then your birth hour.
Harry fell down onto his bed, with his face in his pillow, and gave way to his sorrow. When Hermione brought up his meal, she found him in that position with the letter in his hand.
Harry, said Hermione kneeling down beside his bed, and putting a comforting hand round his shoulders. I brought your dinner.'
Harry sat up on his bed and gave her the letter.
Hermione read it slowly in silence.
It's a way for him to say Good Bye to you', said Hermione after having read the letter through to the end, so that his departure may not be too brutal to you. He certainly loved you very much.'
Hermione always proved to be thoughtful and understanding, Harry thought with gratitude. Ron just came into the room, bringing the dessert on a small plate.
Well ?', Ron asked in a carefree and rather tactless mood, What did Dumbledore say in the letter ?'
Hermione gave him a reproachful look and handed him the letter. Ron read it straight through.
It sounds perfectly like Dumbledore. That doesn't get you anywhere !' Ron snapped, handing back the letter.
Harry took it and saw that the P.S. was no longer there, but said nothing. He started taking his meal.
What's the program for tomorrow ?' Ron inquired.
I think I'll go through Dumbledore's book tonight', replied Harry. And tomorrow we'll go to number twelve, Grimmauld Place to prepare the house for our settlement. And I'd like to go to Godric's Hollow afterwards'.
We'll come with you', said Hermione and Ron together.
And the three friends stayed late in the night, to read the book and discuss about the best way to dissimulate and protect magically the Head Quarters. They finally decided to adopt an associated way of protection and dissimulation which was to be performed by many persons, (here four people including Dobby. Yes, the elves were very magically powerful, but they only used magic when their masters allowed them to do so) each one with his own formula, and then to re-christen the house under another name.
***
Harry just woke up, when Hermione, already dressed, came into the room and went straight to the window to open it widely.
Up to work ! You boys !'
Harry sat up in his bed:
I've an idea', then he called Dobby !' and the elf appeared from thin air in front of him.
Mr Potter asks for Dobby ?'
Could you prepare some sandwiches for us' asked Harry. We'll make a picnic, for you too, because I wish you to come with us, ... in an hour ...' added Harry.
Yes, Sir !'.
The three friends came down and took their breakfast hastily.
Mum ! Dobby has prepared sandwiches for us. Don't wait for us for lunch, said Ron to Mrs Weasley.
And where are you going ?' asked Mrs Weasley, then ... if I am allowed to know ?' she added with a mocking smile.
We are going to Grimmauld Place', answered Harry. And Dobby will come with us. We'd like to prepare and re-name the Head Quarters for the Order.'
Then, each of them gave Mrs Weasley a kiss on the cheek.
Dobby', said Harry, you'll wait for us discreetly at Grimmauld Place. As for us, Ron, Hermione and I, we'll go by the Muggle bus. No need for you to be there too early before us. OK ?', added Harry.
Yes, Sir ! Don't be worried Mr Potter', Dobby answered promptly.
***
The Muggle bus was very slow and not at all to Ron's taste.
Is it the way you travel ?' asked Ron in exasperation.
Yes ! But we don't fall over and get our neck broken !', Hermione snapped back.
When they reached Grimmauld Place, which was deserted like most residential quarters, they all got down.
I don't see any number twelve !', Ron burst out looking desperate.
It's normal ! Wait for me here', said Harry. I'm the only one who can still see the number twelve.'
Harry went to the house and put his hand on the doorknob. He heard sounds from behind the door: click ! click ! click ! click !' as if someone had just taken away the bars from inside. He went in and closed the door. Then with a wave of his wand and in turning a round on himself, he cast a curse to remove all the former formulas of dissimulation and protection, as was indicated in Dumbledore's book. Then he went to the door, opened it and waved for his friends to come in. From a branch on a leafy tree, Dobby dropped himself onto the ground with the picnic basket, and followed Hermione and Ron into the house. Harry then put back the bars on the door.
Harry cast a new curse of dissimulation in the same way in turning a round on himself. Then Hermione and Ron did the same thing, one after the other.
Dobby ! You'll cast a curse for the protection of the house too!', said Harry.
Dobby didn't expect to be asked to do such a thing, really very touched, and with tears in his eyes, he stood facing the main door, then with his two hands, he pushed in the air in front of him, as if he pushed out some one invisible, with a very concentrated expression on his face.
When he had finished, Harry asked:
What's the curse you've used, Dobby ?'
It's a curse of old magic, very old magic, which repels everyone who wants to enter the house with an ill intention towards my master. It's a very powerful curse, and you must do it with love. If your mother was able to protect you by her sacrifice, Dobby's curse will protect you in the same way, by love and with love.
Oh Dobby, it's very kind of you', said Harry and he lifted the elf up in the air, and gave him a kiss on each cheek.
Then Harry cast another spell pointing his wand on the door, and shouting with a firm voice: WULFRIC'
Well, I've just re-named the house Wulfric', said Harry Dobby ! Would you like to be my Secret Keeper ?
Oh, Mr Potter ! Dobby is very honoured !', replied the elf, ... Dobby will die in keeping your secret. Dobby will never betray you', the elf added in a sob.
Thank you, Dobby !'
Then Dobby turned a round on himself, and stopping before Hermione, he said: Wulfric' then before Ron he said also Wulfric'.
Thank you, Dobby' said Hermione and Ron together.
Dobby will do the cleaning of the house', said the elf, running to the kitchen to hide his emotion.
No, Dobby, we'll go and choose our rooms first.
The house was very large. And it was the first time that Harry, Ron and Hermione visited the house thoroughly, on reconnaissance. On the ground floor, there were a living room, a dining room, a cavernous kitchen and toilets. On the second floor, there were four rooms, toilets and bathrooms, the third floor with as many rooms as the second one. And the attic, as large as the surface of the house with small windows in the roof, where were stocked upside down all that was no longer in use. They have decided to set up all their rooms on the second floor, with a library-living room for them, the third floor would be for the guests. The ground floor would be entirely kept for the Order of the Phoenix.
Dobby, you'll choose a room for you on the third floor', Harry said.
No, Dobby will not sleep in a room. Dobby will sleep in the cupboard under the staircase, and that will do for Dobby'.
No, I want you to choose a proper chamber, so that you may have room to receive Winky when she comes to see you. OK ?' replied Harry. And I want you to try to take away the big portrait of the lady in the first landing, if you can, because we've tried but have not been able to remove it. Tomorrow we'll settle ourselves here, you'll bring our things here, and don't forget to give Winky permission to come and see you'.
In the cupboard under the stair, Harry found a brass plate with the name BLACK' on it. He gave it to Dobby, asking him to change it into WULFRIC', and to place it on the outside of the entrance door.
Dobby prepared their meal. Harry found in the dresser the whole set of goblets in solid silver with the Black family's crest. Surprised, Harry burst out:
But, I thought that these had been stolen by Mundungus ? They are all still here ? The silverware too ... I don't understand ,' he added.
Perhaps Dumbledore ordered him to restore them', suggested Hermione.
Perhaps ... yes, because we have no other explanations, replied Harry.
There was still some bottles of butter-beer in the cave. And they were happy to share their picnic with the feeling that their adult and independent life had just begun.
***
The three friends decided to Apparate to Godric's Hollow. They landed on the slope of a small hill dotted with pines. It was still early afternoon, during siesta hours. They saw at their feet a small village, with the spire of the village church, and its graveyard. Behind them, mid way to the top of the hill and hidden behind a thick row of pines were the ruins of an old building. Something told Harry that this was the place where his parents had lived. A large path thickly overgrown by vegetation but might still be guessed, wounding its way to the foot of the hill, where two masonry posts and an imposing wrought iron gate were still undamaged. The three friends ran down to the gate, and Harry could read on a brass plate the inscription Godric's Hollow'. His heart began to beat in a disorderly manner and he again saw the scene of his parents' murder flash in his mind. A combination of love for his parents and of fury against Voldemort overwhelmed him, and he had to lean against the post to pull himself together.
Hermione, always very attentive, put an arm on Harry's shoulder, she remained silent for a while, and then with a timid voice, she asked:
Are you alright... We are here with you.'
Ron remained silent, looking at him with compassion.
It's alright' replied Harry, then he stood up and they went back to the hill. The building must have been very important allowing for the large surface occupied by the rubble. There were two sections of wall forming a corner still partly up.
There must be something left here', said Harry. If only I had a photo of the house I could have it rebuilt as it was before.
Then they began to remove little by little the layers of rubble with their wands. After many hours, their efforts were rewarded. In the bottom of the corner where the two sections of wall still remained up, they found a small piece of furniture, miraculously undamaged. It was a finely carved bedside table made in solid olive wood. In the drawer they found a small photo album, an ivory comb with a silver handle artistically worked with a floral pattern, a small oval pocket mirror in its silver frame and with a handle worked in the same style (surely they were my mother's things', Harry thought, happy to have some relics belonging to her), and some pieces of parchment. On one of these, in Sirius's handwriting and bearing no date, they could read,:
« I don't know what this may mean: Regulus seems to be preoccupied and very worried. I saw him today at my parent's where I went to fetch some of my things. »
On another piece of parchment, also in Sirius's handwriting:
« They've found Regulus' corpse in the forest in Yorkshire, under the Dark Mark ! »
Harry emptied the contents of the drawer into his bag. They decided to hide the table behind the rubble, for the time being; they would come back to retrieve it after their visit to the graveyard. Then they went down the hill. They didn't meet anyone on their way because the graveyard was on the outskirts of the village and they did not need to cross it. They didn't waste much time to find out the tomb of Harry's parents. It was a grey granite vault near other vaults bearing the same name Potter. Perhaps this part of the graveyard was reserved to the Potter's family for there were still empty places in the surroundings. On the vault of James and Lily there was a bunch of garden flowers not yet really withered, in a round marble vase full of water.
Who placed flowers here?' asked Harry.
But no one could give him an answer. Hermione, always full of delicacy, discreetly pulled Ron towards other tombs, leaving Harry alone to meditate on his parents' one. When Harry stood up, the sun was already under the horizon. They returned in silence to the hill.
I must come back here again to find out who puts flowers on my parents' tomb,' said Harry, removing completely the drawer from the bedside table and giving it to Ron. Then, he took the table through the hole left by the drawer, and they Apparated to the Burrow.
Fleur's confession letter was very moving, and had been integrally published by the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. On the other hand, the Ministry of Magic has already received thousands of petitions in Fleur's favour, but Fleur has retrieved her smile only when Bill, who had sufficiently recovered to be able to speak, told her that she had been right in killing Greyback, and that if she had to do it over again, he would ask her to cast the Avada Kedavra curse against the werewolf a million times.
Mr Weasley had caught sight of Percy at the Ministry, but Percy avoided him as always, and Mr Weasley swore that he would never forgive Percy, for it was the second time that Bill was seriously wounded and that Percy had never tried to ask for news about his brother's health.
Perhaps he thought that in sending a present to Bill in that way, and every body should be thankful to him. He can wait a long time for a word of thanks !' said Mr Weasley.
How sad !', thought Harry.
Gabrielle was still at the Burrow. Fleur told them that Gabrielle had registered at Hogwarts this year, and she would be in the fifth year class, the same as if she returned to Beauxbatons.
She'll be the youngest in her class, she skipped one class at Beauxbatons last year', Fleur said.
A class below Ginny, and she is probably a very good student to have been able to skip one class !', Harry thought.
In the evening the three friends prepared their trunks for their moving the next day. Harry was glad that Ginny was not at The Burrow. She was staying at Fred and George's to give a hand to her brothers, because they were both very busy on their research to improve their Misleading Cloak. They were suddenly becoming serious to Mr and Mrs Weasley's great satisfaction and relief.
***
Chapter 6: The Third Horcrux
The elves, because Winky had helped too, had done good work. When Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived early the following day at Grimmauld Place, the house was spotlessly clean. The portrait of Sirius' mother had been removed, wound and stocked in the attic. Their own things were respectively in their cupboards, the beds were prepared and clean. The photos of Harry's parents were on the bedside table Harry that had fetched from Godric's Hollow. These attentions touched Harry very much.
We are in our home ' burst out Ron happily.
Where is your room, Dobby ?', Harry asked.
Dobby has chosen his room in the attic, Mr Potter.'
The three friends followed the elf to his room'. The attic was separated by the load-bearing walls the same way as the other floors underneath but with an alley from one end to the other. Each room had only three walls, and no door. Dobby had cleared a small corner in the first room to place a childbed he had found in the attic. The roof was very low. At the further end of the room Harry had to kneel down to be able to move.
Very well, Dobby', Harry said. But in the attic it's very hot in summer, and very cold in winter. We'll improve your room, today, Dobby.', then to Ron and Hermione, he went on: We'll do some kind of do-it-yourself work. We'll install here a partition with a door, to turn it into a room apart. We'll go to London in a D.I.Y shop and buy some wallpaper, insulation polystyrene plates for the walls and roof (which let see the tiles and beams), wooden boards for the partition, angle brackets to maintain it, and I would like to change this small skylight window into a double-glazing one... and ... I think I'll open an account in a Muggle bank and put there a small reserve of Muggle money. Well, we'll go first to Gringotts'.
Dobby,' said Harry to the elf, we'll go to London, during that time, you'll try to clean your room, put all the other things in the other rooms of the attic, I mean except your bed, of course, OK ?'.
That evening, when the three friends went down to take their first dinner in their home', (Mrs Weasley had given them, on their departure, a great basket of provisions) Dobby's room was unrecognisable. It looked like a doll's room. The wallpaper, that Harry had chosen in a shade of light green and blue, reflected the sunset rays and flooded the room in a soothing light. The evening air that came through the brand new window refreshed the whole room with its summer flowered perfume. Hermione had found others pieces of furniture from a child-chamber to complete Dobby's room: two small chairs, a small low table, a child rocking chair to relax, and a small cupboard. She had also found, bed sheets and blankets, all clean, as they had been kept in their protective covers. Dobby thought he was dreaming !
Oh, thank you Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley !' said the elf with watering eyes.
I am glad that you like your room. We'll do the same for Winky in the attic above Ron's room at The Burrow. OK ?'
After dinner, Ron relaxed in his armchair.
Woouuawh ! We are really quiet in our home, just the three of us !'
Ya !', Harry replied absent-mindedly. He was checking and re-reading the various things and parchments he had found in the drawer of the Godric's Hollow table. Then he stood up and went to have a look at the genealogical tree of the « Noble and Most Ancient House of Black ».
Ron paid no attention at all to the genealogical tree, he closed his eyes, and relaxed in his armchair, with his hands behind his head.
Hermione read her Daily Prophet of the day.
What's so interesting in that family tree of the Blacks ?' asked Ron, exasperated, and still keeping his eyes closed.
I'm wondering whether R.A.B. was not simply Regulus Black ? He might have a second Christian name with an A', replied Harry from the drapes of the embroidered genealogical tree.
In a jump, Hermione and Ron rushed to Harry...
Here the name of Regulus bears no second Christian name', said Hermione who first found the place of Regulus on the embroidered tree.
I see here that they had a grandfather of the name Arcturus', said Harry. But I remember that Sirius told me about an uncle of his whom he liked best and who left him at his death a nice fortune. That uncle must be here on that burnt spot, and ... er ...what was his name ?'
Alphard', said Ron. Dad liked very much that cousin Alphard, he often spoke about him.'
