Harry Potter
The Fight for Survival
By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Rating: K
Pairing: Marcus/OC - Fred/OC - Harry/Ginny
Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Romance
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.
Summary: In order to deal with the future, one must understand the past. As the final battle approches the safety of Hogwarts is called into question. But as danger looms, the fight for magic...may come with a price.
Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: BamaRose, Aileen Autarkeia, Fan of Fics, DJScales and Matt-hardy-lover-101. You're the best.
Author's Two: I would like to warn each and everyone one of you that I DO NOT feel well at all tonight. I was fine up until around 9:30pm when I started to feel really really ill. But because you lot fail to review, I knew I had to return your dedication with a chapter. But Im apologizing in advance it if doesnt come out in top condition like the rest of my updates, because I really DO NOT feel well at all.
Anyway; here are the responses to certain reviewers questions. First too:
BamaRose: Actually Charlie Hunter isnt a Pureblood, she is a Muggleborn. Serenity Riddle is a Halfblood. She is a halfblood because her mother (Amanda was a pureblood) and her father (Tom Riddle was a halfblood) thus making any child they would have had a halfbood too. (Its complicated but Harry and Ginny's children are halfbloods, because Harry is halfblood) but anyway, Charlie still refers to herself as a Muggleborn because it is her own personal way of distancing herself away from her real name and heritage. She doesnt want to have anything to do with Voldemort and Serenity Riddle; so tries to pretend that she has nothing to do with them in any means possible, including blood status. If that makes sense? If not PM me and I will try and explain it again.
Fan of Fics: Haha, sweet. I would have probably said about the Fidelius Charm on the classroom. But at least the teacher was a HP fan, but good on you for the Harry Potter reference. Like BamaRose said in her last review 'Power to the HP fans' hahaha. Um, I can't really answer your question on why the Horcrux didnt react the way it does with Harry, Ron and Hermione in the seventh book, to Charlie because that would be giving away spolers and since I havent really worked out all the kinks for my seventh year just yet, I don't want to give anything away. But hopefully if you are around for the seventh year story in my Muggleborn Witches Series then your question will be answered. If not then I will be more than happy to answer any questions at the end of the series to clear up any loose ends.
Thats about it I think...onto the new chapter.
Private Lessons:
Part IV
"How did it happen, Rils?" Nikki asked, as Charlie and Riley sat opposite her in the Slytherin common room the evening after Ron Weasley had been poisoned. The two Muggleborns had been inseparable nearly all day, because Charlie was struggling to wrap her head around the fact that it could very well have been Riley in the Hospital Wing as opposed to Ron Weasley, or if both her friends had drunk the drink Slughorn had presented them, then there was a chance that both of them could have been killed the previous night. On the lap of the Muggleborn Slytherin -who was sitting cross-legged- lay a battered old piece of parchment.
Charlie tapped the parchment with her wand and muttered "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!" and instantly before the Slytherin's eyes the parchment sprang to life as several lines joined together and soon a blue print of some sort appeared on the parchment.
"Whoa," Blaise breathed "What is that?"
"A map of Hogwarts," Charlie answered, without looking up "It was created when Harry's dad, and Professor Lupin were students here at school. Actually, it was them that created it...it shows every classroom, every hallways, and every corner of the castle, but it also shows every inch of the grounds, as well as all the secret passageways that lead both in and out of the castle." she explained
Nathan popped up behind his friends "What's with the moving dots?" he asked leaning over her shoulder
"Thats everyone within the castle," Charlie answered "Each one is labelled so you know where everyone is -" she pointed to a small cluster of students on the left hand corner of the page "See, there's us..." she pointed out the dots which were labelled with their names, she then pointed to the Hospital Wing which was in the far right corner of the page "Ron's in the Hospital Wing, looks like his parents are here..."
"So where did you get it?" Millicent asked
Charlie glanced up at her "It's Harry's map," she answered "Fred and George gave it to him back in our third year, remember when he couldn't go to Hogsmeade because of Sirius? Yeah, one Christmas Fred and George found him trying to sneak into the villiage after us, they gave him the map and he used one of the secret passageways to get there without getting caught."
"Harry and I also used it back in 3rd year when we found Peter Pettigrew's name on it," Riley jumped in "He was in the castle, when we went looking for him we found Scabbers, and after that everything just sort of fell in place"
The Slytherins frowned
"If you found Scabbers while you were looking for Pettigrew, then the map obviously didnt work," Daphne pointed out "Or it would have shown the rat's name, not Pettigrew's..."
