Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. That honor goes to J.K. Rowling, but I do own the plot of this story.
A/N: I believe this may be one of my longer chapters, but bear with me. Read and Review. Constructive Criticism is Welcome. I also edited this chapter a little in the letter from Harry's father and mother because I had forgotten to put something in.
Chapter 5: The Secrets of Godric's Hollow
The next few days at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes weren't that fun since every time Harry tried to apologize to Ginny, she would simply say "Go away!" or run out into Diagon Alley even though her parents didn't want her going out alone. It was a lot safer in the shop especially since there were multiple wizards and witches shopping there. Fred and George hadn't suffered the drop in business of other places located in the Alley. Then an owl from the Ministry of Magic arrived for Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley opened the letter hoping that it would contain good news, and it died.
Dear Mr. Weasley,
A team of Aurors headed by Alastor Moody has searched your house and has found it curse-free. You may return to it at any time.
Sincerely,
Rufus Scrimgeour
Minister of MagicP.S. Thank you for convincing Mr. Moody to come out of Retirement.
Mr. Weasley smiled. He knew Mad-Eye wouldn't miss any cursed objects in The Burrow. "Molly! Ron! Ginny! Harry! Hermione!" said Mr. Weasley as he went upstairs to Fred and George's small apartment. "We're going back to the Burrow!"
OoOoOoOo
So they went back to the Burrow and met Mad-Eye there. "Thank you, Alastor," said Mr. Weasley.
"No need to thank me, Arthur. You've done plenty of favors for me," said Mad-Eye as his magical eye swiveled to see Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny with Ginny refusing to even glance at Harry. Then he whispered to Mr. Weasley, "I thought that your daughter liked Harry."
"They've been arguing a lot, lately," Mr. Weasley whispered back. "You should remember what being a teenager is like."
OoOoOoO
Later that day, four owls arrived from Hogwarts, telling them that the school will remain open and what supplies they would need for the year, that both Vanishing Cabinets had safely been hidden away in the same place, and that due to the situation that there would be no Hogsmeade visits permitted this year. Hermione's letter told her that she had been made Head Girl while Harry's contained an extra letter from Professor McGonnagal.
Dear Mr. Potter,
It has come to my attention that due to the events of last year, particularly of the night that you and Professor Dumbledore left the Hogwarts grounds, that you may not return to Hogwarts. While you are of age and perfectly capable of making your own decisions, I would like to inform you that I sincerely believe it is in your best interest to return to Hogwarts to finish your schooling.
Minerva McGonnagal
Hogwarts Headmistress
"How'd she know?" asked Harry aloud.
"Who? Knows what?" said Ron.
"Professor McGonnagal. Somehow she found out that I'm planning not to return to Hogwarts," said Harry.
"It's not that surprising. I suppose Professor Dumbledore told her that he had a feeling you weren't coming back. At least, his portrait probably told her," said Hermione.
"That makes sense, but why would Professor Dumbledore want me to return to Hogwarts?"
"To finish your training," said Hermione.
"Hermione, you're not telling Harry—" said Ron before Hermione elbowed him to stop him from revealing that it was her, not Professor Dumbledore in portrait form that told Professor McGonnagal Harry was not planning to return to Hogwarts..
"Hermione? What's Ron talking about?" asked Harry, now very suspicious.
"Nothing," lied Hermione.
"Ron? You can tell me," said Harry.
Ron started to open his mouth but then Hermione gave him a look that said don't-tell-him. "Hermione's not telling us that…that…we should go to Hogsmeade today to practice Apparating," Ron said, obviously lying about what Hermione wasn't telling them. "After all, our test is in three days." The last part was true, Harry and Ron's Apparation Tests were only three days away.
"You know, you're right," said Harry, obviously not believing Ron's lie. "We should go to Hogsmeade to practice. Maybe once you get your license, Fred and George will shut up about you leaving half an eyebrow behind on your first test."
