A/N: In honor of the battle of Hogwarts, which happened on this day in the year 1992, here's a reaction fic where' the character react to specific odes dedicated to the characters who died during the Wizarding War against Voldemort.
The Hogwarts student body was in chaos. Murmurs, complaints, and protests erupted as soon as the fourth piece of parchment containing the name of the fourth contestant for the Triwizard Tournament was ejected from the Goblet of Fire.
The fourth piece of parchment contained Harry Potter's name, to the surprise of many in the room.
Harry felt that had anyone else's name came out as the fourth contestant, the complaints and protests wouldn't be this prominent. He had half the mind to protest his inclusion and stand in his place rooted.
But he trusted Headmaster Dumbledore so he opted to follow the old headmaster's order and went to the room where the other champions were sent.
"What a prat." Ron bitterly stated.
"Ronald!"
"He told me that he wasn't going to enter!" Ron justified his words. "Then what do you know, Harry actually entered the tournament with all of us ignorant."
"Honestly Ronald, Harry couldn't have gotten past the age line!" Hermoine huffed. "Even your brothers couldn't get past that."
"He's Harry bloody Potter, of course, he can get past some bloody age line." Ron scoffed.
"You know, I think Hermoine has a point." Seamus offered.
"How so?" Dean questioned. "I mean considering Harry's luck, I won't be surprised."
"Tell me, how is Harry in charms? Only Hermoine can get a spell on the first try," Seamus shrugged. "There's no way Harry can pull something off in a span of a month, even if he did found a way to get past an age line."
"Harry didn't put his name, right Colin?" Dennis whispered to his brother.
"I'm sure Harry could probably pull it off." Colin nodded. "But I don't think he did it, I think he was just as shocked as we are."
Before the arguments and conversations could continue, lightning struck the Goblet of Fire, shocking everyone in the room.
Suddenly, lightning struck the Goblet of fire followed soon after by the roaring of thunder which prompted the screams of terror from the people present. The teachers present were hard at work in assuring and calming the students down. Some of the teachers even readied their wands and cast shield charms over the tables to protect the children.
Dumbledore raised his right hand and silenced the room.
"I assure everyone that the lightning strike we just witnessed won't harm anyone present."
The student body relatively quieted down with the Headmaster's assurance. The teachers and staff were still quite tense, as lightning had never struck the Great Hall from the enchanted ceiling before.
The other Headmasters on the other hand were on guard, their faces showed displeasure at the recent turn of events.
Dumbledore was about to speak when the fire from the goblet turned white and ejected another long piece of parchment.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, if I timed this right, I was able to send this letter back in time through the Goblet of Fire." Hogwarts's Headmaster read. "If your intentions really are for the greater good, I implore you to gather everyone present and send them to the seventh floor and go inside the come and go room."
"Headmaster Dumbly-dor what is the meaning of this?!" Headmistress Maxime seethed. "Has Hogwarts's gotten so low as to cheat not once but twice?"
"I must agree Dumbledore." Headmaster Karkaroff growled. "Are you so desperate to win this tournament that you would blatantly cheat right from the start?"
"Had I read their characters correctly, Headmistress Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff are yelling about how Hogwarts's cheated the Triwizard tournament, with Potter's name getting ejected out of the Goblet of Fire moments earlier." Dumbledore ignored his fellow school heads and continued reading the parchment he was holding.
The continuation of the spiel stopped Durmstrang's and Beaubaxton's school heads from their rants. They did not expect for their names to be called out from the Parchment at all.
Karkaroff huffed and grabbed the parchment out of Dumbledore's hands and saw for himself the words that were written. He was in utter disbelief.
Maxime gently grabbed the letter out from Karkaroff's hands and she too mirrored Durmstrang's Headmaster's reaction. She was flabbergasted as she read through the letter.
Headmistress Maxime couldn't hold unto the piece of parchment and immediately gave it to someone near her, Professor Mcgonagall.
"In a few minutes, a piece or two of parchment will be ejected from the Goblet of Fire before it extinguishes itself. Please gather everyone present and the people I've listed below to the Seventh floor of Hogwarts's castle.
Ask the House Elves regarding the Come and Go room." Professor Mcgonagall read the last paragraph.
"Who's it from?" Professor Sprout questioned.
"No one." The Deputy Headmistress answered. "The signature is simply a drawing of a lightning bolt."
"Weasleys!" Professor Snape growled. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"We didn't have anything to do with that!" Fred and George denied the accusation in unison.
"Likely story." Professor Snape scoffed. "100 points from Gryffindor!"
"Oh c'mon!" All the Gryffindor students groaned at the declaration.
"I believe a retraction is in order Professor Snape." Dumbledore shook his head. "I don't think this is a prank, we've all witnessed how they failed to get past my age line."
"Headmaster, surely Potter has found a way to circumvent that and put the Weasleys up for this to distract everyone else from his blatant disrespect of the rules."
Hogwarts's headmaster shook his head. "I award 100 points back to Gryffindor." He declared. "Professors Sprout and Flitwick, please guide everyone to the seventh floor, Professor Mcgonagall please collect the people listed on the parchment by House-elf."
"Are you sure Albus?" Professor Mcgonagall questioned.
The Headmaster merely nodded in response.
Everyone stared at the door in awe as it appeared before their very eyes. They were amazed that the castle itself has shown a level of sentience to provide everyone a room that fit their needs.
The come and go room, as the letter has dubbed it, showed everyone a replica of the Great Hall with banners from the ceiling that reflect all four houses and the two guest schools.
"I've never read of this room in Hogwarts; a history." Hermione remarked.
The room has even provided a small partition of the room to be used as a loo for everyone to use.
As if on cue, once everyone was seated, the fire from the goblet turned white and ejected a scroll before it died out, darkening the surroundings.
A moment later, lit candles appeared up on the ceiling, lighting the room.
Dumbledore retrieved the scroll and opened it.
"Voldemort will return." Dumbledore read.
The room descended to chaos as soon as the headmaster uttered the words from the scroll. Some panicked, some were even shouting.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Karkaroff growled. "Is this your idea of a joke Dumbledore?!"
"You-know-who is dead! Potter killed him!" Shouted one Ravenclaw student.
"Silence!" Professor Mcgonagall called out.
Everyone fell silent at the shout.
"At the end of the Triwizard Tournament, the Dark Lord will return. The Dark Mark that appeared during the Quidditch World Cup was a precursor for his return.
With Voldemort's return comes the Second Wizarding War in Britain and with war come casualties, young and old, man or woman, pureblood, half-blood, muggle-born or muggle.
Below is an ode to some of the people we have lost since Voldemort's return, or in your case, will die. I have sent these letters back in time using the remaining time turners the Department of Mysteries had and putting them inside the Goblet of Fire.
I hope you never experience the losses we incurred."
Murmurs erupted from the crowd, no one knew what to expect. The night has been one surprise after another, first with Potter's inclusion in the tournament through deceitful means, next was the fifth parchment flying out of the goblet and now the scroll the was ejected out of the goblet.
Some of the adults and students even looked at Harry as the boy himself tried to duck from the stares he was receiving.
"Before I begin, yes the new arrivals were specially listed on the letter earlier, make yourselves at home, this was once your school after all." Dumbledore declared. "Everyone is free to sit wherever they like, even alongside our new guests."
With that announcement, everyone sat wherever they liked. Hermoine and Harry went with Ron who sat with the Weasleys. Percy was with Bagman and Crouch, refusing to sit with his family, thinking that this was part of his duty.
Remus and a dog sat next to Harry.
Cedric went ahead and sat with his parents while Susan sat with her aunt.
As soon as everyone was settled, Dumbledore opened the scroll once more. He almost reacted as soon as he saw the first two names mentioned in the ode. He looked at the students specified with regret, two innocent lives would be lost in the coming war.
Ode to the Departed.
Colin Creevey was a young wizard,
Who trained at Hogwarts.
He was an excited fellow,
Exuberance you cannot mellow.
Magic brought him joy,
Even more than a toy.
When his home away from home was attacked,
He left the comforts of his family and came back.
He took the risks that returning entailed,
It didn't matter if he failed.
As long as his training was repaid.
Even if he became pale.
His debt to his hero was paid.
Everyone gasped and looked at Colin as soon as they heard his name. Someone so young would die during the war. No one could fathom the unfairness of the world.
Colin himself paled as soon as he heard his name. He couldn't understand why his name was on the scroll. He didn't know what to do with the situation presented before him. He only came back to reality when he noticed his younger brother's grip on him, so tight as if not wanting to let go.
The elder Creevey offered Dennis a reassuring smile.
"I won't go anywhere Dennis, I promise."
"B-but."
"It hasn't happened yet," Colin offered. "We can still change things right?"
Colin's words to his brother were things he'd like to believe himself as earlier in the school year, the Divination's Professor had also predicted his death. He had simply shoved that particular prediction when Professor Sprout assured them of Professor Trelawney's propensity for predicting student deaths which were always wrong.
