"Professor", said Harry to Slughorn, "Lord Black has got the tickets to the finals and there is an extra ticket for the top box in the stadium. Sirius sends it to you with his compliments."
Slughorn took the ticket gleefully, "Of course my boy. I will be delighted to join you. Where is Lord Black?"
"Sirius is out of the country looking for some business prospects. He is trying to introduce some stuff to the markets here that we don't have, and he believes that it will be a gold mine", Harry told him.
Sirius had got the tickets from the Minister himself who wanted to be seen rubbing shoulders with the latest Lord in the Wizengamot and his new friend. Sirius recently had made a generous donation to a charity run by the Minister's wife, and he was ecstatic. His decision to support Sirius Black was proving more useful every day.
Sirius had also invited the Weasleys and Hermione for he had enough tickets to the show. He had even gone so far as to book a large parcel of land on the site for raising their tent for the day.
The Weasleys had arrived a day before they were scheduled to leave for the match and half of the Black Manor was occupied. Everyone was given their own room in the Manor, but the twins insisted that they couldn't sleep alone.
The trio had chatted about their summers so far and everything that they had been up to before deciding that it had been a nice quiet holiday for them and for once even Harry was not troubled by Voldemort.
Molly Weasley had woken everyone in the morning, "Come down you lot. If you are not on time, then you will be late for the match."
As people scrambled to the breakfast after being ready, Harry spotted Remus and Sirius in t-shirts and jeans topped off by boots which suspiciously looked like dragon hide boots. Mr. Weasley had tried his best to look like a muggle and even Mrs. Weasley had done her best to look the part.
"Where are Bill, Charlie and Percy?," asked Fred.
"They are sleeping in. They will Apparate there at noon," Mrs. Weasley said, "Since you all cannot Apparate therefore you have to take a portkey."
As they finished their breakfast, Mr. Weasley, Sirius, Remus, the twins, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny walked out of the wards of the manor to take their portkey. It was a portkey which had been provided for them by the Minister himself and had been made only for their group. Mrs. Weasley was going to arrive with Charlie, Percy, and Bill at noon when they would Apparate in.
When they out of the wards, Sirius turned to them, "If you all have never taken a portkey then remember that it will make you feel slightly nauseous. When it stops pulling you, start walking to lose the momentum and you will not fall on your backside."
They all gathered around a piece of a wooden stave which they all touched and soon they were whisked away by the portkey.
As Sirius had told them, Harry and Hermione began walking to lose the momentum which had carried them, and they came to a stop without falling over. The twins however were not so lucky and fallen in a heap over one another.
"Party of nine from Black Manor," said a wizard who was holding a clip board in hand, "You lot should clear away right now because we have a big party coming in from Black Forest."
"Morning, Andrew," greeted Mr. Weasley to the wizard who was holding the clip board, "Would you know where our camp site is supposed to be?"
"About a mile from here," grunted the wizard, "Go straight and turn right when you come to the gate. The site manager is a muggle named Robert."
"Thank you," said Arthur and they started walking towards the site which they had selected for themselves.
To get to the campsite witches and wizards had to cross a deserted moor, it was difficult to see through the mist present on the moor. After twenty minutes, a small stone cottage next to a gate could be seen. Beyond it, Harry was able to make out the ghostly shapes of hundreds and hundreds of tents. The tents were located along the gentle slope of a large field towards a dark wood on the horizon.
Harry was looking over the vast fields where tents were strewn about. It looked like a mini country had come here to live and there were people that were clearly from other countries as he could see. Some couldn't even speak English from what he heard. He also saw a group of African Wizards huddled together and smoking pipes while stroking a fire windlessly.
There was a tent which was about 3 stories high and there were peacocks outside it. There were many which clearly looked magical. Many were openly using magic and it was so different from the other world where the witches and wizard gathered from the entire world, but they were all forbidden from using magic.
There were similar tents around the site, and all were decked out in their entire splendour. He could feel the magic in the surroundings and felt some sort of elation. It was nice feeling.
Sirius approached the muggle, "We have booked a site for camping here."
Mr. Robert was looking at his list, "Name?"
"Black," said Sirius.
