A/N - I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Things have
been kind of crazy for me. Anyway, I hope that this chapter is good enough
to make up for it. Thanks again to my loyal readers. Please, Please,
Please review my story! I really look forward to hearing what you think of
it. Even if you think the whole thing is stupid, please let me know. As
always, anything that you recognize from the books, I don't own. It is
from the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling herself. Now, on with the next
chapter.
Chapter 4
After standing in the entrance hall for a few moments to compose himself, Harry entered the Great Hall. Dinner had not yet started, and he made his way to the teachers' table. Ron and Hermione had not yet arrived. He grew very impatient waiting for them. "Where could they possibly be? Ron gets hungry at the mere mention of food! Of all days for him to dawdle on his way to a meal!"
Dumbledore looked over at Harry and immediately recognized Harry's agitated state. He wondered what could have possibly gotten Harry so aggravated this time. It seems that this was Harry's normal state these days. Dumbledore shrugged and decided that it must just be that Professor McGonagall gave him a run for his money during lessons. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as his imagination gave him an idea of what must have occurred. If only he knew what the real problem was.
As Dumbledore rose to begin the nightly feast, both Hermione and Ron entered the Great Hall. Quickly, the both of them sat in their seats. They were only able to mutter a hello to Harry before dinner began. Both of them noticed the state that Harry was in. The two exchanged a look before either one of them spoke. Silently, they had an argument over who would ask Harry what was wrong. Ron lost.
"So, mate, er, how was the rest of the classes with McGonagall?"
"Just great, wonderful, splendid, couldn't be better."
"Ok, Harry. What happened? Why are you so upset?" Hermione asked.
"Later. Meet me in the DADA classroom after dinner. I need to tell the both of you something very important."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a questioning look, but let the matter drop. The conversation then drifted to what had happened during their observations in class. While Harry did not calm down completely, he did seem much more relaxed after dinner. Both Ron and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. They had been on the receiving end of entirely too many of Harry's screaming fits. Neither of them was in the mood for another one.
After they had all eaten, the three left the Great Hall and headed toward the DADA classroom. Once they entered the room, Harry magically locked the door and placed a silencing charm on the room. After an exchange of curious looks, Hermione asked the obvious question.
"Ok, Harry, what's the reason for all the secrecy? What's so important that it requires us to lock ourselves in a room and a silencing charm on top of that?"
"I know you both think that I am obsessing about this whole Marion thing, but something really odd happened today."
"Mate, you know I am always behind you, but I think that you are taking this a little too far. Yeah, she is a little odd, and maybe she is somewhat advanced, but what is so wrong with that? Honestly, I think you are paranoid."
"Maybe I am, but listen to this. Today on my way to dinner, I was walking through the entrance hall where I found Snape talking to Marion."
With this, Hermione interrupted, "Harry, while you may not like Snape, it is perfectly normal for a teacher to speak to a student. What is so odd about that?"
"Let me finish. Not only was Snape speaking to a Gryffindor student, he was smiling at her. We all know how prejudiced he is against Gryffindors. Why would he number one be holding a pleasant conversation with one? Number two, why would he be smiling at her? It just doesn't make any sense!"
"Harry, calm down. There could be any number of reasons for Snape to hold a pleasant conversation with a Gryffindor student."
"Hang on a second, Hermione. I agree with Harry. We all know how awful he was to us, and every other Gryffindor for that matter."
"That's true, but honestly we've all talked to Marion. How could you possibly be mean to someone as sweet as her?"
"If you are Snape you could be. Look at how evil he was to Neville! Neville is just as nice as she is, and his parents were in the Order! If anyone, that's one of the Gryffindor's he should have been nice to!"
"But, Ron, not that I am picking on Neville, but he was dreadful in Potions. That's why Snape was mean to him."
"He was only dreadful in Potions because of Snape's attitude towards him."
"Exactly my point. He was prejudiced against him because he was in Gryffindor."
"Maybe, Harry, but what does this have to do with Marion. So what if he smiled at her? I don't think that is just cause for an investigation. Maybe, he has had a change of heart." "Yeah, right," said Ron with a look of pure disgust on his face.
"But I still haven't told you everything. When I saw the two of them, I dropped my bag. Both of them jumped, and Marion practically dove into the Great Hall."
"Well, you startled them. I don't see how."
"And then Snape threatened me."
"Wait, he did what."
"Honestly, Hermione, if you would only quit interrupting. I said that Snape threatened me after I found him and Marion talking."
"What did he say, mate."
