An unsolvable riddle
A/N: I'm back after more than ten days. Hermione is getting a big surprise. I hope I'll be able to upload chapter 35 on Thursday or even a bit sooner.
I'd also like to inform you that I'm uploading another Harry Potter fanfiction by the title of 'The Obscure Path to The Past'.
P.S. I always appreciate reading your reviews.
Harry immediately moved out of Dumbledore's office. He didn't go back to Gryffindor tower but to the second floor where Professor Moriarty had just arrived according to the map. When Harry got to Moriarty's office and opened its door, his eyes widened with fear. Moriarty was covered in blood, ash and what seemed to splinters of wood.
"Hey Harry." he greeted Harry normally which made things even more bizarre.
"Are you okay, Professor?" Harry asked.
"My injuries aren't major so you shouldn't be worried. I heal fast." Moriarty said. He conjured a mirror and began fixing himself. A few minutes later he was clean and relatively unharmed.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. I had just returned from my little rendezvous with our friend Dee."
"He did all that?" Harry asked.
"I assure you, Harry, that what you saw was just a small part of it. I did manage to take this." Moriarty showed Harry an amputated hand, dangling it oddly in front of himself. "Not that it will make much difference. He will have a brand new hand by tomorrow."
"Professor, there's something I need to show you. Do you have a pensive?" Harry asked.
"I do." Moriarty said and to Harry's surprise he reached for a book in his library. "My own invention, Harry."
He put the book on his desk. "Alright. This book is a bit different than the usual pensive you have seen. Put your hand on it and think about the memory that you want me to see.
The moment Harry touched the book, the office around them disappeared, This time Harry was standing next to himself, looking at the bookshelf.
Moriarty waved his hand carelessly. The memory froze. He looked around carefully committing each face and object to memory. He paused extra on Riddle.
"God, he looks so damn familiar." he whispered to himself. His eyes wandered to the shelf where Harry's attention was directed to initially. His eyes showed surprise and then fear.
"Unfortunately, we're not in professor Slughorn's memory, otherwise I would have been able to trick the memory to reveal more about this book." he pointed at the nameless book on the shelf. "It seems our friend, Horace, knows Doctor John Dee. And he knows that I am after Dee judging by this." he then pointed to the book next to it.
Moriarty waved his hand once again and the memory commenced. He watched it three times.
"This talk wasn't random." Moriarty said. "The memory was well edited, but that's not the point. Horace Slughorn must have somehow coerced Riddle into this."
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Harry asked confused by his conclusion.
"Ah come on, Harry. You guys start destroying Horcruxes and suddenly Dee comes after the stone. There's bound to be something to it. Where did you destroy the locket?"
"The… The…. It's weird… I can't say it." Harry said. He tried and failed again.
"Don't bother. That's Fidelius. You cannot tell me where… but … but you can describe it. What was it like? I mean the place that you did it." Moriarty asked patiently.
"Oh, it was covered by a tapestry. It used to show the ancient and pure family of Black." Harry said sarcastically.
"I see. I suppose the locket was put there by Regulus Black, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. How did you know?" Harry said amazed by Moriarty's power of deduction.
"Because tonight I met him alongside John Dee and Gellert Grindelwald. The boy is well trained. Dee always trains his people very well." he breathed painfully. "Regulus must have put a tracking spell on the locket. Once it was destroyed, they were alarmed. Dee had to accelerate his plans so he came after Nicolas at his weakest and my lack of attention helped him, too." Moriarty bit his upper lip and continued. "From what I gather, Horace Slughorn was here to fish talented people and bring him into his circle. His purpose was to find a person with enough potential to make at least four Horcruxes. He found Riddle and invested his time and energy in him. As you saw, Slughorn praised him for even little things like knowing about a simple rumor. His mission has been successful so far. Now that brings a question. Why did he accept to teach here again?"
"Because Dumbledore could have suspected him?" Harry suggested.
"That may be the case. However, one should never dismiss other possibilities." Moriarty said softly looking at Harry with a smile. "Horace is great Occlumens, but he's not good at Legilimency. He won't suspect you. If you go after him he might give you the real memory after some time, only to appease Dumbledore. Remember, he doesn't care if Dumbledore knows what he told Riddle about Horcruxes. He just doesn't want him to know that he goaded Riddle into making them. If Dumbledore was given the memory easily, he would suspect that Horace wasn't ashamed of it after all." Moriarty took out a pocket watch very much like the one Dumbledore had.
"It is getting late, Harry. You should go get some sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."
*H*P*
Harry shared what Dumbledore had told him with Ron and Hermione. Since he hadn't told them about John Dee - or whatever his name was - he had to omit what he had discovered in Moriarty's office.
Ronald had an optimistic view toward this issue. He believed that all Harry had to do was ask.
Hermione on the other hand, being a pessimist, tried to convince Harry to try other ways.
"I could get it out of his head before he knows it." said Hermione.
