Chapter 4 - Dumbledore's Letter
June 11, 1997 - Very Early Morning
Harry turned towards the phoenix. It looked just as beautiful as ever. The fiery red and gold plumage seemed to glow on its own in the dim room.
"Hello, Fawkes," said Harry, when his surprise had faded somewhat. "What brings you here?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.
He got one. Fawkes gave a little trill and another flash preceded a letter falling to Harry's feet. Harry picked it up. Fawkes gave a final trill and with a flap of his wings, vanished in a flash of flame.
Harry looked at the letter. It was addressed "To Harry Potter: Alone in the bedroom of his own house." There was no mistaking Dumbledore's writing. Harry carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a parchment and another envelope; this one addressed to "Minerva McGonagall or the current Headmaster of Hogwarts".
Harry read the parchment.
Dear Harry,
I have asked my friend Fawkes to deliver this letter to you after my death when you are alone in your own house. I wanted to make sure that you are the only one around when it was delivered. I also wanted to make sure you were not at your relatives house so as not to cause you further trouble. I will not say much in this letter since I will not be able to update it if necessary. As I write this, I have just resumed my post as Headmaster and much may have happened since then. If you will take the envelope to Hogwarts and present it to the current Headmaster or Headmistress (I assume it will be Minerva but I have been wrong before now), all will be explained. Please accept my apologies for not explaining further at this time. Please do this as soon as possible.
Yours,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry looked at the clock. One in the morning. It had been a long day and he was sure that the Headmistress would not look kindly on him waking her. "As soon as possible "will be after breakfast.
June 11 - Breakfast
The next morning, Harry showered and put on some jeans and a t-shirt. When he walked down to the kitchen, he found Remus, Tonks and Hermione already eating their breakfast. Dobby had been more than happy to prepare it for them. Harry sat down and Dobby plopped down half a dozen caldron cakes, three eggs and at least a half a pound of bacon on his plate. Harry wondered if he was channeling Mrs. Weasley.
"What would Sir like to drink, sir?" asked Dobby.
Harry banged his head on the table. "The name is Harry, Dobby. Just Harry. Please just call me Harry and I will be the happiest man in England." Harry felt like grabbing Dobby by the ears and shaking him but since Hermione would kill him, he resisted.
"Yes, ...Harry..." Dobby said slowly. He really didn't look like he wanted to do this. "Dobby will call you ... Harry ..." Harry thought Dobby was probably just silently saying the rest but felt that progress was being made.
"Thank you, Dobby," said Harry. "I would like some coffee, please." The coffee was in front of him before he finished saying "please'. Good service.
After making an attempt at the mountain of food in front of him he asked, "Where's Ron?" The tall redhead was nowhere to be seen; unusual when there was food to be had.
"He already finished," said Hermione. "I think he wanted to floo to the Burrow. He said something about needing something from his room to help him feel more at home."
"Probably just wanted to get a second breakfast from his mother," joked Harry.
Hermione laughed. She was reading the Daily Prophet and seemed to be in a good mood. Harry asked if there was anything interesting in the paper.
"Not really," she replied. "Just the usual." She went back to the paper.
"I had a visitor last night," said Harry, casually. Hermione, Remus and Tonks all stopped what they were doing and looked at him. "Fawkes dropped off a letter from Dumbledore."
"Really?" asked Lupin. He seemed to wake up quite a bit fairly fast. "What did it say?"
"It basically told be to see McGonagall as soon as I could and take her an envelope that was included. Other than that, not much." He showed them the letter.
Lupin read the letter and then said "I guess that will put us off for this morning, then." He looked at Tonks. "If we hurry, do you think we can be all moved in here by this afternoon?" he asked.
"I don't see why not," she answered. "I still have most of my stuff in boxes and you were mostly done last night." Harry didn't ask why her stuff was in boxes. He already suspected. Blimey, they moved fast.
