DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: And the pace quickens. Japan, Ancient and Noble Houses (maybe) and done with Part I. (One Chapter I hope but will not swear. The Alley will be Ch1 Pt. 2)
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE: WHY HOGWARTS?
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
Albus Dumbledore sat down in his chair in the Staff Room for the weekly meeting. This was the first such meeting since the school came back into session following the Christmas holidays.
"Well," he said, "I really do not have much. As you are all aware, I have been involved in various projects outside of school that have demanded a significant amount of my time. However, I am and always have been confident in Minerva's abilities to keep this fine institution running smoothly without my personal, daily involvement. That being said, I am pleased to note that while my efforts on the matter within the halls of government continue to be an exercise in futility, we have managed to realize a sixty percent drop in the use of our Time Chamber as compared to this time last year. While this is not ideal and while it still means we will produce more of those unfortunate children than the other schools, it is a definite step in the right direction and I congratulate you on your efforts to achieve such results given the restriction under which we are forced to proceed."
"At the cost of any hope of Slytherin being in the running for the House Cup," Severus Snape grumbled.
"I appreciate the sacrifices you have had to endure, Severus."
"You have not had to deal with the Howlers from irate parents regarding the apparent slights against their family," Severus grumbled.
"Ah, and each has been brought to my attention. As you are well aware, I have written each and every of the complaining parents explaining in detail that given the current political climate and ongoing criticism from the press, we are merely endeavoring to enforce rules which have been on the books since well before even I was born. It is, most regrettably, something that my predecessors and I should not have ignored.
"Now, how were the first term results? Anything requiring my attention?"
"The last exams were most peculiar, Headmaster," Severus said.
"Oh?"
"Well, I cannot speak for the others and as to my own exam, I saw no difference on the theoretical portion as many students still fail to grasp even the most basic concepts. However, there had been a marked improvement on the practical side, particularly in the Second through Fourth Years. Actually, almost exclusively in those years. I would say about a quarter of those years have improved far beyond what I have come to expect as a normal progression."
"Any particular concerns Severus? Is it any one House?"
"No sir. Similar unusual improvements have been noted in all four houses, although slightly less so in my own. Of particular concern for me was that the Muggle Borns improved markedly."
"Why is that a concern?"
"As you are aware, it is not unusual for children with a magical parent to receive some form of tutoring over the summer, particularly in potions as it is a magic that will not invoke the ire of those employed to enforce the Statute for the Reasonable Restrictions on Underage Magic. However, I am not aware of similar resources being available to those students who live wholly within the Muggle world."
"Perhaps some of their magically raised friends saw to that. You are aware that there is no rule or law preventing such. What we do lack is government funding for any such program."
"That possibility has crossed my mind, Headmaster. However, in the nearly ten years I have taught here this would be the first time something such as that occurred, particularly given the numbers."
"Interesting. Have any others noted something similar? Minerva?"
"Nothing worthy of note. I am aware of an increase in study groups last term. As you are also aware, about one third of the students in Severus's suspect years are seeking extra study and tutorials off campus on weekends. We did discuss this before last term, Albus. In that regard, those students have improved somewhat."
"Indeed. I recall thinking it was a capital idea with the stipulation that they not be running about the land or otherwise engage in activities that might be in contravention of the laws regarding underage magic. And as I recall, Severus, that particular program is open to and does have a notable number of students from your House."
Severus nodded.
"Aside from that minor aberration," Minerva continued, "one which might very well be entirely of the students' own initiative and new or renewed dedication – I cannot say I've noticed anything out of the norm. After all, we cannot expect all the students to devote their time off to additional study. It would be nice, but it is also unrealistic."
"Filius?"
"Minerva's assessment is consistent with my observations, Headmaster."
"Elmira?"
"As you are aware, Headmaster, I've only been on staff for a term. None of my predecessors were here for more than a full year and they all taught a different course in many ways such that it is impossible for me to comment on this issue. I have no basis for evaluation and, as I will not be returning next year, I cannot offer a suggestion as to how to evaluate the Defense students under knew instruction."
"Well I suppose it's much ado about nothing," Dumbledore concluded. "You should be flattered that your students are making an effort to finally take your course seriously, Severus. You have been complaining about their general lack of drive in regards to potions for years."
"Yes Headmaster."
The conversation moved on to other topics. Minerva had time to reflect as Albus decided it was once again time to complain about his favorite Quidditch team, the Chuddley Cannons.
The one problem she and her two colleagues had regarding running interference for those Hogwarts students who were in the Club was one their counterparts at the other schools did not have at all. Hogwarts was a boarding school. Somehow, the fact that about seventy-five students, almost a quarter of the student body, was leaving the school almost every weekend had to be explained. Last year it had been easier as there were fewer students to cover for and they were not all leaving at the same time as they alternated weekends. Now, however, some explanation needed to be given as the only weekends the students were not leaving were those that included either inter-house quidditch matches or a Hogsmeade weekend where the students were allowed to visit the nearby village.
