Chapter 15- Dumbledore's Surprise Visit
At about eleven AM, a family just outside London was eating their Christmas brunch when in popped (quite literally, you know) an old man with a very...very...very long beard.
"Dumbledore! I see you've returned!" Harold Potter remarked, as the leader of the house. He had worried about Dumbledore's sudden disappearance. "And with our teapot!" He was also quite scared for the disappearing teapot. An heirloom and pure silver.
"Yes, Harold, I am back, but you have to get out of your house immediately." Dumbledore said, with certain urgency in his voice. "Someone is about to attack."
"What? Albus, there must be some mistake. Why would someone want to attack us?" Said Elizabeth Potter. She was sure that Albus had just screwed up and meant to tell some other family...that they were going to be attacked...
"I can't explain right now, but I must insist that you leave with your family, and you treasured presents immediately." Albus said, and stopped Harold. "On second thought, Harold might want to stay."
As James came down stairs, and saw his headmaster, he was about to go back upstairs. The past night had been filled with nothing but stories of James and his escapades at school. Escapades that he knew were going to get him in big trouble when the guests left.
"James, get your clothes on right now." His mother said. "We're leaving."
"Leaving?" James questioned, but Dumbledore interrupted.
"No time, just grab what you can and go." Dumbledore said, and Harold motioned for his family, extended and all, to hurry up and go.
In a quarter of an hour, the house was empty, barren of life except for Harold and Dumbledore.
"So, what's going on? Mind cluing me in?" Harold questioned.
"I have been informed by a reliable source that you have been targeted. The reasons, of course, being that you are 'in' with me. I am quite sorry that you have to deal with the repercussions of my actions." Dumbledore said, getting something out of his pocket. It looked like a normal mirror, but as Dumbledore said an odd word which might have been either Latin or another ancient language, the face of another man, graying of hair, and a fairly large nose.
"Dumbledore. You called?" The man asked, with an inquisitive look on his face.
"Caradoc, if you could please retrieve Minerva and Hagrid, and whoever else you can, I would like you to meet me at Harold Potter's house. It seems that our new Dark Lord is about to begin his arrival." Dumbledore said, and without a response, he closed the connection. "He is one of the several members of the group against Voldemort."
"So, it's not just a rumour. There are more than just you and me in the fight." Harold said with a grin. In the past five months, all he had gotten from Albus was that he was in an Order that fought evil, and that sooner or later, that evil would have to show itself. But in his house?! That was going a bit too far...
"Harold, I would like you to remove any valuables you have and lock them up safely. I'm sure they will be broken in the process, but at least we can tell your lovely wife that we did try and preserve them." Albus said, with no indication he had heard Harold's statement.
In another quarter of an hour, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Caradoc Dearborn were at the door, waiting to come in. Several other people, all of which as determined to help as the first three, accompanied them.
"May I ask a question, as to ensure the safety of my friend here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Albus, if we were Death Eaters, we would have just blown the door down." Minerva replied, knocking once again.
"Too true, too true." Albus chuckled, opening the door.
"So, we too late? The place looks absolutely barren." Dearborn said, looking around.
"Oh, that is because I told Harold to put away the things. Preoccupy himself until the attack actually shows up."
"I hate waiting around like this. Are you sure that our source is entirely reliable?" Dearborn said, squirming around.
"It came from a student. But, I'm positive he was telling the absolute truth." Dumbledore replied.
"Now, Albus, you never know with a Black." Minerva said, and Harold Potter walked back in the room.
"Who said that?" Harold asked. "A Black? You don't mean little Sirius Black? The one my boy is a friend with?"
"The one and the same. And I must say, James is doing a good job." Dumbledore said.
"A good job?" Harold inquired.
"Of hiding and eavesdropping. James, do come out." Dumbledore said, and James sheepily walked out.
"Am I in trouble?" He asked, and his father had turned a nasty shade of red.
