Chapter 16: The Author and the Assassin

They spent the rest of the lesson improving their spells and when they left an hour later Harry was felling very tired – the work had been exhausting. He, Ron and Rudolf went to the dining hall for lunch, and they enjoyed a good meal of steak and chips. They then went to the common room, where Harry started the essay Professor Gabriel had set them for homework. When the bell rang he set off for his next lesson, Herbology, but was stopped by Professor Confessus. "Harry Potter?" said the elderly wizard. "You have a visitor. Please follow me to my office."

Harry followed him. Who would want to visit an eighteen-year-old trainee Auror? He pushed open the bright red door to Confessus' office to find a woman sitting at the desk. "Here he is," said Confessus. "Harry, please take a seat. Goodbye." He left the room, closing the door gently behind him. Harry sat down opposite the woman.

She had red hair and was wearing Muggle clothes: a red shirt and jeans. "Hello, Harry," she said. "Pleased to meet you."

Harry brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I hope you don't mind," he began, "but who the heck are you?"

"Sorry," said the woman. "I'm Joanne Rowling. I sent you a letter in August, remember?"

Harry thought back. "You're that Muggle who wrote a book about me, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes," said Joanne. "Have you read it?"

"It was good," replied Harry, nodding. "Very good."

"Thank you," she said. "I've published another one now, about your second year. Sorry for not telling you."

She took out a hardback book. Harry read the title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. On the cover was a picture of himself and Ron driving a blue Ford Anglia through the sky. Harry felt a pang of guilt. They'd crashed that car, which had belonged to Mr. Weasley when he was still a lowly Ministry of Magic worker in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office. "Can I have the book?" he asked. Joanne handed it over to him and he slid it into his bag. He'd read it later. "I don't mind you publishing it," he said. "It's not like it's a number one bestseller or anything is it?"

"It is," said Joanne.

"Pardon?" asked Harry. "What did you say?"

"It is a number one bestseller," repeated Joanne. She took out a piece of paper. On it was a list of the different prizes the book had won. Harry had thought he was only famous in the wizarding world.

"At least Muggles don't think you're real," said Joanne, as if she had read his thoughts.

"I suppose so," said Harry. "You can publish the books though. I don't mind."

"Thanks," said Joanne. "Sorry, I've got to go." She stood up and picked up her bag. "Owl me if you have any questions," she called as she left.

"Bye!" shouted Harry, wondering what the purpose of that brief visit had been. He stood up after a few minutes, ready to leave as well, but Professor Confessus came in as he was going through the door. "Sit down, please," said the Auror. "I have something to tell you."

Harry sat back down. What was going on? Confessus didn't sit down, but remained by the door. Was he going to be punished, thought Harry.

"I am sorry, but you have another visitor," said Confessus. "He should be here in a few minutes. Please wait here." The elderly wizard left, and Harry waited.

The visitor entered two minutes later in the form of a tall man in flowing robes, wearing a pointed hat and with long, silver hair and beard: Albus Dumbledore. "Harry!" he greeted. "Good to see you again! It is a shame I have such bad news."

Dumbledore sat down opposite Harry and looked at him. "I have something I have to tell you."

"What is it, professor?" asked Harry.

"Someone is trying to kill you."

"I know that!" replied Harry. "Thomas Millstew. Is he mad or something?"

"You know?" asked Dumbledore. "Well, you always seem to find out everything. I just came to warn you that you are not safe. This place is guarded by Aurors, but Millstew could still catch you unawares. Sometimes every teacher is either away or in a lesson. If you are studying on your own – be alert. Use everything you learn here and that you learnt from your – your various Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers. Some people want to kill you Harry. More, I suspect, than Thomas Millstew. I cannot protect you while I am at Hogwarts. You did very well when I was sleeping last year. You are an adult now. You have to make your own decisions, your own choices – not that you've ever done anything else. Just be careful."

Harry nodded. "I will. I will be careful."

"Good," said Dumbledore. "Then you'll be OK. You are a great wizard. A great wizard. Would you like a sherbet lemon?"

Harry spent the rest of the period eating sweets and discussing various matters with Dumbledore. The old wizard left five minutes before the end. Harry walked slowly out into the corridor and to his next lesson.