Chapter 9
Troubles Brewing
After their training, Harry and Ginny shared an armchair in the common room, Neville had gone off to find Luna; Ron and Hermione went out for a stroll around the grounds. The rest of the day went by just like any other day until it was time for bed. They all said their 'good night's' and went up to their dorms.
The next morning Harry had a lay in while everyone else, except for Hermione, went to class. Harry breezed through the whole day, but paid more attention in his Divination class and started asking questions about the centaurs abilities at divination. Everyone was surprised at Harry's new attitude to Divination, except Ron who knew he'd spoken with Bane in the forest and even he took more interest in class. Potions went by as normal, only twenty points were taken away from Gryffindor during that lesson. Harry just wanted the day to end. He was looking forward to the quidditch tryouts the following day.
Harry started his day, after breakfast, with charms where they learned more shield charms, nothing as advanced as Harry's shielding techniques against the unforgivables, at least the cruciatus curse anyway.
After charms, instead of going to his transfiguration class, Harry found a nice quiet spot and apparated to the clearing in the forest. There, he waited a few minutes, transformed into his griffin form and took flight towards Hagrid's hut.
'Perfect timing' Harry thought as he looked down towards Hagrid and his fifth year class. He'd noticed them all settling in for the start of the class and also noticed Hagrid who seamed rather unsettled. 'Hagrid!' Harry called out in his mind, 'It's me, Harry. The griffin is on his way!'
Harry noticed Hagrid perked up a little and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. He waited a couple of minutes and landed down behind the class and sat down. He gave a nod to Hagrid who finished his introductions and made the class turn around.
Everyone gasped, except for Ginny of course. Ginny ran up to Harry and started cuddling him and stroking his fur.
"Now now Ginny. Be careful!" warned Hagrid.
"It's okay Hagrid, he's just a big pussy cat really." Ginny replied rubbing Harry's cheeks. Harry let out a large purr of appreciation and rolled onto his back.
Harry remained in his griffin form for the whole lesson so Hagrid could teach them all about the golden griffins and then trundled off behind Hagrid's cabin when everyone made their way back to the castle. Hagrid and Ginny followed Harry behind the cabin where Harry transformed back into his human form.
"Oh 'arry!" Hagrid exclaimed, "I al'ays knew there was somethin' special 'bout you!"
Ginny ran up to Harry again smiling, "That was great Harry!"
"That's okay Ginny, and Hagrid, let me know if you need a griffin again won't you?" said Harry.
"Tha' I will 'arry, tha' I will," replied Hagrid as Harry and Ginny walked back up to the castle for lunch.
The rest of the day flew by with Harry's excitement at riding his broom again for the quidditch tryouts. Now was the time to take off for the quidditch pitch to take a look at all the new Gryffindor Quidditch Team hopefuls and perhaps manage to fit a game in as well.
Everyone assembled on the quidditch pitch waiting for Ron to start the tryouts.
"Hi everyone," Ron started, "thanks for coming and showing your interest in joining the best quidditch team at Hogwarts!"
Luna's hat roared into life as Ron said that and she waved at her boyfriend, Neville, who waved back.
"What I want everyone to do, is split up into different groups per position. If you want to be a chaser, please go over there," Ron indicated to the left hand side of the pitch, "If you want to be a beater, please go over there," Ron indicated to the right hand side of the pitch.
Ron turned to Harry, "Fancy being a target for our potential beaters mate?"
Harry smiled, "Yeah, why not. I'm used to being a target on the pitch anyway!" Harry laughed, "Have you told Madam Pomfrey to be ready for me?" he joked.
Ron laughed and Harry turned to walk over to the potential beaters. Ron and Ginny walked over to the potential chasers and started practicing. Ron positioned himself in the goal and each potential chaser tried his hardest to shoot the quaffle through one of the hoops behind him.
'Great Ron, what am I suppose to do with this lot?' Harry thought to himself. He turned around and looked at the faces of the potential beaters. "Hi Neville, I'm surprised to see you here?"
"Hi Harry, it was Luna's idea really," Neville blushed and looked down at his feet.
