Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns it all!
Author Note: Reason for lateness of updating at end of story!
Story time!
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24. Mourning in St. Mungo's
Saturday morning, Harry awoke, shivering. By the look of the sky outside, it was hardly even morning yet. But even without his glasses he could make out the faint vision of snow drifting to land on the windowpane. He got out of bed and tiptoed to the heater in the middle of the room, careful to be very quiet as to not wake his friends. Turning the heater up a bit, he crept back to his bed and covered himself with his bed blanket. Then he rolled over and drifted to sleep again.
The next time Harry awoke that morning, it was much lighter and Seamus and Dean's beds were already empty. Harry sat up and rubbed the tired from his eyes. Not wanting to wake Ron or Neville, he slid out of bed and dressed quietly, then left the dormitory and went into the Common Room, finding it deserted except for Hermione, who was scribbling a very long letter.
Harry walked to her and sat down across from her. The fire had been extinguished, making it rather drafty in the room. Hermione did not look up, giving Harry time to check the grandfather clock in the corner. It was only seven o'clock in the morning. Finally, Hermione finished writing her signature at the bottom of the long piece of parchment and looked up with an expression that showed Harry that she had not noticed him.
"Who's that to?" Harry asked. Hermione looked down at the parchment and looked back at Harry.
"A confession." she said simply. Harry instantly became annoyed.
"A confession to what?"
"It's a letter to the Department at the Ministry of Magic that keeps records of those that are an Animagus." said Hermione. "I'm turning Rita in. She didn't keep up her side of the promise."
"Hm." said Harry.
"So…" began Hermione, "What are we doing today?"
"Well… I was thinking of visiting Hagrid." Harry answered.
"And you also have homework." Hermione persisted. Harry groaned and Hermione laughed, rolling up the parchment. Then, she stood up. "Can I borrow Hedwig to send this?" She held the roll up, unnecessarily.
"Yeah." said Harry. "She's probably somewhere in the Owlery."
Without another word, she got up and left Harry alone in the Common Room. He sat back and closed his eyes, trying to block out the slight pain in his forehead that had accumulated since his dream last night.
"Potter, wake up."
"Huh?" he sat up and found that his glasses were askew, lying on his lap and he suddenly felt as though he'd been sleeping for hours. Looking up, he found Professor McGonagall standing in front of him, looking as white as she had on the night Mr. Weasley was murdered. Leaning over, he picked his glasses up off the ground and shoved them back onto his face, standing up. Behind McGonagall, he could see that the clock showed that it was nine o'clock.
A bit bewildered from his abrupt awakening, he stupidly thought that he had missed Auror Training, which, in reality, wouldn't start until the next day late at night.
"Professor." Harry said when his mind was working a bit better.
"Has Weasley woken up yet?" McGonagall asked.
"No-- I don't know-- I was sleeping." said Harry still a bit confused why McGonagall would care if Ron had woken up or not.
"Well, go wake him. And be quick about it." McGonagall said sharply.
"Why?" asked Harry, not moving from his spot.
"I did not ask for questions, Potter, only haste." McGonagall said. Harry decided that he wasn't going to get any explanations unless he got Ron, so he ran up the stairs to the boys dormitory to fetch Ron.
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Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Ron were trudging along behind McGonagall down a hallway that Harry knew led to Dumbledore's office. Ron yawned every now and again, casting annoyed glances at Harry as though it was his-- Harry's-- fault for whatever had to get him out of bed earlier than he would have liked on a Saturday morning.
"Dumbledore's Army." McGonagall said strictly to the gargoyles, and they opened for her. She turned to Harry and Ron.
"I have other things I must get done, but you know where to go. Good day."
As she walked away, Harry and Ron looked at each other, then went into Dumbledore's office, up the stone escalators, and Harry knocked on the door to the Headmaster's office.
"Come in." said Dumbledore solemnly from behind the wood. When Harry and Ron appeared from around the door, he stood up immediately.
