Chapter 37 - The Tourists
September 22nd, 1997
Dinner that evening was memorable mainly for it's family atmosphere. Even the Slytherins, (well some of them anyway), joined in welcoming back Headmistress McGonagall and congratulating her on her recovery. The Fawkes excuse seemed to satisfy most of the students and everything tended to get back to normal. The only problem was when Millicent suggested to McGonagall that perhaps Fawkes could also cure Nott. McGonagall had been on the ball enough to agree to look into the matter. She knew, of course, that nothing was going to cure Nott anymore but a suitable explanation for his disappearance and, ultimately, death would need to be devised. She would need to discuss that with Harry and Poppy as soon as possible. She had an appointment with Harry and his core team that evening to go into more detail on her experience while under the care of Voldemort. Now that Poppy was as involved as anyone, she would see if she could invite the nurse to join them.
Harry sat, as always, with Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table. Ginny, Neville, Dougal and, inappropriately since she was a Ravenclaw, Luna, all sat nearby. Minerva had informed Harry of her meeting with the Minister and what she had revealed. At first he was upset at the amount of information she had given concerning his involvement in her rescue but she convinced him that denying he was there would cause much more speculation than just admitting it. At least Dobby could be properly recognized. He even sent a short note to Barnabus Cuffe to make sure he spelled Dobby's name right. He also inserted a little misdirection at Ron's suggestion that made it seem as if it was Dobby who found the safe house. Harry used the term "the elf" when referring to Sleepy's part in everything so that Voldemort would consider that method of tracking him to be lost. There was no determining the effect from the embarrassment that he would feel when it was made public that an attack by an elf caused him to call for help.
After dinner, Ron and Hermione went to the Headmistress' office while Harry went to their office to pick up Tonks and Remus. He then took the two of them to join the others.
"Harry," said Minerva, when he arrived. "Before you leave, could I ask for a favor?"
"Of course, Minerva," said Harry. He was supposed to meet with Poppy for their nightly limb replacement session. During this time, it had been agreed that the other members of the inner circle would fill in McGonagall on the penultimate goal of the group, which was finding and destroying Voldemort's remaining horcruxes.
"I was wondering if we might invite Poppy to join us, tonight," she said. "She might have some insights on your new abilities and on how we can deal with the problem of Mr. Nott's unfortunate demise."
Harry looked around at the rest of the group. There was no longer the immediate approval of new members that characterized the early part of the adventure. Now, careful analysis was used to determine which, if any, new people should be included.
"I don't think she needs to know what we are going to be telling Headmistress McGonagall," said Hermione, "but it might be a good idea to get her views on Nott and your merger with Fawkes."
"I agree," said Remus. "Minerva is now the perfect new member since she has been cleared by Voldemort himself as not knowing anything." He looked at her and added, "No offense. Poppy, on the other hand, could be suspected if it were ever found out that she was acting as a front for Harry's limb replacement service."
"Speaking of which," said Harry, with a meaningful look at his watch. "I guess it's agreed. You four get Minerva up to speed and I'll bring Poppy back when we're done." He threw the invisibility cloak over himself and popped to Poppy's office.
"What was that?" said a nervous sounding man. He had been standing just outside of the office and heard the distinctive pop of Harry's arrival. "It sounded like someone apparated into your office." He peered inside.
"I thought it sounded like it came from one of the logs in my fire," countered Poppy. "I've had a bit of that with the wet wood we seem to be using lately." She gestured to the man to join her and he came and sat on the stool she indicated.
"Now, let me see the arm," she began. "Just remove your cloak so I can get a good look, Mr. Korner." Harry noticed that Korner had a metal hook where his right hand used to be. Poppy unstrapped the hook from around his shoulder. The stump indicated, from Harry's growing experience, that it was probably the result of a strong severing charm. There was no tearing or irregularities. It was as if a sword had chopped his hand off cleanly. This would be an easy fix.
"Now, just hold still," said Poppy, pulling out her wand. Harry did likewise. Together, they performed the proper motions to first summon the raw material from thin air, followed by the refinement and attachment. Harry had know from his experience replacing Minerva's foot, that the results would be much better than usual. McGonagall's foot looked just like her other foot and this hand would match his left. Apparently, this was a side benefit of merging with Fawkes; the restoration would be unnoticeable.
"Oh my," said Poppy. She was expecting the usual light brown hand. Usable but hardly discrete. The perfect hand caught her off her guard.
"What's the matter?" asked Korner. He seemed to be fairly skittish, thought Harry.
"Nothing," said Poppy, thinking fast. "Sometimes it takes a little more out of me than usual. Try it, please." She regained her composure.
Mr. Korner tried the hand and, after a few attempts, seemed satisfied. "It seems to be very satisfactory, Madam Pomfrey," he said. "Good as new. Now, how much do I owe you?" He took out his money pouch, probably for the last time with his left hand.