Charlie shook her head "The map never lies..." she answered
The Slytherins looked impressed
"Its also a good way of keeping an eye on things after hours," Charlie added, inspecting the map and frowning as she spotted Malcom's name on the map. He was on the seventh floor and heading in the direction of the Hospital Wing, she watched as he came to a halt before disappearing completely off the map. Charlie frowned "Strange..." she mumured
Marcus glanced sideways "What's strange?" he asked
"Malcolm was just there..." Charlie pointed at the spot on the map "...and now he's disappeared, I can't find him anywhere else!" she turned to look at Riley "What's on the seventh floor that wouldnt be on the map?"
The Gryffindor genius shrugged and shook her head "I don't know..." she frowned "The only thing on the seventh floor that I know of, is the Hospital Wing and Gryffindor Tower" she pointed at the two rooms on the map. She scanned the map, and racked her brain for any knowledge from previous years at Hogwarts that would help her come to a conclusion on how Malcolm could have disappeared from the map. Suddenly she gasped "The ROR!" she told Charlie "Thats dead centre, between Gryffindor Tower and the Hospital Wing!"
"ROR?" Adrian asked
"Room of Requirements!" the two Muggleborns answered "We used it last year to hold the DA meetings"
The rest of the sixth year students nodded
"But I thought you said that all rooms were shown on the map?" Draco questioned
Charlie shrugged "Actually, not every room is on here," she answered "The Chamber of Secrets isnt on here, and it would seem that the Room of Requirements isnt on here either..." she paused "...but why has he gone in there? What's so important that he needs the Room's help?"
Her friends didnt answer. No one had an answer for her.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The second Quidditch Match of the second term was sechduled to take place the next morning; it was a Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match, and with Ron still in the Hospital Wing, Harry was forced to make other arrangements on who his keeper was going to be and sadly the only other candidate who had the skill to be a Keeper on the team was Cormac McLaggern; so on the dawn of the match the whole school filed out of the castle and down to the stadium to watch the match.
"You know?" Charlie asked, as she walked arm-in-arm with Riley "I'm kinda disappointed that Slytherin's not playing."
Draco turned in her direction "Given our last match, I honestly thought I would never hear you say that"
"Yeah, but I would have had a legit reason to do some serious damage to McLaggen then" Charlie answered "I could have thrown the Quaffle at him and pretty damn hard, and no one would have known it was intentional"
The Slytherins smirked
"You're starting to sound like the stereotype Slytherin," Nikki pointed out, nudging Charlie "You know, what we were called before you two came along -" she tapped both Charlie and Riley "- and starting shaking things up around here, and changing everything"
The Muggleborns grinned "But you wouldnt change it for the world, right?" they asked
Their friends returned the grins. Since Charlie and Riley had arrived at Hogwarts, things would never be the same again...and their changes were something that would more than likely live on even after they had left Hogwarts next year.
Hogwarts would never be the same again.
Upon reaching the pitch, Charlie pulled Riley up into the Slytherin stands despite most of Slytherin supporting Hufflepuff, whilst down on the pitch came the players. Harry shook hands with the Hufflepuff Captain, Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the game began; from the stands Charlie and Riley watched as Harry rose higher into the air above his team-mates and searched the pitch for the Snitch like he did every other game.
"And that's Smith of Hufflepuff with the Quaffle," a familiar dreamy voice, echoed over the stands "He did the commentary last time, of course, and Ginny Weasley flew into him. I think probably on purpose - it looked like it. Smith was being quite rude about Gryffindor, I expect he regrets that now he's playing them - oh look, he's lost the Quaffle, Ginny took it from him, I do like her, she's very nice..."
Charlie and Riley exchanged amused grins at the commentator, before bursting out into amused laughter "Luna!" they exclaimed happily; and sure enough standing in the commentators box was the dirty-blonde haired Ravenclaw, beside her stood a slightly uncomfortable Professor McGonagall.
"...and now that big Hufflepuff player's got the Quaffle from her, I can't remember his name, it's something like Bibble - no Buggins -"
"It's Cadwallader!" said Professor McGonagall loudly from beside Luna, followed by laughter from the crowd.
