Chapter 11:- Train To Hogwart
"Professor Dumbledore, there has been an attack." Exclaimed Remus Lupin as he entered the Headmaster's office.
"I know Remus. The minister of magic just informed me. Voldemort attacked the ministry earlier tonight. He managed to rescue the Death Eaters we had captured earlier. But that is not the worst news."
"What? Sir, some of the most dangerous wizards rejoined Voldemort tonight. What could be worse than that?"
"Something very terrible has happened which I can not explain right now. I will let you know when the time comes. You must return to the ministry. They are planning of adding extra security to the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. Help them. I have talked to Fudge. It is time we let go of our differences and work together."
Remus observed Dumbledore for a moment. This was a man whom he had known for nearly thirty years now. [a\n Remus must be as old as James. I am guessing James was about 21 when he died.] Never before in his life had he seen the great Albus Dumbledore this worried. He seemed to be consumed by his age. Almost frail.
"Sir I wanted to ask you one more thing." said Remus. "This attack, it was too sudden yet perfectly executed. Twelve Aurors were killed. The ministry had no chance. But sir last time Voldemort tried to pull something like this he failed. What do you make of this?"
"During the last attack on the ministry Voldemort was not there. Besides we had some help. But most importantly we were notified on time. This time we had no idea. He caught us off guard. After Harry thwarted him in Diagon Alley the ministry thought he would lay low. They underestimated his ever growing powers. Severus was not informed of this attack as well and so we had no chance."
Just then the fire in the office glowed green. Molly Weasley's head appeared in it.
"Professor, Harry just had a nightmare. He wants to talk to you."
Then Harry appeared in the fire.
"Sir Voldemort is extremely happy for some reason. I could feel it. In my dream I saw a bunch of death eaters cheering as Voldemort stood in the middle. He had something in his hand but I can not remember what it was. I thought it might be of importance."
"Thank you Harry." said Dumbledore. "That information though unfortunate, is valuable. I suggest though that you get rest for now. As it is, we meet here tomorrow. I want you to meet me at my office as soon as the feast is over."
"Remus I must bid you farewell for now, I have to go meet someone." with that, Dumbledore apparated straight out of his office.
Remus was left flabbergasted trying to figure out how the old man managed to leave the school grounds in a way known to be impossible to any wizard or witch.
At the Shrieking Shack.
"Enemar. How could we have not found out? I thought we had these things covered?"
"It was Aradha. He knew how to block us. Our spy is not going to be of much use to us."
"What do you mean? Don't you remember he is going to be at Hogwarts?"
"Yes I do but that I already have covered. Remember we have already discussed solutions about the professor. Now please leave the room. I sense Dumbledore approaching. Make sure he does not see you or else he will ask questions."
Dumbledore appeared into the room with a loud crack.
"Good evening Professor. I trust that my news was correct?"
"Yes." sighed Dumbledore. "He has the object. Harry saw it in a dream."
"I am sorry sir. I could not get this information earlier. Our communication with the death eater was disabled during the attack. I only got to know about it afterwards."
"Mr. Itra. You are the only person on our side who knows what happened tonight. Can you please tell me what you know?"
The Daily Prophet bore the somber news of Voldemorts attack and the death of twelve aurors.
"I feel so helpless." said Harry.
"Why?" asked Ginny.
"Well I have this feeling inside me that I could have done something to prevent what happened last night. But I can't figure it out. I also have this foreboding of great danger approaching, but there is nothing we can do but wait for it to arrive."
"That is true Harry. There is nothing we can do but wait for things to happen as they happen. But we must be prepared. Now tell me why did Professor ask you to meet him?"
"I don't know. We will find out when I meet him. By the way, want to give me a hand in packing? Ron and Hermione have disappeared again."
"Oh I know what they are up to?" said Ginny with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Harry started smiling to but then his smile faded away. The glint in Ginny's eyes reminded him of Sirius.
Ginny sensed it and kissed Harry lightly on his cheek.
"Come on lets get ready to leave for the station."