Which wasn't so wrong after all.
Harry gulped, guilt gnawed his very being as he listened to Dumbledore's words. He knew Colin, and his brother idolized him for being the 'boy-who-lived'. He had dismissed the Creeveys for being no more than fanboys.
He didn't realize that their affection was more than about their fascination with his supposed tales but rather in fascination about everything about him.
He could distinctly remember that Colin was only one of the few who believed that he wasn't the heir of Slytherin. He also remembered that Colin almost died when he tried to visit him in the hospital wing after the Basilisk was roaming the school.
Molly's grip on her youngest children seemed to tighten as soon as she figured out who Colin Creevey was. She remembered from her daughter's letters that he was in her year, which could mean that Ginny's name could be among the names dedicated by the ode.
One of her cubs, Professor Mcgonagall resisted the urge to gather the Creeveys in her protective embrace. She bemoaned the unfairness of it all, why one of her cubs, why one so young.
Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff,
The glory he sought was rough.
It wasn't for self-satisfaction,
Rather, it was for his faction.
To dispel the nasty names that took root,
As loyalty was his boot.
The glory he sought was in his hands,
But a traitorous rat had other plans.
To Dumbledore's army that didn't matter
He was an inspiration for others,
His path may have strayed to the Dark Lord's
But as a Hufflepuff, he never left Harry alone.
"Not my boy!" Amos yelled gripping Cedric's arm as soon as his son's name was called.
Amos's yell interrupted Dumbledore from reading the ode.
The Headmaster completely understood why Amos shouted. It wasn't as if something replaceable was lost, his son would die young in the future and from how the ode was worded, it would seem that the young Diggory's life would end as soon as the Triwizard Tournament would be concluded.
Everyone gasped as soon as Dumbledore finished the ode dedicated to Cedric. There were many implications but nothing was as horrifying as the implication that the young Diggory's death would come at the end of the current school year.
Cedric's mother certainly mirrored her husband's reaction earlier and embraced her son as tight as she could once Dumbledore finished reading. She couldn't bear the thought of outliving her son, let alone him dying at the end of the school year.
Cedric himself paled at the implications. He knew it was too late to back out of the tournament. He isn't about to stop competing in the tournament even if he knew that he was going to win, or even die as soon as he won, that'd only prove the stereotype against his house true.
Instead, he would work twice, no, four-time as hard as before in training for the tournament. He needed to hone his senses. The ode implied that the way he was killed wasn't in any official dueling capacity, which means it was either an unexpected attack or he was just naïve enough to start talking before defending.
Before that, Cedric looked at his grief-stricken parents and he knew just what to do.
"Mum, Dad," Cedric whispered. "I know it's scary but it's not set in stone right?" He whispered.
"Y-you're my boy." Amos stuttered. "I don't think I'd know what to do if… if we…"
"You're father's right Ceddie." Cedric's mother nodded. "No parent should bury their children." She dabbed her eyes.
"I promise to be careful." Cedric offered.
"No my boy, promise to live." Amos whimpered. "Please."
Cedric flinched at the correction his father made. He knew he can't make a promise like that considering what the ode stated, there was a high probability of his demise whether anyone would interfere or not. It happened once in another time, it could still happen again despite the interventions.
He wasn't naïve to think otherwise.
"Please Cedric." Cedric's mother begged.
"I…" Cedric trailed off. "I don't think I can promise that mum." He hugged his mother.
Harry's guilt increased as soon as he heard his name uttered. It would seem that he would be present when Cedric died. Scenarios flashed through his mind thinking of how Cedric could have possibly died with him present, none were pleasant than the other.
The Weasleys looked at the Diggorys in sympathy. The Diggorys were their neighbors and they couldn't imagine what sort of pain they were going through especially with the implications.
Arthur and Molly certainly understood what the Diggory parents were feeling. The fear of outliving your own child.
The dog with Remus growled as soon once the words 'traitorous rat' was uttered while Remus narrowed his eyes.
Remus knew who was being referred to as the rat, and knowing that the traitor he knew would also be responsible in snuffing out a life so young, He wished that he and Sirius hadn't just followed Harry's nobility and committed murder then and there.
If only so Cedric's death could have been prevented.
The Hufflepuffs were in disbelief of what they were just told. Cedric dies?
Hufflepuff's golden boy dies?
There must be some kind of mistake.
Cedric was the best among the Hufflepuff students, even amongst the Seventh years, a dueling prodigy and great at transfigurations.
How could he die?
Some of Cedric's friends approached the boy and sat near him as if forming a protective circle around him. Most of the Hufflepuff students had this urge to be near their Golden Boy and protect him.
"Come now you blokes." Cedric offered a strained smile. "It's not set in stone right?"
"Right you are." Tonks agreed. "Wotcher Ced." She smiled at the boy before sitting beside the boy.
Tonks wore a grim expression as Cedric's name was called. She had known the boy since he was first sorted into Hufflepuff house, and even moreso when he joined the Circle of Khanna. She hoped that she was wrong but she feared that Cedric would follow in Rowan Khanna's footsteps, considering how the Diggory boy's death was used as an inspiration to form a group akin to how the circle was formed, using Khanna's death as motivation.
"Hello, Tonks." Cedric greeted.
"If you want, I could arrange some training for you to prevent this from ever happening." Tonks offered. "Can't have Golden Boy himself ducking out of life so early right?" She offered a hollow chuckle.
"Sure." Cedric nodded.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Tonks and Moody yelled at the same time.
Everyone was startled when Tonks and Moody shouted, caught off guard with the action done.
"Seriously Moody?" Andromeda hissed. "You have made my daughter as paranoid as you?"
"You should be thankful for that Black." Moody countered. "Constant Vigilance is probably the only thing that's keeping me alive."
"I go by Tonks now, thank you very much." Andromeda huffed. "They disowned me remember?"
"Ignoring the old people." Tonks chuckled. "That's lesson number one, exercise constant vigilance, it will save you in the long run."
Professor Sprout adorned a sad smile as she observed how her badgers were reacting. They were surrounding their own as if protecting him from anyone who would dare harm, Cedric. There was also how Tonks reacted, she may have been a bit of a rebel and an epitome of misbehavior, she couldn't deny that she grew up someone to be proud of, a true Hufflepuff to the core.
Prankster, Jokester, Charming are some things to describe,
This particular bloke, those who knew him subscribe.
Fred Weasley was one of a kind,
Even if he did things with his twin by his side.
His last action however wasn't with his twin,
But with his estranged brother, they took a win,
The price of victory however
Would take root forever
A set of twins was subtracted by one
But his smiles were always fond.
Even the last one that graced his face.
As Dumbledore resumed reading, people were already dreading whose name was next on the list. Some looked at the Weasley twins as soon as the qualities were enumerated. Both of them had been known by those qualities.
War was really an ugly thing, it doesn't discriminate who to take.
It just takes.
As soon as Fred's name was mentioned the entire Weasley family paled.
Fred couldn't die, he was the life of the family alongside his twin.
"No." Molly whispered. "Not my Freddie."
Arthur snuck a glance at the Diggorys. He had to admit that he only had an inkling on what they were feeling earlier, with their son slated to die at the end of the term.
But with Fred's name on the list, He can hazard a guess to what the Diggorys were feeling. It was an ugly feeling, knowing that he was going to outlive and bury one of his sons.
George gulped as Dumbledore continued. The one time that the both of them were separated his twin would die. He couldn't let this happen, he can't lose his other half.
"Like Pretty Boy Diggory said, it's not set in stone, right?" Fred tried to convince his family. "It's not like I'm dying at the next second right?" He offered a strained laugh.
"No." Percy declared. "I will do everything in my power to stop that from ever happening."
"Even sacrificing your own post at the ministry?" George challenged despite what he was feeling at the moment.
"Even if I have to sacrifice myself." Percy declared. "It's clear that I was with Fred during his last moments, I would sooner take the spell intended for him rather than let it pass by me."
"N-no." The Weasley twins were speechless at their older brother's declaration.
The challenge was meant to be a joke, some way to reduce the tension in the room. There were already three Hogwarts students slated to die within the next year starting with Cedric if the implications were to be believed.
"No!" Molly yelled. "No one is dying!" She declared as she gripped the twins' wrists tightly. "I won't have anyone dying under my watch."
"Your mother's right boys." Arthur stood next to Molly. "No parent should have to bury their child."
"We will make sure that won't happen." Bill promised.
"Too true." Charlie nodded.
"Why don't you sit with your family Percy?" Dumbledore offered. "You were summoned here not as a Ministry worker but as a member of the family."
"Go on Weatherby." Crouch nodded. "Dumbledore's right."
"If you would excuse me Headmaster, Mr. Bagman, Mr. Crouch."
Percy made his way to his family where he situated himself behind the twins as if making sure that his younger brothers weren't disappearing on his watch.