Yes, Alphard ! Suppose that R.A.B. is Regulus Arcturus Black, or Regulus Alphard Black. That sounds perfectly well, and moreover he was a Death Eater in close contact with Voldemort ! Where could he have hidden the locket ?
The glass-fronted cabinets we cleaned !' burst out Hermione after a moment of reflection.
But the cabinets were empty when they went to check.
It was Mundungus who stole them all ! To whom could he have sold it ? said Harry, looking really desperate.
There might be a chance that the Black family's elf, I mean Kreacher, had picked it up and hidden it in his den' !', said Hermione, suddenly happy at remembering this detail, which had just flashed back in her mind.
And the three friends, full of hope ran to the cupboard behind the kitchen where the boiler was, and where Kreacher had fitted out his den'. It was a true hovel. A jumble of assorted rags and smelly old blankets were piled on the floor. In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpie-like, from Sirius's purge of the house. With the long chimney tongs Hermione withdrew everything that was in the cupboard and displayed the lot on the floor. There was everything: Kreacher's blankets, mostly all the ornaments from the glass cabinets, frames for photos, pipes, jewellery cases, medals of the Order of Merlin, rings, the photo of Bellatrix, ... but Salazar Slytherin's locket wasn't there.
Disappointed, Harry asked Dobby:
Could you please, put all theses ornaments in the drawers below the glass-fronted cabinets, as we don't know exactly, perhaps one of these things is the one we should have looked for. Not the photo, you throw away the photo. As for the blankets, you throw them away or wash them and keep them in the attic, just as you like'.
When Dobby took up the blankets to fold them, something glittering fell onto the floor.
Wait a minute, Dobby,' said Harry, and he bent down to pick it up. Woouuawh ! we've got it. Hermione, Ron, we've got it !', Harry cried out because his friends had already left the kitchen. We'll go to our living room,' Harry proposed, and the three friends went up to their living room, closely followed by Dobby with a tray and three cups of hot tisane.
It's definitely the locket that I've seen in the Pensieve', Harry said.
It was in heavy gold with a tiny snake worked in relief in the form of an S on the front face.
We've all tried to open it but we couldn't. Do you remember ?' Harry went on.
They passed the locket from one hand to another to examine it under every angle.
It's very finely worked. So fine. Such a tiny snake, yet we could see its scales glitter. It must have been made by the Goblins. Only the Goblin-made objects could reach such perfection. If you have examined auntie Muriel's Tiara, it's of an incredible keenness', Ron said while passing the locked to Hermione.
We must now think over about how we can destroy it', said Harry.
First, we should get for each of us, a pair of gloves, thick ones, in double layer of dragon skin, if possible', Hermione suggested.
Yes. You are thinking of Dumbledore's wounded hand ?' asked Harry, and that makes me think that each of us should have a Bezoar, and we should keep it permanently in our pocket. I think that if I had had a Bezoar that night, perhaps I could have saved Dumbledore, or at least slowed down the effect of the poison', Harry added sadly.
That is a very good idea' said Hermione. I'll note down on a book every time we find out what we need, and so when we go to Diagon Alley we will not forget anything' added Hermione, placing the locket on the table, and standing up to go and fetch a note book.
The letter S' of the locket, under the flickering light of the candles in the living room, seemed like alive, an idea flashed in Harry's head. He jumped up.
Come here, you two, and stand behind me. He drew out his wand and kept it ready in his hand. Then he scrutinized the locket, and spoke in Parseltongue, the snake language:
Open up !'
And the locket opened up as if by magic. A wisp of dark smoke rose from the opened locket, on which Harry pointed his wand crying stately in a sharp voice:
Avada Kedavra !'
A green flash shot out from Harry's wand and stroke right in the middle of the smoke wisp, which broke into thousands of pieces then it disappeared in thin air.
I think that you've just destroyed the third Horcrux', said Hermione.
Yes, I hope so' replied Harry.
That night, again, Harry saw in his dreams, mysterious objects that he could not quite reach, though Dumbledore helpfully offered Harry a rope that turned into snakes the moment he began to climb ... He woke up in the middle of the night and lay awake thinking about the significance of that nightmare he had seen again and again.
Little by little, the life of the three friends at Grimmauld Place got itself organized. Hermione had drawn up a very strict timetable: which time for the training of new spells, which other for reading. Each one had a book to read, to dissect what was interesting and important in it, then to discuss together.
As for Dobby, he received an order from Harry, he was to learn how to write perfectly the word WULFRIC' in capitals. As the next meeting of the Order drew closer, and Harry would have to give to each member of the Order the new name on a piece of parchment so as to allow him to come to the re-christened Head Quarters. Harry feared that people might guess by a bad handwriting that Dobby was the Secret Keeper. Dobby applied himself to the task with all his good will.
It was the last meeting of the Order before the opening term of Hogwarts, and it still took place at Hogwarts. The meeting was cheerful and animated because Bill and Lupin were back.
As no member felt himself to be up to the task to present himself as candidate to the post of Leader, the Assembly decided that they would elect a coordinator and that all decisions of the Order would be taken after debate and vote. By the end of the meeting, Aberforth Dumbledore was elected Coordinator.
Harry distributed to every member of the Order a specially folded piece of parchment in which Dobby had beautifully written the word WULFRIC'. Harry warned that the parchment would destroy itself two seconds after opening (which was a piece of magic performed by Dobby).
Fleur had officially been cleared of by the Ministry, she had received piles of individual letters of congratulations and thanks from everywhere, and even wonderful wedding presents from unknown people.
Before the beginning of terms at Hogwarts, as Harry had promised, the three friends had had time to convert the attic at The Burrow into a room for Winky as nice and cosy as the one of Dobby .
***
Publié par chieuduongvien à 15:15:57 dans Harry Potter's Fan | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens
Chapter 7 - 8 | 17 septembre 2008
Chapter 7: Back to Hogwarts
Time was passing quickly and the preparations for the beginning of terms were under way. Professor McGonagall informed Harry that she had found for him a classroom under the dormitory of the Gryffindor Tower with an adjacent suite like the specific classrooms belonging to a professor. She had been careful to conceal it, giving it a name which was the password, and made Harry the Secret Keeper. Dobby was allowed to come to Hogwarts to serve Harry but he would stay in the quarter reserved to the elves, and work in the kitchen. Harry arrived at Hogwarts in the afternoon of the first of September, before the other students, by Apparition. He landed discreetly outside the castle, wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Harry had bought a brand new small suitcase to put part of his things. He marked it in Hermione's name and Hermione would take it with her as part of her own things The rest of his things Harry kept in his bag, hidden under his Invisibility Cloak.
Ron and Hermione had received letters from Hogwarts naming them Head Boy' and' Head Girl'. That was a very good piece of news for them, for it meant that they would be able to move freely in the school, even during curfew' hours.
For Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Gabrielle and all the members of the Order, Harry would not return to school, he would be in his chalet in Austria. The Head Quarters were to be guarded by one or two members of the Order, mostly by Moody, Lupin or Tonks who were freer than the others.
The day of the beginning of term passed as it had been planned. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Gabrielle arrived at King's Cross with Mr and Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley seeing Hermione with two suitcases, asked :
How many sets of books and clothes are you bringing with you ?
Oh ! I've brought some complete sets of books about Defence Against the Dark Arts with me to improve', Hermione replied ingenuously.
Oh, Mum, does it surprise you ? If Hermione could bring along all the books of Flourish & Blotts, she wouldn't hesitate !' said Ron.
That's right, Mum', added Ginny, amused with Ron's joke, for Hermione was a well known bookworm.
Five minutes after the departure of the Hogwarts Express, all the students in all the compartments knew that neither Harry nor Malfoy were coming back to school. For Malfoy, nobody made any comments, but the fact that Harry didn't return to school aroused various and mixed feelings among the students.
Most of them thought of Harry with compassion. Now that Dumbledore is dead, what could he do against Voldemort ? A young apprentice wizard against the greatest and most pitiless dark wizard the world had ever known ! Others thought sadly, specially the students of Gryffindor who used to have him in their house. It was Harry who had helped Gryffindor win the house cup during these last many years. Others thought that perhaps it would be better this way, for his presence in the school might attract the Death Eaters there and endanger their life.
Is it true that Harry is not coming back to school ?' asked Neville. It's really sad. Suddenly I feel that I no longer want to return to Hogwarts'.
So do I. It doesn't interest me any more to come back to school', said Luna. He didn't say anything at your brother's wedding, Ron !'
No, he didn't say anything ! But he is always very discreet, you know him well', Ron replied. The only reason he gave us, is that he feared his presence in the school would endanger his friends !'
There were, however, more students than McGonagall had hoped. She had thought that perhaps only half of the students would come back, but in reality there were many more.
The beginning of the term was really sad. The atmosphere of the feast in the Great Hall, usually so cheerful and animated by the noisy students after a two months' separation, had been taken over by a gloomy look from everybody, from the teachers to the students, they all were affected by Dumbledore's death and Harry's absence.
The song of the Sorting Hat once again insisted, as usual since Voldemort's return, on the solidarity between the houses, but this year its advice seemed to affect the students more deeply. The students on their own felt willing to strike up a friendship with the others. They were more ready to shake other hands which waited like themselves a friendly manifestation from the others ... Except, of course, from the Slytherins. It was definitely a Slytherin who, last year, had smuggled the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, and caused Dumbledore's death. This was the way they saw the whole story.
Harry was very pleased with the arrangement McGonagall had made. He had for himself the large classroom and behind the classroom his private bureau, his sleeping room, bathroom, and toilets. All Dumbledore's personal books and ornaments were there, on the bookshelves behind his desk. Harry was very pleased; he would have enough to read. No sooner had he arrived in his class than Harry added a special curse to repel all the ghosts of the castle and Peeves, the poltergeist. Dobby also added a special curse of his own. Harry had planned a meeting with his friends at 11 o'clock. Hermione and Ron should meet Dobby at the foot of the Gryffindor staircase, and Dobby would show them to Harry's class.
Harry had just been on his rounds to inspect all the books on the shelves when Dobby's signal told him that Ron and Hermione were there. Under his Invisibility Cloak, he went out and whispered the password in Ron and Hermione's ears, and then they all entered the class. It was also of Hermione and Ron's opinion that McGonagall's arrangements were brilliant and it gave Hermione an idea, which was also inspired by the general sentiment of the students after the Sorting Hat's song that Hermione felt.
She reported to Harry how gloomy the feast had been and what she thought of the general atmosphere, then she suggested :
And what if we re-formed the Dumbledore's Army to strengthen the solidarity between the houses, except the Slytherins, of course ? You see, last year, there were only five of us to deal with the Death Eaters. You were away with Dumbledore. If this year, they attack us again, we will have an Army. I am sure that many of the students would welcome that idea; I became aware of this feeling when the Sorting Hat insisted on the solidarity between the houses. Some former members of the D.A. asked us in the train, why we had not called them when the Death Eaters were here last year. And this year we are lucky enough to have a large classroom of our very own, and there is no Umbridge to annoy us ! Ron and I are Head Boy and Head Girl, that also makes it easier for the members to come and go.'
Yes', Ron reinforced. It's a very good idea. I feel the despair of the students, not only because of Dumbledore's death but also for your being away ! Everybody asked us if we had any news of you. We told them that you were at Bill's wedding, and then we did not get any other news from you. They love you very much, you are their hope now, since Dumbledore's death and with Voldemort operating in the open'.
Yes, may be. But they should not know that I've come back to school. You should explain to them that for the training days, I would come specially from outside, and that you would smuggle me in, taking advantage of your status as Head Boy and Girl. And we should bear in mind that we will have a lot to do such as the tracking down and destruction of the remaining Horcruxes, and the final confrontation with Voldemort. So the rhythm of our meetings would not be more than once a week ! What do you think of it ? And we should be careful in the choice of the members.'
Yes', Ron approved ... What's that ?', he added pointing at a shallow stone basin with odd carvings around the edge and which was on a tripod beside Harry's desk.
It's the Pensieve', Harry replied. I'll perhaps be able to show you Helga Hufflepuff's cup.' Then with the point of his wand, Harry withdrew from his temple a silvery strand, neither liquid nor gaseous, and threw it in the Pensieve, and then he turned the contents of the basin with the tip of his wand. Plunge your heads in it, you will see part of my memory, what I've seen with Dumbledore'.
Who would have foretold that such a young and handsome student like him could become a mad serial killer later on ?' was Hermione's comments when she withdrew her head from the basin.
Where could we now find Helga's cup ? We have no clue; it's like trying to find a pin in the bottom of the sea !' Ron said in a desperate voice.
But it's better than nothing', replied Harry. At least, we know it's Helga's cup and how it looks like. While as for the fifth Horcrux, we don't even know what it is supposed to be and how it looks like. We only know that it must be something belonging to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor !'
It's really demoralizing !', replied Ron who, as always, preferred easy things.
I am really glad for having inherited this from Dumbledore. I can now share with you what Dumbledore showed me ... In which house is Gabrielle ?' added Harry after a moment of silence.
Ravenclaw, and Luna adopted her at once, or rather they adopted each other. They've already met at Bill's wedding', Hermione replied.
Good ! She will not be too lonely then ! Luna is a sensitive and sentimental person, I like her very much', Harry said.
Me too', Ron admitted. Tomorrow we'll have double Potions with Slughorn, right in the morning'.
Yes, I know, McGonagall gave me the timetable. I think that I'll go and fetch the Prince's Potions book. Even though I hate Rogue, his book is really precious. It could help us for certain potions and antidotes. Specially antidotes. Dumbledore wanted absolutely that I took him to Rogue, not to Mrs Pomfrey. Rogue is more competent.'
Well, it's late, we must go. Good night !' said Hermione.
Good night to you both', replied Harry. I'll go and fetch Rogue's Potion book. I'll wear the Invisibility Cloak'.
We'll come with you. With us, you can walk faster, even noisily.' And the three friends went to the Room of Requirement, where last year, Harry had hidden the Potions book of the Half Blood Prince.
***
Little by little, Harry's life as an invisible' student got itself organized. The three friends worked out a way for Harry to enter a class. They always let the other students enter first. Then it was always one of Ron or Hermione to go just before Harry and the other just behind him to close the classroom door Hermione and Ron would choose the last but one table, they would put their bags on each end of the last table, behind them, and Harry would stay in the middle of the two bags.
Harry was only a free auditor', he didn't really take part in all the activities of the class; for example during the Potions lessons, Harry was there only to listen to the extra explanations of the Professor, but he didn't prepare the potions. Meanwhile he read the Prince's book, dissected the remarks noted by the Prince, and sometimes whispered to Hermione or Ron to try one of the Prince's remarks to see what would be the result compared with the book which Hermione qualified as official'.
There were some lessons which it was difficult for Harry to attend while wearing his Invisibility Cloak, for example Herbology, where the students frequently went about everywhere in the green house, looking either for a pot or for a bag of compost. These particular lessons, Harry often attended only at the beginning when Mrs Sprout explained the properties of the plants and how to handle them ... as for the other details of the lessons he completed in reading his books in his room.
This year the students of Hogwarts had a new professor of Defence Against the Dart Arts (DADA), proposed by the Ministry. He was an Auror, nearly at the point of retirement, who wished a calmer life than that of a Death Eaters hunter. It was not Umbridge - which was already a good thing - but he was not at all on top to the taste of Harry, Hermione and Ron. For the three friends were already far advanced compared with the level taught by the former Auror. He progressed too slowly, in their opinion ... Harry attended these lessons only to listen to his commentaries, critics, and to learn how to detect errors. Following the same lessons as his friends and learning the same things as them allowed Harry to be up to the level of the syllabus.