Charlie grinned "I like Luna..." she commented "You know, when she's not being all over-bearing and blunt"
Riley nodded in agreement, amusement alight in her hazelnut coloured eyes.
The match continued, and soon the younger students were relying on the older students or their friends to keep up with the score because Luna had seemingly lost interest in the match and was trying to draw everyone's attention to oddly shaped clouds that were passing by, her the fact that Smith couldn't maintain the Quaffle for more than a second before losing it to the opposing team.
"Seventy-Forty, to Hufflepuff" said McGonagall's voice, over Luna's megaphone
"Is it already?" Luna asked vaguely "Oh, look! The Gryffindor Keeper's got his hold of one of the Beater's bats..."
Snapping her head up to where McLaggern was hovering beside one of the Gryffindor beaters, Charlie saw that he had in fact taken the bat off the player and was swinging it in demonstration.
"What are the odds that he hits himself with it?" Charlie asked, turning to Riley
The Gryffindor genius shrugged "What are the odds that he misses the Bludger and hits, Harry?" she asked
"Um...is that a trick question?" Charlie asked
Riley pointed out on to the pitch, where McLaggern had done exactly what she had stated; he had swung the bat at an oncoming Bludger, miss-hit it, and struck Harry hard in the head. The Gryffindors were in up-roar; while Charlie and Riley pushed their way through their Slytherin friends and sprinted down from the stands and out onto the pitch just as the Gryffindor beaters lowered Harry onto the field.
"He's out cold!" Callum cried, as Charlie and Riley skidded to halts either side of him
The Professors arrived and immediately Harry was taken to the Hospital Wing for Madam Pomfrey to look over him and determine what was wrong. Charlie, meanwhile and tilted her gaze skyward and was glaring angrily at McLaggern who hovered in the air above her.
And from the time it had taken for Harry to be lifted from the Pitch and taken back to the castle; to what it had for Riley to drag Charlie after him, the Muggleborn Slytherin had already vowed that McLaggens days were numbered.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Both Harry and Ron returned to school first thing Monday morning, escorted by the three usual Muggleborns that were with them; all of which had been to visit them over the whole weekend. Charlie kept Harry up-to-date on Malcolm's activties around the school, seeing as she had his Map to make sure that she could avoid Malcolm when they were at school, the last things the friends needed was an attack on Charlie by the hands of an lovesick obssessed Death Eater. But the only thing she could offer him was that he was up to something in the Room of Requirements because that's where it seemed he had been disappearing too everytime he stepped foot onto the seventh floor.
Although that was the only news that the three Muggleborns had to give their friends, on the morning of the boys release Hermione told them that Ginny and Callum had argued the previous night.
"What did they argue about?" Harry asked, causing Charlie to frown in his general direction. Why did he care?
"Callum was laughing about McLaggen hitting you with the Bludger's bat," Riley explained
Ron grinned "It must have been funny,"
"It didnt look funny," Charlie jumped in "I've been trying to get my hands on McLaggen all weekend, but Marcus hasnt let me out of his sight"
Riley smirked "Given what you did to Malcolm last time," she spoke "Its no wonder he hasnt. The last thing we need is you getting expelled for bodily harm to another student."
"I didnt do much damage..." Charlie defended
"You broke his jaw!" Riley exclaimed "Not to mention several ribs!"
The Muggleborn Slytherin winced "Okay, so I did alot of damage" she shrugged "Its not that he didnt deserve it. Im tired of him thinking im going to be submissive to his actions, I don't know what happened last year, but im not going to shrink away and act all vulnerable! Its not who I am!"
Her friends smirked, as Riley wrapped her arm around her best friend "There's the Charlie, I know and love!" she grinned
"Anyway, back on topic" Harry said, bringing them back to what they had currently been talking about "Just because I got hit in the head, doesnt meant Ginny and Callum had to split up over it, or are they still together?"
Riley nodded "Yes they are," she confirmed "Still together"
"Why do you care anyway?" Hermione asked, suspiciously
Harry looked like a deer caught in headlights "I just don't want my Quidditch team messed up again!" he said hastily.
Charlie cackled with laughter, she had always been able to read Harry very clearly "Yeah, because that's the true reason" she nudged him, winking as he glared at her; a faint dull blush rising in his cheeks.
A voice from behind them interrupted them "Harry!"
"Oh, hi Luna!" Harry smiled, as he turned away from the Slytherin and to the dirty-blonde headed Ravenclaw that was running towards him.
