Chapter 39:
After his friends left, Dumbledore once again appeared in the Hospital Wing. Harry set down the box of chocolate frogs he had been looking at and looked up at the Headmaster as he entered the room. Madame Pomfrey looked up as well.
"Hello, Headmaster; is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, thank you, Poppy… but could I speak with Mr. Potter alone for a few minutes?" Harry sighed inwardly.
"Of course, Albus…" With that, she bustled out of the room. Dumbledore walked over and sat next to Harry's bed. Harry looked up expectantly, not saying a word.
"Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice beginning to break.
Harry looked up into Dumbledore's light blue eyes. They were sad, but there was still a twinkle. Harry didn't like that twinkle right now. "Yes?"
"Would you like to speak with me about anything?"
"No," answered Harry quickly.
"Ah… well…. I know about Tom being in Diagon Alley a few days ago, and-" Harry immediately felt a bubble of fear swell up inside him. Was anybody hurt? Dumbledore seemed to read his mind.
"No one was hurt, Harry. But somebody could have been. I have no idea why he was in Diagon Alley; but by the time our Aurors found out, he was gone." Seeing Harry's look of surprise, he smiled. "The Order has maps like yours, too, Harry; you're not the only one… Though I am thoroughly impressed on how you did it, I mean, we had Remus Lupin, but you had to improvise, and you did so quite well…"
"How did you know?" asked Harry.
"Well… let's say I had an inkling of knowledge that you would find that room… surely you feel the magical Aura it possesses?" Harry shivered; of course he felt it. It was one of the reasons he had wanted that room so much. Hermione and Ron hadn't felt it, but Draco, Lenore, and Ginny had said they felt it a bit… but Harry thought that he seemed the most affected by it. Harry looked up and nodded glumly.
"How did you know, Professor?" he asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "Ah… Harry… many others have found sanctuary in that room. It probably has more magical protections on it alone than the whole of Hogwarts put together. You see, each of the Founders built their own room in the building, not for their House, but for themselves. You've already seen Acacia's. And Slytherin, at first, said it was foolish nonsense; to create a room for oneself, but as we know, he eventually created the Chamber of Secrets. The Room of Requirements was Ravenclaw's room. I've no idea where Hufflepuff's room was, to this day, but the room that most powerful people stumbled upon was Godric's."
Harry was quite shocked. "You mean that room was Gryffindor's?" he asked incredulously. Dumbledore nodded. "Who else besides me found it?"
"Well, Godric Gryffindor, of course," began Dumbledore. Harry nodded. "Gryffindor's son, Llewellyn… several other powerful witches and wizards… I myself found it, as did Tom Riddle and Professor McGonagall," he said, looking a bit older and upset.
"What?" asked Harry immediately. "You mean Voldemort found it?" Dumbledore nodded, and he looked like he wanted to cry.
"He found it as a second year, along with his best friend, a Muggle-born… whom is currently your Transfiguration Professor."
"What?" asked Harry once again. "You mean Voldemort and McGonagall… Shit… what happened?" Dumbledore smiled wanly.
"Well, Minerva was a Gryffindor and Tom a Slytherin, and both thought they were Muggle-born… Tom was teased dreadfully by the other Slytherins, so he became quick friends with those in other Houses. I must say, when he was younger, Tom was one of my favorite students. Very bright, you see… Anyway, one day a fifth year Slytherin found out about Tom's heritage, and he told all of the Slytherins, who suddenly honored Tom, and told him he was the Heir of Slytherin. Tom came to me and asked me, and I told him the truth. Soon, by influence of the other Slytherin's, Tom began to hate all Muggle-borns. I was still his favorite teacher, and he apparently thought I would approve of this tyrannical behavior. He soon did something... unforgivable to Minerva, and the two became enemies. In his fifth year, when I recommended him for expulsion, he began hating me as well. Anyway, Harry, your mother found this room with Holly one day, and they told the Marauders and Lily's best friends about it, and since they left the school, you're the first to find it."
Harry was shocked. "Y- you mean… what did he… what did Voldemort do to her?" Dumbledore looked at Harry pityingly.
"Many things, Harry, but it is not for me to tell you." Harry nodded, feeling a new sympathy and respect for his Head of House.
"Besides that," said Dumbledore, changing the subject. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Felkes, and Miss Weasley told me about the other vision you had. My theory is that when you four are alone in powerful magical rooms, you are able to… walk in on the Founders' crucial conversation. It seems like they are warning you, but it is my belief that you will end up warning them."
