Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.
Second Time Around: Year 4: Chapter 2: The Dream
That night Harry had a disturbing dream. In the dream he saw Voldemort murder a muggle. At breakfast the following morning he mentioned it to the Bones' and decided to call Sirius. Before calling, however Susan's mother, Margaret, suggested they contact Amelia Bones. After Madam Bones arrived Harry began explaining what he had seen.
"In my dream," Harry began, "I saw Voldemort in a room with a fire in the grate. It looked like a room in an old style house. I think it may have been that old mansion near the shack where we found one of those other items we were looking for a couple of years ago, Sirius."
"I think I know the place," Sirius replied. "Carry on, Harry. What else can you remember?"
"Pettigrew was there with him. It looks as if he went to wherever Voldemort was hiding and brought him back to Britain," Harry continued.
"Harry, it sounds as though you are describing an incident as it is happening. I thought you could only see the future," Susan said.
"I have visions. They are usually about the future but not always," he replied. "Anyway, to continue; while they were there a muggle entered the house. I think he was an elderly neighbour or something similar. This muggle overheard some of the conversation Voldemort and Pettigrew were having about the World Cup and they mentioned some other event that was happening after the World Cup ended. At this point a giant snake entered the room. It told Voldemort about the muggle listening to them outside the door. Voldemort told Pettigrew to invite the muggle into the room. They killed him right there and then. Then I woke up," he finished.
"You saw a murder?" Madam Bones asked, sounding shocked. Everyone else looked just as surprised.
"That's what it looked like, yeah."
"Sirius," Madam Bones said. "You seem familiar with the area around Harry's vision. I am granting you the authority to second any person you feel may be able to help you and I want you to go to this place to start an enquiry. Keep it low key at first. It seems this is a muggle area so you will need to be discreet. Find out what you can and report to me directly this evening."
"I'll take Remus Lupin with me. Harry, I will need both elves too, if that's ok."
"I'll tell Kreacher to help you with your enquiries," Harry said.
"Madam Bones, I will contact you at your office this evening, about 7 o'clock," Sirius said.
"Thank-you, Sirius. Be discrete, and good luck," Madam Bones said before the mirror went blank.
"Harry. I would like you to be present at this meeting. I know your visions are uncannily accurate and I would like you to tell me as much as you can remember of the dream," Madam Bones said.
"May I come too, Auntie?" Susan asked.
"I hardly think you should be listening in on potentially private information, or the gory details of a possible murder," Susan's father, Charles, said.
"I quite agree," Amelia added.
Susan looked unhappy but agreed. "Let's go swimming," she said to Harry.
Harry and Susan spent the day together, mainly around the pool but also going for a walk together around the town. Susan had attended a muggle school and knew many of the local teenagers. She was on good terms with the majority and, when asked, happily introduced Harry as her boyfriend. They ended up having lunch at a local burger place where Susan introduced some of her closest muggle friends. These included a girl named Virginia Potter. At first she thought she may be a distant relation of Harry's but they soon realised there were no familiar names among their immediate family trees.
Harry and Susan returned home early evening. Once there they had a light meal before Harry used the floo connection to go to the Ministry of Magic. As he stepped out of the fireplace he was met by Sirius who escorted him straight to Madam Bones' office.
"Auror Black. What have your initial investigations shown?" Madam Bones asked after they entered her office.
"As requested," Sirius began, "I formed a team of non-Ministry officials and proceeded to the village of Little Hangleton to investigate a report of a possible murder. Team members were Remus Lupin, until recently DADA Professor at Hogwarts, and two house elves, Kreacher and Dobby. Upon arrival I examined the area and located large but run down house just outside the town which appeared to fit the description given earlier.
"At this point I asked Lupin to examine the area outside the house for any unusual scents. As you know Lupin is a werewolf and, as such, has heightened senses. He informed me there was a fresh smell of burning coming from the house. As the house is supposedly abandoned I became very curious. I found the back door leading into the kitchen was unlocked with the key in the lock. We entered the house and immediately became aware of footprints and other signs of recent habitation.
"We followed the footsteps to a staircase where we found several other tracks, including one that resembled those typically left by a large snake. Magic revealed the house to be empty of people so we ascended the stairs. At the top of the stairs we found a room which appeared to be at the centre of the various tracks. The fireplace was still warm, indicating a fire had been lit in the grate very recently and then hurriedly extinguished. It was obvious someone had been living in the room very recently. Further searching revealed a walking stick tossed aside and clear evidence that someone had fallen to the floor in that room within a very short timeframe prior to our arrival.
