Chapter 6 Transportation
Dumbledore, when he arrived, had been both pleased and displeased with Harry. Harry had saved the lives of countless patients in St Mungo's and allowed them to capture seven muggle terrorists. Yet the connection between Voldemort and Harry had been reinitiated, and it might prove dangerous for Harry.
Dumbledore told them that the muggles, after they were questioned, would have the memories modified slightly. Then they would be handed over to the muggle government, for trial and punishment.
Their next immediate concern was the attack planned for the Hogwarts express. They didn't know if Voldemort had any other muggles working for him. Although even if he didn't, he might use other means to attack instead.
"It would seem that Voldemort is trying to disrupt our school as much as possible," Dumbledore said. "The students will already be having problems buying their equipment this year, now that Diagon Alley has been destroyed."
"How will the first years be able to buy there wands and books?" Harry asked.
"There are other places to buy wands, besides Ollivanders, but the quality of the wands is not nearly as good." Moony said.
"Indeed." Dumbledore said, "However, Mr Ollivander's wands were protected from the attack. He has already arranged new premises in Hogsmead, as have Flourish and Blotts. Though unfortunately, most of their stock has been destroyed."
"How will the muggle born students be able to buy their supplies?" Moony asked. "They won't know about the mail order places."
"I think we can solve both these problems at the same time," Dumbledore told them. "We will make an announcement in the Daily Prophet; students will be brought to the school in their year groups. We will start with the seventh years on August 25th, finishing with first years on August 31st. None of the students will travel on September 1st."
"Won't that just give him more targets?" Harry asked. "He could hit the Hogwarts express seven times!"
"We will not be using the train this year Harry," Dumbledore smiled, "and by taking the elder students first, Voldemort will hear that we have not used the train. Also the students will have time to go to Hogsmead to purchase their equipment."
"What if he attacks Hogsmead?" Harry asked.
"We will be ready for him," Dumbledore replied in a hard voice.
After warning Harry to be careful of dreaming about Voldemort again, Dumbledore left to make the necessary arrangements.
"I forgot to ask him about Gringotts," Harry told Moony.
"What about it?"
"Well how will I get my money for books this year? Is it open?" Harry asked.
"According to Bill, the Goblins have set up a floo connection directly underground, to one of the lower levels." Mooney said, "The vaults are undamaged, they are too far underground. We can send Tikka."
"I didn't think of that," Harry replied. "I wonder if I will go back to school on 25th."
"I doubt it, that's only ten days from now." Moony told him.
Sure enough, when McGonagall arrived later that day, she gave Harry a pile of school books. Telling him that Dumbledore wanted him to wait until all the students returned, before he joined them. She then spent a few hours duelling with him, which he thought slightly unfair. She was the head of his house, so he didn't really want to annoy her, by hexing her.
The next day Harry was surprised to see a very old wizard breakfast with Moony.
"Good morning," Harry said quietly.
"Morning Harry, I'd like you to meet Patrick Startlehex," Moony greeted him.
"Good morning Mr Startlehex," Harry said politely.
"Call me Paddy. It's nice to meet you, Harry." The man unfolded himself from his chair, and Harry could only stare as he realized how tall he was. Feeling somewhat dwarfed, Harry shook the man's hand and quickly sat down.
"Well Harry, I've come to give you a few lessons," Paddy told him, in a broad Irish accent, that reminded Harry of Seamus.
"Paddy is an expert in defence tactics. He has worked undercover for the muggle Government as a security consultant. And is versed in both magical and muggle defence techniques." Moony told Harry.
Try as he might, Harry couldn't imagine anyone believing Paddy was a muggle. Dressed as he was in Emerald green robes with gold trim and high heeled yellow snake skin boots, with gold caps on the toes, he screamed the word 'Wizard.' Still, Harry nodded politely and smiled at him.
Paddy seemed to understand Harry's thought and said, "I don't always dress like this you know. Anyway finish your breakfast and we'll get started."
Harry did as he was told and then led the old wizard to the training room.
"Right, first thing we need is a more realistic atmosphere," Paddy announced. And with a wave of his wand, the room changed to resemble a dark forest. Harry looked around in surprise; the room seemed to have grown to the size of the dark forest at Hogwarts, complete with trees and the sound of birds singing.