"The standard rate is ten galleons," said Poppy, as usual. "If that is too much, then whatever you can. If it is too little, then give extra to a charity."
"That's quite a bargain," said Korner. "You should consider raising your rates. There's more money to be made than ten galleons a pop." He handed her exactly ten galleons. "I wouldn't mind helping you get set up someplace better than this," he added. "A little advertising and you could be rich."
"I have all the money I need, Mr. Korner," said Poppy, with a smile. "Thank you very much for your offer but I'm afraid I have to go rest now." Clearly, she had had enough of Mr. Korner.
"OK," said Korner, getting up to leave, "but don't forget me if you change your mind." He walked out of the hospital wing.
After he had gone out of earshot, Harry removed the cloak. "He seemed to be pretty nonchalant for a bloke who just got his hand back," said Harry. "You would have thought you sewed a button on for him."
Madam Pomfrey put the stool away and turned to look at Harry. "Some people are going to be like that, Harry," she said. "I don't know if that is really the way they are or if they just don't know how to act. Mr. Korner is a merchant by trade and lost his hand during a robbery. Being a self-made man, he probably didn't like having to rely on others to help him do things that he used to do by himself. In that case, getting his right hand back might mean more to him than to most and he just doesn't want to show it. We may never know. He still wanted to do something for me. As a businessman, he naturally turned to a business offer."
Harry considered this. Percy had also been a proud man but had been more appreciative when Harry had restored Penelope. Then again, who was he to judge anyone. He had killed two people in the last day and a half. Lestrange was self defense but Nott was by choice. That reminded him of his meeting.
"Poppy?" asked Harry. "Minerva thought it might be a good idea for you to attend a meeting we are having in her office. It concerns the activities that a few of us are engaged in but we aren't quite ready to tell you everything. There are some things that you could be very helpful with, though. Would you like to join us?"
Poppy thought for a moment and then asked, "Am I likely to be asked to fly a broom at two hundred miles per hour or fight You-Know-Who?" She smiled at him.
"Not if we can help it," said Harry, laughing. Poppy giggled in response.
"If you promise to laugh once in a while, Harry," she replied, "I'm in." She grabbed his arm and nodded. With a turn, they were gone.
The group assembled in Minerva's office; Minerva, Poppy, Remus, Tonks, Hermione, Ron and Harry, (when listed by age), had anything but a laughing matter on their hands. They had, in fact, a body to dispose of. The problem was to have him end up dead, (of course) but make it look like an accident or, at the very least, like it had nothing to do with them. Any official inquest would determine that there was no such thing as Luissere's Lurgie so that was out. It was also very difficult to give someone who was dead, another disease.
"Perhaps some sort of an accident," suggested Ron. "Maybe we could just throw him down a flight of stairs."
"A possibility," replied Lupin. "We might have to resort to something like that. I would prefer it if he died in a more common manner. I can't remember when someone died falling down the steps at Hogwarts, can you, Poppy?"
"Not that I can recall," replied the nurse. "Of course, there's always a first time." She seemed to think that this might be that time.
"Too much of a coincidence," concluded Hermione. "Headmistress. I believe you said that you told Voldemort that you knew Nott was a Death Eater and that we also knew there was a traitor at the castle, but you didn't know who. Is that correct?" Minerva had filled them all in on her conversations with Voldemort after Harry and Poppy arrived.
"Yes," replied Minerva. "I also mentioned that we were pretending that Nott was in the hospital wing but that he was really your prisoner."
"Did you tell him where we were holding him?" asked Ron.
"Not really," replied Minerva with a smile. "I said he was in the Fortress of Solitude. I have no idea where that is and, I suspect, neither does he."
"Harry!" shouted Ron, excitedly. "This is a golden opportunity to have him look in totally the wrong place for our headquarters. You and Hermione seemed to be in on some sort of a joke about the name. You said something about the north pole."
"Yes," said Hermione. "The real Fortress of Solitude is at the north pole or close to it. At least if it was real. It's the summer place for a muggle comic book hero named Superman."
"Exactly," said Harry, catching on. "If he tries to find it, he will send his men searching in the arctic." Thinking further, he said, "This might solve another problem I've been worried about. We've had the arms in that mine for quite a while now. Maybe we should move them. Why not up north? Find or make a cave in the ice a few thousand feet down and ward it against apparition. That might keep them busy for months."
"I thought you didn't want to mess with their heads," reminded Tonks, thinking of their earlier thoughts about wiping Halsfer's mind and putting him back in his window.
"This would have a purpose," said Hermione. "The arctic is no picnic, even for wizards. We are planning on doing some outside activities soon and the more of them that are out of the country, the better."
"I wonder if the elves could find or make a place for us," pondered Harry.
"Let's find out," said McGonagall. "Slider, please join us." Slider heard Minerva say "join us" as he was already at her side.
"Yes, Mistress," said Slider. "What is Mistress needing?"
"We need to know if you are able to find or build a cave far to the north under a few thousand feet of ice," said Harry.
