Chapter 17
The final challenge
"So we meet again Harry. So soon" Voldemort sneered, his lips twisted in a cruel taunt. "Now it is my pleasure to finally finish your life. No caring head teacher to save you now." Harry reached for his wand, but it slipped from between his fingers into the long white talons of Lord Voldemort. Suddenly Voldemort convulsed. He started, and seemed to be in great pain, "The chair. He's destroying the chair," he whispered, his face contorted in horror. Harry still didn't dare to move. Voldemort steadied himself but his wand shook as he held it in his hand. He threw Harry's wand down and reached inside his dark robes. "He can destroy the chair, but he can't save you. I may be weakened, but I am still powerful" Voldemort hissed. His hand emerged with the glittering silver knife. It shone white in the sunlight, the blade was long and engraved with twisted snakes, the handle was made of two coiled snakes and their eyes were two rubies. Voldemort reached for his wand. "Kneel boy, the end has come" Looking into the black pools of Voldemort's eyes Harry felt hope desert him. There was no one to help him here. Still he didn't have to die on Voldemort's terms. "No" Harry said quietly. Immediately he felt the floaty feeling. His mind had been taken over. He just wanted to relax, but the small voice was there. Refuse him, don't do what he wants. Harry didn't want to obey, but the pressure forcing him to his knees was immense. Harry thought quickly. He couldn't escape; it would probably be best for Voldemort to think he was weaker than he actually was. Harry knelt in front of Voldemort. The gleaming knife was in front of him. He was going to die. Harry half-closed his eyes and waited for the knife to sweep across his neck. He waited, and waited, his heart in his mouth wanting it to be over. He could feel the sun beating on the back of his neck, and far away birds were singing. There was a slight breeze on his cheek. Harry stared at the tight black boots that Voldemort was wearing. Harry wasn't going to die without a fight. He tensed, every muscle waiting for the word. Harry saw Voldemort's arm sweep down, there was a sudden sharp pain on Harry's neck, but Harry had grabbed hold of Voldemort's arm, he swung it away from him. Voldemort let out a cry of surprise; Harry rolled towards his wand and grabbed it. He could see Voldemort clutching his leg where the silver knife was embedded. Harry was shaking so much he couldn't keep hold of his wand. His throat burned, but at the same time it felt like ice, and Harry could feel blood pouring from it. Things were becoming blurred and dark. He couldn't move. Distantly he could hear Voldemort's voice. It all seemed so far away. Suddenly, abruptly Harry heard a heavy thud in front of him, and his eyes instinctively opened. Bill and Charlie Weasley were both on brooms and were staring at him with as much astonishment and horror as Harry was staring at them. Voldemort was gone. The knife was lying on the grass, it's tip covered in blood. "Harry!" Charlie and Bill said in amazement. "Charlie" Harry said thickly. "Bill" "What are you doing here?" they both asked in unison. "Who was that?" Charlie asked, still looking confused. Feeling extremely confused Harry tried to answer their questions. "It was Voldemort. He was about to kill me." The brothers drew back as he said the name. Harry's head felt cloudy. He couldn't think straight, he could hardly see a thing, it was as if he were lost in a thick fog at twilight. "A goblin saying he was your godfather started yelling at us, that you were alive, but lost, but you're dead. Everyone thinks you're already dead. Dumbledore said so, the Ministry said so." Charlie said amazed. Harry looked at their bewildered faces, and felt deadly tired. He couldn't see properly. Everything was cloudy in front of his eyes. Harry tried to force the words out, but he knew that it was no good. His neck and front felt hot and sticky. "It was to. to protect me. Dumbledore. he and Richard. Richard he was." Harry was too tired to go on. He slumped forward, and everything went inky black.
Harry opened his eyes. Everything was orange. It took him a few moments to realise where he was. He was in Ron's room, he could make out four people standing by his bed, but his eyes were blurred, and he couldn't make out who they were. He closed his eyes again, ignoring the sweeping dizzyness that made him want to throw up. Eventually the dizziness went, and he was able to see who the people were. Sitting closest to him were Ron and Hermione. Sitting at the end of the bed was Dumbledore and Sirius. Ron was the first to notice that Harry was awake. He let out a sharp yell. Harry jumped. "Harry you're back." Hermione threw her arms round Harry's face, her eyes wet with tears. "We thought you were dead. We've been so upset. I'm so glad you're alright." She said in a small voice. Harry pulled back touched, but a little embarrassed. Ron too was looking a little emotional. Harry felt tears come to his eyes. He'd missed his friends so much. Dumbledore came closer to Harry, "I will leave you for a while, but we must talk when you've finished your reunion with your friends." Dumbledore gave a half bow to Harry and then left. Sirius hung back in the shadows. "Harry we're so glad you're alive. Everyone thought you were dead." Hermione said again in a thick choking voice. "Mum's been crying for days. I kept telling here you couldn't be dead, but she didn't believe me," Ron said. "I knew you couldn't be dead. Anyway what happened? Dumbledore wouldn't tell us anything. What happened to your neck?" For the first time Harry noticed his neck, it was covered in bandages and felt numb. Harry told them everything, right from the time he went to look for Neville. Hermione eyes filled with tears again when she heard that Harry came so close to death. Ron was in awe of Harry being able to apparate, ("That's so unfair, you're not allowed to learn to apparate until you're 17") and horrified when he heard about Dumbledore's disguise and humiliation at the hands of Lord Voldemort. When he finally finished Harry felt worn and Hermione and Ron were silent. It was a long time before any of them spoke. "So Snape is really on our side," Ron said eventually. "I can't believe Dumbledore put you at risk so much." Hermione said indignantly. "His plan was far too dangerous, the Ministry would never have approved it." "I doubt he even considered telling the ministry," Harry said. He then voiced a thought he'd had for a long time. "I think he encouraged Snape to act as he did so he would get a final chance at defeating You Know Who. He didn't care