"He said, 'I'm warning you now, Potter. Your meddling has gotten you into trouble before. Has even cost you a godfather if I remember correctly. I suggest you listen to everyone for the first time in your life, if that arrogant ego permits you to, and stay out of issues that do not concern you.' Don't you think that it is a little odd that a pleasant little meaningless conversation comes with a threat."
"Perhaps you are right, Harry. Who do you think she is?"
"I don't know. I mean she's just an eleven year old kid."
"Hang-on. Don't you think that it is a bit odd that a new eleven-year-old pure-blood wizard just happens to show up at Hogwarts claiming to not know about her heritage? Then on top of it she knows Snape, and is friendly with him?"
"Ron, what are you getting at? That is exactly what I have been trying to tell you two all evening!"
"Well, I just think that it is funny that she is so chummy with Snape. I mean, Voldemort has been quiet for so long..do you think he could have sent her to Hogwarts?"
"Wait a minute, are you saying that Voldemort found an eleven-year-old and made her a death-eater? Then sent her to Hogwarts as a spy?"
"That's exactly what I am saying, Hermione. Why else would she know Snape so well, and Snape want to keep that a secret? I mean, Voldemort has been quiet for so long, maybe that is his next plan, to take over Hogwarts! And Marion is the one who is going to do it!"
"I don't know, Ron. Do you really think that Voldemort would use kids to do his dirty work?" "Why not, Hermione? He's used teachers, why not students. And the sorting hat told us that there is one among us who needs protecting, the one who will bring the end. Obviously he meant Harry. He needs protecting from Voldemort's spy. Marion."
"It still sounds kind of far fetched to me."
"Maybe Ron's right, Hermione. Voldemort has done some pretty low things, maybe this is one of them."
"Alright, let's assume that she is a spy. How do we find out for sure?"
"I don't know, Hermione. I was hoping that you could help us out in that area."
"Okay. I follow Hagrid tomorrow. I think he only has three classes all day. I'll use my free periods to dig up something in the library."
"God, I hate sitting around and waiting!"
"Well, Harry, there is nothing that can be done until tomorrow. Let's just all go to our rooms and get some sleep. It's already midnight, we'll never get up in the morning."
"Alright, alright I'll wait until the morning. But let me know as soon as you find something."
"I always do."
"Right."
Harry then preformed the appropriate counter spells and released them from the classroom. They parted ways and Harry began the ascent to his chambers. He hadn't even thought about the possibility of Marion being a death eater. How could he have been so stupid! That was the perfect reason for her to be talking with Snape. Why else would he be so pleasant to her? He had to keep up the act. And then, he had to make it look good by threatening Harry. Well, not that he really needed an excuse to do that. He would make regular work of it if Dumbledore would let him.
Before he knew it, Harry was at his chamber door. He entered, and got into bed. Maybe his dreams would bring the answers to him. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep.
Up in the air, Harry was flying on his broomstick. How good it felt to
have the wind blowing in his hair, feel the acceleration, be light as a
feather. He started doing loops and dives, coming within inches of the earth below. Suddenly, he found himself getting bucked off of his broom. He fell hundreds of feet until he landed behind a very ornate desk. This
is odd, I should be splattered on the ground right now.
Suddenly, a feeling of great impatience overtook him. "Where is that
Wormtail? He should have been back weeks ago with news. He shall pay dearly for making his master wait so long. With that, the door to the room
opened an in walked a man who greatly resembled a rat. Quickly, he
approached the desk where Harry sat.
"Why did you keep me waiting, Wormtail?"
"I'm sorry, Master. I returned as soon as I could. I have news."
"When will you learn to not lie to me, Wormtail? I know that you have been
at that school when you should have returned to me months ago. What is
this news?"
"Master, there is a new prophecy. I heard it myself. And Dumbledore is
hiding the key to the prophecy at Hogwarts."
"This news pleases me, Wormtail. However, your timing does not. You must
learn not to delay returning to me. You must be punished."
"Please, Master. No!!!"
"Crucio!"
Harry watched as Wormtail cried out in pain. He was enjoying the spectacle
in front of him.
"Now, Wormtail. You will tell me what was said in this prophecy, and what
is hidden in that school."
"Yes, Master."
"Wait. There seems to be an intruder in our midst. Mr. Potter, how nice
of you to join us."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
Harry awoke with a searing pain in his head. He had not felt this pain since his fifth year at Hogwarts. In fact, he hadn't had any dreams about Voldemort since the one right before Sirius was killed.
Harry rubbed his scar in an effort to relieve the already dulling pain. There was only one thing left to do. Time to go visit Dumbledore.