"Go down and turn to the right when you have crossed five plots," said he, "That will be one hundred pounds."
Sirius counted the money and gave it to him.
"Are you all here for a rally for something?," Mr. Robert asked, "There have been people from all over the place and many tried to pay me in solid gold coins."
"Why would they do that?," Sirius asked in astonishment, "We will take your leave for now, Mr. Robert."
When they arrived at the site, there was an empty plot of land and in the middle of which was written 'Black.'
Sirius got the bulky tent out of his pack and before anyone could tell him otherwise, he shot a spell at it, "Erectus."
The tent opened and erected itself within minutes, "All right you lot. Now get in."
Harry was suspicious if they will all fit inside but one peek in and he knew that it was magical. The tent had eight rooms in total and a kitchen.
"Dobby," Sirius called, and the elf appeared, "Mr. Black calls for Dobby?"
"Dobby, prepare some breakfast for all of us," Sirius said to the elf who went to his work with gusto.
He then turned to the children, "Now I want you lot to go out and enjoy yourselves. Go sightseeing and mingle with the folks out there. It is not every day that you get to meet wizards from other countries. Just don't go to the Bulgarians."
"Why not?," Harry asked curiously.
"Because we are supporting Ireland and they won't take kindly to it."
As they were leaving, Sirius handed a money bag to Harry, "Go nuts, Harry. Buy whatever catches your fancy. If there is any gold left when you return, I will be cross with you."
Harry grinned, "Of course."
So, they started walking about the campsite. There were people there from all over the world and he saw children who were his own age, but he was sure they didn't go to Hogwarts. It was at this moment that it occurred to him that there may more schools like Hogwarts out there which gave magical education to children.
He asked the group which accompanied him, "Any of you know about any other schools of magic outside Britain?"
"There are many, Harry. But I know only about two of them and they are Durmstrang and Beauxbatons," said Hermione, "I tried to find the difference between the schools but all of them are very secretive."
"I reckon Bill once had a pen pal from Brazil who wanted Bill to visit but Mum and Dad could not afford it and he sent Bill a cursed hat in anger."
As they talked, they kept walking around generally and Harry met many of his classmates from Hogwarts. There were Dean and Seamus with Seamus's mother and when she asked, they told her that they were obviously supporting Ireland, as if they could say anything else.
They also ran into Oliver Wood, who had just started as the Reserve Keeper for Puddlemere United. Oliver dragged him to meet his parents.
Finally, they stopped at a vendor, who was selling binoculars but called them omnioculars. Of course, they had to be magical.
"What are these for?," Harry asked him.
"These are Omnioculars, lad," he said, "You can use them to watch the match from afar, can rewind a particular shot that you want to see again, record a match and even slow down things. Of course, it doesn't slow things in real but it slows them so you can analyse it."
"Ron, do you want one?," Harry asked his friend as he had already purchased two for himself and Hermione.
"No, I don't have the gold," said Ron his ears turning red, "I spent my gold on candies."
Harry thrust the omnioculars in his hand, "Take it. No Christmas gift for you though."
Ron happily nodded.
Before they left, Harry bought a hat with the Irish Shamrock to wear in the evening. He did the same for Hermione though Ron refused to get one. He was always sensitive where gold was concerned.
After that, they decided to visit the section where the Bulgarian supporters were, and the entire section was a mass of scarlet. There were Bulgarian flags atop every tent in that part and a flag which consisted of a face of a wizard who could not have been much older than them.
"Who do you reckon he is?," Harry asked his friends.
"He is Viktor Krum," answered Ron, "The youngest seeker in the International scenario and he has the stats to prove that he is the best seeker in the world."
Viktor Krum seemed like a burly guy with a hooked nose, mean looking eyes and a formidable opponent.
"Let's get back now," said Harry to them, "I am sure others would have arrived by now and Mrs. Weasley would be worrying about us."
When they returned to the tent, they found Arthur talking with a wizard who had pointed moustache, his hair was combed back, dressed in suit and his shoes which looked ordinary leather sparkled as if recently they had been thoroughly cleaned. Harry for a moment thought that the man was a bank manager.