if he died in the process, he doesn't want to get too old to defeat You Know Who, or he gets too powerful to be defeated at all." Soft knocking on the door interrupted their conversation. Mrs Weasley entered carrying a large tray of cauldron cakes and a large flask of hot chocolate. When she saw Harry sitting up in bed she stared, and said in little more than a whisper, "Oh Harry, I've been so worried." She quickly put the tray down on the floor and bent over Harry and gave him a kiss on the forehead. She then withdrew hastily from the room, clutching a small flowery hanky. Harry suddenly felt a deep painful guilt. He'd taken so many risks with his life, not thinking about what would happen to his friends if he did die. Ron saw Harry's face, "Don't worry about her, she's always been a bit emotional." Just then Sirius spoke. He'd listened so quietly to Harry's story that they'd forgotten he was there. "Ron, Hermione, would it be alright if Dumbledore and I had a word with Harry now." They both nodded, and after saying their goodbyes left the room. Harry thought about their parting, was he now going to be in trouble? He had left Sirius behind; he was going to be furious. Sirius waited until the door was closed and Hermione and Ron's footsteps were gone before speaking. His voice was grave, low and resonated with anger, "Harry what you did was foolish and unforgivable. How am I supposed to protect you if you disobey me and actively put yourself in danger?" Harry's feeling of guilt increased, but another voice inside him said, what were you going to do? You've saved Richard, Dumbledore and Snape. They would all be dead if it wasn't for me. It was as if Sirius read his mind, "However what you did was very brave. You are responsible for saving three lives and the capture of three death eaters, including Mark Colligere. The silver chair is destroyed, Voldemort is defeated for a while." Harry suddenly remembered Sirius bending over Professor Jenai's body. The look of complete anguish. Was he to blame for her death? How could Sirius ever forgive him for that? Harry looked straight into Sirius's face, it was carved with sadness, his eyes had almost lost the haunted look that they had had after Azkaban, but it was replaced by a look of grief. Harry wasn't sure what to say, but his guilt was as crushing as Sirius's grief. "Sirius, I am so sorry about Professor Jenai. Romila. I'm so sorry for what I did." Sirius looked away from Harry, and seemed to be speaking in a trance. "Her mother died when she was small. Alexandra, she was my wife, she was so beautiful, and Romila was so like her, they were both so beautiful, and so clever. Romila was top of her class. It broke my heart not to be able to see her. Even when I got out of Azkaban I couldn't see her, it was too dangerous, but Dumbledore let us meet last year and then she gave up her job at the University of Magic, and came to be at Hogwarts so we could see each other. She was special advisor to the ministry." Sirius finished proudly, still looking blankly out of the window. Then he shook himself, and looked directly at Harry. He spoke almost fiercely, " You must not blame yourself for her death, if anyone is to blame its me, I summoned her, and the other members of the ministry. She was the best, and if it hadn't been for her there may have been more deaths. Together we saved Dumbledore, Snape Richard and you. It could have been so much worse." Sirius's voice was shaking, as if he was trying to convince himself. Harry saw Sirius's eyes start to moisten, and Sirius turned away quickly and then left the room. Harry thought of Professor Jenai. He remembered her sharp teaching, and beautiful features. She had helped rescue Richard, Dumbledore and Snape as much as he had. He remembered his first lesson with her, when she had made him face up to his fear, and the unbinding lesson. Without that he couldn't have saved them. In slow motion he remembered her falling to the floor and Sirius bent over her like he was mortally wounded. The door opened and Dumbledore entered. He drew up a chair and sat next to Harry. "So Harry, we both survived. I expect you are curious as to what happened; however I think we should hear your story first. What happened from when you left the Island of Céláre?" Harry told Dumbledore as best as he could, but he still wasn't sure what had happened himself. He remembered Voldemort and the knife. He had been cut, but Voldemort had been hurt, or was in pain, but it wasn't anything to do with Harry. Dumbledore listened patiently and expressionlessly. When he finished, Harry had about a hundred questions to ask. "Sir when I apparated, why did I not arrive next to the house as I imagined?" "That, I believe, was Voldemort. He still had his powers, and guessed correctly that I would send you to safety. He managed to manipulate the old magical waves that allow wizards to apparate to bring you to him." "And why did You Know. I mean Voldemort not have all his powers when he tried too kill me, he appeared in pain and used a knife not his wand." "His rapid rise to power meant that he had to use the Chair of Seolfar to help him. He leaned to heavily on its strength, but he was too greedy to regain power. When I destroyed the chair, he lost some of his powers. The knife is symbolic. It is made from the same silver as the Chair of Seolfar. There is an old magic that says that if he killed you at such a time with the silver knife, then the power of the Lord Faulemort would live in him instead of the silver chair. It was a desperate move, but he fortunately didn't succeed. "And now Harry you must rest. However before I take my leave I would ask one more thing of you. The Chair of Seolfar is destroyed, and Voldemort has been beaten this time. The wound that you have given him will not leave him, and he will be weakened by it. The touch of the silver knife to the wielder is a serious wound. He will return though, and we must be ready. My request is that you tell the Ministry of Magic your story, and allow yourself to be questioned. It is important the ministry realises what has happened and what they must do. We have bought time, but our response was too slow. It must not happen again. Will you help?" Harry nodded, and Dumbledore left the room. Sirius entered and said, "You will be tired, your wound was deep, and made with an evil weapon, you must rest. I will be sleeping at the end of your bed tonight." Harry's throat was throbbing uncomfortably, as he turned in his bed and tried to get comfortable. Sirius drew the curtains and the room was filled with a dusky glow as the sun tried to creep through the cracks around the fabric.
