Harry Potter and the Peverell Legacy
Book Two of the Heritage Series
Chapter Twelve
The Hidden Gifts
Sirius had fallen asleep deeply as he healed from the fight, Harry had stayed with him for ten minutes to ensure he was alright before he tried to return to the Common Room as Madam Promfrey has easily healed his minor injuries.
As he stood his limbs gave way and he could barely hold himself up.
Professor McGonagall had been speaking quietly with Madam Pomfrey in a corner when she had seen him stumble and walked over to help steady him.
"Was that the first full transformation you have managed?" she asked him as she led him to a chair at another bed.
"Yeah. I have never been able to get my arms legs or body to transform" he said as he shook his head to shake away the feeling of light-headedness.
"Or perhaps you have never been motivated enough." she said with a stern glare. "I am shocked that you managed to transform entirely and not leave a part of yourself human. How long have you been practicing?"
"Since the end of last year." Harry said honestly. "I practiced in Bulgaria a lot."
"Well you should not try that full transformation for some time." she said sternly. "You have expended too much of your own magic in your desperation and your form is stronger than your own body so it will take its toll on you. You are extremely fortunate it did not go wrong. From now on when you practice I would make sure you are able to get to either myself, the headmaster, or Remus if he recovers from tonight."
"Yes Professor," Harry said in a resigned voice, hoping she wouldn't make him register at the ministry. His thoughts turned to his favourite professor. "What happened to Remus, professor? I have seen him on the full moon before but tonight he was rabid, and how did he get out?"
Professor McGonagall didn't answer immediately. She checked that no other students were in the infirmary before answering. "We do not know. He had taken his order of Wolfsbane and had barricaded himself like normal in his office. I was in the Headmasters office with Sirius when we became alerted by the school wards that a werewolf was loose."
"What can make a werewolf go like that; I know that they are more beast than human unlike an animagus but tonight –"
"He was entirely different." she finished for him, "Like I said I do not know but for now we can only wait for the moon to wane."
"You are staying tonight Black-Potter." Pomfrey said walking over to him. "I am sure you only need to sleep it off but I will check up on you in the morning."
Choosing not to argue, he climbed onto the bed. He really was too tired to walk to the common room. The matron had come out to give him a muscle relaxant to help him sleep and she extinguished the lights in the hospital wing as Harry had fallen asleep.
He woke up the next morning to a large rumble in his belly and an intense hunger. When he looked over at Sirius' bed he was surprised to see it vacant. Somehow the matron walked out the moment he sat up and he had a thought that she had her own detection charm over the beds to detect when her patients awoke or moved.
"The Headmaster had urgent business to attend to." she said as she approached, "He left standing orders that you are not to leave this room until you have eaten a large bowl of porridge with jam." With a flick of her wand the food appeared on the table and she wheeled it over to him. "He also told me to tell you to meet him in the unused classroom on the seventh floor. It is just down for the Headmaster's office. Now if you will excuse me I have a patient to attend to."
She left him alone to eat his breakfast quickly whilst she left the hospital wing with a large bag of supplies. He wolfed the porridge down and jumped down from the bed. He felt the dull ache of his muscles and bones from around his body but he was not going to leave Remus upstairs, especially after what he had done.
The walk to the seventh-floor corridor was one of the most strenuous he had ever taken, slowed and hindered by the pain in his body, he had been overtaken by a group of first year Ravenclaws who had laughed at the pace he was walking.
Eventually he managed to get to the classroom and he could feel the enchantments that had been cast in the very air. The door to the classroom had been transformed into a thick metal. He felt the door's magic under his very knuckles when he knocked on the door.
The door opened and he didn't even acknowledge Sirius who had opened the door. Inside bound upright with his arms and legs outstretched like the Vitruvian Man, bound by thick metal manacles that were driven into the very walls, was Remus.
Remus looked incredibly worse for wear: he was naked apart from a pair of rough spun shorts tied with ropes, and Harry could see the muscles under his peaky skin, the number of scars that covered his body, and several fresh wounds that now had poultices applied to them.
But the most startling discovery was Remus' eyes that were normally dark green, were now the glowing orange of Moony, and his face would change periodically with the ghost of the wolf on his face.
"Harry, I am so sorry." Remus said with a croaky voice, looking incredibly mortified and ashamed "I –"
"I think we can both agree that I paid you back in-kind Remus." Harry said sternly pushing Remus's guilt away, "Why are you still chained and why have you not transformed back?"
"I can't." Remus growled and the wolf inside him came to the front for a moment. He gave a growl and his teeth elongated but it lasted barely a few moments before Remus seemed to gain control. "Moony is restless and I am having to fight him back down."
"The Highmoon Institute was sabotaged." Sirius said with an annoyed voice. "Last night its containment facility was nearly breached by the twenty people who were part of the program. It was only because of the thick walls and steel doors they didn't escape but they all fought with each other and all of them have been admitted to St Mungo's."
"It was the Wolfsbane?" Harry asked knowing it was the only thing that Remus had come into contact with.
"It seems like it." Remus said, "Tasted no different but the effect of it once I transformed was immediate. The potion brought out the werewolf aggression and increased it, but it also increased the physical strength of the werewolf. No doubt to ensure the trial subjects broke loose and bit innocent people. However, it would seem that you put Moony in his place, Sirius told me what you managed to do."