"Cousin Barty," said Sirius who had come out, "What a surprise to see you here. You have a lot of gall to go out in public especially after you sent me to Azkaban for doing nothing."
The man grimaced, "It was a mistake, Black. And if you were in my place, you'd have done the same considering the reputation of the House of Black."
Sirius evilly smirked, "So, because your son was a Death Eater, does it mean that I can call you that?"
Barty whipped out his wand, but he was slower than Sirius whose wand was already pointed at him, "Keep that wand where it belongs, or I will give you a genuine reason for sending me to Azkaban."
Barty sheathed his wand in anger and Disapparated.
"Who the hell was that?," Harry asked.
"He is Barty Crouch. Mr. Crouch is head of the Department of Foreign Relations and I work for him in his office. He is a brilliant and powerful wizard. Lord Black should not have provoked him."
Sirius barked in laughter, "Did he ever tell you that he sent me to prison without a trial? Did he tell you that his son was a Death Eater, and he was responsible for the attack on the Longbottoms?"
Percy had no answer to that, so he kept quiet. However, Sirius was not done, "Don't idolise someone to the extent of worshipping them, Percy. Learn to question them."
It was an hour to sunset when the bells started tolling in the distance. Harry jumped up with his wand in hand and then realised that it was not an alarm, but it was telling people to start lining up for going into the stadium.
From every direction as far as he could see, there were countless wizards who had lined up and were walking towards the Quidditch stadium. By the team they were near the stadium, the sun had set, and dusk had come. The lights had been turned one and the floating lanterns, the fairies, the fireworks all made it very mesmerising experience for him. Thousands of people walking together without any disturbance was surreal experience.
When they reached the stadium, Sirius handed their tickets to the wizard on the gate and he returned them after punching them, "Keep climbing until you reach the top. The Minister's own private box on the top tier."
When they reached the top, he saw a house elf sitting in the box alone and covering her eyes. She was short for an elf, a pencil nose, blue tennis ball sized eyes and she wore a pillowcase.
As they took their seats in the box, Harry talked to the elf, "Hello, who are you?"
"I is Winky, sir," said the diminutive elf, "I is keeping a seat for Master Barty. I is afraid of heights."
"If she is afraid of heights then what she is doing here?," Harry asked Sirius who shrugged, "For some folks, house elves mean nothing. I guess Crouch has her to keep a seat for him."
"Did you had to sell your house for tickets, Weasel?," drawled Draco Malfoy who had entered the box with his parents in tow.
Before Ron could answer, Sirius spoke, "Unlike your father, he didn't have to kiss the hem of robes of another."
"Sirius," said Mrs. Malfoy, "You look to be in the peak of your health. Allow me to use this moment to invite you for lunch to Malfoy Manor next week."
Sirius growled, "I'd die before I'd set foot in that accursed place and don't bother trying to warm up to me. I am currently in the process of expelling you from the family."
She looked shocked, "You can't do it to me. That is the prerogative of Lord Black."
Sirius showed her the ring on his finger which contained the Black family incal on it, "Well, I guess you have been out of touch."
"But my son is the heir of the house of Black," she said frantically, "You can't kick us out."
Sirius smirked, "Grandfather never changed his will, and I was the Lord Black after him even if I was in Azkaban at that time. As soon as I took my oath, I nominated Harry here as my heir. If you want to stay in the House of Black, you and your spawn will be respectful to my guests, or you'll face my wrath."
Narcissa or Lucius may have said something but at that moment, the Minister arrived with the Bulgarian Minister in tow. Cornelius was talking to him in gestures and the Bulgarian Minister seemed not to understand a word.
Fudge introduced them to him and when he came to Harry, Fudge simply pointed to the lightning bolt scar on his forehead and the Bulgarian Minister said, "Harry Potter!"
Fudge smiled, "I knew you would recognise him."
Before the match started, each team brought forth their mascots. The Irish had brough Leprechauns and the Bulgarians brought Veelas. The Veelas temporarily robbed every one of their senses and it was hilarious. The match was won by Ireland who defeated Bulgaria by ten points.
One funny moment had come when Cornelius Fudge had realised that the Bulgarian Minister knew English and had been leading him by the nose pretending that he did not know a word of English.
