Author's Notes- This is chapter 9 of Erika- The Legacy of Lily and James,
aka "Erika". I am calling this one "The Darkness Grows" for reasons in
which you will find out in a few minutes. In this chap you'll find out a
whole bunch about the current state of the Ministry of Magic, which is not
a very good one, and the school gets a dire warning. But enough of that,
you'll have to read on to find out what about! Now, review once you're
done!
Disclaimer- I own absolutely nothing. It all belongs to the great and mighty Harry Potter people. I am certainly not getting paid, either.
Erika- The Legacy of Lily and James
Two days later, while we all sat at breakfast, Dumbledore walked in. Everyone loked up. He was late, and lines of worry were etched on his face.
He didn't sit down, but turned to look at us.
"The attack on Halloween worried and shaked us all," he announced, "My sources tell me that Lord Voldemort. . ."
He had to pause. A ripple of fear had gone through the entire hall. Even the mention of his name brought immediate terror.
I looked at Meg, sitting beside me. Her fists were clenched on the table. Her head hung, her eyes were shut.
"Fear not the name," she whispered, "Your terror is what he lives on."
Dumbledore's voice rang out, "My sources tell me he will try again! This time, however, we will be ready. Starting tomorrow, a small group of minsitry aurors will be here, at Hogwarts, to protect us if need be. But we must not rely completely on them. If need be, the duty will fall to us, the inhabitants, and perhaps, to you, the students.
"Therefore, the staff and I have asked that every student above 4th year join us in the Great Hall every Tuesday and Thursday night, for lessons in defense. Thank you."
He sat down. There was silence in the Great Hall for a few minutes. Eventually, conversation returned to semi-normal.
"Meg, are you okay?" I asked.
She looked up, nodded, and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered.
"You were the source, weren't you?" I asked.
Again, she nodded, "It's not going to work perfectly. I can't change the complete future, it's already set. But maybe the stuff I See isn't the real future, it's what'll happen if I don't help. Or maybe what I see is what'll happen no matter what. Your guess is as good as mine. But, let's hope it's the first, because what I Saw was not pleasant at all."
Meg and I sat in the common room. I was doing Potions homework, and Meg was reading Seers: The Truth.
A third year walked into the Common Room, and came over to us.
"Megan, Erika, McGonagall's outside looking for you," they told us.
Meg and I exchanged glances, and Meg put down her book.
"What does she want?" I asked.
The third year shrugged, and went off to join their friends.
Meg and I went out the portrait, to find McGonagall standing there, looking quite white.
"The Headmaster wants to see you in his office, now," she told us, turned on her heel, and walked down the hall.
Meg and I followed her.
"Wonder what he wants," I said.
Meg shrugged.
Harry was waiting on the stairs outside Dumbledore's office.
"The Headmaster'll be right out," McGonagall told us, and went into the office, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Once she was gone, I turned to my brother.
"Do you know what he wants?" I asked.
Harry shrugged, "I got here a few minutes ago. There's a bunch of other people in there. They're arguing."
We were silent. I listened to the voices in the office.
"Dumbledore! Are you telling me you're basing these . . . these . . . SUSPICIONS on the so called 'visions' of an 11-year-old girl who claims to be a Seer!"
"Fudge," Harry whispered, "The minister of magic. A bit dim at times, doesn't like Muggles very much, either."
McGonagall's voice chimed in, "She Saw the first attack, Minister!"
"She is also the grand-daughter of Lord Voldemort . . . and very important to our fight," Dumbledore's calm voice reminded them.
Fudge's voice sounded again, "Listen to what you just said, Dumbledore! His grand-daughter! Whose side do you really think she's on?"
"She ran away . . ." McGonagall started.
"A plot, to be sure! A plan by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Get his grand-daughter to plead innocence, and then ruin EVERYTHING! Everything we've worked so hard for! Our defenses against her grandfather! Why am I the only one who sees this?" Fudge shouted, "She even befriends the ones we feel we must protect! The Potters! The outrage! The very targets of her grandfather! Does it not look like a ploy? You're playing right into his hands! Why am I the only one that sees it?"
"Because you see wrong, Minister. You do not know this girl. If you did, I assure you, there would be no doubt in your mind of her innocence!"
It was the angry voice of Anya Jones.
"Minister, you will do nothing to Miss Riddle, not even question her yourself, until I am assured of your loyalty. While she is here, I am her protector," Dumbledore said.
There was a curse from Fudge.
"Fine! But when you find yourself in the wrong, and staring up at He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's face because of her, do not cry to me for help!" Fudge stated.
The door swung open, and the Minister of Magic stormed out.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Potter," he siad, nodding to us.
He glanced at Meg, a cold, icy glance, full of distrust, and then he stormed down the stairs.