"That was the Direwolf not me." Harry said. "I allowed its instincts to take over entirely; I could barely walk in its skin. Can't anyone transform you back or give you a cure?"
"Snape is attempting to do just that." Sirius said with distaste. "Although I have my suspicions this was somehow his doing."
"Don't be ridiculous Sirius." Remus said giving a painful chuckle as Madam Pomfrey pulled a used poultice from his body exposing a very large bite mark, "If this was his own alteration to the potion I would bet it was the Death Eaters who stole it from him. You know better than anyone that he does not like to share."
Harry watched in awe as Madam Pomfrey applied the same clear liquid from last night to a new poultice "What is that you're using?" he asked with interest.
"Its erm -" she said and she looked concerned looking at him before turning to Sirius.
"Snape and Madam Pomfrey were able to identify the venom that is in the Direwolf's teeth." he answered for her. "According to Snape, Direwolf venom contains an enzyme that contaminates the blood stream and reduces the strength of the creature that contains it; however, your bite carries an extra kick that was quite unexpected."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked aghast wondering how he could be more of a freak.
"Basilisk venom." he stated calmly. "Small amounts of it but that is what poisoned me. It is slower in Remus as his lycanthropy is fighting it in his blood."
"But why is it in my teeth." he said touching his canines with concern.
"In your second year, I healed you after you went into the Chamber of Secrets, I noticed then that you had something imbedded into your radius but it had fused with the bone. I couldn't discern what it was so I left it there as it wasn't doing you any harm" Madam Pomfrey answered as she tended to Remus, "Last night I realised what it was, it's a sliver of basilisk fang that contains the venom, but it is balanced by the remnants of the Phoenix's tears which will never leave your body."
"Basilisk venom and Phoenix Tears are incredibly potent and both flow through your blood balancing themselves out. " Sirius stated "You are probably immune to most venoms now, as basilisks are among the most potent, have you been bitten by any other creature since?"
Harry shook his head in wonder but he remembered the deep bite he had received from the Acromantula in the maze, "An Acromantula bit me in the Maze but I just assumed Hagrid had not allowed it to use its venom, can you take it away?"
"Don't turn your nose up at this Harry." Sirius said sternly, "You are fortunate, especially as it may help you in the future but we couldn't even if we wanted to. It's part of you now, as shown by your Direwolf."
"What are you talking about, I am a wolf, not a snake!" Harry shouted annoyed that he wasn't speaking plainly.
"The direwolf contaminates its prey with an enzyme that reduces its strength, however your bite is enhanced because of the basilisk venom in your blood." He explained "Your bite is deadly, although it would imagine it can be controlled, but the only antidote is phoenix tears, even your blood doesn't cure your bite."
Sirius turned back to Remus who was flicking between his wolf and human features.
"I am sorry to do this old friend, but until you are cured of this I cannot have you in this castle as you could be a danger to the students. The Ministry will be aware of this by this afternoon and I am sure they will try and send someone to take you into custody. I can stop that, but I cannot keep you here I have to send you away as much as I would rather you here. But I would like to know how you managed to break your confinement."
"So would I." Remus growled and the anger that was on his face pushed the wolf out and his teeth grew, and his body sprouted hair all over and his lips and pulled up revealing the teeth in full force allowing a growl to permeate the air. Madam Pomfrey quickly moved out of the way but Moony was ignoring her, his eyes were focused on Harry.
"What is he doing?" Harry asked suddenly feeling quite afraid of the look he was receiving and was unable to identify it at all.
"He knows what you are." Sirius said, "That is the mind of Moony; he can smell you and knows you are the wolf that bested him." Sirius transformed into Padfoot momentarily and barked and growled at the wolf. He got no reaction from him, but his head cocked as he watched Moony before changing back. "He is watching you carefully I couldn't tell why exactly but I could get the feeling he saw you as Kin and pack."
Harry's eyes widened. "What does Moony mean by pack? I thought Remus didn't believe in the pack mentality."
"He doesn't, but deep down Moony will. He is a wolf and they are pack animals." Sirius said casually. "We used to jokingly say we were his pack back at school and the feelings I used to sense supported that Moony through like that, but right now I think he feels like you are kin."
"Meaning because I am a wolf?" Harry assumed.
"Perhaps not." Sirius replied. "I have noticed before that whilst you smell remarkably uniquely you, your scent contains traces of James and Lily. Moony might smell Prongs in you and recognise you as kin of the pack."
Moony whined sadly and the intensity of his eyes diminished and Remus came back to the forefront and his eyes became green but were flecked with glowing amber.
"Remus was breathless and he proceeded to vomit in front of him. His body tensed up showing every tendon through the muscle, "Yes, I need to leave this school Sirius, I am a danger to the students in this state. At the slightest provocation, Moony comes to the surface."
Sirius nodded his head in agreement, "You will go to Black House, for now you will need to be confined there until this condition subsides. I will have Tonks escort you to the house, and send a message to Alastor and Bill to have the room reinforced and warded. I wanted you here with me like we used to be but things never go our way do they. I doubt I will be able to find a replacement teacher at this stage however."
"Snape," Remus spluttered out "give it to him. He can teach what needs to be taught, a potion master will be easier to find."
Sirius looked mutinous and looked like he was about to argue, but a pointed look from Remus stopped his argument and Sirius gave him a look of horror.
"He is the best qualified." Remus added, "I am sure that you will be able to find a potions master who will be willing to take the position, especially if they were able to garner some connections from it."