Harry chuckled, remembering Neville's first flight on a broom which resulted in Harry becoming the youngest seaker in Hogwarts history. He took a deep breath, "Right, Ron wants me to be a target for you guys so what I want is you in the air, one by one, and try your best to knock me off my broom." Harry looked around again at their faces, "It's okay guys," seeing the look of horror on their faces with the thought of knocking Harry off his broom, "I'm quite a good flyer!"
Harry released a bludger and took to the air. Neville took to the air towards the bludger and whacked it as hard as he could towards Harry. 'Whoa, that was close!' Harry thought as he swerved out of the way. Thirty seconds later another bludger, or rather the same one, came towards Harry. He broke hard, leaned back and only just managed to escape being hit. Harry shook his head in amazement and landed on the ground next to the other prospective beaters.
"Excellent Neville! You can make your way back to the castle now if you want. Ron's going to post the results of the tryouts on the notice board tomorrow," explained Harry.
Neville nodded and made his way back up to the castle with Luna ; Harry got back on his broom to test the next beater out.
Meanwhile, back down the other end of the field, Ron was testing the scoring skills of the prospective chasers.
An hour later everyone was back on the ground.
Ron dismissed the group back to the castle and spoke to Harry and Ginny about the new team prospects. "So Harry, what did you think of the beaters?" asked Ron.
"Neville really surprised me, he nearly got me! I think our little target practice has done him some good!" exclaimed Harry. "Parvati surprised me as well. She was pretty good, better than Seamus. What about the chasers?"
"I think Dennis and Lavender were the best ones, what about you Ron?" replied Ginny.
"Yeah, I suppose. I'm just not too sure about Dennis. With enough practice he should be okay though."
"Is that it then?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, come on. Let's get back to the hall for dinner, all this work's made me hungry!" replied Ron.
"Everything makes you hungry!" said Ginny.
Everything started falling together into a nice routine for Harry and his friends as they all settled into the Hogwarts life once more. The quidditch team had been decided and regular practices were planned for Tuesday nights. Harry's advanced defence classes on Wednesday nights started without any problems. Harry's Animagus training with Hermione and Ginny on Thursday nights were getting under way although Hermione seemed to be having a few difficulties. Harry's weekend training sessions were also fine. Everything was running how it should be and everyone was happy.
On the 28th September, the Saturday before the duelling competition, was the first Hogsmeade weekend. Everyone was talking excitedly about going into Hogsmeade during breakfast that morning. Harry's 'special' weekend class was put off for the day so they could all take a well earned break.
After breakfast the six friends, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna, were walking out of the great hall when Harry stopped suddenly. Ginny looked up at Harry. His eyes were open wide but were not focussed on anything in particular and his mouth hung open as though it were a venus fly trap waiting for its pray.
Harry suddenly snapped out of his apparent comatose state. "Voldemort's up to something!" Harry exclaimed.
"What!" exclaimed Ron, "How do you know?"
"Did you just have a vision or something?" asked Hermione.
"Yes. I saw him gathering his death eaters. It seems he's been recruiting since the Ministry attack," replied Harry, "I've got to tell Dumbledore. Wait here for me."
Harry ran off, then apparated when he was out of site, to Dumbledore's office. Instead of knocking on the door, Harry burst through straight into Dumbledore's office.
"Yes Harry, what can I do for you?"
"Sir," Harry caught his breath, "sir, I think Voldemort's up to something. I saw a vision of him summoning his death eaters, giving them orders and saw them apparating away."
"Indeed," Dumbledore replied, "is there any more you can tell me?"
"No sir. I didn't hear anything, just saw what I told you. Nothing more, except… they appeared to be in three separate groups when they were apparating away," replied Harry.
"Curious… Very well. I will notify some of the Order members to apparate to Hogsmeade immediately and start patrolling, covertly of course. I take it you will be going to Hogsmeade?"
"Yes sir. I was just on my way with the others."
"Very well, be on your guard Harry. I will also inform the Ministry that there may be an attack on Diagon Alley and Azkaban."