The platform number 9 and ¾ was filled with witches and wizards. Harry could see Aurors swarming over the entire region and even quite a few order members were on patrol. To make matters worse almost every student seemed to find some excuse to talk to him. Those who did not pointed at him from a distance. The first years though seemed to be rather intimidated of him. Harry, Ginny, Fred and George got there stuff into an empty compartment and finally breathed easy.
"Man, it is crowded out there. How come this year we have so many new students?" asked Fred.
"I guess now that Dumbledore has been proved to be correct more and more parents want to send their wards under his protection." replied Harry.
"Not to mention the protection of the 'hero who conquered the Dark Lord'." teased George.
Ginny blushed. Even though Fred and George did not know the truth they still teased Harry and Ginny. This made Harry rather uncomfortable. He was not sure how long he could keep his liaisons with Ginny a secret.
"I am going to see where Luna is" said Ginny and excused herself.
"So Harry dear boy tell us, what great adventure does thou planeth for the upcoming year." asked George.
"I don't think we ever plan out adventures, they seemed to be rather preplanned." replied Harry.
"Oh cheer up mate!" said Ron as he entered the compartment with Hermione hand in hand. "Stop thinking about that dingbat's prophecy."
"Yes Harry," spoke Hermione, "Remember what Hagrid said. What will happen, will happen?"
"That is exactly my point." yelled Harry. "I am tired of waiting for things to happen. I am tired of waiting for the future. I want to know how all this will end."
"The Dark Lord will first kill all of you friends and the torture you with the pain of thousand deaths then he will let me, with my bare hands slowly and even more painfully kill you."
"So Igor? We meet finally. Did you really think you could outrun me?"
"Rookwood? How did you find me here? I mean.. ho-how are you old friend?"
"Shut up you traitor. You thought giving up our names will help you escape. Did you really think that that puny little boy would have vanquished the Dark lord for good. You were wrong Karkaroff."
"Bellatrix. They made me." stammered out Karkaroff.
"Do not lie." said Bellatrix Lestrange. "We were all ready to embrace the hell known as Azkaban as you simply waltzed away giving up on our master. Now you shall pay."
"Please don't kill me." begged Karkaroff.
"No Igor. We will not kill you. Death is too swift a punishment for a traitor like you. Our master has given us the order to make an example of you so that no one ever dares to betray the Dark Lord ever again."
"We shall cause you pain to start with." came the voice of Lucius Malfoy.
All of them pointed their wands at Karkaroff and yelled "Crucio."
After a while Bellatrix yelled, "Enough. We want him sane."
"Now dear Igor, for your second punishment, meet the newest servant of the Dark Lord. His name funnily enough is the same as that of yours. See its quite ironic," cackled Bellatrix, "all your life you only thought of yourself and now your name is the last thing you will remember in this life."
The ring of Death Eaters made way for a black figure to appear.
"Igor Karkaroff," said Peter Pettigrew in a squeaky tone, "meet Igor Aradha."
Karkaroff let out a deafening cry for help as the shadowy figure swooped down on him.
The entire compartment stared in disbelief at the blonde boy. They knew Draco hated Harry with a passion. But still it was difficult to even comprehend the calmness with which he just predicted all of their death. Even more unnerving was the glee that danced in his eyes as he spoke of torturing and then killing Harry.
"Say that again you son-of-a" yelled Ron as he leaped at Draco.
But he froze midway as if he saw a ghost.
"It can't be him." yelled Fred.
"You died. Dumbledore and Harry killed you." said Hermione.
Standing right next to young Malfoy was the man who could not bear to touch Harry. The man who had hidden the Lord Voldemort in his turban and tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone. It was Professor Quirrel.
It was Harry who first got past the moment and realized that it was not their old Professor. It was his brother.
"Are you Umor Quirrel?" asked Harry.
"Yes." He said looking at Harry in a very funny way "That I am."
"No need to be alarmed. I know you all have had a pretty bad experience with my brother five years ago. But believe be I am not a servant of Voldemort."