"You cannot be serious!" Sirius said laughing loudly, "Him! He would never work under me!"
"He would if he realised that Harrison Black-Potter would be his student, who was on the path to becoming the first joint head of two Ancient houses in five centuries, but also to cosy up to the powerful Lord Black who is in the political spot light." Remus pointed out. "But nobody has seen him in some time, but I am sure you could find him if you asked for a little help from a portrait."
"Fine, but it will take time to arrange, I will cover your class for this week." Sirius said thinking on his feet, "I also have the first of the equestrian lessons this week for the Exchange."
The bell rang suddenly startling them all. "Harry get to class, you do not want to be late and do not mention what happened." Sirius ordered, and he had a pained expression. "I better get to my first class, who do you have?"
"First years, third lesson." Remus said smirking. "Be nice to them Padfoot."
"Perhaps." Sirius said but his eyes narrowed when the flecks of amber grew large in Remus's eyes "Poppy I leave him in your hands but I would suggest you place him in a body bind whilst you are doing that."
Sirius pushed Harry from the room and the door closed firmly behind them, and they began to follow the many passages down to their classes.
"You did well last night Harry." he said quietly. "You did well under the circumstances, although you are now in detention for being out of bounds! My office tonight at seven." He said with a smirk as he left Harry to follow the path to the third floor.
Harry had arrived at Transfiguration slightly late. Professor McGonagall gave him a stern warning of tardiness, but she had given him an understanding look. They were set the task of completing their transfiguration from the previous lesson, but the moment the volume went up in the class Ron and Hermione turned to him.
"What happened last night?" Hermione said anxiously, "We saw the Prophet; the front page reported that the Highmoon Institute gave out tainted Wolfsbane, and the werewolves went savage."
Harry nodded slightly to her. "It was sabotage, but it will be fine. Remus was affected, but he was contained."
"Is he alright?" Ron asked, "I heard the howls last night."
"There were lingering effects." Harry said evasively knowing that Seamus was listening behind them. "He will have to leave the school whilst he recovers but he will be back."
"What about our lessons." Ron said sulking moodily. "I was enjoying Remus's teaching."
"Enough chat." McGonagall said walking over to them. "Come along; show me what you can do!"
The block of wood in front of them shimmered as they each tried it, whilst Hermione's and Ron's showed improvement, Harrys had stayed the same.
"Black-Potter you should practice that spell more in your free time." she said and walked away
"Not really in the mood." Harry said. "I can't really concentrate, I am worried."
After the double period was finally over, Harry had taken Ron and Hermione out into the grounds to their favourite spot by the lake and they cast a number of privacy charms and he filled them in on what happened, without going into much detail on how he subdued the werewolf. Hermione however narrowed her eyes, and he knew she had noticed what he was doing whilst Ron was oblivious.
"You bested a Werewolf! I would have loved to have seen it!" he said excitedly. "You didn't do that move Lockhart showed us did you?"
Harry laughed at the memory, "No, but it was nothing really, just instinct."
He hated lying to his friends but he didn't know how to tell them about his form and progress he had made.
"Wwhat did you do?" Hermione said bluntly and with an expectant look.
"I told you what I did." Harry said quickly.
"No, you told us the end result, not how you were able to best a rabid werewolf." she said. "What did you do?"
"I erm-" he said stammering "Iamananimagus" he said quickly forcing the offending words out as quickly as possible.
"What?" Ron asked "Imagus? What's that a new spell?"
Harry took a deep breath and looked away from their inquisitive looks and said "I am an animagus."
"SINCE WHEN!" Ron exclaimed. "I didn't know you were even trying! What form do you have? a stag like your dad and patronus?"
"Harry why did you never say anything!" Hermione asked in a hurt voice.
"I didn't plan to become one, I discovered my form by accident whilst going through an Occlumency exercise and I woke up partially transfigured during the end of last year." Harry explained "And when I say animagus, I am still learning how to shift at will, last night I shifted in desperation and out of fear but I don't think I could do it willingly."
"This wasn't the day you went rushing passed us was it!" Hermione said brightly. "I remember that you didn't say a word to us as you ran, but I just assumed it was something to do with Sirius."
"No that was my first experience" Harry admitted, "It scared me and I ran to Remus to help me."
"So what is your form?" Ron asked with interest again.
"A Direwolf." Harry said with a shrug, "It's an almost extinct breed, but it is supposedly from them that the werewolves were created and it was thanks to it that I was able to beat Moony."
"But why didn't you tell us?" Ron said "Did you not trust us?"
"No, it was because it was personal, and I didn't want to tell anyone until I had mastered it." Harry replied hastily.
"But that could take years." Hermione pointed out.
Harry could only shrug he didn't have an answer that they would like. He knew that Hermione would want to study how to become one, and find out every detail of how he had done it, and Ron would want to try the transformation but would look for shortcuts to it.
"I only found my form by accident, and I have been able to get as far as I have only by practice and pointers from Sirius and Remus." he eventually said "I cannot show you how to do this, you have to find the path yourself."
"Couldn't you teach us Occlumency and go from there?" Ron asked.
"The book that I had is back at the House," Harry admitted, "but to learn you need someone to perform legilimency on you, and that is something I do not know how to do, and I do not want to know how to do."
"Don't you think that we should know how?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, you should." Harry agreed. "However I cannot teach you, I wouldn't even know how. Snape taught me by invading my mind. I learnt exercises from a book but from what I read each person defends themselves in their own way, a unique defence to prevent people from learning how to break in."