Chapter 18
The Chamber of the Stars
Harry's recovery was slower than he would have imagined for such small wound. His throat felt continually cold, and even with Mrs Weasley's tender care, it would not heal. Harry was able to move around the house, although Mrs Weasley worse was than Madame Pomfrey for fussing. She wouldn't let him out of the house, and definitely not going out for a walk or play Quidditch. At Harry's insistence Sirius had apparated back to the Island of Céláre to get Harry's Firebolt. It was almost a week since Harry had faced Voldemort when Mrs Weasley interrupted Harry and Hermione having a ferocious game of chess. "Harry you have a visitor." Harry couldn't guess who would want to be visiting him. Mrs Weasley called through to where the visitor was waiting in the hall. "You can come through." Bending his head low to fit through the door Hagrid entered. Looking enormous in the Weasley's small lounge he rushed over to Harry enveloping him in a giant hug, although carefully avoiding Harry's neck. "Oh Harry, yer've been so brave, and I was thinking you were dead, Ah've never been so miserable. I can't believe yer really here." Eventually loosened his grip on Harry when Hermione told him urgently that Harry was looking a little blue. Harry was shocked to see large tears rolling down his cheeks. "It's alright Hagrid. Dumbledore was looking after me. I was perfectly safe." A large blue stripy handkerchief was now muffling Harry's sniffles. "It's been so horrible thinking you were dead." Hagrid said again. Harry gave Hagrid a hug, although his arms only managed to reach round a portion of Hagrid's enormous girth. Harry finally managed to stop Hagrid's weeping and even managed to persuade him to play a game of chess. Hagrid was surprisingly good at chess and was able to beat Harry with a little help from Ron. It was gone midday when Hagrid told them that he'd better get home to Fang and left. Ron followed him, but Mrs Weasley would not let Harry see Hagrid onto the Knights bus. Hagrid and Ron had hardly left when Mrs Weasley came through again announcing another visitor. Harry and Hermione timidly followed her into the kitchen, where sitting at the table there were two people. Snape was sitting next to Richard. At Snape's white face, Harry involuntarily felt a chill: he still couldn't get used to the fact that Snape was on the good side and had even risked his life to help Harry. Harry's mind wouldn't let go of the hums and the shrinking potion. He had acted the part of the villain too well. As Harry walked in Snape stood up and held his hand out to shake Harry's. Harry shook the outstretched hand awkwardly. It felt cold as marble. Harry sat down not sure what to say. After an embarrassing pause Snape began, "I, well Richard and I would like to thank you for what you did for both of us." Although Snape appeared friendly, there was a coldness in his eyes that showed that his love for Harry had changed little. "You showed outstanding bravery and we both owe our lives to you." The sincerity of these words were betrayed in Snape's black eyes. Harry feeling very uncomfortable felt his face go red and hot as he replied, "Thank you Professor, for protecting me." Harry hoped his words didn't sound as insincere as he thought they did. Richard looked straight at Harry for the first time. Harry felt that the bond that connected them was still as strong as ever. Harry could hear Richard thanking him profusely for what he had done, even though no-one else could hear a word. Harry told him it was nothing, and that he'd like to meet up some time. They both suddenly realised that the room was silent, and both Hermione and Snape were looking at them oddly. Harry said, "Are you going to Hogwarts then?" Richard answered immediately, "Father has to sort it out with Professor Dumbledore, but I hope so." It made Harry feel odd to hear Snape being called father and he was just about to ask another question when Snape interrupted, "Well Potter," Snape almost spat the word out, "we won't trespass on your time further. I will see you next year when the school reopens. Good bye." Richard cast a regretful look at Harry and told him in his head that he was sorry his father didn't like Harry, but that he would like to meet up some time. As he followed Snape out of the room, Harry told Richard that he'd send an owl. As soon as Snape and Richard had left the room, Hermione looked at Harry questioningly, "Is it me or was there a conversation that I wasn't hearing?" Harry replied slowly, "I don't know why, but I can speak to him in my head. That's why I knew where he was being held prisoner. I think it's something to do with Voldemort killing his twin, and my parents." Hermione looked surprised. "I think I read about that in Magical Phenomena: Principles and Interpretation. Hang on let me get it." She rushed upstairs looking excited. She returned looking flushed and clutching a book bound in red dragon skin. "It's in here, Professor Jenai lent it to me for a bit of extra reading. It's called the Ingle Jacksons Phenomenon. If someone kills a person's family but if for some reason one of them survives and then the same happens to another family using the same wand then they are connected. Usually this is just feeling strong emotions or pain." She looked up looking puzzled. "That doesn't explain why you can hear him though." She buried her head in the book again. A few minutes later she continued, "It's only a theory, but based on what it says I think that Richard's twin allows you to talk. I don't understand it completely. This book is what you'd study at university level." Just then Ron came back carrying a large box of chocolate frogs. "Hagrid says he forgot to give these to you," Ron said happily his mouth full of chocolate.
Even though he wasn't allowed out of the house, the week was a happy one for Harry. He had missed the company of Hermione and Ron and it was fun not to worry about anything and just be himself. It was at the end of the second week that Dumbledore returned to the Burrow. He was very concerned about Harry's wound. His whole neck was a horrible grey, and the cut was a dull white. Although it wasn't painful, it had a low throb that never left. Harry thought he might be making too much of it, but he was sure that it was the wound that was making him feel continually tired. He voiced his concerns to Dumbledore who then looked very worried. "I am not an expert Harry, but I know this is serious. I wanted you to come with me to the Ministry of Magic today. I think that when we have finished there we should visit St Mungo's. They will be able to examine it. Shall we go by Flue Powder, or apparate?" Eager to show his skills at apparating Harry chose the latter. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him, "Alright, we need to go to the Hilda Moss Room, The Ministry of Magic. You need to concentrate on those words. And then apparate. Alright. Follow me." And with that Dumbledore disappeared from sight. Harry concentrated hard, and saying the words found himself travelling incredibly fast, so that around him there was just a blur. Within seconds he hit the ground with enough force to make his knees buckle, nearly throwing him to the floor. Beside him Dumbledore gave a small chuckle. "Nearly there Harry." Dumbledore now looked a little more serious. "Now we will be meeting with the elected council of wizards. They will question you much, I believe. Answer all their questions as truthfully as you can. They may ask you questions about the events of last summer also." Harry suddenly felt nervous, as if he was about to go on trial. He followed Dumbledore into a gloomy room where five wizards were sitting on ornately carved chairs. A single stained glass window depicting an elderly wizard defeating a dragon lighted the room. Coloured pools of light were scattered over the floor. The walls were panelled with a dark wood. Pictures of stern wizards lined