Chapter Four: A Shocking Return
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny talked for the rest of the train ride until they reached Hogsmeade Station. It was drizzling out, and they started walking up to the castle.
Ginny was ahead of Harry. The drizzle rested on her hair like dew. Harry wasn't sure why he noticed this... His thoughts were interrupted by Ron whispering into his ear, "Have you thought about who might be the Death Eater at Hogwarts?" Harry shook his head.
"It could be anyone," he said.
"I'll bet you anything it's Malfoy," said Ron. "How else would he know so much about the Death Eaters that attacked us?"
"Ron," said Hermione all of a sudden; she had been listening, "everyone knows all about that. I mean, the Ministry couldn't really keep it quiet, could they? Attacks on a Ministry family by a pair of Death Eaters?"
"Ok, fine then," said Ron, somewhat irritated.
"You're just trying to get Malfoy in trouble," said Hermione.
"And what's wrong with that?" demanded Ron. "He's gotten us into trouble plenty of times!" Hermione sighed exasperatingly. Harry laughed to himself. Not even the first day and already Hermione and Ron were arguing. Harry knew he missed it.
The welcome feast was wonderful, as usual. At the end, Dumbledore stood up and the hall grew quiet.
"I have a few start of the term announcements," he said. "A reminder that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden, and that all joke devices such as exploding hats, spitting wildcats, and whizzing fizbangers are against the rules." Harry saw Fred and George smile mischeiviously at each other. "But just another announcement..." Dumbledore's face turned grave, making Harry anxious. "I don't wish to alarm you, but there have been reports that there is... a Death Eater at Hogwarts." Everyone gasped; frightened whispers erupted in the room. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny looked worriedly at Harry. "These reports... although doubtful, may in fact be true." More whispers. "Therefore, I urge you to be on your guard at all times and to never go anywhere alone. Thank you, you may go to your dormitories."
The students all rose, whispering fearfully to one another and glancing nervously and distrustfully around at one another. Harry was walking out of the hall when a hand grabbed his shoulder. Harry turned. It was Dumbledore himself.
"Harry," he said, "may I have a word with you?" Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione.
"Sure, Professor," he said. Ron and Hermione walked away, nervously glancing over their shoulders back at Harry.
"Step into my office, if you would, Harry," said Dumbledore and led him into his office, through the statue of the gargoyle ("Peach Creme"). Dumbledore sat behind his desk and gestured Harry to sit in a chair across from him.
Dumbledore looked down on him through his half-moon spectacles and said, "Well, Harry, it is not good news that I bring to you." Harry's insides twisted in knots. "The matter is... your aunt, uncle, and cousin... the Dursleys are dead."
Chapter Seven: Dumbledore's Warning
"What?" asked Harry, in a stupor. He couldn't grasp what Dumbledore had just said.
"They're dead, Harry," said Dumbledore, softly. Harry's mouth was open.
"H-how?" he stammered. Dumbledore sighed.
"It was the night after the attacks at the Burrow," he said. "Their bodies weren't discovered until early this morning. The Minister of Magic and some other Ministry officials paid your aunt and uncle a visit this morning just to make sure everything was allright after the attacks at the Burrow. They found all three of them... dead. By the Avada Kedavra curse."
"Who?" was all that Harry managed to choke out.
"The Ministry is now quite sure that it was two more Death Eaters; not the same that attacked the Weasleys but two others. And Harry, I don't wish to alarm you, but the Ministry can now say without a doubt that they were after you. Their guess is that two different teams of Death Eaters went to where you were most likely to be-- at the Burrow, or your Aunt and uncle's house. If you had left the Dursleys' a minute later, Harry, it can be safely assumed that you would be dead now."
Harry was filled with more fear than he had had ever before-- not even when he had faced Voldemort himself last year. The thing that frightened him most was that Voldemort knew where he was. He knew that he would be at the Burrow or the Dursleys'. And now they were dead because of Harry; Harry had never liked the Dursleys, but they were his only family left, and he never wished anything like this for them.
Harry looked up to find Dumbledore peering solemnly at him through his spectacles.
"Are you frightened, Harry?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry breathed. "But Professor... how did they know? How did they know where I was?"
"Can you not guess, Harry?" asked Dumbledore. "Have you not heard the rumors?" A realization hit Harry like an icy blast of wind.
"A Death Eater at Hogwarts..." Harry breathed.