They decided that the next meeting could wait until that afternoon. Hermione asked Harry if she could come with him to see McGonagall. The letter was written before Dumbledore told Harry he trust Ron and Hermione with everything so he assumed that it would be alright. They left after Hermione had changed. Her original choice of clothes were more suited for bumming around the house versus visiting the Headmistress of their school.
They flooed the Headmistresses office and asked permission to see her. McGonagall was still at the school (and probably would be all summer, thought Harry) but said she could spare them some time. They stepped out of the fireplace and stood before her.
Harry wasn't sure where to begin or how much to say. He hoped the letter would be self-explanatory. "I received a note from Professor Dumbledore last night. It was delivered by Fawkes."
Professor McGonagall was not a young witch. From her reaction, Harry wondered if she would make it to being an old witch.
After her heart rate got down to double digits, she asked Harry what he meant.
"Apparently, Professor Dumbledore arranged for Fawkes to bring me this note in the event of his death," he said. He handed her the note and the envelope addressed to her.
McGonagall read the note Dumbledore sent to Harry and looked at the envelope addressed to her. She looked at the portrait of Dumbledore and he, in turn, looked back at her. "I suggest you open it," he said.
She looked back at the envelope and, using her wand, opened it. She read the note inside and looked at Harry. She looked at the portrait. She then looked back at the note. She did not look pleased. She addressed Harry. "Mr, Potter," she began, "it appears that I am to provide you with some materials of some sort but I am not to know, or more exactly, not remember what they might be." She turned from Harry to the portrait of Dumbledore. "Albus," she said. "I don't wish to embarrass Mr. Potter but since Miss Granger is here, could I let her perform the spell? I would feel just slightly better about it." She looked hopefully at her predecessor.
Dumbledore laughed. "That will be quite all right, Minerva. I doubt that you will get much of an argument from Harry on Hermione's abilities."
Hermione blushed to the point of giving Ron a run for his money. Harry laughed and nodded his head to Dumbledore and even McGonagall managed a small smile.
The Headmistress got up and walked over to the bookcase by the window. She scanned the shelves until she found what she was looking for. She returned to her desk and place the book in front of her. She then turned to Hermione.
"Miss Granger," she began. "This note describes a form of the obliviate spell that does not require Legilimancy to perform. It is much safer for the recipient, in this case myself, and should be well within your abilities. Please read the note and be sure to ask any questions you might have on it's operation. She handed the note to Hermione.
Hermione read the note very carefully, nodding from time to time and moving her hand as if waving a wand. Finally, she looked up to McGonagall. "It looks fairly simple. I'm sure I can do it," she said, trying to comfort her professor with words of confidence.
"Very well, Hermione," replied McGonagall. "I trust you." Turning to Harry she said, "Mr. Potter, the reason for this level of secrecy is to provide you with a secure location to store something. Albus has not chosen to inform me of it's nature but he says that even the Fidelius Charm on your house would not be sufficient protection for what you may need to safeguard. Apparently, there is a place within this office of which I am not aware, which can only be opened by the rightful head of the school and to which no one may have access without knowing a specific password. He has placed the items you are to receive there and it's further uses to you will be revealed while I am under the spell. I will only know of it's existence, not how to find it."
Harry thought about this and realized after a moment that the items he might have to store for a while would be any horcruxes he might find. They would have to remain secure until he could destroy them. He then slipped off on a tangent that was begun late last night. Perhaps he wouldn't need Dumbledore's hiding place.
"Professor," he began, addressing McGonagall, "could I please have a few minutes with Professor Dumbledore?"
McGonagall was a little confused by this, not having had access to Harry's thoughts. She recovered quickly and said "of course." She rose from her chair.
Before she could leave, Dumbledore's portrait said, "Harry, does this mean you might have an even more secure location already in mind?"
"Yes, sir," replied Harry. He didn't want to say anymore in front of McGonagall.
