The Potter Timeline
Chapter 47 - A Summer of Wonders
Being the only student at Hogwarts during the summer was simply fantastic. Harry Potter had never had so much fun and felt so free in his entire life. It was almost like a dream.
He spent a lot of time exploring the old castle, hiking to the top of towers he'd never set foot in, including the North Tower (although the trap door leading to the very top was locked), and making excursions into the dungeon levels below where Professor Snape's office, their potions classroom, and the student labs were located. He did most of this alone but occasionally joined Hagrid who made regular rounds about the castle inspecting doors, closets, empty classrooms, and even some hidden attics. Harry also spent a lot of time exploring the grounds, wandering among the pine and evergreen forests to the north, following the path around the Black Lake he and Hermione had taken many times. He even took an occasional foray into the Forbidden Forest.
Professor Dumbledore gave Harry permission to enter the forest only if he or Hagrid were present with him. Hagrid would take Fang "fer a walk in the ol' woods" every other day and Harry, still curious about who and what lurked among those ancient trees, eagerly joined him. Hagrid showed him the hidden glen where the unicorns dwelled, a foreboding and foul-smelling swamp deep in the forest that was the supposed haunt of banshees, as well as introducing Harry to his half-brother Grawp, a rather smallish giant who Hagrid recently convinced to live closer to the castle. During their walks, which were a combination of fascinating and spooky, Harry hoped to run across the centaurs as he wanted to ask Firenze and Ronan about his older self and how much they knew about him. But strangely, the centaurs never appeared during his and Hagrid's treks.
On one particular walk, Hagrid took Harry into a mist-shrouded domain. There, the half-giant introduced Harry to Aragog, the spider he saw in Tom Riddle's memory from the diary. Harry was stunned to find the creature had grown to nearly five times as large since those days. The size of Hagrid's former pet and his multiple black eyes gave Harry a genuine fright. But when Aragog's children showed up, a veritable army of different sized spiders, