Title: Legacy of the Father (3)
Spoilers: First four books; contains some elements introduced in the 5th book, but is set during Harry's 5th year.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Three - Friendly Advice & Dangerous Query
Harry, already unnerved by the letters, was now driven further by the rapidly approaching time for his departure from the Granger house by someone he didn't as yet know. Hedwig's arrival quickly drew Harry's attention, and he read the letter as fast as he could.
Harry,
Remus and I looked over the other letter you sent us. Neither of us recognized the handwriting. You could be in more danger because of your father's inheritance than we had originally thought. Keep yourself safe within the walls that have protected you before. Remember, not everything and everyone at Hogwarts is what it seems.
- Sirius
P.S. - The Marauder's Map was created for a purpose, a purpose for which none but you can fulfill.
Hermione was soon awake as well. Noticing Hedwig in the window as she entered the guest bedroom, she turned to Harry.
"Sirius wrote back?"
"Yeah, but I don't understand what he's talking about."
"Let me see."
Harry handed the letter to Hermione, who read through it carefully.
"So, what do you think?"
"Harry, you must have some idea what he's talking about!"
"Hermione, I'm telling you the honest truth! I don't know what this means!"
"Harry, what was your father's inheritance?"
"The only thing I have from him is the Invisibility Cloak that Dumbledore gave me. But, Hermione, I think there must be a mistake if that cloak is what Sirius is talking about. A fair number of people know that I have that cloak, so Sirius wouldn't have to skirt the issue. He would put it as straightforward as possible."
"What about this purpose that the Marauder's Map has for you?"
Harry opened his trunk and pulled the Marauder's Map out.
"You still have it?"
"Of course. It was partly my dad's. Remus gave it back to me after our third year, just before he left."
"It could have been helpful during the Tournament."
"That would have been cheating."
"Oh, and looking at the dragons beforehand wasn't?"
"Well, yes, but I was sure to tell Cedric and the people from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were also there. So, who was cheating?"
"None of you were supposed to know."
"And none of us knew which one was ours before we started that day."
"You know what I mean. Anyhow, the map. Your purpose written anywhere?"
"Well, it's blank right now."
"Not for long. Aparecium!"
"The last time someone tried to make the map appear without the right knowledge about it, it wrote some dreadfully ugly remarks back."
"Who did that?"
"Snape."
"Snape?" Harry nodded, and Hermione choked back a giggle. No one but the Slytherins liked Snape,
and Snape only liked the Slytherins.
Sudden writing on the parchment drew their attention.
Mr. Wormtail would like to congratulate Ms. Granger on her failed attempt to make us reveal our secret.
Hermione gasped.
"They know who I am!" But there was more.
Mr. Moony agrees with Mr. Wormtail and adds that Ms. Granger would do well to learn her lessons and leave this parchment to someone who knows how to use it.
Mr. Padfoot concurs and would like to note how pretty Ms. Granger is when she's angry.
"Who are these characters? How do they know who I am?"
"You've met most of them. Moony is Remus Lupin; Padfoot is Sirius Black; and Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew."
"Then Prongs is..."
"My dad."
Much as I, Mr. Prongs, hate to say it, Hermione, they're right. Give the map to Harry. He'll show you how to do it.
Both Harry and Hermione sighed. Hermione stepped back from the map.
"Have at, Harry. They obviously want you to teach me how to do it correctly."
Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket.
"I swear that I am up to no good."
The map of Hogwarts appeared. A small dot named Filch was moving in the hallway near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Of the teachers, Harry didn't see a single dot at Hogwarts for them. But in Hogsmeade, Harry noticed that there was a familiar dot moving around. Hagrid was at the Three Broomsticks, probably drinking butterbeer, a favorite of students and teachers alike. Personally, Harry had to admit that some butterbeer would have tasted really good right then.
"Nothing unusual, or so it seems."
"Mischief managed."
The map went blank once again.
"So that's it, is it?"
"We need to write to Ron. Maybe Mr. Weasley knows something."
"Personally, I'd write to Dumbledore. He seems to know a great deal more about you and your circumstances."
"What about Ron? Shouldn't he know?"
"After Dumbledore."
Hedwig flew to Harry shoulder and nibbled his ear.
"Well, how about it, Hedwig? Dumbledore then Ron?"
She flew to window and shook her foot, signalling her readiness to go.
"Okay."
Taking out a piece of parchment and his quill, Harry quickly scribbled a few words, then tied the folded parchment to Hedwig's ready leg.
"As quick as you can."
Hedwig took off and within a few moments she was moving out of sight.
"Don't worry, Harry. Dumbledore will know what to do. Let's study and get our minds off this."
"Yeah. For now."
Going back to Hermione's room, Harry started to study with Hermione. They started with charms, as they couldn't really afford to waste their Potion making materials.
