Harry Potter and the Legacy of Slytherin

Chapter 9

Hogwarts at Last

As soon as the Death Eaters had Disapparated, both Ron and Hermione hurtled back down the train, back to the closet where they had been forced to leave Harry. They found him still in the closet, but the pain seemed to have stopped. Instead, Harry had slumped to the floor and was crying openly, hot tears trickling down his face. Hermione immediately removed the Silencing Charm, and pulled Harry into her arms, trying to comfort him.

"What happened?" moaned Harry, "What did he do this time?"

"Harry..." Ron said, not sure whether he should tell him or not.

"Tell me... I have to know..." Harry said miserably. For a moment, Ron hesitated, but then he looked into Harry's eyes. Behind the tears, Harry's shining green orbs were shining with determination; he would not let this drop until he knew.

"Voldemort went to the front of the train first..." Ron started, hesitantly, "He killed the driver and the tea lady... Then he went to the back of the train, and we don't know what happened there..."

"Then the Professors arrived... They fought with the Death Eaters at the end of the train, and then the Death Eaters left." Hermione finished.

"Was anyone else hurt?" asked Harry.

"I don't think so. Ron told everyone to lock themselves into the train compartments, so that they were out of the way. We didn't hear any more noise until the fight started, so I-I think it worked." said Hermione, her voice sounding small and weak. For a moment, Harry looked like he wanted to say something more, but before he had a chance, Professor McGonagall's voice boomed from outside the train, clearly enhanced by the Sonorus Charm.

"All students, please disembark the train immediately!" barked McGonagall's stern voice, "The danger has passed, but it is necessary that you leave the train as soon as possible. Leave your trunks on the train for the time being; they will be collected later. First through third years, please assemble with the Professors at the front of the train, where you will be taken to Hogsmeade by PortKey. Prefects, organise all those in fourth year and above into small groups, to be taken direct to Hogwarts by horseless carriage, which will be arriving shortly. I repeat, all students are to disembark the train immediately!"

As soon as the words sunk in, Ron and Hermione helped Harry to his feet, and the three walked immediately to the nearest door, without saying another word. Harry noticed both Ron and Hermione casting occasional glances at him, but tried to ignore them. Once they left the carriage, they saw hundreds of students pouring out of the doors further down the train, and all three of them hesitantly started toward the growing flock of students, hoping none of them would make a scene.

Fortunately, most of the students getting off the train were either too frightened or too distracted to notice Harry and the others joining them, but a few of the students had clearly been looking out for him, including many of those who had seen him collapse on the train. The Creevey brothers and several of the younger students were silenced by a glare from Ron, and even Fred and George seemed to understand that it would be best for them to keep their distance.

Looking back toward the bridge, Harry could see the horseless carriages that usually took students from the train to the castle, flying over the gap in the bridge and galloping toward the assembled students, clearly having been sent by the Professors as soon as they heard about Voldemort's attack. A huge crowd of students was already gathering around the place where the carriages were stopping, and Harry, Ron and Hermione ran to join the fringes of the group, waiting to be told to take one of the carriages.

Finally, a seventh-year Prefect from Ravenclaw gestured the three of them toward one of the carriages, and all three of them got inside, closing the door behind them. Out of the window of the carriage, Hermione could see a handful of students looking shocked at the way they were prevented from entering the carriage, but already the Prefect was herding them toward another carriage, understanding that Harry, Ron and Hermione needed to be given privacy.

At first, none of the three spoke; Harry was still recovering from the pain his scar inflicted on him, while Ron and Hermione were content to give him their support with their presence, rather than their words. Riding in the carriage was rough and uncomfortable compared to the Hogwarts Express, and by the time the dusk was starting to fall outside, the quiet had started to become sullen and oppressive. Eventually, Ron decided to break the shroud of silence, and spoke for the first time since leaving the train.

"It's a shame Voldemort didn't plan this while you were asleep..." joked Ron, trying to lighten the mood. However, his quip did not get the desired effect. Both Harry and Hermione stared at Ron in silence for a few moments, until Ron realised the implication of what he had said.

"Do you think he knows you can see him in your dreams?" asked Hermione, voicing the thought that was going through all their minds.

"Maybe... I don't know. If he does, then he'll plan everything by day, so I won't be asleep." said Harry, worriedly. The idea that he might overhear Voldemort's plans had given Harry some hope that the pain he went through might serve some purpose, and it looked now as if that hope might be gone.

"Well, then Trelawney's lessons might finally do something useful, after all..." Ron said, grinning widely. But Harry knew Ron well enough to know the grin was for his benefit; Ron was trying to take Harry's mind off what happened on the train. Harry gave a weak smile in response, but Ron didn't look convinced, and the three friends fell back into an uneasy silence for the rest of the journey to Hogwarts.