It was a few hours later when they all were in bed that they heard a commotion. Sirius was already up and growling, "Everybody get up now. Get your wands."
As everyone scrambled for their wands, Sirius had ducked out of the tent to see what the commotion was about and what he saw brought his blood to boil. In other life, he would have charged out there without a worry as to his safety, but Azkaban had changed that.
He ducked back into the tent and said hastily, "There are Death Eaters out there or what remains of them. They are levitating the Muggle site owner around them, spreading fires and casting curses at random. Molly, I want you and twins to take the young ones into the trees and hide there until one of us comes to get you. Arthur, you, and the boys are coming with me and Remus to rescue those Muggles."
Harry knew better than to argue with Sirius at that point.
They joined the throng of Witches and Wizards running out and about. One look in the direction of the commotion and they could see Wizards in silver masks and hood over their heads, torching stuff and levitating the Muggles.
Harry wasted no time in joining others to get away. In the way, they met with the last person they would have wanted to see.
"Running, Potter? Scared of big bad wizards", drawled Draco Malfoy, who was resting against a tree trunk.
"Got your father running among them hiding behind a mask, Malfoy?", Harry asked, his wand jumping in his hand as he summoned it from its holster.
"Aren't you brave, Potter? Why don't you go and find out for yourself."
"Let's leave Harry", said Hermione, "he is not worth arguing over."
"Oh Granger, they would love to find you and show your bloomers to the world. They have it in them for Mudbloods like you."
Before Ron could lunge for him, Harry caught him, "No. We have to get to safety."
As they were leaving, Harry shot a hex at Malfoy. The effect was immediate and Malfoy who had opened his mouth to say something, brayed like an ass.
"Draco Malfoy, the ass", Harry snickered, "Remember it next time you try to insult any of us."
By that time, others had disappeared, and the trio was left on their own. They stumbled through and were heading in the general direction of the woods when there was a shout, and a spell was shot in the air. There was a sign floating in the sky- a snake coming out of an emerald skull.
As soon as the sign appeared, the rioters had disappeared. Harry and the others were still stunned about what had happened when hair on the back of his head rose and Harry yelled, 'Duck'.
The trio hit the ground and stunning hexes passed over them in general direction of where the curse had been shot from.
They came face to face with four men dressed in Crimson Robes with the insignia of the Ministry of Magic on the right breast pocket of their robes. Leading them was Barty Crouch and there was Amos Diggory with him.
"Who cast the Dark Mark?", Crouch asked harshly.
"What Dark Mark?", Harry asked.
"That Mark", said Crouch pointing to symbol which was still in the sky, "that is you-know-who's Mark. Which of you three cast it?"
"Have you lost your marbles finally, Crouch?", growled Sirius, "That is Harry Potter, if you are not blind and he was the one to vanquish Voldemort, a name which still makes you wet your pants."
"Black", he growled, "Stay out of it. It is got to be one of them. There is no one else here."
"Barty", said Arthur who had just arrived, "the red head is my son and the third one is their friend, Hermione Granger who is a Muggle born. Surely you don't believe that three fourth year students would know how to cast the Dark Mark? No one even knows the incantation."
"We saw someone over there casting a curse which sounded like 'Morsmordre' and that weird mark came up in the sky", Harry said.
Amos said excitedly, "May be our stunners got them."
Crouch began to say something, but Amos was already off towards the trees and after a few minutes he returned carrying a little creature in his arms, "Oh ho… I found this elf there, so I guess our spells did find someone."
Crouch's face was contorted in anger, "Winky?"
Amos asked, "You know this elf?"
"Of course, I do. It is my elf, Winky."
"I also found her with a wand", he said and showed a wand to Crouch.
"That is my daughter's wand", Arthur said, "where did you find it?"
"Your daughter's wand?", Crouch turned on him.
"Yes, it is her wand", said Arthur, "I have no idea where your elf got it."
Amos was already reviving the elf, "Rennervate."
As the elf came round, Crouch began to speak but he interrupted, "Barty, this is an investigation of the Department of Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures. Stay out of it for now. Needless to say, you are also a suspect for now along with those three."
