Eye of the Storm
Chapter 6 The Letter
The same day Harry arrived at number ten he woke up to see Remus Lupin sitting in a chair reading next to his bed. Not wanting to disturb him, Harry just layed here quietly until he was noticed. It didn't take very long.
"Good afternoon Harry. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Good. Sleep well?"
Harry nodded in responce after finding his throat extremely dry. The night before had taken its toll on his body, and all Harry wanted to do was go back to sleep.
"You got to stay awake Harry.'
Not even realizing he closed his eyes, Harry sat up and looked around. The room he was in was magnificent. Wall-to-wall carpeting covered the floor and a huge chandelier hung from the ceiling. The walls were a soft white and the curtains a baby blue.
"Do you remember what happened last night Harry?"
"Snape. He came and found me in an alley."
Remus nodded and helped Harry to his feet.
"Do you remember who I am?"
Harry nodded and looked at the older man who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh good! I was hoping you remembered. Now I would rather have you call me Remus instead of Mr. Lupin or anything crazy like that. I'm not sure if you know this but, I was good friends with your father and mother. They were good people Harry." He paused and started to stare out the window.
"I was there when you were born. I can remember when your godfather held you for the first time."
Both Harry and Remus were sitting now, Harry hanging on every word.
"Who is my godfather?"
"Sirius Black. He was killed along with your parents that night. He was the prankster, always looking for fun. I never saw him so peaceful and content until he held you. He loved you Harry, I remember him looking down at you then up at your father and he said, 'thank you James. For giving me such a wonderful godson.' That night he was watching you sleep and he asked me how he could love someone so much and if he would love his own children even more. I told him he couldn't."
The elder wizard had to stop to wipe away the tears. Harry was surprised to find he had some as well. Before Remus could continue his trip down memory lane someone knocked roughly on the door and opened it.
"Potter? Good, you're awake. The headmaster would like to see you." Snape didn't bother to stick around and see if he listened.
Clearing his throat Harry stood up and headed out the door. Walking out into the corridor he looked both ways before turning around.
"Um, how do I find Professor Dumbledore?"
Remus smiled and walked toward the door.
"He will probably be in his study. Come on, I'll show you the way."
)-(
Rubeus Hagrid was walking out of his hut with dead chickens over his shoulder. Hogwarts grounds were misted with rain that had lazily came down early that afternoon.
Walking into the castle, Hagrid felt the pressure of the almost eerie silence on all sides. Something didn't feel right, but the half-giant couldn't pinpoint the feeling.
Hagrid jumped as a screech owl came flying through an opening at the top of the ceiling making a horrible noise. He watched the bird cautiously as it dropped a letter on the staff table then it burst into flames.
)-(
Getting ready to head for order headquartes, Professor McGonagall was surprised to see Hagrid bursting through her classroom door. He was out of breath when he reached her desk, but handed the letter over.
"What is this?"
"I'm not sure professor, it just arrived. I would suggest taking it to the headmaster first."
Keeping it sealed, McGonagall looked at him with wide eyes.
"Why do you say that?"
"The owl burst into flames as soon as it dropped off the letter."
Without replying the deputy headmistress grabbed a bag a started to speed walk out of the castle, Hagrid following.
)-(
Harry followed Remus through a solid oak door way. The room, like all the others, was beautifully furnished and warm, it felt like a home. Spotting the headmaster, Harry sat in a chair facing him. Harry didn't realize when Remus left the room.
"How are you feeling Harry?"
"A little tired sir."
The older man nodded slowly and clapped his hands. A house elf arrived instantly.
"Please bring up some tea and toast Fay."
"Yes master sir. Fay will be bringing it right away sir."
Dumbledore waited as the house elf brought the food, asked if there was anything else she could do, and left, before speaking again.
"I wanted to make sure you understand everything or need any questions answered before I left for the evening."
Harry thought for a while before finally wondering how he was found in the first place.
"Well just one question right now sir."
Dumbledore remained silent as Harry continued.
"How did you know I had left my aunt and uncle's? How did Snape find me?'
"Professor Snape, Harry. We found out you went missing when Arabella Figg informed us. As for finding your location, you have to ask Severus himself."
'Yeah right.' Harry thought and could barely even imagine himself approaching Snape willingly, let alone asking him a question. Suddenly a realization hit him.
"Arabella Figg? Mrs. Figg?"
"That's right Harry. She is a witch, and an active member in the order."
He couldn't believe it. That batty old lady was a witch! He didn't have much time to think about it though as his transfiguration professor and Hagrid ran into the room.
"Albus, this arrived at Hogwarts, I have reason to believe it's from a sorce of dark magic." McGonagall said all of this very fast and Dumbledore stood up and gently took the letter. All four of them stood around a small table. Very carefully Dumbledore tapped the piece of parchment with his wand and it unfolded showing nothing but jibberish.
Harry paled instantly. The older wizards looked at him then back at the letter.
"Harry what is it?" Dumbledore asked then saw the fear in his student's eyes.
"It's from Voldemort."