* * * * *

When the carriage finally pulled up in front of the Castle, darkness had long since fallen, and all three of them jumped out into the gloom immediately, making way for the next carriage to stop. The huge, familiar form of Hogwarts Castle loomed over them, giving some comfort to Harry, who began to feel safe for the first time since leaving the Burrow. Without waiting any longer than necessary, Harry started the short walk into the castle, with Ron and Hermione following him.

As soon as they walked into the entrance hall, they could see Professor McGonagall break away from a group of students, and start walking toward them. Her face was red and flushed from shouting at the students around her; she had been organising the evacuation of the train for hours now, and the constant effort it required had left her noticeably tired. Most of the other teachers were in a similar condition, and Harry wondered idly how much longer it would take them to get all the students into the castle.

"Potter, Weasley, Grainger... Professor Dumbledore would like to see the three of you..." she said, looking unusually flustered, "The password to his office is 'Curly Wurly', and I see no reason to keep him waiting..."

None of the three were surprised; Harry had been expecting to be summoned to the Headmaster's office, and Ron and Hermione would have gone with him, whether they had been requested or not. With a quick nod to Professor McGonagall, all three walked through the castle doors, and started making their way through the corridors that led to the Headmaster's Office. Harry led the way, with Ron and Hermione unconsciously falling into step just behind him and on each side, none of the three speaking.

As soon as they came to the huge statue that marked the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office, Harry gave the password, and entered without pausing, knowing that Ron and Hermione were following behind him. Once the three had reached the top of the massive spiral staircase, Harry knocked on the door and pushed it open, leading the way into the room. The walls were still decorated with the same moving portraits of former headmasters, and on a shelf at the back of the room, Harry could see the Hogwarts Sorting Hat in its usual place.

In the centre of the room, Harry's eyes were immediately drawn to Fawkes' perch, which was empty; clearly, Fawkes was on some errand for Dumbledore, and Harry briefly had an image of Fawkes carrying messages in the same way as his own Hedwig. Behind the desk, all three were greeted by the welcome sight of Professor Dumbledore, sitting in his large, comfortable chair and looking none the worse for wear after the attack earlier in the day. As soon as Dumbledore noticed his guests' arrival, he looked up, and spoke in his calm, comforting voice.

"Welcome, all of you. I hope you were not too disturbed by events on the train here?" Dumbledore asked politely, gesturing toward three chairs in front of his desk. Harry was certain he could feel both Ron and Hermione turn to look at him, but chose not to look at them as he sat down.

"No, Professor." Harry lied. Now he was even more sure that Ron and Hermione were looking at him, and he could also see Dumbledore gazing at him over his spectacles.

"I see..." said Dumbledore, obviously not believing Harry for a moment, "Well, in that that case, I have a few things to say to the three of you." Both Ron and Hermione took a seat, and all three looked at Dumbledore, waiting impatiently for him to continue.

"First of all... Mr Weasley. I have heard from several of the students that you were rather... forceful... in your handling of events on the train." said Dumbledore.

"Yes, Professor... I shouldn't have acted like that..." Ron looked more guilty than Harry had ever seen him, and wondered what he could have done to make him feel so ashamed.

"Not at all," Dumbledore said, "Sometimes, we must say and do things we do not wish to, under pressure and in difficult circumstances. You may not have liked it, but you did what needed to be done."

"I didn't need to treat Ginny like that..." Ron said miserably, and suddenly Harry understood; Ron must have done something to Ginny, something that had hurt her feelings. Very little else would have made him feel as guilty as he seemed now. A quick glance at Dumbledore showed that he, too, seemed to understand that.

"I am sure that she will forgive you, as the others you spoke to seem to have already," said Dumbledore, with a tiny gleam starting to appear in his eyes, "When the Death Eaters walked down the train, everyone felt much the same as you did, and they were all grateful that they followed your advice. I doubt Miss Weasley will be an exception." Ron brightened slightly, but still looked guilty, and Harry suspected Ginny would be getting a heart-felt apology before long.

"And Miss Grainger... I also wished to speak with you..." said Dumbledore, turning to Hermione, leaving Ron to consider what had been said.

"Yes, Professor..." said Hermione, quietly. She could not think of anything that she had done to gather the attention of Professor Dumbledore, and for a moment, she allowed her concern to creep into her voice. She need not have worried, as Dumbledore smiled at her, allaying the fears he had detected in her voice.

"I have also heard that you were largely responsible for keeping Harry safe, when he was incapacitated... If Voldemort had found him in such a state, it would have been a simple matter to remove him, which would have been an immense loss to us all. Your actions kept him from harm, and I am sure I am not the only one who feels indebted to you for that." Dumbledore said, pride gleaming in his eyes, as it had throughout the brief meeting.