"What about the library?" Ron asked looking disgusted at his own words, "There must be a book there."
"Maybe," Hermione said thinking about her favourite place at Hogwarts. "But I would bet that it is in the restricted section and I do not know if we can get permission."
"You should ask McGonagall." Harry pointed out. "She is a member of the Order and she would at least understand."
"Well." Ron said returning the conversation to the crux of the matter, "Apart from you being an animagus, how did Remus get out of his office? I thought that it was warded."
None of them answered the question, it was a question that had been nagging at Harry since the night before.
"I sealed myself in a room and set protection charms," Harry said "but Moony is strong and he broke though the magic eventually, but they were not great."
"But his office was warded by the professors." Hermione added looking thoughtful, "Your own enchantments would not be as good as theirs, and yours were put up in haste. His office was specifically warded to keep it locked and secure during the full moon."
"Well there are two options." Ron said. "Either Remus broke it down under the effect of a wonky potion, or someone let him out."
They exchanged dark looks, they knew there were enemies within the walls but this was a chilling thought.
They had a double period of Herbology that afternoon and they had managed to deal with their new plant, but the three of them were still distracted by the thought of someone letting a werewolf out on the night of the full moon.
Ron and Hermione had prefect rounds that evening so they left Harry alone after dinner; he had a detention with Sirius anyway. But they had also said they would speak to McGonagall about getting the access to the restricted section but if needed they could sneak in at night; although Hermione had stressed that would be a last resort.
Harry went to the Headmaster's office and he was shocked to see that the door was open at the top of the staircase and saw that the office had a number of people inside. Madam Bones who looked rather annoyed, Lord Jacob Danvers who looked amused, Lady Augusta Longbottom, Neville's formidable grandmother and to Harry's surprise Amos Diggory.
"Listen here Black; you are harbouring a dangerous creature within these walls!" Diggory protested. "Just because Lupin did not get free does not mean he doesn't pose a risk to this student body."
"Amos might I remind you, that Remus was teaching here last year also and he was perfectly safe. The Highmoon Institute was a target of the Death Eaters for the support they were giving the lycanthropes of this country." Sirius explained calmly. "However I do share your concern as the tampered potion has had lasting effects. I have already had Professor Lupin placed on medical leave outside this school."
"Very well," Diggory growled with frustration. "Where is he then, we are rounding up – that is to say placing them in an isolated secure location for their own protection."
"That will not be necessary Amos. Remus Lupin has been giving sanctuary, which is secure and he will receive the care that he needs." Sirius said calmly. "Now I believe that should quell any concerns that your department has."
"You are not palming me off Headmaster Black." Diggory persisted, "Who has given the werewolf sanctuary?"
Harry growled at the accusation and couldn't stop himself from speaking.
"The Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter." he declared stepping into the room. He felt his own family magic pulse from his body at his declaration and he stared into the dark eyes of Amos Diggory. He had aged dramatically since his fourth year and the death of his son; he did not look anything like the light-hearted man from the Quidditch world cup any more.
"Under the conditions set within the Ancient Testimonies during the first Wizards Council, I as the Head of House Potter can award sanctuary to any who are being persecuted for their magical abilities. As a lycanthrope, Remus Lupin is a wizard with additional magical abilities, you seek to persecute him and his kind. Therefore it is my duty as the Head of the House of Potter to place him under my protection."
"You!" Amos spluttered and stepped away in horror at being confronted by him.
"Yes, and should you wish to challenge me in this Mr Diggory you had better be ready to go in front of the Wizengamot for I will not allow the Ministry of Magic to persecute my Uncle for something he cannot control!" Harry warned harshly.
"Amos" Amelia said firmly, "Mr Black-Potter is correct, as you are aware being of a cadet line of one of the families yourself. I am happy with the actions of Headmaster Black and Mr Lupin is no longer within the castle walls so he is not a risk. I am also satisfied as a member of the Hogwarts board of Governors."
"I also agree with you Amelia." Jacob said in an aloof tone "I find it regrettable that Professor Lupin has been forced to leave due to this travesty - my son and two wards speak most highly of the professor's classes – once the infirmity that has been placed onto the Highmoon patients has been cured, I do not see why they cannot return to public again. I would also remind you that werewolves are now better protected under the law."
"Well said." Augusta seconded. "My own grandson has sung the praises of Remus Lupin, and I look forwarded to seeing him returned to his position. Now if the Department for the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures is amenable I would like to salvage the remainder of my evening."
"Thank you for your time Headmaster." Amelia said with a smirk. "The Minister will be informed of this visit, but I have a feeling that he is already aware." the last comment aimed directly at Diggory who looked somewhat sheepish and Harry realised he was a messenger of the minister.
"Not at all. Hogwarts welcomes the ministry to its halls; we do not have anything to hide." He said charmingly. He walked towards the fireplace within his office and took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the flames. "Minerva can you step through and escort our guests to the gates?"
A moment later, Professor McGonagall stepped through calmly and looked expectantly at the visitors.
"Would it be possible to speak to my grandson?" Augusta asked.
"Unfortunately Lady Longbottom, if you would like to speak to young Neville you will have to arrange that for another night. We do not let parents to wander the school without escort." Sirius stated firmly. "I trust you understand given the current climate."
