Chapter 12: Harry's Second Big Surprise
At breakfast the next morning, Harry sat next to Ron and Hermione, as usual.
Neville Longbottom walked in, looking rather pale.
'Neville! How are you!?' said Hermione, as he sat a few paces down, next to Lavender Brown.
'A bit better, I will be returning to school today,' he said a bit shaken.
The door to the entrance hall opened, and in came Professor McGonagall.
'I am afraid I have some terrible news,' she said, and all were quite.
'Professor Dumbledore was fired.'
There was gasp throughout the dinning hall.
Harry took this news hard, and sat shocked, and waiting for more information.
'The Minister of Magic informed him that, by a popular vote, he was to step down. We terribly will miss him. I am now your Headmistress, although it is with a very heavy heart I take it... I know that we all will miss Albus Dumbledore. I must also tell you that Professor Figg has taken leave as well, and will return in the short future. Until then, Professor Snape will be filling in for her at her Defense Against the Dark Art's job until she is able to return.'
Harry saw Malfoy give high fives to his friends Crabbe and Goyle.
'What do we do!' Harry whispered to Hermione and Ron.
'Oh Harry, this is bad!' she replied. 'How will you be safe now that he is gone!'
'That's what I was thinking... But I am not worried. Dumbledore will do something, I know he will...' said Harry.
Two days went by without any word. During those two days, Professor Snape was rather harsh in his teachings of Defense Against the Dark Arts, at on top of that his Potions were a lot harder than Wood's were. Professor McGonagall returned order to the school rather quickly, however, she was worried about Harry, and that issue came up one day during a private meeting.
'Mr. Potter, I am sure you are very worried for your own safety. You know that it has been long said that you are in safe hands when Dumbledore is around, and that You-Know-Who won't come after you when Professor Dumbledore is around...'
'I have heard that, but I am not that worried... should I be, Professor?'
She gave a look at him, a look that made him cold inside. It was the look of sorrow...
The look came from deep within her aged eyes.
'Certainly not, Harry,' she said. Harry didn't believe her, and to make matters worse, he seemed to see tears swelling in her eye. She looked fearful.
In a forrest, there walked a man in a cloak. He moved slowly yet swiftly, searching. His entire body and head was completely covered.
Past a large tree he went, into the twilight of the coming night.
By the time the man made it to his destination, only the light from his wand tip could be seen as he entered a dark cave. Inside the cave, the sound of dripping and echoing breathing could be heard...
'Put down your wand and reveal yourself!' came the scratchy voice from inside the darkness.
The man put his wand down on the floor, and took his hood off his head... to reveal a long white beard.
'So, you have come!' said the voice.
'Yes, the time has come we discuss our situation. I have kept quite long enough, my loyalty is with you now,' said Albus Dumbledore to the voice inside the dark cave.
There was footsteps coming to Dumbledore...
A blinding light filled the cave... a rat ran behind Dumbledore.
The light was a lantern.
'It is great to see you, Dumbledore,' said Sirius Black, holding the lantern. 'I am sorry if I startled you when you entered the cave, I have to be safe. What do you mean, your loyalty is with me?'
'Just what it means, Sirius... we must stick together. Harry will be in very big trouble, you know that. We can only hope that Severus and Minerva can watch him best can be. I have alerted the Aurors of possible danger. They will be alert now, for Fudge hasn't gotten to them yet.
Hagrid and Madame Maxime have gone to alert the Giants, hopefully they will be on our side, but I am not sure that they alone can keep care of that. Let us hope.'
'Have they a keen eye on Harry's cousin? For your fears may come true any time now...' said Sirius.
'Yes, they are... he believes he is taking a test, and that he is to stay there only until November 1, but they will come up with explanations for his prolonged stay. He is at the Auror center now...
I fear, Sirius, that a war could break out... if his supporters, all of them, return to him, and more.'
'Where will you stay?'
'I will stay where I may, and have too, do not worry. Our next meeting, though, won't be until Halloween, but we will have a lot harder a time getting Harry out of the Castle.'
Harry would begin Quidditch practice on the first of November, which was only a few days away now. Ron had made the Quidditch team as seeker! He was very excited and couldn't wait for their first match next month. Nothing else happened between the time of Harry's meeting with Professor McGonagall and now. However,
'Harry! Ron!' shouted Hermione, with tears in her eyes.
'What is it?' said Ron.
'It's Crookshanks! He's been missing for a week now! I don't know what to do! Where could he be?'
They started a search all along the school grounds one weekend afternoon, but he did not turn up.
She nearly gave up all hope, when at last he showed up just the day before.
'Where have you been you stupid cat!' she said, as she hugged him.
Harry began to think... he had witnessed Mrs. Figg transform into that same cat that he saw with Crookshanks the day he disappeared... where could they have gone?
The day of October 31st came, and Harry eagerly awaited anything from Sirius in the mail, or even Sirius himself... however, he was in his last class of the day, Potions, when he began to wonder if anything would happen at all.
'That will be it for today class...' said Snape slowly, rising. The student began piling out.
