-----------------------

Chapter 6: Potions, Mysteries, and Messages

------------------------

" Hedwig brought this to you…?" Sirius asked Harry while he passed the letters to Lupin, who took it and sat down at his desk. Harry and Ron both nodded. They hadn't waste any time in telling Sirius and Lupin, but that was partly because Hermione threatened to tell on both Harry and Ron if they kept it quiet. They had also brought the letter that Harry had found in his trunk (Hermione threatened to tell about that one too).

" 'We are closer than you think'. It doesn't sound like something Voldemort would say, does it?" Lupin asked in a very off-handed way. Sirius shook his head.

" No, it doesn't. And that's what's bothering me." He said while he started to pace in front of Harry, Ron, and Hermione all the while rubbing his chin in deep thought. After a while he stopped and looked back at Harry. " In the letter you wrote me, you said that you had seen someone at the potions shop and at Flourish and Blotts. Did this person say anything?"

" No, nothing." Harry said, shaking his head.

" Did you see any part of their face?" He asked Harry again, who just shook his head in response. Sirius frowned and started pacing again.

" What I want to know is how this person got Hedwig to give the message to Harry. Owls don't usually go to someone that they haven't been sent to. They're very cautious creatures when it comes to strangers." Lupin said after a while, Sirius nodded grimly.

" Exactly. Owls don't trust many people that they don't know." He said while he paced in a circle. Hermione looked shocked.

" Are you saying that the person that's sending these letters to Harry is someone we know?" She asked while she fidgeted in her seat in front of Lupin's desk. Lupin and Sirius both nodded.

" It could be. But who…?" Sirius mumbled to himself. 

" What about Malfoy? He hates Harry." Ron said with a thoughtful look. Lupin shook his head.

" I doubt it. Draco and Harry have their differences, but I don't think that he would. Besides, I doubt that Hedwig would go to him. They are great judges of character, owls are." He said while he waved his hand. Sirius sighed loudly and sat back on Lupin's desk.

" You lot go get some sleep. We'll take these up to Dumbledore and see what he makes of them. But I want you all to go strait to bed. You all have classes tomorrow." He said with a stern look. Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded. " And if any more letters come, I want you to bring them strait to me, Remus, or Dumbledore, understood?" Sirius gave Harry a particularly stern look. Harry nodded. Sirius then ushered them out of Lupin's office and sent them strait to bed. But seeing as he didn't take them to their dorms, the three of them stayed in the empty common room talking and thinking about who the mysterious letter sender could have been. It was nearly dawn before Harry, Ron, or Hermione went to sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Classes the next day where nothing short of pure torture. Harry couldn't keep his mind on his work and did nothing but worry and doze. He kept thinking about the letters and cursing himself for telling Sirius or Lupin. Neither of them needed to worry even more about him. The bell that dismissed Transfiguration couldn't have been more welcome.

" Harry? Are you ok?" Hermione asked, giving him a worried sideways glance while they walked out of the classroom. 

" I'm fine." He said tiredly. As the three of them dropped their stuff off in the Gryffindor common room and headed for lunch.

" Maybe you should skip lunch and the next class and just go to bed. You look like the living dead." Ron said, jumping the trick stair. Harry smiled.

" You shouldn't be saying anything. The both of you look just as tired. Besides, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts next." Harry said with a thoughtful sigh, wishing to himself that he didn't have Lupin's class so he could just go to sleep.

" Too bad we didn't have Care of Magical Creatures today. Fred and George said that 'Mr. Weatherly' was helping with Hagrid's lessons." Ron said as sat himself down beside Harry. Harry nodded.

" Yeah, I wonder if he's had trouble with any of the creatures." Harry mused. A picture of Sirius riding a Blast-ended Skerwt like a cowboy would a horse popped into his head, causing him to smile while he piled food onto his plate. Hermione sighed while she looked at the food on the table. Ron snorted.