"Of course." she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
They were all led out of the office by Professor McGonagall, and the door closed itself.
"Well your arrival was at the most opportune moment." Sirius stated pouring them both a drink, and taking a large sip of his own.
"I was protecting Remus," Harry said with a shrug "and people will not question my actions as they would question you."
"True. I might be different to the rest of my family, but many of the public still think me dark and dangerous. Others think me a mass murderer and if I gave sanctuary to a rabid werewolf they would believe I was keeping it as a pet to use on my enemies." he said in a resigned voice. "But I cannot fault you on your actions there. Sometimes you scare me when you speak like you just did, I am not surprised that Amos nearly wet himself, those eyes can be terrifying."
"You taught me well." Harry said with a smirk. "I am a Black-Potter, and what was it you once dictate their will on others; Potters are unflinching in the face of adversary?"
"Very true," Sirius said with a small smile. "But you also match another family's mantra: Fear of Death is Fear of Life. The Peverells never feared death, you faced death last night and yet that fear empowered you to do what was needed, something your ancestors would have said marks you as one of them."
Harry had never heard Sirius mention the mantra of his distant ancestors before but he didn't understand what Sirius was getting at.
"Rather than be trapped in a hole like a scared rabbit you faced it head on no matter what the cost was. I would say that you are many months away from a full shift to your Direwolf, but last night you performed a feat of magic that was nigh on impossible."
"It was my only hope to survive." Harry replied. "What else could I have done?"
"Nothing, you couldn't have stopped Moony." Sirius said looking at him carefully. "But how you did what you did I couldn't say. Minerva has agreed to keep the secret that you are an animagus for now, although it does help to have me as your father who is also unregistered, think of it as a Black-Potter tradition!"
Harry laughed and tried to imagine any children of his learning to become an animagus he watched as children who were identical to him changing into amusing animals.
"Now, I was going to call you to my office as I wanted to show you this," Sirius said and from behind his desk he picked up the box that he had shown Harry on Monday morning. "I opened it last night with the power of the full moon."
He put his hand to the lid and the gap under it shone with light, before the sound of metal mechanisms began to sound from inside. After a number of minutes the mechanism stopped and the lid popped open.
He looked inside with gingerly placed his hand inside and Harry stopped breathing wondering what on earth could be so bad that the Goblins had sent it from their bank. When Sirius had pulled his hand out Harry let out the breath and frowned because in his hand there was a small golden cup.
"What's that?" he asked and sat forward and looked at the curious little thing that now rested on the table. It was made of gold and had two finely-wrought golden handles either side, the stem of the cup was engraved richly with what looked like tree branches, but within the leaves of the tree on the main part of the cup was an upright badger. Sirius then put his hand back into the box and brought out another curious item, a heavy gold locket that Harry recognised.
"That's from the house!" he exclaimed recognising it from the dusty cabinets they had cleaned in the drawing room over a year previously, none of them had been able to open the thing. "But it's not dangerous, is it?"
"According to the Goblins they both are." Sirius said and he studied them both, "However that summer I was under the impression that my mother bought this as a trinket to remember my brother, I know better now."
Sirius got up from his desk and down to the level of the office behind him and brought back an ancient looking book, "This is a book that contains the images of four important objects, have a look." He handed Harry the book and he gingerly fingered the parchment pages, they were old, but he stopped paying attention to the book when he saw the drawing. It was an exact replica of what was sitting in front of him: the heavy golden locket with its jewelled serpentine S, and the golden cup and the engraved badger.
Harry traced the images under his fingers and the thought occurred to him. "These have the marks of the Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"Oh yes." Sirius said. "These are the last known relics of them both. This necklace if lore is true, belonged to his wife, a gift given after the birth of their son, she died not a year later at the hands of a muggle uprising and burnt alive. Now the Slytherin family has been extant for generations however I have found the last known descendants, the Ancient House of Gaunt."
Harry fell back into one of his lessons with Sirius last year.
"What about the Gaunt Family? You never said what happened to them." Harry asked.
"Nothing of note really, they were perhaps the most devote blood supremacists in the country, they went as far as to marry brother and sisters to keep the magic and bloodline pure." He said with great distaste, "But the inbreeding made them unstable and mentally diminished, after generations of this practice their magic began to fade. The family gold and home had to be sold to pay off debts, they fell from a mighty house to the deep squalor over a hundred years ago, they had not sent a single student to Hogwarts in over two hundred and fifty years and they became hermits."
"Why did no one help them?" Harry asked wondering why families hadn't stepped in to help like they had done with the Weasley's.
"The Gaunts were never popular. From what I know of the tale there was a large scandal involving the disappearance of two daughters of another two houses and whilst there was not enough evidence to convict them, there was enough suspicion to known that the Gaunts had stolen them and possibly killed them or worse." Sirius had explained. "Their seats on the Wizengamot have been empty for centuries, there is only one member of the family that was unaccounted for and that was a girl, she just disappeared years ago."
Recalling this made Harry laugh loudly. "The descendants of Slytherin, the last in the direct line, became a bunch of squalor ridden squibs!"
"Yes." Sirius said grimly, "This is backed up by the fact their family animal and Incal was a serpent, the arms are different to Slytherin's family arms but there are enough characteristics to confirm a blood line. But the key factor that they are the descendants of Slytherin comes from a gift that he passed down. They spoke parsletongue."
"How can you possible know that?" Harry exclaimed shocked.