Owing to an inadequate staffing, Professor McGonagall still assumed the Transfiguration course on top of her new responsibility as Headmistress of Hogwarts. Poor McGonagall, she looked always exhausted, but Harry didn't see anyone else who could replace Dumbledore better than her.
Ginny was named by Professor McGonagall Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Harry thought that McGonagall had made a good choice, but he realized that he was no longer interested in Quidditch, nor Ron either. Ron didn't register for the Tryout sessions. Ginny was furious at seeing that her brother could let her down in that way, for after all Ron was a good Quidditch player who had allowed Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup the last previous two years.
Dumbledore's books were a real treasure for Harry. Harry came to the conclusion that Dumbledore had learnt all by himself to become what he had been. That conclusion encouraged him to immerge himself in his books, to dissect them, and to train himself assiduously. Harry was determined to follow Dumbledore's example. In a certain way, this life of an Invisible' student forced Harry to become a self-taught man, he learnt more by himself than with the professors. But he still stayed in the school because his two best friends were there.
Every evening, Ron and Hermione came to see Harry, and work with him. And so Harry learnt that at the last full moon, Lupin had not transformed either, though he had fully recovered from his wounds. It was the second full moon after Bill's wedding.
What could have cured Lupin ?', asked Harry
At St Mungo's Hospital, the healers thought that perhaps Lupin has lost too much of his werewolf blood, and the blood formed by the Blood-Replenishing potion was normal blood. Lupin said so', replied Hermione.
It's not a very logical explanation,' said Harry. The Blood-Replenishing potion is no blood ! It's only a potion that helps the formation and the production of blood by the organs, by the spleen ... I have an idea, I remember that Bill and Lupin were one on top of another. Bill was on top of Lupin. Bill had been bitten by Greyback when Greyback was not transformed, not at full moon. Bill is no real werewolf. Bill's blood might have worked out an antibody anti-werewolf. It would be enough for a particle of Bill's blood entering Lupin's body to create that miracle ! If my supposition is right, we may have a weapon against werewolves'.
Yes, it's quite sensible. We should watch the next full moon', Hermione admitted. I know how to make injection and take samples of blood. If need be, we'll ask Bill to give us a sample, and we could have it analysed in a Muggle laboratory so as to know his blood group for example. I'm of the opinion that we should be broad-minded. There are good things in the Muggle world why not make use of them ?'
I entirely agree with you', said Harry. The other day at the wedding, I looked at Bill closely, because he was before me. I thought that an aesthetic surgical operation in a Muggle hospital surely could remove his scars, or make them less visible.'
Certainly ! I do agree', replied Hermione.
That will be divine !' said Ron. Poor Bill, he was such a handsome boy.'
But he IS a handsome boy', said Harry.
They found Fudge stiff dead yesterday in his house, under the Dark Mark, apparently with no fighting, by an Avada Kedavra, said Hermione, changing the subject.
Dad said that Scrimgeour trembled with fear when he learnt the news. He came on the place some minutes after the Dark Mark had been reported. He was white like a sheet of paper,' said Ron.
It doesn't surprise me', said Harry. He must have thought that he would be the next one. Everybody in his place would have thought so'.
What Harry liked most, was the weekends, when the weather was fine. Ron and Hermione often took a walk as lovers' near the lake. Harry could be with them, under his cloak, without fear of being discovered, for the other students never disturbed the lovers, and didn't come near them either.
Ginny was very popular, as usual. She never ran short of boyfriends, but she didn't show any interest in any of them in particular. She was always surrounded by many boys, but she remained friendly and cheerful with everybody. Little by little Harry learnt to consider Ginny as a sister, it even surprised himself to see that he could wish Ginny happy with a boy, whoever he was so long as it was her choice.
Gabrielle, very beautiful, natural, a little shy and reserved, was often seen with Luna, yet they were not in the same class. The boys often turned round to look at her when they crossed her on their way. She had made considerable progress in English and spoke with no accent, according to Hermione. Harry considered her as another sister, and realized that he was no longer interested in girls, and that girls' stories no longer concerned him, so much he concentrated on Voldemort and on the tracking down of the remaining Horcrucres. And most of all, he didn't want to engage himself with any girl for fear of making her suffer afterwards; if ever he should disappear after the confrontation with Voldemort.
***
Chapter 8: Dumbledore's Army
By mid-October, the Dumbledore's Army was re-formed. All the members of the former D.A., who were still in school, were again members of the new army. Among the new members, there were as many Ravenclaw as Hufflepuff as well as Gryffindor. The new Army had in total thirty members, including Harry, Ron and Hermione. The idea of re-forming the Army was heartily welcomed by the former members who all liked Harry very much. They all decided to keep the name of Dumbledore's Army.
The first meeting began with a reproach :
Why didn't you call us, last year, when the Death Eaters came into the school', said Micheal Corner.
Yes', Hermione hastened to reply, we've called you by way of the Magic Galleon, but only Neville and Luna replied, they were the only ones to have checked their Galleon'.
We will use again the magic Galleon as means of communication', said Harry. We should keep it permanently in our pocket, when it turns hot, the date and time of the meeting will be indicated on the Galleon. This year as I come from outside the school, the rhythm of our meetings would not be more than once a week.'
I have prepared the Galleons', Hermione said. But this year, I made them in the form of a token one could hook to a key ring, so that it would be easier to keep in your pocket'. Then Hermione distributed one to each member, including Harry.
I would like to ask you all to keep our activity secret', Harry stated, not that our group be illegal. According to school rules, we are perfectly right forming study groups. But in my opinion, the least people know about it, the better for us. The Death Eaters should not know that at Hogwarts there is an Army ready to reduce them into pieces ! It would be the same for me, I'll request you never to mention my visits here or anything else concerning me. It would be better that way... Well we still have about fifteen minutes' added Harry after consulting his watch, I wouldn't like to waste time. First, I would like to know, among the former members, if there are some spells that you haven't yet been able to master, and whether these spells interest the new members too ?
I don't know yet how to conjure a Patronus' Colin Crivey hastened to say.
I can't cast the Reducto' spell yet', said his brother Dennis. It's a spell that, in class, I haven't yet been able to cast, and that I should succeed in mastering it by tomorrow'.
Ah !' said Harry, I will propose you my own program consisting in interesting and important spells, but you can ask me to help you master the spells that in class you haven't yet been able to do. Does that suit you as a program ?'
Then turning to Dennis, Harry said :
Dennis, you should bear in mind this, in every spell, the important thing is the concentration and determination of the spirit. You want to cut this bench in halves ?' added Harry in pointing at the bench in the corner.
Then with a smooth wave of his hand, without pronouncing the incantation, Harry pointed his wand on the bench as quickly as a flash, and the bench snapped neatly into two parts. Then he repaired it with another wave of the wand.
Now, you want to destroy it into pieces ?' asked Harry.
And again, with a smooth wave of his wand, Harry pointed at the bench, and it broke into thousands of pieces with a detonation.
Harry !' Hermione burst out, putting a hand on her mouth.
But Harry didn't pay attention to Hermione.
Dennis ! First, you should pronounce the incantation in a clear and determined voice, secondly, you should know exactly what you expect from the spell you'll cast. You need concentration and determination of your spirit, said Harry pointing a finger on his forehead. Now, try it pronouncing in a clear voice: Re-DUC-to', with a smooth wave of the hand. The smooth movement of the hand allows you to concentrate, see in your head, as in a flash, what is the result you wish to reach. Try it now. Look ! In that way the wave of the wand (and Harry showed the movement of the hand).
Dennis turned his wand, then pointed it at the bench crying Re-DUC-to'. And the bench broke into two pieces.
Woouuawh ! I've done it !', Dennis burst out, both happy and surprised at his own success.
Well done !' Harry said as an encouragement.
Everybody applauded Dennis, or rather applauded Harry.
You should have been our prof. of DADA', said a new member of Ravenclaw.
Harry, you've seen the time ?' Hermione reminded Harry.
Well then, I cannot linger on. Good night to everybody !' Harry said. Leave in small groups and don't take the same direction. We'll meet again next week. And do come in small groups too, next time. And don't forget, that out of our meetings, when you pass in front of the class, you must act as if you didn't see anything, in order not to draw the attention of the other people, who are not members of the D.A., and specially of Filch, the caretaker'... Then to Gabrielle Harry added : How are you, Gabrielle. You like being at Hogwarts ?'
Yes, very much', Gabrielle replied simply, in a timid but clear voice, and with a faint smile in her beautiful eyes that didn't pass unnoticed by Ron who watched her mischievously
Good night, Ginny, Gabrielle ! And ... Good night, Luna,' Harry added because Luna was waiting for Gabrielle at the door.
Your demonstration was brilliant !', Hermione burst out, after everybody had gone. And Dennis must be very happy. For a whole week, he had been unable to master the spell, in two minutes' time with you he succeeded it at the first try !'.
How can you manage to break the bench into two and then into small pieces with the same spell ?' asked Ron. We have known you for many years, and still you can surprise us every day !'
I told you that during a month at Privet Drive, I've done nothing else but training myself, practicing concentration !' replied Harry. It's in the concentration and determination of the spirit that lies the power. My Patronus is enormous now ... well, if I want that way !' added Harry after a pause.
What ? IF YOU WANT THAT WAY, what does that mean ?' asked Ron.
That means according to my wish. If it were to chase a Dementor, a normal stag would do. But what if Voldemort sent me an army of these monsters ... then ? But, for me that's not enough. My stag should be able to destroy them, not only to chase them ! You see what I mean ?
Yes, I understand what you mean, but I don't see how we could ?
By determination and concentration of the spirit ! I don't see any other ways !' replied Harry in a firm voice.
Hermione fixed Harry with both admiring and observatory eyes as if she saw him for the first time, but she said nothing.
I think that Gabrielle has a crush on you, Harry ! Ginny will have a dreadful rival !' said Ron smiling teasingly.
No, she should not. I cannot get involved with any girl, and as for myself, I don't know if I could come out unscathed, once more, from the last battle with Voldemort.'
You'll succeed; we will be always with you. But now, we should go', said Hermione.
Not yet' said Harry, leading Hermione and Ron towards the Pensieve. I would like to show you a piece of memory, of a dream I have seen again and again lately, since Dumbledore's death. Then with his wand he withdrew a long silvery strand from his temple and deposited it in the shallow stone basin, turned its contents neither gaseous nor liquid with the tip of his wand. Hermione and Ron plunged their head together into the basin :
Perhaps you think too much about the Horcruxes and about Voldemort's snake, I mean Nagini', said Ron. It sometimes so happens, that when we think too much of something, we see it in the dreams, at night.'
It's quite possible'.
Why did the rope ladder turn into a snake ?' asked Hermione.
That might be a clue to our problem ... Think hard about it ... and now, good night to you both', Harry said to his friends.
So, Harry's life as an Invisible' student went on, calm, and regulated between the lessons under his Invisibility' Cloak and the training meetings with the members of the D.A. Harry had shown them how to conjure a Patronus, because no one among the new members of the D.A. knew how to do it. Harry explained to them that the Patronus was really personal, each one conjured a different Patronus, specific to himself, and that it was a very efficient way to fight against the Dementors ... The Patronus was an animal created by the wizard which acted as a shield to protect anyone from the Dementors, by chasing them away. To conjure a Patronus, the wizard should think of a particularly happy memory, and in the beginning, it was almost difficult to select a happy memory. Harry had to devote two entire sessions before everybody could succeed the spell, and this despite the help of Hermione and Ron, who had already mastered the spell long time ago. Neville who had not been able to do it the last time, three years ago, could now conjure a wonderful silvery penguin.
And when Christmas holidays arrived, Harry could have shown to his friends ten new spells among the long list prepared by Hermione. Harry also had been able to help along many of them make up for the gaps in their knowledge.
Where will we spend our Christmas holidays ? It's in four days ?' asked Ron at the end of the last training meeting before the holidays. At The Burrow or at Grimmauld Place ?
I think that your parents would not appreciate it if we were not with them for the whole year-end holidays. But I would like us to spend Christmas this year at Concerto', then the New Year at the Burrow ? What do you think of it ?', suggested Harry.
Woouuawh ! That will be great ! And how could we go to Concerto ?' asked Ron.
On the back of a Thestral, or a Hippogriff.'
I long to see Austria', said Hermione.
We'll do it together' replied Harry, happy at the thought that he would always have his best friends with him.
***
Time was passing quickly and the preparations for the beginning of terms were under way. Professor McGonagall informed Harry that she had found for him a classroom under the dormitory of the Gryffindor Tower with an adjacent suite like the specific classrooms belonging to a professor. She had been careful to conceal it, giving it a name which was the password, and made Harry the Secret Keeper. Dobby was allowed to come to Hogwarts to serve Harry but he would stay in the quarter reserved to the elves, and work in the kitchen. Harry arrived at Hogwarts in the afternoon of the first of September, before the other students, by Apparition. He landed discreetly outside the castle, wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Harry had bought a brand new small suitcase to put part of his things. He marked it in Hermione's name and Hermione would take it with her as part of her own things The rest of his things Harry kept in his bag, hidden under his Invisibility Cloak.
Ron and Hermione had received letters from Hogwarts naming them Head Boy' and' Head Girl'. That was a very good piece of news for them, for it meant that they would be able to move freely in the school, even during curfew' hours.
For Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Gabrielle and all the members of the Order, Harry would not return to school, he would be in his chalet in Austria. The Head Quarters were to be guarded by one or two members of the Order, mostly by Moody, Lupin or Tonks who were freer than the others.
The day of the beginning of term passed as it had been planned. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Gabrielle arrived at King's Cross with Mr and Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley seeing Hermione with two suitcases, asked :
How many sets of books and clothes are you bringing with you ?
Oh ! I've brought some complete sets of books about Defence Against the Dark Arts with me to improve', Hermione replied ingenuously.
Oh, Mum, does it surprise you ? If Hermione could bring along all the books of Flourish & Blotts, she wouldn't hesitate !' said Ron.
That's right, Mum', added Ginny, amused with Ron's joke, for Hermione was a well known bookworm.
Five minutes after the departure of the Hogwarts Express, all the students in all the compartments knew that neither Harry nor Malfoy were coming back to school. For Malfoy, nobody made any comments, but the fact that Harry didn't return to school aroused various and mixed feelings among the students.
Most of them thought of Harry with compassion. Now that Dumbledore is dead, what could he do against Voldemort ? A young apprentice wizard against the greatest and most pitiless dark wizard the world had ever known ! Others thought sadly, specially the students of Gryffindor who used to have him in their house. It was Harry who had helped Gryffindor win the house cup during these last many years. Others thought that perhaps it would be better this way, for his presence in the school might attract the Death Eaters there and endanger their life.
Is it true that Harry is not coming back to school ?' asked Neville. It's really sad. Suddenly I feel that I no longer want to return to Hogwarts'.
So do I. It doesn't interest me any more to come back to school', said Luna. He didn't say anything at your brother's wedding, Ron !'
No, he didn't say anything ! But he is always very discreet, you know him well', Ron replied. The only reason he gave us, is that he feared his presence in the school would endanger his friends !'
There were, however, more students than McGonagall had hoped. She had thought that perhaps only half of the students would come back, but in reality there were many more.
