Chapter Fourteen
The Thing That Professor Potter Hadn't Expected
Seven square indentations in the wall with a shiny round sphere in each were giving off an odd glow in the circular room. The crumpled body of James Potter was left forgotten on the floor, lit up eerily by the spheres. A tall, cloaked figure was standing to the right of Terry, inspecting one of the indentations.
"How good of you to join me, Mr Ollivander," said a voice that certainly wasn't Snape's. It was higher, more feminine, and colder than Terry had ever heard it. Though they were cloaked, Terry knew now who was trying to steal the Plunderer's Eye.
"Professor Ferrotte?" asked Terry in disbelief. "No! It's can't be! Snape...he..."
"Foolish of you to suspect Severus," said Ferrotte, taking the hood of her cloak off her head. "He may look the part, but he really is kind...the perfect person to pin this little heist on."
"But...you've been insane the last term!" screamed Terry. "And what did you do to James! Why's he like this?"
Ferrotte chuckled, an insane and cold laugh.
"Yes, yes. Our dear headmaster's son came in very handy getting down here. You see...it wasn't easy."
Terry stood there, rooted to the spot. This was a very unlikely turn of events. The person whom Terry thought was evil was innocent and the victim of the mock-criminal turned out to be crooked and maniacal.
Ferrotte approached him and stopped right in front of him. She pulled out her wand and aimed it threateningly at Terry's throat.
She continued.
"My Master has been in exile for twenty long Years. He was diminished to something not alive nor dead, not mortal nor ghost, not man nor beast. He hasn't even been a being. He's been a sort of...memory. A fragment of one's imagination and soul. He was able to keep himself existing by resting...and dwelling in the homes of Dark wizards who have all been willing to let him stay in phials of reviving potions helped too. That was enough for a while.
"Soon, he didn't have anything to gain or lose. He was a stronger memory, though. He had a sort of physical form. It was nothing anyone had ever seen or been. It was a monster to end all monsters. It was a ghostly white miniature figure with no face or feet. Just a potato with a head and two sticks for arms. He was soon able to hold a wand. Thus, I was created. For you see, young Ollivander, I am not human. But, I will not bore you with that story.
"I came to this school at the beginning of first term. The headmaster had no clue why I was really here. I was trying to locate the Plunderer's Eye for my Master. You do know what the Plunderer's Eye is, don't you?"
Terry nodded.
"Good, good. I didn't want to have to explain it. So, you know what it is. Do you know why my Master wants it?"
Terry shook his head.
"Oh, and I thought you would have done this properly. I will tell you, then. We have time. The headmaster doesn't know we're here. The Plunderer's Eye, as you most certainly know, started out as a tool to catch criminals. It was a bad egg and started to help those it was designed to betray. It soon convinced the other six Eyes to help it when the Ministry fools tried to destroy it. The Healer's eye contributed it's powers to it." Ferrotte pointed to the green sphere. "The Plunderer's Eye soon was able to Heal any wound, including death. Now do you get it, Ickle Ollivander?"
Terry just stared at her. Did he get what?
"Apparently, you don't. My Master needs the Plunderer's Eye to survive. If he uses the Plunderer's Eye, he will become a living thing again and if he keeps it with him, he'll be immortal. Now you get it.
"But, getting to this point was difficult. The first day of first term, I searched a couple of floors. I took on the third, nothing, the fifth, noting, but I eventually heard the Plunderer's Eye's voice up on the seventh floor. But then, I met something that I had a feeling would cause a hindrance. You and Norron and Clavereaux and Strifle showed up on the seventh floor right as I had found where the Eye was. I showed you kindness and told you how to get to the first floor, but that wasn't the last I saw you.
"Some time in late September, I was going to try and get into the seventh floor again. I cloaked myself and left my classroom on the first floor. On the way up, I see you. This is when I knew you were destined to meddle. I attempted to do away with you, but I made too much noise. I was able to knock you out and ran back to the first floor, deposited my cloak, and gave myself an alibi by coming and taking you to the hospital wing.
"Then, on Halloween, I tried once more. I was able to make my up to the seventh floor cleanly. When I searched the floor, I found the Plunderer's Eye. Behind the portrait of the Seer Sibyll Trelawney. When I tried to move it aside, I learned that Potter had bewitched it with some protective magic. I burned my wrist trying to move it. I left in a hurry after that.