Ginny on the other hand, clenched her fists, unable to say anything. She was as shocked as her family when Fred's name was mentioned.
As much grief Ginny's twin brothers gave her, she loved them dearly, she loved all of her brothers dearly. She couldn't bear the thought of losing any of them.
Ron bore some resentment towards his twin brothers, as much as they harp against bullying, his brothers were bullying gits. If they weren't busy playing pranks on Percy, they were playing pranks on him.
Despite that, Ron didn't want any of them dead. He couldn't even imagine the burrow without any of the twins inside.
"No." Ron whispered his denial.
"Aww, ickle Ronniekins is worried for me." Fred ruffled his younger brother's hair.
"Don't worry Ronniekins, you won't get rid of us that easily." George patted Ron's shoulders.
The guilt Harry was feeling increased tenfold when Fred's name was mentioned. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't thick as everyone thought, he knew that this war has everyone dying for him from Colin to Cedric and now Fred. He didn't want this.
If only having everyone gift wrap him and be delivered to Voldemort on a silver platter would end the war. It'd be pretty naïve of him to think that way, he knew of Voldemort's agenda, of the Dark Lord's philosophies.
"It's not your fault." Remus whispered unto Harry's ear.
"I know that," Harry whimpered. "It's hard not to think it's not my fault when everyone's dying for me."
"It may seem that way Harry, but what Voldemort has done – will do – is exclusively his fault." Remus offered. "Your parents dying was not your fault, anyone dying in the war is not your fault."
"Are only students dying in this war?" Professor Mcgonagall voiced out.
Two of Mcgonagall's cubs were dying in the war, one as young as Colin Creevey and another as jovial as Fred Weasley.
Why was the world so unfair? They're just children.
"No." Dumbledore shook his head.
Spite and Bitterness were the things
that pushed him to join the Dark Lord,
One declaration later, he had to cut the cord.
Severus Snape was Dumbledore's spy,
In a wizarding world that's full of lies.
To protect he had to sneer,
While doing his side job without fear,
It did help that the one he protected,
Was the son of a man he hated.
Even if he was also the son of the woman he loved.
In the end it didn't matter,
For the boy would soon after,
Win the war with his sacrifice,
And survive the curse twice.
Professor Dumbledore now feared for his spy's life. The explicit mention of Professor Snape's actual role in the war against Voldemort would put the potions master's life in jeopardy. It wouldn't have mattered had there been no children of known death eaters who managed to escape prosecution, but alas there were many in Slytherin house.
Dumbledore shook his head at his thoughts, for the greater good, Professor Snape must remain working under the Dark Lord.
People stared at the potions master, they didn't expect his name to be next on the list, let alone be on the list in the first place.
Most of the first order members worked out the fact that Professor Snape was the spy, it helped that they already knew of that information. They still do wonder the circumstances of his death, was he discovered or was a member of the order forced to kill him to preserve his cover.
Or worse, someone who thought that he was totally on Voldemort's side managed to kill him.
The Slytherins were also in turmoil. It does make some sense for their head of house to be working for the Headmaster, but what could he be spying from on Dumbledore's orders?
Some had thought that he was spying on the Death Eaters under Dumbledore's behest, it's the only thing that would make sense adding in the statement of the Dark Lord's return earlier.
They didn't have any proof to prove this claim and this made every Slytherin uncomfortable.
Draco himself frowned at the notion. Professor Snape was his godfather and he was doubting the man's loyalties to the Malfoys.
Was everything about Draco's godfather a lie then?
Draco has decided that his father will hear about this.
Remus frowned at the ode dedicated to his old classmate. He knew that Professor Snape was antagonistic towards his best friend's son. He knew it came from the Slytherin head's old resentment of James Potter that he took revenge on an innocent child, he didn't think it was to such an extent that it could potentially blow the potion master's cover.
Working with the Slytherin head, Remus knew of the resentment the Snape carried from their school days. He was justifiably angry from all the bullying he received from the Marauders.
The dog that was accompanying Remus simply growled the whole time Professor Snape's ode was read.
Harry frowned as he listened to the dedication. It wasn't hard to conclude that he was the boy who would survive the curse twice. The boy that Professor Snape has been protecting all this time.
But why be antagonistic towards him?
Harry can't figure out why Snape was acting like his Aunt Petunia whenever he was around his potion's teacher.
Couldn't the potions master have acted indifferently towards him rather than hate him?
If it was about what his father has done, isn't that a bit unfair? Why blame him for what his father has done?
Professor Severus Snape was the perfect picture stoicism. He didn't even bat an eye as soon as his name was uttered by the Headmaster. He had already mastered the art of Occlumency and because of that, he was perfectly able to mask his emotions.
As soon as Dumbledore got to the end for the ode dedicated to him, the potions master stared at Potter for a longer period of time. He didn't think the boy had it in him to sacrifice his life for strangers he hadn't even met. He was James Potter's son, he's bound to be self-aggrandizing and narcissistic. His recent actions were a testament to that.
There was no doubt that Potter would lord over the fact that he can survive the killing curse twice in a row over everyone else he found inferior to him.
Remus Lupin was afraid of many things.
The full moon, family, and friends.
He feared that all his relationships would end.
If people knew of his affliction,
He knew they would leave without condition.
Some of his fears were unfounded,
As he found himself supported,
By friends dearly beloved,
And a wife that loved him dearly.
He left behind a son,
A son who would understand
That they fought to protect his future
And time would be his suture.
Lupin's fears stem
From Things out of his control
He soon found that they were unfounded
And found himself beloved.
Harry had gone still as soon as the Headmaster resumed reading the ode. One of the few people who genuinely liked him would die because of him.
What could have happened for his father's best friend to die?
"Pr-professor Lupin?"
"It's not your fault Harry." Remus was quick to assure the boy. "I fought in the first war against Voldemort and that alone has painted a target on my back."
"B-but."
"But nothing." Sirius returned to his human form and engulfed his godson in a hug. "Remember what Remus said earlier, what Voldemort does is exclusively his fault."
"Sirius Black!" Most of the adults shouted, interrupting Dumbledore's reading of the ode midway through.
"Get away from Potter Black!" Professor Mcgonagall pointed her wand at the escaped convict.
"I have to agree with Minerva, Black." Amelia Bones cautiously approached the group. "If you know what's best for you you're going to leave the boy and surrender yourself."
"He is innocent!" Hermoine stood in front of her best friend's godfather. "Peter Pettigrew was the one who sold Harry's parents out."
"Hermoine!"
"Granger!"
"Looks like it was Black himself who put a confundus charm on the Goblet of Fire and apparently he also succeeded in putting the girl under the confundus charm as well." Moody snarled. "Likely to finish what the Dark Lord has started.
Moody fired off a red orb from his wand at Sirius, which Remus was quick to block.
"Professor Moody!" Mcgonagall exclaimed. "We do not attack unprovoked."
"Looks like Lupin is helping a fugitive," Moody growled, ignoring Mcgonagall's reaction.
"Do not get the wrong idea, Moody." Remus narrowed his eyes as he stood in front of the Granger. "You initiated an unprovoked attack when a student was in front of Sirius."
"Hermoine's right." Ron stood up. "Sirius Black is innocent."
"Ronald!" Molly gasped. "You sit down right now!" She demanded.
"It was Scabbers mum." Ron answered. "He turned out to be Peter Pettigrew." He admitted.
"The reason Sirius escaped Azkaban was to kill Pettigrew because he recognized him on one of the photographs you have had in Egypt Mrs. Weasley." Hermoine informed.
"That can't be." Crouch gasped. "Sirius Black killed Pettigrew alongside 12 muggles. The pieces of evidence were overwhelming."
"Are you gambling with Diggory's life right now?" Hermoine exclaimed. "Honestly, remember what the ode to Diggory said, a traitorous rat had other plans." She gestured towards Cedric. "Are you telling me that you'll take chances with Diggory's life just to deny the probability of Pettigrew's survival?"
"Hermoine calm down." Harry pulled on his best friend's robes.
"No I won't Harry." Hermoine shook his head. "I've seen your face when Diggory's ode was read Harry, I can't just sit by and let you wallow in grief and guilt."
"You know she's right mate." Ron nodded. "I was also able to hear what you and Professor Lupin were talking about earlier."
"I appreciate what you're doing Hermoine, Ron but this is my fight." Sirius placed a hand on their shoulder. "I can't have school children defending me." He smiled at the fourth year Gryffindor. "Why don't you two sit down now?"
Both Hermoine and Ron nodded and followed the request.
"We will have words later Ronald." Molly hissed.
"Headmaster Karkaroff?" Dumbledore prompted.
"There were a lot of Blacks with the Dark Lord." Durmstrang's headmaster stated. "I believe one of the youngest was named Regulus Black."
"My younger brother." Sirius growled.
