Professor Black
Harry had to find a way to find a way to have Malfoy's moves under surveillance. He knew Hermione was watching Malfoy, but she would tell Harry nothing about his new plans. Although Harry knew Draco Malfoy was fixing the vanishing cabinet, he didn't know where he was doing it.
"if only I had an Auror." Harry said to himself, "hold on, it doesn't have to be an Auror. Maybe a persistent house elf can do it even better."
Harry looked around to see if anyone was around, once he made sure he was alone with Ron he cast a sound barrier and called Dobby. The result was instantaneous.
"Master Harry Potter!" Dobby screamed in a high-pitched voice.
Ron looked at the dormitory door with concern but Harry simply smiled.
"Good to see you, Dobby." said Harry softly.
"Let's see what we have here?"
They heard Peeves over their head. "Potty is meeting Morty. How…"
At this moment Harry aimed at peeves and said "Langlock."
Peeves clutched his throat and looked at Harry angrily. He moved his fist frantically but her couldn't talk. After a few seconds he swooped out of the room.
"Good riddance! Was that from the Prince's book?" said Ron.
"Yeah. Just don't tell Hermione." Harry said quickly.
"Dobby, I have a task for you. Are you willing to do it?" Harry asked the scrawny elf with the shrunken blue shirt.
"Don't will do it. Dobby will be honoured to do it for Harry Potter." the elf squeaked wildly.
"I want you to follow Draco Malfoy. However, you are not to harm yourself in any shape of form. Man I wish we had another elf for help."
To their amazement an elf appeared next to Dobby.
"How can Kreacher be of service, Master Harry?" asked the elf.
Harry simply stared at Kreacher. He was wearing clothes. A miniature suit with a cute black hat on his head.
"Has Sirius… freed you, Kreacher?" Harry asked carefully.
The elf seemed horrified by the concept.
"No, Master, Harry. I made this for Kreacher as Mistress Lucinda ordered." Kreacher seemed very polite.
"You don't talk much to yourself anymore." Harry pointed out.
"Mistress saw to that." Kreacher said calmly.
"Kreacher, if I give you a task do you have to tell Sirius or Lucinda about it?" said Harry.
"Kreacher won't talk unless he's asked to." the elf responded.
"Can you help Dobby track Draco Malfoy activities?" Harry asked.
"Kreacher can when he's not busy with master's godparents." Kreacher said.
"I'm not asking you to disturb your workflow." Harry said immediately.
"Kreacher shall assist Dobby." Kreacher said and popped out of the room.
"You have to admit. He looks handsome in that." Ron said before Dobby disappeared as well.
**GG**
"Why aren't we doing anything?" said Grindelwald as he sat next to Regulus.
"Patience, my boy," said John Dee. "Don't be so hasty. Everything is going according to my plan."
"A plan which I know nothing of!" Grindelwald said as he looked at Regulus with concern "He won't attack or anything, will he?"
"He's asleep."
"Why would you turn him into a doll? I understand... his super strength is useful but we could use his brain more."
"Regulus doesn't know the truth. Once I have completed my plan, I will wake him up. He will be happier in the world I shall make for my children."
"Then why did you try to have that girl killed..." Grindelwald asked darkly "If this is a world for your children?"
"You will know soon enough. All the pain we have suffered will be gone. Have faith in me, son." Dee smiled and stood up "Send me a Patronus if anything happens. I have to leave for an hour or so. Don't bother the Zhang!"
Dee concentrated and his face changed, his body shrank and five seconds later a fragile looking woman was standing in front of Grindelwald.
The woman grabbed the door handle and opened the door, leaving the room, closing the door behind himself.
"My father is a sentimental old fool." Grindelwald told Regulus who couldn't say anything "At least you don't have to argue with him."
*HP*
The day Harry and Ron were discharged. Harry was invited to Dumbledore's office again, interestingly Moriarty had sent a note requesting to meet him that night. Harry hurried to Dumbledore's office hoping their session to be over soon, so he could tell Moriarty about what had happened at Horace Slughorn's office.
