Chapter 4 - - - Warnings and Worries
Days went by. Things seemed normal at Hogwarts, as normal as it could be at a time like this. Students and teachers alike were apprehensive. The Daily Prophet told of more and more reports of Death Eater activities. Some poor muggle girl was found locked in a magical trunk that tried to bite anyone who came near it. A group of muggle tourists were tortured and left in their bus floating in the ocean. The Ministry had their hands full trying to fix these things as well as trying to keep magic hidden from muggles. Something big was going to happen. No one knew how big.
"Are the plans ready?" a voice hissed.
"Yes Master," another voice replied. "The new recruits just await your 'special' touch."
"Very good. Send them in."
Five hooded figures entered the room. They bowed before their leader. Their Master approached them. Each one of them lifted their left sleeves. He went to each and took out his wand. He muttered some words and touched the tip of his wand to their arms. A mark began to form where the tip was. It took the shape of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.
"There it is done," the leader hissed.
"Master we will serve you," the five replied.
"Yes you will. I do not accept traitors or failures. Now you will . . ."
He told them of his plans and dismissed them. Those five would replace the ones currently in Azkaban. He could not risk breaking them out yet. He would though. He does not leave his faithful followers behind. They still had to repay him for their lack of faithfulness when he needed it most. He would not let them soon forget it either.
Harry awoke with a start. He had the strangest dream. Voldemort was initiating more Death Eaters. He would have to tell Dumbledore this. Since Sirius' death he distanced himself from Dumbledore. He knew it was not Dumbledore's fault or his own. He realized that everyone who had gotten hurt did so because they were trying to protect him. His father died trying to give his mother time to get him out of there. His mother died shielding him from Voldemort. Sirius died protecting him. Ron and Hermione were placed in danger every year because they wanted to stick by him. Even Ginny and Neville were brought into this all because of him.
He tried to go back to sleep but someone else invaded his mind. He thought of Michelle. In the short time this year that they talked he began to feel that he knew her all of his life. This scared him because he barely knew her. She was the one who helped him begin to heal. She did not pressure him into revealing anything more than he wanted. Ron and Hermione even noticed the small change in him since Michelle became their friend.
'How could we not notice her?' Harry thought. 'I don't remember seeing her at all until we were on the train this year. How could I have missed her.'
He drifted to sleep with these thoughts drifting through his mind.
In the girls' room, Michelle sat up. She could not sleep. Something was bothering her. She sensed that something big was going to happen. For weeks she tried to convince others. Since everyone already was on edge, her insistence at this only made it worse. People thought she was another Trelawney, always predicting doom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stuck by her though. She liked having friends again.
After a few weeks of people ignoring her warnings, she stopped talking about it. The feeling increased, however, and she did not know what to do. She fell asleep still worrying about what was to come.
They woke up feeling refreshed. It was Halloween and they only had one class today, granted it was potions but they were still in a good mood. They ate breakfast and headed to the classroom.
When they arrived, they found Professor Snape sitting at his desk. He looked to be in a foul mood, nothing new to the six years.
'Gryffindor is bound to lose a lot of points today,' Harry thought as he took a seat with Ron. Hermione sat next to Michelle.
When the rest of the class filed in Professor Snape began, "The instructions for the Diffinious Potion are on the board. You have by the end of class to finish. We will test these potions during the next class. Begin now."
The class gathered the ingredients and set to work. Snape returned to his desk and picked up a stack of papers. He began to read them. His foul mood seemed to deepen the farther he got into the papers. He looked ready to explode. Harry instinctively tried to disappear when he noticed this change. He did not want to be the one Snape took out his frustrations on. Snape sat there the whole class. He did not even yell at Neville when his potion overflowed. Class ended and everyone handed in their potions. Snape did not even look up from the papers.
"That was weird," Ron remarked as the exited the classroom.
"Yeah," Neville said. "Me and Harry didn't get yelled at the whole class."
"And he didn't take away any points from us," Hermione pointed out.
"I wonder what he was reading," Harry thought out loud.
"Whatever it was, it wasn't good news," Michelle told them.
"He seemed to get angrier as he read it," Hermione said.
"But he didn't take it out on us," Ron began. "Like he usually does."
"I'm going to the library," Hermione said as she took off.
"That girl spends way too much time in that library," Ron complained.
"Well I'll see you guys at the feast," Neville said as he left them.
"I'll see you two later. I need to send a letter to Fred and George. Some of the Third years want to buy some of their items," Ron told them.
"How is their joke shop doing?" Harry asked.
"It's doing great!" Ron told him. "Mum's really proud of them too."
"That's great Ron," Harry said.
"Well I'll see you later," Ron replied.
Ron was so glad to have Harry back. He was relieved to see Harry talking again and being interested in life. Harry truly began to move on after a summer of grieving. With one last look back at them, Ron headed towards the owlery.