The beginning of the term was really sad. The atmosphere of the feast in the Great Hall, usually so cheerful and animated by the noisy students after a two months' separation, had been taken over by a gloomy look from everybody, from the teachers to the students, they all were affected by Dumbledore's death and Harry's absence.
The song of the Sorting Hat once again insisted, as usual since Voldemort's return, on the solidarity between the houses, but this year its advice seemed to affect the students more deeply. The students on their own felt willing to strike up a friendship with the others. They were more ready to shake other hands which waited like themselves a friendly manifestation from the others ... Except, of course, from the Slytherins. It was definitely a Slytherin who, last year, had smuggled the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, and caused Dumbledore's death. This was the way they saw the whole story.
Harry was very pleased with the arrangement McGonagall had made. He had for himself the large classroom and behind the classroom his private bureau, his sleeping room, bathroom, and toilets. All Dumbledore's personal books and ornaments were there, on the bookshelves behind his desk. Harry was very pleased; he would have enough to read. No sooner had he arrived in his class than Harry added a special curse to repel all the ghosts of the castle and Peeves, the poltergeist. Dobby also added a special curse of his own. Harry had planned a meeting with his friends at 11 o'clock. Hermione and Ron should meet Dobby at the foot of the Gryffindor staircase, and Dobby would show them to Harry's class.
Harry had just been on his rounds to inspect all the books on the shelves when Dobby's signal told him that Ron and Hermione were there. Under his Invisibility Cloak, he went out and whispered the password in Ron and Hermione's ears, and then they all entered the class. It was also of Hermione and Ron's opinion that McGonagall's arrangements were brilliant and it gave Hermione an idea, which was also inspired by the general sentiment of the students after the Sorting Hat's song that Hermione felt.
She reported to Harry how gloomy the feast had been and what she thought of the general atmosphere, then she suggested :
And what if we re-formed the Dumbledore's Army to strengthen the solidarity between the houses, except the Slytherins, of course ? You see, last year, there were only five of us to deal with the Death Eaters. You were away with Dumbledore. If this year, they attack us again, we will have an Army. I am sure that many of the students would welcome that idea; I became aware of this feeling when the Sorting Hat insisted on the solidarity between the houses. Some former members of the D.A. asked us in the train, why we had not called them when the Death Eaters were here last year. And this year we are lucky enough to have a large classroom of our very own, and there is no Umbridge to annoy us ! Ron and I are Head Boy and Head Girl, that also makes it easier for the members to come and go.'
Yes', Ron reinforced. It's a very good idea. I feel the despair of the students, not only because of Dumbledore's death but also for your being away ! Everybody asked us if we had any news of you. We told them that you were at Bill's wedding, and then we did not get any other news from you. They love you very much, you are their hope now, since Dumbledore's death and with Voldemort operating in the open'.
Yes, may be. But they should not know that I've come back to school. You should explain to them that for the training days, I would come specially from outside, and that you would smuggle me in, taking advantage of your status as Head Boy and Girl. And we should bear in mind that we will have a lot to do such as the tracking down and destruction of the remaining Horcruxes, and the final confrontation with Voldemort. So the rhythm of our meetings would not be more than once a week ! What do you think of it ? And we should be careful in the choice of the members.'
Yes', Ron approved ... What's that ?', he added pointing at a shallow stone basin with odd carvings around the edge and which was on a tripod beside Harry's desk.
It's the Pensieve', Harry replied. I'll perhaps be able to show you Helga Hufflepuff's cup.' Then with the point of his wand, Harry withdrew from his temple a silvery strand, neither liquid nor gaseous, and threw it in the Pensieve, and then he turned the contents of the basin with the tip of his wand. Plunge your heads in it, you will see part of my memory, what I've seen with Dumbledore'.
Who would have foretold that such a young and handsome student like him could become a mad serial killer later on ?' was Hermione's comments when she withdrew her head from the basin.
Where could we now find Helga's cup ? We have no clue; it's like trying to find a pin in the bottom of the sea !' Ron said in a desperate voice.
But it's better than nothing', replied Harry. At least, we know it's Helga's cup and how it looks like. While as for the fifth Horcrux, we don't even know what it is supposed to be and how it looks like. We only know that it must be something belonging to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor !'
It's really demoralizing !', replied Ron who, as always, preferred easy things.
I am really glad for having inherited this from Dumbledore. I can now share with you what Dumbledore showed me ... In which house is Gabrielle ?' added Harry after a moment of silence.
Ravenclaw, and Luna adopted her at once, or rather they adopted each other. They've already met at Bill's wedding', Hermione replied.
Good ! She will not be too lonely then ! Luna is a sensitive and sentimental person, I like her very much', Harry said.
Me too', Ron admitted. Tomorrow we'll have double Potions with Slughorn, right in the morning'.
Yes, I know, McGonagall gave me the timetable. I think that I'll go and fetch the Prince's Potions book. Even though I hate Rogue, his book is really precious. It could help us for certain potions and antidotes. Specially antidotes. Dumbledore wanted absolutely that I took him to Rogue, not to Mrs Pomfrey. Rogue is more competent.'
Well, it's late, we must go. Good night !' said Hermione.
Good night to you both', replied Harry. I'll go and fetch Rogue's Potion book. I'll wear the Invisibility Cloak'.
We'll come with you. With us, you can walk faster, even noisily.' And the three friends went to the Room of Requirement, where last year, Harry had hidden the Potions book of the Half Blood Prince.
***
Little by little, Harry's life as an invisible' student got itself organized. The three friends worked out a way for Harry to enter a class. They always let the other students enter first. Then it was always one of Ron or Hermione to go just before Harry and the other just behind him to close the classroom door Hermione and Ron would choose the last but one table, they would put their bags on each end of the last table, behind them, and Harry would stay in the middle of the two bags.
Harry was only a free auditor', he didn't really take part in all the activities of the class; for example during the Potions lessons, Harry was there only to listen to the extra explanations of the Professor, but he didn't prepare the potions. Meanwhile he read the Prince's book, dissected the remarks noted by the Prince, and sometimes whispered to Hermione or Ron to try one of the Prince's remarks to see what would be the result compared with the book which Hermione qualified as official'.
There were some lessons which it was difficult for Harry to attend while wearing his Invisibility Cloak, for example Herbology, where the students frequently went about everywhere in the green house, looking either for a pot or for a bag of compost. These particular lessons, Harry often attended only at the beginning when Mrs Sprout explained the properties of the plants and how to handle them ... as for the other details of the lessons he completed in reading his books in his room.
This year the students of Hogwarts had a new professor of Defence Against the Dart Arts (DADA), proposed by the Ministry. He was an Auror, nearly at the point of retirement, who wished a calmer life than that of a Death Eaters hunter. It was not Umbridge - which was already a good thing - but he was not at all on top to the taste of Harry, Hermione and Ron. For the three friends were already far advanced compared with the level taught by the former Auror. He progressed too slowly, in their opinion ... Harry attended these lessons only to listen to his commentaries, critics, and to learn how to detect errors. Following the same lessons as his friends and learning the same things as them allowed Harry to be up to the level of the syllabus.
Owing to an inadequate staffing, Professor McGonagall still assumed the Transfiguration course on top of her new responsibility as Headmistress of Hogwarts. Poor McGonagall, she looked always exhausted, but Harry didn't see anyone else who could replace Dumbledore better than her.
Ginny was named by Professor McGonagall Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Harry thought that McGonagall had made a good choice, but he realized that he was no longer interested in Quidditch, nor Ron either. Ron didn't register for the Tryout sessions. Ginny was furious at seeing that her brother could let her down in that way, for after all Ron was a good Quidditch player who had allowed Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup the last previous two years.
Dumbledore's books were a real treasure for Harry. Harry came to the conclusion that Dumbledore had learnt all by himself to become what he had been. That conclusion encouraged him to immerge himself in his books, to dissect them, and to train himself assiduously. Harry was determined to follow Dumbledore's example. In a certain way, this life of an Invisible' student forced Harry to become a self-taught man, he learnt more by himself than with the professors. But he still stayed in the school because his two best friends were there.
Every evening, Ron and Hermione came to see Harry, and work with him. And so Harry learnt that at the last full moon, Lupin had not transformed either, though he had fully recovered from his wounds. It was the second full moon after Bill's wedding.
What could have cured Lupin ?', asked Harry
At St Mungo's Hospital, the healers thought that perhaps Lupin has lost too much of his werewolf blood, and the blood formed by the Blood-Replenishing potion was normal blood. Lupin said so', replied Hermione.
It's not a very logical explanation,' said Harry. The Blood-Replenishing potion is no blood ! It's only a potion that helps the formation and the production of blood by the organs, by the spleen ... I have an idea, I remember that Bill and Lupin were one on top of another. Bill was on top of Lupin. Bill had been bitten by Greyback when Greyback was not transformed, not at full moon. Bill is no real werewolf. Bill's blood might have worked out an antibody anti-werewolf. It would be enough for a particle of Bill's blood entering Lupin's body to create that miracle ! If my supposition is right, we may have a weapon against werewolves'.
Yes, it's quite sensible. We should watch the next full moon', Hermione admitted. I know how to make injection and take samples of blood. If need be, we'll ask Bill to give us a sample, and we could have it analysed in a Muggle laboratory so as to know his blood group for example. I'm of the opinion that we should be broad-minded. There are good things in the Muggle world why not make use of them ?'
I entirely agree with you', said Harry. The other day at the wedding, I looked at Bill closely, because he was before me. I thought that an aesthetic surgical operation in a Muggle hospital surely could remove his scars, or make them less visible.'
Certainly ! I do agree', replied Hermione.
That will be divine !' said Ron. Poor Bill, he was such a handsome boy.'
But he IS a handsome boy', said Harry.
They found Fudge stiff dead yesterday in his house, under the Dark Mark, apparently with no fighting, by an Avada Kedavra, said Hermione, changing the subject.
Dad said that Scrimgeour trembled with fear when he learnt the news. He came on the place some minutes after the Dark Mark had been reported. He was white like a sheet of paper,' said Ron.
It doesn't surprise me', said Harry. He must have thought that he would be the next one. Everybody in his place would have thought so'.
What Harry liked most, was the weekends, when the weather was fine. Ron and Hermione often took a walk as lovers' near the lake. Harry could be with them, under his cloak, without fear of being discovered, for the other students never disturbed the lovers, and didn't come near them either.
Ginny was very popular, as usual. She never ran short of boyfriends, but she didn't show any interest in any of them in particular. She was always surrounded by many boys, but she remained friendly and cheerful with everybody. Little by little Harry learnt to consider Ginny as a sister, it even surprised himself to see that he could wish Ginny happy with a boy, whoever he was so long as it was her choice.
Gabrielle, very beautiful, natural, a little shy and reserved, was often seen with Luna, yet they were not in the same class. The boys often turned round to look at her when they crossed her on their way. She had made considerable progress in English and spoke with no accent, according to Hermione. Harry considered her as another sister, and realized that he was no longer interested in girls, and that girls' stories no longer concerned him, so much he concentrated on Voldemort and on the tracking down of the remaining Horcrucres. And most of all, he didn't want to engage himself with any girl for fear of making her suffer afterwards; if ever he should disappear after the confrontation with Voldemort.
***
Chapter 8: Dumbledore's Army
By mid-October, the Dumbledore's Army was re-formed. All the members of the former D.A., who were still in school, were again members of the new army. Among the new members, there were as many Ravenclaw as Hufflepuff as well as Gryffindor. The new Army had in total thirty members, including Harry, Ron and Hermione. The idea of re-forming the Army was heartily welcomed by the former members who all liked Harry very much. They all decided to keep the name of Dumbledore's Army.
The first meeting began with a reproach :
Why didn't you call us, last year, when the Death Eaters came into the school', said Micheal Corner.
Yes', Hermione hastened to reply, we've called you by way of the Magic Galleon, but only Neville and Luna replied, they were the only ones to have checked their Galleon'.
We will use again the magic Galleon as means of communication', said Harry. We should keep it permanently in our pocket, when it turns hot, the date and time of the meeting will be indicated on the Galleon. This year as I come from outside the school, the rhythm of our meetings would not be more than once a week.'
I have prepared the Galleons', Hermione said. But this year, I made them in the form of a token one could hook to a key ring, so that it would be easier to keep in your pocket'. Then Hermione distributed one to each member, including Harry.
I would like to ask you all to keep our activity secret', Harry stated, not that our group be illegal. According to school rules, we are perfectly right forming study groups. But in my opinion, the least people know about it, the better for us. The Death Eaters should not know that at Hogwarts there is an Army ready to reduce them into pieces ! It would be the same for me, I'll request you never to mention my visits here or anything else concerning me. It would be better that way... Well we still have about fifteen minutes' added Harry after consulting his watch, I wouldn't like to waste time. First, I would like to know, among the former members, if there are some spells that you haven't yet been able to master, and whether these spells interest the new members too ?
I don't know yet how to conjure a Patronus' Colin Crivey hastened to say.
I can't cast the Reducto' spell yet', said his brother Dennis. It's a spell that, in class, I haven't yet been able to cast, and that I should succeed in mastering it by tomorrow'.
Ah !' said Harry, I will propose you my own program consisting in interesting and important spells, but you can ask me to help you master the spells that in class you haven't yet been able to do. Does that suit you as a program ?'
Then turning to Dennis, Harry said :
Dennis, you should bear in mind this, in every spell, the important thing is the concentration and determination of the spirit. You want to cut this bench in halves ?' added Harry in pointing at the bench in the corner.
Then with a smooth wave of his hand, without pronouncing the incantation, Harry pointed his wand on the bench as quickly as a flash, and the bench snapped neatly into two parts. Then he repaired it with another wave of the wand.
Now, you want to destroy it into pieces ?' asked Harry.
And again, with a smooth wave of his wand, Harry pointed at the bench, and it broke into thousands of pieces with a detonation.
Harry !' Hermione burst out, putting a hand on her mouth.
But Harry didn't pay attention to Hermione.
Dennis ! First, you should pronounce the incantation in a clear and determined voice, secondly, you should know exactly what you expect from the spell you'll cast. You need concentration and determination of your spirit, said Harry pointing a finger on his forehead. Now, try it pronouncing in a clear voice: Re-DUC-to', with a smooth wave of the hand. The smooth movement of the hand allows you to concentrate, see in your head, as in a flash, what is the result you wish to reach. Try it now. Look ! In that way the wave of the wand (and Harry showed the movement of the hand).
Dennis turned his wand, then pointed it at the bench crying Re-DUC-to'. And the bench broke into two pieces.
Woouuawh ! I've done it !', Dennis burst out, both happy and surprised at his own success.
Well done !' Harry said as an encouragement.
Everybody applauded Dennis, or rather applauded Harry.
You should have been our prof. of DADA', said a new member of Ravenclaw.
Harry, you've seen the time ?' Hermione reminded Harry.
Well then, I cannot linger on. Good night to everybody !' Harry said. Leave in small groups and don't take the same direction. We'll meet again next week. And do come in small groups too, next time. And don't forget, that out of our meetings, when you pass in front of the class, you must act as if you didn't see anything, in order not to draw the attention of the other people, who are not members of the D.A., and specially of Filch, the caretaker'... Then to Gabrielle Harry added : How are you, Gabrielle. You like being at Hogwarts ?'