TBC
Chapter 6 The Letter
The same day Harry arrived at number ten he woke up to see Remus Lupin sitting in a chair reading next to his bed. Not wanting to disturb him, Harry just layed here quietly until he was noticed. It didn't take very long.
"Good afternoon Harry. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Good. Sleep well?"
Harry nodded in responce after finding his throat extremely dry. The night before had taken its toll on his body, and all Harry wanted to do was go back to sleep.
"You got to stay awake Harry.'
Not even realizing he closed his eyes, Harry sat up and looked around. The room he was in was magnificent. Wall-to-wall carpeting covered the floor and a huge chandelier hung from the ceiling. The walls were a soft white and the curtains a baby blue.
"Do you remember what happened last night Harry?"
"Snape. He came and found me in an alley."
Remus nodded and helped Harry to his feet.
"Do you remember who I am?"
Harry nodded and looked at the older man who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh good! I was hoping you remembered. Now I would rather have you call me Remus instead of Mr. Lupin or anything crazy like that. I'm not sure if you know this but, I was good friends with your father and mother. They were good people Harry." He paused and started to stare out the window.
"I was there when you were born. I can remember when your godfather held you for the first time."
Both Harry and Remus were sitting now, Harry hanging on every word.
"Who is my godfather?"
"Sirius Black. He was killed along with your parents that night. He was the prankster, always looking for fun. I never saw him so peaceful and content until he held you. He loved you Harry, I remember him looking down at you then up at your father and he said, 'thank you James. For giving me such a wonderful godson.' That night he was watching you sleep and he asked me how he could love someone so much and if he would love his own children even more. I told him he couldn't."
The elder wizard had to stop to wipe away the tears. Harry was surprised to find he had some as well. Before Remus could continue his trip down memory lane someone knocked roughly on the door and opened it.
"Potter? Good, you're awake. The headmaster would like to see you." Snape didn't bother to stick around and see if he listened.
Clearing his throat Harry stood up and headed out the door. Walking out into the corridor he looked both ways before turning around.
"Um, how do I find Professor Dumbledore?"
Remus smiled and walked toward the door.
"He will probably be in his study. Come on, I'll show you the way."
)-(
Rubeus Hagrid was walking out of his hut with dead chickens over his shoulder. Hogwarts grounds were misted with rain that had lazily came down early that afternoon.
Walking into the castle, Hagrid felt the pressure of the almost eerie silence on all sides. Something didn't feel right, but the half-giant couldn't pinpoint the feeling.
Hagrid jumped as a screech owl came flying through an opening at the top of the ceiling making a horrible noise. He watched the bird cautiously as it dropped a letter on the staff table then it burst into flames.
)-(
Getting ready to head for order headquartes, Professor McGonagall was surprised to see Hagrid bursting through her classroom door. He was out of breath when he reached her desk, but handed the letter over.
"What is this?"
"I'm not sure professor, it just arrived. I would suggest taking it to the headmaster first."
Keeping it sealed, McGonagall looked at him with wide eyes.
"Why do you say that?"
"The owl burst into flames as soon as it dropped off the letter."
Without replying the deputy headmistress grabbed a bag a started to speed walk out of the castle, Hagrid following.
)-(
Harry followed Remus through a solid oak door way. The room, like all the others, was beautifully furnished and warm, it felt like a home. Spotting the headmaster, Harry sat in a chair facing him. Harry didn't realize when Remus left the room.
"How are you feeling Harry?"
"A little tired sir."
The older man nodded slowly and clapped his hands. A house elf arrived instantly.
"Please bring up some tea and toast Fay."
"Yes master sir. Fay will be bringing it right away sir."
Dumbledore waited as the house elf brought the food, asked if there was anything else she could do, and left, before speaking again.
"I wanted to make sure you understand everything or need any questions answered before I left for the evening."
Harry thought for a while before finally wondering how he was found in the first place.
"Well just one question right now sir."
Dumbledore remained silent as Harry continued.
"How did you know I had left my aunt and uncle's? How did Snape find me?'
"Professor Snape, Harry. We found out you went missing when Arabella Figg informed us. As for finding your location, you have to ask Severus himself."
'Yeah right.' Harry thought and could barely even imagine himself approaching Snape willingly, let alone asking him a question. Suddenly a realization hit him.
"Arabella Figg? Mrs. Figg?"
"That's right Harry. She is a witch, and an active member in the order."
He couldn't believe it. That batty old lady was a witch! He didn't have much time to think about it though as his transfiguration professor and Hagrid ran into the room.
"Albus, this arrived at Hogwarts, I have reason to believe it's from a sorce of dark magic." McGonagall said all of this very fast and Dumbledore stood up and gently took the letter. All four of them stood around a small table. Very carefully Dumbledore tapped the piece of parchment with his wand and it unfolded showing nothing but jibberish.
Harry paled instantly. The older wizards looked at him then back at the letter.
"Harry what is it?" Dumbledore asked then saw the fear in his student's eyes.
"It's from Voldemort."
TBC