the walls, with long grey beards and flowing cloaks. The roof was painted a midnight blue, through which small golden stars glowed. Cornelius Fudge was sitting on the largest chair and it was him that spoke first, "Welcome Harry, welcome to the Chamber of the Stars." Cornelius Fudge beckoned to a chair that was facing the line of wizards. Nervously Harry pulled himself onto the heavily varnished seat. Dumbledore took a seat at the back of the room. "Could you explain exactly what happened at the Triwizard Tournament when you touched the Triwizard Cup," Cornelius Fudge began. Harry started and tried his best to remember every detail and keep to the truth as much as possible. The happenings of the last summer were still painful, but the pain had faded slightly, and Harry was able to recount the circumstances of Cedric's death, and then what happened on the Island of Célare. Occasionally Fudge prompted him, but mostly he was left to tell his own version of the past year. The sun was high in the sky when Harry finished telling them about the final confrontation with Voldemort. The Chamber of the Stars was silent until Harry finished. Fudge then gently unwrapped the thick white bandage from Harry's neck and showed them the sickening grey bruise that surrounded the cut made by the silver knife. Several of the witches and wizards drew breath sharply as they saw the gash. Fudge too drew back and looked grave, "There is no mistake, this is a wound of the silver knife. Thank you Harry, we want to talk to Professor Dumbledore now, would you mind stepping outside." Harry gladly left the stuffy Chamber of Stars with its important witches and wizards and flopped down on a red couch in the Hilda Moss Room. In an ornate gilded frame a young looking witch with shining golden hair was riding a flying carpet around some fluffy clouds in a sapphire sky. She waved merrily at Harry before doing the loop a loop around a cloud. A large window that looked over a neatly kept quadrangle, occasionally crossed by witches or wizards talking easily, lighted the room. The sky outside was a brilliant powder blue, and Harry suddenly felt a longing to be far away, walking in fields without a care in the world. Instead Harry closed his eyes and waited for Dumbledore to appear. It seemed many hours before Dumbledore left the Chamber of the Stars. He gave Harry a small smile, "Thank you for your patience. Now I do believe there is another member of the Ministry who would like to talk to you." He smiled further at Harry's puzzled face, but did not elaborate. Instead he left the Hilda Moss room through a small door and Harry followed him. They passed along long halls with stone flags and dark panelled walls. Many wizards did a double take when seeing Harry, one wizard dropped a huge pile of parchment in his hurry to shake Harry's hand, another witch, much to Harry's embarrassment tried to kiss Harry's feet. His cheeks bright red Harry was immensely glad when Dumbledore took a sharp turn travelled down a windy little staircase and knocked on a small weedy looking door that said in rather faded letters
LUDO BAGMAN
Department for Magical Sports and Games The door was opened at once, and Harry recognised the short ruffled outline of Ludo Bagman. "Pleased to meet you again, very pleased indeed," Ludo said trying to shake Dumbledore and Harry's hand at the same time, "Well come in, come in." Bagman's office gave the impression its last resident had been a small tornado. Parchment covered every surface, while the walls were covered with bright pictures of wizards and witches playing Quidditch. Most of them featured a Quidditch player in Yellow and Black stripy robes. A huge banner hung over Bagman's desk that read, WISBORNE WASPS. Ludo beckoned them to sit on two chairs facing his desk. Harry moved a large box of parchment scrolls and sat nervously on his seat wondering why Bagman wanted to see him. "Well Harry, I expect you're wondering why I've asked to see you." Harry nodded. "Well we've got a bit of a problem. It's not been well publicised, but we have a British Under 18 Quidditch team, that's short of a seeker. I've asked through all the British clubs, and none of the seekers are under 18. So I asked Professor Dumbledore here if any of his students were of a good enough standard, and he said that you were the best seeker they'd had for many years. I was very impressed with your skills against the Horntail at the Triwizard Cup, and although you are still very young for the team, we think that your talent surpasses your age." Harry blushed a little, but listened with growing excitement. "So I have asked you here today to see if you'd be interested in joining the team." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Y.y.yes I w.would" Harry said stuttering, trying to get the words out. Ludo gave a huge grin, leapt over his desk and patted Harry hard on the back, almost making Harry choke. "I'll send you an owl with the details of training and the date of your first match. That's wonderful. Thank you very much Harry. All the games in the under 18 league take place during the school holidays, so your schooling won't be affected and I won't be getting any nasty owls from Dumbledore here." Bagman was looking like Christmas has come early. "Reminds me of the time when we were a beater short with the Wasps, his grandmother had died, and he couldn't make the match, we nearly had to go on with a player short, but just in time a bloke I know from the years when." "Anyway, thank you for your time, I'm sorry but we'll have to leave you now," Dumbledore said swiftly giving Harry a look. "Yes yes, time's precious, well thank you again Harry, expect we'll see each other again soon. Might even see you in the English Quidditch team, they often look at the under 18 teams to pick up any talent. Well, off you go then. Good luck," and with that Harry and Dumbledore left the crowded office of Ludo Bagman. "What ever you do don't get Ludo started on the old days," Dumbledore told Harry seriously. "He'll keep you there for hours if you let him. Now there are anti-apparating charms on this part of the ministry so we'll have to go a bit further away to apparate. Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked looking at Harry's bandaged throat. "Yes fine," Harry replied. It was hurting, but he didn't want to admit it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore however, didn't look convinced. He said nothing though, and instead took the lead along the corridors. Dumbledore seemed very familiar with the twisting passages and hidden staircases. The building seemed to have almost as many secret and hidden passages as Hogwarts. They did finally arrive in the neat little quadrangle that Harry had seen from the Hilda Moss Room. From the ground Harry could see the intricate arches and covered walkway that surrounded the clean square of grass. Stone serpents were wrapped round the pillars, while at each corner perched a large winged dragon that flapped it's wings and breathed fire when anyone passed. "This is known as the apparating courtyard," Dumbledore told Harry. "The dragons are specially trained. If anyone tries to use this area without the Ministry's permission, they attack." "But how come we were able to apparate straight into the Hilda Moss room?" Harry asked. "That together with the Chamber of the Stars is used for special occasions. For example if we wanted to impress foreign wizards, it wouldn't look very impressive if we made them apparate to here, so at special times we reverse the anti-apparating charms on it. You're obviously important enough to use the Hilda Moss Room." Dumbledore told him giving him a wide smile. His tiredness had left his face and he was looking more like the Dumbledore Harry had first met five years ago. "Now we need to go St Mungo's Hospital. Are you alright apparating?" "Yes I'm fine" Harry replied quickly. Beside him Dumbledore disapparated. Harry followed.