Yes, very much', Gabrielle replied simply, in a timid but clear voice, and with a faint smile in her beautiful eyes that didn't pass unnoticed by Ron who watched her mischievously
Good night, Ginny, Gabrielle ! And ... Good night, Luna,' Harry added because Luna was waiting for Gabrielle at the door.
Your demonstration was brilliant !', Hermione burst out, after everybody had gone. And Dennis must be very happy. For a whole week, he had been unable to master the spell, in two minutes' time with you he succeeded it at the first try !'.
How can you manage to break the bench into two and then into small pieces with the same spell ?' asked Ron. We have known you for many years, and still you can surprise us every day !'
I told you that during a month at Privet Drive, I've done nothing else but training myself, practicing concentration !' replied Harry. It's in the concentration and determination of the spirit that lies the power. My Patronus is enormous now ... well, if I want that way !' added Harry after a pause.
What ? IF YOU WANT THAT WAY, what does that mean ?' asked Ron.
That means according to my wish. If it were to chase a Dementor, a normal stag would do. But what if Voldemort sent me an army of these monsters ... then ? But, for me that's not enough. My stag should be able to destroy them, not only to chase them ! You see what I mean ?
Yes, I understand what you mean, but I don't see how we could ?
By determination and concentration of the spirit ! I don't see any other ways !' replied Harry in a firm voice.
Hermione fixed Harry with both admiring and observatory eyes as if she saw him for the first time, but she said nothing.
I think that Gabrielle has a crush on you, Harry ! Ginny will have a dreadful rival !' said Ron smiling teasingly.
No, she should not. I cannot get involved with any girl, and as for myself, I don't know if I could come out unscathed, once more, from the last battle with Voldemort.'
You'll succeed; we will be always with you. But now, we should go', said Hermione.
Not yet' said Harry, leading Hermione and Ron towards the Pensieve. I would like to show you a piece of memory, of a dream I have seen again and again lately, since Dumbledore's death. Then with his wand he withdrew a long silvery strand from his temple and deposited it in the shallow stone basin, turned its contents neither gaseous nor liquid with the tip of his wand. Hermione and Ron plunged their head together into the basin :
Perhaps you think too much about the Horcruxes and about Voldemort's snake, I mean Nagini', said Ron. It sometimes so happens, that when we think too much of something, we see it in the dreams, at night.'
It's quite possible'.
Why did the rope ladder turn into a snake ?' asked Hermione.
That might be a clue to our problem ... Think hard about it ... and now, good night to you both', Harry said to his friends.
So, Harry's life as an Invisible' student went on, calm, and regulated between the lessons under his Invisibility' Cloak and the training meetings with the members of the D.A. Harry had shown them how to conjure a Patronus, because no one among the new members of the D.A. knew how to do it. Harry explained to them that the Patronus was really personal, each one conjured a different Patronus, specific to himself, and that it was a very efficient way to fight against the Dementors ... The Patronus was an animal created by the wizard which acted as a shield to protect anyone from the Dementors, by chasing them away. To conjure a Patronus, the wizard should think of a particularly happy memory, and in the beginning, it was almost difficult to select a happy memory. Harry had to devote two entire sessions before everybody could succeed the spell, and this despite the help of Hermione and Ron, who had already mastered the spell long time ago. Neville who had not been able to do it the last time, three years ago, could now conjure a wonderful silvery penguin.
And when Christmas holidays arrived, Harry could have shown to his friends ten new spells among the long list prepared by Hermione. Harry also had been able to help along many of them make up for the gaps in their knowledge.
Where will we spend our Christmas holidays ? It's in four days ?' asked Ron at the end of the last training meeting before the holidays. At The Burrow or at Grimmauld Place ?
I think that your parents would not appreciate it if we were not with them for the whole year-end holidays. But I would like us to spend Christmas this year at Concerto', then the New Year at the Burrow ? What do you think of it ?', suggested Harry.
Woouuawh ! That will be great ! And how could we go to Concerto ?' asked Ron.
On the back of a Thestral, or a Hippogriff.'
I long to see Austria', said Hermione.
We'll do it together' replied Harry, happy at the thought that he would always have his best friends with him.
***
Publié par chieuduongvien à 15:11:40 dans Harry Potter's Fan | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens
Chapter 9 - 10 | 17 septembre 2008
Chapter 9: A Very Frosty Christmas
The three friends finally decided to go to Concerto on the back of two Thestrals, the winged horses of the Forbidden Forest, which were invisible to those who have never seen death. On the previous day, Harry had ordered a great quantity of fresh meat, and first necessity provisions on behalf of Dobby at Hogwarts kitchen. He had also gone up to the Owlery to tell Hedwig to meet him at Concerto.
They woke up at dawn and after taking a substantial breakfast each, they met up behind Hagrid's hut. They went far into the forest with a bit of fresh meat in hand to attract these winged horses. Harry breathed with relief when he saw from far away two eyes sparkling in the timid dawn light. They were lucky, very lucky, because there were two of them, perhaps one male and one female. Harry gave them the meat. Then he hung on either side of the back of the first Thestral two bags of clothing and food, and put a large leather collar around its neck. Now with the collar and the bags, Ron and Hermione could see it, or at least could guess where it was. Harry prepared the second Thestral in the same way and mounted it with Dobby in front of him. They all wore warm clothing, scarves, woollen hats, and gloves. Harry also covered Dobby in his coat.
Grip well on the collar ! And clench your legs tightly around the horse's sides ! The take-off may be dangerous !' Harry advised, remembering how it had been the last time when they had mounted the Thestrals to go to the Ministry.
Then he bent down and spoke in the ear of his horse : Chalet Concerto in Austria, please. Well, if you know where to go !'. Hermione did the same to her horse. For a moment, the horses did nothing at all; then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated them all, the horses crouched slowly, they extended their wings then rocketed upwards so fast and so steeply that Harry felt sick.
To adventure !' Harry cried out.
When they arrived at Concerto, the sun was still high. It took them only a little more than four hours to go from Hogwarts to Concerto. Yes, it's in a straight line !' thought Harry. They all were chilled to the bone, but safe and sound, and were all pleased with that mode of transport, so rapid, so convenient, and not costly at all. The Thestrals must probably have been accustomed to bringing Dumbledore here since they knew the way so well; they landed down right in front of the chalet. Dobby took the Thestrals to the back where there were sorts of loose boxes.
At the main door, there was a security device, Harry applied the secret code, and the door slid open as by magic.
Wonderful !' Harry cried out, really happy. He went in and got water for the horses, and gave them half the rest of the meat. Giving a friendly pat on their neck, Harry said: Thank you very much', and he was also very glad to see Hedwig quietly sleeping on a bar above the loose box.
The chalet was equipped in Muggle fashion, with electricity, running water, electric cooker, electric heating, (but there was also a fireplace in the living room), fridge, freezer, and also a dishwasher and a washing machine. But both freezer and fridge were empty. Electricity was supplied by a fuel generator in the warehouse behind the chalet, where there were still many full fuel cans and a huge stock of wood for the fire place. Water was supplied by a well with an electric pump. There were three bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, cellar, bathrooms and toilets, all the modern conveniences, and even a small room that, Harry thought, could be arranged for Dobby's use.
Dobby prepared the dinner with ham, toast, butter, cheese, and jam. They devoured all happily after a long and tiring journey.
After dinner, Harry made a reconnaissance visit of the chalet. The main bedroom was very large. It contained a desk with a high backed chair, two comfortable armchairs, a low table, a well-filled bookcase, and on the side of it were a large bathroom and toilets, accessible only from the room. In the drawer of the desk Harry found a wad of Sterling notes, a book about snakes, the different varieties of snakes, their venoms, how to approach them, and how to destroy them.
This book looks very interesting ! ... Woouuawh, we are rich !' cried out Harry, Tomorrow we'll go shopping to constitute our food stock ... It will be a very busy day !'
Ron was filled with wonder before the Muggle electric labour-saving machines. As for Dobby he didn't know how to use them.
You are on holiday, Dobby ! I'll do it', said Hermione, then she cleared the table, put dishes, spoons, knifes ... in the dishwasher and turned it on. The soft purring noise of the machine intrigued both Ron and Dobby.
Hermione, you take the main room', said Harry. For Ron and I, the two small ones will do. And Dobby, you can sleep here, on the sofa, surely we'll find a blanket for you.'
Upon that, Dobby darted out to prepare the bedrooms. The three friends remained in the living room savouring their first holiday evening in their home'. They found under the low table a tourist map, surely of the region, with a red cross mark, probably the site of Concerto. So, they were in a very remote area; the nearest small village that they could see on the map, was about twenty kilometres, according to the map scale. Harry thought that Concerto, apart from the Muggle security devices, must be also magically protected. He had complete confidence in Dumbledore.
It was already late when they decided to go to bed. Harry took the book on the snakes with him to read it in bed. That night once more, he dreamed of cups and odd objects, but the ladder that Dumbledore had offered him was no longer a rope, it was a snake, an enormous snake. He woke up with a start. He thought that perhaps it was because of the book he had been reading before he fell asleep, but it intrigued him all the same and he lay awake thinking about the significance of his dream, until the other members of the chalet were awake. He went out to take his breakfast with the others in the dining room. Their first breakfast in the chalet, with a good cup of Muggle coffee prepared by Hermione with the electric coffee maker before the curious and intrigued eyes of both Ron and Dobby.
It had snowed during the night. There already was a layer of snow of many inches deep in the garden.
We should do some food shopping today, we had better buy food for ten days, just in case...' Harry suggested.
In the warehouse, they found a handy folding caddie. They Apparated near the intersection of the village road with the small river: they had seen it on the map, cross-marked in green. Their point of landing had been a good choice, for it was discreet, hidden by a row of trees that bordered the river bank. Harry had also thought of taking with him his Muggle chequebook and the wad of Sterling notes. It was a small village, but you could find everything you want. There was an old small church; it looked very romantic and was supposed to date back to the fourteenth century. There also were a bank, a fuel station, a small post office, a small market, a baker's, and also some clothing, ornaments and souvenirs shops. They went first to the bank. After that little detour, with their pockets full of local currency, they went to the market and began to fill the caddie with food.
We'll return to our landing point', Harry proposed. I'll take the bag to the chalet and meanwhile you go and make other purchases, I'll meet you up there. We can do many trips like that and we will have all we need by noon. I'll take also the empty fuel cans that we forgot this morning.'
And so, when they returned to the chalet at noon, the freezer was full with chickens, fish, and meat for the Thestrals, the fridge was sufficiently full for the next ten days, the fuel stock was to the maximum. They also had thought of renewing the stock of cleaning and household products.
Dobby was glad to be able to prepare the meals properly. He had found in the warehouse a small stool on which he could stand to be at the proper height with the cooker. Hermione had shown him how to use the electric cooker, and the precautions that should be observed. Dobby was in the seventh heaven and the three friends too.
Hermione had her mail forwarded to Concerto. And so, the three friends learnt by the Daily Prophet that there had just been an attack in Norfolk by about a hundred of Dementors, in a small and remote village, at an open air market. An army of Aurors had been dispatched to the place.
Listen, said Hermione, ... after nearly an hour of fighting, the Aurors have been able to chase the Dementors away, but the toll was heavy. Part of the material damages was mostly caused by panic; five Muggles were in deep coma, probably irrecoverable. They all presented the signs of having received the kiss of these monsters. Some thirty in a state of shock had received the first treatments of the Healers who had immediately been called onto the place. The Aurors had been able to modify the memory of all the eyewitnesses; that is to say nearly all the village. The Ministry tried to turn the incident into a hurricane by uprooting some trees...' read Hermione.
That's terrible', said Ron. We should exterminate them all, those monsters, but how ?'
Yes, we should exterminate them all ... ', replied Harry with rage. For sure, Voldemort is behind all that !'
That night again, Harry made the same dream but the ladder that Dumbledore offered him was no longer a rope ladder, but a snake, an enormous snake, and Harry woke up all of a sudden in the middle of the night. He thought of Dumbledore, and reviewed all the details of his dream, the helpful hand of Dumbledore, the smile in his eyes when he offered the ladder, as if encouraging him. Why the ladder is replaced by an enormous snake ?' Harry wondered to himself, an enormous snake ! But, it's Nagini, the enormous snake, why he has not thought of it before ?' And he thought he has found the answer. It was Nagini the key of the problem. Confident of having found the significance of his weird dream, Harry returned to sleep at one go till the morning when the noises of the other members of the chalet woke him up.
Morning Harry ! You have a better look today', greeted Hermione when Harry arrived in the dinning room.
Yes, I think I've found the significance of the ladder that turned into a snake in my dream', said Harry.
WHAT ? You are still in your dreams of snakes ? It's daft !' Ron burst out.
On the contrary, it's very sensible, the question is now how to exploit my discovery', replied Harry.
Do explain, because I can't understand any thing !' begged Hermione.
It's quite simple ! I should get into Nagini's head, sift through the bit of Voldemort's soul which is in it, to find out what are the other Horcruxes as well as where Voldemort had hidden them!' Harry explained, but I'll think about that later, for the moment, we shall decorate our chalet for Christmas, and I would like to buy some presents specially from this remote place.' Harry added happily.
The snow layer of yesterday had not melted. They went to the village in the same way as the day before, but this time they were as real tourists, and for their pleasure. Harry has thought of everybody, and he was very glad of his choices. Hermione had already sent her presents to her parents before going to Concerto, but she has bought a postcard representing the village church and sent it to her parents by the local Muggle post office. Ron had found a beautifully worked ring set with a blue topaz for Mrs Weasley. Harry had also bought for himself a small old-looking silver locket on a long chain; he thought he would put the photos of his parents inside.
Hedwig was lucky, because all the gifts were for The Burrow. Dobby had found a beautiful fir tree and the three friends spent the afternoon decorating it in a total euphoria which, for once, was not disturbed by events.
It started snowing heavily, and they thought that if it went on like this, by tomorrow they would be blocked in their chalet, completely cut out from the rest of the world, but they had everything they needed and they did not give a damn about what might happen.
The next day Hedwig wasn't back yet, but Harry didn't worry. It was a long way from Concerto to The Burrow, and Hedwig was only a small owl, not a Thestral.
Things happened exactly as they had forecast. On Christmas eve, the inhabitants of the chalet woke up to find themselves on an island in the middle of an ocean of snow. Harry saw Hedwig come and sip quietly in his cup of milk, as if there was nothing special. She nipped tenderly his finger by way of greeting him a good day, but she brought no letter, no news from the exterior world. To save fuel, they had switched off the electric heating, and made a good fire in the fireplace, to have a warmer and more appropriate atmosphere for Christmas festivities. Harry was really happy. He had never had such a Christmas eve as this, with his two best friends. I'll think of Nagini and of the Horcruxes later, for the time being, I will enjoy what life which, for once, seemed clement enough, deigns to give me', Harry thought.
Dobby had prepared a lordly meal for the Christmas Eve. The friends stayed up late, savouring their holidays. Harry had already entrusted to Dobby his various presents for Hermione and Ron, and for once, he slept like a log.
Time for Christmas presents !!!' Hermione's clear voice was heard from the living room.
Harry came out of his room stealthily, hiding his present for Dobby behind his back, and discreetly he slipped it under the Christmas tree. They all had many presents. Even Hedwig, who got a packet of cornflakes.