Minerva had explained it away last year that the weekend departures were for additional tutoring in current course materials, largely limited to potions and magical theory. This was not entirely false of course. What she was withholding was the fact that the studies the children were receiving were far beyond what the Ministry would have approved. She passed it off as an idea some parents had proposed and were funding separately. As Albus was too busy to take an interest in what was little more than an intensive study group and one that Minerva was supposedly in charge of supervising – for that was what she told him – he had conveniently ignored the issue.
Snape's revelations might well have piqued his curiosity had it not been adeptly deflected. While it might be anticipated that students receiving extra instruction would do better in their course work, Snape's implication was that the improvement went beyond what reasonably could have been expected. Minerva noted with no small interest that Albus had directed his questions at the four staff members who taught true applied magic at all levels. They were the ones most likely to recognize that their students might be learning forbidden skills. Fortunately, the Club students had been doing a fair job of keeping their displays of skills within their year's course material, instead of the higher standard O.W.L. and N.E.W.T.s that many of them had already passed. Still, it was a close call.
She was not worried about herself. One could hardly function as Deputy Headmistress under Albus Dumbledore without being skilled at occlumency, or at least skilled enough that Albus would refrain from attempting his legilimency skills.
Pamona was similarly skilled but at risk only because she was head of house. Like most courses at Hogwarts, the applied Herbology was not a display of magical ability, simply applying theory to a plant problem or identifying various plants and their uses. At least through O.W.L.s, there was generally no need to use magic in her greenhouses.
Filius was half-goblin on his mother's side. Minerva never asked about this odd mix. Goblins and humans rarely interacted on any level outside of banking. However, being half-goblin made him immune from offensive mind arts such as legilimency. The goblin side meant that any thoughts detected through that art would appear as deception. Goblins were not pathological liars, but it was impossible to tell when they were being truthful using mind arts. If you could not tell when they were truthful, there was no way to gauge when they were being deceptive.
The two potential sources of concern were Snape and Professor Chastain. But, Chastain correctly noted she had no prior benchmark in which to evaluate the students' current performance. As for Snape, he apparently did not have enough to really make this an issue. The more Minerva though about this, the more she suspected he had raised the issue in hopes of receiving an excuse to begin docking points from the other houses in a desperate attempt to overcome the fact that he had himself placed Slytherin in negative numbers in terms of points. He had announced that he would dock 100 points each from any couple caught showing "an inappropriate degree of affection" and at least 300 points each from any couple whose amorous activities went beyond kissing. Apparently, some members of his House were slow learners.
Minerva was pleased that she was still walking the tightrope and the true nature of the Club remained secure for now. So far the deception had an element of truth behind it. Minerva was certain that this might very well change before Harry and the rest left for Hogwarts.
MONDAY, MAY 20th, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
"You wished to see me Albus?" Minerva said as she entered the Headmaster's Office.
"Indeed," he replied. "Would it be inconvenient to go over the prospective list for next year's entering class?"
"Not at all," Minerva replied. Of course it was inconvenient, she thought. She also knew it was rapidly becoming unavoidable. She withdrew a folded piece of parchment from her robes and handed it to the Headmaster. He opened it up and began to read the names.
"Abbott, hmm? That the old line family?" he asked.
"Her older brother Justin is a Third Year Hufflepuff," Minerva answered with a nod.
"Indeed. Bones? Any relation to Madam Amelia Bones at Law Enforcement?"
"Her niece," Minerva replied. "The girl's parents were killed in the War. Amelia has raised her."
Albus read a little further. "Crabbe and Goyle," he noted. "Death Eater's sons?"
Minerva nodded.
"Guess it can't be helped. No reason to believe the boys will turn out like their fathers…"
No reason not to either, Minerva thought. Those attitudes tended to run in families, especially pureblood social climbing ones not known for their intellectual prowess or business acumen.
"Longbottom? This Frank and Alice's boy?"
"I believe so."
"Any idea where he's at? I've been told their Manor has not been occupied in months. Not since those two vanished from St. Mungo's."
"I've heard from Augusta. She and her grandson are touring overseas. Wanted the boy to see a bit of the world before life hits him in the face." It was a lie and Minerva hoped Albus's preoccupation with the parents would help mask it. She knew exactly where he and his family were.
"It's been eight months," Dumbledore moaned, "and they still can't get a lead on two invalids!"
"Who?"
"Frank and Alice disappeared from St. Mungo's in September. MLE has been looking everywhere for any sign of them. I made this a top priority case and nothing!"
"Really?" Minerva asked in mock surprise. "Disappeared?"