"Wow, cool trick," He muttered.
"It's a simple mixture of Transfigurations and Glamour charms. Most of what you can see is a trick of perception; the trees closest to us are transfigured from the things that were in the room." Paddy explained. "Right, we will begin with a simple duel. I'll take it easy on you to begin with."
Harry smiled and made his way into the forest to hide. This should be fun.
Half an hour later, Paddy cast a body bind on Harry and levitated him into a large clearing.
"Young Man, you are not trying," Paddy said sternly. "I realise that you see me as an old man, but you should have realised by now that I am more than capable of defending myself."
"Sorry," Harry replied, "It just feels wrong to attack someone so … … I mean, older than myself."
"Fat lot of good that will do you when you're duelling," Paddy snarled. "I was doing this in your Grandfathers time! Which gives me a distinct advantage."
Harry realised that Paddy had a point, Dumbledore was just as old and look how much more powerful he was.
"Now start again and this time, don't hold back," Paddy told him. "Use the environment around you, there are weapons here if you know where to look."
Harry returned to the artificial forest and prepared to attack again. "Point Paddy," he whispered to his wand. It twirled in the palm of his hand and stopped, aiming to a position behind Harry. Turning he thought, "oberro," a muffled sound told him that he had managed to get Paddy with the wandering spell.
Closing his eyes, Harry disappeared and reappeared at the far side of the room. Concentrating on the air around him in, Harry tried to use his new found skills to create a thunderstorm. A distant rumbling told him that he had succeeded. Then his wand whipped out of his hand, and he watched it float away to his left, revealing Paddy's hiding place. "Adligo!" Harry called and a thump told him he had caught Paddy in a binding spell. "Accio wand," and his wand returned safely to him.
"Riptum sordidatus," Paddy called.
Harry gasped as all his clothes ripped off, leaving him to dive for cover. "Reparo," Harry said, thankful that the spell repaired his clothes. "Commuto Versum," Harry whispered, causing a huge wind to whirl around the room destroying the illusion of the forest, leaving Paddy plainly visible. Harry called the fire from his wand and used it to wrap around the old wizard.
Paddy stared at Harry in disbelief, then said, "Very good Harry, you are the first man to capture me in almost seventy years."
Harry's chest swelled in pride, Paddy had called him a man; it was the first time Harry could remember anyone calling him that. He released the spell on Paddy and said, "Thank you."
They spent the rest of the day duelling in various different environments, created by Paddy.
During dinner that night, Harry was pleased by the way Paddy treated him like an adult, an equal. He explained to them the various weapons that muggles had invented to use in their wars. The ones that frightened Harry the most were the chemical weapons. Paddy assured him that wizards had antidotes to the most common viral agents, but to Harry, the description of some of the toxins were still terrifying. Muggles didn't have proper measures to control them, by the time they could detect them the damage was already done.
"Do you think that Voldemort would use Chemical weapons?" Harry asked.
"The muggle terrorists that were arrested are from a well known organisation, they have been trying for years to make their own." Paddy replied.
"Would the magical world help the muggles if there is a chemical attack?"
"They have done in the past," Paddy said, "But always secretly. Not even the Muggle Government has been aware of it."
"What do you think Voldemort is trying to achieve? Attacking muggles and pure-bloods alike, what's the point of that?" Harry asked.
"Terror," Paddy replied. "His greatest weapon is fear. If he keeps the magical community busy protecting the muggle world, then he can move onto his main agenda without interference."
"But what is his main agenda?"
"That's what we have to work out," Paddy replied.
Paddy was staying at Redwood that night, so after showing him to one of the spare rooms, Harry went to relax his tired body in a hot bath. His duelling skills were improving as were his legilimency and occlumency skills. The Elemental magic was growing, Harry had successfully used it in combination with many of the spell he already knew, but the fear was still there. The fear that he was still unprepared to face Voldemort, or that he ever would be, plagued him.
Harry woke after a restless sleep and went to shower and dress; he heard voices as he approached the dining room.
"I wish he would come to me with his fears," Dumbledore's voice reached Harry's ears.
"He does when he needs to, he spent hours the other night telling me," Moony answered.
