Harry Potter and Gryffindor's Secret:
Chapter 11: Hogwarts Again
By: Lin-z
A/N: Harry and Ron are not full-force Animagi yet - the potion simply enables them to make the initial transformation, allowing them to concentrate more fully on their transformations in the future. Also, I know it's been a terribly long time since I posted last, but I'm all moved now, so I should be able to make more frequent additions! Ü
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine! :)
Voldemort slammed his fist against the gilded armrest of his throne. 'Are you telling me you still haven't found that blasted book?' He shouted bitingly at the Death Eater cowering before him. 'Crucio!' he shouted, pointing his wand at the figure prone to the floor.
Harry stared at the mass of black as it began to writhe horribly on the cold stone floor. Piteous moaning filled the dank air, and Harry's scar, which had been painful to start with, erupted with a fresh spurt of agony.
With a flick of his wand, Voldemort lifted the curse. The Death Eater lifted his head, but remained on the floor. 'I'm sorry, my Lord,' he whimpered.
'You will have that book by the next time you are here, or I will not be so kind,' Voldemort hissed, his serpentine red eyes narrowing in disgust. 'Now be gone,' he spat. Voldemort pointed his wand at the figure before him. 'Expelliarmus,' he said, and the figure went flying from the room, landing with a sickening thud in the corridor outside. Death Eaters were never allowed wands in the presence of the Dark Lord.
Harry stood there, not exactly sure as to what was happening. He supposed that the book they had spoken of was the book of Godric Gryffindor, which they had been searching for the last time. He gave a start as he heard his name.
'Potter, come here,' Voldemort hissed.
Harry stared: however could Voldemort see him? No one had ever seen him before, had they?
'Are you going to come on your own or must I assist you?' Voldemort whispered a few choice words and Harry felt himself being pulled from his hiding spot to the place before the dais where the Death Eater had stood.
Harry's scar was aching abominably, growing in intensity as Voldemort stood and walked to him. The tall, snake-like man raised a long white finger and ran it along the side of Harry's jaw, causing Harry to wince in pain as the burning sensation ran from his ear to the base of his chin.
'Thought you could just drop in, did you?' Voldemort hissed. 'We've got great plans in store for you, young man.'
Harry was very frightened - if Voldemort could see him and touch him, could he curse him as well? Just then Voldemort reached out and shook Harry's shoulder hard.
'Harry!' a voice said. That didn't sound like Voldemort! Harry opened an eye to see Sirius' face before him in the dark. Sirius stopped shaking Harry when he saw that the boy had woken. Harry breathed a sigh of relief - his scar was still burning, but at least the dream was over.
'Harry, are you okay?' Sirius asked, worry lining his brow.
Harry wiped the cold sweat from his face and put his glasses on. His forehead was still throbbing, but the pain had died down quite a bit since waking up. 'Yeah,' he said, 'I just had a dream.'
Sirius sat back, waiting for Harry to continue on his own. After a moment, Harry looked up again. 'It was odd; this time, Voldemort could see me. He was angry with one of his Death Eaters because he couldn't find some book he was looking for. After he had done Cruciatus and sent him from the room, he called me to him,' Harry paused. 'He touched my face, and it actually hurt.'
'Well,' Sirius said, 'you're going back to school in the morning. You can tell Dumbledore about it when you get there.'
'Yes,' Harry agreed, 'I'll be sure to do just that.'
Sirius reached out and took off Harry's glasses, folding them and setting them back on the night table. 'For now, though, I suggest you go back to sleep. I'm sure you and your friends are in for a long day tomorrow.'
'G'night, Sirius,' Harry said, settling back under the sheets.
'G'night,' Sirius replied, patting Harry on the shoulder and leaving the room.
*
'Ron!' Harry shouted, seeing a flash of red hair across the busy platform.
'Harry!' Two voices shouted at once. Ron and Hermione came barrelling at him, barely able to stop in time to keep from knocking him off his crutches. 'Hi Ron, hi Hermione!' Harry said.
Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Sirius made their way to the train. They said their goodbyes, Ron and Harry were both a bit embarrassed when Mrs Weasley gave them each a kiss on the cheek, and climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express to embark upon their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
*
The three students gave their families one final wave before the train pulled away from the platform. They came to a compartment about midway through the train; it was mostly empty, apart from a hunched figure by the window.
'Pardon me, but would it be okay if we sit here?' Harry asked. The figure straitened and turned around to reveal
'Professor Lupin!?' All three of them shouted at once. The professor smiled.
'Hi everyone,' he said, motioning for them to take seats, which they did. They looked at him expectantly and he continued. 'Dumbledore wants a professor on the train to make sure things go smoothly,' Professor Lupin explained.
'Ah,' Hermione said. 'So, are you going to be a professor again?'
'Well, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see,' Lupin said with an evasive grin. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make certain everyone is in their compartment.' With that, the professor, still wearing the shabby attire he had worn in their third year, stood and strode from the compartment, letting the door slide shut behind him with a small hiss.