Both Ron and Draco flinched at the same time. Harry himself was very very surprised. No one, amongst the Hogwarts staff except Remus Lupin and the headmaster had ever taken Voldemorts name in public before.
"Are you crazy?" yelled Draco. "How dare you speak his name?"
"As easily as I am assigning you a week's detention cleaning out every first year toilets. I heard what you said to Mr. Potter and his friends. Hogwarts will not tolerate any allegiance toward Voldemort. Albus Dumbledore has given me strict order to ensure this."
Draco gaped at Professor Quirrel.
"My father.."
"Your father is an escaped death eater. He can do nothing about what I do?"
"Oh and what can you do Professor? You think I have not heard of you before? Your brother was just a weak man who was tricked into servicing the Dark Lord. You were a cut throat. I know you were not a Death Eater. But had it not been for that flea bitten greyhound, you would still be carrying out your pillaging ways. You might pretend you side with Dumbledore but you can not change your blood." spoke Draco in a raspy tone.
Professor Quirrel's face was like stone. It seemed that someone had just given him a very big shock.
"That will be all Mr. Malfoy. You will leave now and will see me tonight after the feast about your punishment."
Draco left the compartment silently but suddenly turned around and laughed out loud.
"You know what's funny sir? This boy, who you think to be so special, for who you choose to fight against our side, do you know that he was the Godson of late Sirius Black, and now is the heir to the ancient house of the Blacks?"
Quirrel turned towards Harry, his face contorted into a very strange expression. It seemed that he could not believe what he had heard. He then turned back towards Draco.
"Leave" ordered Quirrel through gritted teeth.
As Draco exited he turned to Harry and the group.
"Please dress up. I believe the train would reach Hogsmede soon."
As the Hogwarts Express arrived at the Hogsmede station, Harry looked outside hoping to meet Hagrid. But to his surprise he saw Headmaster Dumbledore escorting the first years towards the boat.
"Boy they must be really tight about security, if Dumbledore is coming all the way here to escort students."
"Don't be daft Ron." said Hermione. "He must be here for some special reason."
As Fred and George passed Dumbledore they give him a military style salute with his back turned on them. It was clear that Fred and George were not happy to be back at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore saw Harry and started walking towards him.
"Ahh Harry! You must be disappointed in finding me here instead of Hagrid. Well unfortunately Hagrid had some very important work to do. So I had to come here to escort the student as the other staff is busy preparing for the feast."
"Aahaa!" exclaimed Ron.
"Hummph!" said Hermione.
"Pardon me sir, but are you truly here for that reason?" she asked.
"I can not put anything past the brightest student in Hogwarts, can I Miss. Granger?" he said, eyes twinkling.
Hermione blushed.
"No, actually I wanted to talk to Harry. That is why I was here. But then Hagrid became unavailable and so I had to escort the first year students."
"What do you want to talk to me about sir? You asked me to meet you after the feast." said Harry. "And what happened to Hagrid?"
"Oh don't worry Hagrid is fine, he is just a little occupied. But we can't talk now. The boats have left and we must not be late for the feast. Tell you what Harry; wait for me outside the room next to the great hall. If I have time we shall definitely have a chat before the feast otherwise we will meet after it."
Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione mounted a thestral driven carriage. They were all pretty flummoxed about the recent events.
"What do you think Draco meant?" spoke Hermione.
"About what?" asked Harry.
"About Professor Quirrel. That he was worse than his brother. And did you see the way the Professor look at Harry when he told him that Harry was the Godson of Sirius."
"I don't know? I thought he was trying to threaten his way out of punishment. But the way Quirrel's face fell when he heard about Sirius I really think something is wrong."
Harry was thinking the same way. What did Malfoy mean? There was something very wrong about the new Professor. There was definitely more to him than what meets the eyes.
As Harry waited for Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione went inside to perform there prefect duties Ginny insisted on staying back.
Harry realized he was alone for the first time in Hogwarts with his GIRLFRIEND.
