Jessy ;-): Thanks again! You like Sirius, too? He's one of my favourites (I
like dark haired men *melt*). Don't worry, everything will come out by the
end. But don't expect too much, it's nothing earth shattering. ^-^
Disclaimer: All characters you recognise belong to the great J. K. Rowling.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The large black dog disappeared down the road and Harry Potter stood still for a moment, a somewhat sad expression on his face. Ginny thought as she regarded him, that he must like the man very much.
'You seem to care about each other very much.', she stated.
Harry jumped at her voice and turned around to look at her. 'He is my godfather. And my guardian. He is the only real family I have left', he answered and looked again at the now deserted road.
'So, Potter. Don't you think it's time for some further explanations?' Draco looked a little annoyed but curious.
'What explanations?'
'How about telling us why they have come here? The only thing we know at the moment is who Snuffles is. Finally. Now what about the real questions?'
Harry hesitated. Then he started walking towards Hogwarts. Ginny and Draco followed him suit.
'Please, Harry. Stop keeping everything to yourself! We already know about Sirius! You know that you can trust us. You have to trust us!' Ginny pleaded, her anger slowly rising again.
'Tell us, or we will tell the ministry where Black is.' Draco said, smirking. His comment earned him a shocked expression from Harry and a pretty hard kick on the shin by Ginny, who glared at him and shook her head.
'We surely won't do that! We have promised to keep silent and we will! But, Harry.' Her glare turned into a sympathetic look as she turned to Harry. 'We have a right to know. I've already told you that you can't always keep everything to yourself.' She was forcing her anger down. It wouldn't do to yell at him at the moment.
Harry obviously considered her statement. After a moment he silently nodded and started walking again.
'A while ago, at the beginning of the year, Snuffles sent me a letter, telling me, that Voldemort is probably planning something. At this point we only knew that he kept unusually quiet.', he started, his voice quiet. Draco and Ginny were listening to his every word.
'After a while it became clear that he was trying to get into Hogwarts. Deatheaters were seen near the school grounds and rumours were spreading all across the country. But still no sign of Voldemort. It seems that since the ministry has gotten stronger over the past year, it is not so easy anymore to act. A lot of deatheaters were captured by aurors or the Order. Snuffles told me that Voldemort is trying to become more powerful.
'Dumbledore seemed to have similar thoughts. Most of us didn't notice, but there has been an enforcement of the wards that keep Hogwarts safe. And the teachers have been observing us.'
'Yeah, I noticed that, too. Especially the Slytherins.' Draco stated. Harry nodded.
'It seems that they think that there are spies amongst the students, or something. To be honest, I had those thoughts, too. That was until the incident with Dumbledore's Pensieve happened. I just couldn't understand why he didn't want me to tell Ron and Hermione. It was obviously bad enough that you two knew about it. Oh, I don't think anybody told you, but the Pensieve was found. In a broom closet. A few days ago.'
At this Ginny and Draco both stared at him. 'On which floor?', Draco asked after a moment. Ginny blinked at his question. Harry was also confused.
'I don't know. Why?'
'Well, if it was near our DADA classroom, maybe the person who took it put it there right after stealing it. Remember? We found that part of the Pensieve there. That would mean, that Dumbledore just shouldn't be able to look into it for a while or put new thoughts into it.' Draco shrugged. 'Or something like this.'
Harry and Ginny stared at him in disbelief. Then Harry shook his head and continued.
'Anyway, it appears that Sirius has been searching for information about Voldemort's plans abroad and that's why neither I nor Dumbledore were able to contact him. The memory we saw in the Pensieve was probably not very old. Finally, though, Sirius returned to England, with pretty important news. Swear to me that you won't talk about this to anybody.' His gaze was dead serious and both Draco and Ginny nodded solemnly.
'Voldemort has found a way into Hogwarts. Through a student. If I understand this right, one of his followers taught his kid some kind of incantation. The kid spoke the incantation and somehow awoke a strange power inside the castle. We don't know jet what exactly was awoken nor do we know why, but we do know that this power, some kind of spirit I suppose, can't move like a ghost or something like this and has taken possession of a student.'
He stopped and looked at his companions. Ginny had turned very pale. She looked frightened. Draco on the other hand was thoughtful. After a moment he spoke.
'Do we know which student this concerns?'
'No, it appears that this thing is pretty much invisible. It adapts the student's behaviour. That's at least what Sirius told me.'
'So it could be anyone of us?' Ginny's voice was shaking. 'Is that why you are not allowed to tell Ron and Hermione? Because they could be obsessed?' Ginny looked as if she was about to cry.