The door opened again, and Dumbledore appeared.
"You three can come in now," he told us, lightly.
We stood up, and went into the office. Harry was right, most of the professors were in there.
He told everyone to go wait outside, except McGonagall and Anya.
"Harry, I think you'll be happy to know I sent in an appeal to the court for Sirius's case. I had to wait until we had enough of the jury on our side," he said.
I looked at Anya, remembering what Remus Lupin had said about her and Sirius Black. But she just stood there, frowning.
"Harry, I'll need your help with the defense classes. Lord Voldemort's enlisted the dementors as his allies. Fudge didn't get to them in time. We're lucky to have the trolls and some of the giants. Everyone will need to learn to do a proper Patronus. Mr. Lupin will be there as well, to help you," Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded.
"While the Ministry officials are here, all three of you will be under close watch. I told you this to prepare you. The darkness is growing," he said, "You can return to your rooms now."
* * * A few minutes later Dumbledore's Office
"The split in the ministry continues to grow," McGonagall said, "Between 3 groups, the supporters of the Dark Lord, Fudge, and you."
"We shouldn't divide! We should be united against him," Snape said, "That is the only way we can win."
Anya glared at him, "Such a thing will happen when, and only when, Fudge stops being an idiot! He is convinced Megan Riddle is evil, still supporting Voldemort! We have seen it is not true!"
Dumbledore turned to Snape, and said, "Anya is correct. Miss Riddle is not evil. It is absurd to think she is."
Snape nodded, slowly and solemly.
"We were lucky to have most of the giants on our side. If Fudge had let the Dementors get away!" McGonagall told them, "Now Azkaban is empty, the dementors serve the Dark Lord, and the past has come back to repeat itself."
She left a great sentence left out, though most everyone in the room knew what she was thinking.
"And there is no one like Harry Potter here to save us."
Dumbledore sighed, and said, "We must end this meeting. Keep an eye on the students, and be ready for anything."
* * * A distant castle Same time
"They suspect an attack?" Voldemort repeated, angry, seated upon his platform, "We lost the strategy of surprise? How do they know this? Is there a traitor in our midst?"
His cat-like, cold eyes ran over the group of Death Eaters before him. By his side, Ruth glared at them, and aura of superiority in her face. She glared at the smallest of the group. Wormtail.
"We have a reason to believe the informant is Megan Riddle," one of the Death Eaters choked out.
"Megan?" Ruth exploded, "MEGAN? How would she know? You lie! You're just tring to cover your OWN steps!"
"Ruth!" Voldemort shouted, and waved her back.
Ruth bit her lip, "Sorry, my lord."
Voldemort turned to his followers, "What is this reason?"
"We think she may be a Seer," the Death Eaters answered.
Ruth's eyes widened, taken back. Then a blast of realization hit her, like a blast of cold air. All those moments when Megan was a child, whne she wasn't right. It all fit.
"A Seer?" Voldemort repeated.
Ruth kept quiet.
"Ruth! Megan will be dead by the end of the year! Make sure of this!" Voldemort ordered.
Ruth nodded.
With pleasure . . .
* * * Next day- Hogwarts As told by Erika Potter
When Meg and I came down the stairs to breakfast, we weren't surprised to see two grown men in black robes talking outside the doors to the Great Hall.
"The Ministry's here," I whispered.
Meg nodded.
"Wonder whose side they're one," Meg whispered, "Fudge or Dumbledore."
I shrugged, "Judging by last night, I don't think they'd be here if they were for Fudge."
Meg nodded, and we went inside.
The day of the first "defense class" came. Harry, Ron, Hermione, along with every singe Gryffindor old enough to go, went down to the Great Hall. They were there for two hours, and came back tired.
"Do you know how many bloody Slytherins showed up? One! One out of everyone in that house about 4th year!" Ron shouted.
"Most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were there, but next to no Slytherins," Hermione agreed.
Ron grimaced, "They probably think they'd be better off just letting You-Know-Who take over the school! They figure, 'why defend it from what we want?'"
"They're wrong. Even if they succeeded in that, it wouldn't be a victory. There is never victory with him," Meg said.
I glanced at her.
"Meg?" I asked when we got up to our room.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? You've been really depressed lately," I said.
Meg nodded, "I keep remembering my vision. It was dark and terrible, and I can't even understand it completely. It just got a flavor of what it means. People are going to die, lots of people! And I hate being the only one who knows!"
A few days later a letter came through owl post to Harry.
Harry,
My appeal came through! I go to court April 25th! Wish me lucky. Say hello to Erika for me.
Sirius
A/N- I wrote this in school. Thanks to my friend, Maegan, who listened to me comment on every single thing I wrote for this. Well, the title's been changed, and I think I'm gonna change the summary too. Hope you all enjoyed this chap. I've been writing them at school now, so they're slightly shorter but I think they're up sooner. Now, review! See you soon in chap 10!!!
