A group of around thirty men, all robed in black stood in a circle
surrounding a tall, skeletal figure, swathed in black. They looked as if
they were standing in a room of a grand manor house. The figure in the
middle started to speak with an unnaturally high, cold voice, he said,
"As you will all be aware, one of my most faithful and skilled Deatheaters
was taken from me. He went to Azkaban for me, unlike any of you!" The men
in the circle shuffled uncomfortably, "He died in my service and it was in
that fool Albus Dumbledore's castle! But I have a plan that will show the
world that I am not to be messed with..."
A man with a silver hand stumbled forward, "Master please tell us, for we
are all eager to know what your cunning plan is."
"You will know in time Wormtail, as will you all, that my plan is more than
merely 'cunning'. However I will tell you that once the plan has been
carried out the world will know of my return and I will have secured the
thing I prize above all - Harry Potter will be dead."
* Harry woke up suddenly and sat bolt upright, taking a large intake of breath. His scar felt like it was burning into his forehead. He'd just had another dream. Voldemort was there, surrounded by deatheaters. They were talking about a plan -a plan to kill him. He must have woken up Sirius, because in stead of being curled up on the rug in the corner he had transformed into a man and was at Harry's bedside.
"Harry! Whats wrong? Are you OK?" he asked in urgent whispers, so as not to wake up the Dursleys. It was still very early and dark outside. "Yeah, I'm fine now but my scar's still sore." "Your scar? Why does your scar hurt?" asked Sirius sounding concerned. "I just had a another dream, about Voldemort, well I don't think its a dream I think it was actually happening. I had them before. Last summer, when I wrote to you, and I had one in the middle of a Divination class last term" "What was happening? What was Voldemort doing?" "He had a load of deatheaters with him and they were talking - about a plan." "A plan to do what?" Harry didn't want to tell Sirius that Voldemort was planning to kill him; he didn't want to make him worry. He had enough to worry about trying not to get caught by Dementors and being sent back to Azkaban. "I'm not really sure. He mentioned something that everybody would know that he was back. I - er - cant remember the rest," he said the last sentence lookingdown at the floor. He couldn't lie to Sirius while looking him in the eyes. "I'm sure it'll be OK Harry. I'll get in touch with Dumbledore in the morning, but I think we should just try and get some sleep tonight if you're sure you're all right." "Yeah your right." Harry didn't know why but having Sirius there made him feel better, sort of safe. The Dursleys weren't too happy about Harry's new 'pet' but when Harry explained that the dog was a gift from Sirius they seemed to change their minds about throwing him out (helped by a few menacing growls from Sirius). "Just so long as you feed him and take him for walks. I'm not going to be responsible for keeping him!" Harry didn't mind this at all. He'd just take food up to his room and eat it with Sirius but if they heard footsteps of an approaching Dursley Sirius would quickly transform into a dog again. * It had been a while since Harry had had his dream and during this time a weight seemed to have settled in his chest and he couldn't shake off. He had received two letters, one from Ron just saying hello and one from Hermione telling Harry that she was about to go to Bulgaria to see Vicktor Krum (her famous Quidditch playing boyfriend). Harry was also getting a copy of The Daily Prophet every day and as yet there was no news about Voldemort. But Harry's most important letter came on a very sunny morning in mid July. Harry was sitting at the breakfast table by himself as Sirius was still asleep, when shout came from the living room, "Get in here boy and get rid of this ruddy owl!" Harry sighed and put down the piece of toast that was half way to his mouth and went to see what his Uncle was yelling about this time. When he went he saw a tawny owl flying around the living room, clutching a letter and a newspaper. That's strange, thought Harry, he'd already received a newspaper this morning, though he hadn't even looked at it yet. When the owl saw Harry it flew over to him and dropped its load at his feet and soared back out of the window ,obviously glad to get away from Uncle Vernon, who had been trying to 'shoo' it away with a rolled up newspaper, jumping up and down like a mad man in the process. Uncle Vernon looked like an enraged bull when he turned around to Harry, "What on earth was that?" he growled at Harry. "It was an owl. What else would it be?" "Don't you take that tone with me boy! What was it delivering?" Uncle Vernon looked distinctly purple in the face, and his eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of his head. Harry put the letter in his pocket and started to unfold the newspaper, "Not that you need to know but it was delivering my -." What Harry saw on the front page made him stop. He didn't feel like talking . The headline was; "Memorial to be held for Triwizard Champion" So they had found out about Cedric. What else did they know Harry wondered. As he read the article it didn't look like they knew much else, either that or they weren't allowed to say anything. Fudge may be controlling the headlines in order to prevent a mass panic. The article mainly consisted of information about a memorial that was going to be held in a few days for Cedric. Although it didn't say how he had died, it did say that he, and Harry had represented Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament and that Harry was