"I do not need to tell you, Harry, that this is very serious," said Dumbledore. "More serious than anything you have ever faced before. Voldemort is alive. He has returned, and he is coming for revenge. You must be more cautious than you have ever been before Harry. Trust no one-- not even your closest friends. Anyone could be the Death Eater."
Harry swallowed and nodded.
"I will escort you back to your common room then, Harry."
Dumbledore and Harry walked silently through the halls. Harry didn't say anything. This was far too much for him to bear. How was he supposed to be alert all the time?
They stopped in front of the portrait of the fat lady that led to Gryffindor common room.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry," he said. "I am so sorry that all this has happened to you. You should never have had to deal with all this. So much has been expected from one 15 year old boy, whom the world looks to far more often than it should. I just want you to know, Harry, that you don't have to strive not to let the world down. It is a sad life to live, thrust into the spotlight under the pressure and expectations of all.but, after all, Harry... you are The Boy Who Lived." Harry nodded, solemnly. "Remember, Harry. Speak to no one of this, except perhaps Snuffles and myself. Do not even tell Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley."
"Not Ron or Hermione?" asked Harry. "But, Professor--"
"No, Harry," said Dumbledore, sadly, "not even them. I do not think I need to tell you, either, Harry, that Quidditch will be cancelled this year."
"Cancel Quidditch! Professor-
"The Quidditch pitch is far too conspicuous a spot for anyone to be there at any time, Harry," said Dumbledore. "Having an entire school there for a match at the same time, even having a team practicing there." he shook his head, "it would be like inviting death, Harry. Can you understand?"
Harry nodded solemnly, and they both approached the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked.
"Holy Bagpipes," replied Dumbledore. They portrait swung open. Dumbledore turned once more to Harry. "Remember, Harry, not even the ones closest to you." And with that, he gave Harry's shoulder one last reassuring squeeze and walked away. Harry sighed and climbed through the portrait hole.
He walked into the common room where Ron and Hermione both stood up, anxious looks on their faces.
"Well, Harry?" asked Hermione. "What did he say?" Harry looked at them both. He couldn't do it; they were his friends. How could he ever get through this without them?
"He said..." Harry began. "He said that..." Ron and Hermione were both looking at him anxiously. Harry sighed. "He said that Quidditch is cancelled this year."
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny talked for the rest of the train ride until they reached Hogsmeade Station. It was drizzling out, and they started walking up to the castle.
Ginny was ahead of Harry. The drizzle rested on her hair like dew. Harry wasn't sure why he noticed this... His thoughts were interrupted by Ron whispering into his ear, "Have you thought about who might be the Death Eater at Hogwarts?" Harry shook his head.
"It could be anyone," he said.
"I'll bet you anything it's Malfoy," said Ron. "How else would he know so much about the Death Eaters that attacked us?"
"Ron," said Hermione all of a sudden; she had been listening, "everyone knows all about that. I mean, the Ministry couldn't really keep it quiet, could they? Attacks on a Ministry family by a pair of Death Eaters?"
"Ok, fine then," said Ron, somewhat irritated.
"You're just trying to get Malfoy in trouble," said Hermione.
"And what's wrong with that?" demanded Ron. "He's gotten us into trouble plenty of times!" Hermione sighed exasperatingly. Harry laughed to himself. Not even the first day and already Hermione and Ron were arguing. Harry knew he missed it.
The welcome feast was wonderful, as usual. At the end, Dumbledore stood up and the hall grew quiet.
"I have a few start of the term announcements," he said. "A reminder that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden, and that all joke devices such as exploding hats, spitting wildcats, and whizzing fizbangers are against the rules." Harry saw Fred and George smile mischeiviously at each other. "But just another announcement..." Dumbledore's face turned grave, making Harry anxious. "I don't wish to alarm you, but there have been reports that there is... a Death Eater at Hogwarts." Everyone gasped; frightened whispers erupted in the room. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny looked worriedly at Harry. "These reports... although doubtful, may in fact be true." More whispers. "Therefore, I urge you to be on your guard at all times and to never go anywhere alone. Thank you, you may go to your dormitories."
The students all rose, whispering fearfully to one another and glancing nervously and distrustfully around at one another. Harry was walking out of the hall when a hand grabbed his shoulder. Harry turned. It was Dumbledore himself.
"Harry," he said, "may I have a word with you?" Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione.
"Sure, Professor," he said. Ron and Hermione walked away, nervously glancing over their shoulders back at Harry.
