Harry Potter and The Daughter of Voldemort

Chapter Two: The Daily Prophet



Harry walked slowly down the creaking stairs, hovering before the living room entrance, listening to the Weasley family talking quickly, and in hushed voices, as if they knew he was listening.

"Molly..." Mr.Weasley was saying, his tone strained "We can't tell him.... I know it was more than a nightmare. If he finds out what happened.......I don't know if he could handle it...."

"But Arthur..." Mrs.Weasley interupted, sounding just as strained, "Why wouldn't he know? It would be on the Muggle news wouldn't it...?"

"No mum." it was Fred now, but his voice did not sound jovial as it usually did, "It wasn't on the Muggle news...They're trying to keep this just as quiet as we are. They don't want anyone to panick..."

Harry felt a surge of deja-vu. The conversation sounded quite familliar, as when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been discussing how they thought Sirus Black had been after him. They obviously were keeping something they didn't want him to know about.

Harry heard someone snort.

"Not panick?" That was defenitely Ron. He could hear the way he sounded almost calm. Ron knew about everything that had happened the year earlier. Harry had told him it all(much to his reluctance) after he had been sent a Howler from Ron demanding that he should know.

"I don't see how the Muggle's aren't panicking. All those people that died...Eventually people are going to find out. It can't be kept a secret forever."

Harry felt his insides shrivel and die.

He couldn't help but realize that the Weasley's were talking about Voldemort, and obviously, something had happened, something they didn't want him to know about.

Feeling as though he didn't want to hear anymore, Harry stepped into the room and coughed casualy. The entire Weasley family-excluding Charlie and Bill- turned to look at him as he walked towards the table and sat down beside Fred. Ron shot him a look across the table as if to say "You heard, didn't you? "

The table was quiet, and the tension was so heavy, Harry could almost feel it press down on his shoulders. Mr.Weasley gave him a smile, but it was hollow and strained. There were large dark rings under his eyes, and his hair was touseled and messy. Percy looked almost the same, even with his obvious effort to appear at least a little presentable.

"So." George finally said, poking at his breakfast, "How's your summer been Harry?"

"Er...good." Harry replied, trying to smile.

George nodded, and once again, the room lapsed into silence.

Harry ate his bacon and eggs greatfully, occasionally glancing at Ron, who in turn, kept glancing back at him. He shifted unconfortably in his seat, as though he wanted to tell him something. Mr. Weasley seemed to notice, and he kept shooting Ron warning looks.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mrs.Weasley stood, and began to gather the plates, taking out her wand to place them gently in the sink.

"Why don't you boys get dressed." Mrs. Weasley said in a slightly happy tone. "Then you can go out front and do what you like. We just got a Quidditch set Harry." she added, smiling at him warmly. Harry smiled back, then set off up the stairs, with Ron close behind.

"Harry...." he began to say, but was interupted as Mr. Weasley called him back down.

Harry crept down the stairs after Ron, stopping to eavesdrop again. He desparately wanted to know what they were keeping from him.

"Ron, don't tell Harry anything. Anything. I don't want him to know yet. We should wait. Promise me you won't tell him. " Harry heard Ron sigh in exasperation, then mumble "I promise dad."



*

For the next week, the tension was high, and there was little conversation, for fear of slipping something Harry wasn't supposed to know. It became very frustrating for Harry, constantly coming down from Ron's room to hear whispers at the Weasley table. Something major was happened, and they didn't seem to think he could handle the truth.

On the day before the train ride back to Hogwarts, Mr. Weasley took Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny to Diagon Alley to buy their supplies.

The bustle was even heavier than usual, and it seemed to Harry that everyone was whispering, and pointing at him more than he was used to. He felt like the only one in the world who didn't know what was going on.

They separated in the alley sqaure by Flourish and Blotts, and Harry and Ron, with pockets full of coins, entered, while Fred and George ran up to the Owl Emporium, and Mr. Weasley and Ginny passed into Olivanders( Ginny had broken her wand over the summer).

Harry glanced at his list.

There were only two new books Ron and him would need: Defense Against the Dark Arts Grade 5, by Ghilly Croode and Superior Transfiguration, by Yigga Hornsnoade.

Ron was fidgeting again, as they looked along the shelves stuffed with books and scruffy magazines. He didn't seem to be concentrating on finding the books, and kept wringing an old newspaper in his hands. Finally, when they stopped to look at some rainbow-coloured scrolls of parchment, did Ron finally crack.

"Harry." he said, voice wavering.

Harry turned, meeting Ron's gaze. "What?" he asked, almost feeling the air crackle with tension.

"Harry." Ron said again, this time for confidently "I'm pretty sure you've guessed by now that Mum and Dad are keeping something from you, and well....I thought you should now." he swallowed hard, then continued, "Look at this." Unfolding the newspaper he had been holding, Ron held it up so Harry could see.

It was a Daily Prophet, and on the front page was a horrific picture of a small town, burned to the ground. Harry could hear the crackle of a few tiny fires, and watched as smoke floated across the sky. In big letters, the paper read: ATTACK ON MUGGLE TOWN SENDS MINISTRY INTO PANICK.

Mouth dry, Harry continued to watch the moving picture, until Ron snapped it back. For a moment, there was silence, the shops noises drowned out by the ringing in Harry's ears.

"It was Voldemort, wasn't it?" he finally asked, watching Ron cringe.

