Disclaimer-Mine- (Amazing how long things like this carry on)
Hello. Too much has been on my plate but I'm getting back on track. Please cooperate with me for a while and thank you for taking the time to read this. Also other reviewing thanks go tooooo...
sjpgurl, PinkyTheSnowman: Yes I know but there is more to it than I've revealed so far.
daddysgirl101989: The dementor wasn't in the apartment. It was outside. Sorry if it was confusing. And you're right...Harry should tell Hermione. The real issue is if he does.
hjpchick: Malfoy was referring to something else. Harry's very naive, I agree.
kamplified: Ron does have some dark secrets or at least some kind of Ron does. The miniature player was Krum actually lol. Hmm...headboy...I don't know who's head boy yet.
Also thanks to: babee-munky, dancerrdw, mystikalolo, bethzc, Aimz16, trikkity, and Norbert the Dragon.
'I believe the future is only the past again entered through another gate'-Arthur Wing Pinero
The doors to the Ministry of Magic burst open as Malcolm Baddock made his way through to the chambers of the Minister for Magic. He knocked aside frivolous guards and could barely contain his emotions. He was shocked for one but his eyes did not lie. He knew who he had saw.
He finally came upon the room in which the Minister for Magic, the Dark Lord, conqueror of England, France and Germany stayed. He could not say he slept. Oh no the Dark Lord never slept. He was always scheming, planning, defeating, killing. Malcolm Baddock was envious of his malice.
"Where d'yeh think you're going?" a guard demanded, blocking Malcolm's way.
"Stupefy," Malcolm muttered, laying the guard out flat in the close distance.
He kicked the guard's body to one side and opened the door to enter Lord Voldemort's chambers. He was met with a dark room which had been entirely made over since the days of other Ministers. He rather resembled the Slytherin Common at Hogwarts. Snakes were the prime of the room and Voldemort's snake, Nagini slept beside his master. The snake, Malcolm decided, had lived to quite an un-natural age.
In a chair, made entirely of yew wood sat the Dark Lord himself. Beside him stood six of his most beloved Death Eaters: Lestrange, Bellatrix, Malfoy Sr., Malfoy Jr., Nott and Weasley. Malcolm bowed to the Dark Lord and his minions.
"My Lord," he said, trying to overcome the fear he felt whenever near Voldemort.
"Baddock," Voldemort said, his voice soft and slippery, "You need not fear me so long as you have good news."
He smiled as did the six Death Eaters surrounding him. Bellatrix even laughed shortly. Malcolm's fear grew more intense. He had a feeling his news would not be considered good.
"My Lord, the news I have to bring is not something delightlful to the ears," Malcolm began but was interrupted.
"Why do you tire the Dark Lord with your insignificant miseries?" Malfoy Sr. interrupted.
"Insignificant?" Malcolm cried, jumping up with indignition. But with one look from Voldemort he was back down on his knees. "My the report I have come to give is bigger than anything we have had to deal with before."
The Death Eaters shared a good guffaw over Malcolm's little speech. However, Lord Voldemort stayed rather serious and stone faced.
"Speak what you must," he said, staring solidly at Malcolm.
"My Lord, it was not two hours ago when I met a wizard-
"Did you hear that, you lot, he met a wizard!" Nott joked. The others laughed.
"You are not one to make fun of another's stupidity, Nott," Voldemort hissed, "Since you seem to have much of your own."
The Death Eaters fell silent. Lord Voldemort gestured for Malcolm to go on.
"As I was saying, sir, I met a wizard," Malcolm restarted, "Very peculiar he was. Dark hair. Green eyes. A lightning bolt scar."
From the corner of his eyes Malcolm saw Weasley stiff up.
"What are you saying, Baddock?" Weasley demanded, trying to keep his voice cool.
"I'm jolly well saying I saw Harry, bloody, Potter," Malcolm retorted.
Everyone looked shocked for a minute but it was quickly recovered.
"You speak no truth," Weasley said.
"Absolutely not. How dare you speak such blasphemy!" Rodolphus Lestrange shouted.
"That little weakling couldn't survive the death of his godfather let alone an attack from the Dark Lord!" Bellatrix hollered in her king's defense.
"Why I saw him die, myself!" Malfoy Sr. exclaimed, dignantly.
