Chapter 25
Professor Dumbledore rushed to his office and cast a Patronus sending it to the Weasley's and Sirius. He asked them to floo into his office as soon as possible.
He also sent one to the Granger's asking them to portkey to Hogwarts. He had given them a portkey when he had visited them to discuss Hermione's heritage, abilities and the prophecy. The portkey activated with the activation Password 'Magic Glowworm' something that was highly unlikely to be spoken in everyday conversation.
It didn't take long for people to start arriving, the first to arrive was the Granger's who landed in an ungraceful heap on the floor. Albus helped them to their feet and into armchairs opposite his desk.
"Mr Dumbledore, what is going on? Hermione's mother asked worriedly."
"Mrs Granger I will explain everything once everyone has arrived" The floo flared to life and out stepped Mr and Mrs Weasley with Ginny in-between them. It burned to life again and out stepped Bill and Charlie. It flared to life twice more, and Sirius, Remus, Narcissa, Tonks and Andromeda joined the occupants of the office.
"Well, this is more people than I was expecting," Albus said observing everyone.
"Sorry Albus we were having a family meal to celebrate my release from the hospital when you sent your patronus, you said there was an emergency at the school, and Narcissa was worried about Draco. The others came as support." Sirius said apologetically.
"That is quite alright, the family is important, and I dare say you'd probably tell them what we discuss today anyway, this is not, however, a conversation for young Miss Weasleys ears," Albus said looking at Ginny with a kind grandfatherly smile. Ginny smiled back.
"Sorry, Albus we had no time to get someone to watch her," Molly said.
"Don't worry Molly I think I know the perfect person to keep an eye on her." He said with sparkling eyes.
"Fizzy" He called, there was a small pop and Fizzy the house elf appeared before him. The Grangers gasped in shock.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, how may Fizzy be of service?" she asked.
"Fizzy my dear how are you enjoying your maternity leave, you are looking very well. How is the family?" he smiled kindly at her.
"I am doing well professor; the young twins keep me and Poppet busy. They aren't yet sleeping through the night. Twinkle loves her little brothers, Pickle and Tickle. They are nearly two months old now. I miss working but love taking care of my children." she said fondly.
"I'm glad you are all doing well Fizzy. Don't worry about work; you enjoy your maternity leave. I was wondering if you might be able to watch Miss Ginny Weasley for me while I talk to her family. Maybe she could play with Twinkle." Dumbledore said kindly.
"Oh yes Professor, Twinkle would love that. She gets ever so excited with new friends. Miss Hermione visits her at least once a week, often bringing along her friends. They play with Twinkle and cuddle Pickle and Tickle. Miss Hermione is a lovely child Mr and Mrs Granger." Twinkle said smiling at the Grangers.
"Thank you Fizzy; I'll call you when we are done talking," Dumbledore said. Fizzy nodded.
"Come along Miss Ginny, " Fizzy said taking Ginny's hand and with a pop, she and Ginny were gone.
"Albus what has Happened," Arthur asked.
"Today I was called away on urgent business at the Ministry. I had been there for most of the day when Harry's owl Hedwig arrived with a letter from Miss Granger. She informed me that her Ron and Harry knew about the Philosophers stone and that they believed Professor Snape was going to go after it tonight. She informed me they planned to get the stone before him and that they were heading into the forbidden third-floor corridor."
"What is a Philosophers Stone and why was a corridor forbidden?" Mr Granger asked.
"It is a stone created through the process of Alchemy by my good friend Nicolas Flamel; it turns base metals into gold, and also produces the Elixir of Life which allows one to become immortal. Nicolas and his wife have both used the elixir to extend their life. Nicolas is currently 665 years old while his wife is 662 years old. There were many attempted break-ins to their property, and they moved the stone to Gringotts bank. When more than one wizard was caught under the imperius curse attempting to break into the bank, they asked if I could help protest the stone." Dumbledore explained.
"What is the imperius curse?" Mrs Granger asked.
"It is one of three unforgivable curses. If a witch or wizard uses any of them, they get a life sentence in Azkaban Prison. The imperius takes away a person's free will, while under the curse, you would kill your best friend or your child if the castor of the curse told you to do so, only a small number of people can resist the curse. t is a horrible spell." Dumbledore told the Grangers who Blanchard at the thought of been entirely controlled by someone.
"Albus, Flamel asked you to help him protect the stone, did you have it in the castle?" Remus asked.
"I did, I made the third-floor corridor off limits to the students and myself and the other teachers created magical obstacles to protect it. To get to the stone one would have to get past Hagrid's Cerberus..." He began.
"You had a Cerberus in the school, do you know how fucking dangerous they can be? One of the dragon keepers I work with had his arm ripped off by one." Charlie said shocked.
"Language Charlie" Mrs Weasley scolded.
"Sorry mum," he replied.
"I got Hagrid Fluffy myself five years ago, and he had was raised from been a Puppy, he has been in the forbidden forest the whole time apart from this year. Precautions were taken to ensure he could not leave the corridor." Dumbledore told them."
"What other obstacles were put in place?" Bill asked.