"Slider is not knowing, Harry Potter," replied Slider. "Slider is needing to know how big Harry Potter is needing his cave to be and is also needing to know how far north we is talking about."
"Do you know where the north pole is, Slider?" asked Hermione.
"Slider is hearing of a north pole, Mistress Potter, but Slider is not knowing where it is being," he replied.
"Maybe you can show him on a globe," suggested Minerva.
"We can work on that later, " said Harry. "It is very cold under a lot of ice, Slider. If we show you were to put it, could you dig a cave a thousand feet beneath the ice in those conditions?"
"Slider and the house elves are able to be doing that for Harry Potter," said Slider. "We is only needing to be knowing where and how big."
"Great," said Harry. "We'll get back to you on that when we have a globe. Thanks, Slider."
"Harry Potter is very welcome," said Slider. He paused for a moment and then asked, "Slider is wanting to ask Harry Potter a question. Is Harry Potter wishing to let Slider be doing this?" He waited eagerly.
"Of course," replied Harry. "You can ask anything you want." He wondered what the elf would want to know.
"Harry Potter's Dobby is free and is being able to be fighting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with Harry Potter. Slider and Sleepy is not being able to be helping Harry Potter because they is not free. Slider is saying to Harry Potter that the house elves is being ready to fight but we isn't able to be helping when Harry Potter needed to save Mistress." He looked sadly at McGonagall. "Slider and some of the house elves is talking about this and we is thinking that we is needing to be free to help Harry Potter like Dobby is. We is deciding that we is ready to take clothes to be helping Harry Potter. We is then being able to help Harry Potter like Dobby is. Slider and the house elves is asking if Mistress will give us clothes?"
No one spoke. Even Hermione knew that this was a great sacrifice on the part of the elves. Receiving clothes was the greatest disgrace that could befall a house elf and here they were, asking for them. Harry decided he needed to clarify the situation before proceeding.
"Slider," he said, "I am very touched by your generous offer. It is true that Dobby was free to help when I needed him most but I want you to understand that even now, we are honored to have your help. When we trained with the small group, we took into account your limitations and found that preventing the Death Eaters from apparating away and defending us from incoming spells was very useful. Just because you can't attack with us does not lessen your importance. I will admit though, if Dobby was not free and able to attack Voldemort, I would be dead, as well as your Mistress. Dobby is dead because he helped. I want to make sure you and anyone else is aware of the danger."
"Slider and the house elves is already be talking about this, Harry Potter," replied Slider. "We is knowing that Dobby is being dead and we is thinking that if Slider and Sleepy is fighting with Harry Potter and Dobby, then maybe Dobby is not being dead. Slider and the house elves is knowing what we is being asking."
"I understand," replied Harry. He turned to Ron and asked, "Do you think that if we had two teams of five free elves each, that it would be enough for now?" Ron was, after all, the tactician.
"Ron thought for a moment and said, "I would think so. We can always increase the numbers later if it is necessary."
Harry asked, "Is that acceptable to you, Slider?"
"Yes, Harry Potter," he replied. "May Slider and the house elves be choosing who will be free, Mistress?" He addressed the last question to Minerva because she was officially their owner, as head of the school.
"Yes, Slider," she replied. "Harry. May we meet with the volunteers in the Fortress of Solitude tomorrow night? I would like to see it, at last."
"Certainly, Headmistress," replied Harry. "Slider, please have the ten volunteers meet us just outside the Fortress' office tomorrow night at eight o'clock."
"Yes, Harry Potter," said Slider and, bowing to Minerva, he popped away.
Hermione wrote a couple of words on a scrap of parchment and Harry caught a glimpse before she tucked it in her pocket. It said "Globe" and "Uniforms".
He understood the reference to a globe but uniforms? He decided to ask her about it later.
"Where were we?" asked McGonagall.
"We were discussing how to get rid of Nott," answered Hermione. She hadn't been pleased when Harry forced the name of the traitor out of him, thus ending his life, but she also hadn't shed any tears over his body.
"To be precise," corrected Ron, "we were discussing how to get rid of him in the most advantageous way possible. If we assume the elves can dig a cave at the north pole and put the arms in it, then we need to have it look like Nott escaped from there. Hermione, can you find out some more specific information on this muggle Fortress of Solitude? If they do their homework, we want them to believe our version is the same one."
"I can try, Ron," said Hermione. "It isn't a real place, after all. I might not be able to find out where it is supposed to be."
"Just come close, Hermione," said Harry. "There's a lot of ice up there. A few miles won't make much difference. Maybe your library will have something."
"I'll check but we need to act fast," she said. At the "What's the hurry?" looks she was getting she responded, "Nott died yesterday afternoon. How long do you think we can keep him around? That reminds me. Madam Pomfrey. Can you put his arm back on?"