"So Harry what do you want to do?" Michelle asked.
"I don't know. Why don't we go visit Hagrid?"
"Ok. Let's go."
Harry and Michelle walked through the castle doors and to Hagrid's hut. Harry knocked on the door. No one answered so he knocked again.
"That's odd. I wonder where he is," Harry said.
"I don't know," Michelle began but was interrupted by a dog barking and running towards them.
"Fang!" Harry yelled.
"Hiya Harry, Michelle," Hagrid said as he was coming out of the forest. "Come to see me, have ya?"
"Hi Hagrid, why were you in the forest?" Harry asked.
Hagrid looked at the two, "I was just . . . er . . . I was just looking after some stuff."
Harry understood what Hagrid was talking about. Last year, Hagrid brought his half-brother, Grawp, back from a mission he was on for the Order. He looked at Michelle who was scratching Fang's head. She had a knowing look in her eyes, but he was certain she could not know. He shrugged it off and turned back to Hagrid.
"So how are things going, Harry?" Hagrid asked.
"Fine Hagrid, and you?"
"Things are starting to heat up. Dumbledore's worried, so are all of the teachers. They're afraid something big is going to happen."
"I've been saying that for awhile but no one took me seriously," Michelle remarked.
"Sorry 'bout that, but before now there was no real proof for it," Hagrid said.
"So Hagrid, what are we studying next in class?" Harry changed the subject.
"Oh I'm very excited. Dumbledore's gonna let me borrow Fawkes to show the class, so we'll be learning 'bout phoenixes."
"Really?" Michelle asked excitement filled her voice.
"That's right," Hagrid replied.
"I love phoenixes. They're such interesting creatures," Michelle told them.
"Fawkes is a really nice phoenix. He helped me out a couple of times," Harry said.
"I can't wait," Hagrid began. "It'll be a very interesting class."
Harry and Michelle met up with Ron and Hermione an hour later in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"It's great to be a sixth year," Ron began. "We have less classes to worry about."
"Yes but its course load is much heavier and classes are more important since they determine our future," Hermione lectured them.
"Lighten up Hermione. It is nice to have less classes," Harry said.
Hermione was about to say something, but Michelle changed the subject to avoid another argument. "So the teachers are all afraid that Voldemort will make a move. Hagrid told us so."
"They're all worried. And when Michelle said something about her knowing it before, Hagrid said there was no proof then," Harry told them.
"So there must be proof now," Hermione replied.
"I wonder what it is?" Ron questioned.
Harry then remembered his dream of the five Death Eaters being initiated. He had forgotten about it until now. He told them of this dream.
"You should tell Dumbledore, Harry," Ron advised.
"I think that he already knows," Michelle said.
"How?" Ron asked.
"He has spies. Remember?" Hermione said.
"Oh yeah. But I think you should tell Dumbledore that you're having dreams again. He wanted that to stop," Ron replied.
"I don't want to talk to him," Harry told them.
"Why?" Michelle asked.
"He kept things from me that I think I had a right to know," was all Harry said.
They dropped it not pushing any further. They decided to play a game of Exploding Snap since they had nothing to do. After that Ron and Harry played a round of Wizard Chess, while Hermione read a book. Michelle watched them with contentment. It was nice to be normal again.
"Everything in place for tonight?" a voice hissed.
"Yes Master," a cowardly voice replied.
"I don't want any screw ups. If what you tell me is true, Wormtail, then you will be rewarded."
"Yes Master. Thank you Master."
"Soon they will be mine. I will have them both," the Master laughed menacingly.
AN: Phew! That was the longest chapter yet! I'm almost at 2,000 words! Hooray!! I could've kept going to, but I thought I would split this chapter up and stop here. I'm not too good at writing accents, so Hagrid's speaking parts will be written normally. If you don't like that imagine an accent in your head.
So now I would like to take some time and thank some reviewers.
--- KrystalFox – Thanks for reviewing so much! I love to know people are still reading my story! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
--- Dracofan99 – Thanks. I know you reviewed 2 chapters ago, but I'm still glad you like the way I'm setting it up.
---Fellow – Thanks. I usually try to update once a week, twice if I'm bored. I can get so predictable.
Then I would like to thank the other reviewers: Athena Dumbledore, Robin Ryan, Headmaster Cromwell, Krissy, and griffin14.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
I love reviews and hearing from you. Keep reading and reviewing. Comments? Questions? Concerns? Send them all. The more reviews the better. Don't be afraid to say what you think.
Oh and the next chapter might be out Monday or Tuesday of next week. Watch for it. There will be more action in it. Things will start to be explained after that chapter. If you get confused tell me and I'll try to explain it.