"I believe I haven't heard of a Sirius Black." Igor Karkaroff shook his head. "Regulus Black was killed sometime before the Dark Lord fell."
"What about a Peter Pettigrew?" Remus questioned.
"His name rings familiar, I heard a few Death Eaters were displeased with someone named Peter." Karkaroff admitted.
"When you submitted those names, why haven't you stated a Pettigrew?" Crouch challenged.
"Because I was not sure, the Dark Lord had many allies unknown to me." Karkaroff answered.
"Tell me, Mr. Crouch, is it true that Black here hasn't received any trial?" Amelia put everyone's attention on Crouch.
"The evidence against him was overwhelming." Crouch defended himself. "What was left of Pettigrew was a finger and his bloodied clothes alongside the bodies of all twelve muggles."
"Merlin's Beard that is rubbish!" Amelia growled. "You sent a man to rot in Azkaban without any trial. Even your son received a fair trial after they were caught in the act of using the Cruciatus curse on Alice and Frank Longbottom! Even Headmaster Karkaroff was given a fair trial and you even agreed to his release after he provided a list of potential Death Eaters."
Neville flinched at the mention of his parents.
"The evidence was there! Black wasn't responding to any questioning and he continued to laugh like a madman."
"Excuses!" Amelia growled. "Auror Moody we will have words later for your unprovoked attack which could've harmed the students. Everyone else, stand down."
"But."
"I said stand down!" Amelia repeated.
The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement looked at the escaped convict and looked him in the eye.
"And you Sirius Black, you will surrender yourself for questioning and trial."
"As long as I don't return to Azkaban."
After everyone was settled down, Dumbledore resumed reading the ode dedicated to Lupin.
The tension in the room was very thick. Some students were still processing what happened.
Cedric didn't think that his name would come up in the confrontation earlier, it seems his supposed death is connected to Potter in some way, shape or form. He gulped as his tried to calm himself from all the anxious feeling was getting.
It just didn't sound right to be discussing his inevitable death without his input but he knew he was largely ignorant to everything that has happened last year with Black's escape. It didn't feel right to insert himself into the conversation, despite his fate being discussed.
In response to the confrontation that happened, the Hufflepuffs scooted closer to Cedric as if feeling that the circle they were forming around their golden boy wasn't enough protection for him. Some had even taken to looking around and on the ground, considering Granger's words of a rat being the one to do Cedric in.
Harry gulped as he listened to the rest of the ode to Remus. Not only would Remus die, but he would also orphan a son.
"Harry."
"I can't help it," Harry responded to Sirius's call. "Stupid Voldemort and his stupid war."
"Life's always like that." Remus offered. "We make the most of it."
A loyal companion to the very end,
Who's job was to deliver mail
Hedwig went beyond the call of duty
And protected her owner, truly
She was born to soar and deliver
And died as a protector.
"Who's Hedwig?" Came the question of one Ravenclaw student.
Harry merely clenched his fist at the unfairness of it all.
Why Hedwig?
Everyone close to him was being taken away one by one.
How was that fair?
Hermoine's and Ron's response to the ode was to give physical contact to their best friend. With Hermoine holding on to Harry's clenched fist while Ron hung his arms over Harry's shoulders.
Remus and Sirius scooted closer to Harry, letting him know that his father's best friends will be there for him.
Wisdom in spades
Intentions in shades.
Greater good was his mantra
It was one of his centra.
Albus Dumbledore was a Headmaster
Also the Elder Wand's master
He acted as a mentor and confidant,
This gained him a lot of covenants.
He founded the Order of the Phoenix,
To combat the ever-changing helix.
The Dark Lord has introduced,
Philosophies he induced,
That lead to a war that reduced.
In the end, Dumbledore's intentions were pure,
That, all of us are sure
Questionable, his actions maybe,
It couldn't be denied that he wanted this war to cease
and for everyone to live in peace.
Everyone was silent as Dumbledore himself read the ode dedicated to him. No one could fathom that the most powerful wizard in their time would die.
Some adults despaired that the war against Voldemort would be twice as hard without Dumbledore leading the charge against the Dark Lord.
No one can deny the disadvantage they'll be at once Hogwarts's Headmaster is out of the picture.
Harry on the other hand had gone paler than he already was. As far as he knew, Dumbledore was the greatest wizard of all time and none other than he can repel Voldemort. If he's out of the picture, who's going to make Hogwarts safe? Who's going to protect everyone from the Death Eaters and Voldemort?
Dumbledore took a few moments to process what he just read.
Hogwarts's headmaster surveyed everyone's reaction to his future demise. He understood everyone's reservation with regards to the war Voldemort would wage the second time without him there to lead the charge. He could see everyone flinching and wincing at the idea of his demise.
It had been said that Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain as Dumbledore stayed in the school, which Voldemort wouldn't dare.
"Contrary to popular belief, I am neither immortal nor infallible," Dumbledore declared. "As such, like everyone else, I also bow to death." He shook his dead. "But to a well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
"Sir…"
"I am only a man Harry. I am no god." Dumbledore shook his head. "Like everyone else, I too would join everyone else who's died."
"But sir, what about Voldemort?" Harry questioned.
Almost everyone flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, in fact, they've done so ever since the Headmaster started reading the ode dedicated to the fallen.
"I believe everyone here is capable of defeating Voldemort, Harry," Dumbledore assured. "I believe the Ministry and everyone present will bring about the peace that we all desire."
There was a few moments of silence as everyone processed everything that has happened so far from Harry's name getting ejected from the Goblet of Fire to the reading of the ode. It truly was an eventful Halloween night, even more eventful than the last three years.
Cheery, clumsy, snarky and a bit zany
That's what Nymphadora Tonks was to many
Sweet, Loving and Caring,
She was to Remus Lupin after marrying.
She hated her given name with a passion,
She'd hex even in the middle of action,
If you're caught referring to her name
You'd best apologize before you go in flames.
She left behind a son,
Who, no doubt, she'd love,
She fought for his future,
So he may prosper,
Without a Dark Lord looming over.
Tonks fought for love and peace,
Something the Dark Lord doesn't have a piece,
It didn't matter that she and Lupin left him,
Because she knew others will love him for them.
"Not my daughter." Both parental Tonks gasped as they listened to the ode dedicated to her daughter.
They seemingly tuned out everything after their daughter's name was mentioned as the both of them comforted each other.
Nymphadora Tonks on the other hand looked at her supposed husband and she couldn't deny the probable reasons why her future self was partially attracted to him, to the point of getting married.
As the both of them had yet to interact with each other, Tonks will have to see where everything would go. She maybe clumsy but she didn't get Os in her OWLs and NEWTs for being a fool and naïve.
For now, Remus and Tonks gave acknowledging nods at each other.
Sirius kept on elbowing his best friend.
"Will you stop that Padfoot?!" Remus hissed at his best friend. "Could you read the room for once in your life?!"
"Where's the fun in that Moony?" Sirius grinned. "I'm just happy that you were able to find love despite years of denying that."
"I don't know what my future self was thinking Sirius, but I assure you I will think things thoroughly so that there won't be any implications, I am not risking anyone else from my affliction."
"You do that." Sirius gave a toothy smile.
"Starting with knowing whether my children would inherit my sickness."
Harry, for his part, was busy wallowing in guilt. He caused a kid to be orphaned, not just any kid but his father's best friend's son would be orphaned because of him.
"Harry." Hermoine gripped on her best friend's hand tighter. "Remember what Professor Lupin said."
"She's right mate." Ron nodded as he squeezed his best friend's shoulder. "What Voldemort and his followers do, is entirely their fault and not yours. You've gotta remember that."
"Easy for you to say!" Harry growled. "You're not the living with everyone's blood on your hands."
"Harry!" Hermoine exclaimed.
"Tell me, Harry." Remus immediately took charge. "Did you kill any of the people mentioned in the ode?"
"No." Harry sagged.
"Have you wished for them to die?"
"No." Harry shook his head." Only wished that they'd stop hounding me and leave me alone most of the time." He admitted.
"Now who killed them?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know, Voldemort, Death Eaters?"
"Did you ask them to kill the people on the list?"
"No."
"Then why do you think every death listed in the scroll is your fault?" Remus questioned.
"Because everyone is dying for me to live," Harry screamed. "I never asked for this, I didn't want this."
"Oh, you sweet boy." Molly engulfed her son's best friend in a hug. "You are in no way to blame for all the deaths." She assured Harry. "Now remember what I'm going to say alright Harry? You are in no way at fault for anything that Voldemort and his death eaters do."
"What about Fred?" Harry looked at the Weasley matriarch.
"What about-"
"-Gred Harry?"
The Weasley twins finished each other's sentences.
"You died because of me." Harry looked at the floor, still in Mrs. Weasley's embrace. "Because Voldemort wanted me."
The twins looked at each other, as if trying to assure the young boy and to diffuse the tension in the room.
"If you-know-who and his band of baboons can do us in," George stated.