'Wow, Lupin's back,' Said Ron happily.
'Yeah, I wonder what he's going to teach; d'you reckon it'll be Defence Against the Dark Arts again?' Hermione pondered.
Harry thought for a bit, then said, 'I dunno; he never said anything about it to me over the summer.'
'Oh Harry, that reminds me - how was your summer with Sirius?' asked Hermione.
Harry and Ron stole mischievous glances at one another. 'It was brilliant!' Harry said, 'except for he whole breaking my leg thing, it was jolly good fun!' Harry leaned over to Ron and whispered, 'D'you reckon we should tell her now?'
Ron nodded with a grin, and said, 'Hermione, have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an Animagus?'
'Well sure, doesn't everyone? I mean, hey ... what are you two up to?' She said, cottoning on.
Harry and Ron's faces split into devious grins. 'We came up with a little something over the summer that you just might find interesting,' Harry answered.
'Yeah,' Ron continued, 'We found a book on how to become Animagi, and the first step is to drink this special "Cambiacious Concoction" - it transforms you into the animal that best suits you so that when you begin your formal Animagus training, you have somewhere to start from. Anyhow, we brewed a bit of this over the summer, and we saved some for you.'
Hermione looked extremely doubtful. 'Are you you've done it right?' She asked. This completely shocked both Harry and Ron. They had been expecting a stern lecture on the dangers of human transformation, especially by untrained wizards; that she had merely doubted their potion making abilities threw them completely off track.
After a moment, Harry said, 'Well, yeah, Ron and I had some and it worked fine for us!'
Hermione smiled. 'Well, then I think it's a brilliant idea! Only, we'll have to go someplace private to try it out.'
They had barely started discussing which would be the best location when the compartment door slid open and Professor Lupin returned.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful, but enjoyable. They were joined at various points by a number of people, including the Weasley twins and their friend Lee Jordan (now seventh years), Neville, Dean and Seamus, the Patil twins and Lavender Brown (Lavender was flirting shamelessly with Ron, who had turned an bright shade of red).
Malfoy et company paid them a brief visit as well; Malfoy's efforts to taunt Harry about "falling off his broom" (for of course Draco knew the truth), fell on deaf ears, as nobody in the compartment paid him any mind. After a few minutes, he left the compartment skulking, and everyone remaining in the compartment broke into fits of laughter at his expression when he had been ignored.
Shortly after dusk they arrived at the Hogsmeade station. They gave Hagrid a wave ('Firs' years over here, On'y four ter a boat, mind!), and followed the queue to the horse-less carriages. They had no sooner arrived at the front entrance than a very flustered looking Professor McGonagall pulled Harry aside.
'Go on now, Harry will catch you up,' the Professor said to Hermione and Ron, who then gave Harry an encouraging wave and disappeared in the crowd surging towards the doors.
'Harry, Professor Dumbledore has requested a meeting with you; you are to see him directly following the Welcoming feast,' she said.
Harry nodded, confused. 'All right, thank you professor,' he said. Professor McGonagall clapped Harry's shoulder gently and returned to her job of directing the returning students.
'What was that all about?' Ron asked when Harry had taken a seat next to him at the Gryffindor table a few minutes later.
'Oh, Professor Dumbledore wants to see me after supper,' Harry answered.
'Is something wrong?' asked Ginny, who was sitting across the table from them.
'No, I just had a dream last night and Sirius reckons I should tell Dumbledore about it.'
'Who's that?' asked Dean, from further down the table, pointing up to the High Table where the professors were seated. There was an unfamiliar face; seated between Professor Sinistra and McGonagall's empty chair was a thin man with spiky brown hair and dark blue eyes. He wore a scowl that seemed vaguely familiar and looked as though something with a particularly foul odour was just below his nose. He had a bit of a hooked nose, and his brow was furrowed in a look of utmost contempt. He looked as though he may have been a handsome man were it not for his disposition.
'I dunno,' answered Ron, 'but he sure doesn't look very friendly, does he?
'Wonder where Snape went, I don't see him up there, do you?' Hermione asked.
Harry looked along the line of professors, and, sure enough, there was no Professor Snape. 'Maybe he's been sacked at last!' Ron said in an excited whisper. Harry, remembering what he had done for Sirius, decided to say something in the professor's defence.
'He wasn't all bad,' Harry said. He looked to the table, where the new professor was seated. Harry wondered to himself if that wasn't Professor Snape in his new physiognomy, but decided not to say anything about it to his friends, who were looking at him, utterly gobsmacked.
Seamus was about to comment when the doors slammed open, and Professor McGonagall entered, followed by a long line of frightened first years. She placed the Sorting Hat on the old rickety stool and stood back. The hat gave a small shake, and the rip in its brim opened wide.
I am not a bowler,
A top hat I am not.
As I'm sure that you all know,
I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat!
Try me on and you will find
I know just what's on your mind.
Just what house should you be in?
Should you be in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave and true?
Or are you cunning and ambitious, suit for Slytherin?