The final challenge
"So we meet again Harry. So soon" Voldemort sneered, his lips twisted in a cruel taunt. "Now it is my pleasure to finally finish your life. No caring head teacher to save you now." Harry reached for his wand, but it slipped from between his fingers into the long white talons of Lord Voldemort. Suddenly Voldemort convulsed. He started, and seemed to be in great pain, "The chair. He's destroying the chair," he whispered, his face contorted in horror. Harry still didn't dare to move. Voldemort steadied himself but his wand shook as he held it in his hand. He threw Harry's wand down and reached inside his dark robes. "He can destroy the chair, but he can't save you. I may be weakened, but I am still powerful" Voldemort hissed. His hand emerged with the glittering silver knife. It shone white in the sunlight, the blade was long and engraved with twisted snakes, the handle was made of two coiled snakes and their eyes were two rubies. Voldemort reached for his wand. "Kneel boy, the end has come" Looking into the black pools of Voldemort's eyes Harry felt hope desert him. There was no one to help him here. Still he didn't have to die on Voldemort's terms. "No" Harry said quietly. Immediately he felt the floaty feeling. His mind had been taken over. He just wanted to relax, but the small voice was there. Refuse him, don't do what he wants. Harry didn't want to obey, but the pressure forcing him to his knees was immense. Harry thought quickly. He couldn't escape; it would probably be best for Voldemort to think he was weaker than he actually was. Harry knelt in front of Voldemort. The gleaming knife was in front of him. He was going to die. Harry half-closed his eyes and waited for the knife to sweep across his neck. He waited, and waited, his heart in his mouth wanting it to be over. He could feel the sun beating on the back of his neck, and far away birds were singing. There was a slight breeze on his cheek. Harry stared at the tight black boots that Voldemort was wearing. Harry wasn't going to die without a fight. He tensed, every muscle waiting for the word. Harry saw Voldemort's arm sweep down, there was a sudden sharp pain on Harry's neck, but Harry had grabbed hold of Voldemort's arm, he swung it away from him. Voldemort let out a cry of surprise; Harry rolled towards his wand and grabbed it. He could see Voldemort clutching his leg where the silver knife was embedded. Harry was shaking so much he couldn't keep hold of his wand. His throat burned, but at the same time it felt like ice, and Harry could feel blood pouring from it. Things were becoming blurred and dark. He couldn't move. Distantly he could hear Voldemort's voice. It all seemed so far away. Suddenly, abruptly Harry heard a heavy thud in front of him, and his eyes instinctively opened. Bill and Charlie Weasley were both on brooms and were staring at him with as much astonishment and horror as Harry was staring at them. Voldemort was gone. The knife was lying on the grass, it's tip covered in blood. "Harry!" Charlie and Bill said in amazement. "Charlie" Harry said thickly. "Bill" "What are you doing here?" they both asked in unison. "Who was that?" Charlie asked, still looking confused. Feeling extremely confused Harry tried to answer their questions. "It was Voldemort. He was about to kill me." The brothers drew back as he said the name. Harry's head felt cloudy. He couldn't think straight, he could hardly see a thing, it was as if he were lost in a thick fog at twilight. "A goblin saying he was your godfather started yelling at us, that you were alive, but lost, but you're dead. Everyone thinks you're already dead. Dumbledore said so, the Ministry said so." Charlie said amazed. Harry looked at their bewildered faces, and felt deadly tired. He couldn't see properly. Everything was cloudy in front of his eyes. Harry tried to force the words out, but he knew that it was no good. His neck and front felt hot and sticky. "It was to. to protect me. Dumbledore. he and Richard. Richard he was." Harry was too tired to go on. He slumped forward, and everything went inky black.
Harry opened his eyes. Everything was orange. It took him a few moments to realise where he was. He was in Ron's room, he could make out four people standing by his bed, but his eyes were blurred, and he couldn't make out who they were. He closed his eyes again, ignoring the sweeping dizzyness that made him want to throw up. Eventually the dizziness went, and he was able to see who the people were. Sitting closest to him were Ron and Hermione. Sitting at the end of the bed was Dumbledore and Sirius. Ron was the first to notice that Harry was awake. He let out a sharp yell. Harry jumped. "Harry you're back." Hermione threw her arms round Harry's face, her eyes wet with tears. "We thought you were dead. We've been so upset. I'm so glad you're alright." She said in a small voice. Harry pulled back touched, but a little embarrassed. Ron too was looking a little emotional. Harry felt tears come to his eyes. He'd missed his friends so much. Dumbledore came closer to Harry, "I will leave you for a while, but we must talk when you've finished your reunion with your friends." Dumbledore gave a half bow to Harry and then left. Sirius hung back in the shadows. "Harry we're so glad you're alive. Everyone thought you were dead." Hermione said again in a thick choking voice. "Mum's been crying for days. I kept telling here you couldn't be dead, but she didn't believe me," Ron said. "I knew you couldn't be dead. Anyway what happened? Dumbledore wouldn't tell us anything. What happened to your neck?" For the first time Harry noticed his neck, it was covered in bandages and felt numb. Harry told them everything, right from the time he went to look for Neville. Hermione eyes filled with tears again when she heard that Harry came so close to death. Ron was in awe of Harry being able to apparate, ("That's so unfair, you're not allowed to learn to apparate until you're 17") and horrified when he heard about Dumbledore's disguise and humiliation at the hands of Lord Voldemort. When he finally finished Harry felt worn and Hermione and Ron were silent. It was a long time before any of them spoke. "So Snape is really on our side," Ron said eventually. "I can't believe Dumbledore put you at risk so much." Hermione said indignantly. "His plan was far too dangerous, the Ministry would never have approved it." "I doubt he even considered telling the ministry," Harry said. He then voiced a thought he'd had for a long time. "I think he encouraged Snape to act as he did so he would get a final chance at defeating You Know Who. He didn't care if he