Title: Legacy of the Father (13/?)
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 Thirteen – Chatter and Tryouts
It wasn't until Harry noticed that midnight had arrived that thoughts of Dawlish and Fudge were chased away by thoughts of Sirius. The last of the students had submitted to the call of their beds not long before. Hermione, Ron, and Harry had been working on homework and plans while waiting.
With everyone else in bed, Ron and Hermione took their planning to the couch by the fireplace, while Harry sat down in a nearby plush chair and began to sort out his thoughts. First and foremost in his mind were the Welling Mirror and the possible ways into both Dawlish and Dumbledore's offices. Even from the most optimistic viewpoints, Harry would have to be very stealthy and more than one favor would have to be called in.
Harry barely noticed as the minutes after midnight slipped by. The fire popped and turned green for a brief moment before Sirius' head appeared in the flames.
"Harry?" Sirius whispered.
"We're all here, Sirius. Don't worry; they already know about the Welling Mirror."
"You told them?"
"Why so surprised? You knew from my dad, right? Besides, I may need their help along the way."
"We had to knock James off his broom during Quidditch practice for him to tell us, but, then, James would have expected us to do such a thing if we found out that he was keeping something from us. Anyhow, everyone else asleep, I take it?"
"Looks like it."
"Alright. Can't stay too long here, but I want to make sure that you got the mirror and had started to work on it."
"Sure have. Already have the first clue solved, but we need to get into Dumbledore's office to move on the next clue."
"Well, Harry, that brings up what Remus wanted to talk to you about. Come on, Remus." Remus' head appeared next to Sirius'.
"Harry, you need to keep a good distance from Dumbledore this year. And don't give the new headmaster any reason to suspect you of anything. Oh, and keep the Welling Mirror strictly under guard. Got it?"
"Well, what if the new headmaster already has it?"
"WHAT? Does Dumbledore know about this?" yelled Sirius.
"He was there when it happened."
"And he did nothing?!?" Sirius' voice boomed in the common room. Hermione shushed him, reminding him that sleeping people were very nearby. Ron looked about the common room; obviously no one had woken up.
"He tried to speak for me, but it didn't work."
Sirius was livid, but Ron and Hermione kept making shushing noises, so Sirius held his peace.
"I guess I shouldn't be too surprised," Remus replied. "Fudge has spent the whole summer trying to discredit you and Dumbledore both in any way he can. Dumbledore's already lost his place at the Wizard High Court and the International Confederation of Wizardry is considering taking away his Order of Merlin. Very serious business. But, Harry, our time here is limited. You need to get that mirror back. That new headmaster..."
"Talio Dawlish."
"Dawlish? You sure?"
"Yeah. Dumbledore introduced him right after the Sorting."
Sirius and Remus looked at each other, both flush with realization.
"Fudge is planning something big at Hogwarts, then. Anyway, Harry, your primary objectives right now is to get that mirror back and to retrieve the second clue, hear me? But take care. Dawlish is a really good Auror, too good sometimes; and he is blindly loyal to Fudge and the Ministry, so keep two eyes on him."
Remus and Sirius' heads suddenly vanished, to be replaced by a hand, searching where they had once been. A few moments later and the hand disappeared too. Harry sat back in his chair again.
"Harry, it's going to be dangerous, taking the mirror back and getting into Dumbledore's office. You heard Remus and Sirius. He must be light-years ahead of us in training."
"Well, what do you suggest, then? Do you have some grand plan?"
Hermione smiled.
"I may."
The next morning, Harry was among the last to make it to breakfast, right behind Ron and Hermione. Ron and Harry both ate heartily, knowing they would need the energy Quidditch practice after class.
Harry anxiously looked up to the teachers' table only to find Dumbledore there again. He was chatting with several of the teachers, much to Dawlish's obvious displeasure. Professors Fletcher and Figg left together, conversing about this and that. They caught Harry's eye as they left, smiling as they did.
"What do we have today?" Harry asked. Hermione was absorbed in an Arithmancy book from the library, so Ron answered through bites of breakfast.
"We get to nap through History of Magic, wake up with Herbology, spell ourselves fully awake with Charms, and if the Charms didn't work, Hagrid's magical creatures will do it instead. Then straight to the Quidditch pitch for practice and tryouts. Sound fun yet?"
Harry groaned, as did most students at the prospect of History of Magic. It was everything Harry could do to stay awake as it was; he was going to be asleep before the lecture ever started.
"Can we just skive? I'll be sleeping in there anyway."
