Chapter 2 – Mysterious Events
It had not taken long for Harry's presence to be known at the Weasley's. Within moments of his arrival, the sounds of hurried footsteps could easily be heard from the floors above. Sure enough, he was promptly swept up in hugs as each of the Weasley's gave their greetings in turn, giving him no time to say hello himself. But soon enough, the commotion had died down to just pats on the back, and while the family seated themselves for breakfast, he took the opportunity to explain his early arrival to anyone who would listen.
'I tell you Ron, it was weird.' Harry could be heard saying through mouthfuls of bacon and eggs. 'He was basically trying to get me out as soon as he could.'
Ron was listening intently as his friend rambled on, occasionally giving his own interpretation as to what it could mean.
'Didn't you say he was afraid of magic?' Ron interjected suddenly, 'I mean, from the last time we used the floo network to pick you up, your uncle started throwing stuff at Dad.'
Harry paused momentarily on this as he considered it. Ron was right. Uncle Vernon was indeed afraid of magic, but what puzzled him was his apparent eagerness to allow Harry to use the fireplace for magic. It didn't really make any kind of sense. Afterall, Uncle Vernon had been such an outspoken person against the use of magic for all the years that Harry had known of Hogwarts. What could have changed his mind so quickly? He mused that perhaps Vernon was so happy about finally locking up Hedwig at nights, that he'd be more than happy to let him use magical travel. He continued to think on it for a while, but found it difficult to concentrate. Whether he liked it or not, Harry was still unable to shake off the dream he'd had.
It didn't seem like any ordinary dream, not by his standards at least. It felt too real. Something told him that there was more to this dream than he originally thought at the time he had it, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what that was exactly. The image of Voldemort came quickly to his mind. Was he experiencing something from the dark lord's own head? He was aware now that he and Voldemort shared a certain amount of thoughts due to the curse that nearly killed him. But just prior to him leaving school the previous year, Dumbledore told him that he cast a powerful charm on him, as a form of protection from mental infiltration, seeing as Harry was quite unwilling to continue Occlumency.
Nothing seemed to make any kind of sense to him at all. Some of the things he saw in the dream didn't fit. A new professor at the teacher's table, (and quite a shady looking character at that) was the first anomaly, Harry was unaware that there had been any new teacher additions to Hogwarts since the beginning of his fifth year. But then again, Professor Trelawny's appearance at the table seemed just as peculiar, if not more so. She'd normally resided herself to the North Tower if she could help it, more than likely to look into the mysterious depths of her crystal ball.
His dream gave absolutely no hint of what it really meant, so for the moment at least, he shrugged it off, just in time too, as another large plate of bacon and eggs landed before him. So long as he was in the company of the Weasley's, nothing like this should ever need trouble him.
As soon as he'd tucked once more into his meal, the door creaked open, and Mr Weasley trudged in, still carrying his worries from his previous night's work.
'Morning Weasley's,' Arthur grinned hazily, and the rest of the family chorused back. 'Morning Harry,' he smiled once more, patting him tentatively, before seating himself down with a sigh.
'What's wrong with you Arthur?' Mrs Weasley called, referring to the disheveled look about her husband, 'Tough night at the office?'
'You've got no idea darl.' He replied darkly. 'I haven't had a night this bad since… well… actually I can't remember.'
Naturally everyone immediately started paying attention. Fred and George stopped turning each other's hair pink and green, Ron uncomfortably swallowed an entire mouth full of eggs, Ginny put down a familiar book she was reading upside-down and Harry just sat and listened intently.
'Bad practice at the ministry alright, no doubt about it. I think the Warders and Obliviators need a bit more training in their field…'
'What do you mean Arthur, what's this business about wards?' Mrs Weasley prompted. Arthur looked up tiredly at his wife before continuing.
'The stadium which held the Quidditch world cup last was seen by muggles yesterday evening.' and at this there was a sharp intake of breath from everybody at the table, Harry included.
'Wh… What?!' Molly cried in shock, 'I thought that was impossible. Aren't there wards and charms protecting it?'
Arthur, sat there silent for a moment and yawned before looking to the stunned faces of everyone else.