died in the process, he doesn't want to get too old to defeat You Know Who, or he gets too powerful to be defeated at all." Soft knocking on the door interrupted their conversation. Mrs Weasley entered carrying a large tray of cauldron cakes and a large flask of hot chocolate. When she saw Harry sitting up in bed she stared, and said in little more than a whisper, "Oh Harry, I've been so worried." She quickly put the tray down on the floor and bent over Harry and gave him a kiss on the forehead. She then withdrew hastily from the room, clutching a small flowery hanky. Harry suddenly felt a deep painful guilt. He'd taken so many risks with his life, not thinking about what would happen to his friends if he did die. Ron saw Harry's face, "Don't worry about her, she's always been a bit emotional." Just then Sirius spoke. He'd listened so quietly to Harry's story that they'd forgotten he was there. "Ron, Hermione, would it be alright if Dumbledore and I had a word with Harry now." They both nodded, and after saying their goodbyes left the room. Harry thought about their parting, was he now going to be in trouble? He had left Sirius behind; he was going to be furious. Sirius waited until the door was closed and Hermione and Ron's footsteps were gone before speaking. His voice was grave, low and resonated with anger, "Harry what you did was foolish and unforgivable. How am I supposed to protect you if you disobey me and actively put yourself in danger?" Harry's feeling of guilt increased, but another voice inside him said, what were you going to do? You've saved Richard, Dumbledore and Snape. They would all be dead if it wasn't for me. It was as if Sirius read his mind, "However what you did was very brave. You are responsible for saving three lives and the capture of three death eaters, including Mark Colligere. The silver chair is destroyed, Voldemort is defeated for a while." Harry suddenly remembered Sirius bending over Professor Jenai's body. The look of complete anguish. Was he to blame for her death? How could Sirius ever forgive him for that? Harry looked straight into Sirius's face, it was carved with sadness, his eyes had almost lost the haunted look that they had had after Azkaban, but it was replaced by a look of grief. Harry wasn't sure what to say, but his guilt was as crushing as Sirius's grief. "Sirius, I am so sorry about Professor Jenai. Romila. I'm so sorry for what I did." Sirius looked away from Harry, and seemed to be speaking in a trance. "Her mother died when she was small. Alexandra, she was my wife, she was so beautiful, and Romila was so like her, they were both so beautiful, and so clever. Romila was top of her class. It broke my heart not to be able to see her. Even when I got out of Azkaban I couldn't see her, it was too dangerous, but Dumbledore let us meet last year and then she gave up her job at the University of Magic, and came to be at Hogwarts so we could see each other. She was special advisor to the ministry." Sirius finished proudly, still looking blankly out of the window. Then he shook himself, and looked directly at Harry. He spoke almost fiercely, " You must not blame yourself for her death, if anyone is to blame its me, I summoned her, and the other members of the ministry. She was the best, and if it hadn't been for her there may have been more deaths. Together we saved Dumbledore, Snape Richard and you. It could have been so much worse." Sirius's voice was shaking, as if he was trying to convince himself. Harry saw Sirius's eyes start to moisten, and Sirius turned away quickly and then left the room. Harry thought of Professor Jenai. He remembered her sharp teaching, and beautiful features. She had helped rescue Richard, Dumbledore and Snape as much as he had. He remembered his first lesson with her, when she had made him face up to his fear, and the unbinding lesson. Without that he couldn't have saved them. In slow motion he remembered her falling to the floor and Sirius bent over her like he was mortally wounded. The door opened and Dumbledore entered. He drew up a chair and sat next to Harry. "So Harry, we both survived. I expect you are curious as to what happened; however I think we should hear your story first. What happened from when you left the Island of Céláre?" Harry told Dumbledore as best as he could, but he still wasn't sure what had happened himself. He remembered Voldemort and the knife. He had been cut, but Voldemort had been hurt, or was in pain, but it wasn't anything to do with Harry. Dumbledore listened patiently and expressionlessly. When he finished, Harry had about a hundred questions to ask. "Sir when I apparated, why did I not arrive next to the house as I imagined?" "That, I believe, was Voldemort. He still had his powers, and guessed correctly that I would send you to safety. He managed to manipulate the old magical waves that allow wizards to apparate to bring you to him." "And why did You Know. I mean Voldemort not have all his powers when he tried too kill me, he appeared in pain and used a knife not his wand." "His rapid rise to power meant that he had to use the Chair of Seolfar to help him. He leaned to heavily on its strength, but he was too greedy to regain power. When I destroyed the chair, he lost some of his powers. The knife is symbolic. It is made from the same silver as the Chair of Seolfar. There is an old magic that says that if he killed you at such a time with the silver knife, then the power of the Lord Faulemort would live in him instead of the silver chair. It was a desperate move, but he fortunately didn't succeed. "And now Harry you must rest. However before I take my leave I would ask one more thing of you. The Chair of Seolfar is destroyed, and Voldemort has been beaten this time. The wound that you have given him will not leave him, and he will be weakened by it. The touch of the silver knife to the wielder is a serious wound. He will return though, and we must be ready. My request is that you tell the Ministry of Magic your story, and allow yourself to be questioned. It is important the ministry realises what has happened and what they must do. We have bought time, but our response was too slow. It must not happen again. Will you help?" Harry nodded, and Dumbledore left the room. Sirius entered and said, "You will be tired, your wound was deep, and made with an evil weapon, you must rest. I will be sleeping at the end of your bed tonight." Harry's throat was throbbing uncomfortably, as he turned in his bed and tried to get comfortable. Sirius drew the curtains and the room was filled with a dusky glow as the sun tried to creep through the cracks around the fabric.
