Chapter 2
A dark cloaked figure stepped into the Hog's Head tavern. The bartender glanced at the new arrival, and after deciding it posed no immediate threat went back to wiping a dirty glass with his even dirtier rag. The figure shook the snow from his clothing and walked carefully to the bar.
"What'll ya have?" the bartender growled.
"A bottle of Fire-whiskey and Eight butter beers," the stranger shot back, "I want them right away."
"What's the rush?" the bartender examined the man more closely, but was stopped as a hand shot across the bar and gripped his shirt.
The stranger pulled the bartender close and hissed, "I'm in a hurry, now can you get me those drinks please?" unseen by the other occupants, the stranger slipped a small folded note into the bartender's pocket before he shoved the bartender, who slammed painfully into the back wall dislodging a bottle. It fell shattering on the floor as the bartender pulled himself back to his feet.
"Of course sir," the bartender quickly set the bottles on the bar. The stranger slipped the bottles one at a time into his cloak, and dropped a few gold coins on the table before turning and exiting the tavern.
Aberforth Dumbledore took the few seconds when every person in the Hogs Head watched the violent stranger walk to the door to read the note.
The new Professor at Hogwarts is a Death Eater.
His name is Lochrin.
If you do not hear from me within the next three days,
Tell McGonagall.
H
Once outside he ducked into an alley and a few minutes later a large wolf darted through the forest towards Hogwarts. At the edge of the forest, Padfoot was joined by Shadow and Brute. After checking that the grounds were clear the trio, back in human form, darted to the base of a particular willow tree where Talon waited. The trio quickly slipped into the secret passage, the fourth person glanced at the tracks in the fresh snow. A quick spell, and the tracks vanished. Satisfied with her work, Talon followed her companions through the tunnel to the shrieking shack.
Once inside the ancient building, Padfoot set the drinks on the table and removed his wet cloak. He stretched easing the tension that had built up in his body, and brushed his black hair from his green eyes. The lightning shaped scar on his forehead seemed to glow in the firelight as he sat at the table. Harry Potter closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time in weeks, he was home.
"How did it go?" Talon asked, her brown hair as unruly as ever.
"My part went fine Hermione. Ron, Gin?" Harry looked at the red headed siblings.
"Just fine, the house elves were delighted to see us again, especially Dobby." As he spoke, Ron pulled a large sack from beneath his cloak and dumped its contents on the table. Food of all sorts fell in a heap. Hermione rolled her eyes and drew her wand yet again. In a flash the table was set, each item separated and ready to eat. Harry just shook his head, "I meant the other part of your mission. Is he still at Hogwarts?"
Ginny spoke this time, "He's there, but getting to him won't be easy. After all this is Hogwarts."
Harry nodded thoughtfully, "We knew that going in to this, but we don't have many options. I will not let a death-eater live and teach at our school. It's that simple," he paused for a second, "Oh well, we might as well eat this while it's warm."
They ate in silence for a while, before Ron spoke, "We know he's communicating with people outside Hogwarts, but do we have any clue how?"
"He could be using any number of ways Ron," Hermione started.
Ginny interrupted her, "Owls."
"Are you sure?" asked Harry.
"The scent of owl is strong on the parchment we recovered from the death-eater camp," the younger woman replied.
Ron banged his fist on the table, "This is perfect. Hermione, you can fly up to the owlery, and when the bastard comes to send his next message you kill him and off we go after the next target."
"Won't work," Harry stated flatly.
"Why not?" asked Ron.
"Because I turn into an eagle, not an owl, Ronald" Hermione said, "In my other form I have a two meter wingspan and weighs nearly eight kilos. That's almost twice the size of the largest owl up there. I'd stand out like mountain troll at the Minister of magic's next dinner party."
"Gryffindor play Slytherin tomorrow, he'll be at that game for sure. We have our brooms," Ginny pointed to the four Firebolts leaning in the corner, "Lets just wait for the match to begin, swoop in, kill the traitorous scum, and fly off into the sunset."
Harry shook his head again, "The Headmistress will be watching the game, even if she knew it was us, and that our target was a death-eater, McGonagall would never let us kill him in front of every student in the school, she'd want him arrested and sent to trial. We have to come up with a way to get to him alone, and do so without anyone else spotting us."
They returned to their meals for several minutes before Ginny spoke again, "Why not hide inside the school, and have someone he won't suspect lure him into our trap?"
"It could work, but who could we get to do it?" Harry answered.
"Dobby?" asked Ron, "He'd be thrilled to help."
"No, said Harry, he could get hurt. I won't endanger anyone else. It has to be someone who will be safe."
"I've got it!" yelled Hermione excitedly, "Myrtle."
Harry nodded, "It might work, I think Myrtle forgave me for that curse I put on Draco, after she heard I saved him from Greyback. Since she's right there by it, we could lure him into the Chamber of Secrets."
Ginny looked a bit pale at this suggestion, "How do we know she'll help us?"
