Chapter 14
Jagged Link
Harry was completely dumb struck, Dumbledore smiled and continued, "Your Charms exams have been brought forward to tomorrow but I wish to see you in my office straight after breakfast tomorrow to discuss your new… sleeping talent."
Harry nodded, remembering about the book Dumbledore gave him earlier. Dumbledore smiled at Harry and left Harry and Ginny in the great hall.
Ginny linked arms with Harry, "Fancy going for a walk? I haven't got any lessons now, not until nine o'clock anyway." Harry nodded and smiled, still dumb struck, 'I'm going to be an Auror!' he thought.
That evening found Harry in the Gryffindor common room with his friends, Ginny cuddling up to Harry and Hermione cuddling up to Ron, all in their usual places in front of the large open fire.
Harry had been telling his friends about his day with Ginny excitedly finishing off the story. Harry yawned.
"You should go to bed Harry. You've got another busy day tomorrow," said Ginny.
"Good idea. I've got that book to read as well," replied Harry. He kissed Ginny lightly on the lips and went up to bed.
When Harry had disappeared from view, Ron asked "Is it just me or is Harry acting different?"
"It's probably you..." replied Ginny.
"Different? What do you mean?" asked Hermione, interrupting Ginny.
"He's been acting differently ever since we saw him at Diagon Alley in the summer... You don't think he's being possessed by you-know-who do you?" asked Ron.
"Don't be silly Ronald!" spat Hermione.
"Voldemort couldn't stand possessing Harry at the ministry, I doubt he'll be trying again any time soon!" replied Ginny.
"Why?"
"Because Harry's mind is too good, too pure for an evil mind like Voldemort to possess," explained Hermione.
"He's probably just sick of waiting around for other people to teach him how to defeat Voldemort," said Ginny.
"Harry knows now that he's the only one who can defeat him so he's learning everything he can and teaching us so we can help him when the time comes," explained Hermione, "He's your best friend Ron, you should trust him!"
"I know, and I do trust him," Ron said, looking down at his feet, "It's just hard to know who's who where Voldemort is concerned."
"I know. We've all got to stick together," replied Hermione.
"Anyway," replied Ginny, "it's getting quite late. We should be getting to bed."
They all agreed with Ginny and went up to their dormitories.
The next day, Ron woke up to find Harry sitting on the side of his bed with his head in his hands.
"What's up mate?" Ron asked Harry.
"I… I don't know. I slept with this book Dumbledore gave me and I can't remember any of it!" Harry said worryingly.
"I'm sure it's fine mate. Dumbledore will probably have a theory about it, that's probably why he gave you that particular book," replied Ron, "Let's go down to breakfast and you can ask him afterwards."
The two of them went down to breakfast together. Harry, still worrying about the book, didn't say a word.
Hermione and Ginny came into the great hall and sat down opposite the two young men. They looked at Harry, then each other, and decided not to say anything.
Harry looked up at his friends, "I'm going to see Dumbledore."
They all nodded solemnly and Harry left the hall.
When Harry got to the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office, it moved aside and Harry ascended the stairs. As usual, Harry went to knock on the door but it opened, seemingly on it's own, to admit him.
"Ah Harry, come in, come in. Make yourself comfortable," Dumbledore motioned for Harry to sit down next to the fire. When Harry sat down, Dumbledore joined him.
They sat in silence for what seemed to Harry quite a long time. Dumbledore seemed to be studying Harry until he spoke, "Now then Harry, tell me about the book I lent you."
"I can't tell you much Professor… I didn't remember anything about the book except the first half a dozen pages which I read yesterday."