The Ravenclaw skidded to a halt "I went to the Hospital Wing to find you," she said breathlessly "But they said you'd left..." she rummaged in her bag, and thrust what appeared to a green onion, a large spotted toadstool and a considerable amount of what appeared to be cat litter into Ron's hands, before finally pulling out a rather grubby scroll of parchment that she handed to Harry. "...I've been told to give you this"
Charlie snagged the parchment from Harry and opened it, it was Dumbledore's next lesson.
"When?" Riley asked
"Tonight," Charlie answered, showing the letter to Harry. The Gryffindor nodded, and Charlie rolled up the parchment before stuffing it into her robe pocket.
Ron turned to Luna "Nice commentary last match!" he praised her
"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Luna asked, taking back her items and stuffing them into her bag "Everyone says I was dreadful"
"No, I'm serious!" Ron said earnestly "I can't remember enjoying commentary more! What is this, by the way?" he added, holding up the onionlike object.
"Oh, it's a Gurdyroot," Luna answered "you can keep it if you like. I've got a few of them. They're really excellent for warding off Gulping Plimpies" and she walked away
Charlie shook her head and exchanged looks with Riley; Luna reminded her alot of her in a way, but there was no way she was that annoying, was she?
"You know, she's grown on me, Luna" Ron pointed out, as the five of them set off once more "I know she's insane, but it's in a good way"
His friends nodded in agreement.
They reached the Great Hall, and headed towards the Gryffindor table, as Charlie waved to her friends and motioned that she was sitting with the Gryffindors. The Slytherins nodded and the Muggleborn slipped into a seat between Harry and Riley.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Later that evening, Charlie checked the Marauders Map before leaving the Slytherin common room, and with the map in her hands made her way up seven floors to the Headmaster's office. She met Harry outside as the gargoyle lept aside to permit them entry to the spiral staircase that would take to them to Dumbledore's office. "Mischief Managed!" the Slytherin commented, tapping the map with her wand, folding it and slipping it into the pocket of the hoodie she was wearing.
"Wonder what we will be seeing tonight?" Harry questioned, as he raised his hand and knocked on the door of the Headmasters office
Charlie shrugged "Obviously its about Voldemort," she pointed out.
Harry rolled his eyes at her "Thank-you Captain Obvious," he retorted
"You walked into that one," Charlie grinned, pushing open the door as Dumbledore permitted entry.
The door swung open and just as the two students were about to enter the room, their path was cut off by the familiar face of Professor Trelawney. "Aha!" she cried, pointing at the two students, both of whom stepped back in alarm "this is why I am being thrown unceremoniously from your office, Dumbledore!"
"My dear, Sybil," said Dumbledore "there is no question of throwing you unceremoniously from anywhere, but Harry and Charlie do have an appointment and I really don't think there is any more to be said -"
"Very well," said Professor Trelawney "if you will not banish the usurping nag, so be it...perhaps I shall find a school where my tallents are better appreciated..." and she pushed between Harry and Charlie as she left the office.
Charlie watched her go, before closing the door upon Dumbledore's request; before she took a seat alongside Harry on the opposite side of the desk
"Professor Trelawney isnt happy Firenze is teaching then?" Harry asked
"No," Dumbledore shook his head "but that is not the reason you are here; now first, before we start...have you managed the task I set you at the end of our previous lesson?"
Charlie and Harry exchanged looks, due to everything that had happened they had seemingly forgotten about Slughorn and the tampered memory, being more preoccupied with trying to save their friends life, Harry getting his head cracked, Charlie getting attacked by Malcolm; Riley doing research many things. Neither of the three had even thought of ways of tackling Slughorn.
"Its a work in progress," Charlie answered quickly "I struck out the first time I asked Professor Slughorn, I even applied to his sense of reason, and pretended to be Serenity Riddle; I claimed that I wished to know more about my parents, starting with my father. Needless to say he didnt fall for it...and he wouldn't give me the memory"
Dumbledore nodded "I see; and you feel you have exerted your best efforts in retrieving it?" he asked
"No, sir," Charlie answered quickly "No! After I failed in Potions, Riley attempted her turn but Ron became poisoned, so the memory extract sort of just flew out the window after that. And then Harry went and cracked his skull in the Quidditch match; its just been pretty hectic this past week. But Riley and I believe we know what Tom Riddle asked Slughorn all those years ago, you see, after I went to see Professor Slughorn; Riley believed that I needed evidence to back up my story if Professor Slughorn ever attempted to check up on my story to make sure that I wasnt lying about anything."