"What in the world happened to his arm?" she asked. "You keep talking about moving these arms here and there. Please let me know what you are talking about." She had no knowledge of removing arms, being under the special obliviate spell while giving advice and instructions concerning it.
"We have to cut off the arms of all of our captured Death Eaters," said Hermione. "They can be traced so we store them in case we can put them back on later. You showed us how to remove them safely. They are in an abandoned mine shaft in Wales, right now. Tonight, we were discussing putting them under the north pole. We don't now how to put them back properly, though."
"What on earth have I gotten mixed up with," muttered the Nurse. Then she said, "I suppose I can put it back on, if you took it off correctly."
"Thanks," said Hermione. "Ron, I think if we put a general sort of a map in his pocket with a few words like "ice door" or "ventilation shaft" on it, that would do. We really can't wait until the actual cave is complete."
"I agree," said Harry. "As long as it looks like he came from the north, it will be good enough. All we have to do now is make his death look like an accident."
"It also has to look like it happened yesterday afternoon," said Minerva. "Voldemort will be able to tell when he died."
"I have it," said Harry. "Draw up that map, Hermione. As soon as Poppy sticks his arm back on, I'll put him on a stolen broom and we'll fly together into a tree near Riddle Manor. I'll pop off just before impact, of course. Eventually, they'll find his body, and the map."
"Sounds OK to me," said Ron. "Just make sure you jump in time."
"I'll try," replied Harry. "Now for the next thing we need to discuss. We discovered at the last meeting that I am able to detect the presence of other people when they are fairly close, within thirty feet or so. Later, I was discussing this with Remus and Tonks and we also noticed..."
"Harry!" interrupted Tonks. "I believe that we were only going to fill Minerva on that part of our operations. Perhaps you should take Madam Pomfrey back to her office before we proceed."
"Oh, of course," agreed Harry. "Just a minute. Poppy, could you please put Nott's arm back on tonight? I really want to plant his body. Night would be a good time to do it."
"I suppose I could," replied the nurse. "Where can I find the pieces?"
"Winky," said Harry.
"What can Winky be doing for Master," said Winky.
"Poppy," said Harry. "Would you rather do this in your hospital or in the Fortress?"
"I would probably be better able to put on an arm in my hospital," she replied. "If I needed anything, it would be at hand."
"Winky," said Harry. "Take Madam Pomfrey back to her office. Then bring Theodore Nott's Body and arm to her. When she reattaches the arm, take Nott back to the Fortress. Leave him by the statue."
"Yes, Master," said the elf and she took Poppy's hand and they were gone.
"As I was saying," continued Harry, "we discovered that I can detect a horcrux when I am within thirty feet or so of it. We have several locations that the Death Eaters have been watching with no reason apparent for them to be doing so. They might just be checking to see if there is any activity such as restoration or construction that might endanger the horcruxes. Naturally, not all of the places under suspicion would be used for this purpose. We have reason to believe that only three horcruxes are still lost. What interest Voldemort has in the other locations is unknown."
"You seem to be fairly certain of the number of these horcruxes, Harry," said Minerva. "How is that, exactly?" She had been briefed before the meeting but the details were definitely lacking.
"During last years special lessons with Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, indicating the watching portrait, "we uncovered that Tom Riddle believed that having his soul in a total of seven pieces would be the ideal. Three of the pieces have been found with two destroyed. One has to be in his body so that leaves three to be found."
"So I gather that you have a few likely locations to check?" she half asked, half concluded.
"Exactly," said Harry. "We are not sure if any of them will yield a horcrux but it is worth a shot. There doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rule on their locations. So far, one was in the possession of Lucius Malfoy, one was hidden in the Gaunt cottage and one was really very well hidden in a cave. We also believe that one of the remaining ones is the cup of Helga Hufflepuff. The nature of the other two is unknown."
"Harry," said Grampa, "Do you remember my theory of Nagini possibly being a horcrux?"
"Yes, Grampa," replied Harry. "Hermione, Ron and I have discussed it and think it is highly unlikely."
"Not that I would question your judgement," replied Grampa, "especially Hermione's, but how did you come to that conclusion? I thought it made perfect sense."
"It was the time involved, Professor," said Hermione. "Voldemort was already researching Horcruxes while still a student in the mid-forties. He was acquiring relics of the founders shortly after he left school. Even if we assume he spent ten years before he found our how to create them, which I doubt, given his tenacity and genius, that would have meant he would not have achieved his goal of six horcruxes in about twenty years. I don't think he is capable of that level of incompetence. He probably had all six horcruxes in place by the start of the first war or shortly thereafter."
"I think I see the problem," said Grampa. "It concerns time. The older you get, the more confused you get about what constitutes a long time versus a short time. A couple of decades is a fairly short time if you are approaching a century and a half years old. To young people like you, it is slightly more than a lifetime. I admit I probably misjudged the time Tom had to prepare his horcruxes. You are almost definitely correct in your evaluation, Mrs. Potter."