"Step into my office, if you would, Harry," said Dumbledore and led him into his office, through the statue of the gargoyle ("Peach Creme"). Dumbledore sat behind his desk and gestured Harry to sit in a chair across from him.
Dumbledore looked down on him through his half-moon spectacles and said, "Well, Harry, it is not good news that I bring to you." Harry's insides twisted in knots. "The matter is... your aunt, uncle, and cousin... the Dursleys are dead."
Chapter Seven: Dumbledore's Warning
"What?" asked Harry, in a stupor. He couldn't grasp what Dumbledore had just said.
"They're dead, Harry," said Dumbledore, softly. Harry's mouth was open.
"H-how?" he stammered. Dumbledore sighed.
"It was the night after the attacks at the Burrow," he said. "Their bodies weren't discovered until early this morning. The Minister of Magic and some other Ministry officials paid your aunt and uncle a visit this morning just to make sure everything was allright after the attacks at the Burrow. They found all three of them... dead. By the Avada Kedavra curse."
"Who?" was all that Harry managed to choke out.
"The Ministry is now quite sure that it was two more Death Eaters; not the same that attacked the Weasleys but two others. And Harry, I don't wish to alarm you, but the Ministry can now say without a doubt that they were after you. Their guess is that two different teams of Death Eaters went to where you were most likely to be-- at the Burrow, or your Aunt and uncle's house. If you had left the Dursleys' a minute later, Harry, it can be safely assumed that you would be dead now."
Harry was filled with more fear than he had had ever before-- not even when he had faced Voldemort himself last year. The thing that frightened him most was that Voldemort knew where he was. He knew that he would be at the Burrow or the Dursleys'. And now they were dead because of Harry; Harry had never liked the Dursleys, but they were his only family left, and he never wished anything like this for them.
Harry looked up to find Dumbledore peering solemnly at him through his spectacles.
"Are you frightened, Harry?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry breathed. "But Professor... how did they know? How did they know where I was?"
"Can you not guess, Harry?" asked Dumbledore. "Have you not heard the rumors?" A realization hit Harry like an icy blast of wind.
"A Death Eater at Hogwarts..." Harry breathed.
"I do not need to tell you, Harry, that this is very serious," said Dumbledore. "More serious than anything you have ever faced before. Voldemort is alive. He has returned, and he is coming for revenge. You must be more cautious than you have ever been before Harry. Trust no one-- not even your closest friends. Anyone could be the Death Eater."
Harry swallowed and nodded.
"I will escort you back to your common room then, Harry."
Dumbledore and Harry walked silently through the halls. Harry didn't say anything. This was far too much for him to bear. How was he supposed to be alert all the time?
They stopped in front of the portrait of the fat lady that led to Gryffindor common room.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry," he said. "I am so sorry that all this has happened to you. You should never have had to deal with all this. So much has been expected from one 15 year old boy, whom the world looks to far more often than it should. I just want you to know, Harry, that you don't have to strive not to let the world down. It is a sad life to live, thrust into the spotlight under the pressure and expectations of all.but, after all, Harry... you are The Boy Who Lived." Harry nodded, solemnly. "Remember, Harry. Speak to no one of this, except perhaps Snuffles and myself. Do not even tell Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley."
"Not Ron or Hermione?" asked Harry. "But, Professor--"
"No, Harry," said Dumbledore, sadly, "not even them. I do not think I need to tell you, either, Harry, that Quidditch will be cancelled this year."
"Cancel Quidditch! Professor-
"The Quidditch pitch is far too conspicuous a spot for anyone to be there at any time, Harry," said Dumbledore. "Having an entire school there for a match at the same time, even having a team practicing there." he shook his head, "it would be like inviting death, Harry. Can you understand?"
Harry nodded solemnly, and they both approached the Fat Lady.
"Password?" she asked.
"Holy Bagpipes," replied Dumbledore. They portrait swung open. Dumbledore turned once more to Harry. "Remember, Harry, not even the ones closest to you." And with that, he gave Harry's shoulder one last reassuring squeeze and walked away. Harry sighed and climbed through the portrait hole.
He walked into the common room where Ron and Hermione both stood up, anxious looks on their faces.
"Well, Harry?" asked Hermione. "What did he say?" Harry looked at them both. He couldn't do it; they were his friends. How could he ever get through this without them?
"He said..." Harry began. "He said that..." Ron and Hermione were both looking at him anxiously. Harry sighed. "He said that Quidditch is cancelled this year."