Hermione said "We'll have to ask her, and we need to find out whether or not we can get into the chamber in the first place, and even if we can, how can we be sure to get him down there?"
"Getting him down the hole will be easy, who wouldn't jump in a hole if they're trapped in a room with a large angry bear," Harry said, "As far as opening the chamber, I think I can get us in, I mean I did it before."
"Yeah," Ginny said still looking pale, "No sweat, just j-jump into the secret chamber where most of us almost died 10 years ago, and wait for one of Voldemort's most powerful death-eaters to come down after us." She began to laugh uncontrollably, "This is too easy, why not add a few d-dementors, and about a dozen of those giant spiders you boys met in the forest. Or another Basilisk, and a f-few dragons. Then we'd have a real challenge!"
Harry looked up as Ginny became more hysterical, "Ron, Hermione, go see Myrtle, find out if she'll help, and if the chamber is still there," he ordered sharply.
"But," Ron began.
"NOW!" Harry almost yelled.
Hermione grabbed Ron, leading out of the room towards the tunnel. "Give them a moment Ron," she whispered, "I know you're her brother and want to help her, but she needs Harry right now."
Tears flowed freely down Ginny's cheeks as Harry took her in his arms. "It's alright Gin," he spoke softly, "I understand, I don't want to go back there either."
"You don't understand, I can't do it Harry, I can't go back there. I still hear his voice in my head, I find myself longing to speak to someone, to get advise on what I'm feeling, and he's right there, 'It's okay, I'm here Ginny. Just tell me what's bothering you, old Tom will make everything better.'"
"Damn," Harry shuddered, "Why didn't you tell us before?"
"WHY DO YOU THINK HARRY!" Ginny began to shout, "YOU THINK I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW I'M GOING CRAZY!"
"Your not crazy Gin," Harry said firmly, "You were possessed by the most powerful dark wizard of all time. That kind of thing doesn't go away. I still dream about being his giant snake and attacking your fath…" Harry stopped horrified at what he had started to say, " Oh God, Gin I am sorry, I wasn't thinking," He began to babble until she placed a slender finger on his lips.
"It's okay Harry, you saved my dad's life that day."
"Yeah, that day, what about three years ago?"
"If you had been there you'd be dead too. Harry you should know by now, that you can't save everyone."
"Yeah, I do know, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, your Mum and Dad, Mad Eye, Shacklebolt, Emmeline Vance, Lee Jordan, Cho, Zacharias Smith, Hermione's parents, Bill and Fleur, even the Dursleys.
"I've failed so many times Gin; my mistakes have killed so many people. They visit me in my dreams sometimes, they look at me pleading with me to save them, but I can't. I don't know if I can bear the burden sometimes."
"Voldemort killed them, not you. You saved each of them countless times, you got Fred and George out alive when they were captured, you got them to America, gave them a place to recover from their injuries in safety, you've saved Ron, Hermione, and me. You died to save me in the chamber. No one has done as much as you Harry, and no one could have led us as well as you have." The pair began to laugh as they noticed the tears on each other's cheeks.
"What a pair we make," Harry said, "I come over here to comfort you, and you end up having to comfort me."
"Harry," Ginny whispered, "I'll go into the chamber with you, I'll follow you into hell if I have to. I love you, and whatever happens I want you to know that I do. I love you."
Harry gently kissed her forehead, "I know Gin, it took me so long, but I know." Ginny lifted herself on tiptoes and kissed his lips, gently and first then harder. He held her tightly, "Next time Tom begins speaking in your ear, come to me, tell me what's bothering you."
"Okay Harry, but only if you'll wake me next time the ghosts come and visit you."
"Come on, let's get some rest, we may not get another chance for a long time." The pair lay down together on a fairly clean mattress by the fireplace; Ginny pushed the hair from Harry's forehead and kissed him lightly once more, before they faded into sleep.
Crouched at the entrance to the tunnel, Hermione scanned Hogwart's grounds for movement, "I can't see anyone," she said to Ron, "can you?"
"No, … wait, damn, it's Hagrid, and he's got fang with him," Ron reached over and squeezed Hermione's hand gently, "I know we can't, but I want to go see him."
"Me too. Maybe we can stop by for a visit after we kill the death-eater."
"You know better than that Hermione. When we started this thing we knew what it meant. The Ministry considers us criminals and, the death eaters want us dead, any contact with our friends or remaining family would only cause them problems."
"It's harder than I thought it'd be Ron, when we decided to do this, after your parents, and mine were, were ki…" She fell silent, unable to finish.
"I know; it's hard on all of us."
"I miss them so much Ron, and seeing him there, I could hit him with a thrown rock."
"We all made the choice Hermione, and we all knew it was for life, but we still have each other," Ron wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. The pair sat like that, for a few minutes, sharing their pain, and watching one of their closest friends walk away without seeing them.
"Come on," Hermione said, "it's time to go." They covered themselves with Harry's invisibility cloak and moved quietly towards the castle.