"At this point I asked Remus to take Dobby and investigate the grounds while Kreacher and I continued searching the house. When we met again Remus informed me the caretaker's house on the grounds was empty but that someone was living there and had apparently left in a hurry. The evidence was they were expecting to return within a very short period of time."
"Can you be more specific with this evidence, auror Black?" Madam Bones asked.
Sirius quickly checked his notes before continuing. "There was a kettle full of water on the stove which had recently been boiled but had cooled down again. It appeared the occupant had boiled the kettle then become distracted by something he had seen out the window. The window faced the old mansion and afforded a clear view of the building, including a window into the room we had just searched."
"Very well. Please continue," Madam Bones said.
"Having determined that the caretaker was missing we proceeded to the nearby village. I left the elves behind to guard the house and ensure no-one entered the grounds. Their instructions were to alert me if anyone did so. As it transpired nobody entered the grounds.
"Upon arrival at the village we went to a local Public house as this appeared to be the focal point of the village. Once inside I asked the landlord about the old house on the edge of town. He informed me it was called the Riddle House and that it had been the scene of a triple murder some 50 years earlier. Knowing the significance of the name Riddle I enquired about said murders and was informed that the caretaker, a man named Frank Bryce was believed to have been the killer, although he was never charged. The reason being lack of evidence. The landlord stated that Mr. Bryce still lived there.
"I informed the landlord we had uncovered evidence that the caretaker was dead. I didn't go into too much detail, of course, but I said it appeared he had entered the house and had been attacked by someone who had been squatting there. The squatters were gone and there was no sign of the caretaker apart from a walking stick. I said the police were investigating and they would undoubtedly want to talk with locals. We returned to the Riddle house and collected the elves. Next, we put preserving charms around the property to protect the scene and left the town. Lastly, I advised the muggle authorities in the nearby town of Great Hangleton of our suspicions. I pretended to be with the government's anti-terror group," Sirius finished.
"Thank-you auror Black. I shall follow up on your report by sending it to the muggle authorities. I have a number of contacts in the muggle police force who are aware of the presence of witches and wizards and who can handle the situation for us until after the Quidditch World Cup."
Thank-you, Madam Bones," he replied.
Madam Bones turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter. Thank-you for your information. It appears as though there is nothing we can do for the Muggle so I think it best you return to my brother's house. I have spoken with Arthur Weasley and it has been agreed that you shall stay with my brother until the day before the final. You are to use the floo network to travel to the Weasley's house on the evening of the day prior to the World Cup Final where you will remain for the next 2 weeks. I expect you will be returning to my brother's house for the last few days before returning to school although you may wish to remain with Weasleys as per your invitation."
"Thank-you. I will decide closer to the time where I will spend the last few days of the holidays. If I learn anything more about today's events I will let you know via that scroll," Harry finished.
Over the next week Harry was able to spend a great deal of time with Susan. They generally relaxed around the pool or, if the weather was against them, they watched videos. They had finished all their holiday assignments and Harry wondered whether or not Ron had finished his yet.
"Susan?" Harry began.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Thank-you for inviting me to stay over the holidays. I have enjoyed my time here."
"That's fine. You're welcome to stay but you obviously want to join the Weasleys. Don't let Ginny get any ideas, though."
"Don't worry. I won't think Ginny is as interested as she used to be."
"I guess you're right. We'd better go tell my parents, though," she said as she led him out of the kitchen and into the back yard.
After telling Susan's parents Harry used the floo network to contact the Weasleys. It was Mrs. Weasley who answered the call. "Hello Harry, dear. It's good to see you," she answered.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley, how are you?" He asked.
"I'm fine, Harry. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Is Ron there?"
"Just a moment, I'll call him." Mrs Weasley left the kitchen. While she was away Harry looked around the room. She was obviously cooking something for their evening meal but he couldn't make out what it was. Mrs. Weasley returned with Ron a minute later.
"Harry. Good to see you, mate," Ron said upon entering the kitchen.
"Hey, Ron. How are you?"
"Good. Hermione's here too. She's with Ginny at the moment. Everybody here's fine. So, are you all set to join us?"
"Yeah. I'll come this evening if that's ok."
"That will be fine, Harry," Mrs. Weasley interrupted. "We were just about to eat. Would you like me to keep something hot for you?"
"No, thank you for the offer but Susan's cooking here so I better stay and enjoy her meal," Harry replied.
"That's probably a good idea," Hermione said. She and Ginny had just entered the kitchen. "How are you anyway, Harry?"
"I'm good, thanks. So I'll see you about 9pm."
"Ok. We'll be expecting you. And remember, all of you, you have to be at 5am so no late night talking," Mrs. Weasley intoned to everyone.