Title: Legacy of the Father (12/?)

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 Twelve – Riddle and Rhyme

Wormtail's outlook would have been brighter without the Dark Lord's foul temper that same morning. While the plan was, up to this point, going smoothly, the Dark Lord wanted things to proceed with more speed and even more stealth.

Wormtail himself was unable to fathom how the plan had not yet had a hint of trouble. There was so much going on that surely someone would have taken notice, but no one seemed to think about it. And the Dark Lord had only Dumbledore and Harry Potter to thank for the inattention; their truths had made most people hardened in their resolve that the Ministry was right and there was nothing to fear.

And, ever the resourceful Slytherin, Voldemort made sure that this inattention and the opportunities it afforded were not wasted. Lucius had already been in contact with several members within the Ministry who were sympathetic to the Dark Lord, and several Death Eaters were now out recruiting new members and contacting old members within and without Britain, quietly.

But the progress of his plan in the Ministry and Hogwarts was slower than anticipated. It was a delicate operation, entrusted to less than worthy agents, but Voldemort had more need of getting closer than ever to both Dumbledore and Harry Potter. To do that, a degree of caution and compromise had to be allowed.

Besides, the Dark Lord mused, his agent was in a perfect position.

Harry was among the first ones to breakfast that morning. He sat down to eggs, toast, and bacon, the dream heavy on his mind. It had seemed so very real, Harry could still feel a few of the hairs on the back of his neck that refused to lay back down. Not until Ron, Hermione, Azrael, and Hedwig arrived did the dream take a back seat in his thoughts. The little bat delivered the Daily Prophet then promptly fell asleep on Harry's napkin. Hedwig had only a small letter to deliver, but she stayed long enough to nibble on Harry's finger and a bit of his toast before picking up Azrael and returning to the Owlery.

"So, Harry, a letter from...?"

"Yeah. He says that he says he needs to talk to us, so he wants us in the common room at half past midnight. He doesn't say anything more."

Harry thought for a moment. Tomorrow was Quidditch practice, but Sirius was insistent about tonight's meeting. Harry wasn't entirely sure that it was a good idea for Sirius to be anywhere near Hogwarts. He was with Remus Lupin and with Remus he should stay. After all, Remus would have the good sense to keep a low profile, especially when Sirius was with him.

"Well, to class. I wonder what Fletcher has in store for us today?"

"Who knows, maybe he has something else for Harry?"

"Probably not, or he would have given it to me already. Anyway, let's go."

Professor Fletcher was starting the O.W.L. level Potions that day. The cauldrons were heated up and students were working diligently within ten minutes of arriving in the classroom.

"Now, since Professor Snape has kept you all up to speed, we are able to have plenty of time to learn the rest of the needed material for the O.W.L.s. Today's potion will be the Aging Potion, which I hear a few sixth year students tried to use last year to join the Triwizard Tournament. Their potion was successful, even if their plan was not."

Ron chuckled to himself; Fred, George and Lee Jordan had tried to pass Dumbledore's Age Line around the Goblet of Fire, only to be thrown a way away from the Goblet and to grow long white beards.

"The instructions on the board should be simple enough to follow, and I'll be walking around helping as you need it. Any questions? Then, to it."

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville were busy stirring the potion when Professor Fletcher came by their table.

"Doing okay here? Neville, is it? This looks very good. Be sure to add the mistletoe after the solution cools."

Neville positively beamed; it was clear that he liked Potions a good deal more when Snape wasn't there to harass him. Harry had to agree; without Snape's persecution, he was able to not only brew a potion that was the correct shade of purple, but he was certain he had done it right.

"I see a few people are finishing up. After you finish brewing, bottle a sample of your potion, clean up, and then you may go. Remember to label which vial is yours."

Harry and Neville were the first to finish, followed closely by Ron and Hermione. They chatted quietly as they cleaned, remarking how simple Potions seemed to be now. Their table and caldrons cleaned and their samples turned in, they left feeling very good about Potions for the first time.

The only ones who weren't happy about Snape's absence were the Slytherins, particularly Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. They were among the last ones to finish, and their potion was not the deep violet that most everyone else's was. Harry gave them a little look of victory and headed out.

Getting out of Potions a tad early was a blessing for Harry and Ron, who had a long, hard walk up to the North Tower from the dungeons (which was usually a long, hard run.) Neville and Hermione didn't need to rush; the classrooms for Ancient Runes and Arithmancy were not too far from the Potions dungeon.

"See you guys at lunch. Have fun with Trelawney!" Hermione joked as Ron and Harry headed up to the North Tower.

