Chapter 25
Harry considered what Ginny said for a moment. He trusted Ginny with his life and although he'd love to believe that he could fight a legion of dark wizards alone, he knew that in reality, he would need a lot of help. Another reality was he didn't believe his small band of student fighters would be enough to defeat Voldemort or his army.
Who was he kidding? From the moment he made the decision to fight Voldemort, he never doubted that he couldn't defeat him. It was, he believed, his destiny. What he wasn't so ready to say out loud, was his belief that he wouldn't survive either.
"We need all the help we can get. Try to contact your brothers. I just hope that Professor Dumbledore finds something that'll help us, too." He kissed her good bye. He held on to her a little longer tonight and sighed when he had to let her go. She was his strength; the rock that kept him believing he could do anything.
"I'll try, Harry. Good night," she said, eager for one last kiss.
He watched her climb the stairs and she had disappeared before he turned toward the Slytherin dungeon. He didn't hurry like Ginny had, meandering through the darkened corridors. He was not afraid of being caught; that had already happened, hadn't it? Tonight, he wasn't afraid of anything.
The common room was empty when he finally arrived. He climbed to his dormitory, quietly disrobed and started to jump into bed. There was an envelope addressed to him on his pillow. He looked at it silently for a few seconds before he took the letter. He didn't recognize the handwriting.
He tore open the envelope and removed the carefully folded parchment. The handwriting was still unfamiliar, but the note was signed "Remus Lupin."
The letter asked him to bring a particular of spells and notes from the box that his parents had left for him. He didn't explain why but asked that he bring it to Hagrid's hut early the next morning. Lupin did say that it would help him prepare for whatever was going to happen. He also asked if he minded if more adults were invited to discuss the planning of the battle the next day; if there was going to be a battle.
What difference did it make, Harry thought. The more the merrier. Harry dug through the box until he found the notes he had asked for. Looking at the cover, he noticed that most of the notes were written by A. Moody; Alastair Moody no doubt. He casually thumbed through the pages looking for nothing specific. He'd gone through this book before when he first received the box and read every note inked-in around the border. This was obviously one of the more popular tomes of the Order.
The book was tabbed and indexed and special care must have been given to the preparation of the subject. He came across a tab labeled, 'extremely old and evil magic' which he didn't remember seeing before. The pages were complete with warnings and disclaimers which, at one time, Harry might have found amusing. But now, he appreciated the cautionary advice.
He noted that this particular appendix was a "compilation of research completed by J. & L. Potter, S. Snape, and F. & G. Prewett. How funny, Harry thought, his parents worked with Professor Snape. He had no idea who F & G Prewett were; probably a married couple. He didn't know anyone by the name of Prewett so he decided to ask Ginny about it later.
It looked like Snape's contribution to the appendix was antidotes to various poisons and spells. Some of the symptoms looked especially dreadful. One was labeled, 'No known antidote' for one particularly heinous poison. A note read, 'this poison works effectively on large magical creatures; the only known magical creature who may be immune is a phoenix. Not tested due to uncertainty. Positive side, there is no masking of the poison; pungent spell reminds one of rotting lettuce. Good to know.
Apparently the Prewetts knew more about ancient, dark magic than anyone else. There were lists of magic that normal wizards didn't even know about. They had gone about defining various types of dark magic, most of which Harry couldn't even pronounce. One that he thought was particularly interesting was the term, "horcrux". There was speculation in the margin notes whether the idea was even feasible. A horcrux was an ordinary vessel that contained pieces of one's soul.
In the margin was printed hurriedly in red script were the words, "Did Voldemort succeed?" There were several sketches of possible horcrux vessels; a ring, a necklace, a crown, a cup, a knife, a book and someone had drawn a snake with a big question mark and the word "Living?"
Harry read a short passage, also handwritten in red, "We know he knew about Felix Mendelssohn, one of four wizards who theoretically created a horcrux. Mendelssohn was executed in 1113 after killing his wife. He claimed he was only testing a theory. If FM really did create a horcrux, how was it destroyed? And how was that part of his soul supposed to be reanimated?—FP."
Harry turned the page and much of the text had been "X'd" through with large writing at the top with the words, "Impossible, theory only.—AD" AD, Harry wondered, could that be Albus Dumbledore? Who else could it have been? So the Order knew about horcruxes, but Dumbledore thought the idea was impossible? Well, thought Harry, the professor was supposedly the smartest wizard in the world, if he didn't believe it was possible…
He woke up with a start as the book slid off the bed on to the floor causing a loud sound. None of the other boys were awake, so he grabbed the book and jumped out of bed. He hurriedly changed into clean clothes and went into the lavatory to finish dressing.
