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Chapter 10
Perilous Portals
"Harry, how did you come to be in Hogsmeade?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"I saw Godber and Brisking. They've been ... doing something in the basement ... and sneaking out to Hogsmeade. I wanted to be sure it wasn't just some innocent prank before I said anything. I think they turned opposite Zonko's." said Harry, shaking from his experience. They were back in Hogwarts' infirmary but he was still wet and confused.
"Alastor, would you check the basement with me please and send someone to investigate the buildings opposite Zonko's?" Dumbledore said firmly. "Urgently." he added, then, "Harry, come with me." Moody had already thrust his head into the green flames in the small infirmary fireplace and was shouting orders. He then jumped up and followed Dumbledore out of the door.
...
"What is this?" asked Moody. He was staring at a strange stone and metal device in the middle of an unused room in the basement. It had a small platform large enough for one person to stand upon. From one side of this a stone pillar arose to waist height. It was very ornately carved with many complicated projections and intricate gaps. On its upper surface, a tapering metal rod topped by fine filigree metalwork was positioned horizontally. Around it was a circular brass disk with graded markings dividing its perimeter.
"Fetch Professor Sinistra please Minerva." said Dumbledore quietly.
"She'll be ... yes of course." said McGonagall and strode back upstairs quickly.
Moody was pointing his wand at the old stone basement fireplace. "Incendio!" Flames appeared then turned green. Moody was instantly down on his knees. "Anything?" his head was again in the flames.
"Harry, did you see them use this apparatus?" asked Dumbledore.
"No sir, I never came down here." said Harry.
"Then ... how they get out of Hogwarts?"
"There's an exit in an alcove near the main door in the entrance hall." said Harry.
"Harry, I'm sure there is no such exit." said Dumbledore quietly.
"But I saw them go through..."
"Did you? Are you sure?" asked Dumbledore quizzically.
Harry thought for a while then answered, "No. They used a spell ... then I couldn't see them in the dark. I went over and they had gone." replied Harry.
"And did you ... Did you find the exit?" asked the headmaster.
"No sir."
The headmaster looked carefully at Harry but for some reason he did not ask how Harry had managed to get outside.
"Harry, I think you were tricked. I think they knew you were watching them but did not want you to find this device. I think they pretended to exit in the entrance hall but instead used an unspoken disillusionment spell and slipped away to come down here to this device."
Harry stared. He wondered if they had stood there grinning while he had futilely been grasping the statuette's head and saying 'Exitus.'"
While they waited, Dumbledore continue to study the device. Soon McGonagall hurried in followed by Sinistra still in her dressing gown.
"Aurora, do you have any idea what this is?" asked Dumbledore without any preamble, indicating the device. He stood back from it.
Professor Sinistra bent close and began to study the device both visually and with her wand. "It looks similar to many things but..." she paused. "This is new magic. It is unknown to me. Not only is the device itself very complex, it is charmed by the most complicated web of spells I have ever seen. It will need a lot of time and effort to investigate it. Clearly a pointing device is included. It will need other specialist wizards to uncover its secrets, I can only..."
"Can you determine the astral alignment of that pointer? As precisely as possible if you please." asked Dumbledore.
"Certainly headmaster." Professor Aurora Sinistra held up a device something like an astrolabe but spherical, and shining with an inner pulsing, magenta glow. McGonagall had obviously prepared her.
"It's the same!" declared Moody, pulling his face out of the flames. "There is a device in a building in Hogsmeade and it's the same as this one from the description."
Moody came over. "They trapped those lads in a small building near the post office. Those cowards put up almost no resistance when threatened by the eight aurors I sent in; the cringing little..."
"May I remind you they are Hogwarts' students, Alastor? They are just children." said Dumbledore.
"Children or not, the little rats have another device like this one in Hogsmeade." shouted Moody. "Clearly some kind of double portkey or transport of some kind. If someone has found a way past Hogwarts' defences without even causing an alert then we are in serious trouble. Nowhere will be safe: the ministry, auror headquarters..." Moody was shaking his head.
"Alastor, would you then escort Professor Sinistra to Hogsmeade please?" turning to Sinistra, he said, "Aurora, would you go with Alastor. There is a similar device I would like you to look at. Please let me know the alignment of that one as well."
"Headmaster, I have detected even more spells here. We need to determine what is at work here. It is beyond anything I know."
"It's beyond anything anyone knows I think. I'll put some investigators on it right away." said Moody.
"No matter how long it takes, keep at it until we know." responded Dumbledore.
"Of course." Moody guided Sinistra to the fireplace. "It's tiny but I think there's just room to squeeze through."
"Right now? I'm not even dressed..." protested Professor Sinistra, pulling her dressing gown more tightly around her.
Moody was practically pushing her down into the flames "Yes, yes. In you go." He quickly followed.