"Have fun with Trelawney? Hardly. She let us out early last time. Maybe she'll do it again before she foretells more bogus futures for us."

Harry knew Trelawney was unlikely to let them out early. She had been startled by the Welling Mirror's effects on her last time, but the Welling Mirror wasn't going to stop her from holding class this time.

Harry, Ron and the rest of the class had been seated for several minutes before Professor Trelawney arrived, out of breath. She sat down in a chair near the door.

"Is everything okay, Professor?" Lavender and Parvati were the most concerned about Trelawney, as they were the most attentive students in the class.

"Oh, dears, yes. Everything is fine. Now, last time, we were going to review crystal balls. So, see what lays in the future for your partner."

Having caught her breath, Professor Trelawney began her usual walk around the room. Parvati and Lavender, of course, were doing splendidly. When she came to Harry and Ron's table, Ron was just about to read the future for Harry.

"Well, my dear, what do you see?"

"I see, um, an eye, which signifies that, um, you need to be observant, Harry."

Harry wanted to chuckle. With Voldemort back, he had better be observant, or Voldemort might have another excellent chance to kill him.

"And I see, um, a dog, symbolizing loyalty and a search for something."

Harry thought of Sirius in his Animagus form and of the meeting tonight.

"And, um, I guess I see a hat, meaning you are either keeping a secret or deceiving someone."

Harry stopped wanting to chuckle. Ron didn't know, unless Hermione had told him. Trelawney nodded and ushered for Ron to continue.

"Very good. Your Aura has improved greatly." Trelawney nodded her approval before moving on to the next table. The class was nearly finished when Trelawney spoke to the whole class again.

"Now, we seem to be doing well with crystal balls, so next time, be ready to start on mirrors."

Harry was still stunned all the way down to lunch. Hermione met them in the Great Hall.

"How was Trelawney's class? How many different ways are you going to croak this year, Harry?"

"None, according to Ron. How did you come up with those images?"

"Well, the eye, I think, was yours, glaring at me through the glass. The dog was Sirius, obviously, and the hat? There was a little 't' shaped thing in there. I was just guessing around at what it was."

Hermione sat thinking for a minute, then jumped up and walked out of the Great Hall.

Ron looked at Harry.

"What did I say?"

"Nothing. Come on. Better see what she's up to."

Ron and Harry found Hermione in the library, surrounded by books.

"Hermione, what's gotten into you?"

"Harry, I found the answer."

"Answer? To what?"

Harry and Ron sat down.

"Ron, remember that day I had the mirror and I used it on my own?"

"Yeah. You said you saw your mum and dad and your old house. Why?"

Harry pulled out the slip of paper he had written the clue on.

"Well, that's not all I saw. My dad showed up and gave me this. It's some sort of clue to a hidden place within the castle. That's what Hermione means when she says she has the answer; she has solved this rhyme."

Ron looked over the paper, then turned back to Harry and Hermione.

"Why keep this hidden from me, then? We're mates, right?"

"Ron, it's not like that. Harry didn't even tell me, and I didn't know anything about it until I snatched that paper when Harry wasn't looking. It's something that Remus and Sirius told him to keep a secret. And you have to keep it secret too."

Ron looked at Harry and Hermione, both quite sorry.

"Well, what does that mean?"

"It referred to some sort of magical object, one that could talk and was intelligent. When you mentioned the hat you saw, it got me thinking about a magical hat..."

"The Sorting Hat!"

"Exactly. It fits every requirement set down in the clue. The problem is that the Sorting Hat is locked inside of Dumbledore's office."

"That shouldn't be a problem. I can just ask to see Dumbledore; I'm sure if I explain the situation, he'll understand."

Hermione shook her head.

"Neither of you noticed Dumbledore's absence this morning at breakfast and again at lunch?"

Harry and Ron shook their heads.

"Honestly. The new headmaster, Dawlish, is evidently keeping Dumbledore on his toes. You heard the way he was going after Dumbledore the first day? Well, Dumbledore hasn't been the only one, apparently. I've seen several of the teachers on the verge of weeping after he visits their class."

"Fudge is just looking for a reason to sack Dumbledore, isn't he?"

"And any teacher that supports him, which would be most of them. I don't think calling on Dumbledore at this point would be wise, Harry. It may give Fudge evidence to support the idea that the two of you are conspiring together. I mean, you wouldn't be able to tell him truthfully why you were in Dumbledore's office."

"You think Fudge still suspects me?"

"I wouldn't be surprised, would you? I mean, if he doesn't call you a liar and conspirator with Dumbledore, then people may wonder if you're telling the truth about everything, see?"

Harry nodded as he settled deeper into his seat. This year was definitely turning out to be another tough year.