Title: Strings of Fate
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: Being raised only by his Aunt, Harry comes to Hogwarts not only knowing about the Wizarding World, but with a kind of training no one at the school is expecting.
Ginny was nervous as she followed Madam Bones into the room where they wanted to ask her questions. She was not that pleased that Percy was with her, but she was glad that the scary Auror, Moody, was not in the room. Professor McGonagall sat to one side of her while Percy sat on the other. Madam Bones and Senior Auror Proudfoot sat across from her with the two Trainee Aurors sitting off to the side.
"Alright, let's begin." Amelia said, only to be interrupted by three Ghosts floating through the wall.
Helena was in the lead of the three Ghosts, flanked by the Bloody Baron and Sir Nicholas. Helena took up position behind Ginny, with the Baron behind McGonagall and Sir Nicholas behind Percy.
"Lady Helena, may I ask why you are here?" Amelia asked.
"We are here to make sure Ginny is not unfairly treated." Helena said in no uncertain terms.
"Very well." Amelia conceded. "Miss Weasley, can you please tell us what you were doing on Halloween night?"
"Why are you asking Miss Weasley specifically?" Helena asked.
"We found a Diary amongst Miss Weasley's possessions that not only contains significant Dark Magic, but that we believe may be the… force behind the current attacks."
"I found it in my books. I thought Tom just wanted to help." Ginny said, starting to sob.
"Who is Tom?" McGonagall asked.
"The Diary is embossed with T. M. Riddle." Amelia said.
"That mother fucking son of a whore!"
Everyone turned to stare at the profanity coming out of Helena's mouth.
"If that bastard is the one who owned the Diary, then that is some of the foulest Magic imaginable. If it is what I think it is, then I can show you where another one is. But first, let me introduce you to someone." Helena said.
"May I ask what we are doing in a girl's bathroom?" Senior Auror Proudfoot asked.
Everyone, including the three Ghosts, from the interview had relocated to the bathroom.
"Because I want you to meet Tom Riddle's first victim." Helena said. "This is Myrtle."
Myrtle emerged from her toilet stall, floating through the stall door.
"She was killed by Tom Riddle about fifty years, though the act was blamed on Hagrid though Tom's manipulations." Helena explained. "The first incident of the latest attacks, the attack on the Caretaker's feline, was located just outside this bathroom."
"You said first victim, implying more, but I have never heard of Tom Riddle." Amelia Bones said.
"Yes, you have." Helena replied. "Everyone in the Wizarding World has heard of him. You simply know him as Lord Voldemort."
That comment caused chaos amongst the living, be they Hogwarts residents, Law Enforcement Officers or Trainees. Ginny started shaking with the thought that she had been writing to Voldemort in the Diary, and all the secrets she had told him. Professor McGonagall put her arm around the shaking young girl in an effort to control her own fear, while Percy stood almost catatonic. Tonks and Zorah were looking around in a panic, as if they were about to be attacked, as was Proudfoot to a lesser degree.
"So, back then he bred a Basilisk?" Amelia asked, with a focused look on her face.
"Oh no. No one at the time knew what killed Myrtle, though it was assumed it was Hagrid's pet." Helena said. "The Basilisk was most likely bred by Uncle Salazar and Tom merely used it. You would need to be a Parselmouth to open the access way, as that's what Uncle Salazar used to do all the time. It annoyed mother something fierce."
"But Ginny isn't a Parselmouth." Percy said, having come out of his fear to defend his sister.
"No." Helena replied. "But Tom in the Diary is. But once the Diary and… the other item are destroyed, then the access way will be sealed."
"And how are we to destroy it?" Proudfoot asked. "It seems impervious to Spells."
"Fiendfyre." The Baron replied. "If you can cast it, we have a... room where it can be contained."
"Then let's get this done." Amelia said.
"Ethelred, Nicholas, can you both please take Director Bones and her subordinates to The Room, retrieve the other item and then help them destroy them?" Helena asked.
"Of course." The Baron said, before leading the two Senior Aurors out with Sir Nicholas.
The two Trainees helped Professor McGonagall escort the two Weasley children out of the bathroom, leaving Helena and Myrtle alone.
"Forgive me, mother." Helena said, a ghostly tear running down her cheek.
"After what he did, she will." Myrtle said, comfortingly.
"I would put that in a box for the moment." The Baron said.
With a nod, Amelia conjured a wooden box with a velvet lining while Proudfoot levitated the fabled Diadem of Ravenclaw into the box. Amelia closed the box and they exited the room which was a cornucopia of broken furniture, discarded books and other detritus. Outside the room, Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore and Flitwick were waiting.
"Oh my god." Professor Flitwick squeaked when Amelia briefly opened the box to show them. "That's Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem. That's priceless."
"It is also helping to keep Voldemort tied to this plain, as is the Diary." Helena said as she floated up behind the Professors.
Helena floated up and down the corridor in front of where the door to the Room of Lost Things had disappeared and another door, more sturdy and metallic, appeared and opened. Helena led the group into the room. The three Professors stood on one side of the room, the two DMLE Aurors on the other with the three ghosts between them and behind a large stone box that had a small hole in the side jut big enough for a wand to be inserted.
"Let's start with the Diary." Amelia said.
Proudfoot opened the latch on the top of the box and placed the Diary inside before closing and latching it again.
"Madam Bones, do you mind if I do the Fiendfyre?" Dumbledore asked. "I am quite proficient with the spell and am able to exhibit some control over it."
Amelia simply nodded and Dumbledore put his wand in the slot and cast the spell into the box. They all winced at the echoing scream as the Horcrux was destroyed. When they opened the box a minute later all that remained was ashes.
"Now mother's Diadem." Helena instructed.
"Are you sure?" Flitwick asked.
Helena levelled a flat stare at the diminutive Professor, who reluctantly nodded. Soon the Diadem was destroyed just like the Diary, leaving only a small amount of melted metal behind.
"You ok." The Baron whispered to Helena.
"Not even close." She replied, equally softly. "But I will be."
TBC…