DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Harry Potter and the Tomb of the Founder
Chapter Three- Reasons to fight
Pain washed over him as all he could see was Darkness. Within himself he could feel the evil enjoyment as people fell before flashes of green light. So many fell and no sympathy was felt.
Harry pushed out trying to take control and stop what was happening but he couldn't. He was in a vision through the eyes of Voldemort himself and he could do nothing.
Harry felt his legs move as the monster walked through the massacre, grinning and laughing as he went. The fire around them flickered darkly as they continued their way through towards a large building.
Seeing all the buildings alit and bodies charred Harry felt fury pass through him. Only moments before this place had been a village. A village of muggles and wizards alike and now it lay in ruins before the cruelest people imaginable.
As they neared the building Harry felt his stomach drop out of him. The large door bared the symbol of Hogwarts with words written across a banner near the bottom.
"Constituo ab antiquitas" Voldemort hissed. "The place of the ancients."
Voldemort raised his wand to the picture of the snake. "Ego stare agalmate"
"Lord what was that spell?" Voldemort turned to see Bellatrix Lestrange standing a few meters away.
"It was a password. It is Latin for 'I stand as of a ruler on a seal.' It will allow me to enter the archives of the founders of Hogwarts. Then I may find the Tomb." Voldemort grinned widely as he walked inside. Harry's scar began to burn ripping him away as the door closed and Voldemort was left in darkness.
Harry sat bolt upright as his scar burst with pain. The dream flashed across his mind as he bit his lip in an attempt to stop himself from crying out. Looking around at the clock on the wall he saw that it was still early.
Stumbling out of bed he pulled on his dressing gown and walked from room. He leaned against the wall and made his way down the stairs. Everything was active. The order were running around the lower floor in a rush.
He dragged himself into the dining room and sat in a chair at the table. "Remus," He called as his scar still burned. "I've had another dream."
"What was it Harry?" Remus asked quickly.
"They attacked a village. He killed everyone before entering the archive of the founders." Through his pain Harry saw everyone stop, staring at him.
"Are you sure Harry?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Yes, why?" Harry asked back.
"Because the archive has been hidden for over a decade. The last ones to see it are now dead. The village you saw would have been the protectors." Dumbledore looked into Harry's eyes. "If he's there it could make things a lot worse."
"Why?" Harry asked as the pain began to fade.
"Because it is said that in that archive lays the directions to the founders tombs. If it is true then we are in a huge amount of danger." Dumbledore quickly walked from the room.
Harry sat at the table as the order rushed around him. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate of breakfast in front of him and he began to eat.
"I'm glad to see you've been eating well Harry. It's the first time that I have seen you during the summer and not have to feed you up." She fussed.
"Well I've been in a safe place with lots to eat." He answered. "Thanks for the present by the way, I'll have to share it with you all when it arrives."
That moment they both heard a squawk and looked out of the dining room to see Hedwig gliding down the stairs, carrying Harry's box.
"Hello girl. Did you bring my things for me?" He cooed as he took the box from his owl.
"What's that?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"A birthday present from the twins. It's a box which expands to about the size of my trunk though the inside is a room." He explained. "It also has a password on it in which I have to supply my handprint and voice recognition."
"Wow that's very advanced. I never actually thought that their joke shop would be so successful. I know it looked like I didn't want them in that business, but that was only because I was afraid they would fail." She explained. "I mean three OWLs and look what they have accomplished."
It was a moment after she finished that sentence that her eyes went wide. "OWL's! How did you go Harry? My gosh I forgot."
Harry grinned before opening his box and going inside. He returned a moment later with his OWL's and the lists of spells he had promised Hermione.
"Wow Harry eleven." She smiled at him. "Ron only got nine, but I'm sure he will improve for Newt's."
"Mum, are you talking about my OWL's again?" Harry chuckled at the bleary eyed Ron leaning on the table.
"I was just looking at Harry's, he got eleven." She said proudly.
"Really? Good on you mate. Even Hermione only got twelve." He said as he fell into his chair. "But then our Astronomy wasn't on there."
"Yeah neither was my History of Magic. Wonder what happened there." Harry said.
"Dumbledore told me that due to extenuating circumstances some people would be re-sitting Astronomy." Hermione yawned as she came in. "Morning."