On his way he saw Ginny with really puffy red eyes. She ignored him until he approached her.
"Ginny, are you okay?" said Harry.
"Yes, I'm fine." Ginny said distractedly.
"Ginny…"
Harry looked into her eyes. They drew him in. He felt her grief and desperation.
"Ginny, I think you should tell me what's wrong." he said. Was she still thinking about Hermione? Hermione had tactfully kept Ginny at distance, hoping she would forget her and go back to Dean or find someone new. Harry was not a natural legilimens but he could see there was no way Ginny could forget Hermione.
"How can you be so good to me, Harry." Ginny said "You already know what's wrong with me."
"Yeah sometimes I wonder how that's possible?" Harry said sarcastically "Look, Ginn. It's not like you've cheated on me or have forced Hermione to cheat on me - wow this is weird -. The point is… you have some feelings for Hermione and… I would be a horrible person if I told you that cannot have those feelings. You shared what you felt with me first. I really appreciate that."
"Harry, I'm sorry." Ginny sobbed "I just cannot forget these … these feelings I have for her. Ron would go mad if he knew. My family would go nuts, Harry."
"They would understand." said Harry "I thought Wizarding families weren't homophobic."
"My family aren't that way. It's just… my Mum has never … I don't know what she'll do." Ginny said. "You know, I tried talking to other girls, but … they all feel wrong."
Harry looked into her eyes deeply.
"I know what you're saying." Harry said calmly "I was with Cho Chang before Hermione. It never felt right. I couldn't feel happy with her."
Ginny sobbed silently. Harry stood there for a few minutes uncomfortably and watched her cry before she finally stopped and cleaned her face. Harry refreshed her face with a wave of his wand.
"Wow … Harry James Potter… you know some handy tricks." she gave him a warm smile and kissed his cheek.
When she moved away, Harry had the complexion of raw meat.
"Well, one thing is for sure." Ginny said. "It won't be bad for you if I win this game."
After Ginny left, Harry ran to Dumbledore's office. He knocked and heard Dumbledore invite him in, but before he could do anything the door opened and Sybill Trelawney stepped out.
"I see why you insisted that I go back to my tower, Dumbledore." she said "I'm being thrown out."
"My dear Sybill, that is not the case, I assure you." Dumbledore said behind his desk, "I have no intention to throw you out of anywhere, but Harry has an appointment already and I'm afraid any further discussion would be futile."
Trelawney pushed Harry away and rushed down the spiral staircase.
"Have I interrupted something, sir?" Harry asked.
"No Harry, not at all." Dumbledore said, frustrated by his previous guest "Please, come in and close the door."
Harry noticed two tiny crystal phials containing plasma like memories.
"I take it that she isn't happy that Firenze is still teaching." said Harry.
"You're correct in your assumption." said Dumbledore "Our new Alchemy class has created less challenges than Divination. I wish the two could work together like Professor Moriarty and Professor Snape, although having Firenze and Sybill duel might not be a good idea after all."
"Professor Snape and Professor Moriarty duelled?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Oh yes. Severus wanted to make sure Professor Moriarty is... competent." Dumbledore giggled "I must say I would not last long against Moriarty, a fact that makes his late injuries even more disconcerting."
Dumbledore seemed to be in deep thoughts.
"Sorry Harry. Old men like me tend to daydream a lot." said Dumbledore. "Never mind my staff problems. We have important things to discuss. Have you had any luck with what I asked you to get?"
"Professor Slughorn is extremely unwilling to provide the memory. I was going to try again the day … Ron got poisoned."
"Ah yes… Professor Moriarty was very interested in that case. We both, of course, know who's behind it."
Dumbledore tried Legilimency on him. Harry allowed him to access his mind.
"Ah Harry. You've progressed really well. Using Legilimency on you is useless these days. You showed me what you wanted me to see. I can see that you're becoming quite a Legilimens yourself." Dumbledore complemented Harry.