"Well, Hermione, how can you study anything without being able to practice it?"
"You can learn the words that are associated with Charms and the ingredients for Potions."
"Even so, you can still mess up. Remember the first year of Charms and Potions?"
"I remember I was the only one who got the Levitation Charm correctly on the first day Professor Flitwick taught it."
"But you see my point? We had the words and had practiced the gesture, and we still couldn't do it right away."
"Well, I plan to be prepared. I just can't disappoint my parents."
Harry mused for a moment. He couldn't disappoint his parents either; they were already gone. But there were others he could disappoint: Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore most of all.
"Yeah, Hermione, let's study."
"That's the ticket."
For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, Harry and Hermione poured over their books. It was Mrs. Granger's call to dinner that finally stopped them.
"I didn't know that I knew that much."
"Neither did I."
"There's something we don't often hear from our Hermione."
"Ron! What are you doing here?"
"Surprise! We knew we couldn't miss your birthday."
"But that's tomorrow!"
"Yeah, we know, but we have to get an early start if we want to be there on time," said Mrs. Weasley, apparating just behind them, with Fred and George. "Thank you. I have no doubt having so many people in your house at once is exhausting."
"Not a problem. I've actually been looking forward to meeting all of you again. Hermione speaks of little else but the goings-on at school."
"Well, then, off to the Burrow."
"By Floo powder?" Harry's earlier experiences with Floo powder made him wary of using it again.
"Afraid that's the only way this time, Harry. Don't worry. The Burrow is easy to hit. It's the only chimney for a few miles around. It'll be fine."
Ron took a pinch out of his mother's bag. Ron threw his Floo powder in.
"The Burrow!"
Ron jumped in and disappeared.
"You next Harry."
"What about my trunk and Hedwig's cage?"
"Fred, George, you two can handle Harry's trunk in the spare room, but Harry should take Hedwig's cage with him."
Fred and George went up to the spare bedroom and returned with Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage.
"All right."
Harry took Hedwig's cage and a pinch of Floo powder. Following in Ron's actions, Harry threw the Floo powder into the fire, turning the flames blue.
"The Burrow!"
He stepped into the fire and immediately felt himself whisked away. Mrs. Weasley was right; there wasn't much of a way to miss the Weasley chimney.
Harry stepped out of the fireplace.
"Well, there he is. Welcome back, Harry!"
"This was some surprise, Mr. Weasley."
"Not our idea. The mastermind of all this is in the kitchen, enjoying some of Molly's cookies."
Harry, curiousity getting the best of him, walked to the kitchen. There, sitting as calmly as they could, was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
"You! Your letters sounded very mysterious!"
"What letters?"
"These letters."
Harry pulled out the letter that Sirius had sent him that day.
"That letter is mine. The other letter is not. We informed the Weasleys that we wanted to celebrate your birthday in a safe place with loyal friends."
"Then they don't know about..."
"No. Much as I trust the Weasleys as friends, this needs to stay closer to the source, if you understand."
"Hermione knows."
"I suspected she did. You might need to tell Ron but try to make sure they understand the circumstances we're working with."
"What did you mean..."
"In the study."
Harry joined Remus and Sirius to the Weasley family study.
"Only you are to know. Your father made sure that only Sirius knew, but when Sirius was imprisoned, Sirius told me to make sure that someone would be able to relay the message to you. It wasn't supposed to be until you graduated Hogwarts, but, with Voldemort come back and all, you better find out now. It might help."
"Does this have something to do with the thing that Mrs. Figg keeps pointing to in one of the wedding photos?"
"What thing?"
"Accio photo album!"
The album smashed against the door then hit the floor. Harry opened the door and retrieved it. Flipping to the page with the photo of Mrs. Figg, he gave the book to Sirius.
"Arabella Figg. She doesn't know, does she, Remus?"
"Not that I know of."
"There, under this table."
"Magificus!"
The piece of the photo suddenly grew in size.
"She may know after all, Remus, if that is what I think it is."
"What is it?"
"Something your father left for you, among other things. They're hidden somewhere at Hogwarts, right where Voldemort couldn't get to them."
"Do you know what these things are?"
"Not all of them. The others, you'll have to see for yourself. James thought you might need them."
"To fight Voldemort?"
"Harry, this is why we chose to alert you of their existance now. Voldemort must never know that they are in your possession until you learn to use them. If he knows that you have them, he'll also discover that you have learned of a secret that you and James both share."
"What secret?"
"You must learn to believe, Harry. Just as James did. He didn't believe it when Dumbledore told him, but it was true nonetheless."
"Do you know where these items are?"
"Not a clue, other than they are at Hogwarts. That was one bit of information that James never shared. And what we have said here must remain with only us."
Harry nodded. Whatever this was about must be important, so secret that Sirius wouldn't, couldn't, tell him much about it except the dangers involved.