"Yes sir, I will," replied Harry, and with that, Harry ran back down to meet up with the others, who were still waiting outside the great hall.
"Is Dumbledore calling off the Hogsmeade visit?" asked Ron.
"No, we're all going. People have already left anyway. Dumbledore's going to call some of the Order in to patrol Hogsmeade and is informing the Ministry of a possible attack on Diagon Alley and Azkaban. Make sure you've all got your wands and can reach them quickly. I have a feeling this is not going to be a relaxing day!"
"I don't like the sound of that," said Neville, "What if Gran gets caught shopping in Diagon Alley?" he asked no one in particular.
"I'm sure it will be fine Neville," Harry reassured him.
The six of them made their way to Hogsmeade and told everyone they came across about the possible attack and to be careful. As they walked past the new Hogsmeade branch of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Ron popped in to let them know about the possible attack.
"Don't worry little bro. We've got a few surprises up our sleeves if they try anything!" Fred reassured Ron.
The group carried on walking down the street, every time they heard a POP, their heads would turn towards the noise and each time they all sighed, glad that it wasn't a death eater, just an Order member who nodded back at them.
The group decided to take a rest from walking around and sat on the grass just up from Dervish & Bangs, where they could see right the way down the main street of Hogsmeade.
Harry called for Dobby and got a picnic organised for everyone. Hermione complained at first but after Dobby explained to her that he was only too happy to provide the group with food, she calmed down a little.
They were all enjoying their picnic and had just finished when there was an explosion from the other end of the village. They all sprang up on their feet and drew their wands out.
All of a sudden there were masked death eaters in black cloaks swarming the village firing curses at people fleeing the area.
"Come on everyone, stay together," Harry ordered as he made his way back down the street. Death eaters suddenly apparated in front of the group and raised their wands. They weren't counting on Harry's group being much of a threat and were surprised that Harry and his group evaded them easily as they somersaulted and rolled out of the way throwing counter curse after counter curse. In just a few minutes the death eaters on the east side of the village were all bound and gagged and the group made their way further along the street.
Harry had a chuckle as he saw Fred and George throwing what looked like missiles towards the death eaters. It wasn't long before the death eaters on the west side of the village were all incapacitated.
Just as Harry thought it was all over, two more groups of death eaters appeared and immediately started firing curses towards the group. Ginny got hit and fell to the ground.
"Noooooo!" shouted Harry. To everyone surprise, Harry held up his hands and the death eaters all flew back and fell to the ground unconscious.
Harry walked up to one of the death eaters and revived him.
"Lucius," Harry said in a voice not of his own, "what a surprise to see you. You go back to your master and give him this message, tell him that I am ready for him, tell him that I know the prophecy, tell him that I know my powers and tell him I know how to kill him!"
The look on Lucius Malfoy's face was one of horror but tried to hide it, "I will tell him nothing Potter!" he spat.
Harry revived the death eater next to Lucius and waited for him to stand. Harry pointed a finger at the death eater and an orange beam shot out hitting the death eater in the chest. Lucius looked at the fallen death eater shocked at what he saw and looked back at Harry.
"Go!" Harry growled and Lucius disapparated.
Harry turned around towards Ginny. Ron and Hermione were knelt down next to her and looked up at Harry. Fear spread on their faces as they noticed the piercing yellow eye's from Harry and feeling the magic emanating from him. Harry made a gesture with both his arms and Ron and Hermione both stood up and backed off from Ginny as though being pulled back by puppeteers controlling them. Harry walked up to Ginny and waved his hand over her and she sat up suddenly. Harry picked her up and took her in his arms. "No one will ever harm you Ginny. No one," he said.
As Harry was holding Ginny, Hermione noticed Harry's eyes returning to normal and approached him.
"Harry?" she asked tentatively, tears forming in her eyes as she approached Harry.
Harry slowly looked over to Hermione and opened his arm for her, gesturing for her to come over to him. She came over and joined in the hug with Harry and Ginny and sobbed into his shoulder. Harry looked over to Ron and made the same gesture and he too joined in the group hug. Seeing this, Neville and Luna also joined in. Unknown by Harry and the others, a shadow lurked in the background watching with interest.