" Don't tell me you are still obsessed with house-elves." He said while he stuffed a rather large bit of tripe in his mouth. Hermione frowned.

" Of course I am! It's still slave labor!" She said loudly while she helped herself.

" Honestly! They like doing things like this! I don't know why you can't let it go." Ron said in a very annoyed manner.

" I wouldn't expect you to understand." Hermione countered with a bit of an edge to her voice. Ron's ears went red but he didn't say anything. The rest of lunch was rather quiet. Neither Ron or Hermione said a thing to the other. When lunch was finally over, Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered their things from the Gryffindor tower and practically ran to Defense Against the Dark Arts. But it seemed that they weren't the only ones that were happy about Lupin's return. In fact, when arrived, half of the class was full with students waiting patiently in their seats. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats in the front of the class and pulled out their books. Harry looked at his book and then back to Hermione.

" You knew Lupin would be teaching this year, didn't you?" He asked. Hermione nodded and smiled.

" Of course. Well, it was just a feeling really. I was still a bit surprised when I saw him." She said very matter-of-factly. A few short minutes later Lupin walked into the classroom in his patched and frayed robes, caring his battered briefcase. He walked to his desk, sat his briefcase down and turned to class with a smile resting on his tired face.

" Good afternoon everyone." He said, still smiling. " You can put your books away, you only need them for the few homework assignments you'll be given. Right then, this year, we will continue with creatures but we also learn some curses and counter-curses. By the end of this year, I would like to have had you learn forty-six new curses and counter-curses, and twenty-eight new creatures." He said and took his wand out of his briefcase while adding " That is, assuming we get through this first lesson without any problems." A few kids exchanged some worried glances and Neville gulped lightly. It turned out that their first lesson was how to kill and control a zombie. The lesson went by rather smoothly and all the students, including Neville, had a fairly easy time with it, but that was mainly because Lupin was such a good teacher and just seemed to bring out the best in his students. After everyone had been dismissed, Lupin called Harry, Ron, and Hermione up to the front.

" Are you lot all right?" He asked kindly while he straitened out some papers on his desk and put them in his briefcase.

" We're fine." Harry said while Ron and Hermione nodded. Lupin nodded.

" After Potions you three go strait to Dumbledore's office," He said while walking them to the door and stifling a yawn. " Padfoot and I will be waiting for you there." Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged confused looks, but nodded in agreement.

" Right then, off you go so Snape doesn't have a reason to take off the points I gave to Gryffindor." Lupin said before bidding the trio goodbye.

" I wonder what Dumbledore wants?" Ron asked as they half-ran to potions, not wanting to get on Snape's bad side so early in the year. Though, for Harry, just being alive was more than enough to put him on the venomous teacher's bad side.

" Isn't in obvious?? I bet it has something to do with those letters! Maybe Dumbledore knows who it is!" Hermione answered half annoyed half excited.

" Do you really think so?" Harry asked, hoping that it would be the case. Maybe he wouldn't have to worry anymore, maybe Dumbledore could stop it. Hermione nodded.

" Sure, it's possible." She said as they came to the dungeon door.  The conversation dropped immediately as Hermione opened the door and walked in. Snape looked up from taking role, and much to Harry, Ron, and Hermione's surprise, he didn't look quite right. There where dark circles under his eyes and he seemed somehow paler than usual, but what struck Harry the most was the fact that his eyes had changed. They were usually blank and made you think of dark tunnels, but now, there was something in them. But what it was, Harry didn't know. Harry gave a start and was pulled out of his thoughts by Snape's voice.

" Five points from Gryffindor each. Sit down." This simple statement also caught Harry off guard. Not to mention the look of indifference that Snape wore. Usually he would have sneered, said something sarcastic, and taken about twenty points from each of them. But not now. His voice and face were void of all sarcasm and nastiness, there was…nothing. Simply nothing. It was unnerving really, Harry thought as he sat down with Ron and Hermione on either side of him. After Snape was done taking role, he began writing on the board the list of ingredients they would need for today's recovery potion. When he was done, he went about telling them how to make it and demonstrated the proper stirring method. Then, he simply turned them loose. There where no warnings or insults to anyone, not even Neville.