"Into thin air so it would seem. No bodies. No clues. It's been a top priority case for months and nothing."
"Why a top priority? They were little better than corpses last I heard. Surely…"
"It is possible they were – er – killed. But it is also possible that they are alive and might be used…"
"How?"
"They have information that could cause major difficulties should it ever come to light."
"Albus, they were insane, incurably so. Whatever information they have is surely lost."
"I cannot risk that! The Greater Good would be in jeopardy should someone – anyone find some way to access their former memories."
"What kind of information could they have, Albus? It's been well over nine years since they had a coherent thought! Surely whatever they might have known is yesterday's news by now. After all, the War is over!"
"I … honestly I cannot remember."
"Well it must be real important," Minerva said sarcastically. "You made this a top priority case because they might have critical information that would ruin your Greater Good. So critical that the very fact that nine years of the best treatment we can offer could not cure them yet so long as there is the remotest possibility by some miracle of magic someone might be able to access those thoughts, it's a top priority case and yet it is so critical you cannot remember it at all?"
"You cannot very well expect me to remember everything about what happened nine years ago!" Albus protested.
"No," Minerva agreed, "but I should be able to expect you not to through your weight around without knowing why! If you cannot remember why the Longbottoms' fate is of any importance to anyone other than Augusta, Neville, their family and friends, why is it such a high priority for the government?"
"The family deserves to know…"
"That's not what you said, Albus! You said the reason their fate was important had something – you cannot remember what – but something to do with your Greater Good! Which is it?"
"Perhaps I overreacted…"
"An understatement."
Hoping to avoid further argument, Dumbledore returned to the list. After commenting upon some other children connected with the Death Eaters, he stopped and paled noticeably. Minerva knew what name he had reached, but was not completely sure what the man's reaction would be.
"Merlin's Beard!" he said. "Harry Potter?"
"I believe it is the same lad that landed you in hot water a few years ago," Minerva said. "The abuse scandal?"
"That's not it, Minerva! He's The-Boy-Who-Lived!"
"What rubbish! Don't tell be you believe those children's books!"
"Minerva, he destroyed Voldemort! He survived the Killing Curse!"
"And what proof do you have? Anyone see it happen? Or was it just the fact the poor lad wasn't dead? Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds? A fifteen month old baby surviving an un-survivable curse and destroying the most powerful Dark Wizard of the last three hundred years? As I recall, aside from a boy too young to have any memory, there were no other live witnesses, were there? What is more plausible: a super power baby who defeats Dark Wizards between nappie changes; or a very powerful witch who managed a final surprise just before she died? I'd put my money on Lily Potter!"
"I will concede Lily would make a more believable explanation but for some additional facts not generally known."
"Such as?"
"It would be best for all concerned that such information not be disseminated."
"I see," Minerva replied indignantly. "It is too sensitive for us lowly peasants to understand or use responsibly, is that it?"
"You don't understand! That boy's future is vital to the Greater Good!"
"Vital? He hasn't been vital in three years! You haven't mentioned him since the Investigation and then it was only because of the damage his case did to your precious reputation! I have news for you, Albus, the world has not come to an end! The boy is just that – a boy!"
"He should never have been allowed to leave his relatives…"
"Oh! The same relatives that nearly killed him? The same ones who told the Muggle Authorities they thought he drowned or something? Those relatives? What, did your Greater Good require him to bleed to death alone in a Muggle House at age eight or so?"
"No! There were important reasons for him to be there! It was paramount to his safety and development!"
"Almost a direct quote from your testimony, Albus! No one believed you then! That boy suffered worse than any prisoner in Azkaban and you would have the world believe it was for his own safety? Well, that doesn't work! His safety was not so important for you to take an interest in him until now!"
"Don't you see? He was with his Aunt because that allowed a Blood Ward to be used for his safety!"
"A Ward classified by the Ministry as Dark Magic? You trying to breed little Dark Wizards?"
"No!"
"Sounds like it from where I sit. And don't think I'm alone in this. Do you have any idea how close you came to seeing this school closed?"
"What do you mean?"
"Aside from Severus, Sybil, Flitch, Madam Pince, Hagrid and maybe Binns – who hardly counts, most of the staff considered resigning when they learned both about the abuse that poor boy suffered and how you knew about it …."
"I did not!"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE! You should have and you did NOTHING! Throw in the revelations that you sealed the Potter Will, which specifically forbade his going to that pathetic excuse for a family and you allowed his Godfather to rot in prison without so much as a trial…"
"That was the information the Longbottoms had," Albus said.
"What?"
"That either they or Black should have been his caretakers."
"So? What does that have to do with anything. Unless … Albus you didn't!"
"I didn't what?"
"Set the Longbottoms up for attack!"