Dumbledore remained silent, willing Charlie to continue. Even Harry was listening with interest.
Charlie took a deep breath "Riley and I, think that Tom Riddle asked Professor Slughorn about Horcruxes. There's nothing written about them in the Hogwarts library, except a small introduction in one of the books in the Restricted section. We think that Riddle found the same extract we did and became interested in finding out more information about them, that he went to the only Professor he was on good terms with. We also believe that after school Riddle, started using Horcruxes, which is why Slughorn tampered with his own memory to make it seem that he didnt tell Riddle anything of the sort while he was here at school
The Headmaster looked mildy impressed "and you and Miss. Spirit came up with this theory?" he asked
"Yes, sir," Charlie confirmed "It seems to fit brilliantly. But of course it is just a theory, it could be completely wrong, but so far its the only thing we have to go on"
Dumbledore nodded "Its sounds reasonably thought out," he praised her "You and Miss. Spirit have done exceptionally well, but we will need the memory to confirm such theories. You understand?
"Perfectly," Charlie nodded "We will get the memory, Professor. It's just proving a little difficult at the moment. But Harry still hasnt tried yet, maybe Professor Slughorn will open up to Harry more than he will me, even though I am famous in my own way...and Professor Slughorn was on good terms with Riddle, who is undoubtedly my father; he was also on good terms with Harry's mum. We both have our advantages, we just have to figure out how to use those advantages to get us what we need..."
The Headmaster nodded, as Harry stared at his friend
"What?" Charlie asked
"Where did that come from?" Harry asked "I've never heard you sound so smart...you know, outside of Care of Magical Creatures"
The Slytherin smirked "I have my moments!"
Harry grinned
Dumbledore smiled as he surveyed the two of them "Tonight, we will be continuing where our story left off. Do you remember where that was?"
"Yes sir," Harry nodded "Voldemort was in his fifth year at school..."
"...without his precious girlfriend," Charlie inputted "That's something I don't understand. If Tom Riddle and Amanda Mitchell were going to run off together after Hogwarts, why did I get the impression that she couldnt stand him when they were at school?"
Dumbledore smiled down at her "I was wondering if you would get that impresson, Charlie" he nodded "But there was a moment at Hogwarts, that Miss. Amanda Mitchell could not stand the one who would soon become her husband. But anyone could see that she harboured strong feelings for him, despite being cold towards him and his group of friends..."
"But they got together in their 7th year, didnt they?" Charlie asked "I remember him proposing too her; we saw it in the diary back in second year" she turned to Harry "Remember?"
The Gryffindor nodded
"Yes, he did," Dumbledore nodded "and as you know they did marry at some point after Hogwarts, several years after which you were born, by dear. Even at Hogwarts, neither of your parents believed in having children before marriage, and I do not believe either of them ever imagined being parents at all in their lives together."
Charlie frowned "Technically, neither of them were parents!" she pointed out "Amanda was killed when I was a mere baby, and Voldemort was killed the same year, and I was taken to the Muggle world, where my mum and dad adopted me and raised me."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement "But they are nonetheless your birth-parents, my dear child" he explained "as much as you wish you can, you cannot run from who you are. There will come a time when you will have to admit your true heritage to yourself, in order to understand many things about your past"
Charlie frowned...what did that mean? she wondered
"And now," Dumbledore continued "onto the lesson. I have three more memories to show you this evening, the first which was obtained with great difficulty." he explained "So, we meet this evening to continue the tale of Tom Riddle. To those whom I could persuade to talk to me told me that Riddle was obsessed with his parentage, this is understandable , of course; he had grown up in an orphanage and naturally wished to know how he came to be there. He searched and searched the Hogwarts castle for some reference to Tom Riddle Snr, but came up empty and soon dilvulged into his formely despised mother's family; a person he believed could not have been a witch if she had succumbed to the shameful human weakness of death"
Charlie and Harry sat quietly as Dumbledore spoke
"All he had to go upon was the single name of 'Marvolo' which he knew was his grandfather's name," the Headmaster continued "and after some painstaking research through old books of wizarding families, he discovered the existence of Slytherin's surviving line. In the summer of his sixth year, he left the orphanage, to which he returned annually and set off to find his Gaunt relatives. And now, Harry, Charlie, if you will..."