"All will be explained in a minute. I need you boys to touch the Portkey." said Dumbledore, gesturing to the cauldron on his desk. Harry and Ron exchanged confused glances, but each put a hand on the cauldron. Dumbledore lay a spindly hand on it too and began to count down.
"Three… two… one…"
Harry felt a jerk from behind his naval just as his feet left the ground and he could hear the wind in his ears. Tired and confused, he couldn't think of why Dumbledore had been in such a haste to get him and Ron to touch the Portkey. Finally, when Harry felt his feet hit solid ground, he stumbled but caught himself up and looked around.
The gleaming halls and clutter of people was familiar in Harry's memory. A witch sat in the corner, directing people to different levels and several people were surrounding her with different things wrong with them.
One mans' head was completely obscured due to the fact that there was a pot on it, making sickening sucking sounds. Another woman was wincing in pain as her hands steadily swelled to the size of melons and gradually grew bigger so that she had to lean over because of the heaviness.
Harry, Ron and Dumbledore were in St. Mungo's.
"Come." said Dumbledore to Harry and Ron and he swept off to the lift that Harry didn't remember being there last year. He walked inside with the boys and jabbed a finger hastily on the number four. The door slid shut and the lift shuddered to life.
Harry had enough time to stare from Ron, who was looking confused and tired, to Dumbledore, who looked a bit worried.
"Harry, Ron," said Dumbledore, and Harry looked away. "Something happened last night that will be quite of a shock. I want to explain to you what happened so you won't be so upset when time comes to see what happened in the hands of Voldemort last night."
Harry looked back at Dumbledore.
"Fleur was found last night." continued Dumbledore.
"She was?" Ron asked, apparently sounding relieved, but Harry had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Suddenly, his dream came back to him. "How is she?"
"Ron, I know it has been immensely hard for you lately, with your father." said Dumbledore delicately. "But Fleur has been tortured and interrogated… to insanity."
"Wha--" said Ron and Harry put his head in his hands as though trying to block out the creaking sound that the lift made. "What d'you mean 'to insanity'?"
"Voldemort tortured and interrogated your sister-in-law to insanity." replied Dumbledore calmly.
"I had a dream about it." Harry blurted out and both Dumbledore and Ron looked at him. "It-- it-- she-- Voldemort said… well… Wormtail said that she helped round the Veela up and they-- I dunno-- joined him or something. He said to let 'the Veela girl' go because her mind was too worn or something."
Ron remained quiet, but Dumbledore looked at Harry through his half-moon glasses and Harry felt that he was determining if Harry was telling the truth or not. Then, he nodded as the door to the lift opened. He strode out and Harry and Ron followed. They didn't have to go far as the door to the ward wasn't too far away. Dumbledore walked in and Ron ran in after him and Harry followed. The ward was too familiar for comfort.
Neville's father lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and babbling to himself and Mrs. Longbottom sat up coloring with colored quills, Gilderoy Lockhart lay in the bed closest to the door, fast asleep and the bed that had been occupied by Broderick Bode a year before now held a girl who's head was tilted to the side, her mouth agape, staring strait ahead of her, unaware that she had company. Her silver hair was in clumps and a long cut ran across her cheek.
"I shall pick you and Ron up later today. You won't have Occlumency tonight. Stay in St. Mungo's." said Dumbledore, who strode out of the ward and disappeared.
Harry rushed over to her and her company. Fleur stared up at him vaguely and Harry received a pang of sadness to see that she showed no sign of recognition. Bill sat by her side, his hand on top of hers, silent tears pouring down his cheeks. The rest of the Weasley's surrounded her as well as three other people. One was a man with black shoulder length hair and a bushy mustache and goatee. He was murmuring under his breath in what sounded like French. The woman, who's hair was silver was staring at Fleur with tears running down her face as well. Harry remembered seeing her before in his fourth year. Clinging to her hand was a smaller girl, Harry recognized as Gabrielle, Fleur's sister and he knew instantly that these people must be Fleur's family.
Gabrielle saw Harry and let her mother's hand go, then walked to him.
