Chapter 4

You sigh, resigned, "You're right, you should come with me. Grinning, albeit a little fearfully, Hermione and Ron stand up to follow you out of the Great Hall.

"Don't come with me," you say. "That'll draw attention. I'll head out and then you guys follow in a few minutes."

"What if McGonagall says something," Hermione asks, glancing at the table.

"Tell her I went to respond to this letter. Um, say it's Professor Lupin checking up on us all and I wanted to respond right away."

"Then why are we leaving?" Ron asks.

"Tell her your going to go make out," you say, exasperated.

"We'll tell her that we're checking on you," Hermione says, giving you a disgusted look.

Nodding, you head into the hallway. A few minutes later Ron and Hermione join you.

"At that count of three," you say, poising your hand over the charm. "One, two, three…" The three of you grab the charm and are immediately swept away from Hogwarts. A few minutes later you land with a heavy thump on some grass.

"Lumos," you whisper, holding your wand up. The familiarity of the place rushes back. The dark night, the tombstones, Cedric's death and Voldemort's return. Involuntarily you shiver, wondering why you have been brought back.

"Harry," a voice whispers quietly behind you. You turn to see Hermione standing there, surveying the area. "Where are we?"

"This is where Voldemort came back," you reply, gesturing to the area where the cauldron once stood.

"Why are we here mate?" a second voice asks.

"I don't know," you tell Ron, "but I wish you two hadn't insisted on coming."

"We're your friends Harry," Hermione said, "of course we came."

"People who come with me tend to end up dead," you remind her. "I would prefer if that particular fate didn't fall on you two."

"Well it's a good thing there's three of us then," Hermione says. "The more to fight."

"Fight who?" Ron asked, pointing out the obvious. "There's no one here."

"No," Hermione states, "there's no one that we can see."

"Let's stay together," you say, taking charge, "and search the cemetery before we go anywhere else." The others nod in agreement and move closer to you and getting their wands ready to attack. Slowly the three of you make your way around the cemetery, checking behind stones and even up in the trees. Some crows go flying into the air, startling all of you.

"Harry, I don't think anyone's here," Ron says, a few minutes later.

"There's one more place to check," you say, pointing to a small shed in the southwest corner of the cemetery. Come on." Cautiously you make your way towards the shed. The building is dilapidated. The door hangs on my one hinge, several shingles are scattered on the ground and the roof is tilted, looking ready to fall off with the slightest breeze. You put out your wand light so you won't be easily detected, hopefully the light of waning moon will be enough. The three of you enter the shed, with you in front and Ron and Hermione right behind you. Inside is even worse than the outside. Cobwebs decorate the roof and dust covers the floor like a carpet. There is an old work bench that has been turned on its side, the wood rotting away. A rusted watering can lays on the floor, next to a shovel with no handle. A few rakes sit haphazardly in the corner. The windows are covered in dust and several have broken panes.

"I don't think there's anyone here," Ron says. Slowly you relax.

"You're right," you reply. "But I think I know where we're supposed to go."

"Where?" Asks Hermione, fearful of the answer.

"This is where Tom Riddle's father lived, I think we're supposed to go to the house."

"But the letter didn't mention the house," Hermione protested.

"It also didn't mention where the portkey was going to take us," you point out. "I think we're expected to be smart enough to figure that out on our own."

"I don't know Harry," Ron said nervously, "maybe we should go back."

"No," you say firmly.

"But Harry," Hermione lays her hand on his arm. "For all we know this is a trap or someone playing a cruel trick. We really should return."

You hesitate for a moment, thinking about the different possibilities. Would it be better to return?

If you decide to take Hermione's advice and return to Hogwarts go to Chapter 10

If you decide to go to the Riddle Mansion go to Chapter 5