Harry Potter & the Dark Lord – Chapter 4
~Mrs. Figg~
Disclaimer: The characters, setting, etc., belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you all for reviewing. Please don't stop ;-) We left off with Harry somehow setting up a double date for Ginny, Neville, himself and Cho. He finally gets a chance to speak to Professor Figg, and Hermione and Ron had just had another fight! Well, enjoy.
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Harry felt better after resting a while, and had finally managed to get Ginny and Cho out of his mind when he remembered his meeting with Professor Figg. At six o'clock sharp, he stood outside her office, which had seen a few different occupants over Harry's years at Hogwarts. He shuddered remembering that the last time he was there, Barty Crouch, Jr., impersonating Mad Eye Moody, had tried to kill him. Before the memories could come rushing back, he noticed Professor Figg sitting at her desk, and she waved him in.
"Well, Harry," she began, "I'm sure you have a lot of questions for me. I suppose you remember me from your Privet Drive days?"
Harry nodded, not sure where to begin, but as soon as he opened his mouth the words rushed out and he had to restrain himself from yelling.
"Why didn't you tell me? I could have known everything years earlier! All those times…"
"Now, Harry, think about it. It wasn't my place," Professor Figg said calmly. "If I had told you as a child who you really were, would you have been able to keep it to yourself? If the Dursleys found out who I was, do you think they would have let you anywhere near me? No, it was the only way I could watch over you. Dumbledore knew what he was doing." Professor Figg had a faraway look in her eyes, as if she were lost in memories of long ago.
Harry begrudgingly admitted to himself that she was probably right, and sat silently thinking. Professor Figg added, "It wasn't all bad, was it Harry? I tried my best, showing you pictures of my pets, feeding you sweets. I daresay you didn't get much at the Dursley's?" Harry remembered the stale chocolate cake he had at Mrs. Figg's and tired to fake a smile of thanks.
Harry remembered his other reason for wanting to speak to Mrs. Figg. "Mrs., I mean, Professor Figg," he ventured warily, "what about Sirius Black? You and Professor Fletcher where friends with him, I heard Dumbledore say so last term."
Professor Figg smiled. "While I appreciate you thinking I'm young enough to have been part of Sirius' old gang, I'm afraid it isn't so."
"But I specifically remember him saying Arabella Figg," Harry insisted, desperate to find out about Sirius.
Professor Figg simply gave him her odd smile. "Oh, I'm sure he did. Only he probably meant my daughter. We share the same name. Arabella did indeed go to school with Sirius…and with your parents."
Harry was filled with conflicting emotions at the mention of his parents. "Did you know them?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, indeed I did, Harry," Professor Figg responded. "Arabella frequently brought the lot over to visit over the holidays. I remember them well. I'm sure you've heard that you bear a remarkable likeness to your father."
"Yeah," Harry muttered, "except for the eyes. I've got my Mum's eyes."
"That you do, Harry. I remember Lily's sparkling eyes as if it were yesterday," she said fondly. "Arabella and Lily were inseparable. That is, until Lily and James began dating."
"Where's Arabella now?" Harry was almost scared to hear the response.
Professor Figg's eyes clouded over. "She went searching for Voldemort as soon as Remus contacted her. I can't tell you how relieved she was to hear the truth about Sirius – that has haunted her for many years."
Harry's mind was spinning; he could have used a Pensieve at the moment. "But, do you know where Sirius is now? I mean, I read in the paper…" Harry stopped. He didn't know if he should mention about Sirius being an unregistered Animagus, unsure about how much Dumbledore had shared.
"Yes, Arabella had heard Voldemort was in Africa, and she went to investigate. Sirius went after her." Seeing Harry's worried expression, she added fiercely, "Voldemort is very dangerous, but he doesn't have them yet. I just received an owl today from Arabella. Apparently, Voldemort somehow apprehended her and was going to use her to learn about the others' whereabouts. Sirius showed up, as Padfoot, of course, and attacked Voldemort, enabling them both to escape. I don't think he realized who Sirius was, or surely they would not have gotten away. It confused him a bit, I think. In the scramble, Arabella started a fire between Voldemort and themselves. They were able to break free, but just barely. Arabella is nursing Sirius back to health now; they're both in hiding. I don't know exactly where they are."
Harry didn't know whether to be relieved or to panic. Sirius was alive, but hurt. He had seen Voldemort… "You say his name, too," he noticed.