"At this point, some of the teachers suspected me. I had to throw them off, so I faked going mad. I framed it on Snape, as if he was attacking me. It worked. I received sympathy from my co-workers. But, how to get up here? I deduced that Potter had used on old safety measure from his old friend Albus Dumbledore. It is summed up in one sentence: 'Those who wanted to find it but not use it would be able to get it.' Yes, it is an ancient magic that has protected few things.
"So, how to get past it? I was able to kidnap James Potter. I told him I wanted to get the Eye and what I was going to do with it. Of course, he didn't want to use it and he wanted to get it to keep it from me. He was able to get me in and I had no use for him. I hit him with a nicely done Stunner Spell and here I am."
Terry stood there.
"Why are you telling me this? I could always yell up to my friends and tell them to go get Potter," said Terry. This was all confusing.
"Well, yes, you could do that. But you see, if you did, I would be forced to dispose of you and young Mr Potter." Ferrotte made a sort of flick with her wand and a bulb of green light lit up the end of her wand. Se waved it in a tiny circle and said something very quietly. The green light left the wand with a rushing sound and in a jet. It barely missed Terry's left ear and he felt a cold wind by it.
"One more thing: Do you know who my Master is?" asked Ferrotte.
"No, I don't. Like most people at this school, I don't like to keep up with my Dark wizards," said Terry.
"Be careful, Ollivander," said Ferrotte in a sort of sing-song voice. "That cheek won't get you far in a good direction, but you are right. You do not know my Master? No, I didn't think you would. He possess the name people still don't like to speak. He is a symbol of the yew tree...death and rebirth. Yes, my Master is one who was once called Tom Riddle. Now, young Ollivander, tell me, have you ever heard of Lord Voldemort?"
Terry felt a pang of familiarity. His father had spoke of Voldemort on platform nine and three quarters when Ethilina had knocked Terry out of the way.
"Yes, I have. So, that's the crowd you hang around, eh?" asked Terry.
"My, my, Ollivander. You are quite more boisterous than I remember you in class. A good virtue to possess, but not here. Keep your mouth nice and shut or you will find yourself in an even worse situation.
"Most believed my Lord to be vanquished. But, there is something Professor Potter hadn't expected. There was a prophecy foretelling the futures of the Dark Lord and Potter. It told that neither could live unless one of them killed the other. Potter and my Lord dueled and my Lord came off worse. He fled without Potter knowing. Potter has been thinking that his nemesis has been permanently gone, but he isn't. The thing that Potter didn't know is that the prophecy was incomplete. In the art of Divination, sometimes, prophecies can be told and has to be finished by a Seeing relative. At the moment, no one knows who that is."
"So, now what? You've spilled your guts. I guess I will tottle back up the passage way and tell my friends all about this?" asked Terry, coldly.
"Oh no," said Ferrotte. "I will have to kill you." She said this so casually that it sounded as though this was something she did on a rainy day as a hobby.
Terry pulled out his wand. Here is when dueling practice would come in handy. Ferrotte pulled out her wand and screamed "Crucio!"
An unbelievable amount of pain rushed through Terry's veins. He screamed loudly and fell to all fours on the ground. He was breathing in an almost panting breath. He felt sick and light headed and weak. He was afraid he was going to collapse.
"Had enough, little Ollivander?" asked Ferrotte, caressing her wand.
Then, what Terry was hoping they wouldn't do, Terry heard Alia holler down.
"I'm coming down! Travis has gone for help!"
"Oh, don't! Go with Travis!" yelled Terry. But, too late. A moment later, a figure fell from the hole and Alia landed next to him.
"Has Snape hurt you?" she asked getting up. She saw Ferrotte and gasped. "You!"
"Yes, Clavereaux, me. How nice of you to drop in. But, it is rude to just come in unannounced. I must teach you some manners."
She pointed her wand at Alia. But, Alia was too quick for her. Before Ferrotte could say anything, Alia screamed, "Iflictumper!"