He motioned for them to rise, and handed Charlie a crystal vial of memories. The Slytherin took it, and led Harry to the pensieve where she emptied the contents into the swirling pools of the basin, leant forward and felt herslf falling forwards.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
When she landed, Charlie -as per usual- stumbled and hit the ground with a thud "Ow!" she complained, glaring up at Harry who chuckled at her mis-fortune as he landed on his feet beside her. "Shut up, Potter!" she pouted, kicking his feet out from underneath him and chuckling as he landed beside her.
"I hate you," Harry grumbled
Charlie grinned "Love you too!"
Pushing themselves up, the two friends looked around and realized that they were once again in th Gaunts' house, it was filthier than the last time they had been there.
The room was dimmer than usual, the only light coming from a single flickering candle, which was placed at the feet of the only occupant in the room, he was slumped in the armchair in front of the fireplace and was so motionless it looked like he was dead. But there came a loud knock on the door and the person jerked awake, raising his wand in his right hand, and a short knife in his left. The door creaked open, and there standing on the threshold, holdng an old-fashioned lamp, stood a boy Harry recognized at once.
Sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle.
For a few moments the two men stared at one another; before the man in the arm-chair staggered to his feet.
"YOU!" he bellowed "YOU!"
And he hurtled drunkenly at Riddle, wand and knife held aloft.
"Stop!"
Riddle spoke Parseltongue. The man skidded to a halt. There was a long silence as the two stared at one another once more.
"You speak it?" the man asked
"Yes, I speak it" Riddle answered. He moved further into the room, a look of disgust and disappointment expressed on his face "Where is Marvolo?" he asked
"Dead" said the other "Died years ago, didnt he?"
Riddle frowned
"Who are you, then?"
"I'm Morfin, ain't I?"
"Marvolo's son?"
"Course I am, then..." Morfin peered closer at Riddle "I thought you was that Muggle. You look mighty like that Muggle!"
"What Muggle?" Riddle asked sharply
"That Muggle what my sister took a fancy to, that Muggle what lives in the big house over the way," said Morfin "You look right like him, Riddle. But he's older now, i'n 'e? He's older'n you now I think on it..." Morfin looked slightly dazed, as he swayed on the spot "He come back, see" he added stupidly
"Riddle came back?" Tom asked
"Ar, he left her, and serve her right, marrying filth! Robbed us, mind before she ran off! Where's the locket, eh, where's Slytherin's locket?"
Riddle didnt answer. Morfin was working himself into a rage again; he brandished his knife and shouted "Dishonoured us, she did, that little slut! And who're you, coming here and asking questions about all that? It's over, innit...it's over..."
He staggered forward, and as he did so the memory became dark. All light was distinguished.
Harry and Charlie felt themselves rise...
xXxHarryPotterxXx
...and seconds later they appeared back in Dumbledore's office.
"Is that all?" Harry asked at once "Why did it go dark, what happened?"
"Because Morfin could not remember anything from that point onwards," Dumbledore explained "When he awoke the next morning, he was lying on the floor, quite alone. Marvolo's ring had gone. Meanwhile, in the villiage of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the high street, screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing room of the big house: Tom Riddle Senior, and his mother and father"
Harry and Charlie nodded, they had witnessed the house once in their past, but had never known the entire story.
Maybe Riley has read the story somewhere? the Slytherin thought, wondering if her friend would be willing to help her search the story. Nah, she has enough research, I don't want to burden her anymore.
"...those were apparently his last words," Dumbledore's voice cut through the Slytherin's thoughts and Charlie blinked, as she slid out of her thoughts "He lived out the remainder of his life in Azakban, lamenting the loss of Marvolo's last heirloom, and is buried beside the prision alongside the other poor souls who have expired within it's walls."
"So Voldemort stole Morfin's wand and used it?" asked Harry
Dumbledore nodded "That's right. We have no memories to show us this, but I think we can be fairly sure what happened. Voldemort stupefied his uncle, took his wand, and proceeded across the valley to 'the big house over the way' and murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch mother, and, for good measure, his Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating the last of the unworthy Riddle line..."
"And getting revenge on his father who never wanted him," Charlie added
"Of course," Dumbledore agreed "Then he returned to the Gaunt hovel, peformed the complex bit of magic that would implant a false memory in his uncle's mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed the ancient ring he wore and departed"
Harry frowned "and Morfin never realized he did it?"