"Thank you, Professor..." said Hermione, blushing profusely at such praise.

"Thank you, Miss Grainger... Both you and Mr Weasley have again proved your loyalty and your Gryffindor courage, and I am sure that they will stand you in good stead in the future. And now, I would like to speak with Mr Potter alone for a few moments, if you wouldn't mind..." Dumbledore said. Although he phrased his request as a question, the tone of his voice made it clear that no argument would be tolerated, and Ron and Hermione rose to their feet, almost in unison.

"We'll be waiting in the Common Room, Harry..." said Hermione, just before she walked through the door after Ron, who seemed in a hurry to leave the room. Once they had left, Dumbledore spent the next few moments in silence, once again gazing at Harry over the rims of his spectacles. Finally, Harry broke the uncomfortable silence that had descended over the room.

"I thought you said you wanted to speak to me for a few moments..." joked Harry, trying to lighten the mood in the room. He was rewarded with a brief chuckle from Dumbledore, whose eyes gave their trademark twinkle once again.

"I did, Harry... I wanted to ask how you were, after the ordeal you went through today. Myself and many of the teachers were extremely concerned for your well-being, and I would be remiss in my duties if I did not bring you here to talk about what happened," Dumbledore said.

"I'm fine..." replied Harry, all too quickly. Just as before, all this comment garnered was a disbelieving look from Dumbledore, and Harry soon wavered under his gaze.

"I'm not alright - but I'll get over it. The tea lady and the driver won't..." Harry admitted, leading Dumbledore's face to contort in surprise, and briefly in horror.

"How did you know about that, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, his voice hushed.

"Ron and Hermione told me... We were going to the front of the train when I collapsed... They went on, looking for a way to contact you... They saw them..." Harry said hesitantly.

"I see..." Dumbledore replied, "The two of them are braver than even I suspected... A trait I am finding more and more evident, in these times. Please inform them to keep such knowledge to themselves, and also to seek Professor McGonagall's counsel, should they feel it necessary. I think I shall have to have another discussion with them, at a later time." Harry nodded his assent, and then spoke again, more determined than before.

"Was anyone else hurt?" asked Harry, looking for a reason why Voldemort had attacked the train.

"No... There were no other injuries, thanks largely to the actions of Mr Weasley, Miss Grainger, and the School Prefects, who managed to maintain order." replied Dumbledore.

"But Voldemort didn't want to hurt anyone else, why did he stop the train? He had to have some reason for it, didn't he?" Harry asked. Dumbledore paused briefly before answering, considering his words carefully.

"Voldemort has made attacks on the Hogwarts Express before; it is as much a symbol of life at Hogwarts as the castle itself, and unfortunately, it is far more vulnerable. I do not doubt that it is the first of many attacks, intended for little more than encouraging fear and mistrust in the Wizarding world." he said, quietly and gently. The idea that people had died for nothing stunned Harry into silence; no matter how often it happened, the idea of such senseless suffering would never be something he could accept.

"I wish I didn't have to feel it..." Harry said eventually, "When he kills someone..."

"I know, Harry... I wish there was some way to spare you that experience. Unfortunately, there are some things even magic cannot do." said Dumbledore. But Harry had already moved on to another question.

"But why did it hurt so much when he did it?" Harry asked despairingly, "It never hurt like that before... It was like my mind was on fire! What made it so much worse this time?"

"Voldemort has never killed people in such close proximity to you... Perhaps that is why you felt the pain more than usual..." replied Dumbledore, in a soft, but strangely tight voice. But Harry shook his head immediately, rejecting his mentor's explanation.

"It seemed like more than that... It wasn't just more pain... It was like the pain ran deeper, went further..." said Harry, looking straight into the eyes of Dumbledore, bright green meeting pale, glittering blue. At that, Dumbledore sighed, and his eyes seemed to lose a little of their sparkle.

"Harry... I sometimes wonder why I bother to try protecting you from these things... You always seem determined to face down your problems head-on, rather than letting anyone stand in your way..." he said, easing back into his chair gently. For a brief instant, he sat quietly while taking in a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. Meanwhile, Harry sat in silence, never taking his eyes off of Dumbledore's face, waiting to hear what he was going to say.

"Voldemort took your blood to remake himself, Harry..." Dumbledore started, "He stole a part of you, and that part of you is inside him, giving him what life he has. That has almost certainly made the bond between you stronger. That is why the pain, as you put it so well, felt like it ran deeper into your body and soul. Without putting it too bluntly; it did."

For several minutes, both teacher and student sat in silence, one reflecting on what had just been said, the other desperately searching, trying to see how the revelation would affect his student. Harry's expression was carefully, almost mechanically fixed, trying desperately not to show the effect this new realisation was having on him. The link between himself and Voldemort was something he had struggled with ever since he had first learned about it, and now that link had been strengthened, deepened and enhanced.