"Ah… I think I can explain… You are well aware that Tom Riddle attended school here at Hogwarts? You are also aware that you are linked to Tom by the means of your scar?" on both questions Harry nodded, "He was an exemplary student here at Hogwarts, along the same lines as Hermione Granger. What you aren't aware of is that Tom has gained considerable strength and knowledge since Hogwarts and also since the attack at the ministry. Every spare moment of his time, right from his early Hogwarts years, was spent researching the Dark Arts." Dumbledore paused, "I believe in certain situations you are able to unconsciously gain knowledge from Tom whilst you're sleeping. Tom's mind is gaining knowledge at a rate no person should ever have to endure and keeping control of that knowledge will be no mean feet thus allowing you, through your link to Tom, to also gain that knowledge."
Harry nodded again.
"You are not taking Arithmancy or Ancient Runes?" asked Dumbledore.
"No sir," Harry said, looking down into the fire.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of Harry. You don't need those subjects to become an Auror, but I believe those subjects will be useful to you, especially as Tom has already done all the hard work for you," Dumbledore said smiling, "I'm going to give you a book list and permission to go to Diagon Alley to purchase those books. The books in question are the books I know Tom read at his time here in Hogwarts, including Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Using your link to Tom, you should be able to gain all the knowledge he gained whilst he was here for all the subjects he took at N.E.W.T. level. I would ask you to take out the books from the library but I believe you will find them useful later in life so you should have your own copies."
Harry nodded again.
"I will also endeavour to find out any other books he may have read and compile another list for you. This will take some time however. It is getting increasingly difficult to gain information about Tom. Only a handful of his followers know of his location, anyone trying to gain knowledge from those followers is either tortured… or… worse."
"Is Professor Snape at risk sir?" Harry asked, surprisingly worried.
"No. We have decided it is far too risky for Severus to continue his undercover work. We believe Tom never really trusted Severus when he returned in your forth year."
Dumbledore swished his wand and a piece of paper landed on Harry's lap containing a number of books and an exam time table.
"Now Harry, your Charms exam starts at ten o'clock in the Great Hall. I suggest you apparate straight to Fred and George's shop in Diagon Alley, the back room has been cleared out for apparating. Please make sure you return back in time for your exam Harry. You can use the exam timetable to schedule your… revision time."
Harry nodded once more. He handed the book back to Dumbledore and apparated to Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.
"Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Fred, or George, Harry couldn't tell which, as he apparated into the back room of the Weasleys' shop.
"Er… hi," said Harry, still trying to figure out which twin was stood in front of him.
"Wasn't expecting anyone today, never mind you. Aren't you supposed to be in classes now? Skiving I suspect? Need a snack box?"
"No, no, nothing like that. Dumbledore sent me to get some books. Got to rush, got an exam at ten," said Harry.
"Exam? There's not till June! Boy they'll be asking you to stop at school another two years next! Is Ronnikins taking his exams as well?"
"No, just me. Anyway, got to rush. I'll be back as soon as I've got my books,"
Harry exited the shop and made his way to Flourish & Blott's. The streets of Diagon Alley were quiet, almost too quiet but it was a weekday so it didn't worry Harry.
When Harry got to the bookshop, to save time he gave the manager his list. The manager had come straight up to Harry upon entering the shop. 'I suppose there are advantages of being a celebrity,' Harry thought to himself. The manager kept coming up to Harry offering some extra books, most of which were on the subject of the Dark Arts. He agreed to take the extra Dark Arts books as well as the books on the list.
"Can you transfer the necessary funds from my vault to pay for these?" asked Harry.
"Certainly Mr Potter," replied the manager.
Harry waved his hand and conjured a rucksack to put the books in. "Thank you sir," Harry said, picking up the rucksack.
The hair on the back of Harry's neck was standing on end as he was walking through Diagon Alley again. He knew there was something strange in the air.
All of a sudden people apparated all around him, he was surrounded. Doing the only thing he could think of, he disapparated. Harry apparated straight to Dumbledore's office.
"Sir! There's something weird going on in Diagon Alley!" exclaimed Harry.
"What do you mean Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"I was walking back from Flourish and Blott's, back to Fred and George's shop and I could feel something wasn't right. All of a sudden people apparated all around me, they all raised their wands but I managed to disapparate. Sir, they didn't look like Death Eaters, they just looked like ordinary witches and wizards," explained Harry.
