A/N: As I cannot possibly do justice to a Sorting Hat song, I'm not even
going to write in the sorting. Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers,
I had to think about the next chapter carefully so that it wouldn't be a
let down after the last one. With that said, on with the chapter.
Chapter 13: Pendants and Portkeys
The four teens sat at the Gryffindor table waiting for the sorting to be finished so that they could eat. Harry kept sneaking glances at Ginny who was sitting on the opposite side of the table, next to Hermione. When Professor McGonagall carried the stool and the sorting hat out of the Great Hall, their attention went to Professor Dumbledore, standing at the staff table looking around the room.
"Another year is beginning, and before I can allow you to eat, I must get through a few announcements," he said, looking around the room. "First, The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to ALL students, anyone caught out of bounds, will have detention with a professor of my choice. Second, Mr. Filch has added to the list of forbidden objects, which now includes over 600 items. Most of the new items are from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and include Skiving Snackboxes, and Wildfire Whiz-bangs. The complete list can be found in Mr. Filch's office and on the board in your common rooms. And finally, we have new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors. Professors Black and Lupin," the room erupted in cheers from all tables except for the Slytherin table. "As some of you may remember, Professor Lupin taught Defense Against the Dark Arts about three years ago, and met with respect from most students. I have had many requests to bring him back to teach," Remus looked at Professor Dumbledore with a look of shock on his face. "From students and parents alike, so welcome to our new Professors. Tuck in," he told them as food appeared on the tables.
Ron and Harry piled their plates and began to eat.
"Honestly Ron, you would think that you hadn't eaten in days," Hermione told him.
"'M a growing boy, 'Mione," he said through a mouthful of Shepard's Pie. "I need to eat."
Harry and Ginny laughed, and then Harry looked up at the Staff table and smiled at his Godfather. "I can't believe that Sirius is alive, and I'll get to see him when ever I want," Harry told them. "I thought that I had lost him forever."
After the group had finished eating, Hermione and Ron lead the first years up to Gryffindor Tower, and Harry headed toward the staff table. Sirius and Remus had just finished eating, both men got up from the table and walked toward Harry.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you and Ginny Weasley in his office before you go to bed tonight," Remus told him.
"We'll walk up to the tower with you, and you can go in and get Ginny," Sirius continued. "Then we can walk to Dumbledore's office."
Harry looked toward the Gryffindor table, "I think that Ginny just left, maybe if I hurry, I can catch her," he said, running toward the door of the Great Hall, Remus and Sirius following behind at a slower pace.
Harry ran up the steps quickly until he could see Ginny's red hair, "Ginny!" he shouted.
She turned around and looked to see who had called her, "Harry, what's wrong?" she asked, coming quickly down to where he was standing.
He took a few deep breaths, "Professor Dumbledore wants to see us in his office," he stated, panting.
"You ran from the Great Hall to catch me?" She laughed and put her hand on his arm, "You could have caught me in the common room," she told him.
"Remus and Sirius are going to take us to his office, so I wanted to catch you before you got there and I had to explain everything to Ron and Hermione."
Remus and Sirius caught up to them and lead them to Dumbledore's office, "Baby Ruth," Sirius said to the Gargoyle. It jumped to the side and allowed them entrance to the spiral stairs that led to the Headmaster's office.
When they arrived at the top of the stairs, Harry raised his hand to knock on the door, but before it had made contact, Dumbledore said, "Come in." The group entered the Headmaster's office, and took seats in front of the desk. "I'm sure that you are wondering why I have called you here, so I will not keep you waiting," he told them. "I wanted to return your pendants, the staff has examined them and found no curses."
Harry and Ginny smiled at him.
"The only spells on these necklaces are the ones that James and Lily placed on them," he said, waiting for a reaction.
"Sir, do you mean that these belonged to my parents?" Harry asked, gesturing toward the two necklaces on the desk.
Remus cleared his throat, "When I saw the necklace that Hermione gave you for your birthday, I knew that I had seen it before, I helped Lily by getting a picture of James in his stag form for the jeweler to use. Sirius helped James to pick out the unicorn, and insisted that he have the crystals for the eyes replaced with sapphires. They spelled the pendants to find you when you were sixteen, but it seems that your father's found Hermione instead," he told them.
"I have turned the pendants into portkeys to my office, if there is any kind of danger to either of you, they will both activate and transport you both here," Dumbledore told them. "After you offered yourself for Ginny's return in Diagon Alley, she is now one of Voldemort's biggest targets. Professor Snape has told us that he is actively searching for her, and will use her to get to you."
Harry put his head in his hands, "I'm sorry Ginny, I didn't mean to put you in danger."
"Harry, I told you, my whole family is already in danger because we support Professor Dumbledore in the fight against Voldemort," she said, patting his arm.
The Headmaster smiled, "Professors Black, Lupin and I are working on something to protect both of you and put you out of his reach until the end of the year," he said. "As soon as we are ready, we will put the plan into action. The two of you should return to Gryffindor tower now, I will be sure to keep you informed."
Harry and Ginny each picked up their necklace and left the Headmaster's office.
***********************************
"Albus, are you sure that this is the best way to protect them?" Sirius asked.
The Headmaster sighed and hung his head, "I can think of no place safer and no other people that could protect them better," he said.