"Never," responded Dumbledore "He gave, as I say, a full and boastful confession"
"But he had this real memory in him all the time!" Charlie exclaimed
Dumbledore nodded "and it took a great deal of Legilimency to coax it out of him. And why should anyone delve further into Morfin's mind when he had already confessed to the crime?"
"So an innocent man was charged for a crime he didnt commit," Charlie pointed out "That's rubbish!"
"I agree," Dumbledore nodded "Whatever Morfin was, he did not deserve to die as he did, blamed for murder he had not committed. But it is getting late, and I want you to see these other memories before we part..." he removed another crystal phial from his robes, and handed it to Harry, who emptied it into the pensieve and headed in first.
Charlie followed "We we go again," she complained
Dumbledore chuckled in amusement as she disappeared
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Charlie got to her feet once more, after stumbling into Harry in her uneven landing, and sending both her and her friend to the floor
"You have got to work on your landings!" Harry complained
"Oh hush up," the Slytherin responded "Its a long way down!" she looked around "Where are we?"
The Gryffindor shrugged "Dunno..."
"Very helpful," Charlie said, hitting him in the shoulder.
Harry glared at her as he rubbed his arm "Quit doing that!"
Charlie ignored him and pointed at the forming scene ahead of them "Look!"
An immensely fat old lady sat in an armchair in front of the two students, she was wearing a ginger wig and a brilliant pink set of robes that flowed all around her, giving the impression that she was a melting iced cake. At her feet, the tinest and oldest of house-elves ever sighted was lacing tight satin slippers onto her fleshy feet.
"Hurry up, Horkey!" the old woman said imperiously "They said they'd be here at four! It's only a couple of minutes to and they are never late!"
The house-elf finished what she was doing and stood up.
"How do I look?" the old woman asked
"Lovely, madam!" Hokey squeaked
Harry and Charlie exchanged looks "Lovely?" they questioned one another
"It must be custome for an house-elf to lie, in circumstances like this," Charlie added
Harry nodded.
A tinkling doorbell rang and both mistress and house-elf jumped.
"Quick, quick, they're here! Horkey!" cried the old woman, and the elf scurried out of the room, which was cluttered with objects, that it was difficult for anybody to navigate through it without knocking anything over. The house-elf returned within minutes, followed by a tall young man, and a average height young woman. Both of which were easily recognized.
"Tom Riddle and Amanda Mitchell," Charlie breathed "This must be after Hogwarts...look at how the react to one another...and look at her finger" she pointed at the diamond encrusted ring, on Amanda's engagement finger.
Harry nodded. It had happened. Tom Riddle and Amanda Mitchell were engaged.
The couple picked their way through the cramped room with an air that showed they had been here before. "Hepzibah," Amanda smiled as she came to the side of the old woman "You look more beautiful, every time I see you"
The old woman, Hepzibah, smiled brightly "Oh, Amanda dear, such a sweetheart..." she smiled "oh, and what is this?" she spied the engagement ring "You did not have this, during our last vist"
"The engagement is old," Tom answered "The ring is new. Amanda deserves the best..." he gazed admiringly at his future wife.
Charlie pretended to gag "Ew! All mushy..."
Harry chuckled
"And what is your excuse for visiting this time?" Hepzibah asked
"Mr. Burke would like to make an improved offer for the goblin-made armour," Riddle said "Five hundred Galleons, he fees it is a more than fair -"
"Now, now, not so fast, or I'll think you are simply here for my trinkets"
Amanda forced a smile "We simply do as we are asked, Hepzibah" she explained "We are merely assistants, that do as Mr. Burke wishes. And he wishes enquires..."
"Oh, Mr. Burke, phooey!" Hepzibah said, waving her hand "I have something to show you. Something I have never shown Mr. Burke. Can you keep a secret? Im about to show you my finest treasures. Hokey!" she called for the house-elf.
Hokey appeared, between the array of trinkets in the room "Here, madam," she squeaked
"Now, I think you will like this," Hepzibah smiled, opening the first box and producing a small golden cup with two finely wrought handles
Tom took the cup and held it up for both himself and Amanda to see "A badger," he breathed "Then this was...?"