"I see… Harry, can you apparate me to Fred and Georges shop?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied. Harry put down his books, placed a hand on Dumbledore's shoulder and apparated both of them to the back room in Fred and George's shop.
Harry could hear shouting coming from the front of the shop. He and Dumbledore ran into the shop to find Fred and George shooting spells at the shop front.
"Excuse me boys, you appear to need a little help," said Dumbledore. With a wave of his wand the shop front glazed over like it was suddenly covered in ice. "That should hold them off for a while."
"Thanks sir. I didn't think we could hold them for much longer. They look like they're attacking all the shops on the alley. I managed to floo George and he apparated down from Hogsmeade to give me a hand."
"I'd better get back there just in case anything's happening up there," replied George and then disapparated.
"I'm glad you're okay Harry, I was quite worried when you didn't come back here," said Fred.
"That's okay, I went straight to Hogwarts."
"Now," Dumbledore said rubbing his hands, "Fred, you contact the ministry and find out where the Aurors are. Harry, have you mastered your stealth apparating?"
"Yes sir," replied Harry.
"Apparate to each shop, don't stay too long, but bring any survivors back here. I can't imagine they'll be many shop owners still left here. Most of them will have abandoned their shops."
Harry nodded and then apparated to the Apothecary. The store was in ruin but he could feel the presence of someone. Clearing things out of the way he found a trap door behind the counter. It was locked. 'Good,' Harry thought, 'they're safe'.
He then apparated to the next shop, the cauldron shop. The shop looked a mess but cauldron's are pretty sturdy, unless in the hands of Neville. 'No one here,' Harry thought, 'next shop'.
Harry apparated into a war zone. He was nearly hit by a curse coming in from the window. "Bloody hell!" he swore as he dived out the way.
"Who… who's there?" shouted the shop keeper.
"It's Harry Potter sir. Do you need a hand?"
"No offence young Potter but what I need is an army of Aurors!" shouted the shop keeper.
"Aurors are on the way sir!" Harry cast a shield charm on the front of the shop. "Ah, that's better," Harry said standing up.
"How did you do that?"
"Oh, just something I learned for my defence class," replied Harry, "Dumbledore's here in Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes at number ninety-three. He wants me to take everyone there."
"He does, does he?" The shop keeper moved up to Harry, "You tell him to go back to Hogwarts, I'm not going anywhere! I'm not leaving all these brooms unsupervised!"
Harry, surprised at the shop keeper's outburst, apparated straight back to the Weasleys' shop.
"I don't think I'm helping much sir," said Harry. He told Dumbledore what he'd found in the three shops he'd been to.
Harry looked out the window, a few people lay on the ground unconscious.
"Okay Harry, not to worry. The Aurors will be here any minute," replied Dumbledore, "you'd better get back to Hogwarts for your exam."
'Great,' Harry thought, 'another exam being interrupted by Voldemort.' Harry had no doubt Umbridge had been working for Voldemort during her reign of terror at Hogwarts. Harry apparated straight to the great hall.
Harry arrived in the great hall to find a wand thrust in his face. He immediately raised his hand and performed Expelliarmus to disarm his attacker and caught the offensive wand, then with his other hand cast the Evincio spell to bind the attacker.
"Oh, bloody hell! Sorry Examiner Murtarg! Finite!"
Examiner Murtarg peeled herself off the floor.
"Well! I'm glad it's you, not a Death Eater!" the Examiner exclaimed, "What the hell's going on?"
"There was an attack on Diagon Alley," Harry explained.
"I take it Aurors have been dispatched?"
"Yes... I think so anyway... Professor Dumbledore told me they're on the way."
"Good, now please explain how you, first, can apparate and second, can apparate through the toughest anti-apparition ward in the country... besides Azkaban of course?"
"Sorry, I've probably broke quite a few laws haven't I?"
"Yes, well, there's a certain leniency towards you at the Ministry."
