Chapter 3 - The Permandebien Star
The night went on with mummers of who would be taken by Voldemort next. Harry himself was concerned for Dumbledore though he still thought Dumbledore could handle it himself. Days went by fast as people merely just talked about the case. History was full of cases dealing with the Permandebien Star and Potions had only a test of what potions put together could make the power of the gem.
Harry knew it was getting closer and closer to the time when he talked to Sirius. He had told Ron and Hermione about it and they were waiting for it. Malfoy had sneered at them, but they didn't seem to notice.
"Hey poor-boy, I think I found a knut. You can have it, since I'm being charitable today," Malfoy would say. Ron would not even hear him and say OK. At this, Malfoy stomped away mad that Ron hadn't even looked him twice.
When it was finally the day, Harry owled Sirius that he was coming and went earlier than the regular people. He pulled the knot at the stump of the Whomping Willow and went through the secret tunnel with Ron. Sirius was waiting at the end of the tunnel.
"Hello, Harry and Ron. Was Hermione coming?" Sirius said.
"No," Ron said, "She had a prefect meeting."
"Hermione a prefect. I would have guessed," Sirius answered and ushered them to a couch in a room ahead.
"So how is school going?" Sirius asked. Harry knew it wasn't what Sirius wanted them there for, but he remembered he was his guardian. Harry told him fine.
"So what did you want me here for?"
"Oh, yes," Sirius said and started. "I know you have heard the news of the Forbidden Gem. Many of it is true. I just wanted to get you straight on knowing what it is and the power it possesses. The Permandebien Star was made by a lot of great wizards and witches way back in the 1700s. They used most of their power and put it in the gem for one purpose and one purpose only: to take out the evil in people. But there was one flaw in the gem; it could be also used to take out the good in people. One little boy a little younger than you both got a hold of it and took out the good in some people. These people wrecked havoc on the wizard world for a while. When they were finally caught they had gone crazy. They were locked in St. George's for all time. They are still there. The point of this is if Voldemort got the Permandebien Star, with all the power he is gaining, he could take over the wizarding world."
Ron and Harry both were surprised.
"Voldemort could use the gem on everything and he would rule."
"I can't believe that Voldemort could rule the whole wizarding world," Harry said.
"I never knew that Voldemort's power was getting so big. With the gem he could do almost anything he wanted," Ron said.
"Even overpower Dumbledore," Harry said and gasped. Ron and him both were starting to get scared.
"There is a possibility of it, but let's not think about it now," Sirius said in an effort to make things not seem so glum. "The big problem is if Voldemort will get more power when he gets the gem. This means he will be coming to Hogwarts since Dumbledore is a rumored keeper. There is also another factor that I haven't told you yet."
"What is it, Sirius?" Harry asked.
Just then, a figure came into the room. Sirius was quick to standing up.
"Oh my" the figure said and was about to run back down the tunnel. Sirius said "Sestofio!" and the figure came to a halt. They went over to it to find it was
"Malfoy!" Harry and Ron shouted in unison.
"You know this boy?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. He is a classmate of ours," Ron said.
"Is it OK for me to unfreeze him?"
"Well" Harry said and looked to Ron. Ron just gave a shrug and nodded. "It's OK, but be sure that he can't speak and that he is pinned to the ground. We don't want him running off saying that we were with criminal No. 1."
Sirius quickly did his spells and Malfoy was pinned to the ground trying to talk.
Harry started, "Hi, Malfoy. This is Sirius Black, as you know. There are some things you need filling in on" From that Harry spilled his guts as fast as he could about Sirius and the "murders".
"So you see, Sirius isn't bad. Wormtail did all of that. Wormtail is now with Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who. And that's the whole story. Can you please not tell anyone?"
Malfoy was not resisting the bind anymore. He suddenly realized he was telling the truth. He nodded his head and was undone from the bind on the floor.
"Well, we need to get back," Malfoy said when he got up. "Snape is ready to take 60 house points away if you don't turn up."
"OK. Good-bye, Sirius," Ron said and followed Malfoy to the tunnel. Harry was about to go with them when Sirius stopped him and turned him around. He had a serious look on his face.
"There was one more piece of information I wanted you to have," Sirius said.
"What is it, Sirius?" Harry said.
Sirius whispered into his ear, "I'm one of the keepers of the Forbidden Gem. Voldemort will never find me though." Sirius stood up and continued, "Well off you go then."
Harry rushed to the door where Malfoy and Ron were waiting. They went out of the door and ran down the front steps of the Shrieking Shack to the many stores of Hogsmeade. Malfoy broke off from them like he had never been with them. Ron and Harry went into Honeydukes to see if any Chocolate Frogs or Jelly Slugs were in stock. Harry tried to forget about what Sirius had just said, and that worked for a while.
They left Hogsmeade with many candies, pranks, and other stuff. Harry didn't have the heart to tell Ron and Hermione the news of Sirius being a keeper, though he knew he had to. The rest of the day was spent walking around the school. They even spotted Neville in an empty room kissing a Hufflepuff girl. When they got back to the common room many people were there. They sat down at some armchairs and gave sighs.
"So how did you think the walk was?" Harry asked them with a giggle. They giggled back.
"Well, I have to get to my work," Hermione said. She started to leave, but Harry said wait.
"I want you both to hear this," Harry said.
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione said and sat back down.
"Yeah, Harry, what?" Ron said. Harry hesitated and thought, it's now or never.
"Well, you know about the keepers of the Forbidden Gem, right?" he said. They nodded. "Well, Sirius told me that he was one of them."
He then shut his eyes to not see their expression. When he heard nothing, he slightly opened his eyes. They had their mouths wide open.
"Does that mean?"
"You don't think it means?"
"Yes," Harry said, "Sirius is in danger."