"I doubt it," said Ron as he and Harry went to the fireplace to travel to Hogsmeade by Floo Powder. When they arrived at the Three Broomsticks, which was the designated site to arrive at in Hogsmeade, they promptly located the Ministry Official holding the practice sessions and started to practice their Apparation. During his first few attempts, Ron left some eyebrow behind, but he finally succeeded in Apparating completely without leaving any part of his body behind. Harry successfully Apparated on his first attempt and kept practicing. Every day Ron and Harry practiced until their exams which both of them passed. Ron and Harry immediately Apparated to the Burrow to celebrate.
OoOoOo
"Ginny, I'm sorry for what I said before," said Harry.
"Go away!" Ginny yelled as she started to sob.
"But Ginny. Please forgive me. I really would do anything for you," said Harry.
"I said go away!"
"Ginny, please listen to me."
"What don't you understand about go away!" Harry finally realized that he wasn't getting anywhere and went downstairs to the kitchen where he saw Ron and Hermione sitting at the table.
"I don't understand it. Why won't she listen to me?" muttered Harry.
"What?" said Hermione.
"Nothing," said Harry.
"Harry, I've been thinking. Maybe you should invite Ginny to come to Godric's Hollow with us. There's strength in numbers." said Hermione.
"She does have a point there, Harry," said Ron. Both Hermione and Harry looked at him because they had both expected Ron to take Harry's side. "But as her older brother, I need to protect and she's not coming with us!"
"There. Ginny's not coming," said Harry.
"Harry and Ron, Ginny is an extremely gifted witch even though she doesn't always show it," said Hermione.
"But she's underage, she can't do magic outside of Hogwarts!" said Harry.
"Harry, there's two things wrong with that. The Ministry of Magic can't detect who performed the magic, and she would be allowed to perform magic in life-threatening situations," said Hermione.
"She's not going!" yelled Harry and Ron.
"She's faced Death Eaters at Hogwarts last year!" yelled Hermione.
"That was different!" said Harry and Ron at the same time.
"How so?" asked Hermione.
"Because...because...there were...professors there," said Ron.
"And the Felix Felicis!" said Harry.
"Harry, Ginny wants to be with you out of love. Just think about," said Hermione.
"I'm trying to protect her because I love her! Doesn't she understand that!" said Harry.
"Harry, just think about letting her go. From what you told Ron and me, Professor Dumbledore said love was the power the dark lord knows not," said Hermione.
"Okay, Hermione. I'll think about," said Harry although he wasn't intending to think about.
"Good. Now that that's done, I have something to tell you. I've been doing some research on Godric's Hollow. I had a feeling that I had heard the name Godric before. It turned out I was right. Apparently, Godric's Hollow was named after Godric Gryffindor—"
"But Hogsmeade is the only pure wizarding village in Britain!" Ron interrupted.
"Here it says that Godric Gryffindor often visited a small village of Muggles and often gave generous donations to the needy, and until Harry stopped Voldemort when he was one, someone was continuing to make generous donations to the needy in the village. In fact, it says with this specific village, if there was a Muggle-born witch or wizard, he would personally invite them to Hogwarts. After a while though, he stopped visiting the village, but the villagers—now a mix of wizards and Muggles thought that his generosity should be preserved for all eternity and named their village after him: Godric's Hollow, and legend has it was that he was ultimately buried there," continued Hermione.
"Does it say why he stopped visiting?" asked Harry.
"No. Although the year my source said he stopped visiting Godric's Hollow is quite close to the year that Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts. I'm thinking he may have felt that his presence was a threat to the Muggles and Muggle-borns in the village."
"Do you ever do anything but reading and research?" blurted out Ron.
"Well, I break school rules with you two," said Hermione. "By the way, Harry, what exactly do you expect to find at Godric's Hollow?"
"Answers--Wait you said that the donations stopped when I survived Voldemort's attempt to kill me?" said Harry.
"Yes, why?"
"It just seems strange that they would just stop. Remember our second year when everyone thought I might be the Heir of Slytherin?"
"Yes," said Ron and Hermione at the same time.
"But you weren't," said Hermione.
"Everyone knows that now, but isn't it possible that they were right in thinking I was a descendant of a Hogwarts Founder?" said Harry.
"Harry, Godric Gryffindor and the other founders lived over a thousand years ago, anything's possible, but as I remind you, Ron and I had our suspicions, too and we were wrong."