Harry thought for a minute he'd got away from not answering her questions, but...
"Come on then? How can you apparate? Through wards no less?"
"Erm... I sort of taught myself over the summer holidays. I wasn't even trying to go through wards."
"Not even trying? This is a serious security risk!"
"Dumbl... Professor Dumbledore knows... and Professor Snape."
"Well, this of course will have to be reported."
"Yes ma'am," Harry replied, looking down at his feet.
"Anyway, you've got your Charms exam now. The desk there," she said, pointing at a desk in the middle of the hall, "has been set up for you. You have two hours."
Harry moved over to the desk and sat down. 'Oh dear!' he thought to himself, 'I'm in big trouble this time!'
Harry was finding it exceedingly hard to concentrate on his exam paper. He was only a quarter of the way through his exam paper after just over an hour. It didn't help matters when Dumbledore came into the hall and started speaking to Examiner Murtarg quietly out of earshot. Harry thought about listening for a second then thought better of it.
Harry was finding the pressure unbearable. Beads of sweat were forming on his brow and running into his eyes. A general feeling of being uncomfortable made him fidget in his seat.
He looked at his watch then remembered it hadn't worked since that night in the Department Of Mysteries. Memories of Sirius flooded back to him. Hermione wanted to fix his watch, but Harry wouldn't let her. Tears now formed in his eyes, mixing with the sweat running down from his brow.
Other memories of last year came back. Memories of being brought before the Wizengamot, in Courtroom Ten, wondering if... no... when, he will be brought up before them again.
Dumbledore approached Harry and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up into Dumbledore's sparkling eyes and a feeling of calm washed over him.
"Don't worry Harry, I've explained a few things to Examiner Murtarg. You gave her quite a scare apparating into Hogwarts. I suggest you to be more careful in the future," Dumbledore said with a smile, "and Aurors have now rounded up everyone in Diagon Alley."
Harry smiled and nodded at the headmaster.
"Carry on with your exam Harry."
Harry nodded once more and turned his attention back to his exam paper.
Harry had just finished writing as the Examiner came over and announced the end of the exam.
"Your practical Charms exam will start at two o'clock and will last three hours. In the mean time, get something to eat and relax."
Harry got up and left the great hall without saying a word, still feeling uncomfortable about the events earlier.
As Harry left the great hall, Ginny came up to him, "Harry! How did it go?" she asked.
Harry shook his head and headed up to Gryffindor tower. Half way there, he changed his mind. He looked around, no one was visible so he apparated to the kitchens.
Dobby came up to him, "Mr. Potter sir. Is there anything I can get you sir?" asked Dobby.
"Is there any chance of a sandwich and a flask of pumpkin juice Dobby?" asked Harry, glumly.
A minute or two later, Dobby had brought him a plate of sandwichs and a flask. Harry thanked Dobby and apparated to the Shrieking Shack.
Harry heard footsteps in one of the rooms upstairs. He put the sandwichs and the flask in his robe's pockets and crept up the stairs.
As he got to the top, he could hear someone pacing and talking in the bedroom where he first saw his Godfather during his third year.
"Do this… do that… why don't you just curse me again master and get it over with? Why did I ever help you back? I could have just left you…" the stranger tailed off.
Harry's heart was pounding in his chest, 'Wormtail!' he thought. He crept up to the top of the stairs and listened. All had gone quiet. Harry cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, feeling the telltale sign of an egg being broken on his head indicating that the charm had worked, and crept into the room.
Harry scanned the room. It appeared empty but Harry knew Wormtail had been here. He started looking around for any sign of a rat but couldn't see anything.
Harry stood in the middle of the room, looking around for a few minutes, wondering if Wormtail had turned tail and fled, then he heard the pitter patter of tiny scurrying feet and snapped his head over to the door.
"Impedimenta!" Harry shouted and caught the rat with the jinx as it tried to escape.
