Dislcaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the other characters.
Hello, Hello, Hello! Welcome to another fun filled instalment of Harry Potter And The Crater Of Truth! In this chapter, a loveable character is nearly killed, the Dark Lord makes an appearance and Hogsmeade.... Read on to find out!!
Chapter 7: The Visit
"Harry," Ginny asked," Are you alright?"
"Wha-?" Harry said, looking up from the piece of parchment he was writing on.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked, trying to look over his shoulder. Harry immediately covered his work.
"It's nothing," Harry said hastily,"Just a bit of homework." Ginny looked at him oddly for a second and was about to say something else when Ron and Hermione walked in.
"Hi," Ron said. Ginny smiled, but Harry said nothing.
"What's up Harry?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Harry murmered.
"Come on, there must be," Hermione said.
"THERE ISN'T OK?! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Harry shouted. He grabbed his bag, and stormed through the portrait and up the corridor.
"I blame it on teenage hormones," A first year said," And-"
"If you want to have a dentention, carry on with that sentence," Ron said, in a mock sweet voice. The first year looked fit to cry, and ran off to the dormitory. Ginny and Hermione turned on him.
"What?" Ron asked.
Harry walked through the school, until finaly reaching the Owlery. He looked out of the window, and wondered how much it would hurt if he fell. He looked back at the past events, why can't they take 'Nothing' for an answer?
FLASHBACK START
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE," James shouted," THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH ME, APART FROM THE FACT I'VE JUST HAD MY BLOODY HEART BROKEN!"
FLASHBACK END
"Okey dokey," Harry muttered," Not liking these." Harry sank down onto the floor, and took the piece of parchment out of his pocket. He reached into his bag and found his quill. He dipped it ino some ink, and began to write.
A couple of hours passed, and Harry looked down at his work. He folded it up, and made his way down to the large oak doors that guarded the entrance to the castle. As he came up to them, he saw Ron, Hermione and Ginny walk out of the Great Hall. Harry ran out the doors and towards the lake.
"HARRY!" Ron shouted,"HARRY! WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU! IT'S ABOUT SIRIUS!" Harry stopped dead and turned around. Ginny, Ron and Hermione were walking towards him.
"What about Sirius?" Harry asked.
"The people at the Ministry and some Healers from St. Mungos have found a way to bring him back!" Ron said. Harry said nothing, he was overwhelmed with shock, but also with happiness.
"They are going to use some sort of complicated spell, which will take about a month to get ready. The spell will search for any traces of Sirius, which also means that they will need something of his," Hermione explained.
"Good," Harry could only say one word. He was stunned, the prospect of seeing Sirius alive and well was amazing.
"We though you'd be happy," Ginny smiled.
"Happy isn't the word!" Harry exclaimed. He bowed his head and discovered the little tears. They looked like icicles against his black cloak.
"Oh my God!" Ron shouted," Harry cries like a girl!" Harry punched him on the arm and laughed along with the other two.
"Sorry you guys," Harry apologised," I guess I was out of order to you three earlier on."
"We're sorry for annoying you," Hermione said," Next time we'll try not to annoy you as much, now we know that you can transform into some weird Devil type thing."
"Any guesses into what that is?" Harry asked hopefully, knowing Hermione she probally has looked for something.
"Not yet, but I'm only half way through the thirty-two books I got out of the Library, so you never know!" Hermione replied.
"Anyone wanna go into Hogsmeade?" Ginny asked," I feel like having a nice mug of coffee, and the House-Elves aren't very good at making it." They all nodded in agreement, and set off the for the carriages. To their dismay, they found that the last one had just left.
"Who's up for the walk?" Harry asked. They all laughed and walked after the departing carriage.
Half an hour later, they were in the corner of Madam Puddifoot's Cafe, each sipping on a steaming mug of hot coffee. A little bell ringed, signifing the entrance of a customer.
"Oi, Potter!" The newcomer said. Harry looked up and saw Katie.
"Hi Katie," Harry greeted her.
"You never came for Beater Try-Outs! I got Fred and George down here and all!" Katie said.
"Fred and George? They can't of been here, we would have heard about it," Ginny said.
"Well they were," Katie retorted," The Creevey brothers have become the new Beaters."
"Ok," Harry said," When's our first match?"
"Next week against Ravenclaw," Katie replied," Bye." Katie walked out of the cafe. Hermione started singing under her breath.
"Hermione," Ron said," What are you singing?"
"Oh, just a Muggle song," Hermione answered. After a few minutes she stopped.