" What's up with Snape?" Ron asked quietly as he shot an unnerved look to Snape. Harry set out his ingredients and shrugged.

" I don't know, but it's weird. He would have usually said something sarcastic, or insulting and rude. Maybe he's sick…" Harry said. Hermione shook her head doubtfully.

" No, I doubt that. If he was sick he would be even more of a git than usual wouldn't he? And why is he teaching if he's sick?" She asked while she measured out the correct amount of armadillo bile.

" He certainly looks sick." Ron commented quietly. Harry looked over at Snape and watched him look around the room without barking out anything at all. No complements to the Slytherins, no insults to any Gryffindor, he just simply watched them. The class was going by rather quietly, and would have continued to go that way for the last ten minutes, if Neville's toad Trevor hadn't knocked in the entire bottle of beetle eyes into his potion. There was a deafening explosion and the potion spewed out of the cauldron and all over the other students. There were shouts and shrieks from most of the students while everyone ran to the other half of the room. Almost as quick as it had started, it stopped, and the potion gave a final spit and hiss before falling inactive. Snape, who was now standing a few feet away from Neville's cauldron, looked around at all the students. Everyone seemed to be fine. He then turned to Neville, who whimpered and looked down.

" I-I-I…I'm s-s-sorry P-professor Snape…I…" He started, but Snape cut in quickly.

" Longbottom, how many times must I tell you to keep that toad out of my dungeon? Ten points from Gryffindor," He said. Everyone including Neville looked stunned by the fact that Snape had said this like a normal human, there was no yelling or anything, his voice had stayed completely indifferent. The bell rang, but no one dared to move.

" Homework is to write an essay no shorter than one scroll on the differences of recovery and healing potions. Dismissed." Most of the students stood stunned for a few seconds and then gathered their things rather quickly, and left, most of them slightly afraid by the Potions Master's odd manner. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had stayed behind to help poor Neville clean up his mess.

" I'll clean it up, Longbottom." Snape said from his desk, surprising all four of them. He didn't have to tell any of them twice however, they all gathered their things and left the dungeon. Harry shot a quick glance back only to see Snape massaging temples. Neville, who was mainly in shock from not getting in trouble or

insulted didn't even notice when Harry, Ron, and Hermione bid him good-bye after dropping their stuff off.

" …I reckon some one has kidnapped the real Snape and is using Polyjuice Potion to take his place." Ron said with shocked look while they walked down the hall toward Dumbledore's office.

" But who would want to be Snape?" Harry asked, thinking back on Snape's unusual behavior.

" A nutter most likely." Ron replied with a shrug. Hermione was about to say something, but stopped after spotting Sirius and Lupin by the gargoyle that lead to Dumbledore's office. Sirius looked over at Harry and waved him over.

" Harry! You're late! Just like a true Marauder!" He said with a big grin. Harry forced a smile as they walked up to Lupin and Sirius.

" Right then, let's go…" Lupin said and turned to the gargoyle, but stopped and looked at Sirius as if he was trying not to laugh. " Padfoot…I think you should do it…I don't think I could say it even if I tried…" He said, trying very hard to hold back a laugh. Sirius nodded and stepped up the gargoyle, opened his mouth to say something, but instead just started laughing. After seeing Sirius laugh, Lupin lost what control he had and started laughing to. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared, each wondering what was causing these two grown men to laugh so hard. After a few minutes of laughter, Sirius and Lupin straitened up and looked at the gargoyle.

" Well…it seems we have a problem Moony, because I cant seem to say it either." Sirius said, holding back a grin that threatened to spread across his face. Lupin took a deep breath and walked up to the gargoyle.