"In that case, I would suggest that your beautiful girlfriend perform the spell. Minerva might be able to help answer your questions better than I due to my recent diminishment. I am afraid that I am now just a portrait and am not really empowered with all of my former abilities and knowledge."
Harry nodded. He then said, "I guess we should continue, then." He looked at Hermione who also nodded and drew her wand. Looking once more at the note she waved her wand and said "Obiviate Tractus." Nothing happened. She looked at the portrait of Dumbledore and he winked at her.
"There is no flash or other effects with that spell, Miss Granger. You have performed it correctly, I think," he said.
"Very well," said McGonagall. "I suggest we proceed. Please be aware that I will not remember anything about what we do or say after the counter spell is performed so you will need to reinform me of anything you wish when I am back to normal." She looked at him expectantly.
"Of course, Professor," Harry said. Turning to the portrait he said "Professor. Last night we were discussing the possibility of a more secure location than Grimmauld Place as a base for our activities. As you have noted, it might not be the most appropriate place since it is also the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Well, I was wondering if maybe the Chamber of Secrets might be better."
"Bloody hell, Harry!"
Harry looked around for Ron. He was surprised to see the unflappable Minerva McGonagall trying to catch her breath. Hermione was also surprised but had a small grin on her face as, she too, had made the connection to the missing member of their group.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she said. "It just caught me by surprise. Please go on. Why do you think the Chamber of Secrets would be more secure than my office?"
"Well, Professor. Professors, I should say," he said, nodding to Dumbledore, "it had been hidden for about a thousand years. Only a parselmouth can enter it and I believe it is shielded from most magic. I wanted Professor Dumbledore's opinion on this last point."
Professor Dumbledore thought for a moment and then said, "I am not sure if it is shielded or was just outside of the range of most searches for it. You said you believed it is shielded from "most "magic. I take it you know of some exceptions?"
"Yes, sir," said Harry. "Fawkes was able to bring the sorting hat to me. That could mean that you can apparate there once you know where it is or it might just be a special ability of Fawkes. I notice that he has no problems with the wards around Hogwarts."
"That is true, Harry," replied Dumbledore. "You are the only one besides Ginny Weasley who had been in the actual chamber. Why don't you try to apparate there now?" he suggested.
Harry concentrated on the spot in front of the statue. With a turn, he was gone.
The apparition was different than he was used to. It seemed as if he had to push harder to get to his destination. Harry found himself in total darkness. He reached for his wand but before he could say anything, the torches in the chamber noticed his presence and ignited. He looked around and saw the basilisk on the floor. Only a few scraps of meat were left; the rats had taken care of the rest. The bones had not bleached due to the lack of the sun and had a strange yellowish caste. He looked around the chamber for a minute to adjust his perception of it's size to adult proportions, not the memory of a twelve year old boy. He then concentrated on the headmaster's office and returned.
When he popped back, he noticed a smile on the faces of the others. "What?" he asked.
"Did you get into the chamber?" asked Hermione. She still had that knowing smile but said nothing else.
"Yes, I did," replied Harry. "It was a little different than normal but it worked."
"Different in what way?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Well," began Harry, "It's a little hard to describe. It was a little harder to do. Sort of like walking through water instead of air."
"I see," said Dumbledore. He seemed to understand what Harry meant.
"Could you please show it to us?" said McGonagall. She stood up and walked to the other side of her desk.
"Well, sure," said Harry, apprehensively. "I'm not sure if you should see it, though."
"Harry. She won't remember any of this," said Hermione.
"Oh, right," said Harry. Hermione grabbed one arm and Professor the other. "I didn't know you could do two people with side-along apparition," he said.
"Oh, that is just what most people do," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm sure you will have no problem with the both of us. After all, we aren't going far."
Harry thought she must be correct and without another thought, they were in the Chamber of Secrets.
When the torches relit, Harry looked up at the statue. A second later, twin screams pierced his ears.
