Playing on the Harry Potter beach here. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling who gave us a great hero with wonderful adventures. This sandcastle will disappear with the tide and make way for the next fun story someone else shares.
07 Visitors at HogwartsHarry's winter in his fifth year grows complicated with visitors arriving and pressure to find a way to protect the Room of Requirement. Dumbledore doesn't have a clue.
CHANGE SCENERY && Horcrux DustFor the next three nights, Harry and Lady Hogwarts met in the Room of Requirement to destroy Horcruxes. They began with the Stuart Kings – James I, Charles I, and Charles II went with minimal fuss, almost as if they were prepared to face judgment after three hundred years of silence in the Room of Requirement. When they opened the last bottle while destroying the Horcruxes of the Plantagenet kings (and queen), Dobby suggested they use the same Holy Water more than once, but Harry refused.
Lady Hogwarts and Harry paused in their work for two days while the elf traveled with a request to Sirius for more Holy Water. This request was fulfilled but came with a letter demanding an immediate explanation of the exact number of Horcruxes that a kid had to destroy.
Dobby laughed and described the different shades of red 'Dogfather' turned when the elf gave the wizard a full list of Horcruxes hidden in Hogwarts.
"Then Mr. Dogfather starts shouting about moving Mr. Harry Potters to schools in Brazils tomorrow! He grows most boiling mad and saying to shove Horcruxes into uncomfortable places for Headmaster Whiskers without any lubrication."
Lady Hogwarts took a minute to think about the elf's words but then she laughed long and loud. On the morning of 18 January 1996, bells were heard ringing throughout the castle, and no one (except Harry Potter) was certain what it meant. Finally, Luna Lovegood explained, "Lady Hogwarts is sweeping bats from her belfries, and the moon frogs are fleeing the castle."
Before anyone could make a disparaging remark about Luna's creatures, Harry agreed that she was certainly correct. "I bet Lady Hogwarts is tired of belfry bats and moon frogs."
That morning, there were only seven Horcruxes left in the Room of Requirement; the Four Founders, Ramesses the Great, Marc Antony, and Alexander the Great.
The Daily Prophet covered Quidditch matches, reported sightings of the Dark Lord He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and court filings in the seizure of the vaults of Death Eaters and Mrs. Bernice Fudge naming Dolores Umbridge as the cause of the collapse of her marriage to Cornelius Fudge. The divorce was the most interesting article that entire week – with editorials on the veracity of the claim that Dolores Umbridge could have broken up any marriage before she was killed in the duel with Mrs. Molly Weasley. There was a great deal of interest in Molly's recipe for chicken salad that was published on the society page that same day.
SCENE CHANGE: VisitorsThe next day, Albus Dumbledore announced that Hogwarts would have famous visitors. During breakfast, he told the students and professors, "Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel will arrive at the end of the week and remain with us for at least a fortnight. They want to examine and study some ancient books and scrolls in the library."
Andromeda Tonks (the temporary potions professor while Snape recovered from an unfortunate brewing accident) was skeptical about the couple's identity. While breakfast continued, she asked, "Why are they coming here? Any appearances by Nicolas Flamel are many decades apart and never with advanced notice."
Dumbledore explained, "Nicolas and I worked together a hundred years ago. It will be good to catch up with my old friend."
Minerva threw up a privacy charm and demanded a wand oath from Dumbledore that there were no shenanigans, dark lords, or magical artifacts involved. When Dumbledore hesitated to give the oath, she promised to call the Governors before lunch and help the headmaster pack his trunk before teatime. Fortunately for his continued tenure, Dumbledore made the oath.
That didn't relieve the tension among thoughtful persons like Harry Potter.
'I miss Hermione,' he admitted. And Harry admitted to himself that he was confused; in 1992, the headmaster led him to understand that both Flamels would die after the Sorcerer's Stone had been destroyed in the confrontation between Harry and Dark Lord Quirrelmort.