They stayed there all together for what seemed like an hour until they heard the familiar clonking of a wooden leg behind them. They all released each other, composed themselves, then faced Mad Eye Moody.
"Good job Potter!" Moody exclaimed.
Harry looked up with sadness in his eyes, "no Moody, I killed one of them."
"Don't beat yourself up about it. They'd kill you, and your friends, if they ever had the chance!"
Harry nodded to the retired Auror and walked back down the street towards the Three Broomsticks, or what was left of it.
As they got closer, everyone noticed Fred and George clearing away rubble from the pub and rushed over to help them.
"Fred! George!" Ron exclaimed.
"Good to see you little bro," George said, "giz' a hand!"
Everyone helped except Harry. After a few seconds, everyone realised that Harry was just stood there and turned to face him. Everyone stared as Harry's eyes turned yellow again and he motioned with his hands and moved everyone out of the way. What happened next surprised everyone as Harry levitated all the rubble up into the air.
After everyone got over the shock of seeing Harry do this, they all dove into the ruined pub and started levitating everyone that were trapped, onto the street.
Once the pub was searched, Harry lowered the rubble and rebuilt the pub before everyone's eyes. A photographer from the Daily Prophet took pictures of this but Harry waved a finger at the camera and smoke bellowed out of it. The photographer was about to complain when he saw Harry's eyes. He just nodded and disapparated away.
Harry turned around, looked at Ginny, smiled and collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Meanwhile, in Voldemort's hiding place, Voldemort paced up and down in front of his closest Death Eaters. "The Potter boy is gaining in strength. He must be stopped soon. How many Dementors did we manage to recruit?"
"All of them my lord, about 500 from Azkaban and about another 750 joined us from elsewhere after the attack," reported Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Voldemort, "and what of Diagon Alley?"
Crabb and Goyle senior stepped forward and bowed low before their master, "I'm sorry my lord, the aurors seemed prepared for an attack and captured Pettigrew."
"Imbeciles!" Voldemort roared, "get out of my sight!"
"Yes my lord," both men replied, bowing and retreating away from their master.
Harry awoke to find himself in a strange room on his own. He looked around, noticing all the walls were white, in fact everything in the room was white. 'I must be in the hospital wing, again' Harry thought to himself.
'Ginny!' He cried out with his mind, 'Ginny!'
A couple of minutes passed before Ginny burst through the door and jumped on the bed.
"Ginny! Can't… breath!"
"Oh, sorry, I just missed you so much. I was worried."
"That's okay Gin," replied Harry, "I missed you too. How long have I been in here?"
"A few days. It's Tuesday morning."
"Yes Mr Potter, you had us all worried," said Madam Pomfrey, "Now Miss Weasley, please remove yourself from Mr Potter's bed."
"I'll go and tell everyone you're awake," said Ginny blushing.
"Now, let's check you over," said Madam Pomfrey. She gave Harry various tests to make sure he had recovered and conjured a breakfast for him. As she left, Dumbledore arrived, "Ah, Harry. Good to see you're awake," he said.
"Sir ? What happened ?" asked Harry.
"Well Harry, from what Miss Granger told me, your emotions from the attack on Miss Weasley overpowered you and enabled you to channel all your anger back towards the death eaters who attacked you and your friends. I need to research this further to see if there is a link to Godric Gryffindor, unless you know that the two are linked?"
"I don't know sir. It happened so fast."
Dumbledore patted Harry on the shoulder, nodded, and left Harry to rest although his rest was short lived as Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville came rushing into the hospital wing.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, "What you did was bloody brilliant!"
"Everyone's talking about how you threatened Voldemort!" exclaimed Hermione.
"I don't really remember," said Harry.
"I'm sure you will remember in time Mr Potter," said Madam Pomfrey, "Now, everyone please leave Mr Potter alone, he needs rest. I'm sure he'll be well enough to return to the Gryffindor common room this evening."