"Bloody hell, Harry!" This time it was Hermione. She and McGonagall had both turned around and seen the basilisk skeleton at the same time.
"Yeah. Scary, isn't it?" asked Harry, assuming that they were surprised to see it without warning. He walked over to where he had collapsed after being poisoned and picked up the fang, still laying where he had dropped it. It was smaller in his hand now but was still quite sharp. "This hurt when it went in, I can tell you," he said with a smile, turning to face the women.
Hermione looked at the fang, then the snake and then back to Harry. She then gave him a hug and cried in his shoulder.
McGonagall said, "Harry, you must not be a fisherman. When you said the basilisk was fifty feet long, I assumed that it was the exaggeration of youth. I could not believe that a creature of that size could be fought, much less overcome, by a boy of twelve. I am having many assumptions put to the test this day."
Harry didn't really know what to say. He gently helped Hermione away from him and decided to get to the subject at hand. "Well, Fawkes had the most to do with that," he said. "Anyway, this is a pretty big place as you can see." He motioned down the pillars towards the far end. "If we could just put up some anti-apparition wards, it would probably be safe. I mean, only Voldemort and I can open that door. As long as he doesn't come along, we would not have anything to worry about."
The witches looked around and nodded. McGonagall finally said "Just let me try something, Harry." She closed her eyes and turned around. She then did it again. She turned to Hermione. "Could you please try now, Miss Granger?" she asked.
"Of course, Headmistress," Hermione replied. She repeated McGonagall's movements with the same results.
"That should be enough," said McGonagall. "I believe that this place is secure. We can now return to my office, Mr. Potter."
"Wait a moment," said Hermione. "Harry, please call Dobby."
Harry didn't know why she wanted Dobby but called out just the same. When the elf didn't appear, he tried again. "He must be busy or something," he said with a shrug.
"Ok, let's go then," said Hermione. When Harry started to apparate, she called out "Stop! You have to take us with you!" Both Hermione and McGonagall grabbed an arm and Harry took them back to the Headmaster's Office.
When they arrived he asked, "I don't get it. Why didn't you both just apparate back yourselves?" he asked. "You didn't know where the chamber was but you did know where this office was."
Before they could answer, Dobby popped into the room and rushed to embrace Harry.
"Oh, Master Harry! Master Harry!" he shouted. "Dobby is so worried. He hears Master calling and isn't finding him anywhere. He can tell Master is being in Hogwarts but just isn't finding him." Harry tried to comfort the elf and was joined by Hermione but he was near hysterical. After about a full minute of crying and babbling, he seamed to get a grip on himself.
"Don't worry about it, Dobby," said Harry. He then had a thought. If they did want to make use of the chamber, Dobby would need to be able to find it. "Dobby, I want to take you somewhere. It is where I was. If you see it, do you think you might be able to find it again?"
"Dobby isn't knowing but Dobby will try, Master Harry Potter, sir," said the elf. Clearly, he reverted to his most comfortable means of addressing Harry when distraught.
"OK," said Harry, taking Dobby's hand. He apparated them to the chamber. When they got there, he asked Dobby to try to pop back to the office and then back to him.
Dobby looked around for a minute to remember the place and then was gone. A second later, he returned, a smile on his face.
"Very good, Dobby," said Harry, breathing a sigh of relief. "Let's go back to the Headmistress's office then." Dobby popped away and Harry followed.
When they returned, Harry asked Dobby to remain with them. Turning to Professor Dumbledore, he said "I believe that it will work fairly well, sir. It seems that it is at least partially shielded from magic. Dobby could hear me call but could only get a general idea of my location. Fortunately, he can go there now that he knows where it is." He paused, looking at Hermione and McGonagall. "I am not sure about apparating there. For some reason, I can do it but you two can't. Do you have any ideas on why?"
"They can't do it because they are not you, Harry," said Dumbledore. Harry turned around.