"'Ello, 'Arry." she said sadly. "Fleur-- she-- she."
"She'll be alright." said Harry. "St. Mungo's will find a way to cure her."
Gabrielle smiled weakly, then burst into tears and ran back to her mother.
Harry looked back down at Fleur who was now giggling at Ron. He felt a sudden burst of anger.
This is all Voldemort's fault, he thought angrily, why doesn't he just come after me and get it over with, rather than going for the Weasley's?
He felt a tugging at his sleeve and looked over to find Mrs. Longbottom at his side, making urgent grunting noises while shoving a piece of parchment under his nose. He took it from her and looked at it. It was a drawing, done as though by a child because the face was all blotchy and the hands were nothing but sticks with several lines. Though it was so poorly done, he could see that it was a picture of Fleur, because the hair was a silvery gray color. There was a speech bubble right by her mouth with a nonsense scribbling inside. Looking up, finding his throat dry, he turned to Neville's mother.
"Thanks, Mrs. Longbottom." he said, folding the paper up and putting it in his pocket. Mrs. Longbottom tottered back to her bed and began drawing again. Harry turned back to Fleur and found that she was staring at Mrs. Longbottom.
"Fleur?" Bill said and she turned her head back to him. "I'm not sure if you can understand, but I swear by Merlin's beard that I will do everything in my power to bring you back to sanity."
Fleur looked at him for a while, looking puzzled, then turned away. Bill gave a cry of despair.
"I love you." he said quietly, but Fleur did not turn to look at him.
Harry felt another tug at his robe and found Mrs. Longbottom standing there again. This time, she had several hastily drawn pictures. One was a picture that was unmistakably of an old man with a beard and pointed hat. He had a long stick drawn in his right hand and a coin was hovering just above his left hand. The second picture was of Harry, holding the same stick and coin in the same fashion. The parchment after that was of several stick figures with silver hair. A man with red eyes was in front of them. The last picture of another woman. She had dark curly hair and she was holding the stick in her hands, treasuring it. A man stood next to her, holding a snake and wearing robes of green and silver. His wild hair stood on end. The old man from the first picture was lying on the ground and Mrs. Longbottom, Harry could see, had gone into great detail with the blood that was all over the man.
Harry swallowed and looked up, half amazed that Mrs. Longbottom had drawn such things in her state, and smiled at Mrs. Longbottom.
"Thanks, Mrs. Longbottom." he said and she extended her hand, clearly wanting to give him something else. He put out his hand and she dropped a Droobles Best Blowing Gum rapper in his hand. Remembering that time almost a year ago when she had done the same for her son, he pocketed it and smiled in what he hoped was a warm way. She grinned and turned around, her wispy hair flying everywhere as she made her way back to her bed.
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After a whole day of receiving pictures from Mrs. Longbottom while trying to help Bill out, Dumbledore came to pick Harry and Ron up as he had said he would and the three of them took a Portkey back. When they landed in Dumbledore's office, he nodded to them both and without saying a word, left. Harry checked his watch. It was nearly time for dinner to begin. His stomach rumbled with hunger-- the only thing he'd had to eat the whole day was a biscuit that Mrs. Weasley bought him from the tearoom in St. Mungo's around lunchtime.
Silently, he and Ron made their way to the Great Hall, avoiding each other's stares. Finally, Ron spoke up.
"Why?" he said quietly.
"Why what?" Harry asked, though he was sure he knew what Ron was going to say.
"Why me? Why my family? Does Voldemort have something against us?"
Harry remained quiet, trying to avoid another argument with Ron.
"First Dad, now Fleur. Why is it just our family?" Ron continued when Harry gave no answer.
"I'll tell you why." said Harry grimly. "It's because your family is the closest thing I've ever known to a real family that accepted me. Voldemort knows this and is trying to get to me through it."
Ron sighed heavily as they entered the Great Hall, which was empty except for a few teachers.
"Is it working?" he asked once they sat down.
"Well, wouldn't it for you?" asked Harry gloomily.