Harry took a drink from his flask and emptied the rest on the on floor then picked up the rat and stuffed it into the flask, not particularly taking any care doing so. He screwed the top back on lightly, leaving a little hole for air to get in. "Got you, you bastard!" and apparated straight to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore looked at Harry questioningly as Harry approached and placed the flask on his desk. Examiner Murtarg was in the office as well, not looking very happy at Harry, "Do you always apparate into people's private quarters unannounced?"
"Only when necessary," Harry replied. Harry turned to Dumbledore, "I've caught a well known death eater sir… Peter Pettigrew… aka Wormtail."
Dumbledore looked at the flask, then back at Harry. "Where did you find him Harry?" Dumbledore asked with concern in his voice.
Harry glanced at Examiner Murtarg, then looked back at Dumbledore, "Erm… The Marauders old hangout sir."
"Ah… I see." Dumbledore waved his wand at the flask and transfigured the flask into a cage, complete with exercise wheel.
Wormtail scurried about in the cage and Harry pointed out the silver paw, "There's the silver paw sir. The one Voldemort gave him on the night he returned."
Dumbledore peered into the cage, "Ah yes, I see. Very good Harry, I'll make sure Peter, or rather Scabbers, is taken care of."
Harry smiled and left the office, using the door, and made his way back to the great hall.
Ginny stood up from the table and looked at Harry with a tear in her eye. Harry's stomach tied itself in knots as he remembered he brushed Ginny off after his exam. He walked up to Ginny and hugged her. "Sorry about earlier Gin. Bad morning. I'm feeling much better now though."
He sat down at the table and told his friends about capturing Wormtail.
"I would have thought he'd put up more of a fight than that!" exclaimed Ron, "I would have thought you'd have put up more of a fight than that!"
"He may have wanted to be captured," Hermione replied.
"I doubt he wanted to be captured Hermione," Harry said, "And Ron, I wasn't going to hurt Peter. He's a weak minded fool that Voldemort coerced into doing his work for him. I don't feel sorry for him, but it's not entirely his fault."
After dinner, Harry's Charms exam flew by as did the rest of the week. Every night Harry went to bed with a different set of books and everyday Harry had a different exam. By Friday he was exhausted and was looking forward to a well earned rest over the weekend.
Friday's exams didn't fly by as he'd hoped, although he'd suspected they wouldn't. For four hours in the morning he'd spent painstakingly working his way through his Potions theory exam paper and another seven hours in the afternoon bent over a cauldron for his practical exam.
This time it wasn't Examiner Murtarg who invigilated the Potions exams, it was another Examiner from the Auror Academy called Brent Dover. At first Harry thought he'd be just as strict as Professor Snape but soon found out he was the exact opposite.
After his practical Potions exam, Mr Dover escorted Harry back up to Gryffindor tower, grabbing hold of Harry every now an then to steady him. "You need to get some rest lad. Looks like you'll be sleeping all weekend!" Harry nodded, unable to speak.
They eventually reached the portrait of the fat lady, who didn't ask for the password, "Oh dear," she said, "You'd better take the poor boy in quick before he collapses right here!"
The portrait opened, Ginny gasped and gave her brother and Hermione a nudge.
"What the hell happened to you?" Ron asked Harry.
Mr Dover replied, "He's falling asleep, you'd better take him up to his dorm! Poor lad's knackered!"
Ron and Hermione took out their wands and levitated Harry up to the sixth year boys dormitory as Ginny thanked Mr Dover, then followed after them.
Ginny gave Ron strict instructions not to wake him and to leave him to get a lay in, in the morning. Ron went back down stairs with Hermione, and Ginny sat on Harry's bed stroking the hair out of his eyes. She smiled at Harry's sleeping form, closed the curtains and curled up next to him.
At half past nine Saturday morning, Harry started stirring. Ginny kissed him on the cheek which made him smile, turn over and cuddle up to Ginny.
"Mmm… Come on Harry, we can't stay in bed all day," Ginny said.
Harry's eyes opened, then closed again. He let out a large yawn then opened his eyes again.