"I found an account of an account of a Corvinus Gaunt, the last of the family to attend the school. He was not magically powerful but I read reports that he ruled over Slytherin house with an iron fist. The accounts all state that whilst he shouldn't have held the power he did, none refuted that he should rule the house." Sirius said "However one account stood out: a first year Hufflepuff muggleborn had an encounter that scarred her for life, she was stuck in a pit full of snakes which she stated was controlled by Gaunt. When professors arrived he stated that he had been trying to save her, but to someone who was already suspicious of the family I recognised the truth."
"You must have more evidence than that."
"I also have details from a Bob Ogden of the DMLE who was sent to the Gaunt home after some form of disturbance to arrest a Morfin Gaunt. I have been unable to find the record of that visit, or the arrest but I found his notes in a separate case file. He said that Morfin and his family terrified him with their brutality but they would break out of normal speech and make strange noises between each other that scared him senseless." Sirius explained. "Now I do not know what happened to those files but I am trying to find them."
"So, you're saying that this is the actual Slytherin locket?" Harry said looking at the locket carefully.
"Oh yes, once I had a good look at it I was able to recognise the mark." Sirius added he then pointed at the goblet. "Now this beautiful little thing is a lost cup of Helga Hufflepuff, the only heirloom and it used to be the prized possession of the Ancient House of Smith, the rumour was it has been missing for decades but the family never reported it stolen."
"So why are they so dangerous?" Harry asked and he reached for the cup picked it up, but the moment the cup was in his hand pain erupted making him cry out in pain and was driven off the seat to the floor where the cup fell from his hand and the pain dissipated immediately.
"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed leaning over him looking terrified. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know, but that has some serious dark magic in it." Harry said. "I will not be holding that again, what are they?"
"I do not know, but I know that the cup came from the vault transfer from the Lestrange's and this locket from the House." Sirius said, "but –" he said but they heard a thud from the study area and a book had fallen onto the floor. "But how?" said Sirius in confusion as he went to pick it up and brought it to his desk.
It was a leather-bound book, but as he turned it over Harry saw that it had a large hole burned through it and he recognised it instantly having made the hole in the thing.
"That's Tom Riddles Diary!" he said looking at it with distaste, but he watched as the three objects on the desk moved on their own, as though they were attracted together, only the diary didn't move as much.
Sirius looked at them in horror and pulled out his wand and began to cast spell on the diary.
"Well I don't believe it" he said eventually. "This diary has a residual dark magical energy on it, just like the locket and cup."
"Wait, are you saying that these all have the same magic on them, to allow Riddle to leech life?"
"I don't know." Sirius said in with a look of curiosity. "If this is indeed Riddles diary as you say and the magic on it was cast by Voldemort, then that would mean these two also have some connection to him too."
"How could you tell that the diary had seen dark magic?" Harry asked.
"Simple, all magic leaves a trace." Sirius explained "But dark magic leaves distinct traces especially the darker the magic. Also, if you are familiar with a person's magical style you can identify the trace to the caster, in this case you told me it was Voldemort's magic in the diary which makes me presume that all three of them belong to him as they have the same signature."
"How did Voldemort get these two historical artefacts?" Harry asked studying the founder relics. "I doubt the Smiths gave this up easily."
"No, I don't think they did, I find it strange that Voldemort would be able to obtain this, especially as this would usually have been kept in their vault or the family mansion." Sirius said and he looked incredibly frustrated, "I have had these two relics for months but I have come no further to finding out what they are, I also do not know where my mother got that locket I checked the accounts and I cannot see the purchase as it would have cost her a fortune."
Harry looked at them carefully, he felt like a part of Voldemort was in front of him, watching him and it made him feel ill and he had urge to destroy them to exercise the taint of his magic.
"Have you told anyone else about these?" He asked.
"No, I do not want anyone yet to know about these." he said placing the relics and the diary back into the box, "Not only because they have Voldemort's magic on them, but because two of them are famous historical relics, which also has a very irritating ownership dispute, and one that most probably stolen."
"If these are stolen why did the Goblins give them to you?" Harry asked shocked knowing what the goblins thought of theft.
"With difficulty." Sirius replied "Now I promised to not hide things from you and I have kept that promise, now you can leave. Oh, and tomorrow is your first lesson for the equestrian team."
"Sirius, I can already fly!" Harry complained remembering the stiff rear he had obtained when Sirius taught him in France.
"True, but you will need to be able to more than just fly" Sirius pointed out, "That reminds me I have to talk to you about the exchange program."
"Are you now saying that I cannot go?" Harry asked knowing Sirius would try to protect him.
"No." Sirius replied giving him a surprised look. "I said you would be going and you will, but you do realise that as the Hogwarts Champion you cannot participate it the events as team member, don't you?"
"What!" Harry exclaimed.
"You are to be the school representative." Sirius said shrugging. "Fleur and Victor will be the escorts for their school and will be responsible for them whilst they are in the schools. They will be responsible for the students but will not be competing. You will also be doing the same, but as you are still a student, they will allow you to participate in the lessons that the team will be involved in but you cannot compete."
"Oh right." Harry said lamely.
"I know it's a disappointment but you know this is still an important position." Sirius said. "The only stumbling block is that you will oversee the team and will be responsible for their behaviour. If I had my way I would be sending a professor with you but Durmstrang and Beauxbaton are not allowing it as the ministries refuse to allow a British professor into their top schools."