"Yes, but did he realise you could understand him?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes he did," Harry snapped, "But he also thought that you would keep them to yourself." Harry was furious, he had trusted Moony and yet it seemed Moony was about to tell Dumbledore his secrets.
"Good morning Harry," Dumbledore said lightly.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Paddy said cheerfully, "Not too sore from yesterday?"
"Moony did you tell them all about my nightmares? Did you tell them how I wished Voldemort could have chosen Neville instead of me? Oh and how about my knowing Dumbledore was afraid I would loose my soul fighting against Voldemort?" Harry raged at his friend.
"Migizi, I wouldn't have told anyone about it," Moony stood up at looked at Harry, the hurt evident on his face, "you spoke to me in confidence, I would never break that."
Harry sank down on one of the chairs, his face red with embarrassment, "Sorry, I just thought …"
"Harry, I'm sorry. I would like to talk to you about your fears, but I can't do that if you won't tell me about them," Dumbledore said quietly. "I'm sorry that you feel that you can't trust me."
"Well you know about them now, I guess," Harry muttered.
"Why do you think I'm afraid that you will lose your soul?"
"The Green Flame Torch, remember when we made it? The dreams I had showed you carrying me, I was only a child. Your face, it was … sad …. afraid…. when you sent me to face Voldemort." Harry said.
"Of course I am sad that you must face Voldemort. Harry, as your teacher, it is my duty to protect you. But I must ignore my basic instincts and let you fight alone." Dumbledore replied sadly. "But I do not believe that you will lose your soul. I believe that you understand the dangers of becoming like him, and that you will ultimately overcome that. That is your special gift."
"Harry, when a wizard fights, he uses strength from his own personality," Paddy explained, "when you duelled with me yesterday, you resisted the temptation to loose your temper. You should always strive to do that."
"Well that's alright when I'm duelling you or one of the others, I don't really want to harm you," Harry answered, "But that's because I know that you don't wish me dead. When I duelled with Voldemort, it was different."
"Perhaps we can try something else," Dumbledore said, rising from the table. "Maybe there is someone…" he voice trailed off as he left the room.
"What does he mean?" Harry asked.
Moony and Paddy shook their heads. Moony added, "Migizi, I hope you know that you can always trust me."
"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions." Harry replied, feeling terrible that he had misjudged his friend.
Moony didn't have a chance to answer as Dumbledore returned and announced, "Right Harry, I've arranged for someone else to come and join your practice today."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"You will see. He will come after lunch."
Paddy had configured the practice room to resemble the cemetery where Voldemort had taken Harry after the tri-wizard tournament, and Malfoy had taken Harry the year before. It was unnerving for Harry to walk through the tombstones again. He was swamped with visions of Cedric's death and Hermione lying unconscious on the ground, blood pouring from her head.
Dumbledore and Paddy took up their positions and Harry trying to block out the unhappy memories, joined them in the clearing. "Begin," Paddy called.
Harry sat still behind one of the Tombstones, trying to sense where the old wizards were hiding. Feeling the air change beside him, Harry quickly disappeared; Dumbledore appeared at the Spot where Harry had been. Harry made his beard change colour and then focused on finding Paddy.
He narrowly avoided a spell by ducking behind a tree stump, and then called for a blinding spell to attack Paddy. Not waiting to see if he had been successful, he changed his position and was caught by one of Dumbledore's sneezing spells. Paddy took advantage of Harry's distraction by casting a full body-bind on him.
Wandless magic helped Harry to counter both spells, but pausing to listen, he tried to find either of the old men. He could sense two of them to his left, but as he aimed at them he was distracted by a third presence to his right. He turned and to his horror saw a death eater approaching him, wand raised.
The death eater cast an unknown spell at him, suddenly Harry's knees buckled as the feeling drained from them. Fear threatened to swallow him, he was afraid to shout for help, so far the Death eater had only seen Harry, and there was no point in attracting his attention to the other two.
Another man in Black robes appeared by the Death eater and Harry watched in horrified recognition as the man turned and Harry found himself looking into the face of his enemy. Pushing away the panic, Harry made himself disappear and tried to locate Dumbledore. When he reappeared he found himself looking into the unblinking eyes of his Headmaster.