"It also means that we may be wasting our time with these locations," said Ron. "We have no records of any Death Eaters checking on the Gaunt house or the cave. This could be due to the proximity of the Gaunt shack to Riddle Manor. He might just have the house included in his own security zone or he might have already known that it is missing. It was seen on Professor Dumbledore's hand in the presence of Snape. He also knows that the diary is gone. Our hope is that he believes that the death of Professor Dumbledore will bring an end to the danger for his remaining horcruxes. I believe that he would not send anyone to check on the cave, in any event, due to it's extreme security measures and a desire to prevent anyone from even knowing it is a place of interest."
"Then why check the other locations so regularly?" asked Remus. He didn't have as detailed a knowledge of the known horcruxes and the circumstances surrounding their acquisition, but he did have a general ideal.
"I think he might have discovered a flaw in his plan after his attack on Harry as a baby. He needed access to a horcrux to regenerate. If the cave's security was the norm, it would have taken a Malfoy level Death Eater to even get to it. He found that Lucius was less than anxious to find him so he was stuck with Wormtail, who did not have the necessary skills to retrieve the locket or anything similarly hidden. After he regained his body, he would have moved at least some of his horcruxes to still secure, but more easily accessible, sites. The locket could be the only one left in such an impossible to get location as an emergency back-up."
"You mentioned that there are several location you wish to check for these three missing horcruxes," said Minerva. "Why haven't you been checking on some of these in the past?"
"Until recently," explained Harry, "today, in fact, we had no way of checking for a horcrux other than looking around. I doubt that I could get near Stonehenge, for example, with a pick and shovel without arousing suspicions so we were stuck. Now, I can tell if a horcrux is near. If we can narrow it down to a small site, we can do our excavations and get out, unseen."
"And what will you do if no horcruxes are found at any of these sites?" asked Tonks.
"I have no idea," replied Harry. "This is our best guess on how to proceed. If it turns up dry, we'll have to rethink everything."
"Let's hope that we get something, then," said Remus. "What else is up for discussion?"
"We still have Filch to deal with," reminded Hermione. "Is there anything he's good for?"
"Target practice," said Harry. Everyone chuckled. "He was Voldemort's spy. As far as we know, and believe me, he spilled his guts when I caught him, he doesn't have any inside information on their plans. Perhaps we can get a clue by finding out what Snape promised him."
"I want to speak to him, too," said McGonagall. She didn't look too happy. "I want to find out why he betrayed me after we've known each other for over twenty years."
"I expect he'll be very glad to see you," said Harry. At her confused look, he said, "I told him that he would live only if you were recovered alive. Otherwise..." He drew his finger across his throat.
They all sat in silence for a moment. Then Ron said, "I interviewed the other kidnapers. They had been doing some jobs for Snape. They seem to have been in the same group that Halsfer was in."
"Halsfer?" asked McGonagall. She had not heard of the particular name of the original assassin of the Dursleys.
"He was the Death Eater that we were fortunate enough to come across and impersonate," said Harry. "His job was to kill my relatives and draw me away from you." He paused as if thinking and then said, "I suppose I should check in on them at some point." He had almost forgotten that his aunt and uncle were now locked in an exitless flat in the Fortress. "Anyway, he told us that he was one of about twenty Death Eaters that had been assigned to Snape for his own operations. We have ten of them accounted for, either dead or captured. Halsfer was taken out of a deserted storefront window just before he was to meet with Peter Pettigrew for his orders. As far as he knows, or I should say, would know if we finished the obliviate spell, no time has elapsed since then. We can release him and he would never know he had been captured. We considered doing it just to mess with their minds but he might have other uses."
"Let's keep him around for now," said Ron. "It might be a good idea to have an unknowing Death Eater of his level available in case we come up with nothing after we check out these sites."
"Where are you going to go first?" asked McGonagall.
"Dryburgh Abbey is our first choice," said Harry. "It's right here in Scotland and it was checked just two days ago. By their normal rotation, it won't come up again for about two weeks."
"I've been there," said Minerva. "It is almost as old as Hogwarts but has been unprotected from the ravages of time."
It seems to be well outside normal apparating distance, Minerva," said Harry. "I haven't been there and don't know of any intermediate stops between here and there. If you do, perhaps you could take me there tomorrow and I could return for Hermione and Ron."
"It has been some time since I was there but I think I could manage that, Harry," said Minerva. "If I may ask, why do Hermione and Ron need to join us. Don't get me wrong," she said quickly, seeing their shocked faces. "I was under the assumption that only you could detect whether or not a horcrux was present. I just wanted to know if there was a particular reason that the others needed to accompany us."
"Of course, Headmistress," said Harry. "We are currently tracking the regular comings and goings of Death Eaters to approximately thirty-five sites in the British Isles alone. Unless this is a major deception to throw us off the scent of which site has the horcruxes, there might very well be other reasons to know what is going on that warrants such surveillance by Voldemort. Ron and Hermione will be looking for these alternative motives while I scan for the horcruxes."