"I didn't think he was Slytherin's heir for a second!" said Ron, obviously lying and Hermione gave him the don't-you-lie look. "Okay, I did."
"Think about it. The donations to the needy of Godric's Hollow stop the year my parents die. I have..." Harry looked at Ron very nervous at about what he was going to say.
"Harry, I know you have plenty of money. You can say it," said Ron.
"I have a small fortune in Gringott's that I didn't even know I had until I was 11, and in the Chamber of Secrets, I pulled Godric Gryffindor's sword out of the sorting hat."
"Harry. This could all be coincidental. People die all the time. It's quite possible that the last descendant of Godric Gryffindor simply died the same year your parents did," said Hermione.
"Yes it could be all coincidental, but there's still the possibility," said Harry as he let out a yawn. "What time is it?"
"Midnight," said Ron after he glanced at his watch. "We better go to bed. Mum will be angry if we don't get up in the morning." Hermione went upstairs to the bedroom that she was sharing with Ginny while Ron and Harry went upstairs to the room that they were sharing.
"Harry, you don't really think you're descended from Godric Gryffindor?" asked Ron when they had both changed into their pajamas and gotten into their beds.
"I don't know, Ron. All I'm saying is it's a possibility," said Harry. While Ron was able to get to sleep very quickly, Harry had a very restless night. He thought about Ginny, and about what it would be like to tell Mrs. Weasley that he caused her only daughter's death. He thought how he was already allowing Ron to risk his life, and how Mrs. Weasley would react if he needed to tell her that her two youngest children had died. Then he started thinking about the possibility that he was the Heir of Gryffindor. Could I be? thought Harry. It makes sense. His sword. The donations to the needy of Godric's Hollow stopped when Voldemort killed my parents. But Dumbledore said that he had told me everything. He didn't tell me that I was the Heir of Gryffindor, so I can't be, but maybe he didn't know. Then he started thinking about Ginny again and how they loved each other and how Dumbledore believed love was the most powerful thing in the world. He knew he would regret it, but he needed to be on at least speaking terms with Ginny, and it appeared the only way that would happen was if he allowed her to come to Godric's Hollow with him.
OoOoOo
The next morning, Hermione came in to wake up Harry and Ron for breakfast. "Wake up, Ron, your mother has prepared a wonderful breakfast. You wake up too, Harry," she said. "Ginny's still in her bedroom," she added to Harry alone.
"Is it morning already?" said Ron before he saw Harry. "You don't look too good, Harry.
"I didn't get much sleep," said Harry as he got out of bed, and then the three of them went downstairs with Harry stopping at Ginny's door. "Ginny," he said.
"Go away!" yelled Ginny.
"I've been thinking—"
"I said 'Go away!'"
"About Godric's Hollow—"
"And how you won't let me go!"
"And I've decided—"
"That there's no way you'd let me go! What don't you understand about 'go away!'?"
"That you can come—" before Harry could finish the sentence Ginny came out of her room and looked very happy.
"Oh thank you, Harry. Does this mean we're back together?" asked Ginny as she hugged him.
"No. I'm still concerned for your safety," said Harry.
"Once again your stupid and noble reason for breaking up with me," Ginny said as they went downstairs to eat their breakfast. The rest of the day was full of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny planning on how they would leave the Burrow without Mr. and Mrs. Weasley noticing and without anybody from the Order following them. It was decided that they would leave after Mr. and Mrs. Weasley went to sleep, which turned out to be midnight that particular night, and that they would use Harry's invisibility cloak and Apparation to arrive at Godric's Hollow.
OoOoOo
When Midnight came, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all went downstairs, dressed in Muggle clothing of course. Ron left a note for his mother even though he was sure she would still be mad. Due to their heights, they could only fit two people under the invisibility cloak at once and it was still difficult, so Harry gave Ron and Hermione the cloak, who put it over themselves, walked out the door, and Disapparated away from the Burrow..
"Do you think it was a good idea to let Ron and Hermione go under the invisibility cloak together?" said Ginny.