In a conversation with Lady Hogwarts, the young wizard and ancient castle compared notes about the legend of the Flamels, the stone, and Quirrelmort. Harry asked, "Was any part of Dumbledore's story real about the stone? Are these really the Flamels?"
That's when Lady Hogwarts admitted that after they destroyed the Horcrux in the Diadem, Charlemagne's shield, and Attila's sword, and the stories appeared in the Daily Prophet about Voldie-short attacking Azkaban and the ICW reported the 'explosion' of two wizards, she'd taken her staff and smacked the Horcrux of each founder – hard.
"I gave them a headache and said, 'Come here!' That's why they are coming. Helga and Godric will show up too…just wait and see."
Frowning Harry asked, "Can you control them? Can they get to their Horcruxes and cause mischief?"
Change SCENERY && Games Under PressureThe castle thought and then said, "Think about how to hide the Room of Requirement with the Horcruxes. You're creative and resourceful."
"Hermione was resourceful. I just act well under pressure. I can't hide anything."
Snorting, Lady Hogwarts said, "Then consider yourself pressured!"
Before evening, Harry Potter and his friends began talking about having a marathon chess tournament at Hogwarts to break up the winter-time blahs. Professor Flitwick, Heads of House Andrew Carter (Slytherin), Melissa Moorhouse (Ravenclaw), Harriet Carter (Hufflepuff), and Anthony Hilliard (Gryffindor) were convinced to support the novel idea when Lady Hogwarts spoke with them casually. The four heads of house met with the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress who weren't as easily convinced but again, they were persuaded by the castle entity giving the competition her endorsement.
"And this tournament doesn't involve dragons, swimming underneath Black Lake, or mazes filled with Acromantula, Blast-Ended Skrewts, or Homunculi!" Lady Hogwarts reminded Dumbledore and McGonagall when she found herself losing patience with the pair.
"But it'll take away from the excitement of the Flamels being present!" argued Dumbledore.
"How?" asked the castle entity sincerely. She continued her argument, "Marathon chess games that continue both day and night won't distract from their visit. They're not coming to lecture my students. The Flamels are coming to read books and scrolls in the library."
"Where will the students hold this tournament?"
"Mr. Potter had an excellent notion – we'll hold the games on the seventh floor there at the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy," Lady Hogwarts replied. "The students won't be in anyone's way there."
"There isn't any foot traffic in that part of the castle for weeks at a time," McGonagall agreed.
The entity sighed and added, "You know, Barnabas was a very nice fellow. Kind to everyone which was rare in the twelfth century with Henry II bringing his English soldiers north into Scotland every four or so years to loot and rape. It was sad when the trolls ate him for supper one night."
In the end, Dumbledore and McGonagall acquiesced to the tournament. On 27 January, the day before the scheduled arrival of the Flamels, the students began a round-robin, triple elimination chess tournament that would play members of each house against each other, then begin a second triple elimination set of games between the champions of each age in each house. Then more games to select eight final champions before a double elimination round and a final single elimination round. The games would continue through January and into February.
Students and at least one faculty member would be present in the hallway of the seventh tower every hour of the day and night until sometime in late February. From the Room of Requirement, Harry Potter, Dobby, and ecstatic house elves out wonderful sofas, gaming tables, and comfortable chairs to line the hallway. Lady Hogwarts sought the opinions of every witch in the castle about the arrangement of the furniture, the colors of the pillows and wraps on the sofas, tea sets, and the colors in the portraits in different groupings.
More tables, bookcases, chairs, food pantries, cooling cabinets, and portraits were provided to liven up the usually deserted hallway. Lady Hogwarts provided multiple loos for witches and wizards along the hallway as well as dozens of new flameless lights and heaters.
"This is great!" Ron Weasley declared when the tournament began. He began his slaughter of his year mates that same afternoon in games of wizarding chess.
Lady Hogwarts wandered through the hallway several times encouraging students and she whispered to Harry, "You do good work under pressure, Potter. Fifty points to Gryffindor."
Harry went to bed more satisfied that the Room of Requirement would be protected from the returning founders wandering about at night.