Any additional comments can be given to me at StarlightEve111@aol.com (hint hint)!
Disclaimer- I own absolutely nothing. It all belongs to the great and mighty Harry Potter people. I am certainly not getting paid, either.
Erika- The Legacy of Lily and James
Two days later, while we all sat at breakfast, Dumbledore walked in. Everyone loked up. He was late, and lines of worry were etched on his face.
He didn't sit down, but turned to look at us.
"The attack on Halloween worried and shaked us all," he announced, "My sources tell me that Lord Voldemort. . ."
He had to pause. A ripple of fear had gone through the entire hall. Even the mention of his name brought immediate terror.
I looked at Meg, sitting beside me. Her fists were clenched on the table. Her head hung, her eyes were shut.
"Fear not the name," she whispered, "Your terror is what he lives on."
Dumbledore's voice rang out, "My sources tell me he will try again! This time, however, we will be ready. Starting tomorrow, a small group of minsitry aurors will be here, at Hogwarts, to protect us if need be. But we must not rely completely on them. If need be, the duty will fall to us, the inhabitants, and perhaps, to you, the students.
"Therefore, the staff and I have asked that every student above 4th year join us in the Great Hall every Tuesday and Thursday night, for lessons in defense. Thank you."
He sat down. There was silence in the Great Hall for a few minutes. Eventually, conversation returned to semi-normal.
"Meg, are you okay?" I asked.
She looked up, nodded, and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered.
"You were the source, weren't you?" I asked.
Again, she nodded, "It's not going to work perfectly. I can't change the complete future, it's already set. But maybe the stuff I See isn't the real future, it's what'll happen if I don't help. Or maybe what I see is what'll happen no matter what. Your guess is as good as mine. But, let's hope it's the first, because what I Saw was not pleasant at all."
Meg and I sat in the common room. I was doing Potions homework, and Meg was reading Seers: The Truth.
A third year walked into the Common Room, and came over to us.
"Megan, Erika, McGonagall's outside looking for you," they told us.
Meg and I exchanged glances, and Meg put down her book.
"What does she want?" I asked.
The third year shrugged, and went off to join their friends.
Meg and I went out the portrait, to find McGonagall standing there, looking quite white.
"The Headmaster wants to see you in his office, now," she told us, turned on her heel, and walked down the hall.
Meg and I followed her.
"Wonder what he wants," I said.
Meg shrugged.
Harry was waiting on the stairs outside Dumbledore's office.
"The Headmaster'll be right out," McGonagall told us, and went into the office, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Once she was gone, I turned to my brother.
"Do you know what he wants?" I asked.
Harry shrugged, "I got here a few minutes ago. There's a bunch of other people in there. They're arguing."
We were silent. I listened to the voices in the office.
"Dumbledore! Are you telling me you're basing these . . . these . . . SUSPICIONS on the so called 'visions' of an 11-year-old girl who claims to be a Seer!"
"Fudge," Harry whispered, "The minister of magic. A bit dim at times, doesn't like Muggles very much, either."
McGonagall's voice chimed in, "She Saw the first attack, Minister!"
"She is also the grand-daughter of Lord Voldemort . . . and very important to our fight," Dumbledore's calm voice reminded them.
Fudge's voice sounded again, "Listen to what you just said, Dumbledore! His grand-daughter! Whose side do you really think she's on?"
"She ran away . . ." McGonagall started.
"A plot, to be sure! A plan by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Get his grand-daughter to plead innocence, and then ruin EVERYTHING! Everything we've worked so hard for! Our defenses against her grandfather! Why am I the only one who sees this?" Fudge shouted, "She even befriends the ones we feel we must protect! The Potters! The outrage! The very targets of her grandfather! Does it not look like a ploy? You're playing right into his hands! Why am I the only one that sees it?"
"Because you see wrong, Minister. You do not know this girl. If you did, I assure you, there would be no doubt in your mind of her innocence!"
It was the angry voice of Anya Jones.
"Minister, you will do nothing to Miss Riddle, not even question her yourself, until I am assured of your loyalty. While she is here, I am her protector," Dumbledore said.
There was a curse from Fudge.
"Fine! But when you find yourself in the wrong, and staring up at He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's face because of her, do not cry to me for help!" Fudge stated.
The door swung open, and the Minister of Magic stormed out.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Potter," he siad, nodding to us.
He glanced at Meg, a cold, icy glance, full of distrust, and then he stormed down the stairs.
The door opened again, and Dumbledore appeared.
"You three can come in now," he told us, lightly.
We stood up, and went into the office. Harry was right, most of the professors were in there.
He told everyone to go wait outside, except McGonagall and Anya.