"As long as Hermione comes back with the cloak in good condition, I don't care what they do," said Harry. Then he heard a loud crack. "Hermione must be back. See you in a few minutes, Ginny." Harry walked out and under the invisibility cloak and then Harry and Hermione Apparated to Godric's Hollow. When they arrived, Hermione stepped out from under the invisibility cloak and Harry Apparated back to the Burrow for Ginny.
"Ginny, are you sure you want to come with me?" asked Harry.
"Yes, I'm sure," said Ginny as she went under the invisibility cloak and Harry Disapparated from the Burrow with Ginny.
OoOoOo
There was a loud crack as Harry and Ginny Apparated to Godric's Hollow. "Harry and Ginny must be here," said Hermione as Harry and Ginny pulled off the invisibility cloak.
"It's about time," said Ron. "You better not have been snogging."
"Like you weren't," said Ginny and Ron and Hermione both blushed. "I knew it."
"Harry, do you know where your parents' graves are?" asked Ron.
"I'm guessing that they'd be in the cemetery. I just don't know where it is," said Harry.
"Well, there's an inn over there. Maybe we can ask someone there," said Hermione.
"It wouldn't hurt," said Harry as they headed over to the inn. When they entered it, they approached the person at the counter.
"Aren't you four up a little late?" asked the counter person looking up from a copy of the Evening Prophet, which showed that this person was obviously connected with the wizarding world.
"We're of age. Well, three of us anyway," said Harry.
"Well, what can I do for you, Mr. Potter?" asked the counter-person who had just noticed the scar on his forehead. "Two rooms? One for the ladies and one for you and him? Business has been slow ever since You-Know-Who's return, even after I started to let Muggles in here."
"Shouldn't you not read the Prophet then?" asked Ron.
"Ron. If a Muggle saw him reading the Prophet, they would just see the Muggle newspaper they read the most often," said Hermione.
"Exactly. Now do you want the rooms or not?" said the counterperson.
"Actually, we were wondering where the cemetery was," said Harry.
"You shouldn't go to the cemetery at night. Especially not in this weather."
"Fine, we'll take the rooms."
"Good. That'd be 90 Galleons."
"Bit expensive, but here," said Harry as he handed over 90 Galleons.
"Rooms 100 and 102," said the innkeeper as he handed over the keys. "To answer your question, the cemetery is after the third house on the left from here." Then Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny headed to their rooms, but instead of Hermione and Ginny going into the same room, Hermione grabbed and dragged Ron into her room and said, "Let's share this room instead of Ginny and I and you and Harry." When they were both in, they locked the door.
"I guess it's you and me," said Ginny blushing.
"I don't know how you two managed to plan this—" Harry started to say but was interrupted when Ginny kissed him passionately, and then Harry realized that he had forgotten how good it felt to kiss someone he loved, and that he had only thought he knew breaking up with Ginny was the right thing to do, and now he wasn't sure what the right thing to do was besides try to protect Ginny as best he could.
"Shh," said Ginny. "Let's just go into our room."
OoOoOo
The next morning after a sleepless night, Harry and Ginny came out of their room at about the same time as Ron and Hermione came out of theirs, everyone looking very happy except for Harry who was torn between being with Ginny or not being with Ginny in order to protect her.
"I see you two had a good night," said Harry.
"You might want to straighten up, though," said Ginny pointing out that Ron and Hermione appeared to be a bit of a mess.
"You two probably should, too," said Ron. "And don't let me ever see you two like that again."
"At least Harry's hair is naturally untidy," said Ginny as she went back into her room to straighten up.
"She does have a point there, Ron," said Harry as he also went into his room to straighten up.
"Hermione, does this mean they're back together?" asked Ron before he went into his and Hermione's room to straighten up.
"Ginny will say yes, and Harry will say no," said Hermione as she followed Ron, also to straighten up.
A few minutes, all four of them emerged, as straightened up as they could be with Ron and Hermione holding hands. They went down to the counter, where the innkeeper was actually reading a Muggle newspaper instead of a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Leaving already?" asked the innkeeper.
"Yes. Thanks for the rooms," said Harry as he turned in the keys and headed towards the cemetery. It was an unusually cold and misty day for the summer, but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny knew why: the Dementors had taken Voldemort's side and had started to reproduce.