CHANGE SCENERY: News (Calcutta)On the cold morning scheduled for the arrival of the famous, long-lived couple, Harry was surprised when a letter just popped onto his plate at breakfast. It had not arrived by owl, and he was confused until he heard Dobby giggling behind him. "Thanks, Dobby!"
Harry opened the envelope to find a few lines from Sirius about a second letter included inside the first. 'This important envelope arrived at my breakfast table via a tired postal owl from far away. Kreacher took him to our owl loft to sleep, eat and recover. I thought you should receive it as soon as possible and called your friend Dobby to come to pick it up and deliver it into your hands this morning. – Love You! Padfoot'
Not sure what he'd find, Harry turned the second envelope over and recognized the handwriting – Hermione! He smiled while feeling a couple of tears form as he read the note.
'Dearest Harry. I'm so sorry that I couldn't say more at Christmas. We left Britain and Mum and Dad insist that I not write anything that might give one of the wanker purebloods a hint about where to find us. (Australia) We fled without looking back and never plan to return to England. (Colorado) After a year in regular school (Mexico), my parents will let me explore magical schools again. (Brazil). There's a great school in Egypt (Florida), and another in France (Singapore), but that's too close to the British Ministry of Magic for my Dad (Hawaii). I plan to study potions, modern dance, spell creation, and home economics while working on a master's in Curling for the Olympics (Sydney). Thank you for being my friend and for defending me against the dark idiots, the pureblood misogynists pretending to be light wizards, and Blonde Ferrets. Tell Weasley that I figured out a spell to summon the snitch during a Quidditch match. (Look for news in the February edition of Quidditch Pitch Monthly!). Love –it breaks my heart to say farewell – Hermione (Johannesburg)'
Smiling broadly while ignoring Ron reading over his shoulder, Harry reread the letter and then folded it carefully before putting it inside a hidden pocket in his robes where it was impossible to summon. He noticed Ron begging Dean for a look at the new edition of Quidditch Pitch Monthly while making dire promises to return it without biscuit crumbs between the pages this time.
At lunch, Ron asked about the places Hermione mentioned in her letter and Harry confused the wizard even more by revealing that some of the places were cities, others were states, and some were countries.
"But where did she go?" whined Ron.
Shaking his head, Harry replied, "I don't know Ron, but she's gone."
CHANGE SCENERY: Arrival – Oi, That's Been Done!Immediately following lunch, Dumbledore commanded that everyone – students, professors, and elves should venture out into the courtyard for the arrival of their guests. Reporters from the Daily Prophet were on hand and warming charms and runes (on bracelets) were passed around freely. Late January was bitterly cold around Hogwarts – the healer, matron, and castle entity were busy reinforcing the charms to keep the students warm and dry.
Harry heard one reporter from the Daily Prophet asking Dumbledore about the recovery of Severus Snape and the headmaster revealed that Professor Snape would return in just another two days. Professor Tonks refuted the headmaster's claim and stated the Governors had hired her for the remainder of the year, as well as the next year.
That was welcome news to the teenager – he found he enjoyed the classes the new professor taught. While waiting with the other students, Harry noticed a bright light floating toward the courtyard., It was lovely and glistening with magic as it rolled about, growing larger and finally settling on the icy cobblestones before dissipating instantly with a silent pop to reveal a beautiful witch and handsome wizard.
"Amazing! Such unique magic!" Dumbledore declared.
But then Harry announced, "Oi! You stole that show from the Wizard of Oz! You sure you're not Glenda the Good and her minion?"
The muggle-born students explained the movie about Dorothy Gale killing one witch with a house and then another witch arriving in a land of munchkins (handsome goblins but with similar manners).
"Glenda The Good Witch of the North arrived in a bubble just like that. It's pretty in the sunshine but it's cold…let's get inside," said muggle-born shared with the purebloods and half-bloods.