"Then I reckon that's on them and not you." Fred finished.
"I reckon you-know-who's a big fan of yours Harry, don't you think so Gred?" George grinned.
"Right you are Forge, I reckon he could give Ginny here a run for her galleons." Fred nodded.
"She hasn't even started chasing after Harry like a niffler chasing after anything shiny." George chuckled.
"Hey!" Ginny indignantly replied. "I wasn't that bad."
"Right you are sister dear!" Fred gave a hearty laugh.
"That's why you-know-who has you beat." George and Fred finished while grinning from ear to ear.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as his lips curled upwards at the Weasley twins' jokes. He could see that everyone was drowning in grief for the supposed fates of some of the people in the room due to Voldemort's return. He could even see some teachers smile at the jokes the twins made.
You could even see both Sirius and Remus, master pranksters during their time in Hogwarts, chuckling at the jokes the twins made.
Some of the students couldn't help but chuckle at the jokes the twins made, it made for a good breaking point from the gloomy atmosphere the room was taking.
A few students adorned sad smiles. They had realized how big of a loss it would be for the wizarding world to lose the Weasley twins.
Some of the older Hufflepuff students, who had known Tonks before she graduated also realized what a loss it would be for the wizarding world to lose her. She was one of the more cheery people in Hogwarts and losing her would mean that the wizarding world would be a dimmer place than it already was.
Sirius Black was always Sirius.
As a Marauder, he was always not serious.
Easy going, and a joker.
That's what he and the marauders were after.
Everything changed when his best friends were killed,
A treacherous rat forced him a cell to fill.
A simple explosion seemed to fit the bill.
Transfiguring himself to escape,
The dementor-filled hellscape.
Once escaped however
He took a vow forever,
Be there for his godson
Like how his best friend's parents treated him as a son.
He once had other plans,
To fillet the rat in a pan
If not for his godson's nobility
He'd have truly been a murderer in reality.
"Sirius." Harry whimpered.
"It's alright Harry, it's not your fault."
"How is any of this fair?!" Harry sobbed.
"Oh sod off Potter." One Draco Malfoy scoffed. "Not everything revolves around you."
"Easy for you to say Malfoy." Harry glared at the Slytherin. "It's not like you're the one who Voldemort chose to kill that Halloween night." He scoffed.
"I bet you can't even face a Death Eater head-on." Ron joked.
"And no Slytherin was in the ode." Hermoine pointed out. "Except for Professor Snape."
"Children, let's not engage in these childish displays." Professor Mcgonagall called everyone to order.
"My father will hear about this!" Draco sneered.
"You will find at times that life is unfair Harry." Remus knelt in front of his former student. "We just learn how to cope with the unfairness of it all."
"Did it hurt? Losing mum and dad?" Harry questioned his father's best friend.
"It definitely hurt," Sirius replied. "Especially considering how I was indirectly responsible for their deaths." The Black heir sighed. "If I hadn't suggested to make myself a decoy and have Pettigrew be the actual secret keeper for James and Lilly, you wouldn't have to live with your muggle relatives."
"Does it ever stop hurting?"
"No Harry." Remus shook his head. "The hurt we feel after losing your parents will always be with us."
"We just learn how to cope with it." Sirius supplied. "Remember what I told you that night?"
"The ones that love us never really leave us." Harry quoted as he clutched his chest.
"Always remember that Harry."
Ron and Hermoine looked at their best friend with worry, as far as they knew, Harry always takes the blame for everything, even the things out of his control.
That's not even considering how much of a hero-complex Harry's got.
"Just know mate that you are never at fault to the deaths listed there." Ron patted his best friend's shoulders. "Altho, if you ever kill Malfoy, I wouldn't blame you either."
"Ronald!" Came the immediate response from Mrs. Weasley and Hermoine.
"I have to say, killing the rat would probably prevent some of the deaths mentioned in the ode." Sirius stated out loud.
"I have to agree." Remus nodded. "But Harry is a much better person than we are."
"I just don't want my parents' best friends to become murderers." Harry tried to justify his actions. "If I had known that would lead to someone getting killed in the process…"
"We are not saying it's a bad thing." Sirius shook his head. "We are saying that you are a better man for it."
"But Diggory, he…."
"You're a good bloke Harry." Cedric exclaimed. "But I don't think it's fair to blame yourself for the things you-know-who, or his followers, has done or will do."
"The boy himself has spoken Harry." Remus consoled. "Let go of the guilt for something that has yet to happen." He rubbed the boy's back. "As Diggory once declared, nothing is set in stone, we can still change things."
Ted Tonks was Eden's apple,
To a family of pure-blooded people.
He was a good father and husband,
Even when his wife's family acted like a baboon band.
And agreed with the unfortunate name of his daughter.
As he was on the run,
Due to the propaganda,
Introduced by Voldemort.
He protected a child,
From the Dark Lord.
A muggle-born he may be,
A decent man is all you can see.
Loving as a family man
Hero to everyone.
"Dad?" The young Tonks looked at her father in alarm.
"With you-know-who returning, I'm surprised I wasn't killed off immediately." Ted Tonks shrugged. "He has painted a target on every muggle-born's back."
"Edward!" Came Andromeda's immediate response.
"It's inevitable 'Meda." Ted cupped his wife's face. "You know what he's like, his hatred for muggles and muggle-borns alike."
"Doesn't mean I would like for you to die on me!" Andromeda growled while putting her husband's hands away from her face.
"I don't like the thought of leaving you either," Ted admitted. "But the thought of your death hinges on me being near you scares me."
"Edward Tonks, are you implying that I can't defend myself?" Andromeda hissed.
"Even the most powerful wizards fall to death no matter how proficient they are 'Meda." Ted countered. "I don't want the cause of your death to be me."
"Am I just going to let you die in some dark place then?" Andromeda rebutted. "I know I am safe for I am a pureblood but that's what I'm here for you, to protect you from that madman."
"Mum! Dad!" Tonks yelled. "You can continue your argument later, children are watching."
Both parental Tonks looked at their daughter before looking at their audience. They had the decency to blush at their argumentative display.
"I love you Edward Tonks and I can't bear to live knowing that you'd be dying without me there to fight for your life."
"I love you 'Meda but our daughter's right we should continue this outside of children's ears and eyes."
"Eden's apple?" Came the question of some of the purebloods in the room.
"In the muggle world, different theories surround the creation of our world," Hermoine spoke up. "One of which is the creation mentioned in one of the muggle religions wherein a being of higher power created the world as a garden and the first man and woman to step on Earth were tempted to eat an apple from a forbidden tree."
"Was the woman's name Eden then?" Arthur asked curiously.
"No, it was the name of the garden." Hermoine shook her head.
"You're talking about the creation of the world in the book of Genesis aren't you?" Ted questioned.
"Yes." Hermoine nodded.
"Thought so." Ted smiled. "If I'm the apple, then who's Adam, Eve, and the snake?"
"I don't know," Hermoine shook her head. "It has been awhile since I read the Angelican bible myself. If I were to hazard a guess, Eve would be your wife and you yourself could double as Adam."
"Double? There's two of him?"
"No Ron, it's a figure of speech between muggles," Hermoine shook her head. "It just means that Mr. Tonks represents the apple and Adam from the story of creation at the same time."
"We're going to read that story of creation after this is over Ted." Andromeda declared. "I'm rather curious as to how we relate to the characters and symbols in that story."
"You've got a fiery mother-in-law Moony." Sirius chuckled as he elbowed his best friend. "Be careful with Andromeda, she's got one hell of a temper even rivalling that of my mother's."
"She's not about to yell at everything that displeases her like your mother. Would she?" Remus questioned.
"While she could rival dear old mummy's temper, she's mellow in her approach." Sirius hummed.
"You know, if you would marry her daughter, you and I would really be family mate." Sirius smiled."
"That remains to be seen Sirius." Remus shook his head. "I need to know if my affliction could be passed on to my children or even infect my spouse." He admitted. "Until then, I need to stay away from relationships."
"Who did he try to protect?" Came Harry's inquiry.
"I don't think you were involved in Mr. Tonks's death," Hermoine answered Harry's question. "The previous odes specifically, or at least implicitly, stated you when they died, including Professor Snape's and Sirius's." She continued. "Mr. Tonks was probably protecting a muggle-born student, also on the run, from Voldemort."
"You?" Ron questioned.
"I don't think it's me." Hermoine shook her head. "If it was me, then it would probably go the way Colin's ode went, referring to Harry implicitly."
"But what if your names are going to be next?"
"I'm always going to be a target of Voldemort's Harry." Hermoine offered. "Being a muggle-born."
"Besides remember what mum told you, you are not in any way responsible if Hermoine and I were to die." Ron reiterated his mother's words.
"Oi! What about us?!" The Weasley twins called out.
A boy strayed by family of prejudice,
Following the family's tradition of malice.