On the previous day, Hedwig had brought many presents from The Burrow, which Dobby had intercepted and hidden all. Dobby was really very happy for having received so many presents from everybody. He confessed that he had received the day before, a black suit with a white blouse and a bow tie which Winky had made all by herself. Winky has made good use of her salary', thought Harry. Then an idea just appeared in his mind that darkened his feature :
Shall I survive once more after the final combat with Voldemort to have other Christmas like this ?', Harry thought gloomily, and my friends, will they be safe and sound ?' That sentence came back regularly each time he had a happy moment with his friends. 'It's dreadful '.
What is it ?' asked Hermione, always attentive, as she had noticed that flash of sadness over Harry's face.
Nothing the matter !' replied Harry. I was only wondering whether I would be able to come out unscathed once more from the final combat and whether I shall have other Christmas like this one?'
Yes, of course, you will. The prophecy was clear on that point', said Hermione putting an arm round Harry's shoulder. We'll always be with you, and if we should die, we would die with you ... I would die with you.'
No, I forbid you to speak this way. For the final combat, it will be me alone facing Voldemort. But let's not speak of that now. Let us enjoy the present time.' Then with watering eyes, he kissed his only two best friends.
On that night, Hermione's sentence came back into Harry's mind : I would die with you', and a twinge of pain oppressed his heart, making him put a hand on his chest, and the image of Hermione from the very first time he had met her on the Hogwarts' Express in his first year unrolled in his mind like a film. I love her', he said to himself. I have always loved her. It's was her I loved; it was not Cho, nor Ginny'.
Another sentence of Hermione came back to his mind : Ron's got all those brothers to compete against at home, and you are his best friend, and you are really famous he's always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many ...' It had been during his fourth year, when the Goblet of Fire had picked out his name making him the fourth champion at the Triwizard Tournament. Yes, I didn't want to take away Ron's only friend. I had deliberately, voluntarily pushed Hermione away from my heart. I didn't want to be my best friend's rival. And now, Ron loves her. The story must end here. Yes, the story must end here. I should no longer think about it !' Harry said to himself miserably.
Time passed so quickly, and soon the day of their departure arrived. They should leave that enchanting place.
***
Chapter 10: A Patronus Story
Back to Hogwarts, Harry resumed his life as an Invisible student. He read a lot. He dissected and went through all Dumbledore's books, and now he concentrated on the book about snakes. Harry was of the opinion that we could achieve everything we wanted, if we had willingness enough, as well as determination and concentration of the spirit.
During his fifth year he had frequent flashes of Voldemort's fits of mood. He had seen Mr Weasley attacked by Nagini through Nagini's eyes. According to Dumbleore, there was a connection between Harry and Voldemort through the scar that Voldemort had left on Harry's forehead. And if Harry could enter Voldemort's mind, Voldemort as well could enter Harry's mind. That was why Harry had to learn Occlumency during his fifth year, to close his mind to Voldemort's intrusion. It was in this way, that Voldemort had been able to show to Harry the scene of Sirius's torture in order to incite him to come to the Ministry and fall in his ambush. It was his fault if Sirius was dead. It was painful to think of that again, but he should plunge himself into it now, to analyse the question and find out how he could now enter Nagini's head without stirring up Voldemort's suspicion.
Since the death of Sirius, Harry had had no such flashes of Voldemort's fits of temper. Dumbledore explained that perhaps Voldemort realized that it would be dangerous for him to let Harry enter his mind, and that now Voldemort was using Occlumency against Harry. That was already a good thing.
Every evening, Harry tried hard, with the image of Helga's cup, imagining he was in Nagini undulated body, but with no result. He again did the exercise again and again.
He dissected Dumbledore's book on snakes, how to approach them and how to kill them. In one of the chapters of the book they mentioned the utilisation of hypnotism; it was what the snake charmers used, the music they played was only to attract the spectators, but it was the eye contact that should not be discontinued.
Quite interesting !', Harry thought.
Evening Harry !' greeted Hermione, entering the class, then as she saw the book on the desk, she added : How would you do to get into Nagini's head ? Have you thought of it ?'
Perhaps you should learn Legilimency ?' suggested Ron who had arrived behind Hermione.
Yes, in a certain way. Legilimency is a mean to read in others' mind, but it can only be done when you are face to face with the person', replied Harry.
Then, how could you do ?' asked Ron, both worried and disappointed.
In my case, I've a connection with Voldemort through my scar, but ... yes, it's kind of Legilimency from afar, let's call it remote' Legilimency. Well, by concentration and determination of the spirit, I can't see any other way', said Harry in a firm tone. Before, I've had flashes of Voldemort's fits, because in those moments Voldemort fiercely thought of me with rage ! I should think about Nagini in the same way. But I don't hate Nagini, it's only a disgusting snake, that's all ! It's difficult to think about Nagini as I think about Voldemort, that's why it's still difficult.
I admire you', said Hermione. You outstrip all of us, and by far, and I'm sure that you will succeed it.'
Yesterday I had a dream: I was in an unknown and miserable district that, I'm sure, I've never been in before in my true life !'
Perhaps it's a clue ! In London ? And if it's in London, there are many miserable districts, we should have other indications', Hermione pointed out.
Yes, of course ! But if we start off with London ! I should have a detailed map of London, I'll order one.'
This weekend, there will be a trip to Hogsmeade village. We could go out with the other students, and then we'll go to The Burrow. My parents have sent me complete sets of what we need to take blood sample. We can send Bill's and Lupin's blood samples to the Laboratory. Lupin hasn't transformed at the last full moon. Lupin and Tonks feel very hopeful, but Lupin said that he has always the feeling that he is sitting upon a time bomb and he fears very much a relapse. Tonks also, of course.
I understand them. Yes, that's a good idea !' Harry approved.
It was a beautiful but very cold day. The snow of the last days covered all the countryside and became blazing under the sun.
I'm freezing', said Harry under his Invisibility Cloak.
The three friends met up at the foot of the Entrance Hall. They brought up the rear of the students who went to Hogsmeade village, but remained a little behind to be out of earshot.
It's normal, it is only February !' replied Ron.
Where's Ginny ?' asked Harry, surprised not to see her among the students.
She is ill', Hermione replied, she's got a stomach ache, poor little girl ! Missing such a wonderful day !'
Who is it that I see there ? The journalist ?' burst out Harry, who at the moment forgot her name.
She has desperately been hunting for news about you for many months. As it's a trip of the students to the village, Rita Skeeter must think that she'll have chances of catching you or having some news about you !' replied Hermione who, as usual, had an answer for everything.
Deception !' Harry said as a singsong and in an ironic voice, glad to have an occasion to play a trick on Rita. At the turning, we'll leave the others move away, and we'll Disapparate', Harry proposed.
Suddenly, far away in the blue sky, he saw a dark mass flowing at a surprisingly quick rate towards them.
Dementors ! An army of them !' Harry cried out, We must get close to the others to protect them, and please, hide me, I must take out my wand !'
They ran towards the other students.
Dementors !' Hermione cried out to the other students.
There was panic, but among the students, many voices were heard casting the formula Expecto Patronum' and about thirty Patronus of various forms materialized on the middle of the road ready to stand up against those shapeless black monsters coming from darkness, which rushed towards them. Then suddenly, a silvery stag, as enormous as a mammoth and as bright as the snow covering the meadows around them, appeared from nowhere, walking stately among the other animals. With great majesty, it raised its head which wore ramified antlers several yards wide. The monsters were as if sucked up by the stag, the way nails could be by a magnet, but they broke into pieces when they touched the pointed tips of the antlers and melted away into thin air. All this happened in a total silence, as all the persons present were wonder struck, they stood stock-still looking at the scene, speechless and out of breath. Suddenly a very familiar voice was heard:
She's not there !'
Malfoy ?', Harry blurted out in astonishment, but as he succeeded in locating where came Draco's voice, Snape behind him, grasped hold of Draco's arm and Disapparated with him after blowing a whistle.
They must not have been alone. Other Death Eaters were with them ! And they were surely looking for Ginny ! Voldemort is always after Ginny ! As they could not get into the school, they waited for us on the road to the village. They must have sent the Dementors to create a diversion, while the Death Eaters were kidnapping Ginny', Harry said with rage.
Your Patronus was wonderful !' Hermione burst out.
Rita Skeeter started asking whether someone knew whom the giant stag belonged to.
Let's go', Harry proposed, and the three friends returned to the turning of the road, and safely Disapparated away from prying eyes.
Dad, we've just been attacked by the Dementors, hundreds of them', Ron said breathless, when they arrived at The Burrow and entered the kitchen like a rush of wind. And you should have seen Harry's Patronus ! It was wonderful and enormous, as big as a house ! Without his Patronus, we should all have been dead. Fortunately Ginny wasn't there !'.
Well, calm down, Ron, because I can't understand a word', Mr Weasley replied. You've been attacked by the Dementors, where's that ? And why do you say fortunately Ginny wasn't there', where was she ?'
We've been attacked by an army of Dementors, right out of the castles, on the way to Hogsmeade village,' Harry answered. Ginny was not with the students, she was not well, and had preferred staying behind in the school. After the Dementors had been eliminated, we saw Draco Malfoy and Snape. When Malfoy cried out She's not there', Snape grasped Malfoy's arm and Disapparated with him after blowing a whistle. Surely they were with other Death Eaters; we haven't had time to see the others. But it proves that Voldemort is always after Ginny ! I think we should ask Fred and George whether they could find an Invisibility Cloak for Ginny'.
We must report it to the Order. Alastor has an Invisibility Cloak, he might lend it to me. And how are you with Ron and Hermione, Harry ?' asked Mr Weasley, surprised.
Ron and Hermione told me to meet them before the school, to come here so as to take Bill's and Lupin's blood samples, I wanted to have news from you all.'
And how were the Dementors eliminated ?' asked Mr Weasley.
They've been eliminated, destroyed by Harry's Patronus' replied Ron, happy he could resume his narration, like that', he added snapping his fingers.
Destroyed « like that »', repeated Mr Weasley, imitating Ron's snapping of fingers ... (while wondering about what his son was speaking of ?)
Yes, like that', said Ron snapping again his fingers.
And what did they say at St Mungo's Hospital about Lupins's recovery ?', asked Harry, desirous to change the subject of the conversation.
They said that your idea that Bill's blood may contain an antidote is a very interesting one and they would wish to have a sample of Bill's blood.'
I'll do it.' Hermione hastened to reply. My parents said they've sent me here all that we need to take blood samples. You've received it ?'
Yes, we've received a big parcel, but we haven't opened it yet', answered Mrs Weasley who was just entering the kitchen.
The parcel contained everything Hermione needed: four complete sets of sterilized tubes, syringes, absorbent compresses, a bottle of antiseptic to clean the skin, adhesive labels to use for various routine exams, and even a rubber strap... Hermione had only to add the patient's name.
I've got a first-aid certificate. Don't be worried, Bill', said Hermione, happy to show her knowledge. What a pity that Mr Lupin isn't there, we would have been able to send the two blood samples to the laboratory at the same time.'
Yes, he won't be long; he'll be there any moment. He really wants to know more about that question of antidote, he wants to know whether he's really cured and whether we'll have a weapon against the werewolves', Mr Weasley replied.
I'm not worried, Hermione', said Bill from the other end of the table. We simply are not used to being pricked'' added Bill laughing, and stretching out his arm with his sleeves rolled up towards Hermione.
Hermione displayed an almost professional know-how with order and method. She was filling the labels in the name of Bill when Lupin arrived.
That's perfect', let out Mr Weasley.
I'll take your blood sample too, Professor !' said Hermione.
When everything was ready, she placed the tubes separately in two boxes, one containing Bill's samples and the other Lupin's ones, and wrapped both boxes together. She added some words to her parents and send the whole thing through Hedwig which was at that moment at the Burrow.
We'll have the results by the day after tomorrow. My parents will send them here', said Hermione. Now we must return to the school, at the same time as the other students, otherwise, the gate will be closed, Ron !', she added turning to Ron.
Me too, I must go ! ' Harry hastened to say.
Hermione gave the parcel of syringes she hasn't used to Mrs Weasley.
Please, keep it for another time... Good bye, we are in a hurry.'
Good bye, Ron and Harry said at the same time, and the three friends went out into the garden and Disapparated.
Indeed, the gate was already closed. The students, after the attack of the Dementors, had no longer felt like going to the village and had all returned to the school shortly after. Ron sent his Patronus to Hagrid, and he arrived with an expression of relief.
We were wondering where you and Hermione had gone. The students have been back for a long time ago. But McGonagall didn't seem very worried, otherwise we would have alerted your parents, Ron ! Tell me how the attack went along !'
Surely the other students told you in detail. We were all there. And there were Draco Malfoy and Snape !' said Hermione.
Really ? And what did Malfoy do ?'
He cried : She's not there. Then they Disapparated all. Surely they were looking for Ginny, but Ginny wasn't there.'
We must inform McGonagall; that Draco and Snape were there', said Hagrid.
Yes, we'll bear it in mind', Hermione hastened to reply.
Don't go away at once,' said Harry when they arrived before Harry's room. Come in, We have something to discuss about. We must find out where Draco and Snape are. They are wanted by the Ministry, so, they can't be at home, they must be with Voldemort, at Voldemort's Head Quarters, or perhaps they have a den, the den of the Death Eaters concealed somewhere. At the next meeting of the Order, we should talk about it, what do you think of it ?
But where ?' asked Ron, who had never neither reply nor imagination.
I don't know,' replied Harry. We could station ourselves behind the Malfoys' manor to watch out. Draco must surely return to his house from time to time to fetch a few things. Last year, he went away in panic, all of a sudden. We could make a round there, next weekend. His manor is in Gloucester, on the Seven, your Dad told me so.'
Yes,' Hermione and Ron replied at the same time, and they parted for the Great Hall after biding Harry Good meal'.
The evening edition of the Daily Prophet related all details about the Dementors' attack. They thought that over a hundred of them were in it. The article related how they had been destroyed by the enormous stag that nobody knew who had conjured. According to the Prophet many people knew that Harry Potter's Patronus was a stag, but none of the students who had been interviewed confirmed it, they all said they had not seen Harry all year long.
The article was accompanied by a photo of the stag stately walking among the other Patronus and that of the Dementors which burst out into pieces when they touched the sharp pointes of the stag's antlers, like rubber balloons on cactus thorns.
All the students were unharmed. They stood still, wonder struck, gazing at the scene, so grandiose, that they had never seen.
Rita Skeeter had got some answers to her questions, mainly that the Otter was the Patronus conjured by Hermione Granger, the Jack Russell by Ronald Weasley, the Penguin by Neville Longbottom and the Hare by Luna Lovegood, all of them, close friends of Harry Potter, who had been with him at the Ministry some two years ago. According to the article, an examiner from the Ministry who had questioned Harry at his O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations) confirmed that Harry Potter's Patronus was a stag but assured that it was a stag of normal size.
The article referred to the Dementors' attack in Norfolk at late Christmas, when about some thirty Aurors which had been dispatched to the place, were not able to do better than to chase them after one hours' fighting; and this with a comparatively heavy toll. The article emphasized the fact that the stag had lately destroyed the Dementors must denote an extraordinary magic power.
The article also stated that all the wizarding community received the news with great joy and that according to them, perhaps all the Dementor army that You-Know-Who possessed might have been destroyed. Indeed the Ministry confirmed that the number of Dementors who were in service in Azkaban was nearly two hundred.