"No. He's a well accomplished Occlumens. Therefore he will notice you, even if he can't stop you. Then he will leave. Dumbledore wants him to stay." Harry reasoned quickly.
Hermione reluctantly agreed to let him do his job without any intervention.
Her brooding didn't take long as Slughorn gave her ten points for explaining Gapalott's Third Law, and his new assignment's very nature would force Harry to use his own knowledge. Surprisingly, Harry simply sat there without ever opening his Advanced Potion-Making. He simply cast specialis revelio and wrote a few words in his notebook.
Slughorn was hopefully looking at him and his cauldron , but even he was baffled by the empty cauldron. Hermione wanted to be smug and say that Harry had become lazy and hadn't studied the subject beforehand, but Harry's unconcerned
attitude made her unsure.
"Don't cheat by going into my head." Harry warned.
"Oh… what do you think of me, Harry Potter?" Hermione said pretending to be upset with him.
"I mean you don't need to. I love you, so I could just tell you the solution." Harry said carelessly.
Hermione almost choked. This was the first time he had told her that he loved her.
"Are you okay, honey?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Yeah… Ahem… I'm fine."
She went back to her potion avoiding his gaze.
Harry simply stood up and went to the store cupboard with a relaxed face. Slowly searched for something and took something like a stone.
He went back to his seat and waited for Slughorn to announce that time was up.
Hermione was finished with her antidote and was leaning on the bench with a calm face. Ron on the other hand had given up entirely. Slughorn wisely ignored Ron's cauldron, but he tested Hermione's thoroughly.
"Didn't expect you to do it in such a short span of time. No, I surely did not." He said. "Very impressive, Miss Lestrange."
He moved to Harry and looked at his empty cauldron.
"So… what have you got for me, Harry?" Slughorn said without any prior judgement. Harry looked at his kind face. Perhaps Moriarty had been wrong about Slughorn.
Harry showed Slughorn the Bezoar.
"I'm pretty sure this is the antidote to most poisons here, unless we have some Basilisk venom here."
Slughorn laughed wholeheartedly and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"You're brilliant like your mother." Slughorn smiled. "I cannot fault you. This is the cure to all the poisons here. Brilliant!" Slughorn clapped and moved away.
"I hope you didn't get that idea from the Prince." Hermione asked through her gritted teeth.
"Actually, I didn't. I got it from Professor Snape on the very first session I had the pleasure to study under him."
Hermione and Ron looked at him with astonishment..
"You remember that long ago?" Ron asked.
"Don't you?" Harry chuckled. "It's pretty difficult to forget the first time you meet Severus Snape.
Harry looked around and saw Draco Malfoy fuming right behind him. He seemed so angry that he could have attacked him if the bell hadn't rang.
"Time to pack up." Slughorn said cheerfully. "And fifteen points to Gryffindor for sheer cheek."
Slughorn walked back to his desk and sat behind it a bit tiredly.
Harry patiently and slowly packed his bag and waited until everyone left. Hermione and Ron wished him luck before leaving.
As Hermione had predicted Slughorn flipped out and refused to answer him.
Moriarty wasn't surprised by his reaction when Harry trolls him all about it.
"Well, what did you expect? He's going to hold out as long as he deems necessary. Don't rush things. Just be persistent enough." Moriarty told him as Harry was fighting a large group of rabid rats.
"Careful, Harry. You don't want them bite you."
Harry didn't have much luck with Slughorn. Before February arrived Snape forced his class to try and melt the ice on the campus using alchemy. The task proved difficult as it was extremely energy consuming.
Harry and Hermione spent the next day in bed, unable to move.
A few days later they had their first apparition session.
The instructor was a tiny wizard named Twycross. He explained about three Ds in three steps.
Harry who was behind Malfoy found it difficult to concentrate as he tried to listen to Malfoy and Goyle. Eventually, they were asked to try for the first time. The effect was comical. Harry himself lost his balance. Neville was on his back and Ron was kneeling down. The only person who has successfully apparated was Hermione. Even Twycross was surprised.
"Have you experienced apparition before?" he asked Hermione.
"No. This is by far the worst method of traveling," said Hermione with a pale face. "even worse than flying on a hippogriff."
Hermione successfully apparated for the next four tries. On her fifth try, she aparated into the loop and back to her place.
Harry to everyone's surprise managed to do it on the fourth try. However, his success was overshadowed by Susan Bones terrified screamed as she had splinched herself. She was reunited with her leg in no time but she was terrified.
Twycross nodded approvingly at Harry and explained what splinching was.
By the end of the session Ron was clearly upset.
"I'm the only one who can't apparate." he moaned.
"I don't think that's true, Ron," said Neville. "Harry and Hermione are the only ones who can do it."
When Harry and Hermione became alone he took out the map out of his pocket and searched for Malfoy.