Love ya all,
KoKo Belle
Days went by. Things seemed normal at Hogwarts, as normal as it could be at a time like this. Students and teachers alike were apprehensive. The Daily Prophet told of more and more reports of Death Eater activities. Some poor muggle girl was found locked in a magical trunk that tried to bite anyone who came near it. A group of muggle tourists were tortured and left in their bus floating in the ocean. The Ministry had their hands full trying to fix these things as well as trying to keep magic hidden from muggles. Something big was going to happen. No one knew how big.
"Are the plans ready?" a voice hissed.
"Yes Master," another voice replied. "The new recruits just await your 'special' touch."
"Very good. Send them in."
Five hooded figures entered the room. They bowed before their leader. Their Master approached them. Each one of them lifted their left sleeves. He went to each and took out his wand. He muttered some words and touched the tip of his wand to their arms. A mark began to form where the tip was. It took the shape of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.
"There it is done," the leader hissed.
"Master we will serve you," the five replied.
"Yes you will. I do not accept traitors or failures. Now you will . . ."
He told them of his plans and dismissed them. Those five would replace the ones currently in Azkaban. He could not risk breaking them out yet. He would though. He does not leave his faithful followers behind. They still had to repay him for their lack of faithfulness when he needed it most. He would not let them soon forget it either.
Harry awoke with a start. He had the strangest dream. Voldemort was initiating more Death Eaters. He would have to tell Dumbledore this. Since Sirius' death he distanced himself from Dumbledore. He knew it was not Dumbledore's fault or his own. He realized that everyone who had gotten hurt did so because they were trying to protect him. His father died trying to give his mother time to get him out of there. His mother died shielding him from Voldemort. Sirius died protecting him. Ron and Hermione were placed in danger every year because they wanted to stick by him. Even Ginny and Neville were brought into this all because of him.
He tried to go back to sleep but someone else invaded his mind. He thought of Michelle. In the short time this year that they talked he began to feel that he knew her all of his life. This scared him because he barely knew her. She was the one who helped him begin to heal. She did not pressure him into revealing anything more than he wanted. Ron and Hermione even noticed the small change in him since Michelle became their friend.
'How could we not notice her?' Harry thought. 'I don't remember seeing her at all until we were on the train this year. How could I have missed her.'
He drifted to sleep with these thoughts drifting through his mind.
In the girls' room, Michelle sat up. She could not sleep. Something was bothering her. She sensed that something big was going to happen. For weeks she tried to convince others. Since everyone already was on edge, her insistence at this only made it worse. People thought she was another Trelawney, always predicting doom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stuck by her though. She liked having friends again.
After a few weeks of people ignoring her warnings, she stopped talking about it. The feeling increased, however, and she did not know what to do. She fell asleep still worrying about what was to come.
They woke up feeling refreshed. It was Halloween and they only had one class today, granted it was potions but they were still in a good mood. They ate breakfast and headed to the classroom.
When they arrived, they found Professor Snape sitting at his desk. He looked to be in a foul mood, nothing new to the six years.
'Gryffindor is bound to lose a lot of points today,' Harry thought as he took a seat with Ron. Hermione sat next to Michelle.
When the rest of the class filed in Professor Snape began, "The instructions for the Diffinious Potion are on the board. You have by the end of class to finish. We will test these potions during the next class. Begin now."
The class gathered the ingredients and set to work. Snape returned to his desk and picked up a stack of papers. He began to read them. His foul mood seemed to deepen the farther he got into the papers. He looked ready to explode. Harry instinctively tried to disappear when he noticed this change. He did not want to be the one Snape took out his frustrations on. Snape sat there the whole class. He did not even yell at Neville when his potion overflowed. Class ended and everyone handed in their potions. Snape did not even look up from the papers.
"That was weird," Ron remarked as the exited the classroom.
"Yeah," Neville said. "Me and Harry didn't get yelled at the whole class."
"And he didn't take away any points from us," Hermione pointed out.
"I wonder what he was reading," Harry thought out loud.
"Whatever it was, it wasn't good news," Michelle told them.
"He seemed to get angrier as he read it," Hermione said.
"But he didn't take it out on us," Ron began. "Like he usually does."
"I'm going to the library," Hermione said as she took off.
"That girl spends way too much time in that library," Ron complained.
"Well I'll see you guys at the feast," Neville said as he left them.
"I'll see you two later. I need to send a letter to Fred and George. Some of the Third years want to buy some of their items," Ron told them.
"How is their joke shop doing?" Harry asked.
"It's doing great!" Ron told him. "Mum's really proud of them too."
"That's great Ron," Harry said.
"Well I'll see you later," Ron replied.
Ron was so glad to have Harry back. He was relieved to see Harry talking again and being interested in life. Harry truly began to move on after a summer of grieving. With one last look back at them, Ron headed towards the owlery.