MY GIRLFRIEND. Oh my god. Harry realized. He never told Ginny. They have been together for almost two weeks now and he still had not told Ginny about his feelings. He knew that she had realized that Harry loves her but, still Harry felt guilty about not expressing it in words.
Well he thought. No time like the present.
"Um.. Ginny. I need to tell you something." he started nervously.
"What is it Harry?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry's nervousness was apparent to her.
But Harry never got to saying what he began. There was a loud sound like someone banging his fist against a table. And then they heard voices from the next door.
"Damn it Professor. Might I remind you that you did not hire me. Cornelius Fudge did. I gave you my word that I will never perform or allow any dark magic inside your precious school. Then why are we still having this discussion."
"Mr. Umor. Please keep your cool." came Dumbledore's voice from inside the room outside which Harry and Ginny were waiting.
"It is my duty to be worried about the safety of my students. I am afraid your past.."
"Nothing was proved sir. Sirius Black falsely accused me. I ask you, did he give any proof against me?"
"No he did not. He thought you were dead. We all did."
"No, as you can see I am not dead. But my pride was killed by the last of the Blacks."
"About Harry."
"Professor, I assure you I pose Potter no harm. I was surprised to hear that he is the heir of the Blacks. But it means nothing to me. Please do not teach me my job."
"Very well, I must leave for the feast. Do join me at the teachers table."
Dumbledore then came out of the room and stopped to see Harry.
"Ah yes Harry. I am very sorry but as you see I am very late. Lets head for the feast shall we."
As Dumbledore strode towards the great hall, Harry sneaked into the classroom. He saw Professor Quirrel staring at a pocket mirror with a wicked expression.
Suddenly he starting laughing and then he said,
"Boy, am I a great actor or what? I am really going to enjoy doing this."
He then walked out the other door.
End Of Chapter Eleven TBC ===============================================================
Authors Notes:
I thank each and every one of you for your patience. The past few weeks have been hell for me. But I promise that the next few chapters will be full of action and will arrive very very soon.
"Professor Dumbledore, there has been an attack." Exclaimed Remus Lupin as he entered the Headmaster's office.
"I know Remus. The minister of magic just informed me. Voldemort attacked the ministry earlier tonight. He managed to rescue the Death Eaters we had captured earlier. But that is not the worst news."
"What? Sir, some of the most dangerous wizards rejoined Voldemort tonight. What could be worse than that?"
"Something very terrible has happened which I can not explain right now. I will let you know when the time comes. You must return to the ministry. They are planning of adding extra security to the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. Help them. I have talked to Fudge. It is time we let go of our differences and work together."
Remus observed Dumbledore for a moment. This was a man whom he had known for nearly thirty years now. [a\n Remus must be as old as James. I am guessing James was about 21 when he died.] Never before in his life had he seen the great Albus Dumbledore this worried. He seemed to be consumed by his age. Almost frail.
"Sir I wanted to ask you one more thing." said Remus. "This attack, it was too sudden yet perfectly executed. Twelve Aurors were killed. The ministry had no chance. But sir last time Voldemort tried to pull something like this he failed. What do you make of this?"
"During the last attack on the ministry Voldemort was not there. Besides we had some help. But most importantly we were notified on time. This time we had no idea. He caught us off guard. After Harry thwarted him in Diagon Alley the ministry thought he would lay low. They underestimated his ever growing powers. Severus was not informed of this attack as well and so we had no chance."
Just then the fire in the office glowed green. Molly Weasley's head appeared in it.
"Professor, Harry just had a nightmare. He wants to talk to you."
Then Harry appeared in the fire.
"Sir Voldemort is extremely happy for some reason. I could feel it. In my dream I saw a bunch of death eaters cheering as Voldemort stood in the middle. He had something in his hand but I can not remember what it was. I thought it might be of importance."
"Thank you Harry." said Dumbledore. "That information though unfortunate, is valuable. I suggest though that you get rest for now. As it is, we meet here tomorrow. I want you to meet me at my office as soon as the feast is over."