Regulus Black served dutifully as the Dark Lord's vassal,
Until something happened that he cancelled.
Discovered how atrocious the Dark Lord at the crux,
The making of the darkest artifact – a Horcrux.
He recovered the artifact,
replaced it as a matter of fact,
Rebelling against the Voldemort
He didn't even end up in a morgue.
Killed for his defiance,
But gave everyone a chance.
"Wait, what?" Sirius questioned loudly upon hearing his younger brother's name. "Why's a death eater in that list?" He growled.
"Sirius! That's your brother!" Andromeda hissed.
"Yeah, well a brother who willingly joined Voldemort."
"Let Professor Dumbledore finish the ode Sirius." Remus suggested. "I'm sure we'll know the reason why your brother, who we know was a death eater, is in this."
Dumbledore simply raised an eyebrow at the reaction but he was also curious why a known death eater was part of the ode. Severus was a death eater that spied on the Dark Lord, the ode had explicitly stated.
He had to wonder, what was the case for Regulus Black?
Sirius's eyes widened as he listened to the ode dedicated to his younger brother. He let the old headmaster finish it before he reacted accordingly.
"He defected?" Sirius exclaimed in disbelief. "He died because he defected and stole from the Dark Lord?"
"Apparently so." Remus nodded.
"Was my mother aware of this?"
Sirius looked at his cousin, Andromeda, as if asking if she knew about this particular fact. At the shake of her head, he confirmed that no one was aware of his younger brother's treachery on the Dark Lord's side.
"Kreacher would probably be aware Sirius." Andromeda offered. "You know how kind Regulus was to that nasty house-elf."
"I'd suggest asking the house-elf until after the reading." Remus immediately interjected. "It won't do good if muggle-borns and half-bloods were to be subjected to Kreacher's views.
Sirius had the decency to wince at the remark of his family's house-elf.
"Galloping Gargoyles! A Horcrux!" Crouch exclaimed. "He made a Horcrux!"
"What's a Horcrux?" Came Harry's query.
A few of the adults in the room flinched at the inquiry, none of them were comfortable explaining a dark artifact such as a Horcrux while the others, the students included, looked to them with curiosity not knowing how vile a Horcrux really was.
"A Horcrux is an object where a witch or wizard has hidden a fragment of their soul, tethering them to life, essentially making them immortal," Bill answered. "I guess the making of the Horcrux proves that you-know-who can still return."
"William Arthur Weasley!" Molly exclaimed.
"They need to know mum," Bill argued. "If people are ignorant of that simple fact, then people will not believe that you-know-who could ever return."
"The only way to kill someone who has a Horcrux is to destroy the Horcrux themselves before the main body." Madam Bones interjected. "If you-know-who has hidden his Horcrux, killing him permanently, would be difficult."
"I fear Voldemort has made multiple Horcruxes." Dumbledore admitted. "I am not sure as to how many has he made so far I'm only aware of two."
"M-multiple?!" Bagman exclaimed. "Merlin's beard! Has he gone mad?!"
"You-know-who can stomach killing children and toddlers, he can stomach making Horcruxes." Professor Snape sneered.
"I believe this discussion can wait," Molly interjected. "There are children here."
"Before we move on," Amelia spoke up. "Professor Dumbledore, you said you were aware of two, could you tell me of those and were they destroyed before this day?"
"One was destroyed," Dumbledore admitted. "As for the second one, it's rather complicated."
"How so?" Hermoine inquired.
"No." Charlie gasped.
"That only meant that you-know-who has made a Horcrux out of a living being." Bill's eyes widened.
"A slimy snake to the core," Sirius growled in disgust. "He knew that we wouldn't kill an innocent just to end his reign."
The students looked at each other, unsure how to process the info that was dumped on them.
"Every ministry official present shall discuss this with you Professor Dumbledore once this even is concluded." Amelia declared. "I would like to prevent the innocent casualties of this war and end it as soon as we can."
A house-elf who only wanted to protect
Harry Potter from a threat that was erected
Dobby offered protection in the most roundabout way,
Aiming to steal, injure and maim just to get his way.
While the life-threatening situations were unwarranted,
The intention of those actions was appreciated.
It got him freed from his master,
Making him a free house-elf, offering help faster.
As his own master, he aided his friend,
Which ultimately got him to his end
To escape captivity
From Voldemort's activity.
"D-dobby?" Harry whimpered.
"Bloody Hell!" Ron cussed.
"Oh, Harry."
Hermoine and Ron hugged their best friend.
The both of them knew how important Dobby was to Harry despite the house-elf's actions towards him during their second year.
The three of them knew that Dobby died to save them, or at the very least to save Harry from Voldemort's clutches.
"It's alright mate." Ron comforted his best friend. "We're here for you."
Harry simply nodded as he sagged himself under his best friend's embrace.
Draco was a bit stunned that his family's former house-elf was listed in the ode. He was confused as to why Dobby was freed from their services and his father didn't elaborate enough to decipher the actual reason for the house-elf's freedom.
"That explains things." Draco hissed. "Potter freed our family's house-elf."
"Does your father know about this?" Parkinson questioned.
"Most likely, he was in a foul mood when he delivered that news to us." Draco nodded.
"What can you expect from him? He's friends with a mudblood." Parkinson hissed.
Remus and Sirius looked at their best friend's son with worry. Most of the people listed in the ode were people close to him or were involved in some way, shape, or form. They think that any more of this would break him.
"Is it wise to continue Remus?" Sirius asked. "Just look at Harry."
"I don't know Sirius, seeing Harry like this breaks my heart," Remus admitted. "Most of the people listed in that ode Dumbledore's reading are people close to Harry, or he was involved during their demise.
"Professor, how many names are left to be read?" Remus asked out loud.
"Four more Remus." Dumbledore replied.
"Can this continue tomorrow?" Sirius asked. "I think everyone needs a bit of time to process everything that we've heard tonight."
"Don't be too soft on Potter, Lupin." Professor Snape scoffed. "Besides, four odes are left on the scroll, its imperative that we let everyone process everything in one go rather than divide it making another day dreadful for the people."
"Professor Snape has a point." Professor Sprout nodded. "It'd be beneficial for them, in the long run, to hear everything now rather than create more dreadful days for the students, that way they'll have time to process and heal." She stated. "Although I won't use such heartless language on a student."
"Heartless?" Professor Snape challenged.
"Calm down Professor Snape." Professor Sprout admonished. "Every teacher and staff know of your disdain for the boy." She rolled her eyes. "So yes heartless, if you had been properly observing Potter you'd have seen the clear distress he's showing."
"I-it's fine, let's continue." Harry managed to find his voice.
Fair, Just and Uncompromising
This Department head was promising
Law Enforcement was her game
Bribery and Trickery was her bane.
Amelia Bones was an amazing Department Head.
She's what Dark Witches and Wizards dread.
One of the many reasons why she was among the first,
To be killed in the Dark Lord's Immortality thirst.
Murdered, she may be,
Among the first casualties we see,
But she was among who the Dark Lord feared.
The threat she posed
would put a stop to all his dreams, he supposed.
Hence she was opposed and killed in her home.
"Auntie?" Susan looked at her aunt in distress.
Amelia immediately engulfed her niece in a hug and comforted her in a way
"I am such a threat huh." Amelia couldn't help but smirk at the circumstance of her death.
"You seem calm Amelia." Arthur asked.
"I'm the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Amelia shrugged. "It's not like I want to die, but rather it's an expected move by the opposition."
"Does that mean?" Susan managed to whimper out.
"Yes, Susan." Amelia nodded.
"But I don't want to lose you, I already lost mum and dad."
"I promise to be careful."
Amelia rubbed her niece's back in an attempt to comfort and console the young girl.
One thing was for certain, while she knew that her time in this world would be limited but if every adult present would work together to stop the Dark Lord from ever returning then not only will her life be saved but also the lives of the innocents who died so young and all the people listed in the ode.
"I must state the urgency of the meeting we will have right after this." Amelia declared.
Every adult in the area nodded their heads.
Excitement and Joy
You'd think he received a toy.
His first bout of adventure
Was meeting a deep water creature
That was even before he was sorted
To brave Gryffindors where his brother was first posted.
Dennis Creevey was a lot like his brother
Excited with magic all over
Not all is what it seems however
As magic also dimmed his life forever
He sneaked into the battle
Despite the teachers' prattle
He fought alongside his brother
Protected some others
When he saw his brother's corpse lay
Was when the floor gave way
Fallen to pits unknown
His body, nowhere known.
Everyone's eyes widened at the mention of the other Creevey. Not only will Colin die, so would his younger brother.
Colin immediately held unto his younger brother as tight as he could. He refused to let go of his hold on his Dennis only loosening it enough not to hurt the younger Creevey.
Not to mention Colin's younger brother got the short end of the stick, falling to somewhere unknown, his body never found.
That's not even mentioning how the younger Creevey died right after seeing his older brother's dead body.