"Have you been here all night?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but don't tell Ron!" she replied, "Come on. We've missed breakfast so we'll have to go to the kitchens."
"I've got a better idea!"
Harry got out of bed and got dressed, as did Ginny. They both sat on the bed whilst Harry joined the land of the living.
"I don't think I've ever felt this tired!" he exclaimed.
Just then Ron and Hermione entered the dormitory.
"Sleep well Harry?" asked Ron.
"Yes thanks," replied Harry, turning to smile at Ginny. "We're just going out for breakfast."
"I take it we're not training today then?" asked Ron.
"No," Harry replied, shaking his head "I think I'll need this weekend to rest, that doesn't mean you can't train on your own though!". Harry got up off his bed, as did Ginny.
"Come on you," Hermione said to Ron, "We can do some practise in the room of requirements."
Ron smiled, "okay, lead the way." And they both left the dormitory, hand in hand.
Harry looked at Ginny, a confused expression on his face.
Ginny answered his unspoken question, "I don't think they're practicing magic."
"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed, then smiled back at her, "Come on, let's get some breakfast."
Harry apparated Ginny to Diagon Alley, just outside Florean Fortescue's.
"Ice cream for breakfast!"
"Harry, we shouldn't be here." replied Ginny.
"Everything will be okay Ginny. One quick desert and we'll head off and see Hagrid, okay?"
Harry told Ginny all about his exams whilst they ate their strawberry sundaes. Ginny was upset with the news that Harry will be leaving Hogwarts and Harry tried to console her.
"Ginny, we won't be apart forever. No one can keep me away from you, not even Voldemort. They won't have me going on any crazy, suicidal missions. It will just be training."
"Are you sure? Can you honestly say that?" asked Ginny on the verge of tears.
"No," Harry said quietly, "I don't really know what I'll be doing. I could even be doing my training at Hogwarts, I just don't know yet."
"Come on, let's get back." Ginny said.
Harry suddenly got a blank look on his face.
"Harry? HARRY?" shouted Ginny. She waved her hand in front of Harry's eyes but to no avail.
"Harry?" Godric said, "I believe the connection between us is in peril. I haven't been able to contact you!"
"I haven't been able to contact you either. How does the connection work?" asked Harry.
"It's very old magic, older than I am. I thought you had contacted me? Don't you know?"
"No. It wasn't me?"
No answer.
"Godric? GODRIC?"
No answer. Harry snapped out of his daze.
"Harry? What's wrong?" asked Ginny.
"We have to go, now!"
Harry stood up, touched Ginny's arm and apparated them back to Hogwarts.
"Ginny, go find Hermione quick and meet me in the library." Harry ordered, then disapparated.
Draco Malfoy was 'entertaining' Hannah in the forest when Harry apparated next to them.
"Bloody hell Potter!" exclaimed Draco, "What…"
"No time for that. What do you know of Voldemort's plans for the veil?" Harry asked.
"Only that he's planning something. I don't know any more than that. Why?"
"I think he's already got it and is trying to use it!"
Harry disapparated again.
Ginny rushed into the common room out of breath.
"Ginny! What's wrong?" asked Hermione.
"It's Harry! He wants to meet us in the library right away!"
Hermione got up off the settee with Ron, looked around, touched Ron and Ginny's arms and apparated them to the library to wait for Harry.
"Harry! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here on this fine morning?" Dumbledore asks.
"We need to question Peter about the veil in the department of mysteries. I think Voldemort has it and is trying to use it!"
Dumbledore rose up from his chair and walked over to his book shelf where Scabbers was running on his wheel in his cage. Dumbledore opened the cage a grabbed Scabbers by the scruff of the neck and placed him on an armchair next to the fire.
Before Scabbers could run off, Dumbledore cast a spell on Scabbers. The same spell as Sirius and Remus performed to turn Scabbers into Peter Pettigrew in the Shrieking Shack during Harry's third year.
Peter looked up at Dumbledore and gave out a hysterical laugh. Obvious fear in his eyes and his demeanour.