"James, what are you doing here?!" His father asked, wide-eyed and open mouthed.
"I just wanted to be in on the action. You know...like all the people in the films." James said.
"LEAVE!" Harold yelled, and Dumbledore stopped him.
"James could be of assistance. It would be risky, but he could try his hand at it." Dumbledore said. "James, how would you like to help defeat a powerful Dark Lord?"
"I'd feel honored...sir…" James said.
"Well, then. I'd suggest you get your wand." Dumbledore said. And as James went out to get his wand, his father looked at Dumbledore with a look of death.
"Are you crazy?!" Harold said, red in the face. "My SON! That is my son you are sending out to be in this fight. A first year boy, I remind you, who hasn't the slightest clue to what he is doing. How could you give him permission?"
"Well, you are welcome to revoke my permission. You are his father. But I do warn you-" Albus said, unable to finish, as Harold contemplated this and walked out to tell his son that there was absolutely no chance that he would be able to fight in the battle. A few seconds later, you heard a shout of "Expelliarmus" and Harold Potter walked out feeling satisfied.
"Oh yeah?" Shouted a voice, "Accio wands!" And the two wands in Harold's hand flew back to the younger Potter.
"How did he learn that one?" The elder Potter asked, a look of extreme amusement on his face.
Dumbledore had no time to answer as the door flew off its hinges. Behind it were several masked people and in front, a severely distorted-looking face.
"Tom Riddle...it's been too long." Albus said, with a grim smile on his face.
"How did you know I'd be here, Dumbledore? And the name is Voldemort, now." Said the man in front. James, who had dropped both wands in a look of panic had then run into the kitchen to hide from the men who were invading his house. He might be brave, but he wasn't stupid. He couldn't beat these guys! Who he was expecting...no one knew. Might have been a group of little girls or something, but definitely not this!
"James. I need my wand!" Harold said, and as he turned, he was relieved to see his son panicking. He was hoping his son wasn't as reckless as he. "Accio wand!" And the wands flew back into his hand.
"Attack, faithful death eaters." Voldemort said, and his minions started aiming curses at the faceless people who had walked in with McGonagall, Dearborn and Hagrid. James peeked out from behind a chair to watch as Dumbledore attacked with fluidity and Hagrid's opposite attack of just lifting up the Death Eaters and flinging them behind him. James was actually quite shocked to see his father attacking another person, as he had always thought of his father as a man who wouldn't harm a fly...boy was he wrong. As the fight continued, James watched in awe...until...
***********
On the mountains, the Pettigrew family was just preparing to leave for their cottage in the lower part of Bradford, England. Peter stole one more look at the mountains before entering their car, and swore he would be back before soon. After all, there was always Easter break, Switzerland was just around the corner...right? Aw, Pete was never good at geography...in fact, he was never really good at any subject. Except history. He seemed to have a knack for it at his old primary school, and now that he was in Hogwarts, the History of Magic was no different. He loved hearing about the trials of Goblins and the only Giant ever to hold public office (of course, he had tricked, bribed and killed to get there, but seriously, what politician hasn't?)
He actually wanted to be a politician when he was older. Maybe he could even be the Minister of Magic! He loved having his way and, being an only child, loved the attention of any office. To be able to make all the decisions on your own! What a wonderful job it must be, not being bossed around by a parent, or a teacher, or a friend-
As soon as Peter thought of this, though, he put it in the back of his mind. His friends weren't bossy...they were...well, what they were, Pete had no clue, but he was sure it was nothing he wouldn't like.
"Goodbye Mountains!" Peter said, as he and his parents drove away, and the mountains got smaller and smaller.
************
Back at the castle, Sirius was pacing. It had been over three hours since Dumbledore had left, and Sirius was worried. Though if something had happened to James or his family, someone would tell him, right? He had to know that James and his family were okay. He was, after all, the first person ever to be really nice to him, and not because he was going to be massively rich one day. He had to know. But how could he? No teacher would know, and if they did, they wouldn't tell him. After all, it was his family who had started all of this. His stupid family and their stupid leader.