Dennis on the other hand gulped. Both he and his brother were going to die, as students of the school. Was magic really so fascinating as he and his brother thought if their lives would end before they could even experience the world of magic to its fullest?
"Colin? Are we going to die?" Dennis asked his older brother. "Are we leaving mum and dad?"
Dennis knew that it was a bit unfair to ask his older brother that question. He just can't properly process that he and his brother were going to die to so young, so soon.
Colin looked at Dennis and contemplated how to respond to his younger brother's question.
The elder Creevey found it hard to process that his younger brother would share his fate.
Suddenly the Creevey brothers found themselves engulfed in an embrace, courtesy of one Molly Weasley.
Both Creevey brothers tensed up, they thought Diggory was the first one to die, but what if this is how it would go?
The Creevey brothers held unto each other tightly, refusing to let go of each other.
No amount of optimism could save them from this.
"You boys don't worry about all that." Molly comforted the boys. "Let the adults handle everything, all you should be worrying about are your exams, OWLs and NEWTs."
"Mum! They're only third and first years, don't you think so Fred?" George called out.
"Right you are George, a bit early for them to be thinking of the OWLS." Fred snickered.
"The both of you hush!" Percy admonished. "Can't you see our mother is trying to comfort the children?"
Harry, Hermoine, Ted, and some muggle-borns and muggle-raised children winced at Molly's maternal nature. They knew she meant well for the children but the rise of child abductions and murders meant that the kids thought that they were going to die right here and now.
Ted immediately stood up and approached Molly while Hermoine approached the Creevey brothers.
"Mrs. Weasley, please don't take this the wrong way, but could you remove yourself from the boys?" Ted requested.
"Can't you see that these boys are distressed?" Molly glared at Ted. "Most of the children listed in that ode have someone to comfort the child, apart from these boys."
"I know." Ted nodded. "There's just this muggle concept about strangers," He sighed. "I know you came from a place of maternal comfort but these boys also have muggle teachings ingrained into them, particularly regarding strangers."
"What does that mean?"
"Any adult, who children barely know and approached them with any sliver of kindness especially when that level of kindness is unwarranted, would no doubt abduct the children," Ted gestured towards the Creeveys. "Just look at the boys, some might think that the way they were tensing up as soon as you hugged them was a result of the ode that listed their names, yes its one of the things why they were tensing up, but considering the muggle teachings the two of them are probably thinking that this would be the moment where they die." He bluntly finished.
"I'm hardly a stranger to these children!" Molly indignantly replied. "Ginny is in Colin's year."
"Has Colin ever seen you as you picked Ginny every end of term?" Ted questioned.
"What about Harry?" Arthur questioned.
"Actually Mr. Weasley, I was the one who approached Mrs. Weasley." Harry admitted. "I asked her how to get to Platform nine and three quarters."
"It also depends on the child, these kids clearly show signs of distress, and someone they barely know tries to comfort them." Hermoine helpfully supplied.
"Merlin's beard!" Molly immediately let go of the boys. "Didn't know that the muggles are having those kinds of problems."
"It's not surprising that no one in the wizarding world, especially purebloods, don't know about stranger-danger," Ted shrugged. "Almost everyone here is related to each other, everyone's hardly a stranger."
"Stranger danger?" Andromeda asked.
"Muggle children are being abducted and/or killed since the year 1980," Ted answered his wife. "Every muggle child were taught these kinds of things as soon as they're old enough to attend muggle schools."
"You still keep up with muggle happenings?" Amelia asked.
"The Wizarding World may be separate but we are still obligated to function in the muggle world, such as not using magic when in their presence." Ted shrugged.
"Hello, Colin." Hermoine patted the elder Creevey's back.
The Creevey brothers were unresponsive too caught up with their supposed demise to pay attention to their surroundings.
"Colin? Dennis?" Hermoine tried to gain the brothers' attention again.
Colin and Dennis managed to look at Hermoine despite their dazed state. They were still unable to form any coherent verbal responses, too caught up with their thoughts.
"Colin, Dennis please do me a favor," Hermoine decided what the first course of action was. "Name five things you can see."
Colin and Dennis decided to look around the room and began enumerating what they saw at the same time.
"Colin first." Hermoine prompted.
"Chairs, Harry, students, robes, and the walls." Colin enumerated.
"Harry, Goblet of fire, chairs, tables, and robes." Dennis did what was asked.
"Name four things you can feel, this time Dennis goes first."
"Robes, wood, floor, hair." Dennis listed.
"Hair, pants, socks, table." Colin did as instructed.
"Colin, Dennis I had you name those things so that you can confirm for yourselves that you're in Hogwarts, that you're safe here in Hogwarts." Hermoine patted the Creevey brothers' shoulder. "No one is going to kill the two of you."
"How do you know that?"
"Would the teachers and staff, especially Professor Dumbledore, let anything happen to you?" Hermoine questioned.
Dennis and Colin knew the answer immediately. They knew that Hogwarts's teachers won't let anything bad happen to anyone, most especially to them.
Colin knew that because of what he experienced during his first year, Professor Dumbledore himself alongside Professor Mcgonagall placed him in the school's hospital wing to be treated. He might've been petrified but he was conscious from time to time.
Dennis knew his brother won't lie to him, especially when he expressed that particular fear to his brother when he first boarded on the Hogwarts express.
"But the ode…"
"Nothing is set in stone." Cedric sat beside the younger Creevey. "Things have yet to happen," He smiled at the Creevey brothers. "And we're making sure nothing we've heard here would come to pass."
"Pretty boy Diggory is right." The Weasley twins sat beside Colin.
"The ode was sent back in time to warn us." George seconded his twin's statement.
"And hopefully prepare us in the coming days." Fred finished.
Professor Mcgonagall was flabbergasted that she almost dropped the books she got on the floor.
Three of the Gryffindor cubs were surely going to perish in the coming days if things weren't rectified immediately and she won't stand for it.
Hopefully Moody is up to the task at preparing the students for the war that was sure to come, even his motto of constant vigilance would help.
Dumbledore simply shook his head at the loss of life so young. The younger Creevey is probably the youngest casualty in the coming war and that was a sobering thought.
It was already bad enough that the first name listed was one as young as the elder Creevey but to know that his younger brother would share Colin's fate it was just too much to bear.
The Headmaster was confident that his close friend and auror, Alastor Moody, would be up to the task to prepare Hogwarts. He had trained many successful aurors during his tenure as an auror on active duty.
As he let some of the conversations continue among the peanut gallery, Professor Dumbledore read ahead and prepare himself for the next name.
It was saddening to see his close friend's name next but as he continued reading silently, Professor Dumbledore's face warped: a frown was etched on the headmaster's ancient face, eyes were narrowed and a thin line formed on his mouth.
"Amelia, Minerva, Severus, Flitwick please secure Alastor Moody." Dumbledore cut everyone from their conversations.
"Dumbledore! What is the meaning of this?!"
"If you would?" Dumbledore ignored his friend's protest.
"Petrificus Totalus"
"Incarcerous"
Moody blocked the spells coming his way and grabbed a random student from his side, which turned out to be one Marietta Edgecombe, judging from the gasps from the student body.
"Everyone drop your wands." Moody roared. "Or she gets it."
"Enough!" Dumbledore bellowed.
Hogwarts's headmaster wasn't at all deterred from the threat and immediately sent a disarming charm wordlessly at the sudden hostile teacher and freed his hostage from his grasp.
Both Professors Flitwick and Snape sent wordless full body bind curse at Moody to prevent him from harming anyone in the student body.
Professor Mcgonagall wordlessly conjured two pieces of rope from the tip of her wand and restrained Moody's upper and lower limbs.
Professor Dumbledore sent another spell right at his supposed friend and revealed that this Moody was actually someone under the guise of a polyjuice potion.
"Severus, confiscate the flask."
Professor Snape obliged with the order. As soon as he retrieved the flask and took a whiff of its smell. "Polyjuice Potion."
Once the effects of the potion faded out, it revealed one supposedly dead Death Eater.
Bartemius Crouch Jr.
"Galloping Gargoyles!"
"Mr. Crouch?" Amelia glared at the ministry department head. "Why is your supposedly dead son here posing as Auror Moody?"
"Amelia we will continue this after the reading." Professor Dumbledore admonished. "I know there are some questions why I seemed to have ordered to restrain Professor Moody unprovoked, the next ode should shed some light regarding that."
"Well then," Amelia nodded. "Mr. Percy Weasley, could you please retrieve Mr. Crouch's wand for me." She ordered. "It would put me and every adult here at ease if Mr. Crouch does not have access to his wand."
Conflicted to where his loyalties lie, Percy was reluctant to retrieve his boss's wand, but his adherence to the rules won out and obliged the order, to which Mr. Crouch willingly gave to him. He immediately handed the wand to Madam Bones.
"Please continue Professor Dumbledore."