there when Cedric had, "tragically lost his life attempting to complete the third, and final task which was held three weeks ago on the 24th June. " This made Harry angry. They made it look as if Cedric had died in an accident, made it look as if he wasn't capable of carrying out the task. Harry remembered only too well how he died, he would never forget it. His death was not thebi-product of a 'tragic accident' he was murdered - murdered by Voldemort. Harryhad only just escaped with his life... and Cedric's body. "Well whats' wrong with you? Cat got your tongue? I asked you a question. What is it you're reading?" yelled Uncle Vernon bringing Harry back to earth with a nasty bump. "Didnt anyone ever tell you its rude to interrupt someone when they're reading the paper?" said Harry sarcastically. "Dont be cheeky to me boy!" thundered Uncle Vernon, and before Harry could do anything to stop him he had grabbed the newspaper out of Harry's hand, straightened it with a flourish and started to read. He only wanted to read it because he wanted to know what Harry looked so surprised at and because he knew that Harry didn't want him to read it. Aunt Petunia craned her neck and started to read the paper over Uncle Vernon's shoulder. Their eyes widened with surprise at the sight of the moving photograph of Cedric. Harry stood awkwardly as the Dursleys read the article with a definite look of puzzlement on their faces. When they had finished reading Uncle Vernon turned back towards Harry. "What' s all this rubbish? Why are you in the papers? And who is this Diggory boy.?" "None of your business" said Harry coolly, Uncle Vernon was just being downright nosy, "And its not rubbish!" said Harry feeling angry at his Uncle's constant questioning. Harry could see Dudley out of the corner of his eye with a very smug look on his pinkie face, he loved seeing Harry in trouble. Just as Uncle Vernon opened his mouth to throw a furious reply back at him, Harry stood up jerked the paper out of his fat fist and stormed out of the room with the paper in his hand, the letter in his pocket and Sirius padding along at his side. He simply ignored his Uncles yells of ,"Get back in here boy! Don't you walk away from me!" When Harry stepped into his room Sirius transformed into a man, closed the door and sat down on the bed next to Harry. "What was all that about Harry?" "My Uncle was just annoyed because an owl was flying around the living room and he got worse when wouldn't show him the newspaper it delivered," said Harry passing the newspaper to Sirius. Harry pulled out the letter that had come with the newspaper, he didn't recognise the handwriting on the envelope. He carefully opened the letter as Sirius read the paper Harry read his letter:
Dear Harry,As you probably already know from reading the newspaper we are holding a service for Cedric. We are writing to invite you. It will be held on the 24th July. As we weren't sure as to how you were going to get there we sent you a portkey A portkey? They didn't send a portkey did they? thought Harry. We turned the enclosed copy of The Daily Prophet into a portkey for you. If you hold it at 12.30 on the day, you will be transported directly to the service. Best wishes Amos Diggory
Harry wanted to go but after the argument he had just had with Uncle Vernon would he let him go? Who cared if they didn't Harry would just tell them five minutes before he left. After all it was Harry's fault he was dead...wasn't it? "What's wrong Harry?" asked Sirius after seeing the look on Harry's face, "Is it something in the letter?" "Its an invitation to a memorial service for Cedric Diggory, the newspaper is a portkey," said Harry sounding deep in thought. "Are you going to go?" "Yeah it's in a few days time." "I'm going with you. I'm not going to let you go alone, its too dangerous." Harry knew it was no use to argue, and besides he wanted Sirius to be there. * Harry didn't even go down for breakfast on the day of the funeral. He didn't feel much like eating anyway. He wasn't sure what he should wear to a wizards funeral but Sirius advised him to wear his black school robes and hat. He pocketed his wand. He always carried in the wizarding world - just in case. It was 12:25 time to tell the Dursleys he was leaving. "Are you ready to go?" Harry asked Sirius. "I'm ready if you are," he said and swiftly turned into a dog and trotted behind Harry to the living room. "About time. I wondered when you'd surface." said Uncle Vernon without looking away from the television. But he must have noticed the tense silence from his wife and son because he looked up .When his eyes fixed themselves on Harry they widened. "What -why are you wearing that get up?" he said eventually finding his voice ."I'm going to a funeral," retorted Harry. "What? No you're not," said whilst trying to shake off his wife who had frozen in fright with her arms around him. "Yes I am I leave in about two minutes," he said looking at the clock on the wall. "What do you mean you leave in two minutes? If you're expecting a lift you've got another thing coming!" yelled Uncle Vernon the colour returning to his face with full force. "I don't need a lift. I'm taking this," said Harry pulling out he newspaper. He could have burst out laughing at the look of utter confusion on each of the Dursleys faces. They all clearly thought Harry was off his trolley. "Dont be so ruddy stupid boy! You can't get anywhere with a newspaper." "You can with this one," he held it out for Sirius to place hi paw on, "See you later then," said Harry to an astonished family, and then he felt that all too familiar jerk from behind his navel and vanished from the Dursleys living room, leaving them all with their mouths hanging open.