Ferrotte was hit full force in the chest and was thrown back, hitting the wall space between a crimson and an electric blue spheres. Ferrotte pointed her wand at Alia and got up. Then, she growled, "Stupify!"Alia was hit in the head, landed on the floor, and didn't move.
"Alia!" yelled Terry, running over to her unconscious body. "Alia, speak to me!"
"Don't have your girlfriend fight your battles for you, Ollivander," said Ferrotte, slyly. "It isn't noble. Come on, defend her and Mr Potter and our headmaster. Come at me."
"Alia isn't my girlfriend!" screamed Terry. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Ferrotte. He made a couple steps backwards. There was a loud SNAP! of wood and Terry looked down. He had trodden on Alia's wand and had broken it clean in two.
"Oh, cwumsy wittle Owivander bwoke ickle Cwaverweaux's wandie," said Ferrotte in a mock baby voice. "She won't be too happy, you know."
"Shut up!" yelled Terry as loud as he could. He pointed his wand directly at Ferrotte and yelled, "Flipendo!"
"Protego!" said Ferrotte. The spell hit her wand and rebounded on Terry. He ducked and he felt a warmth graze his back.
"You can't beat me, Ollivander. My Master has given me every power that any wizard can possess. Did you really think that a first-Year student just learning how to levitate feathers could beat the power of Lord Voldemort? Foolish you are, Ollivander. The Dark Lord has accumulated his power over a span of one hundred Years! Something as weak as a eleven-Year-old wizard cannot beat him!"
"Tarantallegra!" yelled Terry. Professor Ferrotte used the Shield Charm again and the spell shot back at Terry. He jumped aside and it barely missed him. He landed on the ground with a fump.
"I'm getting tired of this game of cat and mouse. Shall I prolong your murder so you suffer or quick and clean?"
Terry thought hard. How could he get passed her. She was too quick. It used all of his wit, but how could he form a good plan in a moment with so much stress and adrenaline running through him? Then, like two trains, two different facts rampaged into each other on the train tacks of Terry's mind. Ferrotte had said that she wasn't human. Did that make her a creature? A Dark creature. It was worth a shot. It might work.
Terry stood up to his full height. He was erecting his posture and he aimed his chin up.
"Have you made your decision. If you have, then can you pick the way Miss Clavereaux and Mr Potter go, too?" asked Ferrotte.
"Yes," he lied. "I want to do it nice and quick. But, can you do me a favor?" asked Terry.
"Make it quick."
"Can you kill us all together? As a group?" Terry pretended to look scared and nervous. But, he had a planning forming and frothing and spinning around in his head.
"A group killing? Never done one of those. Sure, why not? Should be fun." He waved her hand, telling Terry to go get the corpses of Alia and James. Terry got up and pulled dragged James and Alia to one spot where he stood over them. His wand was out, but Ferrotte was so eager to kill him, she didn't notice.
"I'm ready," said Terry. He gulped.
"Good. On the count of three. One — two — "
A weird noise echoed in the room. It was a noise that was coming from the round hole in the ceiling Terry and Alia had come down. It was started to grow louder.
"What is that?" asked Ferrotte.
"MMMMEEERRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!"
Something gray fell from the hole and landed directly onto Ferrotte's head. She fell, screaming.
"Get this thing off me!" screeched Ferrotte.
This was Terry's chance. He pointed his wand at Ferrotte and she was able to point hers at him.
"Stupify! Stupify!" screamed Ferrotte.
"Expecto Patronum!" yelled Terry, thinking back to August when he received his Hogwarts acceptance letter and what Hogwarts implied: Travis, Alia, Quidditch, and magic.
Something furry flew out of Terry's wand. This time, the image was sharper, more defined. But, before Terry could see what it was, the two Stunners hit him head-on in the temple. He collapsed onto the floor as, from what he could see, Ferrotte started to shrink as the gray figure and the silver figure kept it pinned to the floor.
Terry opened his eyes. The room around him was blurry and there was no definite end of the colors; they just collided and mixed. He sat up and realized he was sitting in a rather firm bad. He closed his eyes tight, opened them again, and then everything came into clearer focus.
Dozen beds against two walls; two of them taken up by occupants, smiling portraits everywhere, and a woman with a long brown ponytail was making up the bed farthest from Terry. His bedside table was piled high with sweets. There was only one place he could be: the hospital wing.
