Chapter 22:

Voldemort's Transformation

The next few days passed by uneventfully, and Harry awoke Saturday morning refreshed and ready for the day. As he was getting ready to walk out, Ron asked, "Where are you going?"

Harry grinned, "Hogsmeade."

Ron asked, "Why are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"I've got some things to make up for."

Ron appeared bewildered, "What are you talking about?"

Harry put a finger to his lips and said, "Shhh. I wasn't here for Christmas. I have some belated gifts to pick up."

Ron chuckled, "Don't worry. I won't spoil it and tell anyone else. Go and have fun."

Harry laughed, "I intend to. I'm going to pick out Ginny's ring as well."

Ron smiled, "Really? I thought that you weren't going to propose until you finished your N.E.W.T.'s."

Harry grinned, "I'm thinking about changing plans just a little. That way I can actually surprise her."

"When?"

"I was thinking about her birthday." relied Harry.

Ron made a waving motion, "You had better get a move on, then."

Harry nodded, and then left the room at a hurried pace. He made his way down into Hogsmeade, and since they had worked the first time, he decided to get the Weasleys and Hermione the exact same gifts that he had given them in the alternate reality. He also decided to stop by and pick Albus up several pairs of socks. Then, he got Neville a pair of dragonhide gloves, and since he wasn't quite sure what to get for Luna, he picked her up a gift certificate to Gladrag's Wizard Wear.

Next, came the moment of truth. Harry walked into the jewelry store to examine the engagement rings. After a couple of hours of agonizing over the different rings, and discussing style with the jeweler, Harry decided on the ring. It was a large two-carat diamond surrounded by glittering emeralds. All in all Harry felt that Ginny would love it. Harry Apparated to Grimmauld Place, and surprised Mrs. Weasley. She looked at Harry in surprise, "Harry, what are you doing here?"

Harry grinned, "Well, I missed Christmas, so I picked up everyone's Christmas presents. I was hoping that you would give out some of them. I'm sure that you will see Bill, Charlie, Arthur, and the twins before I will. I'll handle giving out the ones at Hogwarts."

Molly protested, "Harry, you didn't have to worry about getting us Christmas presents."

Harry smiled, "I wanted to." Harry leaned over and pecked Molly on the cheek. "Bye, Mum." Then, Harry Apparated away.

Molly shook her head, "That boy is mental."

Harry popped back into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore looked up, "What can I do for you, Harry?"

Harry grinned and tossed a package to Dumbledore, "Open it."

Dumbledore opened the package and pulled out several pairs of thick woolen socks. He smiled, "Thank you, Harry. This is a wonderful gift."

Harry grinned, "After our little conversation in front of the Mirror of Erised, I figured that this would be the perfect gift. You seem to have enough books."

Dumbledore chuckled, "I presume that you want to get along and give out the rest of the presents that you seem to have acquired."

Harry nodded, "I'm sure that we will speak later. I'll be on my way."

Dumbledore nodded, "Good evening, Harry."

Harry walked through the corridors and returned to the Gryffindor common room to find Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna sitting around chatting.

Harry waved his hand and presents appeared in everyone's lap except Ginny's. Hermione asked, "What is this?"

Harry grinned, "Christmas presents. They're a little late, but hey you'll get over it."

The four students ripped open the packages. Ron crowed over his new set of Quidditch gear. Luna and Neville beamed at Harry after seeing their presents. Hermione paused just long enough to smile at Harry and say thank you before immediately diving into the books to read.

Ginny seemed to pout for a moment, and then put a sunny smile on her face. Harry looked at her, "What's wrong, Ginny?"

She shook her head, "Nothing."

Harry chuckled, "You are a very terrible liar, my dear. You are pouting because you didn't get a present. However, you are very wrong. Yours just can't be wrapped."

Ginny smiled, "What is it?"

Harry waved one of his hands and the window opened. Then, he began making trilling noises. A magnificent blue and gold phoenix soared into the common room and landed on Ginny's shoulder. Harry smiled, "Say hello to your new companion, Ginny."

Ginny stared at the Phoenix in awe. Then, she asked, "Is it male or female? Does it have a name?"

Harry grinned, "Its female, and no she does not have a name. You may call her what you wish."

Ginny smiled, "I think I will call her Aurellia."

Harry nodded, "Excellent name. Now, I hope all of you will humor me. I know we haven't really discussed what happened while I was gone, and I would like to hear what went on around the castle."

Ron snickered, "Well, the only major thing that happened around here was when Malfoy found out that you killed his father. He tried to attack Ginny and me in the Great Hall."

Harry's eyes narrowed, "What happened?"

Ginny grinned, "A Disarming Charm from me, and a Stunning Spell from Ron ended his tirade very quickly."

Harry nodded grimly, "Has he tried anything since?"