" B…" He started, but had to stop again to stifle a laugh. " Banana hammock." He said after a great struggle not to laugh. Sirius looked over at Lupin while the gargoyle jumped aside. But Ron beat them to laughing. Hearing Ron, Harry started to laugh, and Hermione was suddenly overcome by a case of the giggles. Finally, Sirius and Lupin let out loud howls of laughter. They all walked inside onto the moving stairs, still laughing. When they reached the top, there were only a few stifled laughs here and there. Lupin knocked and then walked in, with the others following. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk smiling lightly as he always did.

" Ah, there you are." He said with a gesture toward the comfortable, and very squishy looking chairs that sat in front of his desk. Harry walked into the beautiful office and sat down in one that sat right in front of Dumbledore's desk. After everyone had chosen seat. Sirius looked at Dumbledore with the same grin.

" You know Headmaster, I love your new password." He said, trying not laugh and causing Lupin to snort. Dumbledore smiled merrily.

" Yes, but I suspect that it poses a problem. Every time I try to get into my office, I am overcome by a sever case of the giggles." He said, causing everyone to snort with laughter. " If you like that Sirius, then I suspect that you will find a joke I heard this summer quite humorous…" Dumbledore started, but was cut off by someone clearing their throat. Everyone looked back at the doorway: It was Professor McGonagall.

" But it will have to wait." He said while McGonagall handed him a piece of parchment and then took a seat in the last chair. Harry was just going ask why he, Ron, and Hermione where called up when Dumbledore looked up at him.

" I'm sure the three of you are wondering why I asked you here." The three of them nodded. " Sirius and Remus brought me the letters last night. I looked over them, and I can say with full confidence that they were not written by Voldemort." Dumbledore adjusted his half moon spectacles and picked up the napkin from the ice cream shop and glanced at it.

" Do you know who is writing them sir?" Harry asked. Dumbledore put the napkin down and peered at him.

" Yes, I think I know who is writing them." He began. Harry, Ron, and Hermione leaned forward. " I spoke with Author, and he has told me some rather alarming news. It seems that the Ministry is still denying the return of Voldemort, thus causing important information to not be released." Dumbledore said, while the twinkle that was usually in his eyes faded. " Because of what I have heard, I believe that the person writing to you, is in fact, a young Mystic woman by the name of Rayne Riddle." Everyone but Harry and Hermione seemed grasp the meaning of this sentence instantly. Sirius and Lupin were looking shocked, McGonagall looked very grave, Ron looked like he had just come face to face with Voldemort, and Dumbledore looked very serious. But then something hit Harry very hard.

" Riddle? You mean…she's Voldemort's…?" Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair and nodded.

" Yes, in a way, Rayne Riddle is indeed Voldemort's daughter." He said calmly. Ron shook his head and looked at Dumbledore in disbelief.

" Professor Dumbledore, there must be some kind of mistake. She…she was killed…wasn't she? I…I mean, when You-Know-Who fell, she went too." Ron stammered, not believing what he was hearing. Dumbledore shook his head.

" No Mr. Weasley, she is very much alive. The Ministry only said that because they didn't want the public to go into panic. The fact is, Ms. Riddle is very much alive. She fled when Voldemort fell and went into hiding. The Ministry never found her." Dumbledore replied. Ron gawked.

" Excuse me Sir." Hermione said from her chair. Dumbledore looked at her and nodded. " But…I read all the books on the Dark Lord, but I never found anything on anyone named Rayne Riddle. She was never mentioned." She said quietly. Much to everyone's surprise, Dumbledore smiled.

" Well, you are right. She was never put into any books."

" Oh…who was she exactly?" Hermione asked, again Dumbledore smiled, but it was Sirius who answered this time.

" Rayne Riddle was a Mystic. The last one I believe. Not much is known about her, but it's believed that she was the power behind Voldemort's rule. But no one can be sure because she was never seen." He said with a grim look. 