At a better glance at the other two hospital mates, Terry noticed that they were Alia and James. Alia was sleeping, but Terry could hear her breathes, slow and steady. James was awake and was reading the Daily Prophet. Madam Treaten stood up and looked at Terry.
"Good morning, Mr Ollivander. Good to see you awake," she said, coming over to him. She made him open his mouth and took his temperature by pressing the back of her hand to his forehead while talking absent-mindedly to him.
"I have never seen the likes of it. Three students in my care because of a teacher! Despicable! How could Harry have hired such a crooked woman, I ask you! Well, you seem alright, Ollivander." She got up and went and checked on Alia, who remained asleep. She still spoke over her shoulder to him.
"This was the second time you've been here because of Stunners, so I was worried your defenses would be low. Mrs Clavereaux is fine, too. Well, I'll let you have your rest. I'll be in my office."
She made her normal hurried way back to her office. James put down his newspaper and looked at Terry.
"I don't believe it," he said. "Not a word about this in the Prophet. I still don't believe it. The most exciting thing in there was about some old bloke in Wales injured a Leaky Cauldron waitress because he thought that his drink smelled funny and it turned out to be a new wine the Leaky Cauldron was trying out. Said he was an Ex-Auror. Go figure."
James looked very healthy. This was proven when he got up and walked around. James pulled a chair up to Terry's bedside and he brought his own pile of sweets over and set it on Terry's bed. The two of them talked and ate their candy with laughs. At one point, James said he had to use the lavatory. He went to the doors to the first floor corridor, but before he could get to them, they opened. James' father came striding in. He nodded to James as he passed him and he made his way to Terry.
"Good morning, Terry," said Professor Potter.
"Good morning, Professor," replied Terry. Professor Potter took James' chair and just looked at Terry. It was awkward.
"I'm sure you have some questions, Terry. I know that I certainly do, myself. Now, if there are any questions, please feel free to ask."
"Well, I was wondering if it is true that prophecies can sometimes be fractional?" asked Terry.
"I suppose. Most certainly if the Seer is interrupted," said Professor Potter. "Why? That isn't the type of question I expected."
"Well, Ferrotte –- "
"Professor Ferrotte, Terry," corrected Professor Potter.
"Oh, sorry. Professor Ferrotte said that a prophecy involving you and Voldemort wasn't complete. It had to be finished by the Seer's family member. She said that Voldemort has recently learned that it wasn't."
Professor Potter looked surprised.
"Are you telling me, Terry, that Voldemort is still alive?" asked Professor Potter. "That's something I hadn't expected. I couldn't have known. It's just not pleasant to know that Voldemort is probably gaining power as we speak."
"Yeah, Professor Ferrotte said that the prophecy must be finished by a blood relative of the original Seer," said Terry.
"Then, I think I must know who they are. I will be watching them closely. Anymore questions?" asked Professor Potter with a smile.
"Actually, I do. What happened after I passed out down where the Eyes?" asked Terry.
"Well, I don't know when you passed out, but it couldn't have been long before I got down there because I saw your Patronus. That was a powerful Patronus. It was able to reveal Professor Ferrotte's real form: a weasel. I was able to throw your Patronus off her and I literally sacked the weasel. I then carried you, Miss Clavereaux, and James up the hole. The Eyes have been Confunded with a Confundus Charm and they have been put into a proper frame of mind. They have also been locked up in the Department of Mysteries for further study."
"So, they shouldn't be of any danger anymore?" asked Terry.
"None I can speak of at the moment. I think it will be kept perfectly safe. But now, Lord Voldemort will try and think of another way to regain strength...and...he will succeed.
"I trust there are more questions," said Professor Potter.
"One: Who is the relative of the original Seer?" asked Terry.
"I can't tell you that, Terry. I'm sorry. You will learn eventually, though. But, until then, sit tight. Keep your mind on your school work and your friends and family." Professor Potter frowned. He stood up and reached into his robes. He pulled out something familiarly gooey and wiggly: Terry's Masker.
"I found it down in the Chamber of the Eyes. I thought you might want it returned. Why did you bring it, anyway?" asked Professor Potter.