"Good morning Hermione. We were just talking about Harry's OWL's, He received eleven." Mrs. Weasley said with a grin.
"That's wonderful." Crowed Hermione as she pulled him into a hug. "What are those?" she asked spotting the lists on the table.
"Those are the lists of spells I told you about." Hermione squealed delightedly and began to read them quickly.
"Half of these I've never heard of." Hermione muttered. "Where did you get these?"
"Some books I bought. They are aren't exactly school books." Harry explained.
"Yes I can see that. These are element class spells and those are confundus and these are clash but what was that one that you used yesterday?" Hermione asked Harry.
"That was the ball of flame spell. It's a mix between elemental and clash spells. The fire elemental spells are all like incendio and only create fire, not launch it." He explained. "I'll just grab the book for you to have a look."
Harry grinned as a large smile spread across her face. He walked down into his box and came up with a few books and his broom. After handing the books to Hermione he turned to Ron and grinned.
"Hey Ron have you heard anything about the new broom from Firebolt?" He asked innocently.
"Yeah it was on the cover of Which Broomstick last month. They say it handles like a dream and you can fly higher than ever before." Harry grinned as Ron still didn't look up from his tired slumped form on the table.
"Really? Well it does handle better than the Firebolt and I've never flown so fast in my life." Ron's head snapped up to look at the broom.
"Bloody brilliant!" He crowed.
"Ron!" Both Hermione and Mrs. Weasley admonished.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked as she entered.
"Harry's got a Phoenix broom." Ron said excitedly.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Ginny!"
Dreams of violence and days of solitude swept the holidays out from under Harry Potter's feet. His dreams had been involving Voldemort less but the crowding images of Death Eaters torturing Muggles and children chilled his flesh to the bone and gave him a reason more to fight.
Grimmauld place was quiet as Harry pulled himself out of his bed and toward the bathroom before throwing up in the toilet. Another dream had revealed itself and Harry was left shaking at the sight of a young girl being raped and murdered by Death Eaters.
What really effected Harry though was the fact he knew the girl.
"Cho." He muttered quietly before standing and heading for the kitchen. He knew someone would be around to hear what had happened as with the attacks so constant some of the Order had taken up permanent residency in Grimmauld place.
Stumbling into the cold kitchen he found it active as usual. He looked around at the people around him amazed they were all so calm. Looking around the room he found Dumbledore and moved towards him quickly.
"Professor." He choked out. "Another attack."
The room stopped as they all heard his words. "Where Harry?" Dumbledore asked paling visibly.
"Death Eaters, Cho Chang." He muttered before falling to his knees.
"Was Voldemort there?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"No I couldn't feel him." Harry answered.
Dumbledore looked concernedly at Harry before nodding and standing up.
"Alastor, Kingsley and Tonks please follow me." They walked out of the room and Harry felt a consoling arm find its way around his shoulders.
"Come Harry, I'll get you something to eat." Mrs. Weasley said softly.
"No I couldn't eat anything Mrs. Weasley. I'll be in the dueling room." Harry walked downstairs to the dueling room and stood shakily on the platform. Raising his wand he aimed it at a dummy and summoned it forward before poking it with his wand and banishing it to the other end of the platform.
"Aqua Inflatus!" He growled as he jerked his wand toward the dummy. A blue jet of light left his wand, forming a beam of water as it cut through the air. Watching it hit the dummy, knocking it to the ground gave him a feeling of satisfaction. Falling into a dueling stance Harry poised his wand readily at the dummy before sending off a stream of spells.
"Flammare! Flemin! Abolitio! Stupefy! Rictusempra!" Harry dropped his wand arm and glared at the dummy now laying in pieces on the ground before him.
"You monsters," He muttered. "I'm going to avenge every death you've caused. You're going to lose this war and I'm going to be on the frontline."
Harry dropped to his knees and glared down at his wand. Magic had brought him into all of this. It was both his savior and his downfall; a double-edged sword ready to rip him apart and the prophecy was a steady hand waiting patiently on the hilt.
"DAMN IT!" Harry shouted loudly. "DAMN THAT BLOODY PROPHECY!"