" Then how do you know there was even some one named Rayne Riddle?" Harry asked.

" A lot of the Death Eaters that came forward were given vertaserum and every one of them said that a Mystic by the name of Rayne Riddle played a key role in all of Voldemort's plans, but she was never seen." Sirius said. No one moved for a minute, until Harry thought of something else that he didn't understand.

" What's a Mystic?"

" A Mystic is…well, it's hard to explain really." Lupin said while he rubbed his chin in thought. " The definition of a Mystic is 'an infinite abundance of magical energy that takes a human form'. But that isn't really accurate. Mystics are the strongest magical creatures there are, stronger than any human could ever hope to be. But, not much is known about them. They lived in seclusion mainly, hardly any one set foot in Mysidia if they were not a Mystic."

" Why are you telling us this sir?" Ron asked after a few seconds. Dumbledore smiled kindly and the twinkle seemed to return to his eyes.

" Because, you two are Harry's closest friends, he would have told you without a doubt. But I also wanted the both of you to know because you are Harry's friends, and being so, if Rayne Riddle is really after Harry, she could come after you too. Knowledge of what you are facing can help you in preparing for anything that may happen." Dumbledore said quietly. Ron and Hermione looked at him for a moment and then nodded.

" Well then! I do believe it is time for dinner." He said, replacing his usual merry expression. " Run along now, and don't breathe a word any one, I don't want the students knowing just yet." Everyone stood up and nodded. As Harry began to walk to the door, one last question popped into his mind.

" Professor?" Dumbledore looked up. " What's wrong with Professor Snape? He seems so…different." Harry said. Ron and Hermione stopped and looked back. Even Lupin and Sirius looked at Dumbledore.

" I'm afraid he's under a great deal of duress." Dumbledore said sadly. " But it is nothing that you need worry about." The tone in his voice clearly said that is was not something would be discussed. Harry nodded and walked out of the office with Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Lupin closely behind. No one really said much as they walked down the hall and to the Great Hall.

" Well Harry. Be careful ok? I'll see you in Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow. I promised Hagrid I'd help him some of the creatures, though I'm beginning to regret it…" He trailed with grin. Lupin shrugged.

" A promise is a promise Padfoot." Sirius looked at Lupin and nodded.

" I know I know. Besides, since when have I ever broken my promises Moony?" He asked as he started toward the main doors.

" How about in our fifth year when you told your mum you wouldn't cause any trouble?" Lupin shouted after him. Sirius turned around and smiled.

" I said I'd try! I didn't say I would for sure!!" He said with a loud laugh before walking out of the main doors. Lupin laughed after him and shook his head. The four of them walked into the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat down at an empty part of the table and began talking quietly about Rayne Riddle and what it all meant. Harry hardly ate anything while Ron told him all he knew about Rayne Riddle. After they were done, they all three headed back to the Gryffindor common room. Looking around at the common room, Harry realized just how tired he was. A yawn from Ron told him that he agreed. Hermione rubbed her eyes and looked at them.

" We should get some sleep. We were up late last night." She said with a yawn.

" Yeah, I'm bloody tired." Ron said, fighting off a yawn. The three of them then headed up the stairs and into their separate dorms. Harry stopped dead and looked at his four-poster in disbelief.

" The word sleep never…" Ron began, only to stop at the look on Harry's face. He looked over and his jaw dropped. " Bloody hell…"

That was the perfect way to describe what they saw. The hangings on Harry's bed were ripped and burnt, and something was glowing silver on Harry's sheets. Slowly, Harry walked up to his four-poster and gulped. It was silver inked writing that covered his entire blanket. The wind from the opened window ruffled his hair while he read:

                                             The lion and the Unicorn fight on Eve       

~End chapter 6

----------------

Everything except for Rayne Riddle and the plot line all belong to J.K. Rowling.