Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord
By: Logical raven
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Well, here is another chapter. I'm going to try my best to update tomorrow, but I can make no promises… I'll do my best though.
I guess nobody like the previous chapter. That's okay though, I didn't like it very much either…
Read and Review
Nothing is my own
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Pearls of Wisdom
Harry glanced at the Gryffindor announcement board. His felt that familiar surge of anger swelling up towards his face. What was McGonagall thinking putting Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy as patrolling partners. It was the most absurd idea he had every contemplated. His own patrols were at the worst possible time, but at least he wasn't patrolling with a Slytherin.
Harry and Padma would be wandering the halls, looking for rule breakers from four to five in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and every other Sundays . Harry had a hunch that his times were purposely selected to keep him from doing more hall flooding.
"I think you should turn in your badge Ginny. I don't like the thought of you being alone in the halls with Malfoy one bit," Ron complained with a sneer.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "It's a good thing, now Ginny can keep her eyes on him in case he tries anything suspicious."
"Easy for you to say, you've got patrols with Anthony Goldstein," Ginny sighed, looking as disgusted with her luck as Ron and Harry did.
"I wonder why McGonagalls mixed up the houses for patrols, you think it would have made more sense to pair the Gyrffindors with Gryffindor and the Ravenclaws with Ravenclaws," Hermione said heavily.
Ron snickered, "Rotten luck, I've got patrols with Sasha Blair. I'm going to have to baby-sit a Slytherin fifth year."
"I think you've got that backwards Ron," Hermione responded, fumbling through her bag for something.
Ron stared at Hermione with a look of digust when Harry decided to bring up his own bad fortune, "At least you guys don't have to patrol at four in the morning."
"Sorry mate," Ron commented.
Colin Creevy glanced at the board with a sigh, "I've got patrols with Pansy Parkinson. I guess they really don't like us Gryffindor sixth years."
"Obviously," Ginny replied bitterly.
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The cold black room slowly focused at Harry glanced nervously around the emptiness. His eyes started focusing on the clocked figures enclosing around, Death Eaters.
"I will not turn!" Harry shrilled, "LEAVE ME ALONE!"
The silence, the echo, was unnerving. Unlike his previous dreams, there was no response to his cries. The darkly cloaked figured stood motionless around him in a circle. He narrowed his eyes, trying to shake the fear building in his stomach.
"This is a trick, I will not be tricked by you again!" Harry called into the silence.
One by one, the Death Eaters removed their hoods, revealing the faces of all those Harry knew and trusted. First was Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, O'Riley, Ron, Cho, it went on and on. Finally the last figured removed her hood revealing the evilly etched face of Ginny Weasley.
"NO!" Harry screamed.
"Choose," the wind howled, as the room and figures disappeared.
Harry again woke violently from his sleep. The sweat was pouring from his forehead as his heart beat wildly in his chest. His dreams were getting worse. He'd almost rather have the dreams of wandering blindly down the halls of the Department of Mystery.
Harry sighed as he looked over at the clock, it was only two in the morning. He had two hours before his first patrol with Padma. He grabbed a set of robes out of his closet and got dressed clumsily. Staggering down the stairs of the boys dormitory with a yawn, the yellowish red glow of the Gryffindor fire welcomed him.
"Morning Harry," Remus Lupin greeted, poking the flames with a poker.
"What are you doing in here?" Harry questioned with another yawn.
Lupin smiled, "I was coming to wake you. Professor McGonagall has asked me to bring to you to Albus Dumbledore."
Harry looked puzzled, "I thought nobody knew?"
"Well, Dumbledore requested I bring you personally, or so I'm told. We need to hurry, we haven't much time," Remus Lupin replied pulling out a silver goblet from his robe.
Harry looked at Remus suspiciously, "How do I know you're really Remus Lupin?"
"Following Moody advice I see, constant vigilance," Remus smiled. "Fair enough, ask me a question that only I'd know the answer to."
"Who was in your office the other night when the Prefects' bathroom was flooded?" Harry asked instantly, without even a second thought.
Remus Lupin's eyes narrowed, "Were you using the Marauder Map the other evening?"
"Perhaps," Harry said quickly.
Remus smiled, "Some Professors might find it suspicious that you were using both your invisibility cloak and the Marauder Map on that particular night. Yes, December O'Riley did pay me a visit that evening."
Harry lowered his guard slightly, "Where is Dumbledore?"
A silver goblet port-key transported Harry and Remus to a rather large open room, decorated in magnification gold and red satins. The white marble floor reflected the grand chandelier that dangled delicately from the vaulted ceiling.
"Where?" Harry started, looking around the house in awe.
"Welcome to Dumbldore Manor," Remus Lupin said softly.
Harry blinked, "This is where Dumbledore lives?"
Lupin nodded as he headed towards the oak staircase that curled up the walls of both sides of the room. A large tapestry draped in the middle depicting an epic battle of some sort.
"This place is amazing?" Harry said as he turned his head examining every inch of the room.
"Indeed, Dumbledore created it himself," Lupin said heavily, starting up the stairs.