"Professor Sprout provided devils snare; Professor Flitwick created a room of charmed flying keys which like a snitch needed to be caught by someone flying a room. Only one key out of the ten thousand would open the impenetrable door which led to Professor McGonagall's life-size game of wizards chess which had to be played to get to a riddle created by Professor Snape. His riddle had to be solved to get the right potion to allow a person through a magical fire that blocked the way forward and back. If wrong the person would drink poison or nettle wine. The final obstacle I created using the Mirror of Erised. I placed the stone inside it, and the only way to get it out would be if you wanted the stone to protect it but not to use it." Dumbledore informed them.
"What has happened to the children Albus?" Molly asked.
"When I got to the third-floor corridor I made my way through it and found Ron half buried in rubble on Minerva's chess set. He was under a sleep spell no doubt cast by Hermione and had dried blood on his head but no wound. I believe Hermione healed him before she and Harry continued. I found Harry and Hermione in the final chamber with the mirror. Harry was unconscious with a concussion and some minor cuts and bruises. Hermione was in a worse condition. She had a damaged appendix and spleen, cuts and scrapes. She was unconscious with handprint-shaped bruises around her throat. Madam Pomfrey's diagnostic spells indicate that she was placed under the Cruciatus Curse." Dumbledore told them gently, the magical adults present gassed at the curse and the Grangers knew it wasn't good.
"What is the Cruciatus Curse?" Mrs Granger asked worriedly.
"It is another of the three unforgivable also known as the torture curse it causes unbearable pain," he said quietly.
"Our little girl was tortured. Who did it? Who cast a curse at my baby?" Mr Granger asked angrily.
"From what I've been able to gather from the chamber it appears Voldemort possessed our Defence Professor." The adults recoiled at the name.
"The dark wizard you told us about when telling us about the prophecy?" Mrs Granger asked.
"Yes I'm afraid so, he cast the curse at your daughter," Dumbledore said.
"Where is Voldemort now, what happened?" Sirius asked.
"While Hermione was in pain she lost control of her magic and put on a display of elemental and earth magic which Voldermort saw. This puts her in much more danger as he will want her on his side regardless of blood status. Quirrell was ash when I arrived at the scene caused by Harry's touch. The protection placed on Harry by his mother's sacrifice prevents Voldemort from being able to touch him physically. I witnessed Voldemort flee the school in a spectral form. He has no body and is weak." He told them all.
"Anything else you need to tell us or can we see our kids," Sirius asked
"I'm afraid there is one other thing. The soulbond between Fred and Hermione keeps strengthening, and Fred was awoken this evening feeling everything that Hermione felt. He awoke all of Gryffindor while Hermione was under the Cruciatus. He is in the hospital wing with the others." Albus said.
"Oh, my poor baby." Mrs Weasley stood and ran out the door of the office heading to the hospital wing.
"Maybe we should all follow Molly's example and go see our kids," Sirius said, the other parents nodded and followed Molly to the hospital wing.
When the adults arrived at the Hospital Wing, the doors were closed, and a sign on them said 'CLOSED, for medical treatment, please see Professor Snape or Professor Sprout'. They ignored the warning and entered the ward.
They found Molly hugging Ron tightly to her bosom while sat in a chair next to a bed where Fred lay still unconscious. Hermione's bed had been pushed right up to Freds, and someone had interlaced their hands which were glowing bright gold. She too was still unconscious. George and Lee were sad next to the couple watching them as they slept with worried frowns on their faces.
Sirius's eyes landed on a bespectacled boy sat on the bed furthest from the door. He was the spitting image of James at 11 but with Lily's eyes. He didn't know what to do. Should he hug him, scold him.
He planned to meet him for the first time when collecting him from the Hogwarts Express in a couple of weeks. They'd of gone for dinner together and talked about happy things. But instead, he was meeting him at Hogwarts where he was injured after facing Voldemort.
Not exactly a situation with lighthearted getting to know you conversation. He felt a hand squeeze his hand and looked to his left to see Narcissa.
"Go speak to him, it's not how you planned to meet him, but he needs you. We will be over here if you need us. Go be a great Godfather." She smiled kindly at him and pushed him gently forward towards Harry.
Sirius moved forward determinedly until he was stood next to Harry's bed. Harry looked up and smiled at him.
"Sirius it's good to meet you finally," Harry said happily.
"You too Harry," he said engulfing boy in a giant hug. When they separated Sirius sat in the chair next to his bed.
"How are you feeling Harry?" he asked worriedly.
"I'm okay, minor concussion nothing major. Madame Pomfrey gave me a potion and said that I would be fine in an hour or so. It's Hermione and Fred I'm worried about. Until they wake up, there's no way of knowing how much damage has been caused to their minds." He said looking sadly over at the two beds surrounded by the Weasley's and Hermione's parents.
Sirius didn't know what to say; he couldn't promise his friends would be okay when there was no guarantee that they would be. Instead, he took Harry's hand and held it to offer comfort.
"Get some sleep Harry, and I will wake you if there is any news," he told him gently as Harry settled his head on his pillow and drifted off to sleep.