"What why? We did for the tournament." Harry pointed out now feeling out of his depth. "The students will not listen to me!"
"Perhaps, but this will still be a challenge for you. You will be expected to participate in some of these events. Durmstrang will be holding the duelling contest; there will be a demonstration between the three champions to promote unity and sportsmanship. At Beauxbatons you will be the judges in the dressage trials, and here you will be coach to the Quidditch team, a team that I am sorry you cannot be part of."
"But I am the Gryffindor captain!" Harry exclaimed. "How can I be captain if I will not be here to play?"
Sirius looked at him closely. "You can hold the try-outs, and add a co-captain who will run the team in your absence. You will be here for two of the matches but you need to remember you are going as the escort but it is allowing freedom for Viktor and Fleur to spy for the Order but you will also help us gather intelligence from the very students you meet."
"I know," Harry replied "but it would have been easier as a member of the team."
"No it wouldn't, as an escort you get more freedom, Fleur has agreed easily to this job after all Bill is a member of the Order and so is she. I would also suggest you develop your relationship with Viktor further, the Order would like to have contacts from other countries and with Viktor as an international Quidditch player he can move freely." Sirius explained. He then looked directly at Harry. "I do not like it but maybe Hermione can charm him on to our side."
Harry gave Sirius a very dirty look. "I will not be having that conversation with her and if she heard you suggest it, you would lose the organ between your legs, now I have to go and book the Quidditch pitch for Saturday morning, but I also need to get a book from the library."
"Fine." Sirius said picking up the box and storing it back into a cabinet, "but you do know that the library is closed, don't you?"
"True," Harry said walking to the door and saw that all the professors were watching him, "but since when does that stop me going where I shouldn't." He closed the door but not before seeing the amused looks on a few the portraits faces.
Harry had been in the library for an hour looking for books that he found interesting. He couldn't help but laugh to himself that he was sneaking around such a boffin's location. The books he had picked up where on the two European schools and one on martial duelling techniques employed in the Scandinavian wars but the techniques were still taught and developed at Durmstrang.
He also stepped over the roped area of the library into the restricted section but the moment he crossed the rope and opened the gate a loud repetitive scream sounded and Harry had no choice but to run and disappear at the sound of the rushing footsteps, he rushed to the bookcase on the other side of the library.
He heard the door to the library open and the shuffled steps and glow of a lantern enter the dark library, Harry breath out a sigh of relief at having already have cancelled his light charm.
Flitch was wheezing towards his hiding place, so he cast the silencing charms and a disillusionment charm on himself just as the lantern passed over his alcove that housed the statue of a women from the thirteenth century. Filch was squinting directly at him, and Harry couldn't tell what he was seeing but he knew that his charm didn't render him completely invisible like his cloak, a talented wizard would be able to see him but Filch being a squib prevented his discovery.
He moved towards the back of the library where there was a bookcase that was full of the lists of Hogwarts students and their school accomplishments, as well as lists of Hogwarts professors. The books were seldom read as students didn't often need to look up old accomplishments, but it did have one function, it had a secret passageway that led out of the library.
He tapped his wand to the Hogwarts crest engraved into the bookcase backing behind an edition of Hogwarts: A History and muttered in a whisper: "locks do not stop the pursuit of enlightenment." The bookcase immediately rolled backwards and then went into a waiting gap to open onto a stone passageway; however, this passage was full of dust apart from a clear trail on the floor.
As he stepped into the passageway he the bookshelf immediately rolled back silently showing that this passage was often used to bypass the library closure. He was certain this passage was known mostly to the Ravenclaws. The passage exit was right next door to the library, disguised behind a tapestry which depicted Rowena Ravenclaw looking after the library.
He didn't have long to look around as Sirius and Professor Flitwick were hurrying down the corridor.
"Mr Filch were heard the alarm," Sirius said in a bored voice "but did you really need to call us out?"
"Headmaster there is a student out of bed!" Filch said with a disgusted look. "Something you are all too familiar with!"
Sirius smirked but decided not to comment his eyes fell on Harry.
"Did you manage to find the student?" Flitwick asked seemingly with great interest. "Was it another of my students?"
Harry had to stifle a laugh as he continued to walk away. It seemed that Flitwick was well aware that his students snuck out to the library.
"No sir, they escaped, but I don't think they got far." Filch said "Mrs Norris is looking too."
"Well if she is anything like Mrs Henderson, her mother, I am sure that she will find something." Sirius muttered with disgust, "But I doubt the culprit will stick around, they wouldn't be that stupid." He added in a louder voice but his gaze directed at Harry, and he knew that Sirius at least could see the disturbance area of the charm.
"We should still search for them Headmaster Sir," Filch said "and if you will agree they will be hung by their thumbs in the dungeons, Dumbledore let the old punishments die."
"No." Sirius said sternly glaring at the caretaker. "I despise the cruelty your ilk used to perform on students, you see it as discipline I see it as torture! I should also tell you Mr Filch that I am advertising for a second caretaker."
"You cannot sack me Headmaster, I have done nothing." Filch said weakly and he looked like his world had ended.
"I am not sacking you; I am hiring someone to help you." Sirius said firmly. "You are a squib, I am fully aware of that; however, a caretaker with no magic cannot keep up with the work that this castle needs. The elves keep the castle clean; you fix what is broken when you can. But this school is over a thousand years old and with that age comes great degradation and disrepair. We headmasters are custodians and we must strive to protect and repair this school for future generations. It is for that reason that I am also having a new games keeper hired to help Hagrid."