Crouch growled, "So you are saying that Harry Potter or I cast the Dark Mark? Think carefully about it again, Amos. You have come close to accuse two persons of casting the Dark Mark who are the last persons that you'd expect to side with them."
"I am not accusing anyone, Barty", he said then he turned to the elf, "Elf, I am Amos Diggory, the head of the Department of Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures. Where did you get this wand?"
"Winky's be stealin it, sir", the elf squeaked.
"Did you cast the Dark Mark?", he asked sternly.
The elf hiccupped, "No sir. Winky is not doing that."
Then she looked at Barty Crouch and wailed, "Master, I failed you!"
"Be quiet elf", Amos growled, "You were found with a wand on the site from where the Dark Mark was cast."
"It was definitely a male who cast the curse", said Harry, "We heard the voice, and it was definitely not female."
Amos sent a few of the Auror to look in the bushes but there was nothing else and they also decided that she couldn't use a wand so there was no way she had case the Dark Mark.
Arthur was talking to Amos, "Amos, since it is proved that this wand is my daughters, and she was not the one to cast the Dark Mark so can I have it back?"
Amos checked the wand for the last spell cast using a spell called 'Priori Incantatem and deleted it before returning it to Arthur.
"Amos, as a favour let me deal with the indiscretion of my elf", said Crouch and Amos disappeared.
Crouch turned to his elf, "Winky, your insubordination means punishment. It will mean clothes."
The elf began sobbing hysterically, "No master. No. No clothes."
Hermione who was watching everything intently, said harshly, "Why are you punishing her? She did not cast the Dark Mark."
Crouch turned his glare on her, "Stay out of it, girl. She defied a direct order by leaving the tent."
"But she was afraid…" Hermione started to say but was interrupted, "Stay quiet girl. This does not concern you at all so keep out of it."
Hermione tried to say something more, but Sirius stopped her by pressing her hand.
Just then, a big black wizard dressed in crimson robes approached them, "Barty, Madam Bones has been looking for you. She is in the command tent."
As Crouch and others with him disappeared, the auror turned to Sirius, "Good job unmasking Malfoy, Sirius. Amelia plans to get a warrant for his arrest the first thing in morning."
Sirius grinned, "At least something good has come out of this sordid episode."
They returned to their tent for what was left of the night. Harry thought he was too wired to be able to sleep but he went to sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
They took an early portkey out of there the next morning and returned to Black Manor. The Weasleys took Hermione with them to the Burrow while Sirius kept Harry back.
After a filling breakfast, Sirius said, "Ask your questions."
"What was that Mark?"
"It was a symbol of terror and dread during the war. It is the symbol of Voldemort that his followers cast at every site of ambush. If the Mark was hovering at a place or a dwelling, it always meant death and strife. Seeing the Mark in the sky was always a dreading feeling and no one knew who the next target would be. There was a time that witches and wizards would have fainted at the sight of that Mark and to think that it has been seen after more than 14 years is not a good sign."
"What happened yesterday?"
"The rioters were what is left of the Death Eaters i.e., Voldemort's followers. They were his henchmen who used to do his bidding and escaped prosecution when he was vanquished by claiming that they were under his Imperious curse."
"Why would they be so foolish to parade around in full regalia at such a site?"
"Because they are idiots. They perhaps thought that they could terrorise people once again and their masks were enough to fill people with the sense of dread. I guess they had fire whiskey one too many and those remaining got together and decided to do some show off."
"Who was that man and what he said about Malfoy?"
Sirius grinned, "Well, I haven't told you the best part. When we went to catch them, I sent Arthur and Bill from one side while Percy and Charlie approached from another. I joined in with the man whose name is Kingsley Shacklebolt, and he is an Auror. I shot a curse at one of those which obscured his vision and caused severe itching on his face. In his haste to get some relief, the death eater removed his mask and presto, it was Lucius Malfoy."
"What?", Harry asked in wonder.
"Yes", Sirius said grinning, "Last I heard, Amelia had her Aurors out and about searching for him. She has already issued warrant of arrest for Lucius Malfoy."
