CHAPTER 13 - THROUGH THE JESTERS DOOR


Christmas was over and Ginny, Luna, Neville, Winky, Dobby and Kreacher went back to Hogwarts 2 days ago. Dudley would be going back tomorrow as was Uncle Vernon. Mrs Weasley was out shopping with Mr Weasley and Aunt Petunia was at a garden show. Bill and Fleur were back at work. Fred and George had gone back to work as well, they had to promote a new range of love potions before the Valentines day rush. Charlie had apperated back to Romania yesterday. Dudley and Uncle Vernon never left their room if they could help it so Harry, Ron and Hermione had the day, and house, to themselves. They were in an unused bedroom on the 5th floor. Hermione had lit a fire in the fireplace which warmed the cold, dark room instantly. Harry felt the hand mirror heat up and Ginny's face appeared in it.
"Hi. We are outside the painting. Everyone else is in their common rooms I think. What do we do now?"
"Hey Ginny. Let me check the Marauders Map." Harry said. He picked it up and said "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." He saw that most of the students were in there common rooms with the odd group outside in the snow. Some of the teachers were patrolling the corridors but none were on the 6th floor.
"Ok. Your clear, now tell Luna to turn the bottom handle, then the top handle, the bottom handle then the middle handle. After she turns the handles get her to put the Jesters hat on his head and tickle his stomach." They had decided that Luna should open the door because she is from Ravenclaw and knows the Grey Lady. Harry listened to Ginny repeat everything he had said to Luna. Ginny turned the mirror so Harry could watch what was happening. Harry moved the mirror so Ron and Hermione could also see what was happening. Luna turned the handles and the Jester winked and smiled at her. She smiled back as she placed his hat on his head. The Jester then pointed to his stomach and Luna tickled it. The Jester did a little jig then opened the door in the painting. Neville's jaw dropped and the 3 of them walked through. The mirror suddenly went black and Harry heard the door snap shut.
"Touch the mirror." Harry told Ron and Hermione. They did and instantly they could hear Ginny, Luna and Neville's footsteps.
"Lumos." They said. The ends of their wands lit up showing the other side of the painting.
'Ginny must have put the mirror in her back pocket.' Harry thought. He was right, Ginny turned around and Harry, Ron and Hermione saw that it looked like a common room. It was very similar to Gryffindor's common room but the walls were filled with books. The armchairs next to the fire were a deep shade of royal blue and the windows had the Ravenclaw crest on them. Ginny picked up the mirror
"Luna said this is exactly what the Ravenclaw common room looks like."
Harry looked down at the Marauders Map and saw the Grey Lady standing outside the painting. He knew he had forgotten something
"Ginny, can you tell Luna to go back out of the painting and then come back in with the Grey Lady. We promised her we would take her through the painting. To get out all you need to do is walk up to the behind of the Jester and pinch his bottom."
Ginny agreed and Harry saw Luna walk by and pinch the Jesters bottom. The Jester bent over, laughed and opened the door. It snapped shut but was opened shortly after. Luna and the Grey Lady walked in. The Grey Lady's eyes filled with tears and she placed her hand on her heart
"Thank you for bringing me in her Luna Lovegood. You are a kind gentle person. Hello there Ginny Weasley, who is this young man?" the Grey Lady said sadly
"I'm Neville Longbottom." Neville introduced himself
"Hello Neville. Do not be afraid everyone, My sister Rowena used to bring me here when I attended Hogwarts. This was her private, quiet space. She enjoyed the Ravenclaw common room immensely and replicated it 1 floor down for when she need to be alone. I also enjoyed this room." the Grey Lady said sadly. She glided over to the window and looked out to the snow covered school grounds. She sat down and placed her hand up against a small section of the wall.
"This is where she liked to play her flute. Rowena would sit back and play. This is where her flute is kept. Underneath my hand is a secret shelf. The wall is not solid, but I cannot pick it up as I am not solid." She told them in her cold, sad voice. Luna sat next to her and put her hand up next to the Grey Lady's
"Let me try." Luna said. Her voice was not dreamy. Luna put her hand through imitation wall and pulled out a long thin flute. It was made out of vine wood and the mouth piece had been whittled into the shape of an eagles head. The flute was finely carved.