At that moment, Sirius vowed that nothing bad would ever happen to his friends. Not at his hand, and especially not because of some stupid Lord Voldemort. Sirius would fight to the death for anyone he cared about.
ANYONE!
***********
Remus had a nice Christmas, devoid of any real thought about his friends. He had learned a long time ago to take any compliment, any friend, with a grain of salt. After all, his secret…well, it couldn't stay secret forever. And once that secret is out, too many people turn on him, and retract any nice thing they had said. Many of the teachers tried to act normally around Remus, but he knew. He saw them flinch when he turned too quickly. Saw them cringe when he showed up late to classes after a particularly rough attack. The only teacher he really liked wasn't even a teacher.
It was the nurse. Madame Pomfrey, the only woman for him at the age of eleven. He loved her with all of his heart, and even though he was eleven and she was…well, older than eleven, he knew that she would accept him for what he was. He would ask her out one day.
Maybe when he turned 12...
************
James was covered in sugar and cocoa that was being used for his mother's cookies, and had three hands in his hands. Of course, the action had spread throughout the house, and in the kitchen, two death eaters were fighting a long duel with his father and McGonagall. James watched as McGonagall transfigured and shot spells at her opponent, but she was getting tired. James, who was under the table, saw his wand in his father's pocket, grabbed it, and shot a spell at his teacher's opponent. As his wand flew in the air, James shot from under the table, caught it and poked his father's opponent in the leg, took that man's wand and flew out the door before anyone could notice him. He bumped into his mother on the way out. His VERY MAD mother...
"Oh, hi mum..." James said, "Well, I think we won…"
********************************************************************************************************
So? Sorry I didn't update earlier (again) I was at rehearsal for my school show all week and then I had a speech tournament this weekend. I'll update when I can, the show starts this Friday, so rehearsal's gonna go really long, but we'll see.
Leora
At about eleven AM, a family just outside London was eating their Christmas brunch when in popped (quite literally, you know) an old man with a very...very...very long beard.
"Dumbledore! I see you've returned!" Harold Potter remarked, as the leader of the house. He had worried about Dumbledore's sudden disappearance. "And with our teapot!" He was also quite scared for the disappearing teapot. An heirloom and pure silver.
"Yes, Harold, I am back, but you have to get out of your house immediately." Dumbledore said, with certain urgency in his voice. "Someone is about to attack."
"What? Albus, there must be some mistake. Why would someone want to attack us?" Said Elizabeth Potter. She was sure that Albus had just screwed up and meant to tell some other family...that they were going to be attacked...
"I can't explain right now, but I must insist that you leave with your family, and you treasured presents immediately." Albus said, and stopped Harold. "On second thought, Harold might want to stay."
As James came down stairs, and saw his headmaster, he was about to go back upstairs. The past night had been filled with nothing but stories of James and his escapades at school. Escapades that he knew were going to get him in big trouble when the guests left.
"James, get your clothes on right now." His mother said. "We're leaving."
"Leaving?" James questioned, but Dumbledore interrupted.
"No time, just grab what you can and go." Dumbledore said, and Harold motioned for his family, extended and all, to hurry up and go.
In a quarter of an hour, the house was empty, barren of life except for Harold and Dumbledore.
"So, what's going on? Mind cluing me in?" Harold questioned.
"I have been informed by a reliable source that you have been targeted. The reasons, of course, being that you are 'in' with me. I am quite sorry that you have to deal with the repercussions of my actions." Dumbledore said, getting something out of his pocket. It looked like a normal mirror, but as Dumbledore said an odd word which might have been either Latin or another ancient language, the face of another man, graying of hair, and a fairly large nose.
"Dumbledore. You called?" The man asked, with an inquisitive look on his face.