"So Harry what do you want to do?" Michelle asked.
"I don't know. Why don't we go visit Hagrid?"
"Ok. Let's go."
Harry and Michelle walked through the castle doors and to Hagrid's hut. Harry knocked on the door. No one answered so he knocked again.
"That's odd. I wonder where he is," Harry said.
"I don't know," Michelle began but was interrupted by a dog barking and running towards them.
"Fang!" Harry yelled.
"Hiya Harry, Michelle," Hagrid said as he was coming out of the forest. "Come to see me, have ya?"
"Hi Hagrid, why were you in the forest?" Harry asked.
Hagrid looked at the two, "I was just . . . er . . . I was just looking after some stuff."
Harry understood what Hagrid was talking about. Last year, Hagrid brought his half-brother, Grawp, back from a mission he was on for the Order. He looked at Michelle who was scratching Fang's head. She had a knowing look in her eyes, but he was certain she could not know. He shrugged it off and turned back to Hagrid.
"So how are things going, Harry?" Hagrid asked.
"Fine Hagrid, and you?"
"Things are starting to heat up. Dumbledore's worried, so are all of the teachers. They're afraid something big is going to happen."
"I've been saying that for awhile but no one took me seriously," Michelle remarked.
"Sorry 'bout that, but before now there was no real proof for it," Hagrid said.
"So Hagrid, what are we studying next in class?" Harry changed the subject.
"Oh I'm very excited. Dumbledore's gonna let me borrow Fawkes to show the class, so we'll be learning 'bout phoenixes."
"Really?" Michelle asked excitement filled her voice.
"That's right," Hagrid replied.
"I love phoenixes. They're such interesting creatures," Michelle told them.
"Fawkes is a really nice phoenix. He helped me out a couple of times," Harry said.
"I can't wait," Hagrid began. "It'll be a very interesting class."
Harry and Michelle met up with Ron and Hermione an hour later in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"It's great to be a sixth year," Ron began. "We have less classes to worry about."
"Yes but its course load is much heavier and classes are more important since they determine our future," Hermione lectured them.
"Lighten up Hermione. It is nice to have less classes," Harry said.
Hermione was about to say something, but Michelle changed the subject to avoid another argument. "So the teachers are all afraid that Voldemort will make a move. Hagrid told us so."
"They're all worried. And when Michelle said something about her knowing it before, Hagrid said there was no proof then," Harry told them.
"So there must be proof now," Hermione replied.
"I wonder what it is?" Ron questioned.
Harry then remembered his dream of the five Death Eaters being initiated. He had forgotten about it until now. He told them of this dream.
"You should tell Dumbledore, Harry," Ron advised.
"I think that he already knows," Michelle said.
"How?" Ron asked.
"He has spies. Remember?" Hermione said.
"Oh yeah. But I think you should tell Dumbledore that you're having dreams again. He wanted that to stop," Ron replied.
"I don't want to talk to him," Harry told them.
"Why?" Michelle asked.
"He kept things from me that I think I had a right to know," was all Harry said.
They dropped it not pushing any further. They decided to play a game of Exploding Snap since they had nothing to do. After that Ron and Harry played a round of Wizard Chess, while Hermione read a book. Michelle watched them with contentment. It was nice to be normal again.
"Everything in place for tonight?" a voice hissed.
"Yes Master," a cowardly voice replied.
"I don't want any screw ups. If what you tell me is true, Wormtail, then you will be rewarded."
"Yes Master. Thank you Master."
"Soon they will be mine. I will have them both," the Master laughed menacingly.
AN: Phew! That was the longest chapter yet! I'm almost at 2,000 words! Hooray!! I could've kept going to, but I thought I would split this chapter up and stop here. I'm not too good at writing accents, so Hagrid's speaking parts will be written normally. If you don't like that imagine an accent in your head.
So now I would like to take some time and thank some reviewers.
--- KrystalFox – Thanks for reviewing so much! I love to know people are still reading my story! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
--- Dracofan99 – Thanks. I know you reviewed 2 chapters ago, but I'm still glad you like the way I'm setting it up.
---Fellow – Thanks. I usually try to update once a week, twice if I'm bored. I can get so predictable.
Then I would like to thank the other reviewers: Athena Dumbledore, Robin Ryan, Headmaster Cromwell, Krissy, and griffin14.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
I love reviews and hearing from you. Keep reading and reviewing. Comments? Questions? Concerns? Send them all. The more reviews the better. Don't be afraid to say what you think.
Oh and the next chapter might be out Monday or Tuesday of next week. Watch for it. There will be more action in it. Things will start to be explained after that chapter. If you get confused tell me and I'll try to explain it.
Love ya all,
KoKo Belle