Harry started to grin, "So it means I can have a peaceful year at Hogwarts without Draco Malfoy strutting around that father will hear about it."
"Sure pup," said Sirius, "And if he is still being an ass, curse him something creative."
"So, what is next Sirius?," Harry asked.
"Two days from now, we are leaving for a vacation. We will be gone for a week, and we will return with two weeks remaining in your holidays," he said, "You will be able to host your friends for one summer party before returning to the castle."
"Why it is secret about wherever we are going?," Harry asked.
"It will be made clear to you with time," Sirius said, "Just give it a few more days. You'll know why we have kept it all a secret from you."
Frank Bryce was an old man who lived in the village of Little Hangleton. He was army veteran and he had worked as the gardener for the Riddle family since he had retired from the army. The Riddle family were landlords in the Little Hangleton area and owned all the land in it. They had been very prosperous and would have continued so if the Riddle heir, one Tom Riddle hadn't run away with a tramp. The tramp in question was a near squib witch, who was a daughter of the House of Gaunt. The Gaunts had lost their fortune and their lands were purchased by the Riddles. One fine night as the Riddles went to sleep, they never woke up the next day.
Suspicions fell on Frank, and he was interrogated at length by the Police. The Police were baffled by the crime because there was no outward damage to the bodies of the Riddles, but they were dead. They had horror etched on their faces in their last moments but other than that, there was nothing else to show that something had happened.
The wizards however knew that the Riddles were killed by an unforgivable curse and they found the perpetrator who boasted of the killing, checked his wand, and then sent him to Azkaban for life.
It had fallen on Frank to take care of the estate and he lived in a cottage at a distance from the Riddle House which was locked and boarded up. As he woke up late at night, he went to fill his jug with hot water when he saw lights flickering the Riddle house and cursed. Numerous local boys recently had taken up to enter the place and play with the lights as they wished.
He took his walking stick and the keys of the house and slipped out. He opened the back gate which was in the back garden, and it opened with a creak. He pushed it open and stepped in. Cautiously he walked up to the house and found that there were lights in what was once the sitting room. As he walked in that direction, a huge snake passed by him.
He could barely hear whispers. There was a mean leaning over to a chair and was saying, "My master, are you sure this is wise?"
A high shrill emanated from the one on the chair, "Yes, this is the only way. And we already know what is going to happen there. I need Harry Potter and no one else will do. His blood is what will revive me."
"Yes master, I will bring him to you if that is what you want," said the one who was kneeling, "Now you take care, my master. Your servant will do what is needed of him."
Frank thought he had heard enough. The people in the room were criminal and if there was ever time to go to the Police, it was now. These people were talking about sacrificing and murder and about someone named Harry Potter.
"Where is Nagini?," said the voice, "You need to milk her of her venom. It is what keeps me at my strength at this moment."
As the snake slithered in the room, the high-pitched voice could be heard saying, "Come in, I know you are at the door listening to us."
The man came in and the being who was in the chair said, "turn me around. Let me look at our guest."
The other man in the room turned the chair around and Frank stifled a scream. The demon baby thing in the chair could not be alive at any cost yet it was alive, and it spoke in the same high-pitched voice, "So you were snooping on us muggle?"
"What do you mean?," Frank asked.
"Muggles are those who can't do magic," said the demon baby thing.
Frank scoffed, "As if you are a real wizard or something…"
The demon baby laughed a cruel laugh, "Well, let me show you then. Avada Kedavra."
Many miles away, Harry Potter woke up abruptly his mind in shock and the dream fresh on his mind. His scar was also hurting like hell, and he wanted to know what it meant. He knew he should send a letter to Dumbledore, but he had no idea where Dumbledore lived for the summer.
He decided to tell Sirius as soon as it was morning.
It was at breakfast that Harry found Sirius who was coming to the breakfast table, "Good morning pup."
"Sirius, I have got to tell you something," he said.
"What happened Harry?," Sirius asked.
"Sirius my scar prickled last night," he said, "And it has only happened whenever I am Voldemort."
Sirius nodded grimly, "I can assure you Harry that Voldemort is nowhere near this place. Tell me about this dream now."