'Yes… that's the point. Around six thirty last night, I was contacted about the state of the wards protecting the stadium. Apparently something went drastically wrong with one of them.' Harry considered for a second what would happen should an anti-muggle ward backfire, but as he was about to ask, Ron interrupted.
'What happened to the ward dad?' he said, and the rest of the family looked once more to Mr Weasley, probably with similar questions on their minds.
'It wore off! Bloody thing just dissolved into nothing. I swear I'd never seen that before. Wards don't normally dissolve, not even within a millennium of being cast… Now I've seen it all.'
Everyone else sat silent for a few seconds, trying to take in this shocking information as best they could. It then suddenly dawned to Harry that the stadium itself was located at a very busy muggle camping ground. And that would mean…
'Yep,' Arthur said unexpectedly to Harry, as though reading his mind. 'You can all guess what happened then. As the ward wore off, the stadium suddenly became visible to the muggles. I reckon at least a good fifty must've seen the thing as it came out of the darkness. Oh we had a devil of a time tracking them all down last night. Panicked they
did, they ain't seen anything of the likes of that before, so they scattered into the forest.'
'But… you got them all… didn't you Dad?' Ron said hopefully. But much to his surprise, his father's expression darkened considerably.
'I'm afraid not son. We didn't track down all the muggles at all. In fact, I reckon about half of them escaped the Obliviators in the forest. Argh…! Dam Obliviators not doing their job properly as usual!'
And he banged down a fork into the table in an aggravated sort of way. 'I don't know how the ministry's ever gonna cover this one up. Being the first on the scene, I had to clean up the whole mess myself. I spent most of this morning reapplying the ward that screwed up. Took the stuffing out of me it did.'
'Well…' Mrs Weasley began once more, slightly more on edge than before, 'At least it's over now…' but she immediately stopped short as she saw the furious look on Arthur's face.
'I'm afraid it's not that simple love. This was a major breach of the muggle protection act. Fifty muggles suddenly seeing our beloved stadium won't go down too well with the ministry I'm afraid. Another breach like this could well see our world revealed. Mind you though, the ministry's gonna have someone's blood for this. I'll bet you anything it'll mine.'
'Oh cheer up Dad,' Fred and George said in unison, 'They can't do anything to you. Besides, why would they want to put you under the knife anyway, you've done nothing wrong?'
'Very good point boys,' Arthur exclaimed, 'But the ministry's been in hot water before. Remember when Fudge was denying You Know Who was back? He ended up trying to take Harry down just for the mistake that he made, and all Harry did was tell the truth. Made of good mess of your reputation too if I remember correctly. You'd remember, of course wouldn't you?' And he shot a quick look to Harry, who nodded back understandingly.
'Fudge is still reeling after Dumbledore showed him up about You Know Who, but he hasn't lost any of his sting. I've no doubt he'll want to blame someone else for this mess. I only hope it isn't me… Anyway, enough of my problems. We gotta get you guys, err… and girls, sorry Ginny, ready for the train, and… GOOD HEAVENS, look at the time, we'd better start packing kids if you don't want to be late.' And Mr Weasley jumped to his feet with lighting speed and started quickly summoning random objects from around the house.
'Accio hat, Accio books, Accio traveling cloak…' Mr Weasley was heard shouting as he left the table. Everyone else took up on his lead and began grabbing all their belongings for the train. Quietly aside from everyone however, Ron talked to Harry in private.
'Rotten luck eh?! Fifty muggles seeing the stadium! What are the odds of that?' he whispered hurriedly.
'Yeah I reckon,' Harry replied, but he wasn't paying much attention, he was still absorbed by the fact that something like this had gone so terribly wrong. Wards didn't normally malfunction like this, did they? Mr Weasley certainly didn't think so. But what he'd said after that didn't sit well with him. "Another breach like this could well see our world revealed…". What would happen if muggles finally found out about wizards? They'd probably get scared Harry thought, or perhaps…
'Hey what's up?' Ron asked curiously. 'You haven't been listening to a thing I've been saying.'
'Oh.' Harry was caught off guard, 'Err… sorry about that. Come on, we have to get ready.'