Harry was unable to hear more as he stepped into another corridor and began to walk back to the common room. He was paying no attention to the corridors and wondered what else Sirius would do for the school, but he didn't disagree that parts of the school could use restoration, or even updating.
He stepped through a door which he had thought was to an inner staircase that would lead to the upper floors but instead he found himself in an abandoned classroom with large windows. Harry realised that he had been in this room before, but it had previously been the storage location of a magical mirror.
Walking to the other side of the room where there was a second door he was about to leave but remembered something else that had been in that room. Dumbledore. Harry had walked straight past him under his cloak but hadn't noticed. He had been invisible but had been blind too than the mirror.
This made him think of Dumbledore's note:
Harry,
I once told you that help would always be given at Hogwarts to those that asked for it, and I stick by this statement, perhaps you will know a place where things that are invisible can easily be blind and find the help you need.
Albus
He knew now this was the place he was supposed to be, but looking around he couldn't see anything, even his own mediocre magical detection spells didn't come up with anything, since Hogwarts very walls were permeated with centuries of magical discharge.
"Help can always be given at Hogwarts to those that ask for it." he whispered and it seemed like the magic words as the floor suddenly lit up with many runes, all of which glowed with bright golden light. The runic magic was extensive and Harry found himself looking at a great formation of no less than a hundred different runic circles and contained seven distinct alphabets.
But before he could get a better look at what it said there was suddenly a great spark of fire that spread over the entire configuration and glowed bright white with heat that stung his eyes from a distance. The flames began to flicker and withdraw and simmer down. Slowly Harry could see distinct circles of fire which were slowly extinguishing in order of the layers.
The last layer extinguished but to Harry's shock sitting on a stone floor unmarked by the fire just like the stone floor was a box. He approached it carefully making sure he didn't trigger any defences that were left but there was not a single trace of runes in the room. The box was beautifully carved of ivory, it was carved with great details and it showed great landmarks: Hogwarts, Stonehenge, Camelot, a forest, and a lake.
He picked it up and opened it carefully inside there were six vials all of which were sealed with wax, and were numbered one to six, but what interested Harry most was that they contained a strange substance that was neither gas nor liquid and was pale silvery in colour. They were memories.
On the inside, there was a note tucked in to it, which he pulled out and set the box onto one of the stacked tables against the wall.
Harry,
Well done for remembering the long ramblings of an old man. I had hoped that you would remember this place for it was here that I discovered that the heart of a young eleven year old boy was so pure and innocent. You wanted that which you had never had, not money, fame, prestige. A Family.
I once met a student who made all the wrong choices and he was not unlike yourself. He was an orphan, he lived with people that did not want him or care for him. He was a strange child, lonely but out of choice he pushed people away and used his natural gifts to drive them even further. When he arrived at Hogwarts he drank up the knowledge of the professors quicker than most students. He was soon the top his class and began to teach himself.
Even at Hogwarts he did not fit in; he could be charming and charismatic, he was handsome and powerful, but he was not a popular student. He did not have friends, they were followers. Many believed that this student would leave and take a top position in the ministry and eventually become minister. Instead he became a shopkeeper, but soon disappeared. He returned with a path of dead bodies and dark magic lingering over him and so came the pseudonym Lord Voldemort.
Harry, what I left for you is a look into Tom Riddle. Use them to understand the man behind the mask, for without this you will always be at a disadvantage for Voldemort knows you. I hope these will give you insight to his mind as it will allow you to predict his moves just like he will try to predict your own.
I would ask that you do not share these memories with anyone other than Sirius; I also know that you will want to tell Miss Granger and Mr Weasley and that is fine, but keep these memories safe. I also ask that Sirius does not share this with the Order of the Phoenix.
Under the tray you will two items for your friends, two things for them to remember me by and for the hardships they have faced fighting by your sides and for the help that I trust they will give to you and the Order.
As I write this the strength of my body has waned considerably. You are at this very moment in Bulgaria under the instruction of Sirius and I believe Alastor, William and Kingsley are on their way too. I am unable to use my own magic easily and have been forced to take up Runic magic that I have not used since my youth, but even this is not as easy as it once was.
Trust in yourself Harrison. Your ability to love is your greatest gift and will allow you to see the end of this war.
Albus
Harry put the note back into the box and wiped the single tear than ran down his cheek, but pulled out the tray to see what lay underneath, there were two velvet pouches but something flew out of the box which Harry instinctively caught. A golden snitch with a note attached.
Harry's First Snitch – Your father often had a Snitch so I kept this in case you wanted to continue the tradition.
Harry smiled, he remembered that he had almost swallowed this snitch and it seemed to recognise his touch as when he opened his hand it took flight but did not leave his sight.
He opened the velvet pouches and found inside one was a book written in Runes entitled the Tales of Beedle the Bard, and a silver instrument that Harry had never seen. Under the items however there was another note.
To Hermione Jean Granger. I give to you my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard; I hope that you will find it entertaining and instructive in Wizarding culture and fables.
To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I give to you my Deluminator. I hope that it will allow you to find the light even when the light has left you alone and will remember an old man when he uses it.
Use them well.
Harry smiled knowing that this would mean a lot to his friends and he placed the book and the so named Deluminator back into the box and made his way back to the common room.