"Remus I must bid you farewell for now, I have to go meet someone." with that, Dumbledore apparated straight out of his office.
Remus was left flabbergasted trying to figure out how the old man managed to leave the school grounds in a way known to be impossible to any wizard or witch.
At the Shrieking Shack.
"Enemar. How could we have not found out? I thought we had these things covered?"
"It was Aradha. He knew how to block us. Our spy is not going to be of much use to us."
"What do you mean? Don't you remember he is going to be at Hogwarts?"
"Yes I do but that I already have covered. Remember we have already discussed solutions about the professor. Now please leave the room. I sense Dumbledore approaching. Make sure he does not see you or else he will ask questions."
Dumbledore appeared into the room with a loud crack.
"Good evening Professor. I trust that my news was correct?"
"Yes." sighed Dumbledore. "He has the object. Harry saw it in a dream."
"I am sorry sir. I could not get this information earlier. Our communication with the death eater was disabled during the attack. I only got to know about it afterwards."
"Mr. Itra. You are the only person on our side who knows what happened tonight. Can you please tell me what you know?"
The Daily Prophet bore the somber news of Voldemorts attack and the death of twelve aurors.
"I feel so helpless." said Harry.
"Why?" asked Ginny.
"Well I have this feeling inside me that I could have done something to prevent what happened last night. But I can't figure it out. I also have this foreboding of great danger approaching, but there is nothing we can do but wait for it to arrive."
"That is true Harry. There is nothing we can do but wait for things to happen as they happen. But we must be prepared. Now tell me why did Professor ask you to meet him?"
"I don't know. We will find out when I meet him. By the way, want to give me a hand in packing? Ron and Hermione have disappeared again."
"Oh I know what they are up to?" said Ginny with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Harry started smiling to but then his smile faded away. The glint in Ginny's eyes reminded him of Sirius.
Ginny sensed it and kissed Harry lightly on his cheek.
"Come on lets get ready to leave for the station."
The platform number 9 and ¾ was filled with witches and wizards. Harry could see Aurors swarming over the entire region and even quite a few order members were on patrol. To make matters worse almost every student seemed to find some excuse to talk to him. Those who did not pointed at him from a distance. The first years though seemed to be rather intimidated of him. Harry, Ginny, Fred and George got there stuff into an empty compartment and finally breathed easy.
"Man, it is crowded out there. How come this year we have so many new students?" asked Fred.
"I guess now that Dumbledore has been proved to be correct more and more parents want to send their wards under his protection." replied Harry.
"Not to mention the protection of the 'hero who conquered the Dark Lord'." teased George.
Ginny blushed. Even though Fred and George did not know the truth they still teased Harry and Ginny. This made Harry rather uncomfortable. He was not sure how long he could keep his liaisons with Ginny a secret.
"I am going to see where Luna is" said Ginny and excused herself.
"So Harry dear boy tell us, what great adventure does thou planeth for the upcoming year." asked George.
"I don't think we ever plan out adventures, they seemed to be rather preplanned." replied Harry.
"Oh cheer up mate!" said Ron as he entered the compartment with Hermione hand in hand. "Stop thinking about that dingbat's prophecy."
"Yes Harry," spoke Hermione, "Remember what Hagrid said. What will happen, will happen?"
"That is exactly my point." yelled Harry. "I am tired of waiting for things to happen. I am tired of waiting for the future. I want to know how all this will end."
"The Dark Lord will first kill all of you friends and the torture you with the pain of thousand deaths then he will let me, with my bare hands slowly and even more painfully kill you."
"So Igor? We meet finally. Did you really think you could outrun me?"
"Rookwood? How did you find me here? I mean.. ho-how are you old friend?"
"Shut up you traitor. You thought giving up our names will help you escape. Did you really think that that puny little boy would have vanquished the Dark lord for good. You were wrong Karkaroff."
"Bellatrix. They made me." stammered out Karkaroff.