"Yes, Dumbledore taught Arabella and all her friends to not fear Voldemort's name. If only more would listen," she paused looking at Harry's troubled face. "Perhaps you've had enough for one day, Harry. I know you've faced a lot already, but please let us handle this. Don't go putting yourself in danger. Go back to your room and be careful." She said this with such a note of finality in her voice that Harry just nodded and left quietly.
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Harry couldn't wait to tell Ron and Hermione what he had learned, but as he reached the fat lady's portrait, he remembered the fight in the Great Hall. He passed through the portrait hole ("Golden snitch" was the new password), and he saw red hair over the top of the chair by the fire. He rushed over and found Ron sitting with Ginny. He was holding a book, but was staring into the fire with a scowl on his face.
"Hi, Ron, Ginny..." Harry quickly sat between the two. "So, have you apologized to Hermione yet?"
"Why should I apologize?" Ron shouted, "I didn't do anything!"
"Um, Ron, you made her cry," Harry noted quietly, and Ron did look slightly ashamed.
"You made Hermione cry?" Ginny asked, surprised. "Ron, what's wrong with you?"
"Yeah, well, what about what she did? Huh, did she tell you that?" Ron added defensively.
Harry looked confused, "She said you should study instead of playing Quidditch?"
Ron looked exasperated, "No, Harry, that was just the breaking point. She lied to me! Friends don't lie to each other!"
Ginny asked doubtfully, "Are you sure? I can't imagine Hermione lying."
"Yeah, well, she did. At the Burrow, I asked her if she saw Krum over the summer and she told me no. Then I saw Harry's book, autographed by him! How else did she get it? I mean, if she wants to waste her time dating that Durmstrang (he added a few words that made Ginny blush) that's her business. I never heard her complaining that playing for a professional Quidditch team kept Vicky from his studies, but of course, he can't handle it. I'm sure she watched him play when she visited him over the summer." Ron's face was burning in anger. "No," he said firmly, shaking his head, "if I can't count on my friends to tell me the truth, then they're not really friends at all."
"But she didn't see Krum," Ginny and Harry both said at once.
Harry continued, "She owled the book to him for my birthday. She was in Iceland with her parents over the summer."
"And besides," Ginny added, "she told me she only likes him as a friend. Her parents wouldn't let her date someone his age!"
Ron looked very embarrassed. "What makes you think I care who she dates? I just don't trust Krum!" But his protests were growing weaker. He was silent for a moment, before adding sheepishly, "Maybe I was a little too hard on her."
"So that settles it, go find her and apologize!" Ginny ordered.
"No, I don't think she'll even talk to me now," Ron said dejectedly. "She's probably better off without a friend like me anyway."
Harry grew impatient. "Look Ron, I have to talk to both of you, tonight, so go find her NOW!"
Ron stared at him, his mouth hanging open. Harry ignored this, pushing Ron out of the common room. "She's probably in the library. GO!" And Ron disappeared through the portrait hole, with slumped shoulders and a face still red from shame.
Harry turned back, suddenly realizing he had now left himself alone with Ginny. He walked slowly to the fire, sitting as far away from the red haired girl as possible. He berated himself for this; Ginny wasn't going to bite after all. There was no reason to be nervous about being alone with her. He frantically searched for something to say.
"So, uh, I hear you and Neville are going to Hogsmeade together," he started. Harry wished he had the words back as soon as they left his mouth.
Ginny immediately looked at her feet. "Yeah, Neville mentioned that you and Cho were coming too?" she said lightly.
Now it was Harry's turn to look down, feeling his cheeks growing warmer. "I, uh, might meet her there, I guess." Harry surprised himself by wishing that Cho had never sat at his table earlier that day. This was just too complicated. "So, you and Neville really hit it off after the Yule Ball."
"Well, er, he's really nice I suppose, but," Ginny stopped and looked up quickly. "What about you and Cho? I thought you went to the Yule Ball with Parvati."
"Well, I asked Cho, too," Harry belatedly realized he should stop talking, "I mean, well, um…"
"Oh, right," Ginny said forlornly. "So you must be really happy Cho said yes when you asked her to meet you."
"But I didn't…I mean, things are different…" Before Harry could finish, he was interrupted by Hermione coming down from her dormitory.
"Hi guys," Hermione said dejectedly. She was cradling Crookshanks in her arms and her eyes were rimmed in red from crying.
"I thought you were in the library. Where's Ron?" Harry asked.
"How should I know?" Hermione's eyes flashed with anger briefly before returning to a dull stare. "He doesn't consider me a friend anymore, remember?"
