The Curse of the Centuricus
Chapter -2
An Attack and a Revelation.
The darkness would have been immensely scary elsewhere, but in this deep clearing of the Forbidden Forest where even centaurs tread with care, a being of magnificience beyond description beckoned its subjects. The pool at the centre of the clearing shimmered and rippled as though responding to that wild yet supernatural call. A minute passed and the deafening silence was broken by a sudden cacophony of unearthly sounds. Answering notes were heard and the clearing was suddenly invaded by unicorns, centaurs, wood-elves, hipogryphs, thestrals, screwts, mer-people and every other living and so called extinct occupant of the magical forest.The awesome sight would have chilled the spine of the bravest of the brave and yet the magnificient being simply hummed greetings to the assembly. Then the being demanded the support of each creature there. It was but a gesture of courtesy because the creatures, either way, owed their allegiances to the being. This was their "leader" ... atleast until "The One" assumed his destined position. Things would change now, the magnificient being thought, and none would interfere with its plans...NONE!
The noises were startling to say the least and Remus and Harry crept down the stairs as quickly as their legs would carry, wand in hand, seeking an easy exit, just in case. A strange sight greeted them. Mad-eye Moody stood in the middle of the living room, his normal eye pinning Aunt Petunia to her position ,while the magical one roved all over the place.
Aunt Petunia was doused in flour and coated wiith a sticky brown liquid that smelled a lot like wood-varnish. She was staring in dismay at her husband's family vase - a monstrosity Harry felt the house could very well do without - that lay in shambles on the pristine floor. Then she glared at the culprit - Tonks who was swishing her wand in vain to repair the vase, nervously misspelling the spell as her hair changed colours so fast it could not be registered.
She had obviously apparated into the house thus effectively scaring his aunt causing the four to fall and had broken the vase in the ensuing commotion. Harry would have laughed if Petunia had not recommenced her shrieking. The rising decibels grounded everybody and Moody spoke aghain, "That, I said is enough, woman. Lupin, Potter, Grimauld Place is lost. There was an attack just hours ago. Dumbledore sent me to warn you. You are both needed at Hogwarts immediately. It is an emergency. Don't bother to pack, Potter.You'll be back soon".
Harry simply looked on in shock. Sirius's last home was lost. He had hated it but atleast he had lived there. Good or bad, it housed his memories. Moreover it was the Order Headquarters. How on earth could it be attacked? People couldn't even see it. How could it happen? Unless the location were betrayed by someone who knew it. Who? Kreacher...yes, that disgusting elf would have just loved to betray Sirius even after he was gone. Damn that creature. He would kill it when he saw it again. And hang its head on the stupid plaques for all and sundry.
Remus shook him out of his morbid thoughts saying, "I didn't think it would fall so soon. I will explain later, Harry. Prepare to leave". He didn't seem very surprised. Instead he set about repairing the vase as Tonks apologised to Petunia profusely and the four of them took hold of a little green pebble Moody proffered, obviously the portkey to Hogwarts.
When the disorienting journey passed, Harry found himself in the Headmaster's office. The desk looked relatively untouched by his angry tirade just weeks ago. Had it been just a few weeks? To Harry, it seemed as though years had gone by. He felt old and worn out. Suddenly the room was filled with a hauntingly melodious music that lifted his heart and lightened his soul of its burden. Harry heard Remus muttering what it was when the music stopped and Harry found himself with a lapful of Fawkes. He petted the magestic bird gratefully while the door opened to reveal Professor Dumbledore.
Looking not at all like a leader who had just lost his secret headquarters, he smiled at Harry, "It is good to see you, Harry. How are you, child?" Harry had no patience for niceties, "What happened to Grimmauld Place, sir? Kreacher betrayed it, didn't he?" "Calm down, Harry. All will be explained. Kreacher is no more. He died two days after Sirius passed... through the veil. You see, Harry, the loyalty of a magical creature is unparallaled. While Kreacher was fiercely loyal to the erstwhile Blacks, Buckbeak loved Sirius. Two days without Sirius made Buckbeak realise Kreacher's actions and he avenged Sirius' death on the house-elf. A sad story, indeed for we lost Buckbeak today when he physically shielded the Order members from curses as they made their way to safety".
Harry was silent. He felt guilty about not having thought much about Buckbeak. The hipogryff had saved lots of lives, had shown its love to Sirius while Harry had done nothing for his godfather, except ofcourse lead him to death. He wouldn't dwell on that now. He asked Dumbledore, "Sir, how did Grimmauld Place fall then? I thought it was hidden by magic".
"Magic has many forms. Blood magic, spell magic, soul magic, mind magic, life magic...the list is long and often unexplored. One of the well known forms is the magic of ownership, called the proprietorial magic, for lack of a better term. Harry, every house that is built, sustained or warded by magic lives off the magic of its builder or warder. When he / she dies, the baton passes on to his / her heir. Every Black property, on Sirius' death, passed on to his legal heir, you. If not claimed, the house loses its magical properties. While, usually it takes a little time for the magic to whittle down, in this case, Sirius never considered Grimmauld Place his home. So, it didn't even last till you could claim it. It still stands as a building but the magical wards fell this afternoon and it became plottable to all magical people".
