Shitza: 2005, five years since the millennium. Sometimes it's hard to get into your head. I hope you all had a wonderful night, being up celebrating the New Year. Yet they really had some beautiful firework going on here, too bad I can't see it from the window anymore. Yet it was a show!
Tári: (Still a bit high after the previous nights) HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
Seeeza: (Shakes head)
Tári: Dances around with Seeeza in a tango.
Shitza: (shrugs) I also want to say, somewhere in this chapter, I am actually giving you a clue for the last battle chapter. I really do wonder if you can spot it somewhere? Currently I am cross writing, switching from the present chapters to go back to the last one, which will be long, very action packed and hopefully emotional packed too. Also, same time I am completing notes for the epilogue so it feels like I am a bit of a Rowling, having finished chapters for the end. Yet don't be too exited, it's still a long way to go before those chapters.
Also, once more I am changing the genre of this, into Action/Adventure/General, since this has practically a bit of everything, counting Fantasy/Romance/Humour/Suspense (Yet I am not so sure about that. Still NOT Science Fiction, but still Tragedy as both my fic has involved deaths.
Speaking of death, accidentally there has been some misunderstanding in last chapter. One of my reviewers asked why the Heirs had to kill Kreatcher. Well, Kreatcher was killed in the same way as Peter, by Voldemort's Death Eaters. Hope that sorted things out. On to the story.
Shitza
Chapter 28Soaked in Rain
(Hogwarts, 23rd November)
It was in the end of the autumn, and as usual the rain was pouring down, once more flooding the lake as far as to the gate. All students found this dreadful, as it laid a planned Hogsmeade trip the 13th December, yet for the last days, or weeks there had been nothing more then rain. Harry saw this weather as very boring.
Also, for the last weeks, ever since he had received the letter from Peter, Ron and Neville had searched the whole kitchen for Elf Light, but they didn't find anything more then the usual elves. Draco just sighed every day they came and reported, as he believed it had nothing to do with House Elves, instead he believed there once had existed another race of elves, yet that these had died long before humans started walking the earth. The problem was then, how in the world were they supposed to solve this puzzle?
Another thing that really haunted him was in fact the Prophecy, and the more he thought about it the more he realised what a short period of time he had to solve it. He almost presumed the whole thing would be over right before he would leave Hogwarts. There where many things that pointed into that direction, and most of it had been summoned in a newspaper.
The Daily Prophet, the 19th November
WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Under a short period of time the whole Wizarding world now has been swept into a field of battles. As the Muggles only some weeks ago managed to find out about our hidden worlds, thousands of Witches and Wizards have left their homes. What we once underestimated Muggles for, has turned against us and slowly our number of survivors has been cut into half of what it used to. Only in England, over five hundred has been killed or rather to say murdered.
But that's not all. The United Kingdom's once glorious Ministry's is also slowly falling apart- The reason is that the Ex-minister Cornelius Fudge and his secretary Dolores Umbridge has taken over all organisations from Politics to Entertainment. It is many's believes that Umbridge alone stands behind this treacherous idea, but we chose not to commentate further.
Another problem is of course He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who has taken great parts of England, turning all magical creatures to slaves under his blood red eyes. Every witch and wizard did quickly flee, and for those who did not die in the chase has been sent to St Mungus, which till thankfully lies under our side's protection. But if that Hospital would fall, and also many other important buildings, we have no idea what would happen, or how long this world will survive.
Yet there is more, strange sights have been spotted in the south. Lights have slowly ascended into the open air, replacing the stars, even if so under broad daylight. Even this has been spotted by Muggles, who unfortunately believes this is another of our treacherous ideas. With the Lights, many of the few Seers we have, have completely fallen into some unknown coma. One of these Seers granddaughters tells us that her grandmother is unreachable, but she hears her murmur the same words over and over; Lumen! Atrum! Fatum prope est! Hora mox abeo! Lacrimula sanguineusum!