Harry watched as Draco took a step closer to her and put an arm across her shoulder. Somewhere deep down inside him Harry felt a stab of jealousy. He shook it off though, as Draco once again spoke.
'It could even be me or Ginny, or you, then.' His eyes narrowed. Harry shook his head.
'Professor Lupin said it can't take me, probably because of my connection to Voldemort. Neither can it be you.'
'Why? How do you know?'
'It can't leave the castle. So, it can't be you, because you are both outside.'
'Does Dumbledore know about this?' Ginny had regained some composure but she still leaned on Malfoy.
'Yes, Siri . . . ah . . . Snuffles told me that he paid them a visit yesterday at Lupin's house.'
'What are we going to do now?' Draco asked.
'Snuffles told me to look out for student's who are behaving strangely. Maybe there is a way to capture that thing. He said that he would find a way to get into the castle to help, without everybody wondering. He . . .' Harry stopped and stood still. They had arrived in front of the stairs that led up to the Entrance Hall. For a moment they looked at each other.
'We should not talk about this inside the castle. We could be overheard. If anyone notices anything we will meet up somewhere outside to talk about it, ok?' Harry suggested.
'Yes, but we should hurry now, before they start wondering where we are. We have probably missed out dinner.' Draco said. 'So bye, then.' He looked at Harry, smiled at Ginny and then walked quickly up the stairs, without waiting for them. Harry wanted to follow him but turned around when he noticed that Ginny hadn't moved. Her eyes very cast on the floor.
'What is it, Ginny? You don't have to worry. Nothing can happen to you, I'm there.', he said reassuringly, not exactly sure what he meant with this.
When she looked up her expression was unreadable.
'Has your scar hurt, lately?' she asked with a plain voice.
'Maybe a little, I can't remember exactly. Why?'
'Because my nightmares have started again. I wanted to tell you weeks ago, but I never got the chance.'
'Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?'
'The kind of nightmares I had when the Chamber of Secrets was opened.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wait. No, the chamber hasn't reopened. It is . . .well, just something else. This chapter was full of information, some questions were answered I think. Again, there was not much action, but it needs some explanation, first, before I can let anything happen. I'm afraid this story will be full of twists.^_^
I'm working on next chapter, but school starts again this week and it will most likely take me longer to post from now on. But I'll try.
Disclaimer: All characters you recognise belong to the great J. K. Rowling.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The large black dog disappeared down the road and Harry Potter stood still for a moment, a somewhat sad expression on his face. Ginny thought as she regarded him, that he must like the man very much.
'You seem to care about each other very much.', she stated.
Harry jumped at her voice and turned around to look at her. 'He is my godfather. And my guardian. He is the only real family I have left', he answered and looked again at the now deserted road.
'So, Potter. Don't you think it's time for some further explanations?' Draco looked a little annoyed but curious.
'What explanations?'
'How about telling us why they have come here? The only thing we know at the moment is who Snuffles is. Finally. Now what about the real questions?'
Harry hesitated. Then he started walking towards Hogwarts. Ginny and Draco followed him suit.
'Please, Harry. Stop keeping everything to yourself! We already know about Sirius! You know that you can trust us. You have to trust us!' Ginny pleaded, her anger slowly rising again.
'Tell us, or we will tell the ministry where Black is.' Draco said, smirking. His comment earned him a shocked expression from Harry and a pretty hard kick on the shin by Ginny, who glared at him and shook her head.
'We surely won't do that! We have promised to keep silent and we will! But, Harry.' Her glare turned into a sympathetic look as she turned to Harry. 'We have a right to know. I've already told you that you can't always keep everything to yourself.' She was forcing her anger down. It wouldn't do to yell at him at the moment.
Harry obviously considered her statement. After a moment he silently nodded and started walking again.
'A while ago, at the beginning of the year, Snuffles sent me a letter, telling me, that Voldemort is probably planning something. At this point we only knew that he kept unusually quiet.', he started, his voice quiet. Draco and Ginny were listening to his every word.
'After a while it became clear that he was trying to get into Hogwarts. Deatheaters were seen near the school grounds and rumours were spreading all across the country. But still no sign of Voldemort. It seems that since the ministry has gotten stronger over the past year, it is not so easy anymore to act. A lot of deatheaters were captured by aurors or the Order. Snuffles told me that Voldemort is trying to become more powerful.
'Dumbledore seemed to have similar thoughts. Most of us didn't notice, but there has been an enforcement of the wards that keep Hogwarts safe. And the teachers have been observing us.'