Albus paled briefly. "Don't be silly. Three years lost! I need to see that boy…"
"Absolutely NOT!"
"Excuse me?"
"Don't you think you cause him enough pain?"
"The Greater Good…"
"Oh sod your Greater Good! You will not have anything more to do with that boy."
"And if I disagree with your assessment?"
"Than either you will leave this school forever, or your staff will. Either way, your tenure as Headmaster will end! This is not an idle threat, Albus. One word from me and the staff is out the door in the morning! Sack me and you will have the same result. You've been Headmaster in name only for far too long to have any real say at this point!"
"Minerva…"
"No Albus! You want your precious position? You will treat that boy no better and no worse than any other student who enters this castle! You will take no more interest in his personal life than any other student – which from what I've observed means no interest whatsoever! Anything more, any attempt to play with him like some kind of toy, and Hogwarts will no longer continue with you as its Head!"
Albus knew Minerva all too well. The witch was quite formidable in her own right. She also did not make idle threats. She never bluffed. He also knew how the cards were playing. For all practical purposes, as Headmaster he had been and absentee landlord for the better part of the last two decades. Minerva was the de facto head of Hogwarts, Albus was merely the face. The staff members she mentioned as not inclined to leave would stay not because of Albus Dumbledore, rather because this was their only home, their only job, or in the case of Severus, because leaving was a death sentence. Albus had exposed Severus as a spy against the Death Eaters to keep him out of prison after the War. People tend to have violent dislikes for those who spy on them. Minerva had never before challenged Albus like this. But she sure knew the game and the ground. This was a challenge he could not win and he knew it.
Albus knew that this battle was lost. But wars consisted of many battles. Somehow, the plan would be set to rights. Still, best not to cross Minerva for now.
What Albus did not know was this was not some fortuitous encounter. Thanks to a magical projection of a man who might no longer exist, Minerva knew far more about what Dumbledore was up to than he would ever know. She knew that he was a threat to Harry and that threat had to be dealt with sooner rather than later. Minerva had been planning it for years, building her position and getting her pieces into their positions. She had known this day was coming since the day she first met Harry in the hospital and knew what she would have to do for him, for her great-granddaughter and for what remained of her family. The Chess Master had walked into her carefully laid out checkmate – for now.
WENESDAY, MAY 22nd, 1991 – POTTER HOUSE, LONDON, U.K.
"So he knows then?" Hermione asked.
Minerva nodded.
"But I thought the wards…"
"The memory component is similar in many ways to the Fidelius Charm," Harry said. "If the knowledge of my existence is disseminated in the right way, people will remember. Remember, everyone associated with the Club knows who I am."
"How?" Hermione began.
"Go a book on it when I was in Japan last summer," Harry replied. "We all knew this would happen. Wanted to know how and have a good idea when. I wanted to avoid that hero nonsense as long as possible and keep low when I could not any longer."
"The Club doesn't treat you like some hero," Luna said.
"They know me better I'd like to think," Harry said.
"I know you're a hero," Luna said batting her eyes playfully. Harry knew she was joking.
"Yeah, well I did help you and some others once."
"Much better than that Boy-Who-Lived nonsense," Luna said. "Saving lives is better than surviving."
"So," Hermione said, "how long until everyone knows?"
"Depends upon whether Dumbledore keeps his trap shut," Harry said.
"He will," Minerva offered.
"How do you know?" Neville asked.
"Let's just say I made him an offer he couldn't refuse and leave it at that for now."
"Still," Harry added, "even if he act like a good little Headmaster, that secret won't last much longer, will it?"
"All bets are off come mid August," Minerva said. "That's usually when the list of students for Hogwarts is published in the Daily Prophet."
"Longer than I had hoped," Harry said.
"I still don't see why any of them have to go there," Remus added with Sirius nodding in agreement. "It's not like they need an education."
"I would agree as to the reason why they do not have to go," a voice said. An old man had appeared out of thin air. For Harry, Hermione and Clarice, his appearance was somewhat commonplace. He appeared about once a week, although it had been a long time since he had said anything they considered important or useful. He was "biding his time" "until the moment was right" or some such. The last time he said anything "useful" was when he warned them about the possible death of Luna's mother, which was over a year and a half earlier by the calendar and closer to six years for them in their time experience.
Luna and Neville saw Sensei less often. They had been able to on those occasions when they were with the others since a few months after they had become friends. To date, if one were to ask them, Sensei told amazing stories, but little else.
