Chapter 22: Harry Is Forced To Think Logically About His Vision Of Sirius
"Listen," she said urgently, "Harry, we need to establish whether Sirius really has left Headquarters." "I've told you, I saw –" Harry didn't managed to finish his sentence, as Hermione slapped him across the face. "Think, Harry." she said. "From the Ministry's perspective, Sirius is a mass murderer who escaped from Azkaban. Sirius knows that. He also knows that they already caught Sturgis Podmore, guarding the whatever-it-is that Voldemort wants, and that Mr Weasley got attacked by Voldemort's snake while he was on guard. So why would he leave Headquarters – where he's safe - to go to the Ministry? Now look at yourself from Voldemort's point of view. He wants you dead. He knows he has a connection with your mind. He knows, because Pettigrew will have told him, that Sirius is your godfather, so he and you care for each other. So, Voldemort exploits the connection between you, showing you a vision of him torturing Sirius, knowing your first reaction will be to run off to save Sirius, leaving the safety of Hogwarts to go to a place where Voldemort can kill you!"
Harry gaped, not just at the shock of Hermione's slap, but that she had managed to present such a strong argument. "So how do we check, then?" he asked. "We could use Umbridge's fire." Hermione shook her head. "Too risky – we might get caught. We can't send an owl, it'd take too long." Ron snapped his fingers. "Dobby!" he said excitedly. "Dobby practically worships the ground you walk on, Harry, so we give him a message to take to Sirius." "Dobby wouldn't be able to get inside Headquarters, though – he doesn't know where it is, " Hermione pointed out, "and Umbridge could order Dobby to tell her where Sirius is if we told him." Harry started laughing. "She could, but he wouldn't – he's free, remember, he can disobey if he wants to! And besides - Dumbledore is his boss, so even if he can't find Headquarters or Sirius, Dobby can still find him!"
Suddenly there was a pop, and Dobby was in front of Harry, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "Master Harry Potter calls Dobby! Whatever job Master Harry Potter has for Dobby, he will do it, and if he does it wrong, Dobby will drown himself in the biggest bath Dobby can find!" "Er, there's no need for that, Dobby," Harry said quickly. "I need to you take a message to Professor Dumbledore, okay?" He grabbed a piece of parchment and quickly scribbled a note.
Professor,
I just had a vision of Voldemort torturing Sirius in the Department of Mysteries. Hermione thinks it's a trap. Is Sirius safe?
Harry.
"Dobby will take Master Harry Potter's message to Professor Dumbledore!" squeaked Dobby, taking the note and vanishing with another pop. Harry began to pace about nervously, waiting for a response. A few minutes later, Dobby returned with another piece of parchment. "Dobby has delivered Master Harry Potter's message, and Dobby has a reply for Master Harry Potter! Dobby must be going now, or other elves is wondering where Dobby is being!" Dobby disappeared with a final pop, and Harry read Dumbledore's reply aloud.
Harry,
Sirius is quite safe, and is currently grooming Buckbeak. Your vision was undoubtedly intended to be a trap. Were I back in the post of Headmaster, I would award fifty points to Miss Granger for strategic thinking in the face of urgency. I have alerted the Order, and those who can respond without seeming suspicious are now setting a trap of their own. BURN THIS NOTE TO ASH AFTER READING.
With a muttered "Incendio" the note was soon a small pile of ashes on the classroom floor, which Hermione then Vanished. The rest of the evening was spent in the Gryffindor common room worrying. The next morning, everyone was shocked by the headline of the Daily Prophet: DEATH EATERS CAUGHT ATTEMPTING TO STEAL FROM DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES! YOU-KNOW-WHO RETURNED, DUELS DUMBLEDORE IN ATRIUM! What was also surprising was that Umbridge was nowhere to be seen.