'Yeah, I noticed that, too. Especially the Slytherins.' Draco stated. Harry nodded.
'It seems that they think that there are spies amongst the students, or something. To be honest, I had those thoughts, too. That was until the incident with Dumbledore's Pensieve happened. I just couldn't understand why he didn't want me to tell Ron and Hermione. It was obviously bad enough that you two knew about it. Oh, I don't think anybody told you, but the Pensieve was found. In a broom closet. A few days ago.'
At this Ginny and Draco both stared at him. 'On which floor?', Draco asked after a moment. Ginny blinked at his question. Harry was also confused.
'I don't know. Why?'
'Well, if it was near our DADA classroom, maybe the person who took it put it there right after stealing it. Remember? We found that part of the Pensieve there. That would mean, that Dumbledore just shouldn't be able to look into it for a while or put new thoughts into it.' Draco shrugged. 'Or something like this.'
Harry and Ginny stared at him in disbelief. Then Harry shook his head and continued.
'Anyway, it appears that Sirius has been searching for information about Voldemort's plans abroad and that's why neither I nor Dumbledore were able to contact him. The memory we saw in the Pensieve was probably not very old. Finally, though, Sirius returned to England, with pretty important news. Swear to me that you won't talk about this to anybody.' His gaze was dead serious and both Draco and Ginny nodded solemnly.
'Voldemort has found a way into Hogwarts. Through a student. If I understand this right, one of his followers taught his kid some kind of incantation. The kid spoke the incantation and somehow awoke a strange power inside the castle. We don't know jet what exactly was awoken nor do we know why, but we do know that this power, some kind of spirit I suppose, can't move like a ghost or something like this and has taken possession of a student.'
He stopped and looked at his companions. Ginny had turned very pale. She looked frightened. Draco on the other hand was thoughtful. After a moment he spoke.
'Do we know which student this concerns?'
'No, it appears that this thing is pretty much invisible. It adapts the student's behaviour. That's at least what Sirius told me.'
'So it could be anyone of us?' Ginny's voice was shaking. 'Is that why you are not allowed to tell Ron and Hermione? Because they could be obsessed?' Ginny looked as if she was about to cry.
Harry watched as Draco took a step closer to her and put an arm across her shoulder. Somewhere deep down inside him Harry felt a stab of jealousy. He shook it off though, as Draco once again spoke.
'It could even be me or Ginny, or you, then.' His eyes narrowed. Harry shook his head.
'Professor Lupin said it can't take me, probably because of my connection to Voldemort. Neither can it be you.'
'Why? How do you know?'
'It can't leave the castle. So, it can't be you, because you are both outside.'
'Does Dumbledore know about this?' Ginny had regained some composure but she still leaned on Malfoy.
'Yes, Siri . . . ah . . . Snuffles told me that he paid them a visit yesterday at Lupin's house.'
'What are we going to do now?' Draco asked.
'Snuffles told me to look out for student's who are behaving strangely. Maybe there is a way to capture that thing. He said that he would find a way to get into the castle to help, without everybody wondering. He . . .' Harry stopped and stood still. They had arrived in front of the stairs that led up to the Entrance Hall. For a moment they looked at each other.
'We should not talk about this inside the castle. We could be overheard. If anyone notices anything we will meet up somewhere outside to talk about it, ok?' Harry suggested.
'Yes, but we should hurry now, before they start wondering where we are. We have probably missed out dinner.' Draco said. 'So bye, then.' He looked at Harry, smiled at Ginny and then walked quickly up the stairs, without waiting for them. Harry wanted to follow him but turned around when he noticed that Ginny hadn't moved. Her eyes very cast on the floor.
'What is it, Ginny? You don't have to worry. Nothing can happen to you, I'm there.', he said reassuringly, not exactly sure what he meant with this.
When she looked up her expression was unreadable.
'Has your scar hurt, lately?' she asked with a plain voice.
'Maybe a little, I can't remember exactly. Why?'
'Because my nightmares have started again. I wanted to tell you weeks ago, but I never got the chance.'
'Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?'
'The kind of nightmares I had when the Chamber of Secrets was opened.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wait. No, the chamber hasn't reopened. It is . . .well, just something else. This chapter was full of information, some questions were answered I think. Again, there was not much action, but it needs some explanation, first, before I can let anything happen. I'm afraid this story will be full of twists.^_^
I'm working on next chapter, but school starts again this week and it will most likely take me longer to post from now on. But I'll try.