Standing Harry repaired the dummy before proceeding to blow it apart over and over again. He stopped as he heard footsteps coming down the stairs and turned to see professors Mcgonagall and Snape standing behind him with Ron and Hermione.
"Potter, what's going on? We heard shouting from down here." Mcgonagall asked with a surprised look on her face.
"Nothing." He mumbled.
"Stop being so self centered Potter. We heard yelling so what's going on?" Snape snapped. Harry saw the other three behind Snape glaring angrily at the Potions Master and felt no reason to hide his own.
"Get out of here its none of your business." Harry growled.
"Oh so only the golden trio are allowed in on Potter's temper tantrums now, how wonderful." Snape said sarcastically.
"I'm not throwing a tantrum." Harry said raising his wand at Snape. "Your old buddies raped and killed a young girl last night. A girl you taught and a girl we all knew. But then you probably already know about that professor because of that mark on your arm."
"You insolent little brat. How dare you speak to me like that." Snape growled menacingly as he drew his own wand. "Put down your wand now."
"We're not at school now Snape, this house was left to me by Sirius and you will not tell me what to do here." Harry growled back.
"That's enough." Mcgonagall said stepping between them. "Severus I think it would be best you wait upstairs."
Snape glared at Harry for a moment longer before putting his wand away and leaving. Harry's wand dropped to his side as he fell to his knees staring at the stone floor with mixed feelings of sadness and hatred.
"Harry are you okay?" Hermione cried running to his side.
"Cho." He muttered again.
"Oh my." Hermione breathed putting her arms around him.
"What's wrong mate?" Ron asked crouching next to him.
"They raped and killed Cho and I saw it all." He whispered. "I'm going to kill them. I'll kill them all."
Harry heard the others gasp around him. He knew they had never seen him like this and he had always hoped they never would. His tears started to fall as he shook in Hermiones arms.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other with amazed eyes. They never thought they would see Harry like this. He was the brooding type, not the sort to break down and let his feelings out. Nothing could have prepared them for this.
They heard Mcgonagall walk back upstairs briskly and shut the door behind her. She had come to talk to the three of them about safety measures on the school. Knowing that Harry knew more than many about the school as well as ways to sneak around it, it made him her first choice to consult about the issue.
"They just walked in and did it. No mercy, compassion or honor. She couldn't even fight them. Now her whole family is dead." Harry sniffed and stood as he looked at Ron and Hermione. "If I had only trained her better last year, the whole DA better, she would still be here. This year things are going to change."
Harry could see the fear in his friend's eyes but didn't care. He knew what he had to do to protect the school and he planned on doing it. Dumbledore had not achieved making it safe so far so Harry would train those willing to keep it safe.
"Harry we can't turn the people we know into soldiers. Not everyone knows how to fight." Hermione reasoned.
"That's what I'll teach them." Harry grunted before walking out.
Harry walked through the kitchen and up the stairs. He headed into his bedroom and fell onto his bed. The grief inside him was ripping him apart. First Sirius and now Cho. Nothing was going to stop his revenge, nothing.
Harry woke again later to the sound of shouting downstairs. He walked out and looked down into the foyer to see Ginny shouting at Snape with an angry glint in her eye.
"You leave him alone or I swear you will wish you had never met him." She shouted.
"Really Miss Weasley, I wish I had never met him in the first place. I thought anyone that is so dearly taken with him would have realized that." Snape growled back sneeringly.
"Back off Snape. It's not like anyone thinks it's a pleasure meeting you." George yelled stepping to his sister's side.
"Yeah at least Harry isn't a big nosed greasy haired git. If Ginny felt for you like she does for Harry I think we all would have to commit ourselves to St Mungos." Fred added.
"I don't have feelings for Harry." Ginny growled before storming out.
"Pity that." Fred called after her "We always hoped he'd be our brother in law."
"But then if Snape really wants to talk to Harry so badly he must want him to himself." George added.
"How dare you." Snape said as he swiftly drew his wand. "Never in my life have I been accused of such utter nonsense. All of you back into the kitchen now. Mr. Potter and I are about to have a nice chat."
"No Snape." Harry said from behind the potions master. "They stay where they are and you are going to get out of my house and not come back."
"And if I don't wish to leave?" Snape sneered.