"Harry, we really need that memory."
Harry was quite aware of that, but rushing Slughorn could be dangerous as Moriarty had said.
"I'll think of a better plan, sir." said Harry.
"I know you will. You're remarkably talented. Ah… that reminds me… you should go to the Ministry next Saturday. Professor Moriarty will take you there. You will be meeting Henry Wellington. A much better companion than Auror Robards." said Dumbledore.
"I wish I didn't have to go, but I gave my word."
"I understand, Harry. There are times that we have to make sacrifices. Even small ones count." he said and smiled "Now that we don't have Horace's memory we shall continue with our story."
Dumbledore told Harry that he had little information regarding what Voldemort did after Hogwarts. However, he had two memories for Harry to see that has occurred after Voldemort has finished his education. He gave Harry a recount of how Voldemort had left Hogwarts. Harry was interested that Slughorn had tried to find a job in the Ministry. He was even more surprised that Voldemort had ended up in Borgin and Burkes.
"Are you joking, sir?" said Harry.
"No, I'm not. You will see what was so interesting to him in Borgin and Burkes after we see Honkeys memory." Dumbledore paused "That place wasn't his first choice. Not many knew at the time but as Headmaster Dippet confided, Riddle asked to be hired as a teacher to stay at Hogwarts."
Harry had his guesses as to why that was the case.
"I believe, Tom was more attached to this school than he has ever been to a person. Hogwarts was where he had been happiest; the first and only place he had felt at home."
"I think most of us feel the same." said Harry.
"Yes, but he and to a degree you, Harry, have more to like about this magical place. The outside world hasn't been nice to you both."
Dumbledore dunked a Bertie Bott's bean into what seemed raspberry frosting.
"Ah, Cabbage. Interesting combination."
He drank a glass of water and continued. "Riddle was also very interested in secrets Hogwarts held within. He had discovered perhaps more than any other student, but he believed there were things that he could find, Mysteried to unravel and stores of magic to tap."
"Now, there was another benefit to this occupation as well. As a teacher he could have great influence in future generations. An idea inspired by Professor Slughorn's successful network of former students. We're very lucky Horace Slughorn is not a dark wizard. That would have been terrible." said Dumbledore.
Harry felt a cold sensation travel through his spine.
"However, I don't believe Voldemort wanted to stay here for the rest of his life, but this would be a great place to build his army. Fortunately, Professor Dippet refused his application and told him he was too young for the job. He was offered to apply later in a few years if it still interested him."
"Let me guess, sir. He wanted to be the DADA instructor."
"Yes. He was after succeeding Galatea Merrythought who had taught for fifty years."
Dumbledore then explained the nature of Voldemort's business in Borgin and Burkes. Then he showed Harry Hokey's memory. Harry yelped when he saw the Golden Locket. When they left the memory Dumbledore told him how Hokey was charged with accidentally poisoning her mistress.
"Another murder he did and blamed others for it. How could he sleep at night. Hermione has nightmares every night, and she didn't even have a choice." Harry said indignantly. "Her crime was being a house-elf."
"I see that Hermione's campaign has had some fruit. I was really proud of her S.P.E.W. It was something Voldemort would detest greatly." said Dumbledore.
"No one even bothered to investigate Tom Riddle's disappearance." said Harry "Makes me angry."
Harry paused to think.
"So Hufflepuff's cup. That must be another Horcrux. So far we have the diary, the ring, the locket and a cup which has to be destroyed. Is that the one Hermione has to find in Hogwarts?"
"We don't know. Hermione tells me that she hasn't found anything in the first three floors and the secret passages. I hope we won't be forced to spend the summer in looking for it."
"How do you know there's one here?" Harry asked.
"Well, the dark detector pointed toward here and the next memory I have makes me sure even more."
Harry observed the memory carefully.