Later that day, Harry returned to his common room. It was empty, as classes hadn't quite finished for the day, so Harry went straight up to his dormitory and sat cross legged on his bed to meditate. He's been out of it for a few days so he wanted to try and get in touch with Godric Gryffindor. He had a lot of questions about what happened to him in the attack on Hogsmeade.
After a few minutes, Godric appeared in Harry's mind. "Ah Harry, I'm glad you're well."
"Godric, can you tell me what happened in Hogsmeade? Everything is a bit hazy."
"Our link is growing stronger, I managed to channel my essence through you but only because you requested it. That, combined with your magical Animagus form, can give you great powers, powers which will help stop Voldemort's reign of terror," explained Godric.
"So, in a way, I called you to help me?" asked Harry.
"Yes," replied Godric, "in time you will become so powerful you will not need my help any longer."
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, entering the dorm, breaking Harry away from his meditative state. "Oh, sorry mate," said Ron, seeing the look of Harry's face.
"Never mind Ron. I was just trying to find out what happened with me in Hogsmeade."
"Did you find out anything?" Ron asked sheepishly sitting down on his bed.
"A little. Godric helped me."
"Oh," was all Ron said and got up and left the dorm. Harry followed closely behind Ron, back down into the common room to find the Gryffindor Quidditch team all waiting. Ron turned round to face Harry, "Do you feel up to practicing tonight? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I think I'll go down to the room of requirements to do some training if you don't mind. The last thing I want to do is fall off my broom and end up back in the hospital wing!"
"Okay Harry, see you later."
As Harry reached the room of requirements, he stopped to listen. He could have sworn he heard footsteps behind him. He shrugged and paced up and down in front of the hidden door to the room of requirements, then entered. Just as Harry was closing the door, a foot appeared in the door jam. Harry peered around the edge of the door to see who the foot belonged to.
"Malfoy!" exclaimed Harry, "What are you doing here? Bugger off!"
"I need a word Potter, in private," replied Draco.
Curious as to what the future Death Eater wanted, Harry opened the door to let Draco in. Harry waved his hand and two over stuffed armchairs appeared for them to sit on.
"Harry," Draco began, Harry wrinkled his forehead in thought, trying to think when Draco ever called him by his first name, "I saw what you did on Saturday in Hogsmeade and I also came to tell you that Peter Pettigrew was captured in the attack against Diagon Alley."
"What do you know about Pettigrew?" asked Harry.
"I'm not stupid Potter, you know who my father is!", spat Draco, "I know he framed your Godfather for those muggle murders. It's only a matter of time before he'll confess and clear your Godfather's name, unless the slimy rat escapes."
"It's a bit late for that now!" Harry spat.
"Is it?" asked Draco. Harry stared at his enemy of six years with curiosity. "You don't know anything about the Veil do you?" asked Draco.
"I know anyone who enters the Veil dies," Harry replied, staring at his feet. Harry didn't like being reminded of this subject.
"The Department Of Mysteries at the Ministry aren't the only ones researching the Veil you know. The Dark Lord is also interested in the Veil. That was one of the reasons for the attack at the Ministry. I know the Dark Lord intends to use the Veil to bring back the most vile criminals to join his forces."
"How?" asked Harry, hopefully.
"I don't know exactly, I just overheard my father talking to someone about it over the summer. It seems the Dark Lord was quite upset about the failure of the attack at the Ministry. I think he might be planning another attack but I'm not sure."
"You don't seem sure of anything do you?" spat Harry.
"I'm not a Death Eater you know!" Draco spat back, "I don't want to become a slave like my father! If you don't want to listen to what I've got to say, I'll leave you alone!" Draco rose to leave, but Harry stopped him.
"I'm sorry, but you've never given me any reason to trust you. Why should I trust you now?"
"With what I saw you do at Hogsmeade, I now know I have another choice I can make. I can either become a Death Eater, a slave, like my father, and probably die or get locked up in Azkaban, or try and make a difference and probably live and clear my family's name."
"I still don't trust you!"
Draco left Harry alone in the room of requirements to think about what he said. Harry's thoughts went back to the Veil and the night of his Godfather's supposed death. Was there really a chance that his Godfather could be saved?