Harry described the dream to him as much as he could remember. Sirius was thinking about it very thoughtfully but eventually decided to do nothing now. He knew exactly what it was, but he could do nothing about it without sending Harry into full blown panic mode.
"Harry what you saw was just a dream. Don't worry about it. If something were to happen, I am sure Dumbledore will be able to warn us in advance," Sirius said soothingly.
Later that afternoon, Harry was sent to visit his friends at the Burrow while Sirius went to meet with Dumbledore.
Two days later found Harry and Sirius in a resort situated inside a deep dense jungle on the continent of Africa. Harry had no idea how they got there but what he knew was that they had gone to the Ministry of Magic where Sirius had brought a portkey. The reason that they had to take the portkey was that they were to do international travel which was only possible either by an international floo connection or an International Portkey. Since international floo connection was expensive and pretty useless if you didn't plan on using it regularly therefore, their only choice was an International Portkey.
Sirius could have Apparated all the way there by making short distance jumps from London to there but Apparating frequently took a lot out of wizard and doing it with someone tagging along was doubly hard. He had however taken the precaution that once they had arrived at the destination of their portkey, he had Apparated from there.
When they Apparated, they arrived in the middle of nowhere in a dense forest. What Harry knew was that this place was still untouched from outside interference. A man approached to Sirius who folded his hands and said, "I greet you, great Shaman."
The tribal nodded, "Welcome."
He then looked at Harry and his eyes wandered to Harry's scar. As the Shaman concentrated his gaze at it at for a second, Harry clutched it hard to contain the sudden flare of pain which emanated from his scar, "Ahh."
Sirius turned to him looking concerned, "Harry what happened?"
"I felt a stab of pain in my scar," said Harry.
Sirius looked towards the shaman who was nodding, "I can sense the foreign piece in that scar. It connects them together and keeps him alive. None can live while the other survives."
"You can take it out of him, right? Without harming him?," Sirius asked worriedly.
The shaman said gravely, "I don't know, wizard. We have never faced any situation such as this. It could be fatal to him. We will do what we can, but the rest is up to magic."
"Sirius, what they are talking about?," Harry asked him.
Sirius decided to trust him, "Harry there is something about which you don't know. When Voldemort came to kill you that night, his spell could not kill you, but it rebounded upon him, destroying his body and a piece of his soul detached itself and latched onto you, giving you that scar. Until that piece which is in you is alive, he will not die."
As he has expected, Harry clammed up, "What? You are surely joking. How it can be possible?"
Sirius shook his head in pity, "No Harry, this is the truth. Dumbledore also confirmed this to me. It is your scar which helps keep Voldemort alive."
Harry went berserk, "Then how do we get it out? I don't want to keep him inside me. Can we remove it?"
Sirius tackled the boy in a hug, "Harry, that is why we have come here. This gentleman here is Shaman Amari Abioye who specialises in more obscure branches of magic like Necromancy and particularly African rituals such as Voodoo, Exorcism etc. Albus wanted to bring you here this year by himself to see if it was possible to get rid of this piece of soul, but he had some other obligations which kept him in Britain. When I had left Britain before the Quidditch World Cup Final, I had come here to meet him and to plead with him to Exorcise it out of you."
"Is he going to take it out?," Harry asked.
"Harry, he says that he has never seen any case like this before. He says that he will try but the process can go wrong, and it may end up killing you too," Sirius said concern in his voice, "I am not willing to risk it."
Harry turned to the Shaman, "If it goes wrong and kills me, will it also kill the soul piece?"
The Shaman nodded, "It will."
Harry had made the decision in a moment, "Then I am ready for it."
"Harry, are you insane?," Sirius shouted, "I won't let you take this chance."
"Sirius, please. I know it can fail but it is our only chance. Did Dumbledore mention if there was any other way to get it out? If this is the only way and even if it is full of dangers, then we should take it. I can't tell you how much I have been tormented by this stupid scar and now I understand why. I am ready to take this risk," Harry said passionately.
"Harry no…"
"Sirius, please don't argue," Harry said, "Either you come with us, or I will go alone with him."
"But Harry…"
"We are not discussing it anymore Sirius," Harry said sternly, "We are going to do it."