"Harry! We can't skive! Especially right now. Remember what Remus said about not giving Dawlish any reason to go after you? Skiving begs the question of why you were skiving and what you were doing during that time. No, we are all going to class and the both of you are going to stay awake by taking notes."
Without skipping a single class and without a nap, Harry and Ron arrived at the Quidditch pitch with very little energy. The team was already in flight and practicing, while the Keeper tryout candidates and onlookers watched.
Harry raced to join the rest of the team, leaving Ron with the other possible Keepers. The wind through his hair and the feeling was transferred through his skin straight to his blood. He flew a few loops around the pitch, winding first to one side of one stand then to the other side of the next. The twins had one of the Bludgers out and were playing with it between themselves. Harry flew between them and igniting the Bludger's chase. The twins roared with laughter before chasing after the Bludger and Harry.
Angelina had obviously taken over command for the time being. At her whistle, the team gathered around the center of the pitch but refused to land. The twins sent the Bludger down to Angelina, who, with some difficulty, placed the metal ball back into its holder and bolted it down. She turned back to the team, who waited on her words.
"Now that everyone has had a chance to warm up, the candidates for Keeper will start to join you. Don't be easy on them. They are from the other team until they are part of ours."
"Can we have the Bludger back, then?" Fred yelled down.
Angelina shot them a glance but said nothing. First in the air was Andrew Kirke, a quiet student who shot straight into position. The twins, Katie, and Alicia all took shots at him, and each scored. Then Harry took a shot, which was barely blocked. Somewhat depressed by his performance, Andrew flew back to towards his seat as the next student mounted their broom and sped into position in front of the hoops. A seventh year with a heavy build, Kenneth Towler was a bit better at blocking the shots, missing only the twins' shots.
Second to last was Ron, who looked determined not to be terrified. Fred and George both started to tease their brother, but Ron flew steadily to the hoops. Harry took the first shot, and Ron blocked it expertly. Harry smiled as Ron readied for the next shooter. He blocked Fred's shot, and even Katie's, but George was too quick for him. Finally came Alicia's shot, which he narrowly blocked. Harry was impressed.
Last came Andrew's friend and classmate Jack Sloper. He was quick and his blocking could have been the best, if Andrew had stayed silent. He was constantly barking out advice, drawing away from Jack's attention. Only Harry's shot was blocked, and Jack returned to his seat more than a little disgusted by his friend's "help."
"Okay, Keeper-candidates, the team will confer and the choice will be posted in the Gryffindor common room later this evening. Thanks."
And with that, Angelina dismissed all but the team members.
"Okay, team, who will it be?"
Harry, Fred, George, and Alicia voted for Ron, who seemed to have shown the best ability of the four. Angelina refused to vote, and Katie voted for Kenneth.
"So, Ron it is. And, now that we know all the team members, who's going to be the new Captain?"
"Why don't you do it, Angelina? You're already in charge, after all," Alicia said as shrugged. The rest of the team agreed.
"Fine. I'll post this news in the common room, along with the practice schedule. First match against Slytherin isn't too far off, and we need to get our new Keeper ready."
"So, does that mean we'll be getting the Bludgers out at practice?" Fred piped in.
"Everything but the Snitch. We don't know what the Slytherins might be planning, but we need to be ready for them."
Harry was on his way back up to Gryffindor Tower when he spotted Dawlish coming towards him. Still outraged at having the Welling Mirror taken but mindful of Remus and Sirius' warnings, Harry started to calmly walk past him and continue on his way.
"Mr. Potter, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you. Please-"
"Professor, I really need to get back to Gryffindor Tower. I have loads of work to do."
"Any of that work involve talking to escaped criminals through the fireplace?"
Harry remembered the hand that had appeared just after Remus and Sirius had disappeared. Was there anything this Ministry guy wouldn't do to spy on people?
"No, Professor, it doesn't. Just the usual: writing essays, drawing star charts and memorizing historical facts."
"See that it never does."
Harry nodded, then continued on to Gryffindor Tower.
Inside the common room, Hermione and Ron were already hard at work on the star charts that were due that night. Hermione was the first to notice his arrival.
"Harry, there you are. What kept you? Some of the others came back a while ago."
"Dawlish. It was his hand we saw in the fireplace last night. I think he knows we were talking to Sirius."
Harry flopped down on the couch face first, his star charts falling to the floor. He had never felt less like doing homework. Hermione reached over and organized his papers on the floor.
"There's not that much to do on these star charts, Harry. They shouldn't take you too long at all."
Harry stared down at the charts; they were nearly finished as they were. He gave in and joined Hermione and Ron in finishing the homework.