"Where's the proof of this fib?" Draco demanded.
"I'll finish him off at your word, my Lord," Nott said, drawing his wand.
"Halt, all of you," Lord Voldemort said, "You, Baddock, come here."
Malcolm was ready to faint from fear. No matter how much he wanted to steer clear of Voldemort he knew it would be worse if he tried to run away. He drew up close to the Dark Lord and watched as he lifted his face and stared him straight in the eye for three minutes straight. The Death Eaters stood around in baited breath. Soon Lord Voldemort pushed Malcolm away from him so hard he fell hard on the ground.
"Baddock does not lie," Lord Voldemort decided, "And neither does my heart."
Padma Patil was heading home after a long day's work. It was already midnight and very few knew she ever left the DA Headquarters. Junior Recruitments were all under the impression that Padma actually lived at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. She laughed softly to herself. She was almost to the staircase when she remembered forgetting her wand back in Harry's Chambers.
Sighing loudly in frustration she stomped back to where he slept. At the rate she was going at leaving this place, she might as well live here afterall. Yet Padma had alwyas been intelligent and gained a behavior of high consideration for others, so when she entered Harry's room she did it quietly. She knew the feel of the room well and made her way easily in the dark. Padma looked to Harry's bed and noticed a lump under a jumble of blanket. He was sleeping peacefully.
She made it to the dresser on which she had left her trusty partner in crime. Her hand traced the top of the table and came up short. Padma was not quick to panic and checked the dresser top more carefully and yet still came up with no wand. Slowly fear was settling in. Where in the world was her wand? No one could've taken. At least not anyone of the DA.
Her cool logic calmed her once again. Perhaps it had fell and was somewhere around the room? No matter how much she didn't wish to disturb Harry's sleep she needed to light up the room. After lighting a few candles her eyes scanned the room. No eleven inch phoenix feather and oak wand was in sight. Padma was so desperate to find her wand that she knelt down and checked under the bed.
A witch without her wand was like a pearl without it's shell.
No wand. Padma gripped the side of Harry's bed and in an effort to lift herself up again mistakenly pulled Harry's blanket off his bed. She quickly straightened herself and went to cover Harry up again with his blanket that she had so rudely ripped away from him.
It was funny how in an instant all you are thinking can vanish from your mind as you see something so spectacularly devasting that you wish you could just close your eyes and open them again just to make this thing go away.
Harry was gone. No wand. No Harry. It did not make for a good combination.
"When do you suppose I'll get back to the DA headquarters?" Harry asked, tentatively.
"Well it's one now and I know no one enters your quarters till at least eight. So how's seven for you?" Hermione suggested.
Harry agreed and the two of them fell silent again. It had been this way all night. Ever since the conversation they had about Ron Weasley, things had felt awfully uncomfortable around here. It had only been a short conversation yet it had changed the entire mood for the night.
Harry wanted very badly to talk to Hermione about Ron Weasley, to ask her who he was, what he was like. The snippet he'd seen of him hadn't told him much. Other than he didn't seem like the type Harry would befriend. He reminded him of that Drake or Drano fellow quite a bit.
"Hermione...," Harry began, just a loud knock came at their door. Hermione stared at him but he seized to continue.
She stood and turned the corner to answer the door. The knocking was insistent. Harry couldn't hear very well but as soon as Hermione opened the door he heard her gasp and thumping footsteps procceeded. He felt his breath catch in his throat. Could this have anything to do with that man who had come to visit earlier? Now he felt it would've been rather chirpy to have told Hermione about the incident.
But the people who rounded the corner, while not anyone who would probably be associated with that man, was still enough to frighten him. The top DA members stood side by side, robes flailing. None of them looked happy to be called to duty in the dead of night just because Harry Potter had wanted to enjoy a little rendevous.
"Harry," Professor McGonagall said, quietly, making her way through the rest, "Where do you get off thinking that you may leave the premises of the DA without zero permission and zero security? Do you realize how much you could've put at risk?"
Hermione stooded nervously to one side. She looked as if she wanted to disappear.