You could be in Hufflepuff, where they are ethical and kind,
Or perhaps you are a Ravenclaw, for those of a quick mind.
All of these are noble
With their own histories
I'll show you where you need to be
Based on your thoughts and deeds!
Professor McGonagall began to read off their names one by one, until each of the new first years had been sorted. The Gryffindors wound up with an amazing fourteen new students, capping the other houses by quite a bit. As Dumbledore stood from his position at the head of the staff table, the noise in the hall died to little more than a low murmur. 'Welcome to yet another year, students! I trust you've all had plenty of time away and are ready to fill your heads once more (at this there were scattered groans and many rolled eyes)! And now, we feast!' The wizened headmaster waved his hand and the feast magically appeared before the starving students.
All the students at Hogwarts tucked in, thoroughly enjoying the feast spread before them. When all had had their fill, Dumbledore stood once more.
'Alas, before you go, I have some words for you. The Forbidden Forest is still off limits. There is a list of forbidden objects located in Filch's office; feel free to have a look. Also, I'd like to introduce to you a few staff members who will be joining us this year: first is an old favourite, Professor Remus Lupin, back to teach Duelling, which is a new course to be offered to third years and above. Second, I'd like to introduce to you Professor Mohomri Harcourt, who will be taking Professor Moody's place in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Also, Professor Mundungus Fletcher will be your new Potions master, as Professor Snape is on sabbatical this year (cheers). And now, off to bed!'
The headmaster left the room, and the prefects stood to begin leading their houses to their common rooms. Harry bade Ron and Hermione goodnight, explaining to them that he had to see Professor Dumbledore. He made his way to the High Table where Dumbledore was speaking with Professor Lupin.
'Ah, excellent, Harry. If you'll follow me please,' Dumbledore said, saying goodnight to Professor Lupin and guiding Harry out of the Great Hall. Harry followed the aged wizard up the many flights of stairs to the Headmaster's office. 'Lemon sherbet,' Dumbledore said once they had reached the entrance to his office. The gargoyle sprang aside, granting the professor and Harry entrance to the chambers beyond. Harry followed Dumbledore up the moving staircase, and took a seat in one of the great over-stuffed chairs before Dumbledore's desk. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, must have been close to a Burning Day, as he had very little left of the brilliant crimson plumage phoenixes were known for. In fact, he looked quite ill.
'So, Harry, I hear you've had another vision of Voldemort,' Dumbledore said, distracting Harry from the unfortunate bird.
Harry nodded. 'Yes sir, I did. Only, this one was different from the others.'
'Oh? How so?' Dumbledore asked. Harry could have sworn he had seen an almost hopeful look pass across the headmaster's face, but then it was gone and Harry couldn't be sure.
'Well,' Harry began, 'Voldemort could see me in this one. Not only that, but he touched me as well, and it burned,' Harry said, pointing to the faint red line running from the base of his ear to the point of his chin.
Dumbledore looked contemplative. 'Hmm, that is odd,' he said. 'Do you remember what he said to you?'
'All he said was that he had plans for me; Sirius woke me before he could say anything more,' Harry said.
'I see … Harry, do you know what an Invocator is?' Dumbledore played thoughtfully with his long white beard.
'Erm, no, I don't think so,' Harry answered.
'Yes, I believe that's sixth year Divination … Anyhow, an Invocator is someone who can summon another person to appear at will. There has never yet been an Invocator who can summon anyone in physical form; anyone's ever been able to do, as far as I was aware of, is to summon another's subconscious. Apparently, Voldemort's been able to go a bit further,' Dumbledore said.
'So, Voldemort can have people visit him in their dreams at will? Can he hurt others, too?' Harry was finding this line of conversation to be very confusing. Too much food and not enough sleep were giving him a befuddled feeling.
'Yes, Voldemort can summon the subconscious of any sleeping person, however, I don't believe that he can cause any harm to anyone besides you. You're aware of the connection you two share,' Dumbledore explained. Harry just nodded. 'Yes, well, I believe that's enough for one evening,' Dumbledore said. 'Take this with you,' he said, handing Harry a flask of purplish potion, 'It's a Dreamless Sleep Potion; if Voldemort Invokes you tonight, take that when you wake up, and see me when it wears off. By the way, how soon until the doctor removes your cast?'
Harry smiled. 'This Saturday,' he said happily.
'Wonderful,' Dumbledore said. 'Now, off to bed with you!'
Harry left Dumbledore's office and made his way to the Gryffindor Tower. He passed through the dark and empty Commons room to the dormitory, now with a plaque that read "Fifth Years," and fell gratefully into bed.
A/N: So, did you like it? Hate it? Let me know! Constructive criticism will be highly appreciated; flames will be … oh never-mind, just don't flame, okay? Great! The next chapter should be out sooner than this one. I just finished a very long, very hectic move, and although I'm taking summer school at University, I'll have a good deal more time now. Yay! Oh, and thank you ever so much for all the reviews! I never expected so many - it's brilliant!