'Mr. Potter! You! Stay!' shouted Snape. Harry gave a look to Harry and Ron, as if to say help, but they were gone.
Harry slowly walked to Snape's desk.
'What is it Professor?'
Snape stared long at Harry, with a stare of uncertain value. He came to say, 'I have received a letter concerning you... you must meet me here tonight after sunset... that is final!'
With that, Harry left, bewildered.
But the time came, and he entered the dark dungeons.
'What is it Professor, you wished to see me?' he said, seeing Snape waiting at his desk.
'Your birthday present... Potter... be prepared, for you will be aparated.'
'Um... I don't understand. How?'
'Oh, there is a way, Potter... I simply mutter a spell and you disappear. On the other end awaits your... Godfather. Do not consider this a favor boy! I have been instructed to do this.'
'But how can I aparate? Don't I need a license for that?'
'If you did it yourself you would... I just aim my wand and you show up there...'
An evil look came upon Snape's face, which made Harry uneasy.
'Stand here, Potter... ready?'
Harry wasn't too sure, but he obliged.
Harry barely had time to hear what Snape muttered when he felt his body stiffen and he felt cold all around him.
He opened his eyes, which he noticed he had closed, and looked around.
Amazingly, he was outside... in the dark and the cold... far from the start of the Halloween party, who knows how many miles away from the school...
He began to shake, from both fear and cold, as he realized something horrible... what if he was just turned over to Voldemort by Snape? Could this be a trick like the Triwizard tournament?
'Harry!'
Harry leapt on the spot, and turned, to see Sirius. He was relieved.
'Sirius! What is this place?'
Harry noticed he was on hard surface... the ground was a road of sort. Dumbledore seemed to materialize before him.
'Professor Dumbledore! I am glad to see you!' shouted Harry.
Dumbledore was very glad to see him... but he had a look of sadness in his eye.
'Harry, you will learn everything, after you see what you have come to see, dear boy...
We will talk then... come now, follow us.'
With that, Sirius, Dumbledore and Harry walked side by side down this road of sorts. Then, there was an off road, which wasn't as hard a surface as the last one. The road looked dark, empty and disserted.
It looked like nobody had been there for ages. The grass grew high in parts on the side of the road...
Then, Harry noticed something thin and tall standing... it was a sign, much like the one at Privet Drive.
'What is this place?' said Harry... but he didn't have to hear them say the answer... for he read the sign, and his heart gave a leap, both of wonder and sadness...
The sign read, in the gloom of the darkness... hanging on it's side's on it's hinge's...
GODRIC'S HOLLOW
At breakfast the next morning, Harry sat next to Ron and Hermione, as usual.
Neville Longbottom walked in, looking rather pale.
'Neville! How are you!?' said Hermione, as he sat a few paces down, next to Lavender Brown.
'A bit better, I will be returning to school today,' he said a bit shaken.
The door to the entrance hall opened, and in came Professor McGonagall.
'I am afraid I have some terrible news,' she said, and all were quite.
'Professor Dumbledore was fired.'
There was gasp throughout the dinning hall.
Harry took this news hard, and sat shocked, and waiting for more information.
'The Minister of Magic informed him that, by a popular vote, he was to step down. We terribly will miss him. I am now your Headmistress, although it is with a very heavy heart I take it... I know that we all will miss Albus Dumbledore. I must also tell you that Professor Figg has taken leave as well, and will return in the short future. Until then, Professor Snape will be filling in for her at her Defense Against the Dark Art's job until she is able to return.'
Harry saw Malfoy give high fives to his friends Crabbe and Goyle.
'What do we do!' Harry whispered to Hermione and Ron.
'Oh Harry, this is bad!' she replied. 'How will you be safe now that he is gone!'
'That's what I was thinking... But I am not worried. Dumbledore will do something, I know he will...' said Harry.
Two days went by without any word. During those two days, Professor Snape was rather harsh in his teachings of Defense Against the Dark Arts, at on top of that his Potions were a lot harder than Wood's were. Professor McGonagall returned order to the school rather quickly, however, she was worried about Harry, and that issue came up one day during a private meeting.
'Mr. Potter, I am sure you are very worried for your own safety. You know that it has been long said that you are in safe hands when Dumbledore is around, and that You-Know-Who won't come after you when Professor Dumbledore is around...'
'I have heard that, but I am not that worried... should I be, Professor?'
She gave a look at him, a look that made him cold inside. It was the look of sorrow...
The look came from deep within her aged eyes.
'Certainly not, Harry,' she said. Harry didn't believe her, and to make matters worse, he seemed to see tears swelling in her eye. She looked fearful.
In a forrest, there walked a man in a cloak. He moved slowly yet swiftly, searching. His entire body and head was completely covered.
Past a large tree he went, into the twilight of the coming night.
By the time the man made it to his destination, only the light from his wand tip could be seen as he entered a dark cave. Inside the cave, the sound of dripping and echoing breathing could be heard...
'Put down your wand and reveal yourself!' came the scratchy voice from inside the darkness.