"I see, Harry," she said, satisfied. "What time do you wish to leave?"
"I thought right after breakfast," said Harry.
"Very well," replied Minerva. "Meet me here in my office at nine o'clock. It is in southern Scotland so I suggest light muggle clothing. It is unusually warm for this time of year."
Harry took Tonks and Remus back to the Fortress office and then returned for Ron and Hermione. "Harry?" asked Ron. "Could you drop me off at Honey's classroom. We had a date tonight."
"Sure," said Harry with a smirk. "Just be ready to go tomorrow at nine."
"Will do," said Ron, completely unfazed. "I promise to have her tucked in by eleven."
Both Harry and Hermione decided to resist pursuing that conversation and, having dropped Ron into the literally open arms of Honey, they joined the others in the office.
"Where's Ron," asked Tonks.
"Snogging Honey," replied Harry. "I wish I could join him." He regretted saying it the instant it came out of his mouth.
"Draw one more breath and tell me what you really meant to say, dear," said Hermione, smiling coldly.
"I meant I would rather be snogging you than what I'm about to do," he replied. "Remember? I have to fly a very dead corpse into a tree at high speed." He looked out the window and, sure enough, the body was waiting for him.
"OK, Harry," said Hermione, softening up. "I'll help warm you up when you get back." She kissed him and the four of them walked over to the body. Harry decided he might need to put a bubble head charm on himself for the trip.
"I'll check with Molly to see if I can have Ginny or Ron's old broom," he said. "They both have Firebolts now."
"If you're going to the Burrow, Harry," said Remus, "could you drop us off? It's pretty late already and it would save us some time to get back to Grimmauld Place."
"Sure," said Harry. He offered each an arm, and with a last kiss from Hermione, they were at the Burrow.
Remus and Tonks left immediately and Harry went in to talk to Molly and Arthur. After a few pleasantries, he left with Ginny's old Cleansweep 6. He returned to the Fortress.
"I put a map in his pocket with some comments about ice and caves. How are you going to hold him and fly at the same time?" asked Hermione. Nott had definitely started to become less than huggable.
"I'm thinking levicorpus," said Harry. "I don't want him on the broom with me at all."
"Good luck, dear," said Hermione. She stood back and waited for him to leave. She felt that a nice hot bath was in both of their futures when he returned, and not just for romantic reasons.
Harry grabbed Nott's robes and apparated to the Gaunt cottage. It looked about the same as from the pensieve but there really wasn't any way for it to look worse, so this was expected. Harry performed the levicorpus on Nott's body and flew him away to the north, taking note of a few large trees on the way. When he was about five miles out, he turned and made a high speed run towards Riddle Manor. It wasn't nearly as fast as he could have done on his Firebolt but it was still almost one-hundred miles per hour. About five hundred yards out, he dove towards a large elm tree he had noticed and let go of the broom while changing to a dragon just before he hit. He watched as the body and broom smashed into the trunk and fell to the ground, seemingly hitting every branch on the way. Satisfied that it would look like an accident, he turned back into a man and apparated back to his rooms before he started to fall.
Hermione was waiting with his bath robe and towels and the rest of the night went very well indeed, thank you.
September 23rd, 1997
"Winky," said Harry. "Thank you." Harry had given up on trying to be polite in asking her to come when he called and contented himself with being polite after she arrived. "Tell me of anything unusual that my aunt or uncle have done since they arrived here." He was sitting in the sitting, or common room of Hermione and his rooms. It was just past seven o'clock and he wanted to start planning his day.
"Yes, Master," said Winky. "Master's uncle is not happy but he is not trying to hurt Master's aunt. He is not knowing what to do without being able to see his telly. Winky is not knowing what a telly is being so Winky is not being able to be bringing it to him. Master's aunt is being better. She is happy cleaning and she is asking for flowers in pots. She is liking to be taking care of flowers. She is asking Winky to bring Master's uncle magazines on fishing. Winky is not knowing where Winky is being able to find magazines on fishing, Master."
"I think I can come up with those," said Harry. It sounded like they were adjusting, at least for now. He knew his uncle liked to fish and his aunt liked flowers but he didn't think that either activity would keep them satisfied for long. Some long term planning would be needed in that area. The problem would be that neither would be able to do anything in Hogwarts or on it's grounds due to the muggle repelling charms. He would check with McGonagall or perhaps Flitwick on that. The Fortress didn't seem to have been covered by the charms, probably due to it's being unknown to the casters. He decided to wait to visit them until he had some more information.
"Thank you, Winky," he said. Then, after rummaging in his money pouch unsuccessfully for a few seconds, he asked, "Winky, could you please bring me a few hundred pounds of muggle money? I will be doing some traveling in their world for a while and will need some cash."
"Yes, Master," she said and disappeared. Harry had just enough time and wits to wonder if he should have explained further that he wanted a few hundred pounds by denomination instead of weight before she returned. She had understood his meaning, fortunately, and handed him eight hundred pounds in twenty pound notes.