"But, Hermione," Ginny added, "he was just looking for you to apologize!"
Hermione's eyes looked hopeful for a second. "Ron was going to apologize?" At that moment, Ron entered the common room.
"I couldn't find her," he began before he noticed her sitting behind Harry. "Oh." Fear washed over his face, but Ron swallowed and continued, "Hi, Hermione. Er, listen, about before…"
Before he could continue, Hermione had thrown her arms around his neck, crying "I'm sorry, too Ron. Let's not fight anymore!" Tears were welling up in her eyes again. Ron looked completely in shock, and awkwardly hugged Hermione back.
"No, Hermione," he pulled her arms off of him, although Harry thought he seemed a bit reluctant to do this, "I'm the one who should apologize. I had no right to say that to you. It was cruel and uncalled for. I was a total prat." Harry was very impressed with Ron's apology; he really hadn't expected it to be so easy.
"You're right," Hermione nodded, "and I accept your apology."
"Aren't you going to even take some of the blame?" Ron asked incredulously.
"No, why should I?" Hermione said, bending to pick up Crookshanks, who was looking quite peeved that he had been thrown from her lap earlier. Hermione had gotten back to her old self remarkably quickly once Ron had apologized. "Anyway, we don't need to talk about it anymore. We really should do our homework."
Ron began to argue, but Ginny gave him a sharp look and he closed his mouth.
"Well then, I'll just let you study," Ginny said quickly, grabbing her books to go.
"Wait, Ginny," Harry called after her. She turned briefly and looked at him expectantly. Harry wasn't sure why he had called her. He didn't know why, but he just didn't want her to go, and unable to think of any reason for her to stay, he just said lamely, "Uh, good night."
"Good night," Ginny replied and hurried up to her dormitory. Ron looked at him strangely for a second, but Harry quickly changed the subject.
"Wait'll I tell you what I heard from Professor Figg…"
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Later that night, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were still discussing everything Professor Figg had said about Arabella, Sirius, and the others. Hermione was particularly worried that Voldemort would figure out that Sirius was Padfoot and use him to get to Harry. Ron finally noticed it was already one in the morning and stood up for bed, stretching his long arms. Hermione started to gather her things when she suddenly noticed that Crookshanks was gone.
"Where'd he go? He was right here a minute ago!" Hermione was throwing all the cushions on the chairs to the floor, as if Crookshanks could have fit behind one.
"Calm down; he always wanders off," Ron reasoned. "He'll be back in the morning."
"But it's not safe for anyone to wander with Voldemort back! What if he gets hurt!"
Ron suggested they take Harry's invisibility cloak and look for him, but Hermione was even more horrified at that idea, so she finally agreed to wait until morning.
The next day, Crookshanks had still not turned up. Hermione was getting increasingly worried, and frustrated that Harry and Ron didn't share her concern. They were arguing over dinner when Harry thought he saw a flash of ginger by the door. He jumped up and ran out. A minute later, Ron and Hermione joined him.
"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asked breathlessly. Harry put a finger to his lips and motioned for them to follow him. He had to walk quickly to keep up with the cat, but it was still far ahead of them. After silently walking through countless corridors, they ended up in front of Snape's old office in the dungeons.
"You've returned! Good, good. Were you seen? Very well, so everything is going as planned. It'll be a while before Snape returns, I assume."
Harry slowly moved his head so he could see into the classroom. Inside he saw Professor Fletcher talking to Crookshanks, who was sitting there looking very satisfied with himself. All three looked at each other in disbelief. Fletcher was coming towards the door, so they were forced to leave before they could hear more.
As they returned to the common room, Ron began accusing Hermione of having a spy for a pet. They all thought it was apparent that Fletcher was working against Snape, but they couldn't agree if that was good or bad.
"Snape was a Death Eater, remember?" Ron was arguing.
"But Dumbledore trusts him! That should be enough for all of us," Hermione said shrilly.
"He kept Sirius from clearing his name!" Ron argued back. "Look, Hermione, you should be happy that Snape is on the bad side; that means your cat's doing something good for a change. Tell her Harry!"
But Harry didn't know what to think. He went up to bed and listened to his radio for hours hoping to catch a bit of news on Voldemort's movements.
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A/N: Ok, no real cliffhanger, but I figured it's a good place to stop. Thanks to all who've reviewed and given advice. I really, really appreciate it! Next time will be the Hogsmeade trip!