"Harry, I think you'll be happy to know I sent in an appeal to the court for Sirius's case. I had to wait until we had enough of the jury on our side," he said.
I looked at Anya, remembering what Remus Lupin had said about her and Sirius Black. But she just stood there, frowning.
"Harry, I'll need your help with the defense classes. Lord Voldemort's enlisted the dementors as his allies. Fudge didn't get to them in time. We're lucky to have the trolls and some of the giants. Everyone will need to learn to do a proper Patronus. Mr. Lupin will be there as well, to help you," Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded.
"While the Ministry officials are here, all three of you will be under close watch. I told you this to prepare you. The darkness is growing," he said, "You can return to your rooms now."
* * * A few minutes later Dumbledore's Office
"The split in the ministry continues to grow," McGonagall said, "Between 3 groups, the supporters of the Dark Lord, Fudge, and you."
"We shouldn't divide! We should be united against him," Snape said, "That is the only way we can win."
Anya glared at him, "Such a thing will happen when, and only when, Fudge stops being an idiot! He is convinced Megan Riddle is evil, still supporting Voldemort! We have seen it is not true!"
Dumbledore turned to Snape, and said, "Anya is correct. Miss Riddle is not evil. It is absurd to think she is."
Snape nodded, slowly and solemly.
"We were lucky to have most of the giants on our side. If Fudge had let the Dementors get away!" McGonagall told them, "Now Azkaban is empty, the dementors serve the Dark Lord, and the past has come back to repeat itself."
She left a great sentence left out, though most everyone in the room knew what she was thinking.
"And there is no one like Harry Potter here to save us."
Dumbledore sighed, and said, "We must end this meeting. Keep an eye on the students, and be ready for anything."
* * * A distant castle Same time
"They suspect an attack?" Voldemort repeated, angry, seated upon his platform, "We lost the strategy of surprise? How do they know this? Is there a traitor in our midst?"
His cat-like, cold eyes ran over the group of Death Eaters before him. By his side, Ruth glared at them, and aura of superiority in her face. She glared at the smallest of the group. Wormtail.
"We have a reason to believe the informant is Megan Riddle," one of the Death Eaters choked out.
"Megan?" Ruth exploded, "MEGAN? How would she know? You lie! You're just tring to cover your OWN steps!"
"Ruth!" Voldemort shouted, and waved her back.
Ruth bit her lip, "Sorry, my lord."
Voldemort turned to his followers, "What is this reason?"
"We think she may be a Seer," the Death Eaters answered.
Ruth's eyes widened, taken back. Then a blast of realization hit her, like a blast of cold air. All those moments when Megan was a child, whne she wasn't right. It all fit.
"A Seer?" Voldemort repeated.
Ruth kept quiet.
"Ruth! Megan will be dead by the end of the year! Make sure of this!" Voldemort ordered.
Ruth nodded.
With pleasure . . .
* * * Next day- Hogwarts As told by Erika Potter
When Meg and I came down the stairs to breakfast, we weren't surprised to see two grown men in black robes talking outside the doors to the Great Hall.
"The Ministry's here," I whispered.
Meg nodded.
"Wonder whose side they're one," Meg whispered, "Fudge or Dumbledore."
I shrugged, "Judging by last night, I don't think they'd be here if they were for Fudge."
Meg nodded, and we went inside.
The day of the first "defense class" came. Harry, Ron, Hermione, along with every singe Gryffindor old enough to go, went down to the Great Hall. They were there for two hours, and came back tired.
"Do you know how many bloody Slytherins showed up? One! One out of everyone in that house about 4th year!" Ron shouted.
"Most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were there, but next to no Slytherins," Hermione agreed.
Ron grimaced, "They probably think they'd be better off just letting You-Know-Who take over the school! They figure, 'why defend it from what we want?'"
"They're wrong. Even if they succeeded in that, it wouldn't be a victory. There is never victory with him," Meg said.
I glanced at her.
"Meg?" I asked when we got up to our room.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? You've been really depressed lately," I said.
Meg nodded, "I keep remembering my vision. It was dark and terrible, and I can't even understand it completely. It just got a flavor of what it means. People are going to die, lots of people! And I hate being the only one who knows!"
A few days later a letter came through owl post to Harry.
Harry,
My appeal came through! I go to court April 25th! Wish me lucky. Say hello to Erika for me.
Sirius
A/N- I wrote this in school. Thanks to my friend, Maegan, who listened to me comment on every single thing I wrote for this. Well, the title's been changed, and I think I'm gonna change the summary too. Hope you all enjoyed this chap. I've been writing them at school now, so they're slightly shorter but I think they're up sooner. Now, review! See you soon in chap 10!!!
Any additional comments can be given to me at StarlightEve111@aol.com (hint hint)!