"Is that being enough muggle money, Master?" she asked. Her presence reminded him of something else. Normally, she would be the last person he would discuss this with but things seemed to be backwards in the elf world so he decided to press on, choosing his words carefully.
"Winky," he began, "Dobby was very important to the day to day running of my life. I don't expect to find anyone who could replace him but I will need another house elf. They would need to be able to do almost anything, like Dobby. I would like for you to interview any house elves who would like the job and I will hire whomever you decide on." He hoped that he had shown enough praise for Dobby and trust in her judgement to prevent her from being insulted at the task.
"Winky is Master's house elf, Master," said the small elf. "Winky is able to be doing anything that Master wishes."
A total rejection of her suggestion that she could do the work of two house elves would insult her, he knew but he also knew that even Winky would be overworked. "Dobby did a great deal for me, Winky," he began. "I am planning on doing some traveling in the near future and would like to have an elf accompany me. I don't think that you would be able to take care of Grimmauld Place, the Fortress with it's guests and prisoners as well as join me on my journeys without having to let something slide a little." He hoped she could see reason.
"Winky is thinking that Master is being right," said Winky, reluctantly. "Winky should be with Master and Mistress. Winky will find another elf to be doing what Winky can't."
"Fair enough," agreed Harry. Winky would want to be with him as her master so he decided to accommodate her. "I will need to set them up at Gringott's with household money. Let me know when you choose someone."
Harry and Hermione came down for breakfast at around a quarter after eight. Ron and Honey were already there, enjoying their morning time together. Professor McGonagall had apparently not objected to Honey eating with Ron at the Gryffindor table. She had such a baby face that she blended in and, with the other unauthorized blonde at the table sitting next to Dougal, it didn't seem like a big deal anymore. They would normally have class with Triffle and her today, but their field trip would cause them to miss Potions and whether or not they made Transfiguration would depend on when they returned. Harry didn't mention it to anyone, but the main reason he decided to go in the morning was he didn't want to miss an opportunity to skip Potions.
"You three had better start getting more subtle or everyone will know you're leaving the castle today," said Ginny, quietly. She continued with her cauldron cakes as if she said nothing. Harry, Hermione and Ron all looked at her, astounded. She huffed impatiently and said, in an even softer voice, "Your robes are completely buttoned up. You never do that. I can only assume you aren't wearing your school clothes underneath."
"Any other tips for future use, Sis?" asked Ron. He was starting to radiate embarrassment at their joint stupidity.
"Hermione doesn't have her book thing and Harry isn't complaining about Potions class," she responded. "As for you, dear brother, you might as well have a beacon on your head. Maybe Honey can find a way to get your blood to flow someplace more useful."
Honey started to turn crimson at this suggestion. Ginny sighed and said, "I pity your children."
"I think it's time to go," said Harry, getting up. Hermione followed silently while Ron and Honey shared a quick, highly charged kiss. They had both simultaneously had the same thought about what Ginny had said.
The three students left the hall quickly and, as soon as they were out of sight of anyone, Harry apparated them to the Headmistress' office. They were a good fifteen minutes early but they needed to get the hell away from Ginny. Shedding their outer robes, they waited in their muggle clothes for McGonagall.
At a minute or so before nine, she arrived, seemingly oblivious to their earlier embarrassment. "Are we all ready now?" she asked to the group in general.
"Yes, Headmistress," said Hermione for them all.
"Very well," said Minerva. "Harry, after you take us to a place outside of Hogwarts, I will take over. We will be stopping off at a small town called Westmuir which is just north of Dundee. That is a fairly good midpoint and I am familiar with the area. We'll continue on from there to Dryburgh Abbey."
Harry let Minerva grab his arm and he took her to the shrieking shack.
"Where are we, Harry?" asked Minerva, automatically. The inside of the shrieking shack was not for the faint of heart.
"We're in the shrieking shack, Minerva," replied Harry, using a calm and steady voice. He wanted her to feel confident before their trip.
"Oh, I see," replied McGonagall. She had always been in on the real use of the shack and it didn't upset her like other people. "Well, grab hold." She extended her arm for him.
Harry grabbed Minerva's arm, perhaps a little too strongly. He was used to being the apparator, not the apparatee and it was a little strange for him.
"I need my blood to flow to all the right places, too," she said with a smile. Her hearing was, as usual, at peak performance this morning. "Please relax just a bit." Harry felt himself blush a bit but complied.
They apparated to a field outside a small town. No one was around except a few cows in a pasture. Minerva caught her breath and then apparated again. This time they were standing next to a pair of large trees facing the ruins. To their left was a small stone footbridge over a stream that ran behind them. The remains of the abbey lay before them. Harry looked around briefly to see if they were being observed and then left for his wife and best friend. About thirty seconds later, he returned.