Harry considered that, "So, sir, have we lost whatever other properties Sirius had? Surely, whoever was paranoid nough to ward Grimauld Place so well would have made other secure locations?" "The relationship between a house and its owner is like that between a master and servant. Only Grimmauld Place featured much in Sirius' life. He hated it, especially in the last one year. Likely enough, it didn't like him much, either. It is a magical entity in itself. Hogwarts, for example, would never hand herself over to any of her enemies for a long time, even if unclaimed. The other Black properties, on the other hand, have no such emotional bonding. They don't sjow any propensity towards either side. In other words, they still hold tight, I just checked. However, you must claim them fast, Harry. They will not wait forever".
Harry didn't think too long. "What do I need to do to claim it all, sir?" He had decided long ago that he wouldn't let Malfoy or Letrange soil anything that was Sirius'. He didn't want or need the money, but they wouldn't have it either. If it turned out too surplus, he would give it to someone who needed money and liked Sirius.
Dumbledore looked at Remus and his demeanor was of a man with purpose, "Yes, it is time to accept what Sirius gave you. Remus, will you ask Minerva to bring the documents here? Check up on Poppy and ask her to join us, if she can. By the way, fire call Arthur and ask him to come here as the Ministry's witness. I would like you to join us too". "Right away, headmaster", and Remus left immediately.
A silence fell in the room. Harry glanced at Tonks and Moody and remembered the others, "Professor, you said the Order members had to get away in a hurry. Who was there in the headquarters? Are they all fine?" Dumbledore gave a kind smile at the concerned boy while Moody interrupted, "Don't worry yourself, Potter. Only myself, Tonks and Snape were in the house. We felt a change in the wards and were just wondering what happened when a few cloaked men, who we believe must have been Death eaters threw open the door and flung hexes all over. Do you know what saved us?"
Harry was about to answer before he realised it was retorical. He was just in time to steel himself as Moody yelled out, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE". Even Tonks jumped with a sqeak while Moody continued unperturbed, "And of course that loyal hipogryff. Got to keep one myself. Black was a hasty chap but I always knew he made the right friends. Anyone of them would have given their lives for him if he needed it." Harry was not so sure of the last part. Moody had obviously forgotten Pettigrew.
"Er... right, where is Professor Snape?", Harry directed this question to the Headmaster. He felt a little ashamed of having blamed Snape for his own mistake. Not that that git deserved an apology. Harry noticed Professor Dumbledore looking discomfited. He didn't give the headmaster time to answer and spoke out his mind, "He is injured, isn't he? Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I don't care? I might have blamed him last year but I know better now. If anybody is to be blamed, it is me. Iam not a monster, Professor and I don't rejoice in Snape's pain, either".
Harry would have gone on if Dumbledore hadn't stopped him. Moody and Tonks looked astounded at his outburst while Harry thought the headmaster looked sad and strangely, guilty. "I didn't mean to doubt you, Harry. I simply assumed you did not need to add to your own burden with Severus' troubles. He is in the infirmary with minor injuries to his leg sustained because the fireplace roof collapsed as he escaped. It is nothing to be worried about. In fact, he will be up and about in a day or so".
Harry was embarassed and was about to apologise when Professor Dumbledore continued, "What troubles me is the fact that you blame yourself. I would go to any lengths to disabuse you of this idea, Harry. The world does not rest on you, child nor should you want to accept that burden on your young shoulders. I wish I could make you believe what I am saying". The headmaster looked every bit as old as was, at that point. His eyes had lost their twinkle while his face appeared pained and shadowed, like it were holding too many secrets to hide.
Thankfully, the moment passed and Minerva McGonagall walked in with Remus, Arthur Weasley and Madam Pomfrey. Harry signed the required papers and the others attested thir witness to the claiming while Professor Dumbledore performed the necessary magical claiming on Harry's behalf. Harry believed it should have been an emotional moment, something signifying true acceptance of Sirius' loss. But he only felt strangely vacuous.
Then Harry completed the last step and the properties were now his. Mr.Weasley greeted Harry, patted his back and left to the Ministry for further documentation work after promising to give Harry's love to all the Weasleys. It seemed surreal to Harry that because of Sirius he had all that he would ever want except that which he wanted most - Sirius himself. None of these riches could him an ounce of the joy that one glimpse of Sirius would.
The headmaster sent one copy of the will to his vault and kept the other in his desk drawer. Turning to face Harry, he said, "I still believe Occlumency will benefit you, Harry. Voldemort will, most likely, not try to trick you again but the mind is too strong a weapon to leave open to attack. Considering our failed attempt last year, I think it might be more prudent if I were to teach you. It may be difficult to keep a regular schedule as the Minister seems to mysteriously have a need for my advice at odd times. However, I shall do my very best to teach you. Do you find that acceptable?"
Harry realised that the headmaster was giving him a chance to make his own decisions unlike the years past and appreciated the effort. He agreed to the idea. Infact he had considered approaching Snape himself. "Now, I will return you to your uncle's place. Do keep safe, Harry", Dumbledore said, offering Harry an old Christmas card.
Harry thanked him, said goodbye to everybody else and ceded to the pull on his navel as the portkey transported him to his bedroom. The only thing in his mind when he fell asleep that night were Remus' parting words spoken in a hurry but with sincerety,"...love you, Harry".
AN: What do you say? Is it good, bad or miserable? I've realised Iam going to write whether people like it or not. But I looooove reviews. Iam so parched even flames will do. So please R R. I will update tomorrow.