What these Latin words mean is: Light! Dark! Faith is near! Time soon departs! Tear of Blood! Yet whatever it really means it is complete nonsense, unless you think of that every single seer in Britain has spoken those words all around. With this all follows darkness that approach from all possible direction, aiming straight towards the secret area of Hogwarts. Yet we cannot say what this darkness is or what its purpose comes from, yet it is safe to say it is not natural, and it is our believes that the Prophecy as spoken from is finally drawing to an end.
Lastly, through all the attacks, all the strange things that has happened, many are doubting about the heirs spoken. In Hogwarts things have been unusually quiet, so soon one of our reporters will be sent over to see if the heirs are doing their duty, or just lacking of. For my part I have heard nothing for several months, and I am curious to see what they are up to. Maybe dear readers, they too will turn up into some kind of new problem.
Reporter Rita Skeeter
Harry sighed. That Rita was a problem, and so was also her stupid quill. Once you thought she wasn't that nasty and in the other second she could really put you down and make you look like some evil monster. Harry just hoped that the reporter she was telling them about would be her, yet he had a feeling it really was her.
Just then he heard the door open behind him, and a rather sour bunch of people entered the small tower he used to escape to whenever he needed to think. All of them were like him, dressed in plain black robes. They smiled and he smiled back.
"I hope you are ready to go" Cassandra said, rain water dripping from her hair. "The Order is waiting you know."
Harry smiled and nodded. Neville, who was holding what looked like a flower patch sighed. "Can we go before these flowers die, I mean they don't seem to have much life energy left? I should have known better the to leave them with Ron."
"Hey!" Ron said. "You never told me water was necessary."
Draco suddenly burst out laughing, while Hermione started to giggle. Ron looked hurt, but Cassandra snuggled closer, wiping most of his expression away.
"Water is necessary for all life, surely you should remember that." Hermione managed to say.
Harry shook his head before also laughing. He just couldn't believe how small brain Ron could have, yet even if so he had one of the bravest hearts found at Hogwarts.
"Well, we better go then, before Ron possibly blows up the castle."
At this even Ron laughed and the heirs, laughing, walked away towards the Great hall, where the Order would be waiting. It was time to bury Peter, in the town he was born.
(Portsmouth)
A long line of black robed wizards and witches walked through the early mist in the morning. In the far away beginning six wizards were carrying a coffin, containing the lifeless form of a man who had all his life searched for life's meaning, and just before his death, finally found it.
In this long line of witches and wizards Harry walked, head down and heart filled with sorrow. But no tears, because he didn't really have any left. He of course hated to see another of his father's best friends die, even if so for a good thing. But from all the things Peter had done against them, were there really any tears. Harry felt really confused, yet he wasn't the only one. Every single heir had a question at heart, a question they had less hope on receiving an answer of.
Soon they arrived at the churchyard and slowly Wormtail's last minutes above ground disappeared as he now, forever would sleep under a blue sky, close to the sea, hearing the gulls cry every day and night as the sun would rise and slowly descend over the horizon.
Right after there was an Order meeting, to discuss the matters from the daily Prophet. Indeed the news about the strange lights was correct, so they could see at the sky. Neville, Cassandra and Draco also went to visit one of the Seers, and also those things were correct, and indeed they were murmuring Latin day and night. In the end Draco fled back towards the meeting, not able to take the words any longer.
During the meeting much was discussed, but few things decided. About the time Draco had arrived, the order members had been talking about the Muggles, the War and much more, but so far the only thing was decided, to keep a close eye on the Muggles. The Heirs had many ideas, but the Order members didn't seem to mind most as they always saw something bad with the idea, that clearly could lead to something much worse. Ron found this very tiring, but there wasn't much to do. This was an Order meeting, and it was their meeting, not the Heirs. Hermione whispered into the others ears that they should have a real meeting straight after, as the adults seemed to do nothing.