"What do you mean, sir?" asked Harry. "Does it have something to do with being able to speak parselmouth?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "No, I don't believe it is anything quite as difficult as that. You see, apparating to the chamber is not the only thing you have done today that you should not have been able to do."
Harry thought about that but couldn't think of anything else. "What else have I done?" he finally asked.
Dumbledore looked to Hermione and said "Perhaps you would like to answer that, Miss Granger."
Hermione looked at Harry with her usual expression when he couldn't figure out something simple. "Harry," she began, "you should not have been able to apparate out of this office. We are in Hogwarts and the wards should have prevented you from being able to go anywhere."
"But how?" asked Harry to the room at large.
"I believe I can answer that, Harry," said Dumbledore. "There are two main reasons that you were able to defeat the ward of this school. First, you have an unusually pronounced ability at apparition. You demonstrated this when you side-along apparated the two of us from the cave to Hogsmeade. That was about four hundred and fifty miles. On average, most wizards and witches are able to achieve only one hundred miles or so. The other factor that allows you to override the schools wards is the fact that you have a larger than normal, in fact extraordinary amount of magical power that you almost never allow yourself to recognize. Let me explain. Do you remember the year when we hosted the dementors?" Harry nodded. "When they attacked you at the quidditch match, I was able to drive them off with my patronus."
"Yes, sir," said Harry. "I remember. You drove off about a hundred of them if I was told correctly." He looked at Hermione and smiled.
"Yes, that's correct," said Dumbledore. "But later that year, you also drove off a hundred dementors. How do you think you did that?"
Harry thought for a moment and then answered "Well, I had already done it so I just let it happen. I mean I didn't realize it while I was watching it happen next to Sirius but once I figured out it was me, I didn't have any doubts it wouldn't happen just as before."
"Exactly," exclaimed Dumbledore. "You just let it happen with no doubts. That is the key, Harry."
Harry looked confused so Dumbledore continued. "You see, most wizards, most people in fact, have preconceived notions about their abilities. They think they can only run so fast, jump so high, learn so much and so forth and therefore, they impose limits on themselves that can persist for a lifetime. You saw yourself produce a very powerful patronus so when the time came, you did it again. You had no doubts. In fact, you expected it to be just as it was."
Harry asked "So anyone can perform powerful magic as long as they think they can?" It couldn't be that simple. Why didn't they teach us this stuff?
"Not quite, Harry," replied Dumbledore. "Anyone can perform magic to the best of their abilities as long as they don't hold themselves back. Only very powerful witches or wizards are a match for you, however."
Harry had a hard time accepting that statement. "If I am so powerful, then why do I have such a hard time in class, sir?" he asked.
"It is because you don't really learn to use power in class. You learn to control magic. This takes a great amount of mental ability. Miss Granger, as you know, is very good at this. Her power, however, is not quite at your level, although I should point out that she is a very capable witch." He winked at her.
"So if we could combine her brain and my power, we would get someone like you?" Harry asked, a smirk on his face.
"I am very glad that I can't blush anymore. But essentially, you are correct. I think Minerva had better prepare herself for when your children start here," he said, glancing at Hermione.
Hermione blushed and Harry said "Oh, we aren't together. Hermione is sort of dating Ron and I was sort of dating Ginny, sir."
"Excuse the misinterpretation, Harry. You too, Hermione. It is none of my business. I wish you both the best of luck in your relationships," said Dumbledore. "As far as your ability to apparate in Hogwarts is concerned, your description reminds me of the sensation that I felt when I had to apparate within the grounds of the school."
"Shall we move on?" said McGonagall. "I am, after all, going to forget all of this and would like to give Mr. Potter his items you have stored here and have this spell removed." She looked it, too.
"Of course, of course," said Dumbledore. "Please turn the book on your desk to the page indicated in your note."
McGonagall returned to her desk and, reviewing her note, turned the book to page 75. Another note was slipped into the book. It read:
: "Things to give Harry Potter in the event of my death."