Sorry that the chapter was short, but it is necessary to stop it here. Most secrets will be revealed in the next few chapters. Sorry, Lady Felton, but I guess I am that evil. ;-) As always, please review.
Chapter 4
After standing in the entrance hall for a few moments to compose himself, Harry entered the Great Hall. Dinner had not yet started, and he made his way to the teachers' table. Ron and Hermione had not yet arrived. He grew very impatient waiting for them. "Where could they possibly be? Ron gets hungry at the mere mention of food! Of all days for him to dawdle on his way to a meal!"
Dumbledore looked over at Harry and immediately recognized Harry's agitated state. He wondered what could have possibly gotten Harry so aggravated this time. It seems that this was Harry's normal state these days. Dumbledore shrugged and decided that it must just be that Professor McGonagall gave him a run for his money during lessons. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as his imagination gave him an idea of what must have occurred. If only he knew what the real problem was.
As Dumbledore rose to begin the nightly feast, both Hermione and Ron entered the Great Hall. Quickly, the both of them sat in their seats. They were only able to mutter a hello to Harry before dinner began. Both of them noticed the state that Harry was in. The two exchanged a look before either one of them spoke. Silently, they had an argument over who would ask Harry what was wrong. Ron lost.
"So, mate, er, how was the rest of the classes with McGonagall?"
"Just great, wonderful, splendid, couldn't be better."
"Ok, Harry. What happened? Why are you so upset?" Hermione asked.
"Later. Meet me in the DADA classroom after dinner. I need to tell the both of you something very important."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a questioning look, but let the matter drop. The conversation then drifted to what had happened during their observations in class. While Harry did not calm down completely, he did seem much more relaxed after dinner. Both Ron and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. They had been on the receiving end of entirely too many of Harry's screaming fits. Neither of them was in the mood for another one.
After they had all eaten, the three left the Great Hall and headed toward the DADA classroom. Once they entered the room, Harry magically locked the door and placed a silencing charm on the room. After an exchange of curious looks, Hermione asked the obvious question.
"Ok, Harry, what's the reason for all the secrecy? What's so important that it requires us to lock ourselves in a room and a silencing charm on top of that?"
"I know you both think that I am obsessing about this whole Marion thing, but something really odd happened today."
"Mate, you know I am always behind you, but I think that you are taking this a little too far. Yeah, she is a little odd, and maybe she is somewhat advanced, but what is so wrong with that? Honestly, I think you are paranoid."
"Maybe I am, but listen to this. Today on my way to dinner, I was walking through the entrance hall where I found Snape talking to Marion."
With this, Hermione interrupted, "Harry, while you may not like Snape, it is perfectly normal for a teacher to speak to a student. What is so odd about that?"
"Let me finish. Not only was Snape speaking to a Gryffindor student, he was smiling at her. We all know how prejudiced he is against Gryffindors. Why would he number one be holding a pleasant conversation with one? Number two, why would he be smiling at her? It just doesn't make any sense!"
"Harry, calm down. There could be any number of reasons for Snape to hold a pleasant conversation with a Gryffindor student."
"Hang on a second, Hermione. I agree with Harry. We all know how awful he was to us, and every other Gryffindor for that matter."
"That's true, but honestly we've all talked to Marion. How could you possibly be mean to someone as sweet as her?"
"If you are Snape you could be. Look at how evil he was to Neville! Neville is just as nice as she is, and his parents were in the Order! If anyone, that's one of the Gryffindor's he should have been nice to!"
"But, Ron, not that I am picking on Neville, but he was dreadful in Potions. That's why Snape was mean to him."
"He was only dreadful in Potions because of Snape's attitude towards him."
"Exactly my point. He was prejudiced against him because he was in Gryffindor."
"Maybe, Harry, but what does this have to do with Marion. So what if he smiled at her? I don't think that is just cause for an investigation. Maybe, he has had a change of heart." "Yeah, right," said Ron with a look of pure disgust on his face.
"But I still haven't told you everything. When I saw the two of them, I dropped my bag. Both of them jumped, and Marion practically dove into the Great Hall."
"Well, you startled them. I don't see how."
"And then Snape threatened me."
"Wait, he did what."
"Honestly, Hermione, if you would only quit interrupting. I said that Snape threatened me after I found him and Marion talking."
"What did he say, mate."
"He said, 'I'm warning you now, Potter. Your meddling has gotten you into trouble before. Has even cost you a godfather if I remember correctly. I suggest you listen to everyone for the first time in your life, if that arrogant ego permits you to, and stay out of issues that do not concern you.' Don't you think that it is a little odd that a pleasant little meaningless conversation comes with a threat."