His expression interested Harry when he heard him say "Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies. You must know this, Dumbledore." Surely he was quoting someone. Apparently, Dumbledore was unfamiliar with the phrase as he asked if Voldemort considered his actions greatness.
Harry watched the memory to the end.
"I see." said Harry once they were out of the pensive. "He came to hide it here."
"We see eye to eye then." said Dumbledore tiredly.
"Was he after the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Yes. As you can see. For a long time we have never had a teacher to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for more than a year."
After Dumbledore was done with Harry, He left the headmaster's office to Moriarty's, who was waiting for Harry.
"You have short hair, sir." Harry said upon seeing him.
"Hello, young Harry. Yes I have short hair, which seems to marvel many, Lucinda included. She wants to talk to you tomorrow after our Occlumency session. So be prepared." Moriarty said.
"About what?" Harry asked nervously. Lucinda always talked to him during the Occlumency sessions. Why was Moriarty warning him about it.
"Just don't refuse her request outright. She was very excited about the idea." he said with a pleasant smile.
Harry was completely confused.
"You will know soon enough." Moriarty winked.
"So you had an eventful meeting with Horace Slughorn, I hear." Moriarty said.
"Yes, Professor." Harry said uncomfortably.
"It could have had a much more disastrous end." said Moriarty "you're very lucky Ronald Weasley's got no manners."
"Yes, we could have been poisoned simultaneously."
"Yes, you could be at his mercy." Moriarty said solemnly "He could get away with it you know. All he had to claim was that he had only one or two Bezoars. He could save you and eliminate Miss Riddle and Mr Weasley altogether. Not that he would care enough about Mr Weasley to kill him in the first place."
"Why would he want to kill, Hermione?" Harry asked nervously.
"I don't know, Harry." Moriarty looked at his little skull "I'm sure he didn't want to kill you. That wouldn't make sense. It's not clean. Then why would a Potions master play dumb about poisons? He clearly kept the bottle long enough and he wouldn't try it without testing it first. Is it a coincidence that the last bottle he had was poisonous? I don't think so. I think he took advantage of Draco's poor attack. Yes, I know all about it."
"I have means of tailing him." Harry said.
"I know, but Draco's not our issue. I have already made plans to get her parents out. Malfoy's will be spending some time with Auntie Lucinda." said Moriarty distractedly as he was trying to communicate through the skull.
"You're busy with department duties." said Harry, stating the obvious.
"I have to make sure your trip to Ministry will be safe."
"I was with Professor Dumbledore and he… he showed me a memory of his."
"And" Moriarty was intrigued.
"It was about Voldemort. He told Dumbledore something interesting. I think he was quoting someone. Greatness inspires envy, envy …" Harry couldn't remember the exact words.
"... envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies?" said Moriarty.
"Yes." Harry agreed.
"One of less known sayings of Morgana Le Fay." said Moriarty with an unreadable expression. "Of course the language was a bit … different. It was said in old English."
"In her case it made sense to say those words." Moriarty said "I don't think Voldemort should have applied it to himself."
"Before you go, Harry. Tell me, how much of the Necromancy book have you read?" Moriarty asked Harry.
"I have read it all. The problem is, I have to read it ten more times if I want to truly understand it." Harry responded.
"That was not my intention. I think it's time you brought it back. You have enough knowledge to recognise it once you see it."
"Will Dee use it?" said Harry.
"We can't be too careful."
**HP**
Harry was working on a Potions project while Hermione was helping Ron to fix his essay.
"See, that's why I never use spell-checking quills." Harry said to his annoyed girlfriend.
"But you don't have a problem using sketchy, second hand books?" Hermione retorted.
"I know what I'm doing." Harry said. He had seen a spell this morning and couldn't wait to try sectumsempra on something to see what it did.
"What are you making, Harry?" asked Ron.
"I'm trying to modify Polyjuice potion to see if I can expand its time limitation." Harry said "so far it's going well enough."