"Peter, how nice to see you again," Dumbledore said, "you have no reason to be scared."
Peter looked round and noticed Harry standing at the side of the room next to Scabbers' cage.
"Harry! You look more like James every day!"
Harry ignored the comment about his father and walked up to his parent's traitor, trying to control his anger towards the man in front of him.
"Has Voldemort got the veil? Has he found a way to use it? Tell me what you know!" Harry spat.
"I… I can't!" replied Peter.
Harry moved in front of Peter and stared into his eyes. He slowly raised his hand and muttered "Legilimens".
Harry was nearly bowled over with the dark memories that flowed from Peter. Amongst the memories were those of the last time Peter saw Harry's parents alive. More importantly, Harry saw the memories of Lucius Malfoy in the Department Of Mysteries with another Death Eater whom Harry didn't recognize.
Lucius was performing some kind of ritual in front of the veil with various smoking bowls arranged around it. The veil glowed with a golden colour and all of a sudden Lucius jumped up, swore, banished the bowls and the memory went blank.
The next memory was of Lucius, bent down on one knee in front of Voldemort explaining how they were disturbed before they had chance to finish the ritual.
Harry broke the connection and turned to Dumbledore. "Voldemort is trying to use the veil in the department of mysteries to bring back people from the dead."
"Not a lot is known about the veil. One thing that is known is that no one has ever returned from beyond the veil." Dumbledore replied quietly. Dumbledore walked over to a black cabinet and removed his Pensieve and sat it down on his desk. He walked up to Peter, placed his wand on Peter's temple, removed Peter's memory of ritual and placed it in the Pensieve. Dumbledore then waved his wand at Peter to transfigure him back into Scabbers and returned him to his cage.
"Let's take a look at the memory together shall we?" asked Dumbledore, motioning to the Pensieve. Dumbledore swirled the contents of the Pensieve around then nodded to Harry who put his finger in the bowl of cloud like liquid.
Harry was on the verge of tears looking at the veil back in the Department Of Mysteries. He held his composure and turned his attention to the ritual being performed by Lucius Malfoy and witnessed by Peter Pettigrew and the unknown Death Eater.
Dumbledore saw Harry's forehead wrinkle in thought, "That is Rodolphus Lestrange, husband of Bellatrix Lestrange." Harry nodded acknowledging Dumbledore's explanation.
The ritual came to an abrupt end and Dumbledore and Harry saw all three Death Eaters escape via portkey. Both Dumbledore and Harry found themselves back in the headmasters office again.
"This is very disturbing… very disturbing indeed." said Dumbledore quietly. Dumbledore picked some floo power out of a pot on the hearth and through it into the fire. "Minister Of Magic" he called. Both Dumbledore and Harry bent down into the fire.
"Headmaster? Harry? Is anything wrong?" asked Mr Weasley. Madam Bones then appeared in the fire.
"Ah, Amelia, the department of mysteries has been compromised. You may find it prudent to check the veil in the dias to see if it is still there. We have it on good authority that Voldemort intends to use the veil to bring back person or persons unknown from beyond the veil."
"Are you sure headmaster? I've never heard about that being done before." asked Madam Bones.
"Yes. Harry has captured a Death Eater by the name of Peter Pettigrew who is currently in our custody; formally believed to have been killed by Sirius Black. I believe you know the story."
"Yes headmaster. We'll get on it right away. What do you want to do about Pettigrew?"
"I believe he is safe here for the time being."
Dumbledore rose and sat back down behind his desk. "I'll let you know about the veil as soon as I hear anything Harry."
"Yes sir." Harry replied and left the office. As soon as he closed the door he apparated straight to the library.
"Harry! Where've you been? We've been worried sick!" exclaimed Ginny.
"I wasn't worried," Ron said. Ginny shot him a angry look. "What? I knew he'd be fine!"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Ron but all is not fine. Voldemort is trying to bring someone back from beyond the veil, maybe more than one person!"