"Do not lie." said Bellatrix Lestrange. "We were all ready to embrace the hell known as Azkaban as you simply waltzed away giving up on our master. Now you shall pay."
"Please don't kill me." begged Karkaroff.
"No Igor. We will not kill you. Death is too swift a punishment for a traitor like you. Our master has given us the order to make an example of you so that no one ever dares to betray the Dark Lord ever again."
"We shall cause you pain to start with." came the voice of Lucius Malfoy.
All of them pointed their wands at Karkaroff and yelled "Crucio."
After a while Bellatrix yelled, "Enough. We want him sane."
"Now dear Igor, for your second punishment, meet the newest servant of the Dark Lord. His name funnily enough is the same as that of yours. See its quite ironic," cackled Bellatrix, "all your life you only thought of yourself and now your name is the last thing you will remember in this life."
The ring of Death Eaters made way for a black figure to appear.
"Igor Karkaroff," said Peter Pettigrew in a squeaky tone, "meet Igor Aradha."
Karkaroff let out a deafening cry for help as the shadowy figure swooped down on him.
The entire compartment stared in disbelief at the blonde boy. They knew Draco hated Harry with a passion. But still it was difficult to even comprehend the calmness with which he just predicted all of their death. Even more unnerving was the glee that danced in his eyes as he spoke of torturing and then killing Harry.
"Say that again you son-of-a" yelled Ron as he leaped at Draco.
But he froze midway as if he saw a ghost.
"It can't be him." yelled Fred.
"You died. Dumbledore and Harry killed you." said Hermione.
Standing right next to young Malfoy was the man who could not bear to touch Harry. The man who had hidden the Lord Voldemort in his turban and tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone. It was Professor Quirrel.
It was Harry who first got past the moment and realized that it was not their old Professor. It was his brother.
"Are you Umor Quirrel?" asked Harry.
"Yes." He said looking at Harry in a very funny way "That I am."
"No need to be alarmed. I know you all have had a pretty bad experience with my brother five years ago. But believe be I am not a servant of Voldemort."
Both Ron and Draco flinched at the same time. Harry himself was very very surprised. No one, amongst the Hogwarts staff except Remus Lupin and the headmaster had ever taken Voldemorts name in public before.
"Are you crazy?" yelled Draco. "How dare you speak his name?"
"As easily as I am assigning you a week's detention cleaning out every first year toilets. I heard what you said to Mr. Potter and his friends. Hogwarts will not tolerate any allegiance toward Voldemort. Albus Dumbledore has given me strict order to ensure this."
Draco gaped at Professor Quirrel.
"My father.."
"Your father is an escaped death eater. He can do nothing about what I do?"
"Oh and what can you do Professor? You think I have not heard of you before? Your brother was just a weak man who was tricked into servicing the Dark Lord. You were a cut throat. I know you were not a Death Eater. But had it not been for that flea bitten greyhound, you would still be carrying out your pillaging ways. You might pretend you side with Dumbledore but you can not change your blood." spoke Draco in a raspy tone.
Professor Quirrel's face was like stone. It seemed that someone had just given him a very big shock.
"That will be all Mr. Malfoy. You will leave now and will see me tonight after the feast about your punishment."
Draco left the compartment silently but suddenly turned around and laughed out loud.
"You know what's funny sir? This boy, who you think to be so special, for who you choose to fight against our side, do you know that he was the Godson of late Sirius Black, and now is the heir to the ancient house of the Blacks?"
Quirrel turned towards Harry, his face contorted into a very strange expression. It seemed that he could not believe what he had heard. He then turned back towards Draco.
"Leave" ordered Quirrel through gritted teeth.
As Draco exited he turned to Harry and the group.
"Please dress up. I believe the train would reach Hogsmede soon."
As the Hogwarts Express arrived at the Hogsmede station, Harry looked outside hoping to meet Hagrid. But to his surprise he saw Headmaster Dumbledore escorting the first years towards the boat.
"Boy they must be really tight about security, if Dumbledore is coming all the way here to escort students."