"I'll make you." Harry told him as he raised his wand from his side.
"Don't be so ridiculous Potter. You can't make me do anything." Snape said leveling his wand at Harry.
"Severus I think you should leave." Dumbledore's said as he entered from the kitchen. "I will contact you later."
Snape glared at Harry as he lowered his wand. "I'll see you at Hogwarts." He growled at Harry before leaving.
"Harry we just got back from the Chang residence. It was as you said. The house was a complete ruin. I'm sorry Harry." Dumbledore said stepping to his side. "Today was a true loss for the greater good."
"You didn't even know her," Harry growled at Dumbledore. "Yet you stand here as if you did all you could to stop it from happening and claim you know how big of a loss it was. Don't, I don't need your sympathy."
"Harry that is uncalled for." Mrs. Weasley admonished.
"No Mrs. Weasley it needed to be said. Dumbledore seems to think he can push me any way he wants and reel me in again. This is yet another loss for me and he only seems to think of the loss for the greater good." Harry glared at the old man.
"Did you catch anyone who was involved?" He asked coldly.
"No Harry but there was a note." Dumbledore answered pulling a note from his pocket. "It doesn't make sense, just a jumble of letters."
Harry took the paper in shaking hands.
For those trained by the power a warning. Those taken in battle will be released and those who fought against them will be destroyed. Two heirs have been destroyed yet two remain. Heed this and beware.
Harry glared at the sheet and looked to his friends.
"I can understand it." Harry said softly.
"Harry what does it say?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"For those trained by the power a warning. Those taken in battle will be released and those who fought against them will be destroyed. Two heirs have been destroyed yet two remain. Heed this and beware." Harry read.
"That still makes no sense." Ron said as he saw Hermione looking confused as well.
"No it makes some sense." Harry said quietly. "Headmaster you need to send order members to Neville and Luna's houses. They may be attacked before school tomorrow."
"Why Harry?" Hermione asked.
"They were with us at the battle in the Ministry. It said those who fought against those taken in battle will be destroyed." Harry explained. "It means that you two, Ginny and Neville and Luna are all in danger."
"What about you? You were there to." Ron reminded him.
"Yes but they wanted me already." Harry explained.
"I think you may be correct Harry. I will send guards to their homes immediately. I believe I know the answer to the rest of the note but I must ask you to meet me after school begins to discuss the possibilities." Dumbledore walked out and Harry stood in the foyer re-reading the note while his friends and Mrs. Weasley watched.
"Are you alright Harry?" Hermione asked from his side.
"No." He muttered. "Who's up for a little before school training?"
The next morning came in a rush and flew by with the reckless last minute packing of Harry and the Weasleys. The Hogwarts express would be leaving in under an hour and only Hermione was packed and ready to leave.
"Ronald Weasley! I told you to put them in your trunk before you lost them." Harry chuckled as he heard his friend being admonished. He knew he wasn't in a much better situation with his packing but was at least able to find what he needed to pack.
"Bloody mental that one." Ron muttered as he entered the room.
"Find what you were looking for Ron?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face.
"Don't start Potter." He growled holding up the ugly maroon dress robes he had tried to hide behind the furnace.
"At least they don't have frills this year." Harry laughed as Ron pointed his wand at him. "Alright I'm just joking."
"Yeah well go joke with someone else I'm not in the mood. I'm tired and hungry and there was this huge spider behind the furnace." Harry laughed as Ron paled and was immediately hit in the face with a pillow.
"Are you two ready?" Hermione asked as she entered. "The guard is waiting in the foyer."
"We'll be down in a minute." Ron said stuffing things in his trunk. Harry chuckled slightly as he hovered the last pile of his things into his trunk and shrunk it down.
"I'm ready." He told them putting his trunk in his pocket. "I'll meet you downstairs."
The night before had been hard. Cho and Sirius' deaths still occupied a large portion of Harry's mind but the thought of the need to protect others from the same fate and beginning his new year at Hogwarts took some of the pain away. Walking down the stairs he had to stop himself from laughing as he saw Mrs. Weasley going through Ginny's trunk.
"Mum I packed everything." Ginny huffed.