"That's a very ambitious project, Harry," said Ginny who joined them, sitting next to his brother.
Harry felt an awkward sensation in his stomach.
"I'll have to move it to dungeons at some point as it's unsafe to brew untested potions in your common room, but I had to start this morning if I want to test it next month." Harry explained unnecessarily, avoiding Ginny's comment.
"So Ron will you be able to pass the test on April 21st?" Ginny's asked innocently.
"Don't get him started on that, Ginny." Harry warned without looking at them as he added some dry stabiliser to the potion.
"Easy for you to say. You can already apparate, not as fast as Hermione, but at least you can." Ron said tensely "and your exam is in July."
"I have bigger problems to worry about." Harry said ominously "This potion might become a part of my solution."
Right now Harry to deal with Horace Slughorn who was even more dangerous than the notorious blond, Draco Malfoy.
"I probably should take this to the dungeons now. I don't want to keep it here." Harry said as he started to seal the cauldron by various wand movements. He put his potion in a special bag and left his friends behind, Ginny came after him.
"Shouldn't walk there alone. It's almost curfew." she said.
"Alright, tag along." said Harry kindly.
They were near the dungeon Slughorn had allocated to Harry. When something stopped them.
Crack.
Harry was so surprised that he almost dropped his cauldron. He immediately snatched it and looked toward the source of the noise.
There stood Kreacher and Dobby. One looking respectably calm and the other very excited as his eyes were glinting madly.
"Master we have our report." Kreacher said softly.
"What?!" Ginny said.
"I had them follow Malfoy for me." explained Harry.
"Dobby hasn't slept for a week." said Dobby to Kreacher's dismay.
"Dobby didn't have to say that!" Kreacher said annoyedly.
The dynamic between the elves seemed disturbing to Ginny.
"You should sleep, Dobby." Ginny said "I'm sure even house-elves need that." She elbowed Harry "I don't think Hermione will be exhilarated to hear Dobby hasn't slept for an entire week."
"Yeah, I know." He whispered to her and told Dobby that he shouldn't have deprived himself of sleep.
"Master to sum up our report," Kreacher said slowly "Draco Malfoy's actions are not against any law. He is keen to avoid detection." He looked at Dobby expecting him to continue.
"... And he has been visiting seventh floor regularly with a variety of students who keep watch for him while he enters -"
"The Room of Requirement." Ginny said rather excitedly.
"It makes sense. The room is ever-changing. Makes it impossible to map." said Harry.
"Harry, do you know what's his business there?" Ginny asked.
"Of course, don't worry about it. Leave it to Dumbledore to handle it." said Harry confidently. He faced Kreacher and Dobby "Thank you, Dobby and Kreacher."
The house-elves bowed to him and disappeared.
"Harry?" they heard a voice down the corridor say.
"Professor Slughorn, I've brought my potion, sir."
"Ah… paranoid, I am. I thought someone was here to get me." Slughorn said stressfully "Haven't slept well since that accident."
"I'm really sorry to hear that." said Harry.
"I could have been alone when drinking that thing." Slughorn said and shook himself. "Come, my dears. I have prepared a station for you."
Slughorn had made quite an effort to make a lab for Harry.
"Wow… Professor… I don't know what to say." said Harry in astonishment.
"No need to say anything. This the least of what I could do." Slughorn clapped "Now, back to your tower you two. It's almost curfew."
Slughorn slickly pulled a small piece of parchment from his pocket and gave it to Harry.
"In case Mr Filch asks, my boy."
He tapped Harry's shoulder and left. Perhaps Moriarty was wrong about Slughorn after all. He seemed genuinely nice.
"Harry, we should go." said Ginny pressingly.
"Very well."
His mind was occupied with thoughts. Had Slughorn been the one to encourage Voldemort make a Horcrux? Had he really intended to kill him or Hermione? Harry couldn't tell.
Unfortunately, on their way Harry met not Filch but Snape.