Minerva was wandering over to the great walls. It was a jumble of contradictions. In some spots, the four foot thick walls had been totally destroyed while nearby, a fragile round window with a spindly stone flower design was completely intact. A massive pavilion of some sort was flanked on both sides by only rubble. A beautiful archway, that reminded them all of the entrance to Hogwarts led from open space to open space.
"This abbey is a hundred years younger than Hogwarts," said Minerva to them all. "No magic was used. It took generations of monks to build it." She sighed. "It was destroyed long ago by the English armies. One time it was destroyed simply for ringing it's bells after a Scottish victory. No one has lived here for four centuries, now."
She seemed to feel the pain of it's loss, even now. They let her roam in her thoughts. They had work to do.
Harry, of course, had to walk the entire grounds. The reports from the elves monitoring the place showed that visiting Death Eaters would appear at various locations, usually near dusk. They would wander about for a half hour or so, not always in the same areas and then leave. Only one medallion was needed to cover the entire enclosure and most of the grounds. The movements of the visitors were recorded by marking their grid coordinates whenever they changed directions. Harry now saw in perfect hindsight that a few landmarks that could be referenced by someone visiting the sites would be of more use. He intended to have fairly rough maps made of each area under surveillance and then just draw the movements on them when they were visited.
He started his search pattern along the westernmost wall. They had done a few tests with both people and the horcrux and found his maximum range to be thirteen yards. They decided to keep his paths no more than twenty yards apart to ensure a little overlap on each pass. Harry found it hard to keep his mind from wandering. He was thinking about the years it must have taken to build this place. The generations of use and centuries of neglect. It was true that Hogwarts was older but this abbey looked it's age.
Ron and Hermione were also walking about. They were looking for anything that suggested other uses that the Death Eaters might have for Dryburgh Abbey. Perhaps a place to leave a message or to store a portkey for future use. Again, the possibility was there but no real indications of anything.
Harry had finished the central courtyard and was about to walk around to the other side of the east wall when they were all startled by a voice calling them.
"Oy!" shouted a middle-aged man at the head of a small group of people. He left the stragglers to hurry after him and quickly approached the eldest and nearest member of the Hogwarts party; Minerva McGonagall. She waited patiently for him as he approached. Harry and the others started to converge on their position.
"Good morning to you, ma'am," he said, taking off his hat. "My name is Angus McHandle. I am the caretaker and tour guide of this Abbey."
"How do you do, Mr. McHandle," replied McGonagall. "I am Minerva McGonagall." By now the students and tour had all arrived. "This is my daughter Hermione, her husband, Harry and their friend, Ron."
"Pleased to meet you," said McHandle, politely. "Did you come out early from St. Boswells, miss?"
"No," replied McGonagall. "We started out early this morning and have just been wandering around, enjoying the countryside. I visited here many years ago and wanted my family to see it, as well."
"I see," said Mr. McHandle. "Perhaps things were different the last time you were here but nowadays we find it necessary to charge a wee bit to pay for the upkeep of the old abbey."
"I understand entirely," said McGonagall. "We would be happy to contribute to such a worthy cause. How much would be required?"
"It's four pounds fifty per adult, which you all seem to be. If you were a bit older, we have a discount for the elderly," said McHandle, inadvertently making Minerva's day. "That includes the tour, of course."
"No problem at all, Mr. McHandle," said Harry, pulling out a few bills. "We have toured Scotland for a while now and prefer to just view it at our own pace, if that wouldn't be a problem." He handed the man one-hundred pounds.
"Take your time and enjoy the day," said a suddenly much more helpful Mr. McHandle. "If you have any questions, just ask. Good day to you." He wandered after his tour in much higher spirits.
They all continued their wanderings, Harry being just paranoid enough to check his medallion as he walked near the tour group. Nothing. He finished the outside of the east wall and proceeded around to the north end where he found a small room with an arched roof still intact. He didn't know if the stained glass windows were original or put in yesterday but they fit well. Harry went through the north entrance to join Ron and Hermione at an obelisk. It was a newer addition seemingly commemorating someone named Hugh de Moreville. They didn't know who he was but they did know that they had no idea what interest Voldemort had in this place. Harry had completed his walk without the slightest inkling of a horcrux.
They walked back to McGonagall, who was waiting on a flat piece of stone at the south end of the once mighty east wall. She had tears running down her cheeks.
"What's wrong, Minerva?" asked Hermione, sitting next to her and taking her hand. She had always seen McGonagall as the rock of Hogwarts. To be crying for no apparent reason was most unsettling for her.
"I was just thinking," replied Minerva. "If Voldemort wins, Hogwarts would probably look like this someday." She smiled at them and got up. "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked.
"Not yet," said Harry, "but I found a reason to keep searching." He now shared her vision and vowed in his heart that it would never be realized.
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for this chapter but we're sort of shifting course from preparations to implementation. Also, I spent most of the week sneezing. Darn colds.