What the hell is going on? Harry's mind screamed, who could have caught Dumbledore this way. Startlehex! He must be a spy. Harry couldn't release Dumbledore so he cast a disillusionment spell on him to hide him and tried to formulate a plan. First he had to get the death eater, using the same disillusionment spell on himself, he searched for his target.
Appearing behind the two dark robed figures, Harry aimed at the Death eaters wand arm and thought, 'Cisum Radius', the man screamed in pain as his fore arm broke in several places, and Harry called for his wand. 'Adligo' caused ropes to appear and bind the man magically; Harry disappeared before Voldemort could find him.
Fear and hatred burned in his stomach as he hid, trying to think of a way to get rid of Voldemort. His mind was searching for an answer, at the same time he recognised that Moony and Tikka were probably dead, if Voldemort and his death eater were here, there had to be more of them in the house somewhere.
Harry appeared in the kitchens and whispered "Tikka, Tikka," there was no answer, so he slowly crept out of the kitchen and started to search the house. There was no one else in the house so Harry returned to the practice room. Confused and scared he tried to sense Voldemort, he couldn't. He could sense Dumbledore and the fallen Death eater, and then a faint third presence caught his attention.
Unsure if he had the strength and control to call upon the elements now, Harry closed his eyes and plunged his hand into the earth. Harry concentrated on pulling the power to into himself, feeling the fear and anger building, Harry remembered what Dumbledore had told him about love being the strongest power of all. He tried to picture all his friends laughing, living their lives unafraid, free from Voldemort. Their faces shone in his mind.
A white light burst from Harry, the light formed a huge wave, and the room shimmered and changed back to the practice room. The dark robed figure of Voldemort collapsed on the floor unmoving. Harry suddenly realised that his scar felt normal, if that was Voldemort, his head should be bursting with pain. And in a horrifying instant Harry realised that the figure was not Voldemort. Paddy Startlehex lay unconscious on the ground.
"Oh my God," Harry shouted and raced to the fallen wizard.
His breathing was shallow and the death eater beside him was squirming on the floor, still bound. Harry crawled over to him and with shaking hands removed his mask. The face of Professor Snape looked back at him.
"Well done Harry," Dumbledore said from behind him.
"Well done! I almost killed them," Screeched Harry, "I didn't realise…. this was a test?"
"Yes Harry, this was a test." Dumbledore smiled, "One that you passed admirably."
"We have to help them. Oh my God I broke Snape's arm," Harry was ranting.
"Harry, calm down," Dumbledore bent over Snape and muttered a spell.
Snape's arm was repaired and his bonds released. Snape stood up slowly rubbing his arm and glared at Harry, saying, "My wand Potter."
Silently Harry handed it to him, and then turned to watch Dumbledore treating Paddy. After a few moments Paddy opened his eyes and sat up slowly, then to Harry's surprise he grinned.
"Well done Harry, you did it!"
"I'm so sorry, I could have killed you. I didn't realise…." Harry stammered.
"You weren't supposed to, that was the whole point of the exercise." Paddy answered.
"Well I think we all need to have a break, lets go and have some lunch, and a nice cup of tea," Dumbledore led them all out of the room.
Moony and Tikka were waiting for them in the dining room. "Where did you two go?" Harry suddenly remembered.
"Tikka took us for a little break," Moony grinned.
"I can't believe you were all in on this crazy scheme," Harry huffed. "What if I had actually killed someone?"
"You were never going to kill any of us," Paddy reassured him.
"But I was trying to kill you or a least stop you hurting anyone else."
"Think about it carefully Harry, did you ever actually try to cast a killing spell?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Well no, but what if I had?" Harry said.
They took their places at the table and Paddy began to give Moony a blow by blow account of what had happened. Harry began to feel a little proud of his achievements. Then noticing Snape's silent demeanour, Harry tried hard not to gloat.
"So you see Harry, why I have faith in you," Dumbledore said, "you were afraid, and angry and you still did not fall into the trap of using your anger to expand your power."
Harry realised that he had learned a valuable lesson about himself this day, but unfortunately he had also been reminded that he still wouldn't have the power to kill Voldemort.