(Heir Meeting, several hours later)
Hours later, when all the Order members had left, after very much talking and still no action on doing anything. Harry and the others couldn't believe Dumbledore had created this Order from the beginning. Not only did they always seem t arrive to late for everything, but they also couldn't decide on anything and since Dumbledore had been gone, trying to make the Minister see reason, they didn't look as if they dared to make their own decisions. Because of all this, Hermione had taken about twenty parchments filled with notes and her writing was minimum. Most of this was directly ignored as it had very little importance, but there were still things to discuss. Like for instance, what in the world would they do to stop the Minister and Umbridge from completely flatten the whole Wizarding World? Another, how would they stop the Muggles from completely destroying their world? Thirdly, how would they solve the Prophecy since still they had not found the legendary Elf Light? Fourthly, when they had completed all the previous things, how would they stop Voldemort? And lastly, how would they stop Voldemort from Krum, as they supposed he was, controlled by the Dark Lord himself, also when they didn't want to hurt him? Harry remembered the previous year when Voldemort had taken control of Cho, which ended to her death. Five questions, all very difficult to answer if not even impossible to answer. Draco asked Neville if he had seen anything lately, but the Hufflepuff answered if he would try to see anything, he had a feeling he would end up like all other seers. And he knew that wasn't the meaning of all, he knew he had more he needed to do. He guessed, yet he didn't tell the others, that all seers had to be put into this trance, to calm the world, and hopefully soon allow him to see further and clearer into the future then anyone before, yet he didn't know. He didn't know.
"Well, let us start" Ron began "with Fudge and Umbridge. Any ideas?"
Draco, who had been sitting close to the wall in the cave they where in, sighed and said. "Why shouldn't we just replace him? He has been sitting there long enough to cause havoc. And we don't need him. Hardly anyone believes in the Ministry anymore, except for some few workers, which just happens to be two thirds of the Ministry's. But for everyone outside that organisation, no one really trust them anymore, some has even never done so."
"Yet, we can't do that since we don't have all that power. Dumbledore probably, but after Skeeter's article, I hardly believe anyone will trust us, not until we can gain more trust. WE really have to make a good impression when she'll turn up at the school, all though as soon as she'll leave and as soon we have made sure she has left, I am sure to feel extremely sick to have had that beetle around." Harry said in disgust.
"Beetle?" Cassandra asked.
"The Beetle is her Animagus form, and she is really good to sneak into the castle unexpected because of that. In our fourth year she really did make some really nice articles around us, especially Harry here, who through cheat from Death Eater Crouch, he was thrown into the tournament and he unexpectedly won. Yet it cost us all one life and Harry much pain because the whole attempt was to bring Voldemort back, which happened. And Skeeter would surely have wanted to make it into an interesting story, I know she would have liked that." Hermione said and spitted on the floor. The other stared at her, but Harry and Ron understood why. Hermione had been the cause for Rita to "keep her quill for herself" for their whole fifth year, which felt very relaxing.
Harry walked over to a small round table where there stood a bunch of photos from the last time Voldemort had tried to take over the world. It was photos of the Order and some of them had the pictures of his parents. He felt his eyes sting as tears tried to appear. Ron saw this and as his since long best friend he walked over to him, feeling really sorry.
Well, it doesn't look like we can get something from this, more then we need to replace Fudge sooner or later. I say we should keep our eyes open, maybe send some warnings to him and if he don't follow those we should go straight towards action." Cassandra suggested, which sounded good.
"But we have more, for example the Muggles" Neville said sulkily.
"Hmm, this really needs thinking. That is completely something else. How many more Muggles are there really then Wizards?" Draco asked.
"Well, one of twenty is born with magical blood. 1/20 that is." Hermione said.
"And no witch or wizard can fight nineteen Muggles on his or her own. This really is a problem, especially since our number is sinking just as we speak. Every single country in Europe is hunting witches." Cassandra said.
Harry suddenly awoke, as if he had been awakened from some kind of shock, as if he had been walking in mist all his life to suddenly find out practically all his answers. "We should give them a reason not to fear us. Most witches and wizards wonders how we are going to retrieve our anonymousness, but hear this. There exist no such things anymore. We did a mistake and we have paid for that. We should try to bring peace back between the two worlds."
"But how?" Ron asked, understanding his idea but not understanding anything further.