Terry told him that he had planned as masquerading as Professor Potter to make Ferrotte (who he thought was Snape at the moment) forfeit and how it fell off his face when he landed on in the chamber.
"I see," said Professor Potter. "That was quite clever. I see why the Sorting Hat put you in Ravenclaw. Not to mention how you deduced Professor Ferrotte was a dark creature and used a Patronus. Very smart, indeed. I should say a good fifty points to Ravenclaw for your genius. Now, I must be off. But, you have two visitors."
Professor Potter almost looked as though he was gliding while walking over to the double doors. Travis came in along with the fluffy form of Midnight in his arms.
"Travis! Midnight! Where did you find her?" asked Terry sitting up even straighter. Travis handed him Midnight who purred loudly.
"She turned up the day you were sent here. She just came up and started meowing at the owl statue just right out of the blue. She just...turned up," said Travis.
"Ah, cats. How smart they are," said Professor Potter, walking back over to Terry. "Professor Granger had one when she was at school here. Rotten thing it was. I soon grew to like it. Helped a friend of mine expose a criminal. And I know a few other cats who have helped people out of sticky situations." He scratched Midnight's back and she closed her eyes.
All the noise in the room has awoken Alia. She sat up in her bed and Midnight leapt to her.
"Well, I'll let you all get reacquainted. I really have some business to attend to." He strode to the door and left.
"So, what did I miss?" asked Alia. Terry filled her in on what happened in the Chamber of the Eyes and what Ferrotte had said.
"Who was the original Seer?" asked Travis. "Did Potter say?"
"No, he didn't," said Terry. "I guess it doesn't really apply to us."
James Potter showed up not much later and all four of them had fun just being themselves and eating candy. Midnight purred the entire time until Madam Treaten (who had been told by Professor Potter to let Midnight stay) told them they could go after one last test on Alia.
The last few days of term went by in a flash. Terry, Travis, and Alia spent most of their time by the lake because they couldn't duel. (Alia had no way to defend herself.)
The extra points to Ravenclaw that had been awarded to Terry had jumped Ravenclaw from third to second place behind Slytherin; ten points behind Slytherin. The end of Year feast was to be held on the last Saturday of the Year.
The Great Hall was decked out green and silver banners and the torches even seemed to give of bilious and sickly light. Most of the teachers up at the staff table looked indifferent about the decorations but Professors Granger, Budman, and Soan (who were all head of houses) looked a little rankled by the sudden ornamental addition. Snape was sitting in his seat looking down at all the students with pleasure and malice written on his face and his smerk.
Terry, Travis, and Alia sat down with the other disappointed Ravenclaws and looked up at the staff table. Professor Potter stood up and the hall fell to be silent as the grave in a snap. Professor Potter opened his hands to the school and said:
"Once again, we reach the end of another eventful Year. And the house points stand thus: Hufflepuff with three hundred-ninety-two points, Gryffindor has four hundred-thirty-six points, Ravenclaw with four hundred-fifty-nine points, and Slytherin with four hundred-sixty-nine points!" As the houses were called, the students and teachers gave polite applause and it got louder when the house was called. When Slytherin was called, there was barely any applause except from the teachers and Slytherins.
"Well done, Slytherin! But, I am sorry to say, we have forgotten to add the points won from the last Quidditch game. Ravenclaw had beaten Hufflepuff by ten points so ten points to Ravenclaw." Tiny blue sapphires flew down from the upper bulb of the Ravenclaw hourglass that recorded the house points.
"And, since Ravenclaw won the Quidditch Cup, I think another thirty points is to be awarded." More sapphires fell down. Ravenclaw was now twenty points higher than Slytherin meaning:
"Ravenclaw wins the House Cup!" yelled Professor Potter. The green turned to blue, the serpents turned to eagles, and frowns turned to smiles.
The Ravenclaws all jumped up and down and screamed with excitement. Hats were thrown and people were hugged. Alia threw herself onto Terry and Travis and kissed them both on the cheek. Madam Soan was smiling in her normal broad way and hugged Professor Granger who was shooting a piercing look at Snape.