Snape had somewhat achieved his dream. He was now teaching defense, but to sixth and seventh year students, he was teaching Alchemy.
"I see that you are back to… your old habits, Mr Potter." said Snape icily "and Miss Weasley is with you as well. Looking for an empty cupboard, Potter?"
"I'm sorry, sir. We were in the dungeons." said Harry calmly "Here is a note from Professor Slughorn."
Harry gave the note to Snape who looked at it briefly.
"Come to my office. Both of you."
Snape's office office was very different from before. Filled with posters, notes and diagrams. Moriarty's office was rather clean even bare, some would say.
"Into my private quarters!"
They both hurried in. Harry smiled when he saw the familiar chairs.
He went and sat on one. In front of him sat Sirius Black and Lucinda Malfoy.
"Long time no see guys." Harry said.
"You spoke to me yesterday." said Sirius with a smile.
"This is different." Harry argued.
"Harry, I wanted to speak with you." said Lucinda firmly. Her face was very serious.
"Professor Moriarty said you did. He said you were going to do it at our next Occlumency session."
"That was the plan, but I thought we could ask Severus so you could meet Sirius as well. How are you doing?"
"I'm lost a Quidditch game lately, but other than that incident with Ron, everything is fine. Speaking of which, I have to ask something. Professor Slughorn retired after you left the school, right? Could you tell me a bit about him?"
Lucinda smiled "As sharp as ever, Harry."
Sirius laughed "Told you he wasn't clueless."
"Harry I never suspected Horace Slughorn to be bad or evil. I never believed he was a bad person. He was perhaps the best and most popular head of the House, Slytherins have ever had. He was kind and indiscriminate. However, his attitude was too lax and his ignorance lead to many of our house joining Voldemort. He was not a bad person or so I believed. Back then I never could penetrate his shields, this summer when I met him, I tried again."
"Did it work?" Harry asked eagerly.
"No, it didn't. I tried really hard. He wouldn't budge. I am a natural Legilimens, Harry. I can penetrate minds like a knife cuts through butter. It felt like I was trying to cut water. His mind is too slippery. I realised that he had a very capable mind for someone who is not a very capable thinker. He is a natural Legilimens who can occlude me. I kept my suspicion about him to myself until..."
"Until, Ronald Weasley was poisoned? Will you ever learn, Lucinda?" Snape said sourly.
Ignoring Snape Lucinda continued "When Dumbledore told me about it I couldn't believe him. No one even suspected Slughorn. He is a brilliant potioneer. How could he offer a drink without testing it before." Lucinda finished angrily.
"So for now he's under suspicion. Dumbledore thinks we're stupid, but he had agreed to let us … be there." Sirius said.
"How?" Harry asked.
"Sitting in front of you, is Minerva's new apprentice." Sirius announced proudly and bowed comically on the chair.
"You?!" Ginny burst into laughter.
"Yes … me" said Sirius dramatically "After all, I am Minerva's best student of all times."
"Wasn't that Harry's father?" asked Lucinda curiously.
"Well … yes… but I was the second best." Sirius admitted.
"Sirius have you seen Hermione's transfiguration?" Harry asked.
"That's not fair. My father was Orion Black, her dad is … aw!"
He was stopped as Lucinda stamped his foot. Ginny smiled nervously.
"Okay, we'd love to have you as a teacher Sirius, but what's your plan?" said Harry.
"Well, Lucinda can stay if I'm there. That means we have more eyes around."
"What if that makes Malfoy nervous? What if you make Voldemort call the mission off and kill Narcissa Malfoy right then?" said Harry.
"Potter has a point, but the solution is rather easy." Snape said mysteriously.
"Care to enlighten us?" said Sirius, agitated by the challenge presented.
"Minerva can feign health issues in a way that neither Horace or Draco suspect." Snape suggested softly.
"That shouldn't be difficult. I'm sure we can do this."
A/N: Chapter 37 will shortly with you. I'm going to post it on Friday. I hope you have enjoyed this one.