Remus, Sirius, Minerva and the Grangers were the only adults who could see and hear Sensei. Long ago, after Luna and Neville had become aware of him, he had said that this small group would probably constitute the only ones who could see him. His ability to appear and interact with the world in anyway was based upon trust mostly. He could appear to Harry because in many ways he was Harry or a Harry. He could appear to the magical adults, Luna, Neville and Hermione because he had trusted those people implicitly in his time and never had true cause to doubt that trust and the same was true of this young Harry. He could appear to the Grangers because they had become Harry's surrogate parents and the lad trusted them. And he could appear to Clarice for a similar reason: she was an integral part of this Harry's family. Sensei surmised it was conceivable that he might be able to appear to Sophie and Lord Black on similar grounds, but chose not to.
"However," Sensei continued, "there are ample reasons to go. Do you remember any?"
"Horcruxes," Harry said.
Sensei nodded. "There are two within the walls of Hogwarts this very minute. They are well hidden and in one case well guarded. There is no way to get to them without attracting undo attention aside from entering Hogwarts as a supposed student."
"Where are they?" Sirius asked.
"A very good question," Sensei said. "It is a fair bet that both are in locations the Marauders never discovered."
"I find that hard to believe."
"I don't," Sensei said. "The reason I don't is I know for a fact that neither location ever appears on the Marauder's Map."
"You know about the Map?" Remus asked. "But we lost it ages ago."
"Filtch got it off the Rat," Sirius growled. "Wanted to throttle the little coward but Prongs would not let me!"
"What's this map thing?" Clarice asked.
"As you know, when we were at Hogwarts we called ourselves the Marauders," Remus began.
"With such lovely nicknames," Hermione huffed. She didn't like the one she had received for her common Animagus. Miss Kitty was so unimaginative.
"Well, James, Sirius and I made an enchanted map of the castle and grounds," Remus said. "It showed everything we knew: all the rooms, secret passages, trick doors, everything. But, it also shows the location of every person, ghost or potential 'threat' to a late night stroll in the castle. No one's location went unknown to us or remained a secret with that map. Nothing could defeat it."
"We know," Sirius said. "We tried. James's invisibility cloak couldn't hide him from the map. Our animagus forms couldn't fool the map. In sixth year James nicked some Polyjuice potion from the Potions Lab. It too showed the real person, not the fake."
"So that's how you boys got away with it?" Minerva asked.
Sirius and Remus nodded.
"Had I found that Map, I don't know," Minerva said. "I'd have probably given you a month's detention for using it and a hundred points each for making it."
"That map sounds brilliant!" Harry said.
"We are already having a proper influence on the lad, eh Mooney?" Sirius said.
"More like corrupting," Minerva answered in Remus's place. "Any idea where that map is today?"
"Your best bet is to ask the Weasley boys," Sensei said. "Fred and George stole it from Flitch's office their First Year in my time and from what I've heard of their antics, I would be surprised if they were not using the map now."
"A map like that would explain quite a deal," Minerva said. "However, my bet is their brother Percy was the one to get it this time. There's no way he could have pulled the stunts he did his Second Year without getting caught unless he could somehow sense us from a distance."
"You're not thinking of confiscating it?" Sirius asked.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether I catch them using it," Minerva replied. "If you must know, I knew about that invisibility cloak of James Potter's within days of its arrival. His dad sent me an owl on it. Had I caught James using it, you can bet I would have confiscated it. But where's the fun in being all knowing? Even knowing how he got around unseen did not make catching him easy. Almost caught him once or twice, but…" she chuckled.
"You knew?" Remus and Sirius asked in shock.
Minerva nodded. "I was quite the prankster in my day, I'll have you know. I respect a creative one well executed. It's a game. You try to create mischief, I try to catch you at it. Even with such tools, I can honestly say you lot (and the Weasley boys) saw more of me in detention than anyone."
"I would suggest," Sensei said, "that it might be a good idea for the remaining Marauders to borrow the map from the Weasley boys. First off, it's not as if they'll need it…"
"And we would?" Remus asked.
"Not personally, but the two of you could probably make a copy…"
"Brilliant!" Harry said.
"Why brilliant?" Hermione asked him.
"'Cause if we have a copy and they have a copy, we could use their humor based activities as a diversion for whatever it is we need to do."
Hermione nodded. "Pity we don't have that cloak as well."
"Dumbledore does," Sensei said.
"He does? How?" several voices asked.
"When James Potter was in hiding, he borrowed it for some reason. Never gave it back."
"How do you know?" Minerva asked.
"He gave it to me as a Christmas present First Year," Sensei said. "I didn't know it was from him at the time. And no, aside from it was an heirloom of sorts, he never told me why he gave me such a key to mischief and misadventure."
"Okay," Hermione said, "now about these horcruxes?"
"One is located in the Room of Requirement which I know the Marauders never found 'cause it's not on that map at all. It is a magical room that appears in whatever form a person wants or needs at the time. In one version, students and faculty have been hiding stuff for centuries. That version is larger than the Great Hall and stuffed to the rafters with enough junk to stock four or five stores. In that mess is the Diadem of Ravenclaw."