Stared at the darkness more than once or twice
Paranoia has become his vice.
"Constant Vigilance" was his motto,
It saved his life and others thereto.
He died during the battle of the seven Potters,
Escorting someone polyjuiced as Harry Potter,
Despite the boy's utter disapproval of the plan.
Mad-Eye, he was known to everyone who knew him
Without him, the world would have been a lot more dim.
There was a time his motto worked to his detriment
When the Dark Lord ordered one to impersonate him
His imposter copied him to great effect
Even jumpstarted the Dark Lord's return, unchecked.
By making sure Harry Potter's name was ejected,
From the Goblet of Fire – An ancient object.
Everyone looked at Harry as soon as the statement 'battle of the seven Potters' was uttered. It didn't take a genius to know that seven people were polyjuiced as the boy-who-lived and acted as bait while Harry was safely escorted.
That was all forgotten when the person responsible for putting Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire was the man who impersonated Professor Moody.
Everyone gasped as they realized that Harry didn't put his name into the ancient artifact. Most of Hogwarts's student body immediately assumed that Harry has the means to place a confundus charm on a magical object and hog the spotlight.
That belief was cemented when other Gryffindors basically confirmed that statement either through showing their elation that a Gryffindor made it in or in contempt because Harry got in.
It was fortunate for them that not a day has passed since the champion selection averting what could've been them making an arse out of themselves by blaming the Potter for something he has never done.
Ron especially gulped at the reveal, he may have made a prat of himself had he focused more on that fact rather than the ode that was being read to them.
Professor Snape merely sneered at the reveal.
Harry was completely focused on the fact that he probably caused more deaths during the battle of the seven Potters, Professor Moody being one of them.
A lot of people probably died there, maybe that's when Fred died, when Colin died.
"Mate." Ron snapped Harry back to reality. "What did we tell you about blaming yourself?"
"This is different!" Harry exclaimed, guilt gnawing his very being. "Colin and Dennis could've died during that time! Fred could've died during that time! All because they wore my stupid face!"
"Does it help to know that this kind of plan was concocted by Moody himself?" Sirius asked. "Because that Seven Potters plan has Moody's scent all over it."
"I feel you, Freddie." George patted his twin's shoulder, chuckling.
"I'll look like a scrawny specky git forever." Fred exaggeratedly shuddered as he laughed with his twin.
"Be serious you two!" Molly admonished her sons.
"I believe none of your schoolmates would've died there." Remus ignored the jokes. "For this plan to be enacted, the people who'd wear your face would have to be of age so that they can also defend themselves against all attacks."
"A Slytherin-like plan if I do say so myself." Sirius nodded.
"But people still died!" Harry exclaimed.
"They knew the consequences, no one in the order coerces people to do things they don't want to." Remus shook his head. "They knew the risks when they enacted this plan."
"Still…"
"They knew they could die, Harry." Sirius shook his head. "That's the very nature of war, no matter the reason, it just takes the people that we love away from us."
"The people who probably died during that plan would still die even if the seven Potters plan hadn't been concocted," Remus assured. "They died as heroes Harry, they died protecting you."
"That's just it, I don't want anyone dying for me." Harry exclaimed.
Sirius and Remus looked at their best friend's son. They knew that Harry was part of a prophecy that was why James and Lily had to hide in the first place. They knew many people would die for Harry because of that very reason.
As much as they want to tell the boy of that reason, they couldn't, in good conscience, do it. The boy would probably take it badly.
"Just remember, Harry the people listed in the ode, including my younger brother who joined Voldemort, are the Wizarding World's heroes." Sirius rubbed his godson's back.
Casualties were many during the wars
Many of whom were innocent by far.
No idea of the war they were involved in
Ignorant of the ideals against them.
Some died as heroes who protected,
The people who were neglected.
Muggles who gained the Dark Lord's ire
Ignited the heroes' protective fire.
Fighting what they think was right
In protection of others, with might.
Others who had a greater sense of self-preservation,
Something that Gryffindors need to be taught with vocation
Died on the run, hoping to outrun the Death Eaters
Even if the circumstances were worse than any eaters.
Others died after defecting
Hoping to escape the inevitable ejecting.
Alas they failed
But their sacrifices has derailed
The Dark Lord's plan from fruition
Even if they were without recognition.
And others may view it as dying in cowardice
Worse than dying with avarice.
I will say this in explicit
No one really wins in wars
Both sides lose so far
Both sides suffer casualties
Both sides suffer injuries
This is for the Departed
For all factions that interacted
Voldemort's, Grindelwald's, Dumbledore's
Hoping that future generations learn
From mistakes we earned.
For the departed
May your lessons that have imparted,
Would bring us to a bright and hopeful future
And in time heal our wounds and would-be sutures.
Everyone, Slytherin students included, couldn't help but agree with the sentiment that there really was no winner in wars and some of them agreed with the sentiment that Gryffindors needed to be taught a sense of self-preservation.
Even erHerHermoine wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment, even if she was also guilty for that particular trait herself.
The concluding ode implied that there were more casualties apart from the ones listed previously. Casualties on both Voldemort's and Dumbledore's sides, even from people who were largely ignorant of the conflict because they were unaware about magic or otherwise.
"That's the last of the odes." Dumbledore announced.
"I believe we should dismiss the students, let them process what they just heard." Madam Pomfrey suggested.
"That's a fine idea," Amelia agreed. "While the adults in the room are to meet at the Headmaster's office."
"If I may," Professor Snape spoke up. "Where do we deposit the impostor and his father?"
"I'd like for them to be in the Headmaster's office as well, I would like to interrogate them myself." Amelia voiced out.
"Heads of houses and prefects please escort the students back in their common rooms," Dumbledore instructed. "Once done, the prefects are to perform their duties as usual, earlier than normal while the heads of houses will reconvene with us in my office."
With that instruction delivered, the prefects and heads of houses escorted the other students back in their room, some were silently trying to process anything and everything that happened recently.
"Remember Harry, nothing is your fault." Sirius assured the Potter.
"Everything is Voldemort's fault, alright." Remus doubled down on that assurance.
"Rest assured, we will make that clear to your git of a Potion's teacher." Sirius grinned.
"He's a Professor Sirius, give him the respect he deserves."
"He may be a Professor but he's still Snivellus." Sirius scoffed.
"What did you mean of that second Horcrux Headmaster?" Amelia questioned the headmaster.
"Harry Potter is Voldemort's unintended Horcrux." Dumbledore revealed.
"Are you certain Albus?" Professor Mcgonagall gasped.
"The reveal that Harry Potter was a parsel mouth cemented that fact, as we know, Parselmouths only exists in the families of Parselmouths."
"Like the metamorphmagi's ability to transform at will." Andromeda nodded.
"Lily was a muggle-born, and no Potter has been a Parselmouth before." Sirius nodded.
"Merlin's beard." Molly gasped.
"I take it that this means that Potter needs to die," Professor Snape inquired. "A swine raised for the slaughter."
"Voldemort cannot harm Harry, however." Dumbledore shook his head.
"The only way to destroy the Horcrux that's inside young Harry is to kill him." Professor Snape remarked.
"Either by ourselves or through the hands of the Death Eaters." Percy remarked.
Everyone looked at the unconscious Crouches.
"Percy!" Molly gasped.
"I think we should look for other ways," Bill interjected. "I'll try asking the Goblins."
Due to the nature of the champion selection for the Triwizard Tournament, and the subsequent foreboding ode that came soon after, Headmaster Dumbledore and Department Head bones agreed that some aurors should be stationed at the school.
With the reveal of Harry's status as a Horcrux, Bill was charged with researching about Horcruxes, and how to destroy one without killing the host, with one step in mind, asking the goblins.
Professors Mcgonagall and Sprout in turn proposed that Remus Lupin should return to Hogwarts as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, which also gained the blessing of Department Head Bones.
Professor Flitwick proposed the reinstatement of the mandatory attendance of the Dueling club by the students, with him and Lupin as teachers, to further improve everyone's dueling skills and add more spells to their arsenal.
The Triwizard Tournament went as planned, with four champions, they were also given special instruction by the freed and recently declared innocent, Sirius Black.
Without Bartemius Crouch jr. making the Triwizard Cup a portkey near the Riddle estate, both Cedric and Viktor were able to reach the cup first, but the standoff between boys were interrupted when they saw Harry appear within their line of vision.
With them focused on Harry, Fleur was able to run past the boys and claim victory for herself, making her the Triwizard Tournament winner.
Amelia soon found out why Harry was handpicked to enter the Triwizard Tournament. It's to use Harry as an ingredient for a dark potion to give Voldemort his body back.
This revelation has delayed Voldemort's return, Madame Bones immediately commissioned the services of every Auror to storm the Riddle estate in an attempt to arrest or even kill the Dark Lord.
Voldemort still managed to return but he returned to Wizarding Britain that is ready to face the threat he posed.