"Don't be daft Ron." said Hermione. "He must be here for some special reason."
As Fred and George passed Dumbledore they give him a military style salute with his back turned on them. It was clear that Fred and George were not happy to be back at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore saw Harry and started walking towards him.
"Ahh Harry! You must be disappointed in finding me here instead of Hagrid. Well unfortunately Hagrid had some very important work to do. So I had to come here to escort the student as the other staff is busy preparing for the feast."
"Aahaa!" exclaimed Ron.
"Hummph!" said Hermione.
"Pardon me sir, but are you truly here for that reason?" she asked.
"I can not put anything past the brightest student in Hogwarts, can I Miss. Granger?" he said, eyes twinkling.
Hermione blushed.
"No, actually I wanted to talk to Harry. That is why I was here. But then Hagrid became unavailable and so I had to escort the first year students."
"What do you want to talk to me about sir? You asked me to meet you after the feast." said Harry. "And what happened to Hagrid?"
"Oh don't worry Hagrid is fine, he is just a little occupied. But we can't talk now. The boats have left and we must not be late for the feast. Tell you what Harry; wait for me outside the room next to the great hall. If I have time we shall definitely have a chat before the feast otherwise we will meet after it."
Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione mounted a thestral driven carriage. They were all pretty flummoxed about the recent events.
"What do you think Draco meant?" spoke Hermione.
"About what?" asked Harry.
"About Professor Quirrel. That he was worse than his brother. And did you see the way the Professor look at Harry when he told him that Harry was the Godson of Sirius."
"I don't know? I thought he was trying to threaten his way out of punishment. But the way Quirrel's face fell when he heard about Sirius I really think something is wrong."
Harry was thinking the same way. What did Malfoy mean? There was something very wrong about the new Professor. There was definitely more to him than what meets the eyes.
As Harry waited for Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione went inside to perform there prefect duties Ginny insisted on staying back.
Harry realized he was alone for the first time in Hogwarts with his GIRLFRIEND.
MY GIRLFRIEND. Oh my god. Harry realized. He never told Ginny. They have been together for almost two weeks now and he still had not told Ginny about his feelings. He knew that she had realized that Harry loves her but, still Harry felt guilty about not expressing it in words.
Well he thought. No time like the present.
"Um.. Ginny. I need to tell you something." he started nervously.
"What is it Harry?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry's nervousness was apparent to her.
But Harry never got to saying what he began. There was a loud sound like someone banging his fist against a table. And then they heard voices from the next door.
"Damn it Professor. Might I remind you that you did not hire me. Cornelius Fudge did. I gave you my word that I will never perform or allow any dark magic inside your precious school. Then why are we still having this discussion."
"Mr. Umor. Please keep your cool." came Dumbledore's voice from inside the room outside which Harry and Ginny were waiting.
"It is my duty to be worried about the safety of my students. I am afraid your past.."
"Nothing was proved sir. Sirius Black falsely accused me. I ask you, did he give any proof against me?"
"No he did not. He thought you were dead. We all did."
"No, as you can see I am not dead. But my pride was killed by the last of the Blacks."
"About Harry."
"Professor, I assure you I pose Potter no harm. I was surprised to hear that he is the heir of the Blacks. But it means nothing to me. Please do not teach me my job."
"Very well, I must leave for the feast. Do join me at the teachers table."
Dumbledore then came out of the room and stopped to see Harry.
"Ah yes Harry. I am very sorry but as you see I am very late. Lets head for the feast shall we."
As Dumbledore strode towards the great hall, Harry sneaked into the classroom. He saw Professor Quirrel staring at a pocket mirror with a wicked expression.
Suddenly he starting laughing and then he said,
"Boy, am I a great actor or what? I am really going to enjoy doing this."
He then walked out the other door.
End Of Chapter Eleven TBC ===============================================================
Authors Notes:
I thank each and every one of you for your patience. The past few weeks have been hell for me. But I promise that the next few chapters will be full of action and will arrive very very soon.