He used one the hidden exits to the castle and ran down to Hagrid's hut where he knew he would find Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. Pounding on the door, was too impatient to wait, so he pounded harder until a very sleepy Hagrid opened the door. Hagrid was holding a very large ice pack to his forehead and he weaved a little as he stood aside for Harry to enter.
"Not so loud," he said. "Some of us have a headache." Harry noticed several large empty, no doubt, casks strewn around the room.
"Where's Professor Lupin? He wanted to see me today."
Hagrid nodded toward the corner of the room where two huddled bodies lay, obviously in the same state as Hagrid. Harry shook the shoulder of one of the men, and Sirius's head popped out of the cover.
"Harry," Sirius said, surprised to see him there so early.
"I brought the book like Professor Lupin asked for. I found something in it that you may not have."
"Oh?" Sirius asked, curious. "Let me see." He sat up and looked at the cover of the book. "I remember this."
Harry opened up the book to the part where the appendices were. "Have you seen this?"
Sirius took the book and looked through it carefully. He shook his head. "No." He shook Lupin gently. "Remus," he said. Harry thought he didn't really want to wake him abruptly, like he was afraid of startling him. Sirius moved farther away from Lupin and shook him again. "Harry's here and he brought the book."
Sirius scrambled away as Lupin stretched. There was an odd crackling sound that sounded like all of his bones had reconnected or something. Harry had never heard anything like that in his life.
Lupin stretched again and bounded to his feet, shaking off his sleepiness. He smiled at Sirius and then at Harry. "Ah, Harry, I'm so glad you came. And you brought your father's book. Excellent," he said, very pleased.
Harry pointed out the additional pages. Sirius looked at Snape's addition with disdain. "Look what Snivilus did," he said rudely.
"Now Sirius," Lupin chided, "I'm sure what Severus contributed was important."
Black gave him a soured look, but Remus ignored him. "Look at this," he said, holding out the part of the book that appeared to be written by the Prewetts.
"Right," said Harry. "This horcrux thing is pretty interesting, I thought. I wonder why Professor Dumbledore rejected it out right."
Remus looked at the section carefully. "Hmm," he said. "It sounds pretty sound to me. I don't know. It sounds exactly like something Voldemort would try to do. Oh well, I'm sure he had a reason. We'll ask him when we get the chance."
Sirius and Remus went over the book, carefully highlighting some of the more effective spells. It was getting day light and Harry would have to return to the school. He'd hoped to see Ginny before class, but he'd spent too much time with Sirius and Remus to make it for breakfast.
He was headed out the door, when he turned and said, "Ginny is going to talk to two of her brothers, Bill and Charlie to see if they would be willing to help out. She trusts them."
Remus nodded. "I know both of them and you can count on them in a fight. They are both quite talented wizards. When does she expect to hear from them?"
Harry shrugged. "No idea." Right at that moment, there was a popping sound right outside Hagrid's hut. Two figures apparated in front of him. Both were young men, red haired; one tall and slender and the other shorter and extremely muscular. The muscular man's arms were covered in tattoos and he had several large burns and scars. This, Harry decided, must be Charlie, the dragon keeper.
"Ah," said Remus, "here they are now. Welcome Bill and Charlie. I take it you know Harry Potter."
Charlie and Bill grinned at Harry, pounding him on his back and shoulder. "Thanks for inviting us," Charlie said. "We're always ready for a fight."
"Now, Bill," Sirius warned, "Let's not kill the boy. We need all the help we can muster to fight the death eaters."
"Don't worry, lad, they'll be plenty for everyone. Who else do we have?" Bill asked.
"I'm afraid this is it," Remus said.
"Good," Charlie said enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together. "More death eaters for me."
Their eagerness for battle was contagious. Harry was glad Ginny contacted them. They apparently were better prepared than he thought anyone could be. He had no idea there were others out there who were ready and willing to take on Voldemort and the death eaters. Deep down he'd believed that he was going to have to fight alone. He didn't Charlie and Bill, but he trusted them more after talking with them for five minutes more than he trusted Sirius Black.
"I felt it coming," Bill said. "I've had this anxiousness for several days now. I think it's here now. Time for Voldemort and his death eaters to learn not everyone's going to kowtow to him. Bring the fight here," he said shaking his fist in the air. "We're ready for you!"