"But that's been lost since the days of the Founders," Minerva said.
"And guess who found it," Sensei replied. "He had a gift for that sort of treasure hunt. I'll provide you with more details as to how to find it when you lot get back from Japan.
"As for the second Horcrux, it's located in the Chamber of Secrets…"
"That's real?" Minerva asked in shock.
"All too real, I am afraid."
"What is this Chamber?" Rose asked.
"Thought to be a legend," Minerva said. "One of the Founders – Salazar Slytherin – is said to have created it and made it into a lair for a monster who's supposed to be released to purge the school of all those Slytherin felt unworthy."
"It was opened in 1943 by Tom Riddle," Sensei continued. "Said monster did manage to kill one student before Tom caged it up again and framed another for the murder. Only someone with a Slytherin gift can open the Chamber and deal with the Monster."
"What kind of monster?"
"Great ruddy basilisk, 'bout sixty feet long," Sensei replied.
"That means Clarice and me," Harry said.
"Why?" Robert asked.
"A basilisk is a giant, magical snake," Hermione replied. "Deadly too. Since you need a Slytherin gift to get in and to control it, that means Parsletongues…"
"Which means us," Clarice said. "Still, how do you control a beast that's gaze kills you dead? How do you kill it?"
"When I did it," Sensei said, "a phoenix gouged out its eyes for me and I killed it with a sword, although I don't recommend that method. I was twelve at the time and it damn near killed me. A crowing rooster kills it dead and is a lot safer."
"Why didn't you do that?" Luna asked.
"'Cause someone killed all the roosters for miles around," Sensei replied. "Anyway, in the space where the monster slept is a shield that belonged to Godric Gryffindor. It's the other horcrux."
"And where is the entrance to this Chamber?" Minerva asked.
"Second Floor girl's bathroom. The one no one uses," Sensei replied.
"Moaning Myrtle!"
"Being the rather depressing ghost of the student Riddle killed in '43," Sensei finished.
After a pause, Harry said: "So that's it? Two horcruxes and we're done? That basilisk is a poser, but I think we can manage…"
"There will be a third, but it won't arrive until the following fall," Sensei said.
"How?"
"When's Lucius Malfoy due to be released from prison?"
"Later this month," Minerva said.
"Then he's still likely to introduce the think in the fall of '92."
"Why?" Several voices asked.
"He's got a thing against the Weasley's," Sensei said. "He'll use that horcrux to try and get one of the younger ones possessed and get her to release the basilisk."
"Ginny?" Luna asked.
Sensei nodded.
"Not this time around," Harry said. "Forewarned is forearmed. This time, he will be delivering it to its destruction. Easy enough. Three horcruxes and that's it then?"
"Actually," Sensei said, "those are your secondary targets."
"Excuse me?" Rose said. "Secondary? A killer snake is secondary?"
"Voldemort is your primary," Sensei said.
"What?" Minerva and others asked.
"Professor Quirinus Quirrell…"
"What's that man got to do with Voldemort?" Minerva asked. "He's not even at Hogwarts!"
"For now," Sensei said. "He will return next fall and teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Not very well, I might add."
"So?"
"He will be under active possession by the primary soul of Voldemort when he returns."
"Oh bugger!" Harry moaned.
"What?" Neville asked.
"Means we have to kill him – Quirrell that is."
"Why?" Clarice asked. "I mean they did that ritual on you our first summer and you didn't have to die."
"The fragment was not actively in control of me," Harry said. "In Curse Breaking we were learning about that. If the possession is in active control of the possessed, the possessing spirit cannot be removed without killing its host. The easiest and safest way to get rid of the evil spirit is to kill the host. If you merely try and exorcise the spirit, the host will die anyway and the spirit will be able to possess another. Kill the host and the spirit is weakened such that it cannot successfully take possession of another for some time. There are some exceptions, but this doesn't sound like one. So we have to kill him."
"That simple?" Hermione asked.
"We can't allow Voldemort to come back yet," Harry said. "Long ago Sensei said it cannot happen before the spring of 1995. So he must be stopped. If he takes full possession of this Quirrell guy, he can come back somehow. So we have to get him out of Quirrell which will be fatal to the man. Hence, Quirrell must die. If you can figure out an effective way of sending Voldemort back into Limbo or wherever it's been he's been hanging out, by all means I am open for suggestions. But unless you come up with one before the end of next spring, he has to die. Personally, if I have to kill him I'd prefer just to get it over with rather than have loads of time to think about it."
"And I would recommend Muggle means," Sensei said. "And you can't touch him."
"Why and why not?"