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Harry was overjoyed that he didn't have to take Occlumency that night, but knew that the joy wouldn't last long. At dinner, Hermione came to find them and they told her about what happened. Far from being angry about being left behind, she was incredibly sorrowful.
"Oh, poor Fleur!" Hermione said. "Is it permanent?"
"Dumbledore says so," said Ron heavily, "But Healer Smethwyck-- you know… that old bloke who cured… Dad… last year says he won't give up. He spent the entire time, feeding her different types of potions, adding them together. The worst one was one that made her face all red and puffy and she started crying until he could find a cure potion."
"I can't believe it! This is too horrible!" said Hermione. Harry was going to answer back words of comfort, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dumbledore stand up. The happy voices died down as they too saw Dumbledore rise from his chair.
"Please listen to a moment of an old man's droning." he began. Some people's eyes flickered to Professor Binns, surprised that he was going to speak, but when Dumbledore continued, they looked back, looking as though they felt stupid. "It is my duty to inform you that your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Fleur Delacour Weasley, has been found."
At this news, there were several different reactions. One was relief. There were several sighs of relief and smiles returned. Some groaned, and it was apparent that they didn't want Professor Frost to leave. The Slytherins made kissing noises from behind Ron's back and Harry saw his ears turn red. However, all signs ceased when Dumbledore held his hand up.
"But it is also my unfortunate duty to announce that her mind has been played with by Lord Voldemort." Winces could be seen from all around the vicinity. "She has been tortured and interrogated into insanity."
Harry remembered how he felt when Dumbledore had said those words to him earlier. And some of the emotions that had played in his chest could now be seen on the faces of those around him.
"Now, this means that Professor Frost will remain your teacher for the rest of the year." said Dumbledore. Those that had been happy to know this in the beginning now had looks of guilt on their faces. Harry felt a savage pleasure in this that he was surprised in; how dare they think that anyone could replace Fleur?
"As many of you know," Dumbledore continued, "Fleur was related to some that sit here with us now." Several people looked around at Ron and Ginny, who both sank down in their seats. "I ask each and every one of you--" he glanced at the Slytherin table "--to be kind to them. They have suffered two losses in the past few weeks and it has been hard for them to cope with."
The only part of Ron that could be seen now was the very top of his head, his red hair sticking up from running his hand through it through the whole day. Ginny was taking it better, but she was also pretty low down in her chair as well. Dumbledore cleared his throat and everyone stopped looking at Ron and Ginny and stared back at the Headmaster.
"I know I can trust you to do what I ask. These are hard times for us all as we waver from believing, to hoping that none of this is happening. The more helpful we are to each other, the easier it will become to beating the evil that surrounds us."
As these words faded, Dumbledore sat down and everyone knew he was done talking. They returned to their food, though only a few spoke in soft whispers. The joyfulness had vanished with the news of Fleur's condition. Eyes kept flickering to Ron and Ginny, who scooted back up to their normal positions. Harry pushed his food away. He was no longer hungry.
"I'm going to go." he said to Hermione and Ron. "See you."
Without giving them a chance to reply, he left the table and headed back to the common room. As he passed a portrait of a woman holding a pair of opera glasses, he saw Nearly Headless Nick approaching from the other direction.
"Hi, Nick." said Harry sadly.
"Good evening, Harry." said Nick. "I heard about what happened."
"Yeah." said Harry. He didn't feel much like talking to Nick now that it came to it. "Well, I'd better be going-- homework, you know." He took a few steps when Nick held out a transparent hand and put it on his shoulder. Harry winced as his shoulder felt as if it had been frozen.
"I would warn you that Peeves has quite come out of his shock and is behaving his normal usual self again." said Nick. Harry wasn't sure if he should be happy or sad about this news so he just lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh?" he said.
"He is planning a prank on Filch, who he is certain, will walk that way before anyone else does. I'm off to find the Bloody Baron to see if I can stop him before he does damage to anyone."
"Right-- thanks, Nick."