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Hi all,
My name's Richard, otherwise known as Dark Asseigai. I'm new to Fan Fiction.net, and this is my first story. Depending on how well it's received by everyone, it may not be my last. So, what'll happen next? You'll have to read chapter three to find out. Enjoy…
It had not taken long for Harry's presence to be known at the Weasley's. Within moments of his arrival, the sounds of hurried footsteps could easily be heard from the floors above. Sure enough, he was promptly swept up in hugs as each of the Weasley's gave their greetings in turn, giving him no time to say hello himself. But soon enough, the commotion had died down to just pats on the back, and while the family seated themselves for breakfast, he took the opportunity to explain his early arrival to anyone who would listen.
'I tell you Ron, it was weird.' Harry could be heard saying through mouthfuls of bacon and eggs. 'He was basically trying to get me out as soon as he could.'
Ron was listening intently as his friend rambled on, occasionally giving his own interpretation as to what it could mean.
'Didn't you say he was afraid of magic?' Ron interjected suddenly, 'I mean, from the last time we used the floo network to pick you up, your uncle started throwing stuff at Dad.'
Harry paused momentarily on this as he considered it. Ron was right. Uncle Vernon was indeed afraid of magic, but what puzzled him was his apparent eagerness to allow Harry to use the fireplace for magic. It didn't really make any kind of sense. Afterall, Uncle Vernon had been such an outspoken person against the use of magic for all the years that Harry had known of Hogwarts. What could have changed his mind so quickly? He mused that perhaps Vernon was so happy about finally locking up Hedwig at nights, that he'd be more than happy to let him use magical travel. He continued to think on it for a while, but found it difficult to concentrate. Whether he liked it or not, Harry was still unable to shake off the dream he'd had.
It didn't seem like any ordinary dream, not by his standards at least. It felt too real. Something told him that there was more to this dream than he originally thought at the time he had it, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what that was exactly. The image of Voldemort came quickly to his mind. Was he experiencing something from the dark lord's own head? He was aware now that he and Voldemort shared a certain amount of thoughts due to the curse that nearly killed him. But just prior to him leaving school the previous year, Dumbledore told him that he cast a powerful charm on him, as a form of protection from mental infiltration, seeing as Harry was quite unwilling to continue Occlumency.
Nothing seemed to make any kind of sense to him at all. Some of the things he saw in the dream didn't fit. A new professor at the teacher's table, (and quite a shady looking character at that) was the first anomaly, Harry was unaware that there had been any new teacher additions to Hogwarts since the beginning of his fifth year. But then again, Professor Trelawny's appearance at the table seemed just as peculiar, if not more so. She'd normally resided herself to the North Tower if she could help it, more than likely to look into the mysterious depths of her crystal ball.
His dream gave absolutely no hint of what it really meant, so for the moment at least, he shrugged it off, just in time too, as another large plate of bacon and eggs landed before him. So long as he was in the company of the Weasley's, nothing like this should ever need trouble him.
As soon as he'd tucked once more into his meal, the door creaked open, and Mr Weasley trudged in, still carrying his worries from his previous night's work.
'Morning Weasley's,' Arthur grinned hazily, and the rest of the family chorused back. 'Morning Harry,' he smiled once more, patting him tentatively, before seating himself down with a sigh.
'What's wrong with you Arthur?' Mrs Weasley called, referring to the disheveled look about her husband, 'Tough night at the office?'
'You've got no idea darl.' He replied darkly. 'I haven't had a night this bad since… well… actually I can't remember.'
Naturally everyone immediately started paying attention. Fred and George stopped turning each other's hair pink and green, Ron uncomfortably swallowed an entire mouth full of eggs, Ginny put down a familiar book she was reading upside-down and Harry just sat and listened intently.
'Bad practice at the ministry alright, no doubt about it. I think the Warders and Obliviators need a bit more training in their field…'
'What do you mean Arthur, what's this business about wards?' Mrs Weasley prompted. Arthur looked up tiredly at his wife before continuing.
'The stadium which held the Quidditch world cup last was seen by muggles yesterday evening.' and at this there was a sharp intake of breath from everybody at the table, Harry included.
'Wh… What?!' Molly cried in shock, 'I thought that was impossible. Aren't there wards and charms protecting it?'
Arthur, sat there silent for a moment and yawned before looking to the stunned faces of everyone else.
'Yes… that's the point. Around six thirty last night, I was contacted about the state of the wards protecting the stadium. Apparently something went drastically wrong with one of them.' Harry considered for a second what would happen should an anti-muggle ward backfire, but as he was about to ask, Ron interrupted.