"The Squibs and Muggleborns can help us, just as all families within the Muggleborns who knows how it is having a witch or wizard in the family. There are Muggle friends to many, we can help with magic, to create things. We must show them the bright sides with magic rather then the dark that they fear. They must know it still exist and we must teach them the differences. When to befriend and when to run that is."
Neville clapped his hands. "I think you just solved about everyone's problem, yet do you know how much work that is ahead after all this?"
"I know, but it's way better to do some magical tricks here and there then to get officially killed in the name of England, don't you think?"
Everyone laughed. Draco looked at the summoned parchment and read.
"So, anyone is having a idea for the elf Light?"
"Ron, maybe we should check the kitchen again. The elf is bound to be there somewhere."
Ron shook his head. We have been checking that kitchen for ages and still we have found nothing more except food, kitchen accessories, rats and some bottles of Butterbeer.
"I do wonder, if the task for us, in discovering the Prophecy, the full one. Then why in the world would those words appear in a common light held but a House Elf? There's got to be something more about that or else I suppose we should have stumbled over the whole thing ages ago, I mean how often at nights don't we see the elves making the fire?"
Harry thought for a moment, this still was an unsolved question. He knew Ron and Neville still would keep their eyes open down in the kitchen, but somehow he was sure Draco was right. It couldn't be that easy, could it?
"Oh very well, better continue on these questions," Cassandra said reading the fourth question for the others. How to stop Voldemort at all?
"To hard to solve now as we don't know what is going to happen?!" Harry said returning to the photos. "I mean, we don't know where he will strike, what to expect, what to plan, we basically know nothing at all about the last battle. The only thing we know for sure is that I have to kill Voldemort, but how will I be able to do that, do you have any idea how strong he is?"
Draco nodded. "You have a good point, but don't forget that once it is time for the Prophecy to enter the battle, it will give you the same chance to win as Voldemort. Or else our future would already have been decided."
"Draco's right Harry, once the time has finally come, you and Voldemort will be the ones to decide, after all, you have been the centre of happening for the last period after all." Neville said.
Harry nodded, but he still felt very uneasy. Voldemort gave him nightmares, not over his own fate, but for the fate of the ones he loved, his friends and the whole Wizarding world, which would loose everything if he failed this.
"And we will be right behind you, if you need us. You know you can count on your friends." Cassandra said.
"Thanks Cassie, I needed to hear that." Harry said. Cassandra smiled back.
"One last thing" Hermione said. "What are we going to do about Krum?"
Ron, who had been very quiet for the last couple of minutes spoke. "I do doubt we can return him on our side easily, and I have no idea where Voldemort could have hidden the sister of his. Also I seriously doubt getting her out would be easy, as Voldemort probably hiding her somewhere. Yet we could use Krum to our own ideas, if we just could get Voldemort out of his head."
"Just so we don't make him do the same as he did with Cho" Harry said remembering what had happened right before the summer.
The other heirs nodded. Neville declared the meeting finished and they all made their way back, not to be late for the next spectacular Quidditch game. Hufflepuff versus Slytherin.
(Hufflepuff versus Slytherin)
"WELCOME TO THE SECOND QUIDDITCH MATCH OF THE SEASON" Blaze shouted, doing the commentator for the match. "THIS WILL BE A NAILING MATCH BETWEEN THE SILVER SERPANTS AND THE BLACK BADGERS. HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS AS WE WELCOME OUR FIGHTERS ONTO THE PITCH!"
Seven green and seven yellow players entered the field. Among the Slytherins stood Draco, who was telling his teammates of a plan he had come up with during the night in order to crush the badgers.
"AND THEY ARE OFF. AND IT'S SLYTHERIN IN POSSESION OF THE QUAFFLE, HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE HUFFLEPUFF GOAL POSTS. AND… SLYTHERIN SCORE TEN-ZERO!"
All the heirs, except for Neville, clapped. Most of them had agreed to cheer for Malfoy, even if still some of them weren't all fond with Slytherins. Neville more cheered for Hufflepuff, which came natural now he was the Heir of Hufflepuff.
The game continued, and the two sides fought like mad, none of them able to break the other.