Luna was about to play the flute when Ginny said
"Wait, the Jester is giggling."
Ginny, Luna and Neville turned the light on their wands out, flattened themselves up against a part of the book covered wall. The Grey Lady stood next to them and Ginny threw Harry's invisibility clock over them all, including the Grey Lady, just in time. Ginny held the mirror up for Harry, Ron and Hermione to see Rufus Scrimgeour walk in and light his wand. Harry heard Ginny stifle a scream and Hermione did squeal out loud. Thankfully only Ginny heard it though. Scrimgeour walked around the room with his hand running against the opposite wall. He stood in front of the fire place and looked inside it, running his hands all over the mantle, Scrimgeour then put his head in the fire place, held his wand inside it and looked up the chimney. He had obviously not found what he was looking for as he went over to the window Luna had just been sitting in. He ran his hands all over the window, the frame and the seat. He then started to run his hands over the wall. His left hand fell into the wall and a triumphant smile broke out on Scrimgeour's face. Through the mirror Harry, Ron and Hermione could see Scrimgeour trying to grab something. He pulled his hand out and saw that there was nothing in it. His face fell and he cursed. Scrimgeour stalked out of the room, pinched the Jesters bottom and left. Harry checked the Marauders Map and saw Scrimgeour go down 3 floors to his office.
"Its safe now, you can leave, there is no one on the 6th floor." Harry told Ginny
"Ginny, go to the Room of Requirement and think of a safe locked room, with a floo connection so you can floo us the flute. Oh, make it sound proof as well so Luna can play it." Hermione added
"OK" Ginny agreed
Harry watched Luna pinch the Jesters bottom and the Jester giggled and let them out. Harry assumed that they were running because the mirror was showing a jumping floor. Moments later Harry saw the familiar door pop into the wall .

Ginny, Luna, Neville and the Grey Lady went inside and Harry watched Ginny close it and lock the 7 locks.
"Ok, when you floo the flute, send it to the 5th floor bedroom on the right, Grimmauld Place. That way if anyone's home we don't have to answer questions." Ron said to Ginny
"OK, shhh, Luna is about to play it."
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat and watched in silence, Ginny turned the mirror so they could watch her play it. Luna placed the flute to her lips and began playing. Harry couldn't hear anything because Luna wasn't touching the mirror, but he saw everyone's face light up, including the Grey Lady's. After a short while Luna stopped playing
"The flute. The music is beautiful. It has the opposite effect of the Dementors. The music fills you with happiness and lets you relive your happiest moments. Look the Grey Lady. She says thank you Harry Potter, she remembers feeling like this when her sister was still alive, when she was still alive, she wants you to know this is the best gift anyone could give her and she wishes she could pay you back." Ginny said
"Wow, that sounds like an amazing piece of magic. Could you please let the Grey Lady know that we will need to have the flute for a short while, but when we are done with it, it will be hers forever." Harry said. He was happy to be able to make the Grey Lady smile and be happy once more. Harry saw the flames in the bedroom turn green and a second later a long thin flute appeared in it.
"Thank you so much. We will keep you updated. Keep a watch out for Scrimgeour and work hard." Harry said and himself, Ron and Hermione bade there goodbyes to Ginny, Luna, Neville and the Grey Lady.

Hermione picked up the flute and started to play it. It was the most beautiful sound Harry had ever heard, the notes were crisp but soft. They were sweet but strong. Harry felt elated, all of his worries about Scrimgeour and the final battle faded from his mind. He felt as though his happiness would last forever. An image came into his head. It was him and Ginny kissing after she won the quidditch cup last year. This image was replaced with Mrs Weasley hugging him like a mother hugs a child when he was in the hospital wing after watching Voldemort come back to power in his 4th year. And this was replaced with Sirius telling Harry he could come and live with him when Harry was in his 3rd year at Hogwarts. This image was again replaced with Dumbledore, he had a tear rolling down his face. Harry recognised this to be when Harry told Dumbledore his encounter with Scrimgeour last Christmas and Harry had said he was 'Dumbledore's man through and through.' Hermione stopped playing the flute and Harry saw that Ron and Hermione had huge smiles on their faces, Harry suspected he did to. No one spoke for a while which Harry was glad for. He finally understood why love, his love, would prevail over Voldemort. All of Harry's happy memories were connected to love; his love for Ginny, finally feeling the love of a mother, the love of a godfather who later grew to be like a brother and a father to Harry, and the love of an old wise man who Harry had almost started to regard as a grandparent. He finally understood that if he was in a room filled with Dementors and someone was playing the flute allowing Harry to relive these memories the Dementors would not affect him. With happiness came love. Without love you become bitter, the bitterness then turns into self pity, which then turns to hate for ones self and others and with hate comes dark magic. Harry understood then that Voldemort had never been loved so of course he was the master of dark magic. If someone took Harry's love away he would still have memories to keep him afloat, and these memories were what was going to be Voldemort's downfall.