* Harry woke up suddenly and sat bolt upright, taking a large intake of breath. His scar felt like it was burning into his forehead. He'd just had another dream. Voldemort was there, surrounded by deatheaters. They were talking about a plan -a plan to kill him. He must have woken up Sirius, because in stead of being curled up on the rug in the corner he had transformed into a man and was at Harry's bedside.
"Harry! Whats wrong? Are you OK?" he asked in urgent whispers, so as not to wake up the Dursleys. It was still very early and dark outside. "Yeah, I'm fine now but my scar's still sore." "Your scar? Why does your scar hurt?" asked Sirius sounding concerned. "I just had a another dream, about Voldemort, well I don't think its a dream I think it was actually happening. I had them before. Last summer, when I wrote to you, and I had one in the middle of a Divination class last term" "What was happening? What was Voldemort doing?" "He had a load of deatheaters with him and they were talking - about a plan." "A plan to do what?" Harry didn't want to tell Sirius that Voldemort was planning to kill him; he didn't want to make him worry. He had enough to worry about trying not to get caught by Dementors and being sent back to Azkaban. "I'm not really sure. He mentioned something that everybody would know that he was back. I - er - cant remember the rest," he said the last sentence lookingdown at the floor. He couldn't lie to Sirius while looking him in the eyes. "I'm sure it'll be OK Harry. I'll get in touch with Dumbledore in the morning, but I think we should just try and get some sleep tonight if you're sure you're all right." "Yeah your right." Harry didn't know why but having Sirius there made him feel better, sort of safe. The Dursleys weren't too happy about Harry's new 'pet' but when Harry explained that the dog was a gift from Sirius they seemed to change their minds about throwing him out (helped by a few menacing growls from Sirius). "Just so long as you feed him and take him for walks. I'm not going to be responsible for keeping him!" Harry didn't mind this at all. He'd just take food up to his room and eat it with Sirius but if they heard footsteps of an approaching Dursley Sirius would quickly transform into a dog again. * It had been a while since Harry had had his dream and during this time a weight seemed to have settled in his chest and he couldn't shake off. He had received two letters, one from Ron just saying hello and one from Hermione telling Harry that she was about to go to Bulgaria to see Vicktor Krum (her famous Quidditch playing boyfriend). Harry was also getting a copy of The Daily Prophet every day and as yet there was no news about Voldemort. But Harry's most important letter came on a very sunny morning in mid July. Harry was sitting at the breakfast table by himself as Sirius was still asleep, when shout came from the living room, "Get in here boy and get rid of this ruddy owl!" Harry sighed and put down the piece of toast that was half way to his mouth and went to see what his Uncle was yelling about this time. When he went he saw a tawny owl flying around the living room, clutching a letter and a newspaper. That's strange, thought Harry, he'd already received a newspaper this morning, though he hadn't even looked at it yet. When the owl saw Harry it flew over to him and dropped its load at his feet and soared back out of the window ,obviously glad to get away from Uncle Vernon, who had been trying to 'shoo' it away with a rolled up newspaper, jumping up and down like a mad man in the process. Uncle Vernon looked like an enraged bull when he turned around to Harry, "What on earth was that?" he growled at Harry. "It was an owl. What else would it be?" "Don't you take that tone with me boy! What was it delivering?" Uncle Vernon looked distinctly purple in the face, and his eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of his head. Harry put the letter in his pocket and started to unfold the newspaper, "Not that you need to know but it was delivering my -." What Harry saw on the front page made him stop. He didn't feel like talking . The headline was; "Memorial to be held for Triwizard Champion" So they had found out about Cedric. What else did they know Harry wondered. As he read the article it didn't look like they knew much else, either that or they weren't allowed to say anything. Fudge may be controlling the headlines in order to prevent a mass panic. The article mainly consisted of information about a memorial that was going to be held in a few days for Cedric. Although it didn't say how he had died, it did say that he, and Harry had represented Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament and that Harry was there when Cedric had, "tragically lost his life attempting to complete the third, and final task which was held three weeks ago on the 24th June. " This made Harry angry. They made it look as if Cedric had died in an accident, made it look as if he wasn't capable of carrying out the task. Harry remembered only too well how he died, he would never forget it. His death was not thebi-product of a 'tragic accident' he was murdered - murdered by Voldemort. Harryhad only just escaped with his life... and