"Really?" asked Harry, confused. "I hate those visions. They're horrible. As bad as Voldemort's… and Occlumency doesn't help them…"
"No, Occlumency won't stop them, but those dreams are acting as Occlumency; our sources say that Voldemort has been trying to plant different visions in your head, Harry, and is furious that it isn't working."
"Professor… when is he going to attack?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Nobody knows, Harry. But we feel that it may be quite soon.
"Do you have any idea where?" asked Harry, worried.
"No, but we believe we have a fairly strong support system that can be ready in an instant. Unfortunately, Voldemort's army is quite a bit larger than ours, and they have gotten the support of the Dementors, the Giants, and about half of the Centaurs, unfortunately…"
"Who've we gotten on our side?" asked Harry.
"The House Elves, who are actually a big help, some Centaurs that aren't refusing to take sides, several Giants, including Hagrid's brother, and we're working on the Goblins, Merpeople, and the Vampires."
"Vampires?" asked Harry, unbelieving.
"Unfortunately, it's either get them on our side or have them fight against us. And, as the Merpeople live in the Lake, it's quite imperative that they side with us. As for the Goblins, well, they will probably be swayed in both directions." Harry nodded.
"Anything else, Harry?" Harry shook his head truthfully.
As Dumbledore began to leave, Harry remembered. "Oh, when can I leave the Hospital Wing?"
"Whenever you'd like, Harry. You seem to be quite well."
"Actually, professor-" Dumbledore stopped and turned around.
"Er, yeah, um… How did the Death Eaters get onto the grounds. Dumbledore sighed.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Harry." Harry nodded and looked around the Hospital Wing. It alarmed him to see it quite empty besides a third year Hufflepuff who'd been jinxed into humming the alphabet incessantly.
"Where's Cho?"
"Her magic's left, Harry, quite unfortunately, and she is in St. Mungo's."
"Oh," said Harry, feeling very sorry for her. "Will she be all right?"
"We don't know, Harry. I survived Wizard's Flu as a child, and I have hope that Miss Chang will as well."
"You survived Wizard's Flu?" asked Harry, astonished. Dumbledore nodded, eyes twinkling.
"Yes, I was very lucky." With that, he left the room.
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The next morning, Harry woke up in his Dormitories, to his alarm clock. He threw a pillow at Ron.
"Wake up, mate, it's morning…" he yawned, stretching.
"No…" moaned Ron, half asleep. "S'dark outside. Go to bed, Harry…"
"Get UP, Ron!" bellowed Harry. Across the room, Neville woke up.
"Hi, Harry…. Glad you're okay…"
"Thanks," said Harry. "I'm going down to breakfast, Ron," he said, exiting the room. When he arrived in the Common Room, many people were waving and smiling to him. He walked over to where Hermione was sitting, reading her book. Harry peered at the cover and realized it was the same one she'd been reading at Grimmauld Place: Hogwarts: A History of the Less Appealing Myths and Legends in the Past 1000 Years.
Harry chuckled. "Haven't finished yet?" he laughed. Hermione looked up.
"Oh! Harry! I've just thought- I can't believe I didn't realize before! But this book- It might mention Acacia somewhere!" Harry looked inside. Hermione was reading the section on all of the founders. Harry looked eagerly.
"Do you really think it might mention that?" She nodded in earnest.
"I vaguely remember a passage on Slytherin's daughter- but I just can't remember…" She then turned back to the book. It was in very small print and looked rather tedious to Harry, even if it did mention Acacia.
"Well… so are you and Ron going to the Halloween Ball?" Hermione looked up and smiled happily.
"Yeah, I am… Lenore and Draco are going…" she scrunched up her nose, "And you really should ask Ginny."
"Yeah," agreed Harry. "I was thinking about that…"
"Good. Now's your chance." Harry looked up as Ginny hopped down the stairs, smiling brightly at Harry and Hermione.
"Morning," she said cheerily.
"You're rather happy," observed Hermione.
"Yeah, well… the Cheering Charms from yesterday haven't quite worn off… plus, no Potions or Divination today!" Hermione smiled and nudged Harry. He glared at her and turned to Ginny.
"Uh, Gin…"
"Yeah?" she asked, smiling.
"Er… Would you, er, like to, er, well… come to the ball with me?" he asked, rather glad that it had come out slightly less marred than it had when he asked Cho in fourth year. Ginny smiled and glowed happily.
"I'd love to, Harry!" she exclaimed, hugging him.
A/N: Sorry the update took so long; I was trying to wait 4 5 reviews, which I didn't get, and that was why it took a while! Anyway, please review!
**Jinglez**