My Pensieve - (It is in the cupboard to the left of the window)
The items in the Headmaster's Vault (see instructions below to gain entry)
The key to Gringotts vault number 92 - (It is in my center desk drawer and has the number 92 printed on it)
Please see the portrait for more details on each of these items.
To open the Headmaster's Vault you must place your hand on the window sill and utter the words "Frodo Lives" three times. There is no other way to enter this vault. When you are finished, say "The new password is" and then say your new password. The door will close and the password will change.
McGonagall opened the drawer and found, after a brief search, the key. She handed it to Harry. She then rose, walked to the cupboard and pulled out the pensieve. She gave this to Harry, as well. Then, with a little uncertainty, she put her hand on the window sill and said with grave solemnity, "Frodo lives, Frodo lives, Frodo lives."
Hermione burst out laughing. Of the four living creatures in the room, she was the only one who had read "The Lord of the Rings'.
Although it was a bright day out, the light entering the room faded quickly to black and, with a click, the window opened revealing a deep cupboard behind the glass. McGonagall reached into the space and pulled out a box and a notebook. They were the only items in the vault. She handed them to Harry. She then turned back to the window and said "The new password is "pussycat "." The window closed and became a window again.
Harry handed all of the items to Dobby and said, "Please place these things in my bedroom, Dobby. You may then stay at Grimmauld Place unless I call you." Dobby took the items and left.
Harry turned to the portrait. "Will I find instructions on the items in the notebook, sir?" he asked.
"Yes, Harry," replied Dumbledore. "All except for the key. It is my inheritance from Nicholas Flamel. It is an unregistered vault that anyone with the key has access to. Please do not lose the key. Use the funds to fight Voldemort, restore whatever damage he has caused and to help those in need. I will trust you not to need any of the gold for your own use since I have some idea of Sirius' assets. Just use it for good."
"Professor McGonagall. Before we finish the memory spell, I would like to ask permission to use the Chamber of Secrets for my own purposes in the battle against Voldemort," said Harry.
"I will allow it but why ask before the charm is removed? I won't remember," replied McGonagall.
"I know, but I have permission, so that is all that I require," replied Harry.
Dumbledore laughed and even McGonagall smiled a bit. "Very well, Potter," she said.
Harry retrieved the note from the book and the one that Dumbledore had sent McGonagall. "You may finish the spell now, Hermione," he said.
Hermione waved her wand again and uttered "Obliviate Expleo." Again, nothing happened.
McGonagall looked at Hermione and said "Maybe you didn't do it correctly, Hermione," she said kindly. Hermione looked back at the note in a panic.
Before she could try again, Dumbledore said "Minerva, where is the Headmaster's vault?"
She looked at him and said, "Well, that is one of the things you didn't want me to know, Albus." She seemed a little put out.
"Professor," Harry said. "Exactly how much of this morning do you remember?"
"Why all of it. I was working at my desk when you flooed me asking to visit. You then showed me some notes from Albus and Miss Granger was going to use a memory charm on me. Apparently, it didn't work."
"It did work, Professor," said Hermione. "We have concluded our business here and will be going for now."
Harry addressed McGonagall. "Professor, if you would step by the window, there is something you should know." He waited for her to come to the window. "Please place your hand on the sill." She looked a little confused but complied. "Now say pussycat three times."
"Why on earth would I do that, Potter?" she said, not very amused.
"Because that is the current password to your secret vault." Harry waited, not able to completely suppress his smile.
"Oh, very well," she said. "Pussycat, pussycat, pussycat." The window darkened again and opened.
"How on earth did you know about that?" she asked.
"We found out while you were under the spell. You can change the password if you like. To close the vault just say "The new password is "and say the new password. You can wait until we leave if you like," said Harry.
"Don't you want the things that Albus left you?" she asked. It must have been a good spell. She had no clue.
"We already have them, Professor," replied Hermione. With that, she and Harry left for Grimmauld Place.