"Perhaps you are right, Harry. Who do you think she is?"
"I don't know. I mean she's just an eleven year old kid."
"Hang-on. Don't you think that it is a bit odd that a new eleven-year-old pure-blood wizard just happens to show up at Hogwarts claiming to not know about her heritage? Then on top of it she knows Snape, and is friendly with him?"
"Ron, what are you getting at? That is exactly what I have been trying to tell you two all evening!"
"Well, I just think that it is funny that she is so chummy with Snape. I mean, Voldemort has been quiet for so long..do you think he could have sent her to Hogwarts?"
"Wait a minute, are you saying that Voldemort found an eleven-year-old and made her a death-eater? Then sent her to Hogwarts as a spy?"
"That's exactly what I am saying, Hermione. Why else would she know Snape so well, and Snape want to keep that a secret? I mean, Voldemort has been quiet for so long, maybe that is his next plan, to take over Hogwarts! And Marion is the one who is going to do it!"
"I don't know, Ron. Do you really think that Voldemort would use kids to do his dirty work?" "Why not, Hermione? He's used teachers, why not students. And the sorting hat told us that there is one among us who needs protecting, the one who will bring the end. Obviously he meant Harry. He needs protecting from Voldemort's spy. Marion."
"It still sounds kind of far fetched to me."
"Maybe Ron's right, Hermione. Voldemort has done some pretty low things, maybe this is one of them."
"Alright, let's assume that she is a spy. How do we find out for sure?"
"I don't know, Hermione. I was hoping that you could help us out in that area."
"Okay. I follow Hagrid tomorrow. I think he only has three classes all day. I'll use my free periods to dig up something in the library."
"God, I hate sitting around and waiting!"
"Well, Harry, there is nothing that can be done until tomorrow. Let's just all go to our rooms and get some sleep. It's already midnight, we'll never get up in the morning."
"Alright, alright I'll wait until the morning. But let me know as soon as you find something."
"I always do."
"Right."
Harry then preformed the appropriate counter spells and released them from the classroom. They parted ways and Harry began the ascent to his chambers. He hadn't even thought about the possibility of Marion being a death eater. How could he have been so stupid! That was the perfect reason for her to be talking with Snape. Why else would he be so pleasant to her? He had to keep up the act. And then, he had to make it look good by threatening Harry. Well, not that he really needed an excuse to do that. He would make regular work of it if Dumbledore would let him.
Before he knew it, Harry was at his chamber door. He entered, and got into bed. Maybe his dreams would bring the answers to him. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep.
Up in the air, Harry was flying on his broomstick. How good it felt to
have the wind blowing in his hair, feel the acceleration, be light as a
feather. He started doing loops and dives, coming within inches of the earth below. Suddenly, he found himself getting bucked off of his broom. He fell hundreds of feet until he landed behind a very ornate desk. This
is odd, I should be splattered on the ground right now.
Suddenly, a feeling of great impatience overtook him. "Where is that
Wormtail? He should have been back weeks ago with news. He shall pay dearly for making his master wait so long. With that, the door to the room
opened an in walked a man who greatly resembled a rat. Quickly, he
approached the desk where Harry sat.
"Why did you keep me waiting, Wormtail?"
"I'm sorry, Master. I returned as soon as I could. I have news."
"When will you learn to not lie to me, Wormtail? I know that you have been
at that school when you should have returned to me months ago. What is
this news?"
"Master, there is a new prophecy. I heard it myself. And Dumbledore is
hiding the key to the prophecy at Hogwarts."
"This news pleases me, Wormtail. However, your timing does not. You must
learn not to delay returning to me. You must be punished."
"Please, Master. No!!!"
"Crucio!"
Harry watched as Wormtail cried out in pain. He was enjoying the spectacle
in front of him.
"Now, Wormtail. You will tell me what was said in this prophecy, and what
is hidden in that school."
"Yes, Master."
"Wait. There seems to be an intruder in our midst. Mr. Potter, how nice
of you to join us."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
Harry awoke with a searing pain in his head. He had not felt this pain since his fifth year at Hogwarts. In fact, he hadn't had any dreams about Voldemort since the one right before Sirius was killed.
Harry rubbed his scar in an effort to relieve the already dulling pain. There was only one thing left to do. Time to go visit Dumbledore.
Sorry that the chapter was short, but it is necessary to stop it here. Most secrets will be revealed in the next few chapters. Sorry, Lady Felton, but I guess I am that evil. ;-) As always, please review.