He was in Slytherin common room. Harry knew sooner or later he would go to where Crabbe and Goyle were guarding the cabinet.
"Seems like Malfoy is resting in Slytherin common room." Harry told Hermione.
"He's working on the Runes that we have to carve." Hermione explained. "He's not trusting me much since… since the incident." said Hermione. Harry saw that her hand was shaking.
"Hey … hey… calm down. Everything is okay." Harry sat next to her. "Let's see who's where."
"Filch is on the sixth floor." Hermione said.
"Moriarty is with him." Harry said. "Snape just joined them. Now he and Moriarty are going downstairs."
"Look, Ron and Lavender are together as well." Hermione pointed to somewhere not very far from them. Suddenly her face was filled with horror. Her eyes were fixed on a name next to Harry's.
"Merlin's beard." Harry exclaimed.
It was Hermione's name, but the surname wasn't Lestrange. It was Riddle.
Harry knew he had to find an empty area and call Surius to ask him about it, but that seemed impossible as his girlfriend was looking at the map catatonically.
"The map knows." Hermione whispered. "What else could know?"
Hermione jumped up and ran out. Harry followed her. He stopped her before she could be seen by others.
"Harry, I have to see Dumbledore." Hermione said.
"Hermione, it's nothing. It's just the silly map."
She grabbed Harry's hand pressing hard to the point Harry felt it might break.
"Aw… my hand…."
"Sorry, Harry." she apologised and loosened her grip.
"Okay, let's go to Dumbledore." Harry said. "Just to make sure."
They slowly and casually left the Gryffindor tower. On the sixth floor they were almost seen by Severus Snape and Jim Moriarty. They hid in an empty classroom and waited for them to go.
"... so crucial to maintain…" they heard Moriarty as he went past them.
they waited for a minute and came out.
"They were going to Dumbledore." Harry said.
"Let's wait and see." Hermione said.
They checked the map. Snape and Moriarty didn't stay any more than ten minutes.
"Hide, they're coming." Harry told Hermione who was standing next to the door.
This time Snape was asking some questions. They didn't hear him well but a question of his got Harry's attention.
"Will you be back before the end of March?" Snape asked.
"Hopefully. I will…"
Harry couldn't hear the rest of the conversation.
"Moriarty is leaving?" Harry said.
"At least until the end of March." Hermione said.
As they were walking on the seventh floor, Hermione felt something vibrating in her pocket. She stopped for a second, but then ignored the feeling. She must have imagined it. Hermione had already searched the seventh floor. There was no reason a horcrux would be here in especially so close to Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore was surprised to see them in his office.
"Ah, Harry and Hermione. I have many visitors today. Chocolate fondue with Bertie Botts?" Dumbledore pointed at a plate appetising chocolate and a box of Bertie Botts every flavour beans. Harry for sure knew he didn't want to try that.
"Thank you, sir." Harry politely refused.
Hermione to Harry's horror took a bean and soaked it in chocolate. She ate it with a pleasant expression.
"It tasted like cream and chocolate." she explained.
"You got lucky. I have been trying and so far the best has been steak. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the taste of chocolate." Dumbledore said sadly.
"Professor, there is something you need to see." Hermione said and Harry showed Dumbledore the map.
"Ah yes, Remus told me that you have the infamous map. I have never personally seen it."
Dumbledore tapped the map. "I believe the phrase I should say is… I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The map came to life. Dumbledore marveled at its preciseness and accuracy.
"A very intuitive form of magic." Dumbledore whispered as he inspected it. He looked at his office where they were located and froze.
"This is rather unfortunate." Dumbledore said as he moved to a shelf behind his desk. He stretched his hand and took a pitch black ball double the size of a snitch.
The ball began to shine and when he showed it to them, Harry could see Dumbledore's full name on it.
"Hermione dear, please hold this." he handed her the ball.
The ball shined with a different colour. It was a mixture of blue and green. Her name was written with black smoke inside the ball. First it said Hermione Lestrange, but then her last name changed to Black and then Riddle.
"What does it mean, sir?" Hermione asked with a concerned whisper.
"It means that… you are no longer acknowledged as Miss Lestrange by Magic." Dumbledore said dumbfounded by the realisation. "I didn't expect it to happen so soon."
"I don't understand, sir. What does a surname have to do with Magic?" Harry said.
"Harry, names in our society are not like names for muggles. They carry a magical significance, and have a direct impact on our lives and magic. Magic knows who Hermione is. You can obscure the truth for some time, but magic eventually tries to weed out falsehoods. One of the reasons magical people usually don't cheat is magic itself. The child's true identity will always be exposed eventually."
"What do we do?" Harry asked.
"There is nothing we can do, Harry." Dumbledore said sadly. "We can only wait and try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, for the next few weeks are going to be tough."
He patted Hermione sadly. "Now go back to the Gryffindor tower. A storm is coming."
Dumbledore dejectedly sat on his chair as the couple left his office.