"Your touch, just as mine, is fatal to Voldemort for some reason. Dumbledore thought it had something to do with how your mother died. I don't know. I do know when I killed him that's all I did – touched him. As for why no magic? Voldemort consistently underestimated me and will do the same for you. However, he never makes the same mistake twice. The less he knows about what you really can do to him or his followers the better."
"Nine millimeter brain hemorrhage," Neville suggested. "Won't even have to get too close to the plonker."
"A gun?" Hermione asked.
"A magical raised in the magical world will have little or no idea what it is or what it can do," Luna noted. "I would keep it unloaded though."
"Quirrell was teaching Muggle Studies," Minerva noted.
"Which means he probably thinks we still use flintlocks," Harry observed. "It will be an option but not the only one. Given the fun we'll be having, I am most definitely not leaving my sword behind."
"I just wish there was another way," Hermione sighed.
"So do I," Harry admitted. "But if there is no other way."
Hermione nodded. "Only if there is no other reasonable way."
Harry nodded in agreement. "So that's it then? Destroy three horcruxes, snuff one Dark Lord infested professor and we're shot of the place?"
"Well, that's up to you, but you, Hermione and Luna are the magical heirs of the four founders. That might have advantages," Sensei replied.
"If you are all eleven and over seventeen," Minerva began, "you can claim your birthrights. As the four founders heirs, if you vow to share, that includes Hogwarts and all lands granted to the Founders. That includes all of Hogsmeade Valley and another valley just over the north ridge."
"And you can extend any wards that encompass the school to encompass the whole land grant," Sensei added. "And then there's the Founders' Tower."
"What's that?" several voices asked.
"It's a legend," Minerva said. "But if the Chamber of Secrets is real, perhaps the tower is too. It was where the Founders lived. In legend, it has a library of unsurpassed size – the magical equivalent of the lost Library of Alexandria some say. That might be a bit much, but it would surely have the collected and forgotten works of the Founders."
"And where is the tower?" Harry asked.
"No one knows for sure. It disappeared when the last of them passed away. It's said to be somewhere on the lands, it might even be a part of Hogwarts itself, but it vanished and can only be found and restored to this world by the four heirs working together."
"Just think of the knowledge that might be there," Hermione sighed.
"And the dust," Neville added.
"Okay," Harry said. "Don't know about the rest of you lot but that sounds to be like a more fun adventure and less dangerous than basilisks and snuffing professors."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Okay, so that's it then?" Harry asked. "Destroy three horcruxes, deal with one large, nasty basilisk, snuff one professor, claim our birth right and claim the Founders' Tower?"
"And prepare for the war that will come," Sensei said.
"Goes without saying," Neville said. "Already doing that."
"That's it then."
"Pretty full plate but doable," Harry noted.
"Just one question," Sirius asked, "and maybe I missed a meeting …"
"Or you were not paying attention," Remus quipped.
"…Anyway, why is Hermione and heir? I mean Minerva is still alive and kicking. Or did we miss that announcement as well?"
"Because it doesn't work exactly like other inheritances," Luna said. "Minerva became the Heir when her mother died. Her oldest daughter would then be the Heir Apparent. Once she had a daughter, she becomes the Heir and the granddaughter the Heir Apparent. When Hermione was born, her Mum was the Heir and she became the Heir apparent. Once her Mum died, Hermione became the Heir. Now I am the Heir 'cause the Hufflepuff line came from my Dad's line, not my Mum's. As there were no older women alive in that line, I became the Heir the day I was born."
"I guess that makes sense," Remus said.
"Speak for yourself," Robert Granger retorted. "It's all nonsense to me."
"This all sounds so dangerous," Rose added.
"Remember, Mum, we are all fully trained witches and wizards by British standards even if they don't know it yet," Hermione said.
"In my timeline," Sensei added, "I faced all these challenges, save the Founders' Heirs stuff, at age eleven and twelve. I had no prior experience with magic and, I can assure you, I was not a brilliant student. They can do this."
Rose nodded. They had similar discussions in the past about war and other things she hoped her daughter and Harry and Clarice would never see. She still saw them as children, she still insisted they had a bed time. But she also knew they knew more magic than most adults witches and wizards in Britain and would know even more come August. Still, why was any of this necessary?
SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd, 1991 – CAMP W, U.K.
The end of the year had come for the Club. The new entering class for this summer in Japan added four hundred and seventy-two new children to the British Invasion bringing the total in the British school to nine hundred and twenty-nine. All were now seated in the large dining hall with their parents and families for the end of year diner. Including faculty reps, there were nearly two thousand in the room.
"So what's the deal?" a girl named Agnes from St. Alban's asked Ginny Weasley as they ate.
"With what?" Ginny replied.
"You know Harry Potter right?"
"I'd say we're friends, although I'd say Clarice and I and Luna are closer friends. Yeah."
"Don't you think he's cute?"