'What happened to the ward dad?' he said, and the rest of the family looked once more to Mr Weasley, probably with similar questions on their minds.
'It wore off! Bloody thing just dissolved into nothing. I swear I'd never seen that before. Wards don't normally dissolve, not even within a millennium of being cast… Now I've seen it all.'
Everyone else sat silent for a few seconds, trying to take in this shocking information as best they could. It then suddenly dawned to Harry that the stadium itself was located at a very busy muggle camping ground. And that would mean…
'Yep,' Arthur said unexpectedly to Harry, as though reading his mind. 'You can all guess what happened then. As the ward wore off, the stadium suddenly became visible to the muggles. I reckon at least a good fifty must've seen the thing as it came out of the darkness. Oh we had a devil of a time tracking them all down last night. Panicked they
did, they ain't seen anything of the likes of that before, so they scattered into the forest.'
'But… you got them all… didn't you Dad?' Ron said hopefully. But much to his surprise, his father's expression darkened considerably.
'I'm afraid not son. We didn't track down all the muggles at all. In fact, I reckon about half of them escaped the Obliviators in the forest. Argh…! Dam Obliviators not doing their job properly as usual!'
And he banged down a fork into the table in an aggravated sort of way. 'I don't know how the ministry's ever gonna cover this one up. Being the first on the scene, I had to clean up the whole mess myself. I spent most of this morning reapplying the ward that screwed up. Took the stuffing out of me it did.'
'Well…' Mrs Weasley began once more, slightly more on edge than before, 'At least it's over now…' but she immediately stopped short as she saw the furious look on Arthur's face.
'I'm afraid it's not that simple love. This was a major breach of the muggle protection act. Fifty muggles suddenly seeing our beloved stadium won't go down too well with the ministry I'm afraid. Another breach like this could well see our world revealed. Mind you though, the ministry's gonna have someone's blood for this. I'll bet you anything it'll mine.'
'Oh cheer up Dad,' Fred and George said in unison, 'They can't do anything to you. Besides, why would they want to put you under the knife anyway, you've done nothing wrong?'
'Very good point boys,' Arthur exclaimed, 'But the ministry's been in hot water before. Remember when Fudge was denying You Know Who was back? He ended up trying to take Harry down just for the mistake that he made, and all Harry did was tell the truth. Made of good mess of your reputation too if I remember correctly. You'd remember, of course wouldn't you?' And he shot a quick look to Harry, who nodded back understandingly.
'Fudge is still reeling after Dumbledore showed him up about You Know Who, but he hasn't lost any of his sting. I've no doubt he'll want to blame someone else for this mess. I only hope it isn't me… Anyway, enough of my problems. We gotta get you guys, err… and girls, sorry Ginny, ready for the train, and… GOOD HEAVENS, look at the time, we'd better start packing kids if you don't want to be late.' And Mr Weasley jumped to his feet with lighting speed and started quickly summoning random objects from around the house.
'Accio hat, Accio books, Accio traveling cloak…' Mr Weasley was heard shouting as he left the table. Everyone else took up on his lead and began grabbing all their belongings for the train. Quietly aside from everyone however, Ron talked to Harry in private.
'Rotten luck eh?! Fifty muggles seeing the stadium! What are the odds of that?' he whispered hurriedly.
'Yeah I reckon,' Harry replied, but he wasn't paying much attention, he was still absorbed by the fact that something like this had gone so terribly wrong. Wards didn't normally malfunction like this, did they? Mr Weasley certainly didn't think so. But what he'd said after that didn't sit well with him. "Another breach like this could well see our world revealed…". What would happen if muggles finally found out about wizards? They'd probably get scared Harry thought, or perhaps…
'Hey what's up?' Ron asked curiously. 'You haven't been listening to a thing I've been saying.'
'Oh.' Harry was caught off guard, 'Err… sorry about that. Come on, we have to get ready.'
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Hi all,
My name's Richard, otherwise known as Dark Asseigai. I'm new to Fan Fiction.net, and this is my first story. Depending on how well it's received by everyone, it may not be my last. So, what'll happen next? You'll have to read chapter three to find out. Enjoy…