"It changes nothing, Harry..." said Dumbledore eventually, not fooled by Harry's mask of indifference, "The link you share with Voldemort made no difference before, and it makes none now." Harry nodded slowly at Dumbledore's words, but only seemed to be vaguely taking in what was being said. It was several more minutes before he spoke again.

"Why does it hurt?" he asked, in a quiet, croaky voice, "I know it comes through our link, but it doesn't hurt him to kill someone, does it? Why does it hurt me?" Once again, Dumbledore averted his gaze, and looked reluctant to answer the question he had been asked. But this time, he made no effort to avoid the question, and turned back to Harry after just a short while.

"I do not pretend to know..." Dumbledore started, "The link between yourself and Voldemort is unique, as you know. But I believe Voldemort takes some kind of dark pleasure from the things he does... He feeds off the pain that he causes, and the power he feels from inflicting it. It satisfies some kind of hunger within him, and that is what causes you harm."

"So, whenever he hurts someone... Whenever he kills... I'll feel like this?" asked Harry, horrified at the suggestion that Voldemort's actions gave him this sense of pleasure, while it caused him pain.

"Yes..." Dumbledore replied sadly, "I am afraid you will... But the pain, Harry, is yet another thing that makes you different from Voldemort. He feeds on pain and suffering, while it causes you harm. I would be far more concerned for your well-being if you came to accept that feeling..."

"Then how can I ever stop him?" asked Harry. For a moment, Dumbledore simply stood looking at Harry, amazed at how mature he had become over the last few years. Already, he was accepting the mantle that the Wizarding community had chosen to give him; that of the hero. The events of last year had struck a chord inside him, and given him a burden of responsibility that most would not have to bear until adulthood. It was turning this boy into a man before his time, and Dumbledore knew what a terrible thing that could be.

"You must not expect too much too soon..." he finally said, "Remember, you are still only young, and not yet an adult; you have to grow, and you have to learn. When the time is right, I am certain that you will prove equal to the task. You have never failed before, and I have no reason to believe you will start now." Harry nodded, trying to take comfort from Dumbledore's words, but still sat quietly, seemingly overwhelmed by the events of the day. Dumbledore noticed this, and his face softened into a more comforting, familiar smile.

"Enough talk about Voldemort and what may come..." Dumbledore said gently, "We have all escaped him today, and for today, that is sufficient. I have to assist the other teachers in organising the Sorting for tomorrow, so I must leave you now. Feel free to remain here, if you would like, but please give some thought to your classmates. They, no doubt, are as concerned for your welfare as we are, and would like to see that you are safe. When you feel the desire to return to Gryffindor Tower, the password is 'Honour'."

With those words, Dumbledore Disapparated, disappearing from sight with a distinct 'pop'. For a moment, Harry sat in the chair in silence, wishing that Fawkes had been there to keep him company in the quiet room. But it was not long before he got up from the chair, and walked out of the office door, planning to find his friends in Gryffindor Tower.

* * * * *

It seemed like it took Harry an age to walk through the corridors of Hogwarts leading to the Gryffindor Common Room, wandering the ever-changing walkways in an apparent daze, the words of his meeting still spinning around in his mind. More than once, he had found himself in unfamiliar corridors, his body becoming just as lost as his mind as he allowed himself to wallow in his thoughts. But eventually, he came to the entrance to the Common Room, and gave the password, before walking slowly inside.

As soon as his presence was noticed, the noise in the room seemed to drop slightly. Although a few of the students avoided Harry's gaze, most of them looked back at him without flinching, and even gave him looks of encouragement. In particular, Fred and George Weasley were looking at him with identical cheeky grins, although their eyes were hardened and serious. Next to him, he noticed Hermione standing against the entrance to the Common Room, where she had obviously been standing, waiting for his return.

In one corner of the room, Harry could see Ron embracing Ginny, who looked as if she had been crying. Clearly, Dumbledore had been right; Ginny's terror at the sight of Voldemort had more than erased any ill feeling towards Ron for his attitude. For several long moments, Harry watched the two of them, glad that each of them had the other to depend upon. Then Hermione took him by the arm, and led him to join the others.


Disclaimer: Much to my eternal regret, I don't own Harry Potter. Still, maybe if I'm really, really good between now and Christmas... *Crosses Fingers*


Wow... And I thought this would be a short chapter... The next chapter will feature the Sorting Feast, and I plan on writing an original Sorting Song. I'm not sure how long that will take, but hopefully it shouldn't be too much longer than usual.

Thanks to all the people who reviewed since I posted last - Severus Snape, JamesI, Rosaline Heartt, dkscully, me, Snuffles 55 and Queen C. I hope you all enjoyed it, and hopefully some of you came back to read this chapter... Lol!