"Helga Hufflepuff's, as you very well know, you clever boy," Hepzibah giggled "Didn't I tell you was distantly descended? This has been handed down in the family for years and years. Lovely, isnt it? And all sorts of powers it's supposed to possess, too, but I havent tested them thoroughly, I just keep it nice and safe in here..."
She took the cup from Tom and placed it back in the box it had come from; she was more pre-occupied with settling the cup gently back in its box, and she missed the look which was exchanged between Tom and Amanda.
"And now," Hepzibah continued "I think you'll like this even more," she whispered "Of course, Burke knows I've got this one, I bought it from him, and I daresay he would love to get it back!" she opened the second box and revealed a heavy golden locket.
Charlie gasped "That's mine!" she cried "My locket! Slytherin's locket!"
Harry looked between his friend and the memory, as he started to come to the assumption that Hepzibah was going to meet a grizzly end, if Charlie had the locket since birth, and she wasnt born yet.
"Slytherin's mark," Amanda breathed, taking the locket from Tom and running her fingers across the snake which had been engraved onto its surface
Hepzibah squealed in delight "That's right! I had to pay an arm and a leg for it, but I had to have it!" she explained "Burke apparently bought it from a ragged-looking woman who seemed to have stolen it, but had no idea of its true value -"
Tom Riddle's eyes flashed scarlet
"- I daresay Burke paid her a pittance, but there you are...pretty, isnt it? And again, all kinds of powers attributed to it, though I just keep it nice and safe..." she reached out and took it from Amanda, the chain slipping through her fingers like fine grains of sand. She placed it back in its box and closed it with a snap. "So there you are, my dears, and I hope you enjoyed that!"
She frowned, at the look on Tom's face "Are you all right, dear?" she asked
Amanda touched Tom's arm "He's fine," she answered, a little harshly
Tom grasped her hand and rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, to soothe her; Amanda had been known for her temple and coldness whilst at school "Im quite well..." he nodded at Hepzibah "Thank you..."
The memory started to fade, and before long Harry and Charlie started to rise to the surface of the pensieve.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Charlie turned to Dumbledore the moment she returned "am I right to believe that she dies?" she asked
"Precisely," said Dumbledore "Two days after this scene, she was found dead. Hokey was to blame, naturally..."
Harry and Charlie looked livid "No way!" they cried "Why would the blame the elf?"
"She was the only one within the vicinity," Dumbledore answered "Hokey was convicted of poisoning her mistress's evening cocoa by accident. There are many similarties between Hepzibah's death and that of the Riddles, in both cases, somebody else took the blame, someone who had a clear memory of having caused the death -"
"Hokey confessed?" Harry asked
"She remembered putting something in her mistress's cocoa that turned out not to be sugar, but a lethal and little-known poison," said Dumbledore "It was concluded that she had not meant to do it, but being old and confused -"
Charlie shook her head "Voldemort modified her memory, just like he did Morfin!"
"Yes, that is my conclusion," Dumbledore agreed "And just as with Morfin, the Ministry wa predisposed to support Hokey -"
"- because she was a house elf!" said Harry
Dumbledore nodded "she was old, she admitted to having tampered with the drinks and nobody at the Ministry bothered to enquire further. As in the case of Morfin, by the time I traced her and managed to extract the memory, her life was almost over - but her memory, of course, proves nothing except that Voldemort knew of the existence of the cup and the locket..."
"The same locket, they gave me when I was born" Charlie inputted
The headmaster nodded "and alas, there I must leave this meeting..."
Harry frowned "But Professor, I thought you said you had three memories to show us?"
"We will meet for one more lesson, after tonight" Dumbledore explained "It is late, and I am sure your friends are waiting for your safe returns to your common rooms. Next lesson we will continue our discussion of Voldemort and Hokey, after which I will show you the last remaining memory I have, and then it is upon you to retrieve the missing memory from Professor Slughorn"
The two friends nodded
"Off you go," Dumbledore smiled "Goodnight"
Harry and Charlie made it to the door, turned and said "Good night, Professor" before leaving the office all together.
A/N: Apologies. I would have included the 3rd memory, but as stated above I don't feel well and im falling asleep as I write. There will be one more private lesson (im jumping around in the books for these lessons) and then we will carry on as normal. I hope you enjoyed this rather long chapter...let me know how much you enjoyed.
Review (please)
Goodnight. God Bless. Sweet dreams.
~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to moi xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 07 April 2011 at 04:17am