"Don't say his name-." Ron hissed, running a hand through his flaming orange hair, "and yes, it was You-Know-Who. Dad told us that the Minsity is in total panick. He says that Cornelius Fudge only now believes what happened last year was You-Know-Who's work, and never comes out of his office. He says that they can hear him mumbling to himself through the door. They think he's gone mad. Dad thinks this attack pushed him over the edge."

Harry swallowed hard, watching Ron shake, he didn't seem to be finished.

"There's more." Ron finally said, tossing the newspaper aside, "People have reported that there's been this cloaked figure going around and harassing muggles and wizards alike, demanding they tell them where.....where....Harry Potter is. Where you are, Harry." Ron seemed to loose all colour in his face, and the freckles stood out starkly on the white palor.

Harry's insides were churning, and he felt as though he was about to part with his breakfast. Words failed him as he tried to respond calmly. Instead he let out a strangled grunt.

Cloaked figures only meant one thing to him: Death Eaters.

"Harry, are you ok?" Ron asked, the colour slowly returning to his face. He looked more regretfull now than scared, and he waved a hand infront of Harry's face, attempting to bring him back to reality.

Blinking a few times, Harry nodded, the nausea passing, replaced by the feeling as if he'd just swallowed a large stone.

"I-I'm fine...." he muttered, trying to unfogg his clouding head. "Let's just get our things...we can talk about this later."

Ron nodded, and they continued to scan the bookshelves, until both volumes were in hand and paid for.

Harry couldn't seem to concentrate on anything for the rest of the day, constantly walking into people and absentmindedly knocking over his pop later while they sat outside Florean Fortesque's Ice-Cream Parlour. Ron was in a sour mood, totaly regretting telling Harry anything about the attack(''Dad's going to kill me!-'').

"Now that I've told you, you're not going to stop thinking about it." he said curtly, giving Harry an annoyed look.

Harry continued to stare off into space, mumbling "Uh..." before loosing himself in the wild colours of a strange bird flying towards them.

It took Harry a few seconds before he realised that the bird had landed, and was pecking his ear furiously.

"Wha-!?" he yelled, falling off his chair in suprise. The bird screeched loudly, bringing the attention of a few bystanders to them, supressing giggles seeing Harry sprawled on the ground, glasses askew.

"What?" he asked, straightening himself out, trying to ignore the howling laughter of Ron beside him.

"You should've seen your face!" he garbled, trying desparately to regain control. Harry frowned at him, then gave all his attention to the brightly coloured fowl. It was brandishing a thick letter, tied loosely around it's thin leg, which was stretched out so it was level with Harry's nose.

He undid the string slowly, taking the letter in hand. Giving him a look of amusement, the bird flew off circling above them for a moment, then streaking away. By then, Ron had stopped laughing, and was now watching wordlessly as Harry unfolded the parchment, and began to read outloud.

Harry ,

It's just me, Snuffles. Thought I 'd send a quick word. Have you seen the Daily Prophet article yet? I hope you have, because I want you to be on guard. With Voldemort already making his presence known, he won't waste any time in getting to you. Make sure, when you reach Hogwarts, to tell Dumbledore that I'll be in the area. I don't like the idea of you sneaking out anymore . I'll be partrolling the grounds at night, so if you decide to go against my suggestion, I'll be waiting to escort you to Snape. I'm sure he'd be more than thrilled to catch you out of your dormitory at night. Promise me you'll be carefull. If you haven't seen the article, I sent a paper with this letter.

Snuffles.

"Oh great." Harry groaned, "Not this again. I don't think I can take another year like third year..."

Ron smiled evily, taking the letter in hand and reading it carefully.

"Well, he didn't say anything about me or Hermione sneaking out. Perhaps we could do all your sneaking for you....Ouch!!"

Harry elbowed him hardly in the chest, then snatched the parchment back.

"I doubt Hermione will be all for it." he said, eyeing Ron.

"Well...well..." the redhead retorted, trying to think of something to say, "Well, what if we really need to sneak out for a very important reason. What about then?"

Ron sat back in his chair, looking very pleased with himself for finding a good retort that he was sure Harry couldn't backfire.

But Harry just smiled, looking over Ron's shoulder.

"I don't know." he said thoughtfully, "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

"Hello Ron." came Hermione's voice from behind him, dangerously slurred.

"Great..."

"What was that?"

Ron turned scarlet, not daring to turn around.

"Hermione, have a seat." Harry said, gesturing towards a place beside him.

"Thank-you Harry. At least someone is glad to see me." she replied sarcasticaly, sitting down.

As she did, Ron looked up from his feet and gasped.

"Hermione?!!" he breathed, eyes wide. Even Harry was a little perplexed.

Her once bushy hair was combed straight, and it shone brilliantly in the afternoon sun, sitting delicately on her shoulders. Two long strands were curled on either side of her thin face, framing her flushed cheeks. She smiled at both of them, revealing a straight toothy grin.

"Do you like it?" she asked hopefully, " I finally got it to straighten out, and I really liked it. It's amazing what can happen when you use the right conditioner."

Harry and Ron sat staring for a moment, before finding words.

"Wow Hermione." Harry said, smiling stupidly. "You look so...so different."

"Beautifull." Ron added, then flushed deeply, suddenly realising what he'd just said. Hermione blushed too, being unable to meet Ron's gaze.

The three lapsed into awed silence, before Fred's bellow echoed over from the alley square.

"Oi!, are you coming or what?!"

"Coming!!" Ron and Harry called in unison, gathering their things.

"Bye Hermione." Ron said, smiling at her. She blushed again, then waved the two away.

"Bye Harry, bye Ron!!" she said loudly after them, waving until they dissapeared into the crowd.