Spoilers: First four books; contains some elements introduced in the 5th book, but is set during Harry's 5th year.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Three - Friendly Advice & Dangerous Query
Harry, already unnerved by the letters, was now driven further by the rapidly approaching time for his departure from the Granger house by someone he didn't as yet know. Hedwig's arrival quickly drew Harry's attention, and he read the letter as fast as he could.
Harry,
Remus and I looked over the other letter you sent us. Neither of us recognized the handwriting. You could be in more danger because of your father's inheritance than we had originally thought. Keep yourself safe within the walls that have protected you before. Remember, not everything and everyone at Hogwarts is what it seems.
- Sirius
P.S. - The Marauder's Map was created for a purpose, a purpose for which none but you can fulfill.
Hermione was soon awake as well. Noticing Hedwig in the window as she entered the guest bedroom, she turned to Harry.
"Sirius wrote back?"
"Yeah, but I don't understand what he's talking about."
"Let me see."
Harry handed the letter to Hermione, who read through it carefully.
"So, what do you think?"
"Harry, you must have some idea what he's talking about!"
"Hermione, I'm telling you the honest truth! I don't know what this means!"
"Harry, what was your father's inheritance?"
"The only thing I have from him is the Invisibility Cloak that Dumbledore gave me. But, Hermione, I think there must be a mistake if that cloak is what Sirius is talking about. A fair number of people know that I have that cloak, so Sirius wouldn't have to skirt the issue. He would put it as straightforward as possible."
"What about this purpose that the Marauder's Map has for you?"
Harry opened his trunk and pulled the Marauder's Map out.
"You still have it?"
"Of course. It was partly my dad's. Remus gave it back to me after our third year, just before he left."
"It could have been helpful during the Tournament."
"That would have been cheating."
"Oh, and looking at the dragons beforehand wasn't?"
"Well, yes, but I was sure to tell Cedric and the people from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were also there. So, who was cheating?"
"None of you were supposed to know."
"And none of us knew which one was ours before we started that day."
"You know what I mean. Anyhow, the map. Your purpose written anywhere?"
"Well, it's blank right now."
"Not for long. Aparecium!"
"The last time someone tried to make the map appear without the right knowledge about it, it wrote some dreadfully ugly remarks back."
"Who did that?"
"Snape."
"Snape?" Harry nodded, and Hermione choked back a giggle. No one but the Slytherins liked Snape,
and Snape only liked the Slytherins.
Sudden writing on the parchment drew their attention.
Mr. Wormtail would like to congratulate Ms. Granger on her failed attempt to make us reveal our secret.
Hermione gasped.
"They know who I am!" But there was more.
Mr. Moony agrees with Mr. Wormtail and adds that Ms. Granger would do well to learn her lessons and leave this parchment to someone who knows how to use it.
Mr. Padfoot concurs and would like to note how pretty Ms. Granger is when she's angry.
"Who are these characters? How do they know who I am?"
"You've met most of them. Moony is Remus Lupin; Padfoot is Sirius Black; and Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew."
"Then Prongs is..."
"My dad."
Much as I, Mr. Prongs, hate to say it, Hermione, they're right. Give the map to Harry. He'll show you how to do it.
Both Harry and Hermione sighed. Hermione stepped back from the map.
"Have at, Harry. They obviously want you to teach me how to do it correctly."
Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket.
"I swear that I am up to no good."
The map of Hogwarts appeared. A small dot named Filch was moving in the hallway near Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Of the teachers, Harry didn't see a single dot at Hogwarts for them. But in Hogsmeade, Harry noticed that there was a familiar dot moving around. Hagrid was at the Three Broomsticks, probably drinking butterbeer, a favorite of students and teachers alike. Personally, Harry had to admit that some butterbeer would have tasted really good right then.
"Nothing unusual, or so it seems."
"Mischief managed."
The map went blank once again.
"So that's it, is it?"
"We need to write to Ron. Maybe Mr. Weasley knows something."
"Personally, I'd write to Dumbledore. He seems to know a great deal more about you and your circumstances."
"What about Ron? Shouldn't he know?"
"After Dumbledore."
Hedwig flew to Harry shoulder and nibbled his ear.
"Well, how about it, Hedwig? Dumbledore then Ron?"
She flew to window and shook her foot, signalling her readiness to go.
"Okay."
Taking out a piece of parchment and his quill, Harry quickly scribbled a few words, then tied the folded parchment to Hedwig's ready leg.
"As quick as you can."
Hedwig took off and within a few moments she was moving out of sight.
"Don't worry, Harry. Dumbledore will know what to do. Let's study and get our minds off this."
"Yeah. For now."
Going back to Hermione's room, Harry started to study with Hermione. They started with charms, as they couldn't really afford to waste their Potion making materials.