"I've got some shopping to do," Ginny said, getting up.
"Hang on, we'll come too," Harry said, and put down a few Sickles. Ron and Hermione did the same and walked up to the door. Suddenly, they heard a scream, then a loud BANG!
"What the fu-?" Ron asked, looking outside the door. The most distinguishing feature was the Dark Mark, hovering over Hogsmeade. They each took out their wands and walked out of the cafe slowly. A Death Eater Apparate in front of them and raised his wand.
"Avad-." He was interupted by Harry and his Stunning Spell. The Death Eater fell to the floor.
"Hermione," Harry said," You take Ginny and see if you can find any survivors. Ron come with me. Remember, keep your wands at the ready." Hermione nodded and lead Ginny off to the shop that had been attacked.
"What are we gonna do Harry?" Ron asked.
"We're going to find the Death Eaters," Harry replied.
"Do we have to?"
"Yes." Harry walked on and rounded the corner, heading towards Honeydukes. They found Neville laying across the entrance, obviously pretending to be dead.
"You alright Neville?" Harry asked, helping him up.
"Yeah," Neville replied," But I've sprained my wrist."
"Can you still use your wand?" Ron asked.
"Yeah."
"Good, come with us then," Harry ordered. Neville nodded and and raised his own wand.
"Potter!"
Harry looked around and saw Malfoy, trapped underneath a wooden beam.
"Malfoy," Harry said coldy.
"Help me!" Malfoy said.
"And why should I?" Harry asked.
"I know where the Death Eaters are," came the reply. This changed Harry's mind, and walking over to Malfoy he muttered," Wingardium Leviosa ." The beam hovered in the air, giving Malfoy enough time to crawl out.
"Thanks," Malfoy mumbled," They're at the Shrieking Shack."
"Let's go," Harry said. They walked out of Honeydukes and started to make the long walk up to the Shack.
As they rounded the last corner, they saw the Death Eaters. There were loads, more than when Harry was 'Portkey-ed' to the graveyard.
"My followers," A cold voice Harry recognised at once," Our time has come." The Death Eaters cheered.
"We have layed low for too long, now is the time to strike!"
"B-But what about H-Harry P-Potter?" One asked.
"In time, we can dispose of him," Voldemort said,"We must first concentrate on finding the Crystal Snake."
"Harry?" Ron asked," There's about fifty there! And You-Know-Who is with them! How are me meant to take them on?"
"Good question," Harry said," Hows about we Curse as many as we can, then run away and hope we get to Hogwarts in time?"
"I like it," Neville said," But can we take out the Curse part and run as fast as we can?"
"Nope, we have to get some down," Harry said. As he made to hit a Death Eater, Ginny, Luna and Hermione ran up the hill.
"Harry?" Hermione said," Dumbledore wants to speak with you!"
"Praise the Lord!" Neville said, clasping his hand in a prayer position," I'm a believer!"
"Why does he want to speak with me?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure, why don't you come and find out?" Hermione replied. Harry gave in and followed the others back down the hill. When they reached the village, Harry couldn't see Dumbledore.
"Ha ha!" Luna laughed," Made you come back!"
"DIE!" Harry growled, and made to strangle her. The others burst out in laughter.
"Come on, let's get back to the castle," Ginny said. They all aggreed, and walked the long and winding road back to Hogwarts.
A week passed till Harry recieved the letter from St. Mungo's about Sirius. Harry had no-idea what to send them, until Lupin sent him one of Sirius's quills. Harry sent it to St. Mungo's and got a letter back saying the charm would take a month to do.
Harry ended up counting the days till Sirius's return. He was so wrapped up in that when he walked down the stairs to the Common Room one day, he wondered why everyone had their suitcases out.
"It's Christmas holidays Harry!" Ron laughed. Harry smiled and walked back up the stairs to pack his things.
As they boarded the train, Hedwig flew in with a letter from Lupin.
Dear Prongs Jr
I was wondering whether you'd like to give Sirius a welcome home/Christmas party. If so, send word with Hedwig and we'll come pick you up from Platfrom Nine and Three-Quarters.
Best Wishes
Moony
Harry stared at the letter, wondering why Lupin asked him such a obvious question. He pulled out his quill, dipped it in some ink and wrote:-
Moony-
Of course I'd like to give Sirius a party! See you in about an hour.
-Prongs Jr
Harry sent off Hedwig, put away his quill and started to play a game of Exploding Snap with Ron.
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