The adults were left in the cold while the children clogged up the entry – Lady Hogwarts was more concerned for the students than she was for the wizards and witches who drug the children outside. Harry dodged a glare from McGonagall, a disapproving stare from Dumbledore (Basilisk in forefront of his memories), and a snicker from Professor Hilliard. Moving out of the way, Harry noticed when the last children scampered off to class that Lady Hogwarts placed herself at the entrance to her halls. She blocked the entrance of all the adults. He watched as she curtseyed to the two guests standing beside the Headmaster and everyone in the hall and the courtyard heard her say, "Who comes to my halls where I guard and teach children?"
"Hogwarts…move out of the way. Our guests need to come inside where it is warm," Dumbledore ordered but the castle entity ignored the headmaster. The doorway was blocked, and nothing could enter the castle.
"Again, I ask for the names of the wizard and witch who wish to visit my school," Lady Hogwarts said after a second deep curtsey.
This time, the witch answered, "I am Perenelle Flamel, and this is my husband, Nicolas Flamel."
"I have heard of you both. My library holds scrolls written by your hand five hundred years in the past." Hogwarts smiled and asked, "What is your purpose in crossing my threshold?"
"Really! Stop this!" Dumbledore said in his deepest, commanding voice.
But Hogwarts simply frowned at Dumbledore and sniffed – the headmaster took a step back while the professors listened silently though they were growing cold. The castle had canceled all the heating charms outside the doors and kept them from being cast again.
Now, the wizard bowed and said, "Hogwarts, my wife and I come to consult tombs, scrolls, and books in your library. Nothing more."
The castle entity smiled, curtseyed a third time, and then stepped aside as she said, "Perenelle Flamel and Nicolas Flamel, be guest welcome for a fortnight and then depart with my best wishes for a prosperous life."
Harry watched silently as the professors exchanged glances. The castle could expel the visitors any time she chose after two weeks inside her walls.
END SCENE SCENERY: Updated List of HorcruxesCleopatra (Helga Hufflepuff) Bust Marble
Caesar (Godric Gryffindor) Gold Roman Victor's Crown
Theodora (Rowena Ravenclaw and Perenelle Flamel) Jeweled Necklace
Justinian (Salazar Slytherin and Nicolas Flamel) Iron Buckle for Robes or Belt
Alexander the Great (not seen since WWI) Golden Knife Sheath
Ramesses the Great (not seen since WWII) Golden Ankh
Marc Antony (murdered by Caesar in 1402) Greave (leg guard)
James I (died 1620) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 10 Jan 1996
Charles I (died 1640) Crown Harry Potter destroyed 10 Jan 1996
Charles II (died 1685) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 11 Jan 1996
Edward I (died 1307) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 11 Jan 1996
Edward the Black Prince (died 1376) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 12 Jan 1996
Edward III (died 1377) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 12 Jan 1996
Henry V (died 1422) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 15 Jan 1996
Henry VI (died 1471) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 15 Jan 1996
Charlemagne (died 814) Shield. Harry Potter destroyed 7 Jan 1996
Attila the Hun (died 453) Sword. Harry Potter destroyed 7 Jan 1996
Eleanor of Aquitaine (died 1204) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 16 Jan 1996
Henry III (died 1272) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 16 Jan 1996
Henry II (died 1189) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 17 Jan 1996
Richard the Lionheart (died 1199) Crown. Harry Potter destroyed 17 Jan 1996
Thomas Riddle (died 1981, 1991, 1992) Diadem Harry Potter destroyed 7 Jan 1996
Other dead Horcruxes
Diary of T.M.R. (destroyed by Harry Potter in June 1992)
Nagini (Maledictus) (destroyed by Auror Shacklebolt, 19 December 1995)
Slytherin's Locket (destroyed by Harry Potter, 23 December 1995)
Scar (destroyed by Harry Potter, 23 December 1995)
Ravenclaws Diadem (Harry Potter, destroyed 7 Jan 1996)
Remaining Riddle Horcruxes
Hufflepuff's Cup
Gaunt Family Ring
Tom Riddle Homunculus