"Caradoc, if you could please retrieve Minerva and Hagrid, and whoever else you can, I would like you to meet me at Harold Potter's house. It seems that our new Dark Lord is about to begin his arrival." Dumbledore said, and without a response, he closed the connection. "He is one of the several members of the group against Voldemort."
"So, it's not just a rumour. There are more than just you and me in the fight." Harold said with a grin. In the past five months, all he had gotten from Albus was that he was in an Order that fought evil, and that sooner or later, that evil would have to show itself. But in his house?! That was going a bit too far...
"Harold, I would like you to remove any valuables you have and lock them up safely. I'm sure they will be broken in the process, but at least we can tell your lovely wife that we did try and preserve them." Albus said, with no indication he had heard Harold's statement.
In another quarter of an hour, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Caradoc Dearborn were at the door, waiting to come in. Several other people, all of which as determined to help as the first three, accompanied them.
"May I ask a question, as to ensure the safety of my friend here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Albus, if we were Death Eaters, we would have just blown the door down." Minerva replied, knocking once again.
"Too true, too true." Albus chuckled, opening the door.
"So, we too late? The place looks absolutely barren." Dearborn said, looking around.
"Oh, that is because I told Harold to put away the things. Preoccupy himself until the attack actually shows up."
"I hate waiting around like this. Are you sure that our source is entirely reliable?" Dearborn said, squirming around.
"It came from a student. But, I'm positive he was telling the absolute truth." Dumbledore replied.
"Now, Albus, you never know with a Black." Minerva said, and Harold Potter walked back in the room.
"Who said that?" Harold asked. "A Black? You don't mean little Sirius Black? The one my boy is a friend with?"
"The one and the same. And I must say, James is doing a good job." Dumbledore said.
"A good job?" Harold inquired.
"Of hiding and eavesdropping. James, do come out." Dumbledore said, and James sheepily walked out.
"Am I in trouble?" He asked, and his father had turned a nasty shade of red.
"James, what are you doing here?!" His father asked, wide-eyed and open mouthed.
"I just wanted to be in on the action. You know...like all the people in the films." James said.
"LEAVE!" Harold yelled, and Dumbledore stopped him.
"James could be of assistance. It would be risky, but he could try his hand at it." Dumbledore said. "James, how would you like to help defeat a powerful Dark Lord?"
"I'd feel honored...sir…" James said.
"Well, then. I'd suggest you get your wand." Dumbledore said. And as James went out to get his wand, his father looked at Dumbledore with a look of death.
"Are you crazy?!" Harold said, red in the face. "My SON! That is my son you are sending out to be in this fight. A first year boy, I remind you, who hasn't the slightest clue to what he is doing. How could you give him permission?"
"Well, you are welcome to revoke my permission. You are his father. But I do warn you-" Albus said, unable to finish, as Harold contemplated this and walked out to tell his son that there was absolutely no chance that he would be able to fight in the battle. A few seconds later, you heard a shout of "Expelliarmus" and Harold Potter walked out feeling satisfied.
"Oh yeah?" Shouted a voice, "Accio wands!" And the two wands in Harold's hand flew back to the younger Potter.
"How did he learn that one?" The elder Potter asked, a look of extreme amusement on his face.
Dumbledore had no time to answer as the door flew off its hinges. Behind it were several masked people and in front, a severely distorted-looking face.
"Tom Riddle...it's been too long." Albus said, with a grim smile on his face.
"How did you know I'd be here, Dumbledore? And the name is Voldemort, now." Said the man in front. James, who had dropped both wands in a look of panic had then run into the kitchen to hide from the men who were invading his house. He might be brave, but he wasn't stupid. He couldn't beat these guys! Who he was expecting...no one knew. Might have been a group of little girls or something, but definitely not this!
"James. I need my wand!" Harold said, and as he turned, he was relieved to see his son panicking. He was hoping his son wasn't as reckless as he. "Accio wand!" And the wands flew back into his hand.