"Now all we have to do is find a way to send them back to our sixth year, and a way to explain to our younger selves what is going on," Remus told them.
Chapter 13: Pendants and Portkeys
The four teens sat at the Gryffindor table waiting for the sorting to be finished so that they could eat. Harry kept sneaking glances at Ginny who was sitting on the opposite side of the table, next to Hermione. When Professor McGonagall carried the stool and the sorting hat out of the Great Hall, their attention went to Professor Dumbledore, standing at the staff table looking around the room.
"Another year is beginning, and before I can allow you to eat, I must get through a few announcements," he said, looking around the room. "First, The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to ALL students, anyone caught out of bounds, will have detention with a professor of my choice. Second, Mr. Filch has added to the list of forbidden objects, which now includes over 600 items. Most of the new items are from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and include Skiving Snackboxes, and Wildfire Whiz-bangs. The complete list can be found in Mr. Filch's office and on the board in your common rooms. And finally, we have new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors. Professors Black and Lupin," the room erupted in cheers from all tables except for the Slytherin table. "As some of you may remember, Professor Lupin taught Defense Against the Dark Arts about three years ago, and met with respect from most students. I have had many requests to bring him back to teach," Remus looked at Professor Dumbledore with a look of shock on his face. "From students and parents alike, so welcome to our new Professors. Tuck in," he told them as food appeared on the tables.
Ron and Harry piled their plates and began to eat.
"Honestly Ron, you would think that you hadn't eaten in days," Hermione told him.
"'M a growing boy, 'Mione," he said through a mouthful of Shepard's Pie. "I need to eat."
Harry and Ginny laughed, and then Harry looked up at the Staff table and smiled at his Godfather. "I can't believe that Sirius is alive, and I'll get to see him when ever I want," Harry told them. "I thought that I had lost him forever."
After the group had finished eating, Hermione and Ron lead the first years up to Gryffindor Tower, and Harry headed toward the staff table. Sirius and Remus had just finished eating, both men got up from the table and walked toward Harry.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you and Ginny Weasley in his office before you go to bed tonight," Remus told him.
"We'll walk up to the tower with you, and you can go in and get Ginny," Sirius continued. "Then we can walk to Dumbledore's office."
Harry looked toward the Gryffindor table, "I think that Ginny just left, maybe if I hurry, I can catch her," he said, running toward the door of the Great Hall, Remus and Sirius following behind at a slower pace.
Harry ran up the steps quickly until he could see Ginny's red hair, "Ginny!" he shouted.
She turned around and looked to see who had called her, "Harry, what's wrong?" she asked, coming quickly down to where he was standing.
He took a few deep breaths, "Professor Dumbledore wants to see us in his office," he stated, panting.
"You ran from the Great Hall to catch me?" She laughed and put her hand on his arm, "You could have caught me in the common room," she told him.
"Remus and Sirius are going to take us to his office, so I wanted to catch you before you got there and I had to explain everything to Ron and Hermione."
Remus and Sirius caught up to them and lead them to Dumbledore's office, "Baby Ruth," Sirius said to the Gargoyle. It jumped to the side and allowed them entrance to the spiral stairs that led to the Headmaster's office.
When they arrived at the top of the stairs, Harry raised his hand to knock on the door, but before it had made contact, Dumbledore said, "Come in." The group entered the Headmaster's office, and took seats in front of the desk. "I'm sure that you are wondering why I have called you here, so I will not keep you waiting," he told them. "I wanted to return your pendants, the staff has examined them and found no curses."
Harry and Ginny smiled at him.
"The only spells on these necklaces are the ones that James and Lily placed on them," he said, waiting for a reaction.
"Sir, do you mean that these belonged to my parents?" Harry asked, gesturing toward the two necklaces on the desk.
Remus cleared his throat, "When I saw the necklace that Hermione gave you for your birthday, I knew that I had seen it before, I helped Lily by getting a picture of James in his stag form for the jeweler to use. Sirius helped James to pick out the unicorn, and insisted that he have the crystals for the eyes replaced with sapphires. They spelled the pendants to find you when you were sixteen, but it seems that your father's found Hermione instead," he told them.
"I have turned the pendants into portkeys to my office, if there is any kind of danger to either of you, they will both activate and transport you both here," Dumbledore told them. "After you offered yourself for Ginny's return in Diagon Alley, she is now one of Voldemort's biggest targets. Professor Snape has told us that he is actively searching for her, and will use her to get to you."
Harry put his head in his hands, "I'm sorry Ginny, I didn't mean to put you in danger."
"Harry, I told you, my whole family is already in danger because we support Professor Dumbledore in the fight against Voldemort," she said, patting his arm.
The Headmaster smiled, "Professors Black, Lupin and I are working on something to protect both of you and put you out of his reach until the end of the year," he said. "As soon as we are ready, we will put the plan into action. The two of you should return to Gryffindor tower now, I will be sure to keep you informed."
Harry and Ginny each picked up their necklace and left the Headmaster's office.
***********************************
"Albus, are you sure that this is the best way to protect them?" Sirius asked.
The Headmaster sighed and hung his head, "I can think of no place safer and no other people that could protect them better," he said.
"Now all we have to do is find a way to send them back to our sixth year, and a way to explain to our younger selves what is going on," Remus told them.