Chapter 18
The Chamber of the Stars
Harry's recovery was slower than he would have imagined for such small wound. His throat felt continually cold, and even with Mrs Weasley's tender care, it would not heal. Harry was able to move around the house, although Mrs Weasley worse was than Madame Pomfrey for fussing. She wouldn't let him out of the house, and definitely not going out for a walk or play Quidditch. At Harry's insistence Sirius had apparated back to the Island of Céláre to get Harry's Firebolt. It was almost a week since Harry had faced Voldemort when Mrs Weasley interrupted Harry and Hermione having a ferocious game of chess. "Harry you have a visitor." Harry couldn't guess who would want to be visiting him. Mrs Weasley called through to where the visitor was waiting in the hall. "You can come through." Bending his head low to fit through the door Hagrid entered. Looking enormous in the Weasley's small lounge he rushed over to Harry enveloping him in a giant hug, although carefully avoiding Harry's neck. "Oh Harry, yer've been so brave, and I was thinking you were dead, Ah've never been so miserable. I can't believe yer really here." Eventually loosened his grip on Harry when Hermione told him urgently that Harry was looking a little blue. Harry was shocked to see large tears rolling down his cheeks. "It's alright Hagrid. Dumbledore was looking after me. I was perfectly safe." A large blue stripy handkerchief was now muffling Harry's sniffles. "It's been so horrible thinking you were dead." Hagrid said again. Harry gave Hagrid a hug, although his arms only managed to reach round a portion of Hagrid's enormous girth. Harry finally managed to stop Hagrid's weeping and even managed to persuade him to play a game of chess. Hagrid was surprisingly good at chess and was able to beat Harry with a little help from Ron. It was gone midday when Hagrid told them that he'd better get home to Fang and left. Ron followed him, but Mrs Weasley would not let Harry see Hagrid onto the Knights bus. Hagrid and Ron had hardly left when Mrs Weasley came through again announcing another visitor. Harry and Hermione timidly followed her into the kitchen, where sitting at the table there were two people. Snape was sitting next to Richard. At Snape's white face, Harry involuntarily felt a chill: he still couldn't get used to the fact that Snape was on the good side and had even risked his life to help Harry. Harry's mind wouldn't let go of the hums and the shrinking potion. He had acted the part of the villain too well. As Harry walked in Snape stood up and held his hand out to shake Harry's. Harry shook the outstretched hand awkwardly. It felt cold as marble. Harry sat down not sure what to say. After an embarrassing pause Snape began, "I, well Richard and I would like to thank you for what you did for both of us." Although Snape appeared friendly, there was a coldness in his eyes that showed that his love for Harry had changed little. "You showed outstanding bravery and we both owe our lives to you." The sincerity of these words were betrayed in Snape's black eyes. Harry feeling very uncomfortable felt his face go red and hot as he replied, "Thank you Professor, for protecting me." Harry hoped his words didn't sound as insincere as he thought they did. Richard looked straight at Harry for the first time. Harry felt that the bond that connected them was still as strong as ever. Harry could hear Richard thanking him profusely for what he had done, even though no-one else could hear a word. Harry told him it was nothing, and that he'd like to meet up some time. They both suddenly realised that the room was silent, and both Hermione and Snape were looking at them oddly. Harry said, "Are you going to Hogwarts then?" Richard answered immediately, "Father has to sort it out with Professor Dumbledore, but I hope so." It made Harry feel odd to hear Snape being called father and he was just about to ask another question when Snape interrupted, "Well Potter," Snape almost spat the word out, "we won't trespass on your time further. I will see you next year when the school reopens. Good bye." Richard cast a regretful look at Harry and told him in his head that he was sorry his father didn't like Harry, but that he would like to meet up some time. As he followed Snape out of the room, Harry told Richard that he'd send an owl. As soon as Snape and Richard had left the room, Hermione looked at Harry questioningly, "Is it me or was there a conversation that I wasn't hearing?" Harry replied slowly, "I don't know why, but I can speak to him in my head. That's why I knew where he was being held prisoner. I think it's something to do with Voldemort killing his twin, and my parents." Hermione looked surprised. "I think I read about that in Magical Phenomena: Principles and Interpretation. Hang on let me get it." She rushed upstairs looking excited. She returned looking flushed and clutching a book bound in red dragon skin. "It's in here, Professor Jenai lent it to me for a bit of extra reading. It's called the Ingle Jacksons Phenomenon. If someone kills a person's family but if for some reason one of them survives and then the same happens to another family using the same wand then they are connected. Usually this is just feeling strong emotions or pain." She looked up looking puzzled. "That doesn't explain why you can hear him though." She buried her head in the book again. A few minutes later she continued, "It's only a theory, but based on what it says I think that Richard's twin allows you to talk. I don't understand it completely. This book is what you'd study at university level." Just then Ron came back carrying a large box of chocolate frogs. "Hagrid says he forgot to give these to you," Ron said happily his mouth full of chocolate.
Even though he wasn't allowed out of the house, the week was a happy one for Harry. He had missed the company of Hermione and Ron and it was fun not to worry about anything and just be himself. It was at the end of the second week that Dumbledore returned to the Burrow. He was very concerned about Harry's wound. His whole neck was a horrible grey, and the cut was a dull white. Although it wasn't painful, it had a low throb that never left. Harry thought he might be making too much of it, but he was sure that it was the wound that was making him feel continually tired. He voiced his concerns to Dumbledore who then looked very worried. "I am not an expert Harry, but I know this is serious. I wanted you to come with me to the Ministry of Magic today. I think that when we have finished there we should visit St Mungo's. They will be able to examine it. Shall we go by Flue Powder, or apparate?" Eager to show his skills at apparating Harry chose the latter. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at him, "Alright, we need to go to the Hilda Moss Room, The Ministry of Magic. You need to concentrate on those words. And then apparate. Alright. Follow me." And with that Dumbledore disappeared from sight. Harry concentrated hard, and saying the words found himself travelling incredibly fast, so that around him there was just a blur. Within seconds he hit the ground with enough force to make his knees buckle, nearly throwing him to the floor. Beside him Dumbledore gave a small chuckle. "Nearly there Harry." Dumbledore now looked a little more serious. "Now we will be meeting with the elected council of wizards. They will question you much, I believe. Answer all their questions as truthfully as you can. They may ask you questions about the events of last summer also." Harry suddenly felt nervous, as if he was about to go on trial. He followed Dumbledore into a gloomy room where five wizards were sitting on ornately carved chairs. A single stained glass window depicting an elderly wizard defeating a dragon lighted the room. Coloured pools of light were scattered over the floor. The walls were panelled with a dark wood. Pictures of stern wizards lined