A Hufflepuff A.D. member brought Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet at the training session that followed the attack:
We all knew that it was your Patronus, because it was the exact image of yours, but when you showed it to us during the training sessions, it was really of normal size', she said.
Yes !' Harry replied. Let's us say that I can conjure my Patronus at will, as I want, Harry added pointing his wand towards the door and the enormous stag appeared from thin air, touching the basilica ceiling of the class with its antlers.
How can we conjure a Patronus in that way ?' asked many voices at the same time.
I think that for this question I can't give you much help. It's a strictly individual and personal work. When Professor Lupin taught me how to conjure a Patronus, my stag was of a normal size. When I was attacked by the Dementors, there were two of them, and when I passed my O.W.L. my stag was of a normal size too. But since Dumbledore's death, I've woken up; I said to myself that my Patronus should be of greater weight and size to exterminate an army of Dementors if ever Voldemort sent me one. Well, that's my Patronus' story. Think about it and perhaps you'll find a solution. The main thing is concentration and determination of the spirit ... It's very important, in every curse, in all curses, and the whole power resides in it.'
We've received the results from the Laboratory,' said Hermione at the end of the training session when all the D.A. members had left.
Then ?'.
The results are very good. I didn't know very well what exams I should asked for, so I've just asked for the blood group, and the current and viral diseases, and mother said that it was good. Bill's blood group is O+'
Good, universal donor, that's already a good thing', said Harry.
All the researches for various current diseases are negative. Lupin's also is exempt from germs, but of AB+ group, universal recipient, Hermione said.
Wonderful !' replied Harry. Then perhaps we could give to St Mungos a sample ? I have an idea; we'll spend our next weekend at Grimmauld Place. We'll ask Hagrid to let us out and when we return, Ron'll send him his Patronus so that he opens the gate for us. I would like to be a little more free, so as to make a tour in London. I have perhaps a new clue, I saw a black tower, a horrible black tower !'
A horrible black tower ?' repeated Hermione, knitting her brows as she was thoughtful. Where could it be ?'
And the three friends plunged their heads upon the London's map that Harry had ordered, but they found nothing which might be a horrible black tower'. The map only showed historic and tourist sites.
***
The three friends finally decided to go to Concerto on the back of two Thestrals, the winged horses of the Forbidden Forest, which were invisible to those who have never seen death. On the previous day, Harry had ordered a great quantity of fresh meat, and first necessity provisions on behalf of Dobby at Hogwarts kitchen. He had also gone up to the Owlery to tell Hedwig to meet him at Concerto.
They woke up at dawn and after taking a substantial breakfast each, they met up behind Hagrid's hut. They went far into the forest with a bit of fresh meat in hand to attract these winged horses. Harry breathed with relief when he saw from far away two eyes sparkling in the timid dawn light. They were lucky, very lucky, because there were two of them, perhaps one male and one female. Harry gave them the meat. Then he hung on either side of the back of the first Thestral two bags of clothing and food, and put a large leather collar around its neck. Now with the collar and the bags, Ron and Hermione could see it, or at least could guess where it was. Harry prepared the second Thestral in the same way and mounted it with Dobby in front of him. They all wore warm clothing, scarves, woollen hats, and gloves. Harry also covered Dobby in his coat.
Grip well on the collar ! And clench your legs tightly around the horse's sides ! The take-off may be dangerous !' Harry advised, remembering how it had been the last time when they had mounted the Thestrals to go to the Ministry.
Then he bent down and spoke in the ear of his horse : Chalet Concerto in Austria, please. Well, if you know where to go !'. Hermione did the same to her horse. For a moment, the horses did nothing at all; then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated them all, the horses crouched slowly, they extended their wings then rocketed upwards so fast and so steeply that Harry felt sick.
To adventure !' Harry cried out.
When they arrived at Concerto, the sun was still high. It took them only a little more than four hours to go from Hogwarts to Concerto. Yes, it's in a straight line !' thought Harry. They all were chilled to the bone, but safe and sound, and were all pleased with that mode of transport, so rapid, so convenient, and not costly at all. The Thestrals must probably have been accustomed to bringing Dumbledore here since they knew the way so well; they landed down right in front of the chalet. Dobby took the Thestrals to the back where there were sorts of loose boxes.
At the main door, there was a security device, Harry applied the secret code, and the door slid open as by magic.
Wonderful !' Harry cried out, really happy. He went in and got water for the horses, and gave them half the rest of the meat. Giving a friendly pat on their neck, Harry said: Thank you very much', and he was also very glad to see Hedwig quietly sleeping on a bar above the loose box.
The chalet was equipped in Muggle fashion, with electricity, running water, electric cooker, electric heating, (but there was also a fireplace in the living room), fridge, freezer, and also a dishwasher and a washing machine. But both freezer and fridge were empty. Electricity was supplied by a fuel generator in the warehouse behind the chalet, where there were still many full fuel cans and a huge stock of wood for the fire place. Water was supplied by a well with an electric pump. There were three bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, cellar, bathrooms and toilets, all the modern conveniences, and even a small room that, Harry thought, could be arranged for Dobby's use.
Dobby prepared the dinner with ham, toast, butter, cheese, and jam. They devoured all happily after a long and tiring journey.
After dinner, Harry made a reconnaissance visit of the chalet. The main bedroom was very large. It contained a desk with a high backed chair, two comfortable armchairs, a low table, a well-filled bookcase, and on the side of it were a large bathroom and toilets, accessible only from the room. In the drawer of the desk Harry found a wad of Sterling notes, a book about snakes, the different varieties of snakes, their venoms, how to approach them, and how to destroy them.
This book looks very interesting ! ... Woouuawh, we are rich !' cried out Harry, Tomorrow we'll go shopping to constitute our food stock ... It will be a very busy day !'
Ron was filled with wonder before the Muggle electric labour-saving machines. As for Dobby he didn't know how to use them.
You are on holiday, Dobby ! I'll do it', said Hermione, then she cleared the table, put dishes, spoons, knifes ... in the dishwasher and turned it on. The soft purring noise of the machine intrigued both Ron and Dobby.
Hermione, you take the main room', said Harry. For Ron and I, the two small ones will do. And Dobby, you can sleep here, on the sofa, surely we'll find a blanket for you.'
Upon that, Dobby darted out to prepare the bedrooms. The three friends remained in the living room savouring their first holiday evening in their home'. They found under the low table a tourist map, surely of the region, with a red cross mark, probably the site of Concerto. So, they were in a very remote area; the nearest small village that they could see on the map, was about twenty kilometres, according to the map scale. Harry thought that Concerto, apart from the Muggle security devices, must be also magically protected. He had complete confidence in Dumbledore.
It was already late when they decided to go to bed. Harry took the book on the snakes with him to read it in bed. That night once more, he dreamed of cups and odd objects, but the ladder that Dumbledore had offered him was no longer a rope, it was a snake, an enormous snake. He woke up with a start. He thought that perhaps it was because of the book he had been reading before he fell asleep, but it intrigued him all the same and he lay awake thinking about the significance of his dream, until the other members of the chalet were awake. He went out to take his breakfast with the others in the dining room. Their first breakfast in the chalet, with a good cup of Muggle coffee prepared by Hermione with the electric coffee maker before the curious and intrigued eyes of both Ron and Dobby.
It had snowed during the night. There already was a layer of snow of many inches deep in the garden.
We should do some food shopping today, we had better buy food for ten days, just in case...' Harry suggested.
In the warehouse, they found a handy folding caddie. They Apparated near the intersection of the village road with the small river: they had seen it on the map, cross-marked in green. Their point of landing had been a good choice, for it was discreet, hidden by a row of trees that bordered the river bank. Harry had also thought of taking with him his Muggle chequebook and the wad of Sterling notes. It was a small village, but you could find everything you want. There was an old small church; it looked very romantic and was supposed to date back to the fourteenth century. There also were a bank, a fuel station, a small post office, a small market, a baker's, and also some clothing, ornaments and souvenirs shops. They went first to the bank. After that little detour, with their pockets full of local currency, they went to the market and began to fill the caddie with food.
We'll return to our landing point', Harry proposed. I'll take the bag to the chalet and meanwhile you go and make other purchases, I'll meet you up there. We can do many trips like that and we will have all we need by noon. I'll take also the empty fuel cans that we forgot this morning.'
And so, when they returned to the chalet at noon, the freezer was full with chickens, fish, and meat for the Thestrals, the fridge was sufficiently full for the next ten days, the fuel stock was to the maximum. They also had thought of renewing the stock of cleaning and household products.
Dobby was glad to be able to prepare the meals properly. He had found in the warehouse a small stool on which he could stand to be at the proper height with the cooker. Hermione had shown him how to use the electric cooker, and the precautions that should be observed. Dobby was in the seventh heaven and the three friends too.
Hermione had her mail forwarded to Concerto. And so, the three friends learnt by the Daily Prophet that there had just been an attack in Norfolk by about a hundred of Dementors, in a small and remote village, at an open air market. An army of Aurors had been dispatched to the place.
Listen, said Hermione, ... after nearly an hour of fighting, the Aurors have been able to chase the Dementors away, but the toll was heavy. Part of the material damages was mostly caused by panic; five Muggles were in deep coma, probably irrecoverable. They all presented the signs of having received the kiss of these monsters. Some thirty in a state of shock had received the first treatments of the Healers who had immediately been called onto the place. The Aurors had been able to modify the memory of all the eyewitnesses; that is to say nearly all the village. The Ministry tried to turn the incident into a hurricane by uprooting some trees...' read Hermione.
That's terrible', said Ron. We should exterminate them all, those monsters, but how ?'
Yes, we should exterminate them all ... ', replied Harry with rage. For sure, Voldemort is behind all that !'
That night again, Harry made the same dream but the ladder that Dumbledore offered him was no longer a rope ladder, but a snake, an enormous snake, and Harry woke up all of a sudden in the middle of the night. He thought of Dumbledore, and reviewed all the details of his dream, the helpful hand of Dumbledore, the smile in his eyes when he offered the ladder, as if encouraging him. Why the ladder is replaced by an enormous snake ?' Harry wondered to himself, an enormous snake ! But, it's Nagini, the enormous snake, why he has not thought of it before ?' And he thought he has found the answer. It was Nagini the key of the problem. Confident of having found the significance of his weird dream, Harry returned to sleep at one go till the morning when the noises of the other members of the chalet woke him up.
Morning Harry ! You have a better look today', greeted Hermione when Harry arrived in the dinning room.
Yes, I think I've found the significance of the ladder that turned into a snake in my dream', said Harry.
WHAT ? You are still in your dreams of snakes ? It's daft !' Ron burst out.
On the contrary, it's very sensible, the question is now how to exploit my discovery', replied Harry.
Do explain, because I can't understand any thing !' begged Hermione.
It's quite simple ! I should get into Nagini's head, sift through the bit of Voldemort's soul which is in it, to find out what are the other Horcruxes as well as where Voldemort had hidden them!' Harry explained, but I'll think about that later, for the moment, we shall decorate our chalet for Christmas, and I would like to buy some presents specially from this remote place.' Harry added happily.
The snow layer of yesterday had not melted. They went to the village in the same way as the day before, but this time they were as real tourists, and for their pleasure. Harry has thought of everybody, and he was very glad of his choices. Hermione had already sent her presents to her parents before going to Concerto, but she has bought a postcard representing the village church and sent it to her parents by the local Muggle post office. Ron had found a beautifully worked ring set with a blue topaz for Mrs Weasley. Harry had also bought for himself a small old-looking silver locket on a long chain; he thought he would put the photos of his parents inside.
Hedwig was lucky, because all the gifts were for The Burrow. Dobby had found a beautiful fir tree and the three friends spent the afternoon decorating it in a total euphoria which, for once, was not disturbed by events.
It started snowing heavily, and they thought that if it went on like this, by tomorrow they would be blocked in their chalet, completely cut out from the rest of the world, but they had everything they needed and they did not give a damn about what might happen.
The next day Hedwig wasn't back yet, but Harry didn't worry. It was a long way from Concerto to The Burrow, and Hedwig was only a small owl, not a Thestral.
Things happened exactly as they had forecast. On Christmas eve, the inhabitants of the chalet woke up to find themselves on an island in the middle of an ocean of snow. Harry saw Hedwig come and sip quietly in his cup of milk, as if there was nothing special. She nipped tenderly his finger by way of greeting him a good day, but she brought no letter, no news from the exterior world. To save fuel, they had switched off the electric heating, and made a good fire in the fireplace, to have a warmer and more appropriate atmosphere for Christmas festivities. Harry was really happy. He had never had such a Christmas eve as this, with his two best friends. I'll think of Nagini and of the Horcruxes later, for the time being, I will enjoy what life which, for once, seemed clement enough, deigns to give me', Harry thought.
Dobby had prepared a lordly meal for the Christmas Eve. The friends stayed up late, savouring their holidays. Harry had already entrusted to Dobby his various presents for Hermione and Ron, and for once, he slept like a log.
Time for Christmas presents !!!' Hermione's clear voice was heard from the living room.
Harry came out of his room stealthily, hiding his present for Dobby behind his back, and discreetly he slipped it under the Christmas tree. They all had many presents. Even Hedwig, who got a packet of cornflakes.
On the previous day, Hedwig had brought many presents from The Burrow, which Dobby had intercepted and hidden all. Dobby was really very happy for having received so many presents from everybody. He confessed that he had received the day before, a black suit with a white blouse and a bow tie which Winky had made all by herself. Winky has made good use of her salary', thought Harry. Then an idea just appeared in his mind that darkened his feature :
Shall I survive once more after the final combat with Voldemort to have other Christmas like this ?', Harry thought gloomily, and my friends, will they be safe and sound ?' That sentence came back regularly each time he had a happy moment with his friends. 'It's dreadful '.
What is it ?' asked Hermione, always attentive, as she had noticed that flash of sadness over Harry's face.
Nothing the matter !' replied Harry. I was only wondering whether I would be able to come out unscathed once more from the final combat and whether I shall have other Christmas like this one?'
Yes, of course, you will. The prophecy was clear on that point', said Hermione putting an arm round Harry's shoulder. We'll always be with you, and if we should die, we would die with you ... I would die with you.'
No, I forbid you to speak this way. For the final combat, it will be me alone facing Voldemort. But let's not speak of that now. Let us enjoy the present time.' Then with watering eyes, he kissed his only two best friends.
On that night, Hermione's sentence came back into Harry's mind : I would die with you', and a twinge of pain oppressed his heart, making him put a hand on his chest, and the image of Hermione from the very first time he had met her on the Hogwarts' Express in his first year unrolled in his mind like a film. I love her', he said to himself. I have always loved her. It's was her I loved; it was not Cho, nor Ginny'.
Another sentence of Hermione came back to his mind : Ron's got all those brothers to compete against at home, and you are his best friend, and you are really famous he's always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many ...' It had been during his fourth year, when the Goblet of Fire had picked out his name making him the fourth champion at the Triwizard Tournament. Yes, I didn't want to take away Ron's only friend. I had deliberately, voluntarily pushed Hermione away from my heart. I didn't want to be my best friend's rival. And now, Ron loves her. The story must end here. Yes, the story must end here. I should no longer think about it !' Harry said to himself miserably.
Time passed so quickly, and soon the day of their departure arrived. They should leave that enchanting place.
***
Chapter 10: A Patronus Story
Back to Hogwarts, Harry resumed his life as an Invisible student. He read a lot. He dissected and went through all Dumbledore's books, and now he concentrated on the book about snakes. Harry was of the opinion that we could achieve everything we wanted, if we had willingness enough, as well as determination and concentration of the spirit.