"Well, Hermione, how can you study anything without being able to practice it?"
"You can learn the words that are associated with Charms and the ingredients for Potions."
"Even so, you can still mess up. Remember the first year of Charms and Potions?"
"I remember I was the only one who got the Levitation Charm correctly on the first day Professor Flitwick taught it."
"But you see my point? We had the words and had practiced the gesture, and we still couldn't do it right away."
"Well, I plan to be prepared. I just can't disappoint my parents."
Harry mused for a moment. He couldn't disappoint his parents either; they were already gone. But there were others he could disappoint: Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore most of all.
"Yeah, Hermione, let's study."
"That's the ticket."
For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, Harry and Hermione poured over their books. It was Mrs. Granger's call to dinner that finally stopped them.
"I didn't know that I knew that much."
"Neither did I."
"There's something we don't often hear from our Hermione."
"Ron! What are you doing here?"
"Surprise! We knew we couldn't miss your birthday."
"But that's tomorrow!"
"Yeah, we know, but we have to get an early start if we want to be there on time," said Mrs. Weasley, apparating just behind them, with Fred and George. "Thank you. I have no doubt having so many people in your house at once is exhausting."
"Not a problem. I've actually been looking forward to meeting all of you again. Hermione speaks of little else but the goings-on at school."
"Well, then, off to the Burrow."
"By Floo powder?" Harry's earlier experiences with Floo powder made him wary of using it again.
"Afraid that's the only way this time, Harry. Don't worry. The Burrow is easy to hit. It's the only chimney for a few miles around. It'll be fine."
Ron took a pinch out of his mother's bag. Ron threw his Floo powder in.
"The Burrow!"
Ron jumped in and disappeared.
"You next Harry."
"What about my trunk and Hedwig's cage?"
"Fred, George, you two can handle Harry's trunk in the spare room, but Harry should take Hedwig's cage with him."
Fred and George went up to the spare bedroom and returned with Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage.
"All right."
Harry took Hedwig's cage and a pinch of Floo powder. Following in Ron's actions, Harry threw the Floo powder into the fire, turning the flames blue.
"The Burrow!"
He stepped into the fire and immediately felt himself whisked away. Mrs. Weasley was right; there wasn't much of a way to miss the Weasley chimney.
Harry stepped out of the fireplace.
"Well, there he is. Welcome back, Harry!"
"This was some surprise, Mr. Weasley."
"Not our idea. The mastermind of all this is in the kitchen, enjoying some of Molly's cookies."
Harry, curiousity getting the best of him, walked to the kitchen. There, sitting as calmly as they could, was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
"You! Your letters sounded very mysterious!"
"What letters?"
"These letters."
Harry pulled out the letter that Sirius had sent him that day.
"That letter is mine. The other letter is not. We informed the Weasleys that we wanted to celebrate your birthday in a safe place with loyal friends."
"Then they don't know about..."
"No. Much as I trust the Weasleys as friends, this needs to stay closer to the source, if you understand."
"Hermione knows."
"I suspected she did. You might need to tell Ron but try to make sure they understand the circumstances we're working with."
"What did you mean..."
"In the study."
Harry joined Remus and Sirius to the Weasley family study.
"Only you are to know. Your father made sure that only Sirius knew, but when Sirius was imprisoned, Sirius told me to make sure that someone would be able to relay the message to you. It wasn't supposed to be until you graduated Hogwarts, but, with Voldemort come back and all, you better find out now. It might help."
"Does this have something to do with the thing that Mrs. Figg keeps pointing to in one of the wedding photos?"
"What thing?"
"Accio photo album!"
The album smashed against the door then hit the floor. Harry opened the door and retrieved it. Flipping to the page with the photo of Mrs. Figg, he gave the book to Sirius.
"Arabella Figg. She doesn't know, does she, Remus?"
"Not that I know of."
"There, under this table."
"Magificus!"
The piece of the photo suddenly grew in size.
"She may know after all, Remus, if that is what I think it is."
"What is it?"
"Something your father left for you, among other things. They're hidden somewhere at Hogwarts, right where Voldemort couldn't get to them."
"Do you know what these things are?"
"Not all of them. The others, you'll have to see for yourself. James thought you might need them."
"To fight Voldemort?"
"Harry, this is why we chose to alert you of their existance now. Voldemort must never know that they are in your possession until you learn to use them. If he knows that you have them, he'll also discover that you have learned of a secret that you and James both share."
"What secret?"
"You must learn to believe, Harry. Just as James did. He didn't believe it when Dumbledore told him, but it was true nonetheless."
"Do you know where these items are?"
"Not a clue, other than they are at Hogwarts. That was one bit of information that James never shared. And what we have said here must remain with only us."
Harry nodded. Whatever this was about must be important, so secret that Sirius wouldn't, couldn't, tell him much about it except the dangers involved.