"You are very welcome." Nick said, lifting his hand off of Harry's shoulder and floating away. "Good night to you, Harry."
"'Night, Nick." said Harry, turning to take a different corridor to the common room when he heard someone shouting from inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"No, no, no, that wouldn't work."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks and tip toed to the door which was slightly ajar, but all he could see was a shadow. However, he knew that the voice belonged to Professor Frost, which, he just registered, was not at dinner.
"You've got to, Philberta. Find some way to follow him. Make an excuse." said the deep voice of a man.
"Don't you see? I can't get away. There are teachers everywhere, I would never be able to follow him without getting caught."
"Philberta, when you came, we had almost thought there was no way to get to it, but you found a way. He's looking to you to help get it before that kid does--"
"Wait." Professor Frost said and the other voice stopped. There was silence and Harry was not sure what was going on. "I'll have to talk to you about it later, Antonio. I have company."
Harry felt as though he'd received a shock.
"Oh," said the man called Antonio, "alright, then."
"I'll talk to you later about shopping for that book that Dad needs for getting those gnomes from the garden--"
"And about the one that escaped and has Dad's wand." said Antonio. "Thanks for your time, Sis."
"Much love, Brother." said Frost. "Bye."
There was a quiet pop in which Harry was sure Antonio had left. Footsteps came up to the door and Harry wasn't sure if he should run or not. He couldn't feel his legs.
Frost looked through the crack in the door and then opened it wide.
"Well if it isn't my colleague! Come in, come in!"
Harry could feel his legs again and he followed Frost into the room.
"How are you, Harry?"
"Who-- who--"
"My brother, Antonio," said Frost, jerking her head to the fire and rolling her eyes. "My Dad has a gnome problem and one of them stole his wand. Antonio was trying to get me to come and help get it back."
"O-oh." said Harry, feeling stupid. "So he was in the fire."
"Yeah." said Frost. There was an awkward silence.
"So-- I heard what happened. Dumbledore told me today."
"Yeah." said Harry uncomfortably. Why did everyone have to bring Fleur up?
"Damn shame." Frost said, shaking her messy head. "Still, it means I can stay, eh?" She smiled and Harry managed to smile weakly in return. Frost scratched her arm.
"S-sure." he replied.
"Well, I'm a tad hungry so I'm off to dinner, but I just want to let you know that if you need help teaching, I'm here to help you."
"Thanks." said Harry and the two of them exited the room together.
"Bye." said Frost. Harry nodded and they parted ways. He still felt a bit shaky. But he also felt a bit rude to be listening in on Frost's conversation with her brother. Walking all the way to the common room, he went upstairs to get his homework that he needed to finish before the weekend was over. However, as he sat in front of the fire, his thought strayed to Fleur. Harry's hands shook violently, upsetting his ink bottle all over the floor.
"Scourgify." he said dully, pulling out his wand and the spot disappeared. He dug around in his pockets to see if he had an extra ink bottle, but instead pulled out Mrs. Longbottom's pictures. Gazing at them as though they were hypnotizing him, Harry felt a sense of foreboding as he stared at the one with the man lying on the floor covered in blood next to the woman carrying the stick and the man holding the snake.
Could anything possibly get worse?
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I wanted to add 'Unfortunately, for Harry, it would', but it sounded to crummy, so I left it out. Just to let you know. So how was that for a chapter? I hope y'all enjoyed it! More of Merlin, I hope you all noticed!
Also, the reason I waited until January 9 to post this chapter was because it is the eight-month anniversary of this story ever being on ! I thought it was a special occasion, because it's always an honor to see your works becoming so popular among all of you WONDERFUL reviewers! I love each and every one of you! Thanks so much for sticking with this story through thick and thin and being patient when I'm not doing what you like!
Next chapter is muy difficil (ha! Spanish which I'm horrible at) to write, so I'm not sure how long it will take. Also, I'm working on several other stories as well, so to be perfectly sure when to come back here if you don't have me on author alert watch list, go to my bio page, which I update with news as often as I can!