"Attack, faithful death eaters." Voldemort said, and his minions started aiming curses at the faceless people who had walked in with McGonagall, Dearborn and Hagrid. James peeked out from behind a chair to watch as Dumbledore attacked with fluidity and Hagrid's opposite attack of just lifting up the Death Eaters and flinging them behind him. James was actually quite shocked to see his father attacking another person, as he had always thought of his father as a man who wouldn't harm a fly...boy was he wrong. As the fight continued, James watched in awe...until...
***********
On the mountains, the Pettigrew family was just preparing to leave for their cottage in the lower part of Bradford, England. Peter stole one more look at the mountains before entering their car, and swore he would be back before soon. After all, there was always Easter break, Switzerland was just around the corner...right? Aw, Pete was never good at geography...in fact, he was never really good at any subject. Except history. He seemed to have a knack for it at his old primary school, and now that he was in Hogwarts, the History of Magic was no different. He loved hearing about the trials of Goblins and the only Giant ever to hold public office (of course, he had tricked, bribed and killed to get there, but seriously, what politician hasn't?)
He actually wanted to be a politician when he was older. Maybe he could even be the Minister of Magic! He loved having his way and, being an only child, loved the attention of any office. To be able to make all the decisions on your own! What a wonderful job it must be, not being bossed around by a parent, or a teacher, or a friend-
As soon as Peter thought of this, though, he put it in the back of his mind. His friends weren't bossy...they were...well, what they were, Pete had no clue, but he was sure it was nothing he wouldn't like.
"Goodbye Mountains!" Peter said, as he and his parents drove away, and the mountains got smaller and smaller.
************
Back at the castle, Sirius was pacing. It had been over three hours since Dumbledore had left, and Sirius was worried. Though if something had happened to James or his family, someone would tell him, right? He had to know that James and his family were okay. He was, after all, the first person ever to be really nice to him, and not because he was going to be massively rich one day. He had to know. But how could he? No teacher would know, and if they did, they wouldn't tell him. After all, it was his family who had started all of this. His stupid family and their stupid leader.
At that moment, Sirius vowed that nothing bad would ever happen to his friends. Not at his hand, and especially not because of some stupid Lord Voldemort. Sirius would fight to the death for anyone he cared about.
ANYONE!
***********
Remus had a nice Christmas, devoid of any real thought about his friends. He had learned a long time ago to take any compliment, any friend, with a grain of salt. After all, his secret…well, it couldn't stay secret forever. And once that secret is out, too many people turn on him, and retract any nice thing they had said. Many of the teachers tried to act normally around Remus, but he knew. He saw them flinch when he turned too quickly. Saw them cringe when he showed up late to classes after a particularly rough attack. The only teacher he really liked wasn't even a teacher.
It was the nurse. Madame Pomfrey, the only woman for him at the age of eleven. He loved her with all of his heart, and even though he was eleven and she was…well, older than eleven, he knew that she would accept him for what he was. He would ask her out one day.
Maybe when he turned 12...
************
James was covered in sugar and cocoa that was being used for his mother's cookies, and had three hands in his hands. Of course, the action had spread throughout the house, and in the kitchen, two death eaters were fighting a long duel with his father and McGonagall. James watched as McGonagall transfigured and shot spells at her opponent, but she was getting tired. James, who was under the table, saw his wand in his father's pocket, grabbed it, and shot a spell at his teacher's opponent. As his wand flew in the air, James shot from under the table, caught it and poked his father's opponent in the leg, took that man's wand and flew out the door before anyone could notice him. He bumped into his mother on the way out. His VERY MAD mother...
"Oh, hi mum..." James said, "Well, I think we won…"
********************************************************************************************************
So? Sorry I didn't update earlier (again) I was at rehearsal for my school show all week and then I had a speech tournament this weekend. I'll update when I can, the show starts this Friday, so rehearsal's gonna go really long, but we'll see.
Leora