The upstairs was as grand as the room below. Everything was pristine as it glowed under Harry's feet. The white marble floors were laced with flakes of gold that sparkled like stars in the heavily sky. Remus Lupin continued up a second set of stairs that were only separated by a few feet. As they walked up to the third floor of the manor, Harry noticed white fluffy clouds floating past his heads.
"I'll wait out here until you've finished," Remus Lupin whispered over to Harry as he stopped in front of a extremely large wooden door. Harry started to knock, but the door opened before his fist made contact.
Harry apprehensively walked through the opening into a room made of what appeared to be solid gold. It glistened so brightly that Harry had hold his hands over his eyes to keep from being blinded. In the corner of the room sat a large four corner post maroon bed made of a dark mahogany wood, engraved with the faces of lions.
"Professor?" Harry said softly as he approached.
"Ah, Harry. I've been expecting you," Dumbledore replied in a rattled whisper.
The sight of the old Headmaster wasn't one Harry was prepared to face. His beard was a white as the first snow, and his eyes looked empty. He was broken and for the first time since Harry could ever remember, he looked old.
"I apologize for you having to see me in such state, but if I do say so myself, I could look worse," Dumbledore replied in his usual humor.
Harry bit his bottom lip, "You look fine sir."
Dumbledore chuckled looking down at this white night gown, "You never were much for telling fibs Harry."
"So I guess it's true…" Harry trailed off feeling his voice catch in his throat.
"I'm dying," Dumbledore finished for him.
Harry felt his mind swimming as Dumbledore smiled as he delivered the news that until that point had not been true.
"Do not fret Harry, you cannot live if there was no death. I have honestly been wondering what has taken it so long to catch up with me. I trust you'll watch after Fawkes when I pass, he seems quite fond of you," Dumbledore continued.
Harry started to speak, but closed his mouth abruptly as he felt his eyes starting to blur.
"I guess you're wondering right now how you're going to defeat Voldemort without me," Dumbledore said as he closed his eyes.
Harry nodded slowly.
"I wondered the same thing myself once," Dumbledore continued, "Surely you didn't think you were the first wizard to be born under such a destiny. When I was not much older than you I was told I was prophesied to destroy the Dark Wizard Grindelwald."
"And you did?" Harry finally spoke.
Dumbledore chuckled, "It wasn't easy let me assure you. It took me nearly 80 years to finally do it."
"How old are you sir?" Harry questioned.
Dumbledore smiled and winked, "I stopped counting when I reached 100, I figured that was old enough."
Harry looked at Dumbledore in amazement.
"I'm not nearly the oldest wizard that has ever lived, but I've had a good long life I suppose," Dumbledore continued, his breathing becoming more rattled with every word.
"How am I suppose to defeat Voldemort. The prophecy says I have a power he doesn't know about, but I don't know what that power is either?" Harry asked quickly as he searched his mind for unanswered question.
Dumbledore's beaten eyes twinkled once more, "You've been pondering what's behind the door that remains locked in the Department of Mysteries."
"Should I go into the room, is that the power?" Harry pushed.
Dumbleodore nodded, "It is the power that you posses that Voldemort does not know, but you don't need go into that room to receive it, you already have it, right here." Dumbledore touched Harry's chest with the tips of his fingers as he spoke.
"I don't understand sir, what kind of power is in that room?"
Dumbledore sighed, "I'm afraid I cannot tell you what the power is, that is something you must figure out on your own."
"Love?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes.
"Love, is merely a word people use to describe a feeling they don't understand. The power you posses that Voldemort knows not, is much more than a mere word," Dumbledore explained.
"Why can't you just tell me? What if I can't figure it out, and you die?" Harry said heavily.
"I know it isn't easy for you to understand the course you are being asked to follow. I to once wondered why someone couldn't extent me a hand or point me in the right direction. It isn't as simple as defeat and victory. You were marked as the one who has the power to balance the wiarding world again. You are the one who is going to open the eyes of all those who have been blinded by prejudice and hate. Like those who have been given a great task in the past, only you can find the answers to your questions," Dumbledore said as his voice grew weak.
Harry sighed in frustration, "I can't do it alone."
"Ah, you have figured out the most important piece in this riddle, you won't do it alone," Dumbledore said lightly, that glimmer of triumph returning to his old eyes.
"I don't understand," Harry cried, feeling his eyes becoming water logged.
Dumbledore took a deep rattled breath, "You are admired, respected and above all loved by more than you know. Those who you have touched, will follow you till the end."
Harry narrowed his eyes, "The the end of what?"
The old Headmaster's head laid motionless on the pillow. His breathing was becoming fainter as his eyes flickered but did not reopen. Harry watched with a mixer of horror and confusion etched on his troubled face. If he hadn't seen so many pass before him already he would have been horrified.
"He isn't dead yet. It isn't far off though," Lupin said suddenly appearing behind Harry.
Harry frowned, "I've never seen him look so frail. I can still remember the time I saw him duel with Voldemort, I thought he was immortal."
"Dying isn't being beaten Harry, it's letting go," Lupin responded, placing a hand of Harry's shoulder.
"But why is he letting go now?" Harry muttered.
Fawkes let a few soft notes escape his beak and Harry felt the courage he had once found so easily finally return.