The man put his wand down on the floor, and took his hood off his head... to reveal a long white beard.
'So, you have come!' said the voice.
'Yes, the time has come we discuss our situation. I have kept quite long enough, my loyalty is with you now,' said Albus Dumbledore to the voice inside the dark cave.
There was footsteps coming to Dumbledore...
A blinding light filled the cave... a rat ran behind Dumbledore.
The light was a lantern.
'It is great to see you, Dumbledore,' said Sirius Black, holding the lantern. 'I am sorry if I startled you when you entered the cave, I have to be safe. What do you mean, your loyalty is with me?'
'Just what it means, Sirius... we must stick together. Harry will be in very big trouble, you know that. We can only hope that Severus and Minerva can watch him best can be. I have alerted the Aurors of possible danger. They will be alert now, for Fudge hasn't gotten to them yet.
Hagrid and Madame Maxime have gone to alert the Giants, hopefully they will be on our side, but I am not sure that they alone can keep care of that. Let us hope.'
'Have they a keen eye on Harry's cousin? For your fears may come true any time now...' said Sirius.
'Yes, they are... he believes he is taking a test, and that he is to stay there only until November 1, but they will come up with explanations for his prolonged stay. He is at the Auror center now...
I fear, Sirius, that a war could break out... if his supporters, all of them, return to him, and more.'
'Where will you stay?'
'I will stay where I may, and have too, do not worry. Our next meeting, though, won't be until Halloween, but we will have a lot harder a time getting Harry out of the Castle.'
Harry would begin Quidditch practice on the first of November, which was only a few days away now. Ron had made the Quidditch team as seeker! He was very excited and couldn't wait for their first match next month. Nothing else happened between the time of Harry's meeting with Professor McGonagall and now. However,
'Harry! Ron!' shouted Hermione, with tears in her eyes.
'What is it?' said Ron.
'It's Crookshanks! He's been missing for a week now! I don't know what to do! Where could he be?'
They started a search all along the school grounds one weekend afternoon, but he did not turn up.
She nearly gave up all hope, when at last he showed up just the day before.
'Where have you been you stupid cat!' she said, as she hugged him.
Harry began to think... he had witnessed Mrs. Figg transform into that same cat that he saw with Crookshanks the day he disappeared... where could they have gone?
The day of October 31st came, and Harry eagerly awaited anything from Sirius in the mail, or even Sirius himself... however, he was in his last class of the day, Potions, when he began to wonder if anything would happen at all.
'That will be it for today class...' said Snape slowly, rising. The student began piling out.
'Mr. Potter! You! Stay!' shouted Snape. Harry gave a look to Harry and Ron, as if to say help, but they were gone.
Harry slowly walked to Snape's desk.
'What is it Professor?'
Snape stared long at Harry, with a stare of uncertain value. He came to say, 'I have received a letter concerning you... you must meet me here tonight after sunset... that is final!'
With that, Harry left, bewildered.
But the time came, and he entered the dark dungeons.
'What is it Professor, you wished to see me?' he said, seeing Snape waiting at his desk.
'Your birthday present... Potter... be prepared, for you will be aparated.'
'Um... I don't understand. How?'
'Oh, there is a way, Potter... I simply mutter a spell and you disappear. On the other end awaits your... Godfather. Do not consider this a favor boy! I have been instructed to do this.'
'But how can I aparate? Don't I need a license for that?'
'If you did it yourself you would... I just aim my wand and you show up there...'
An evil look came upon Snape's face, which made Harry uneasy.
'Stand here, Potter... ready?'
Harry wasn't too sure, but he obliged.
Harry barely had time to hear what Snape muttered when he felt his body stiffen and he felt cold all around him.
He opened his eyes, which he noticed he had closed, and looked around.
Amazingly, he was outside... in the dark and the cold... far from the start of the Halloween party, who knows how many miles away from the school...
He began to shake, from both fear and cold, as he realized something horrible... what if he was just turned over to Voldemort by Snape? Could this be a trick like the Triwizard tournament?
'Harry!'
Harry leapt on the spot, and turned, to see Sirius. He was relieved.
'Sirius! What is this place?'
Harry noticed he was on hard surface... the ground was a road of sort. Dumbledore seemed to materialize before him.
'Professor Dumbledore! I am glad to see you!' shouted Harry.
Dumbledore was very glad to see him... but he had a look of sadness in his eye.
'Harry, you will learn everything, after you see what you have come to see, dear boy...
We will talk then... come now, follow us.'
With that, Sirius, Dumbledore and Harry walked side by side down this road of sorts. Then, there was an off road, which wasn't as hard a surface as the last one. The road looked dark, empty and disserted.
It looked like nobody had been there for ages. The grass grew high in parts on the side of the road...
Then, Harry noticed something thin and tall standing... it was a sign, much like the one at Privet Drive.
'What is this place?' said Harry... but he didn't have to hear them say the answer... for he read the sign, and his heart gave a leap, both of wonder and sadness...
The sign read, in the gloom of the darkness... hanging on it's side's on it's hinge's...
GODRIC'S HOLLOW