Cedric's body. "Well whats' wrong with you? Cat got your tongue? I asked you a question. What is it you're reading?" yelled Uncle Vernon bringing Harry back to earth with a nasty bump. "Didnt anyone ever tell you its rude to interrupt someone when they're reading the paper?" said Harry sarcastically. "Dont be cheeky to me boy!" thundered Uncle Vernon, and before Harry could do anything to stop him he had grabbed the newspaper out of Harry's hand, straightened it with a flourish and started to read. He only wanted to read it because he wanted to know what Harry looked so surprised at and because he knew that Harry didn't want him to read it. Aunt Petunia craned her neck and started to read the paper over Uncle Vernon's shoulder. Their eyes widened with surprise at the sight of the moving photograph of Cedric. Harry stood awkwardly as the Dursleys read the article with a definite look of puzzlement on their faces. When they had finished reading Uncle Vernon turned back towards Harry. "What' s all this rubbish? Why are you in the papers? And who is this Diggory boy.?" "None of your business" said Harry coolly, Uncle Vernon was just being downright nosy, "And its not rubbish!" said Harry feeling angry at his Uncle's constant questioning. Harry could see Dudley out of the corner of his eye with a very smug look on his pinkie face, he loved seeing Harry in trouble. Just as Uncle Vernon opened his mouth to throw a furious reply back at him, Harry stood up jerked the paper out of his fat fist and stormed out of the room with the paper in his hand, the letter in his pocket and Sirius padding along at his side. He simply ignored his Uncles yells of ,"Get back in here boy! Don't you walk away from me!" When Harry stepped into his room Sirius transformed into a man, closed the door and sat down on the bed next to Harry. "What was all that about Harry?" "My Uncle was just annoyed because an owl was flying around the living room and he got worse when wouldn't show him the newspaper it delivered," said Harry passing the newspaper to Sirius. Harry pulled out the letter that had come with the newspaper, he didn't recognise the handwriting on the envelope. He carefully opened the letter as Sirius read the paper Harry read his letter:
Dear Harry,As you probably already know from reading the newspaper we are holding a service for Cedric. We are writing to invite you. It will be held on the 24th July. As we weren't sure as to how you were going to get there we sent you a portkey A portkey? They didn't send a portkey did they? thought Harry. We turned the enclosed copy of The Daily Prophet into a portkey for you. If you hold it at 12.30 on the day, you will be transported directly to the service. Best wishes Amos Diggory
Harry wanted to go but after the argument he had just had with Uncle Vernon would he let him go? Who cared if they didn't Harry would just tell them five minutes before he left. After all it was Harry's fault he was dead...wasn't it? "What's wrong Harry?" asked Sirius after seeing the look on Harry's face, "Is it something in the letter?" "Its an invitation to a memorial service for Cedric Diggory, the newspaper is a portkey," said Harry sounding deep in thought. "Are you going to go?" "Yeah it's in a few days time." "I'm going with you. I'm not going to let you go alone, its too dangerous." Harry knew it was no use to argue, and besides he wanted Sirius to be there. * Harry didn't even go down for breakfast on the day of the funeral. He didn't feel much like eating anyway. He wasn't sure what he should wear to a wizards funeral but Sirius advised him to wear his black school robes and hat. He pocketed his wand. He always carried in the wizarding world - just in case. It was 12:25 time to tell the Dursleys he was leaving. "Are you ready to go?" Harry asked Sirius. "I'm ready if you are," he said and swiftly turned into a dog and trotted behind Harry to the living room. "About time. I wondered when you'd surface." said Uncle Vernon without looking away from the television. But he must have noticed the tense silence from his wife and son because he looked up .When his eyes fixed themselves on Harry they widened. "What -why are you wearing that get up?" he said eventually finding his voice ."I'm going to a funeral," retorted Harry. "What? No you're not," said whilst trying to shake off his wife who had frozen in fright with her arms around him. "Yes I am I leave in about two minutes," he said looking at the clock on the wall. "What do you mean you leave in two minutes? If you're expecting a lift you've got another thing coming!" yelled Uncle Vernon the colour returning to his face with full force. "I don't need a lift. I'm taking this," said Harry pulling out he newspaper. He could have burst out laughing at the look of utter confusion on each of the Dursleys faces. They all clearly thought Harry was off his trolley. "Dont be so ruddy stupid boy! You can't get anywhere with a newspaper." "You can with this one," he held it out for Sirius to place hi paw on, "See you later then," said Harry to an astonished family, and then he felt that all too familiar jerk from behind his navel and vanished from the Dursleys living room, leaving them all with their mouths hanging open.