the walls, with long grey beards and flowing cloaks. The roof was painted a midnight blue, through which small golden stars glowed. Cornelius Fudge was sitting on the largest chair and it was him that spoke first, "Welcome Harry, welcome to the Chamber of the Stars." Cornelius Fudge beckoned to a chair that was facing the line of wizards. Nervously Harry pulled himself onto the heavily varnished seat. Dumbledore took a seat at the back of the room. "Could you explain exactly what happened at the Triwizard Tournament when you touched the Triwizard Cup," Cornelius Fudge began. Harry started and tried his best to remember every detail and keep to the truth as much as possible. The happenings of the last summer were still painful, but the pain had faded slightly, and Harry was able to recount the circumstances of Cedric's death, and then what happened on the Island of Célare. Occasionally Fudge prompted him, but mostly he was left to tell his own version of the past year. The sun was high in the sky when Harry finished telling them about the final confrontation with Voldemort. The Chamber of the Stars was silent until Harry finished. Fudge then gently unwrapped the thick white bandage from Harry's neck and showed them the sickening grey bruise that surrounded the cut made by the silver knife. Several of the witches and wizards drew breath sharply as they saw the gash. Fudge too drew back and looked grave, "There is no mistake, this is a wound of the silver knife. Thank you Harry, we want to talk to Professor Dumbledore now, would you mind stepping outside." Harry gladly left the stuffy Chamber of Stars with its important witches and wizards and flopped down on a red couch in the Hilda Moss Room. In an ornate gilded frame a young looking witch with shining golden hair was riding a flying carpet around some fluffy clouds in a sapphire sky. She waved merrily at Harry before doing the loop a loop around a cloud. A large window that looked over a neatly kept quadrangle, occasionally crossed by witches or wizards talking easily, lighted the room. The sky outside was a brilliant powder blue, and Harry suddenly felt a longing to be far away, walking in fields without a care in the world. Instead Harry closed his eyes and waited for Dumbledore to appear. It seemed many hours before Dumbledore left the Chamber of the Stars. He gave Harry a small smile, "Thank you for your patience. Now I do believe there is another member of the Ministry who would like to talk to you." He smiled further at Harry's puzzled face, but did not elaborate. Instead he left the Hilda Moss room through a small door and Harry followed him. They passed along long halls with stone flags and dark panelled walls. Many wizards did a double take when seeing Harry, one wizard dropped a huge pile of parchment in his hurry to shake Harry's hand, another witch, much to Harry's embarrassment tried to kiss Harry's feet. His cheeks bright red Harry was immensely glad when Dumbledore took a sharp turn travelled down a windy little staircase and knocked on a small weedy looking door that said in rather faded letters
LUDO BAGMAN
Department for Magical Sports and Games The door was opened at once, and Harry recognised the short ruffled outline of Ludo Bagman. "Pleased to meet you again, very pleased indeed," Ludo said trying to shake Dumbledore and Harry's hand at the same time, "Well come in, come in." Bagman's office gave the impression its last resident had been a small tornado. Parchment covered every surface, while the walls were covered with bright pictures of wizards and witches playing Quidditch. Most of them featured a Quidditch player in Yellow and Black stripy robes. A huge banner hung over Bagman's desk that read, WISBORNE WASPS. Ludo beckoned them to sit on two chairs facing his desk. Harry moved a large box of parchment scrolls and sat nervously on his seat wondering why Bagman wanted to see him. "Well Harry, I expect you're wondering why I've asked to see you." Harry nodded. "Well we've got a bit of a problem. It's not been well publicised, but we have a British Under 18 Quidditch team, that's short of a seeker. I've asked through all the British clubs, and none of the seekers are under 18. So I asked Professor Dumbledore here if any of his students were of a good enough standard, and he said that you were the best seeker they'd had for many years. I was very impressed with your skills against the Horntail at the Triwizard Cup, and although you are still very young for the team, we think that your talent surpasses your age." Harry blushed a little, but listened with growing excitement. "So I have asked you here today to see if you'd be interested in joining the team." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Y.y.yes I w.would" Harry said stuttering, trying to get the words out. Ludo gave a huge grin, leapt over his desk and patted Harry hard on the back, almost making Harry choke. "I'll send you an owl with the details of training and the date of your first match. That's wonderful. Thank you very much Harry. All the games in the under 18 league take place during the school holidays, so your schooling won't be affected and I won't be getting any nasty owls from Dumbledore here." Bagman was looking like Christmas has come early. "Reminds me of the time when we were a beater short with the Wasps, his grandmother had died, and he couldn't make the match, we nearly had to go on with a player short, but just in time a bloke I know from the years when." "Anyway, thank you for your time, I'm sorry but we'll have to leave you now," Dumbledore said swiftly giving Harry a look. "Yes yes, time's precious, well thank you again Harry, expect we'll see each other again soon. Might even see you in the English Quidditch team, they often look at the under 18 teams to pick up any talent. Well, off you go then. Good luck," and with that Harry and Dumbledore left the crowded office of Ludo Bagman. "What ever you do don't get Ludo started on the old days," Dumbledore told Harry seriously. "He'll keep you there for hours if you let him. Now there are anti-apparating charms on this part of the ministry so we'll have to go a bit further away to apparate. Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked looking at Harry's bandaged throat. "Yes fine," Harry replied. It was hurting, but he didn't want to admit it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore however, didn't look convinced. He said nothing though, and instead took the lead along the corridors. Dumbledore seemed very familiar with the twisting passages and hidden staircases. The building seemed to have almost as many secret and hidden passages as Hogwarts. They did finally arrive in the neat little quadrangle that Harry had seen from the Hilda Moss Room. From the ground Harry could see the intricate arches and covered walkway that surrounded the clean square of grass. Stone serpents were wrapped round the pillars, while at each corner perched a large winged dragon that flapped it's wings and breathed fire when anyone passed. "This is known as the apparating courtyard," Dumbledore told Harry. "The dragons are specially trained. If anyone tries to use this area without the Ministry's permission, they attack." "But how come we were able to apparate straight into the Hilda Moss room?" Harry asked. "That together with the Chamber of the Stars is used for special occasions. For example if we wanted to impress foreign wizards, it wouldn't look very impressive if we made them apparate to here, so at special times we reverse the anti-apparating charms on it. You're obviously important enough to use the Hilda Moss Room." Dumbledore told him giving him a wide smile. His tiredness had left his face and he was looking more like the Dumbledore Harry had first met five years ago. "Now we need to go St Mungo's Hospital. Are you alright apparating?" "Yes I'm fine" Harry replied quickly. Beside him Dumbledore disapparated. Harry followed.