A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! I've been very busy with school and stuff. This chapter is kind of short to me, but I hope you like it.
And as always, I do not own Harry Potter!
DEATHEATER ATTACKS
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been quiet for months now.
Yesterday, he broke that silence with an attack in the
town of Aberdeen in Scotland. Two of his Deatheaters, who have not
yet been identified, attacked an Inn during the night. They killed four
muggles and the Wizard couple that owned the Inn while they slept. The
couple has been identified as Mr. and Mrs. Riley. They
are survived by their only child, Amelie Riley, a second-year
student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The reason behind the killings is unknown as of now. All members
of the Wizarding Community are adviced to keep extremely
cautious until more is found out.
Harry looked at the front of the Daily Prophet for the fifth time that day. A picture of the late Rileys smiled up at him from the front page, taken around Christmas time with their daughter. Another orphan, he thought. Dumbledore gave a speech at breakfast that morning, informing the students that Amelie would be not be in school for a few days. She was in Hufflepuff, and the rest of her House looked very glum.
Harry wondered why the Rileys were attacked. He had never heard of them, none of them were in the Order, and there seemed to be no reason why they would be targeted. Was Voldemort merely killing random wizards? Maybe he was killing any family that he knew didn't support him. Harry tried not to think of it for too long because he got a headache everytime he did.
"Mr. Potter, I highly doubt that anything in the Daily Prophet will be in your NEWT exams, so I advice that you pay attention to what we are about to learn because this will most definately be on the exam."
He looked up into the disapproving eyes of Professor McGonagall. A little embarrassed, he put the Daily Prophet aside and looked up to watch the demonstration McGonagall was about to start.
An hour later, everyone was packing up their things, ready to go down to dinner. He was about to leave the room with Hermione and Ron when he heard Professor McGonagall call his name. "Harry Potter."
He was sure she was going to lecture him about paying attention in class. He slowly made his way to her desk at the front of the room. She looked up from her papers. "The Headmaster has asked me to send you to his office before dinner. He said that he needed to talk to you about something."
She got up from the desk and motioned for him to follow her. As they got closer to Dumbledore's office, they saw him standing outside the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance.
"Oh, Headmaster! I was just bringing Potter to speak with you." She said, surprised to see him.
"Thank you, Minerva. I will take it from here." Dumbledore spoke the password, and motioned for Harry to go up the stone stairs with him.
He was feeling nervous, and slowly followed Dumbledore into his office. His knees felt wobbly at the thoughts floating through his mind as to why Dumbledore would want to speak with him.
"Have a seat, Harry. I am sure this will be a short visit,as I can imagine you are as hungry as I am", Dumbledore said as he sat behind his desk.
"An old friend of mine works in the Archives Department at the Ministry of Magic, Harry. Do you know what that is?" Harry shook his head.
" I didn't think so, it is not a very well known division, being a pretty stiff and tedious job. He basically keeps records of all Wizards. He records every marriage, every birth, every death. He can trace almost anyone's family back several generations."
Harry was confused. He didn't understand where he factored into this. He looked expectantly at Dumbledore, waiting for him to continue.
Dumbledore stood and paced behind his desk. "I asked him to look at the Riley family tree. I wanted some further insight into any possible reason why they might have been targeted, and I daresay I have come very close to something. You see, the Riley family goes back generations, but most interestingly at one point, through marriage, they were blended with the descendents of Helga Hufflepuff. So that means the Riley's were in some way a direct descendent of Helga. Now, since Hogwarts began, each founder decreed that the youngest member of their family was the Heir Apparent. As long as each family went on, then the glory of their House would prevail. A couple centuries or so ago, arrangements were made to preserve each House, to ensure that all of them were protected, even without the Heir Apparent.
"You see, no one knew what would happen if the founders blood line ended. And as far as I know, that hasn't happened yet. But each Heir Apparent still plays a valuable role, I feel. I'm not too sure what this role is yet, but I know that in time their purpose will be made clear. What I find curious is why Voldemort has become interested in the roles of the Heirs Apparent."
Harry was piecing everything together in his mind. "So... what you're saying" he stammered, "is that Amelie Riley is the Heir Apparent of Hufflepuff? But, isn't Voldemort the Heir of Slytherin? Who are the other Heirs? The founders lived so long ago, wouldn't they be related to several Wizarding families in some way or another?"
"Well, in a way, yes. Not many, but maybe a few. But there are certain families in which their blood flows the strongest. From my calculations, the Riley family is the one that is related the closest. To answer your other questions, it would appear as if Miss Riley is the Heir of Hufflepuff. And we do know that Voldemort is the Heir of Slytherin, of course. I cannot say I know who the Ravenclaw Heir is."
"Well, can't you just look at the records and trace forward?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore sat back down, tapping his fingers lightly againt eachother. "Well, I did think of that. But a problem arose when I thought back to other legends I had heard. You see, the story goes that Rowena had given birth to an illegitamate child. This was extremely taboo in those days, so not much is known of this child. What is known is that Rowena was never able to have children, after that one. And you see while records are kept today, that was not always the practice. We know what we can know, but there will always be uncertanties due to lack of information. Do you understand, Harry?"
Harry nodded. "What do they say happened to the child, Professor?"
"Well, it is only speculation, but it is said she gave the child away. To a lovely, older wizard couple who had no children of their own. However, what I find curious is why you have not asked about the Heir of your own house, Harry."
Harry paused. He hadn't thought about that. "Do you know who the Heir of Gryffindor is?"
Dumbledore thought for a moment and then looked into Harry's eyes. "You."
Harry blinked several times. He didn't know what to say. How could he have never known this?
"You see, Harry, there's another reason you pulled Godric Gryffindor's sword out of the sorting hat your second year here. I had my friend trace the family on your father's side. Sure enough, I found that you are the youngest descendent of Gryffindor. I do not know how this plays in the prophecy, if it even does at all. What I do know is that this means you must be even more careful. If Voldemort is indeed interested in the Heirs of Hogwarts, you are in even more danger. I don't say this to add more to the heavy burden you already carry, but I think it wise that you be informed. I have learned that hiding the truth from you is not helping you in any way. I promise that I will inform you of anything else I find out. In the mean time, why don't you go down and have some dinner. And, Harry, I would advice you not to spread any word of the Heir theory I have. Tell few, if any."
Harry got up, said good-bye, and left the office. His heart was beating so fast he was sure it would beat right out of his chest. What did this mean? Did he really need to worry about this, on top of everything else? He stopped in his tracks, and turned around. He was no longer hungry, so he made his way up to the dormitory instead. The whole journey to Gryffindor Tower he wished more than ever that he still had Sirius to talk to. He really needed him now.
Sorry it was so short! Please read and review!