Ron shook his head, "No, but he keeps giving us weird looks. I think that he is planning something, but all of us have been really careful about staying together. We don't want to be taken by surprise."

Harry shook his head, "Alright enough of that. On to less sensitive matters. What happened at the first Quidditch match?"

Ginny pouted, "Well, Malfoy beat me to the Snitch, but we won anyway."

Ron nodded, "Natalie, Dennis, and Colin were flying possessed. We were up by two hundred points when Malfoy got the Snitch."

Harry patted Ginny on the back, "Don't worry, sweetheart. You'll get the Snitch next time."

Ginny shook her head, "No, I won't. You're back, and I plan on finding a different Seeker next year. I mush prefer to be a Chaser."

Harry smiled, "I know. I was just trying to be…" Harry trailed off with a cry of surprise as his scar gave a twinge and pulled him into another vision.

Harry appeared in a dark forest, where Voldemort stood waiting. Wormtail came sniveling and cowering up to the Dark Lord to bow pathetically at his feet, "M-Master, we have the Chalice."

Voldemort smiled gleefully, "Excellent. Now, I will have the power to destroy Potter once and for all. I will rule unchallenged. Prepare the ceremony."

Wormtail bowed as he turned and hurried away to do his Master's bidding. Once he was alone once more Voldemort turned to Harry and said, "You will never discover where we are in time to stop the ceremony, Potter. Now, be gone from my mind."

Harry felt a rushing sensation around him, and he was forced back to his own body. He awoke to find himself lying in the common room floor with Ginny and Dumbledore looking over him anxiously. Ginny sighed with relief when Harry sat up without apparent difficulty. He looked to Dumbledore while he reached out and squeezed Ginny's hand reassuringly, "They have the Chalice, Albus. Summon the Order. I am going to your office and see if I can't break through the shields that Voldemort has erected around his mind."

With a pop, Harry Apparated to Dumbledore's office. Ginny looked at the Headmaster, "He sure know how to make an exit, doesn't he?"

Dumbledore chuckled lightly, "That he does. The sad part is that most of the time, he is completely unaware of how he shocks everyone else when he does things of that nature." Dumbledore turned to walk from the room, "Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do."

Ginny hurried to catch up, "I'm coming with you, Professor."

Dumbledore nodded down to the young witch. Both of them proceeded to Dumbledore's office, where they found Harry sitting cross legged on the floor in deep meditation. Dumbledore said, "I think it best if we don't disturb him. I will summon the Order." Dumbledore sat down in front of his fire and began to contact members of the Order. They arrived in short order to find things had taken a definite turn for the worse.

Dumbledore explained to them all that Voldemort had obtained the Chalice.

Snape muttered under his breath, "This is bad. This is very bad."

Remus nodded from his seat next to him, "I know exactly what you mean, Severus."

The Order continued to throw around ideas for their next course of action, while Harry remained in his meditative state attempting to break down the barriers that had been erected around Voldemort's mind. Finally after quite some time of intense mental labor, Harry broke through to hear one ominous statement before being ejected from Voldemort's mind yet again. This statement was, "Prepare for the assault."

Harry snapped back to himself and looked around at the assembled Order members in the room. He stood up and took charge immediately, "Dawlish, we need surveillance placed on all known or suspected Death Eaters that have not went into hiding. Remus, I'm afraid that you are going to have to go out spying again. We have to find Voldemort's new hiding place. He is planning an attack, and from the way he made the statement, I suspect it is going to be a very large one. That means that he plans on attacking Hogwarts, The Ministry, or Azkaban. We are all going to have to be ready to go on a moment's notice. Fred, George, I want stacks of Weasley bombs at Headquarters, the Auror division at the Ministry, and here. That way wherever the Order members are they can pick some up quickly."

Fred and George jumped up and saluted, "We'll be ready, Harry." The two of them grabbed Floo Powder from the shelf and leaped into the flames calling out, "93 Diagon Alley."

Dawlish, Kingsley, and Adams got up. Dawlish said, "We will begin the surveillance immediately, Harry."

Remus stood up as well, "I had better go with you. That way when we pick up someone to tail, I will be on the scene."

Harry called after him, "Moony, be careful."

Remus nodded before disappearing into the fire, "You too, Goldenwing."

Harry looked at Albus, "We are going to have to stay on high alert for the time being. If Voldemort is planning an Assault, it is going to happen fast."

Dumbledore nodded, "I agree. He will move quickly now that he has the Chalice."

Ginny asked, "Can you beat him now, Harry?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know, but I suspect that we are going to find out. I just pray that the two of us don't wipe out the planet doing so."

A/N: I know the chapter is short, but I didn't need a lot to happen here. My apologies for not answering reviews, but I am having major computer problems, and I am doing good just to get the chapter posted. Thank you to all my readers.