OoOoOo
A few minutes later, they arrived at the cemetery and Harry noticed a spot that the mist wasn't around. Is it possible that that spot is where my parents' graves are? Is it possible there's some magic there that prevents the Dementors' mist from surrounding it? Harry thought as he started to go toward that spot. "This way," he said to his friends. Sure enough, the graves were his mother's and father's and he approached them.
Ron and Ginny tried to follow him, but Hermione stopped them and said, "Let him be alone unless he tells us he wants to come closer."
Harry looked at his mother's tombstone.
LILY POTTER
Died 1981
Her sacrifice in the name of love will forever be remembered.
"Mom, I wish I could remember you more than I can, but thank you for protecting me with your love. I promise you this, I will defeat Voldemort or die trying," said Harry as he unsuccessfully tried not to cry. Then he turned to his father's tombstone. "Dad, I also have to thank you. You tried to protect Mum and me, and don't worry, I promised Mum that I'd defeat Voldemort or die trying, and I'm promising you the same." Then he looked more closely at his father's grave.
JAMES POTTER
Died 1981
A true friend and loved his family.
Then he saw it: a lion, but it was not just any lion. In fact, it was unmistakably the Gryffindor lion. "Guys, is this what I think it is?" Harry asked even though he already knew the answer.
"That's the Gryffindor lion," said Hermione. "You should—"
"I knew it," said Harry.
"But what does it mean?" said Ron.
"It means I'm the last living descendant of Godric Gryffindor and I need to go back to Hogwarts," said Harry. "More answers are there, but Dumbledore said he had told me everything." Then Harry remembered, that Dumbledore had told him of his heritage when he was 12 after he had pulled out Godric Gryffindor's sword from the sorting hat, he just hadn't realized that when Dumbledore had said "true Gryffindor" he meant you are descended from Godric Gryffindor until now.
"Harry, about time you realize you need to go back to Hogwarts, but your parents were sorted into Gryffindor. It could be that your father just simply liked the lion so much he had it put on—" Hermione started to say, but then the Gryffindor lion on James Potter's tombstone started to glow.
"Why is it doing that?" asked Ginny.
"There's only one way to find out," said Harry as he moved his right hand towards the lion on the tombstone, and a letter appeared in Harry's hand, with the Gryffindor Lion as its seal. Harry opened it and read it to himself and his friends.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this it means that we have died but somehow you managed to survive and that you are now of-age and have realized that you are the last remaining descendant of Godric Gryffindor. Please resume donating portions of what is now your money to the needy of Godric's Hollow.
Professor Dumbledore notified your mother, the Longbottoms, and I about the danger and that he wasn't sure who the prophecy referred to, but he had a feeling it was us, and so we went into hiding and he told us to remember love is powerful. Your mother loved you so much, she didn't trust the Fidelius Charm, so she looked up every sort of protection charm she could cast to protect you. She was always a bookworm, and I had started to realize that I had feelings for her during our fourth year.
"Sounds like somebody we know," said Harry looking over at Ron and Hermione.
Apparently the combination of charms that your mother cast on you worked. You should have inherited your invisibility cloak during your first year at Hogwarts as I had instructed Professor Dumbledore. I also placed in his care Godric Gryffindor's sword and instructed him to hold it until you have completed your schooling. It is very important you do this. Dumbeldore believed that your mother's wand might be useful in the future, so if he carried out his plan, Mr. Ollivander should have the wand and now that you are of age, he will be willing to give it to you.
There's only one thing left to tell you, keep the ones that you love and those that love you close to you.
Love,
Dad and Mum.
"See, you need to keep your loved ones close," said Ginny.
"There's only two problems. Professor Dumbledore is dead, and nobody knows where Mr. Ollivander is," said Harry, ignoring Ginny's comment.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore told Professor McGonnagal that the sword was to be yours once you finished your schooling, and we can find Mr. Ollivander. After all, you and Professor Dumbledore found Professor Slughorn last year," said Hermione.
"Yes, but it was Professor Dumbledore that found him. He just brought me with him," said Harry.
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