"Yes well its better I check now than finding something later." Mrs. Weasley answered before closing the lid and spotting Harry. "Harry dear where's your trunk?"
"Its all in there." Harry said tapping his pocket. "Hermiones just getting Ron ready now."
"I'll just go check on them then." Harry heard Ginny giggle behind him as her mother walked up the stairs.
"Harry how do you always get out of her ranting and checking up on you?" Ginny asked.
"Well all I need to do is remind her that Ron has forgotten something and she goes for him." He laughed.
"Well I'm going to have to start taking a leaf out of your book. I'm sick of being the little girl that needs to be protected. They should know that I can look after myself." Ginny told him.
"They just care about you. Your lucky to have them." Harry smiled. "But if Ron ever really annoys you tell me and I'll be happy to help organize some revenge."
"Thanks Harry." Ginny laughed. "Quick into the kitchen Mums coming."
"Ronald Weasley! Don't you speak to Hermione like that. She is only trying to help you because you are in-cooperative and immature." Harry could hear Mrs. Weasley saying from the foyer.
"She's bloody mental. She's up there alphabetizing my textbooks in my trunk." He almost shrieked.
"Then go and help her and say thank you or I swear you will spend next summer cleaning out the spiders webs from behind the furnace." Harry stifled a laugh as Mrs. Weasley made her threat.
Hearing the scurrying steps up the stairs Harry could imagine the look of fear on his best friends face. Harry remembered the time in second year when they had to face giant spiders and he and Ron had nearly been eaten. Ron was definitely scared.
Both Harry and Ginny finally snapped and burst out laughing.
"Classic." Ginny laughed. "I can't believe mum just said that."
"I've always day dreamed of what it would be like if he was made to do something like that and its always ended in laughter." Ginny giggled.
"Well if I ever get a pensieve I will show you what he's like when faced with huge man eating spiders." Harry answered causing Ginny to giggle harder.
"Harry! Ginny! We're leaving now." Mrs. Weasley called.
Harry and Ginny sobered as they quickly moved to the foyer ready for another school year.
Upon arrival to the platform everything was a rush. As usual the disorganization and last minute packing had caused them to arrive within minutes of the trains departure. Walking across the platform the sadness and fear was evident in the crowds as they left their families with the chance of not seeing them again.
Harry felt the pain of every student as he saw the cautious and fear stricken glances sent his way. He knew they didn't all believe the stories they had heard and that the fact he was still alive meant he was a target but understanding their fear did not stop the wave of sorrow taking over him.
How many more of these people would die around him before this was through? How many would have to suffer before he was able to destroy that monster and all his disgusting ideals.
Climbing onto the train Harry could see Cho's group of friends, quiet and somber taking the last carriage on the train. Hoping not to be noticed Harry quickly entered a carriage behind Ginny as Ron and Hermione went off to the prefect's compartment.
"Didn't you make Prefect?" Harry asked Ginny as they sat down.
"Nah too much Fred and George influence." She giggled. "Why weren't you made prefect? I thought you would be first choice."
"Dumbledore thought I had enough on my shoulders as it is." Harry mumbled.
"Well he's probably right. With the DA and all you wouldn't be able to cope." Ginny said cheerfully.
"Yeah your right. I don't think I could stand being a prefect anyway." He muttered.
"Well look on the bright side. It just means that you get to enjoy the ride to Hogwarts with me all to yourself." Ginny exclaimed.
"If you don't mind Ginny I think I liked the old quiet you better." Harry returned with a smirk.
"Potter don't tell me your flirting with that. Even a piece of rubbish like you could do better." Malfoy said as he walked into the carriage.
"Get lost Malfoy." Harry said. "Your just angry because I put your dad in prison and now you have no link with your precious dark lord."
"Watch your tongue Potter. Any disrespect to my family or the dark lord will likely find you dead." Malfoy growled.
"Then hurry up and kill him Malfoy, but if your dad and Voldemort haven't killed him yet do you really think you stand a chance?" Ginny answered him.
"You'll all get yours this year. Just wait." Harry shook his head as Malfoy walked out the door.
"He's getting so annoying these days." Harry sighed.
"Just ignore him he's not worth it." Ginny answered.
"Yeah well I think he's with Voldemort now. If he is we're all in danger.