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 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.