Ginny shrugged. "He's okay. Me? I think his cousin Billy's cuter. But that's just me."
"So you don't think The-Boy-Who-Lived is prime future boyfriend material?"
"Er – well I suppose The-Boy-Who-Hates-That-Name could be but…"
"But?"
"Please! You HAVE seen him with Hermione!"
"But she's like his sister, right?"
Ginny shook her head. "Clarice Jameson is like his sister and that's a bit of a story. Hermione's just the girl down the hall. Her room is just down the hall from his. And … well, you know any brothers that hold their sister's hand all – the – time?"
"Well…"
"Or kiss?"
"On the lips?"
"Not that I've seen, but they do kiss each other … a lot. Pretty disgusting about it if you ask me."
"So she's like his girlfriend then?"
"They won't say so, but yeah."
"Darn."
"You're attention please?" a voice announced. Everyone looked up and saw Harry standing at a podium.
"Well," he said, "welcome to our end of the year dinner. First off, I'd like to thank each of the faculty reps from our six schools and all who attended this year for somehow managing to keep this all secret. Unless I missed it, the Daily Prophet still has no idea we exist.
"Next, I want to congratulate St. Alban's Seniors on a fine season and the unfortunate way they defeated Hogwarts to win the Senior W.I.S.E. League trophy."
There was a large round of applause along with a few chuckles as everyone knew which school "The High Command" supported.
"I would congratulate the Hogwarts Juniors on their stellar undefeated season and Junior League Championship, except as I was Seeker, I don't think that would be appropriate. St. George's did give us a good game in the finals, though.
"Now some announcements before the obligatory food fight begins," Harry said earning more laughs as all the places had already been cleared.
"First off, those of you in Watanabe Years 88 through 90 who will be shifting to school, please note that you may do so either next Friday or Saturday. If you wait to Sunday, you'll be too late.
"Our Minders and Year '91 will be departing in Charters from Heathrow on Friday, arriving Saturday morning Japan time. Please make sure you get there in plenty of time. We had no problems last year, and it would not do to have any this year.
"Finally, I'd like to thank all of those parents and friends who have agreed to come with us to Japan to act as Magical and Non-magical Minders. I would like you all to give a special round of applause to my Foster Mum Rose Granger and our good friend Minerva McGonagall who will be travelling with us for their fourth summer…" there was a loud round of applause … "as well as all those first timers who have so graciously volunteered their time to try and keep the Weasleys from turning the school all pink and fuzzy again." There was another round of laughter. It was especially loud and long from everyone who had been there for the Weasley Boys end of summer prank. "Thank you."
Harry stepped down and walked to a table and sat down. "Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom?"
Frank and Alice looked at Harry.
"What do you think?"
"This is not what I expected," Frank said.
"It's amazing!"
"Just wait 'til you get to Japan," Neville said. "That's what's really amazing."
"See you back at the house," Harry said several minutes later. I got some mingling to do.
Harry walked over to another table. Seated there were Percy, Fred and George Weasley and Sirius and Remus. "Well?" Harry asked.
"While it pains us to do this," Percy said, "we have turned over the Map to the Makers."
"With the promise that they make two copies," Fred added.
"Why two?" Harry asked.
"We cover more ground with two maps," George replied.
"Just make sure McGonagall does not find out that little tidbit," Sirius said. "Although I'm not sure if she can, I wouldn't put it past her to try and give 'ol Mooney and me detention for the increased mayhem."
"She won't hear it from us," Fred said.
"Guess you really aren't going for Hogwarts Prefect," Harry said to Percy.
"Wasn't," he replied, "but she told me I'm probably going to be one anyway. After all, she did know that she made a Marauder one."
"She hoped I might curb the others," Remus said. "I failed miserably."
"Miserably on purpose," Sirius quipped.
"There was that."
"So, she wants you to keep the twins in check?" Harry asked.
"Actually, not really," Percy said. "She's trying to 'pack' the Prefect ranks with Club Members to help keep it quiet."
"At least until you ruin it for everyone, Harry," Fred added.
"I wouldn't do that!" Harry said in mock horror.
"I got my money on November," George said. "Hate to lose it."
"No promises."
"Harry?" a voice called and he saw Hermione running over. "Harry? You promised!"
"What?"
"They're starting the music and you promised!"
Harry blushed furiously.
"And just what did Harrykins promise our brilliant co-leader?" George asked.
"He promised he would dance with me." Hermione said as she dragged a very red Harry away.
"Whipped," Sirius chuckled.
"Speaking of which," Remus replied, "shouldn't you go and find your wife?"
Sirius shrugged. "Probably a good idea," he said as he rose from the table.
"Double whipped," Fred noted for the record.
"That reminds me," Percy said getting up as well.
"Triple whipped that one," George noted mainly for Remus's benefit.