During his fifth year he had frequent flashes of Voldemort's fits of mood. He had seen Mr Weasley attacked by Nagini through Nagini's eyes. According to Dumbleore, there was a connection between Harry and Voldemort through the scar that Voldemort had left on Harry's forehead. And if Harry could enter Voldemort's mind, Voldemort as well could enter Harry's mind. That was why Harry had to learn Occlumency during his fifth year, to close his mind to Voldemort's intrusion. It was in this way, that Voldemort had been able to show to Harry the scene of Sirius's torture in order to incite him to come to the Ministry and fall in his ambush. It was his fault if Sirius was dead. It was painful to think of that again, but he should plunge himself into it now, to analyse the question and find out how he could now enter Nagini's head without stirring up Voldemort's suspicion.
Since the death of Sirius, Harry had had no such flashes of Voldemort's fits of temper. Dumbledore explained that perhaps Voldemort realized that it would be dangerous for him to let Harry enter his mind, and that now Voldemort was using Occlumency against Harry. That was already a good thing.
Every evening, Harry tried hard, with the image of Helga's cup, imagining he was in Nagini undulated body, but with no result. He again did the exercise again and again.
He dissected Dumbledore's book on snakes, how to approach them and how to kill them. In one of the chapters of the book they mentioned the utilisation of hypnotism; it was what the snake charmers used, the music they played was only to attract the spectators, but it was the eye contact that should not be discontinued.
Quite interesting !', Harry thought.
Evening Harry !' greeted Hermione, entering the class, then as she saw the book on the desk, she added : How would you do to get into Nagini's head ? Have you thought of it ?'
Perhaps you should learn Legilimency ?' suggested Ron who had arrived behind Hermione.
Yes, in a certain way. Legilimency is a mean to read in others' mind, but it can only be done when you are face to face with the person', replied Harry.
Then, how could you do ?' asked Ron, both worried and disappointed.
In my case, I've a connection with Voldemort through my scar, but ... yes, it's kind of Legilimency from afar, let's call it remote' Legilimency. Well, by concentration and determination of the spirit, I can't see any other way', said Harry in a firm tone. Before, I've had flashes of Voldemort's fits, because in those moments Voldemort fiercely thought of me with rage ! I should think about Nagini in the same way. But I don't hate Nagini, it's only a disgusting snake, that's all ! It's difficult to think about Nagini as I think about Voldemort, that's why it's still difficult.
I admire you', said Hermione. You outstrip all of us, and by far, and I'm sure that you will succeed it.'
Yesterday I had a dream: I was in an unknown and miserable district that, I'm sure, I've never been in before in my true life !'
Perhaps it's a clue ! In London ? And if it's in London, there are many miserable districts, we should have other indications', Hermione pointed out.
Yes, of course ! But if we start off with London ! I should have a detailed map of London, I'll order one.'
This weekend, there will be a trip to Hogsmeade village. We could go out with the other students, and then we'll go to The Burrow. My parents have sent me complete sets of what we need to take blood sample. We can send Bill's and Lupin's blood samples to the Laboratory. Lupin hasn't transformed at the last full moon. Lupin and Tonks feel very hopeful, but Lupin said that he has always the feeling that he is sitting upon a time bomb and he fears very much a relapse. Tonks also, of course.
I understand them. Yes, that's a good idea !' Harry approved.
It was a beautiful but very cold day. The snow of the last days covered all the countryside and became blazing under the sun.
I'm freezing', said Harry under his Invisibility Cloak.
The three friends met up at the foot of the Entrance Hall. They brought up the rear of the students who went to Hogsmeade village, but remained a little behind to be out of earshot.
It's normal, it is only February !' replied Ron.
Where's Ginny ?' asked Harry, surprised not to see her among the students.
She is ill', Hermione replied, she's got a stomach ache, poor little girl ! Missing such a wonderful day !'
Who is it that I see there ? The journalist ?' burst out Harry, who at the moment forgot her name.
She has desperately been hunting for news about you for many months. As it's a trip of the students to the village, Rita Skeeter must think that she'll have chances of catching you or having some news about you !' replied Hermione who, as usual, had an answer for everything.
Deception !' Harry said as a singsong and in an ironic voice, glad to have an occasion to play a trick on Rita. At the turning, we'll leave the others move away, and we'll Disapparate', Harry proposed.
Suddenly, far away in the blue sky, he saw a dark mass flowing at a surprisingly quick rate towards them.
Dementors ! An army of them !' Harry cried out, We must get close to the others to protect them, and please, hide me, I must take out my wand !'
They ran towards the other students.
Dementors !' Hermione cried out to the other students.
There was panic, but among the students, many voices were heard casting the formula Expecto Patronum' and about thirty Patronus of various forms materialized on the middle of the road ready to stand up against those shapeless black monsters coming from darkness, which rushed towards them. Then suddenly, a silvery stag, as enormous as a mammoth and as bright as the snow covering the meadows around them, appeared from nowhere, walking stately among the other animals. With great majesty, it raised its head which wore ramified antlers several yards wide. The monsters were as if sucked up by the stag, the way nails could be by a magnet, but they broke into pieces when they touched the pointed tips of the antlers and melted away into thin air. All this happened in a total silence, as all the persons present were wonder struck, they stood stock-still looking at the scene, speechless and out of breath. Suddenly a very familiar voice was heard:
She's not there !'
Malfoy ?', Harry blurted out in astonishment, but as he succeeded in locating where came Draco's voice, Snape behind him, grasped hold of Draco's arm and Disapparated with him after blowing a whistle.
They must not have been alone. Other Death Eaters were with them ! And they were surely looking for Ginny ! Voldemort is always after Ginny ! As they could not get into the school, they waited for us on the road to the village. They must have sent the Dementors to create a diversion, while the Death Eaters were kidnapping Ginny', Harry said with rage.
Your Patronus was wonderful !' Hermione burst out.
Rita Skeeter started asking whether someone knew whom the giant stag belonged to.
Let's go', Harry proposed, and the three friends returned to the turning of the road, and safely Disapparated away from prying eyes.
Dad, we've just been attacked by the Dementors, hundreds of them', Ron said breathless, when they arrived at The Burrow and entered the kitchen like a rush of wind. And you should have seen Harry's Patronus ! It was wonderful and enormous, as big as a house ! Without his Patronus, we should all have been dead. Fortunately Ginny wasn't there !'.
Well, calm down, Ron, because I can't understand a word', Mr Weasley replied. You've been attacked by the Dementors, where's that ? And why do you say fortunately Ginny wasn't there', where was she ?'
We've been attacked by an army of Dementors, right out of the castles, on the way to Hogsmeade village,' Harry answered. Ginny was not with the students, she was not well, and had preferred staying behind in the school. After the Dementors had been eliminated, we saw Draco Malfoy and Snape. When Malfoy cried out She's not there', Snape grasped Malfoy's arm and Disapparated with him after blowing a whistle. Surely they were with other Death Eaters; we haven't had time to see the others. But it proves that Voldemort is always after Ginny ! I think we should ask Fred and George whether they could find an Invisibility Cloak for Ginny'.
We must report it to the Order. Alastor has an Invisibility Cloak, he might lend it to me. And how are you with Ron and Hermione, Harry ?' asked Mr Weasley, surprised.
Ron and Hermione told me to meet them before the school, to come here so as to take Bill's and Lupin's blood samples, I wanted to have news from you all.'
And how were the Dementors eliminated ?' asked Mr Weasley.
They've been eliminated, destroyed by Harry's Patronus' replied Ron, happy he could resume his narration, like that', he added snapping his fingers.
Destroyed « like that »', repeated Mr Weasley, imitating Ron's snapping of fingers ... (while wondering about what his son was speaking of ?)
Yes, like that', said Ron snapping again his fingers.
And what did they say at St Mungo's Hospital about Lupins's recovery ?', asked Harry, desirous to change the subject of the conversation.
They said that your idea that Bill's blood may contain an antidote is a very interesting one and they would wish to have a sample of Bill's blood.'
I'll do it.' Hermione hastened to reply. My parents said they've sent me here all that we need to take blood samples. You've received it ?'
Yes, we've received a big parcel, but we haven't opened it yet', answered Mrs Weasley who was just entering the kitchen.
The parcel contained everything Hermione needed: four complete sets of sterilized tubes, syringes, absorbent compresses, a bottle of antiseptic to clean the skin, adhesive labels to use for various routine exams, and even a rubber strap... Hermione had only to add the patient's name.
I've got a first-aid certificate. Don't be worried, Bill', said Hermione, happy to show her knowledge. What a pity that Mr Lupin isn't there, we would have been able to send the two blood samples to the laboratory at the same time.'
Yes, he won't be long; he'll be there any moment. He really wants to know more about that question of antidote, he wants to know whether he's really cured and whether we'll have a weapon against the werewolves', Mr Weasley replied.
I'm not worried, Hermione', said Bill from the other end of the table. We simply are not used to being pricked'' added Bill laughing, and stretching out his arm with his sleeves rolled up towards Hermione.
Hermione displayed an almost professional know-how with order and method. She was filling the labels in the name of Bill when Lupin arrived.
That's perfect', let out Mr Weasley.
I'll take your blood sample too, Professor !' said Hermione.
When everything was ready, she placed the tubes separately in two boxes, one containing Bill's samples and the other Lupin's ones, and wrapped both boxes together. She added some words to her parents and send the whole thing through Hedwig which was at that moment at the Burrow.
We'll have the results by the day after tomorrow. My parents will send them here', said Hermione. Now we must return to the school, at the same time as the other students, otherwise, the gate will be closed, Ron !', she added turning to Ron.
Me too, I must go ! ' Harry hastened to say.
Hermione gave the parcel of syringes she hasn't used to Mrs Weasley.
Please, keep it for another time... Good bye, we are in a hurry.'
Good bye, Ron and Harry said at the same time, and the three friends went out into the garden and Disapparated.
Indeed, the gate was already closed. The students, after the attack of the Dementors, had no longer felt like going to the village and had all returned to the school shortly after. Ron sent his Patronus to Hagrid, and he arrived with an expression of relief.
We were wondering where you and Hermione had gone. The students have been back for a long time ago. But McGonagall didn't seem very worried, otherwise we would have alerted your parents, Ron ! Tell me how the attack went along !'
Surely the other students told you in detail. We were all there. And there were Draco Malfoy and Snape !' said Hermione.
Really ? And what did Malfoy do ?'
He cried : She's not there. Then they Disapparated all. Surely they were looking for Ginny, but Ginny wasn't there.'
We must inform McGonagall; that Draco and Snape were there', said Hagrid.
Yes, we'll bear it in mind', Hermione hastened to reply.
Don't go away at once,' said Harry when they arrived before Harry's room. Come in, We have something to discuss about. We must find out where Draco and Snape are. They are wanted by the Ministry, so, they can't be at home, they must be with Voldemort, at Voldemort's Head Quarters, or perhaps they have a den, the den of the Death Eaters concealed somewhere. At the next meeting of the Order, we should talk about it, what do you think of it ?
But where ?' asked Ron, who had never neither reply nor imagination.
I don't know,' replied Harry. We could station ourselves behind the Malfoys' manor to watch out. Draco must surely return to his house from time to time to fetch a few things. Last year, he went away in panic, all of a sudden. We could make a round there, next weekend. His manor is in Gloucester, on the Seven, your Dad told me so.'
Yes,' Hermione and Ron replied at the same time, and they parted for the Great Hall after biding Harry Good meal'.
The evening edition of the Daily Prophet related all details about the Dementors' attack. They thought that over a hundred of them were in it. The article related how they had been destroyed by the enormous stag that nobody knew who had conjured. According to the Prophet many people knew that Harry Potter's Patronus was a stag, but none of the students who had been interviewed confirmed it, they all said they had not seen Harry all year long.
The article was accompanied by a photo of the stag stately walking among the other Patronus and that of the Dementors which burst out into pieces when they touched the sharp pointes of the stag's antlers, like rubber balloons on cactus thorns.
All the students were unharmed. They stood still, wonder struck, gazing at the scene, so grandiose, that they had never seen.
Rita Skeeter had got some answers to her questions, mainly that the Otter was the Patronus conjured by Hermione Granger, the Jack Russell by Ronald Weasley, the Penguin by Neville Longbottom and the Hare by Luna Lovegood, all of them, close friends of Harry Potter, who had been with him at the Ministry some two years ago. According to the article, an examiner from the Ministry who had questioned Harry at his O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations) confirmed that Harry Potter's Patronus was a stag but assured that it was a stag of normal size.
The article referred to the Dementors' attack in Norfolk at late Christmas, when about some thirty Aurors which had been dispatched to the place, were not able to do better than to chase them after one hours' fighting; and this with a comparatively heavy toll. The article emphasized the fact that the stag had lately destroyed the Dementors must denote an extraordinary magic power.
The article also stated that all the wizarding community received the news with great joy and that according to them, perhaps all the Dementor army that You-Know-Who possessed might have been destroyed. Indeed the Ministry confirmed that the number of Dementors who were in service in Azkaban was nearly two hundred.
A Hufflepuff A.D. member brought Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet at the training session that followed the attack:
We all knew that it was your Patronus, because it was the exact image of yours, but when you showed it to us during the training sessions, it was really of normal size', she said.
Yes !' Harry replied. Let's us say that I can conjure my Patronus at will, as I want, Harry added pointing his wand towards the door and the enormous stag appeared from thin air, touching the basilica ceiling of the class with its antlers.
How can we conjure a Patronus in that way ?' asked many voices at the same time.
I think that for this question I can't give you much help. It's a strictly individual and personal work. When Professor Lupin taught me how to conjure a Patronus, my stag was of a normal size. When I was attacked by the Dementors, there were two of them, and when I passed my O.W.L. my stag was of a normal size too. But since Dumbledore's death, I've woken up; I said to myself that my Patronus should be of greater weight and size to exterminate an army of Dementors if ever Voldemort sent me one. Well, that's my Patronus' story. Think about it and perhaps you'll find a solution. The main thing is concentration and determination of the spirit ... It's very important, in every curse, in all curses, and the whole power resides in it.'
We've received the results from the Laboratory,' said Hermione at the end of the training session when all the D.A. members had left.
Then ?'.
The results are very good. I didn't know very well what exams I should asked for, so I've just asked for the blood group, and the current and viral diseases, and mother said that it was good. Bill's blood group is O+'
Good, universal donor, that's already a good thing', said Harry.
All the researches for various current diseases are negative. Lupin's also is exempt from germs, but of AB+ group, universal recipient, Hermione said.
Wonderful !' replied Harry. Then perhaps we could give to St Mungos a sample ? I have an idea; we'll spend our next weekend at Grimmauld Place. We'll ask Hagrid to let us out and when we return, Ron'll send him his Patronus so that he opens the gate for us. I would like to be a little more free, so as to make a tour in London. I have perhaps a new clue, I saw a black tower, a horrible black tower !'
A horrible black tower ?' repeated Hermione, knitting her brows as she was thoughtful. Where could it be ?'
And the three friends plunged their heads upon the London's map that Harry had ordered, but they found nothing which might be a horrible black tower'. The map only showed historic and tourist sites.
***
Publié par chieuduongvien à 15:06:09 dans Harry Potter's Fan | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens
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