"AND THE CURRENT RESULTS ARE SLYHERIN IN THE LEAD WITH SIX GOALS AT HUFFLEPUFF'S FIVE. NO WAIT, HUFFLEPUFF BEATS THE KEEPER AND SCORES ANOTHER ONE. IT'S 60-60. WHAT A MATCH!!!"
Hufflepuff scored one more go, Slytherin two. That was when Harry and Draco saw the Snitch, right beside one of the Slytherin Beaters. Five seconds later Draco hovered over their heads, hav9ing caught it before the Hufflepuff Seeker saw it. Neville groaned, but still he was happy for Draco. He couldn't feel all that happy for the rest of the cheering Slytherins.
Yet still, Gryffindor was still in the lead, but they all knew soon they wouldn't be. Especially if the other three houses would have something to say about it.
The other heirs returned other business, while Draco was forced down to the dungeons in order to celebrate his house victory. Neville felt a bit sulky, yet Ron insured him the Hufflepuff could beat Slytherin in other things. For example, he could plant a devils snare into the Slytherin Common Room. Neville laughed at this, telling the others to think about it. The three friends where about to fall asleep, when half of the castle was abruptly awoken.
"No, that role belongs to me!" Cassandra screamed. "I was the lady of Light last year, I am supposed to…"
"No, I am the rightful Lucia this year" Parvati said clearly.
"What about us then?" Sabina Hope said, meaning both her and their friend Iris.
"Yeah, don't forget us?" Iris said, cursing in French.
"I still don't believe why you don't let me take it?" Hermione said angrily.
The long catfight continued, and when it was finally over every girl was very bruised and tired. Harry sighed, what a day!
To Reviewers: As you might have seen above, a new vote is up. He, he, see down for details.
Danielle: Solving Krum's problem will be harder then you expect, mainly because he holds the same sort of control on him as he did on Cho, yet from some other reason. Thanks for reviewing, and the other answer of your question you could find at my forewords.
gary: Blaze has always been a troublemaker, a Marauder, a person who often bumps into trouble and still has a hundred different ways of getting out, sometimes involving others. And, I didn't fully understand what you meant, but if it was as I suspected, oh well… never mind. And I am really sorry for that I haven't been in AIM lately, but my brother uninstalled it. You see, we received an unusual amount of Spy-Ware and my brother tracked it down to AIM. At the moment I'm only using MSN, but I am afraid I won't be using AIM, not until we find another way of getting past the Spy ware. As this is my mum's computer, and she gets really furious once those things happen, I haven't dared to try again. I'll still try to find another way though.
End Notes:
New Vote, hurray. This time I really need you to decide who is going to become Lucia this year. Okay, it's still some chapters to go, but I am starting early. You have these girls to vote on, and I will put a reminder on all of them, so you know who they are.
Cassandra Ridgeback; Last years Lucia, Heir of Ravenclaw, Ron's girlfriend yet I still think you know her pretty well by now.
Hermione Granger; Bookworm, Know-It-All, Miss Clever, Draco's girlfriend (much to many reader's dislike, I know)
Parvati Patil; A Gryffindor we all know. Currently one of Blaze's big fans and girlfriend. Very eager for the role.
Lavender Brown; Seamus Girlfriend, A skilled seer in Gryffindor.
Sabina Hope; Neville's girlfriend, born near Fuji in Japan, a very skilled healer and a very nice girl.
Iris Blanch; Harry's girlfriend, born French and once student of Beauxbatons.
Pansy Parkinson; Slytherin girl, who more then once has tried to steal Draco away, more believing he is worthy her. Also a great snob, but still, not going to commentate further for all Pansy fans.
Ginny Weasley; Ron's little sister, chaser in the Gryffindor team and I think you already know her.
Shitza: VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!!! I NEED YOUR HELP, I CAN'T REALLY DECIDE THIS TIME!!! PLEASE VOTE AND REVIEW!!!
Shitza
Ps: The Headline was changed from drowned too soaked, after a lot of thinking I decided a headline like that was not a good idea after the disaster in Asia.