WHOA! Only two chapters have gone by since I was excited about 500 reviews! Now, I have 600! Thanks so much, guys!
Review time!
Schnuff- I've no problem with you not liking my story. But why would Umbridge be afraid to go to Hogwarts just because Voldemort's back? He was back in J.K.'s book and she didn't leave until the very end of the book.
Allie- Yay! Thanks for the 600th review!
Mei1105- You know Harry. He's a bit thick in the head… but not as much as Ron! LOL!
Potter Girl- How can you be so sure it was Umbridge controlling Fudge? She came back, then left, because I needed something to happen in those chapters and she seemed like a good excuse to put in. But as my story explains, she came in for… ::cough:: a special reason ::cough::. And she left because Dumbledore and Fudge overruled her.
Forrest- WOW! Lots of reviews! I won't reply to each and every one, seeing as there are so many, but I'll hit some of the finer details. I think, in one of your reviews, you mentioned that I needed to make my chapters longer. Well, I promised myself before writing chapter 1 that I would make each chapter at least 10 pages on my computer. Only two times has it been less and it was something like 9 ½ pages. It's really hard for me to get to 10 pages sometimes, so I can't really help you with making them longer unless there is a lot of information in the chapter that I have to give up. I'm glad that you like my story. Yes, Taa was a bit annoying, but I've been getting worse since then, so her review sounds like a few friendly criticisms. Yeah, I made up the Sorting Hat Poem and it took… like 3 days or something. It was really hard to rhyme! Thanks for the reviews!
Love of his life- I'll keep writing! Thanks!
Bahzad- Thanks!
Lil-snuffles25- It's NEVER too late to say that you hate Umbridge!
Trojan Horse- I'm sure it will be a good book-- J.K. Rowling hasn't let us down yet!
ANET- Harry's probably going to forget! : )
White Merlin- Updated just for you! LOL!
Facil Glow- I haven't been to a single funeral in my life and I hope that the only one I have to witness is my own (in which I will be dead). But alas-- the hard truth comes out that my parents are indeed older than I am! ::sobs:: I'm actually not sure about Mark Evans at the moment. I had this huge part played out for him, but now I'm not sure 'cause it makes my story corny. So far, I've just made him an annoying brat on the ground and a legend in the air (on a broomstick).
Jeanne2- Thanks!
Jenn108- I'm saving the telling-Neville-'bout-prophesy for when it is really needed. You know Harry-- he leaves out details a lot! : )
Redder- ::sings along with redder:: DING DONG THE WICKED WITCH IS DEAD!
JeanieBeanie33- I am master! Bow to me!! LOL! Yeah, I try to make it interesting for you guys! Is it working?
Barbara Chow Chang- "EVERYONE UNDER THIS REVIEW IS A MORON" quoted by you. But need I remind you that you have three reviews under my story?
Ophidia-black- Hm… since Ophidia is a name for a snake, maybe I'll change the name of Voldemort's snake. I was having a hard time choosing the name anyway and I wasn't satisfied with the name I came up with. Thanks!
Ellen- You must die, you have not reviewed in a long time! LOL! I'm just kidding… really! Is your game fun? It sounds like it!
Silenttiger43- Thanks a bunch!
Larna Mandrea- Poor Fleur, eh?
Mistopurr- Rita is evil! And getting evil… er. LOL! Said everything I could to you in my e-mail earlier! Sorry! ::grins sadly::
TankerMDK- Wow! That's late!
Emerald-silver Serpent- I try to add Voldemort from time to time, but wait until the climax! I'm really excited about it!
CurlsofSerenity- ::looks sarcastically insulted:: Me? A moron?
Trinityelf- Hey, mellon nin! Glad you had a good time in You-Know-Where! LOL!
Thanks for the reviews, guys! I really appreciate them! Love you all (with the exception of a few people). LOL!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88
Next time: The second Quidditch game for Gryffindor, Cho approaches him and asks him something and Hermione realizes the plot of the Slytherins.