"And you, Miss Granger, words cannot describe how disappointed I am in your show of behavior today," Professor McGonagall steamed, "While Harry is ignorant, you are perfectly knowledgeble. You know how much you've put at risk. You have yet to realize the work you have created for us. And it is only out of your past history and your roots which sink into the roots of the DA that I still keep you to us."
Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared and she whirled around and seemed to be trying to take deep breaths before speaking again, "Bring them both back to Grimmauld Place."
Harry and Hermione sat down on the closest chairs to the front in the meeting room of the DA. Harry for the first time in fact. It was not a magnificent room but Harry awed all the same at being able to be there. He was sure that many great people had sat in these seats not long before him.
It had been four good long hours since Harry and Hermione been escorted back to Headquarters and finally Professor McGonagall appeared at the doorway. She stoutly made her way to the chair at the very head of the table and seemed much more calm than she had been previously. She shuffled some papers and waited until everyone was quiet before speaking.
"Firstly I'd like to ask Mr. Potter to return Miss Patil's wand to her," Professor McGonagall ordered.
Harry blushed and quickly took the wand out of his pocket. He held it out to Padma who snatched it away from him. She eyed with dislike. He tried not to meet her gaze out of shame.
"I'm sorry, Padma," Harry apologized, gingerly.
Padma's eyes scoured him, "Accepted but if you dare try to steal my wand again I will show you the true meaning of curse."
"Secondly," Professor McGonagall continued, "I must impress upon both you, Harry, and you, Hermione, the consequences of the choices you made. If Harry were to be seen then chaos would issue with the Dark Lord and he could even have been killed. Harry I understand that your lack of understanding was partially the mistake of the DA but Hermione, you knew all and yet you risked Harry's life just to have him visit your flat. I can comprehend the pressure you've been under but it is still no excuse. I need you to promise me that if you wish to stay a member of the DA you will listen to whatever we ask of you."
All eyes were on Hermione and Harry felt his tongue swell under the anxiety.
"I promise," Hermione nodded, "I can do nothing but promise. But life is the DA's."
Professor McGonagall nodded at her in turn, then turned to the rest, "For years, we have been fearing one thing to happen. And now disaster has struck. The Dark Lord if aware that Harry is alive."
A stunned silence reached ears of all. Even Harry who knew that no one should be likely to hear of his reawakening just yet.
"This means that instead of protecting Harry and letting him gradually figure out all he needs to know for himself he must train him as quickly as possible," Professor McGonagall declared, "You have been right Miss Granger, Harry must know everything."
Harry stared at her, blankly, "Does this mean all the questions I have may be answered?"
"May?" Professor McGonagall blinked, "They must be answered. Harry you are training for something that will take much hard work and endurance. Yet I know you are the only one that can handle it. It is the story of your past that you must learn and it is all connected to the future. I am here to ask you if you choose to accept this task as your own. But before you rashly choose I must say that the search for the past can claim your life in the present. Shall you take the risk?"
His life? Harry was not quite sure he was curious enough to do that. Yet...if he didn't know who he was then how could he ever figure out who he was now. He needed answers as much as he denied it.
"I will," Harry agreed.
"Very, Harry. I know this is all of a sudden but can I count on you, Hermione to go on the journey with him? Become his teacher?" Professor McGonagall implored with raised eyebrows.
"You needn't have even asked," Hermione replied.
"Good, lessons will start in a few days Harry," Professor McGonagall clarified, "The remembering will begin. However, for now, I suggest you all get a good night's rest. We will have much planning for morrow to come."
Everyone stood and started to make their leave but Harry disturbed the mutual worry and wonderment with a question.
"Can I ask...who was Dumbledore?" Harry inquired, timidly.
Professor McGonagall paused and stared at him severely, "Albus Dumbledore was the single most powerful wizard in the world. He knew magic that is beyond you and me. He was the only one the Dark Lord ever feared."
But she softened after a bit, "He was one of my most favourite friends and died to protect us all. He was also a kind man and loved you very much, Harry."
Harry didn't know how to take it all in so he tried one last question, "Was he the leader of the DA?"
McGonagall did something very surprising then. She smiled.
"There is only one man who has ever been the leader of the DA and that is you, Harry."
Author's Note: Thank goodness I finished the chapter. I hope you enjoy it. More fascinating stuff to come. Thank you for reading and I hope you review too!
xoxo
winky