Professor Potter caught Terry's eye and winked. Mrs Irriate had left the Great Hall doors open and the sound must have carried up to the Ravenclaw common room because Midnight came down and found Terry. She leapt into his arms and tried to get onto the table to eat some chicken legs. Right then, Terry felt the happiest he had the entire time he had gotten his Hogwarts letter which is saying something.
After the feast, Terry, Travis, and Alia had to pack all their belongings. They would be leaving the following morning. Terry had his robes, books, broom, and Masker all packed away so he went downstairs to join Travis and Alia.
The end of the Year gloom was most apparent at the blue fireside because of the ghostly light the flames were casting on everyone. Alia was playing with Flick and Travis was doing a bit of last minute spellwork before he had to leave and not be able to use magic for two months.
"All packed?" asked Alia.
"Yeah, I think so," said Terry. "Only thing not in a box is Midnight. And Alia, I must apologize again for your wand."
"Don't worry about it, Terry," said Alia. "I can come to London and get a new one from your dad. I got my old one from Summers Brothers back in Georgia. I must admit they do make fragile wands."
"Alia," said Terry. "You may not get it. It doesn't matter how fragile it is; I stepped on it."
"Not all wands do that," said Alia. "I had an aunt who broke her neck because she slipped on her sisters wand."
Like the last time they boarded the Hogwarts Express, the students put all their trucks by the front doors and went into the Great Hall for breakfast. Terry, Travis, and Alia didn't eat much in their depression of leaving the only place they had had the time of their lives.
At ten thirty, they boarded the horseless carriages and rode on down to the train station in the village. By eleven o'clock, the Hogwarts Express was filled to capacity and rolling along the tracks toward Kings Cross station and platform nine and three-quarters.
Terry, Travis, Alia, and Natasha had taken to playing a made-up magical game in which one person would play charades to make the other players guess what spell they were acting out and use the spell. Terry won. He guessed correctly five times.
Midnight purred the full length of the trip and seemed more attracted to Terry than she had ever been. She would insist on sitting in Terry's lap and when he tried to move her aside, she would just waddle back and sit right back down.
Halfway through the ride, the sliding doors slid open to reveal a blonde haired menace.
"Hello, Ollivander," said Ethilina Malfoy from the doorway.
"Shove off, Ethilina," said Terry, not looking up from the Wizards Chess game he was playing with Travis.
"How does it feel to have your name known again? In the action again, are we?" asked Ethilina, still persistent.
"Go pet a bubotuber," said Alia, giving Ethilina an evil look. "Terry didn't exactly ask to be attacked and he was just committing an act of service when he saved James, which is more than you would have done."
"I just came to warn you, Ollivander," said Ethilina. "Keep interfering, and you just might regret it. So, watch your step around the Dark side of magic."
Ethilina slid the door closed and they didn't see Ethilina the rest of the voyage.
"What was that about?" asked Natasha. "What did she mean?"
"Well, I've heard that her family used to be Dark wizards. Maybe it's connected," said Terry.
"She said 'interfere,'" said Alia. "Usually, that means to meddle in something someone else was doing and try and stop them doing it. I bet the Malfoys were behind all the things that happened. The Malfoys is probably attempting to revive Lord Voldemort and Ferrotte was their creation."
"I dunno about that," said Terry, "but I don't want to have to deal with that for three months."
The train pulled into the familiar station and all the students stepped down onto the platform.
"I must have you over to stay this summer," said Alia, locating her luggage. "I now have a wand missing so I'd be able to come pick you up, Terry. We can pick up down somewhere, too, Travis. So, I'll see you this summer, I hope."
The hugged Terry and Travis and wheeled her luggage to her parents who had come to meet her on the platform.
Terry and Travis wheeled their luggage cart through the barrier and into the Muggle world.
"I'll see you in the summer, it sounds like," said Terry. "Until then." He shook Travis' hand and departed to join Mr Ollivander, Mrs Ollivander, and Fraton, who had all come to greet him.
"Hello, darling!" said his mother and embraced him.
"Afternoon, bro!" said Fraton with a greeting salute. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," said Terry.
His father took over moving Terry's cart for him. So, with all of his family members behind him, the restaurant in front of him, one school Year over, and a new one to begin, Terry moved toward a summer, Terry felt, a better summer than he had ever had.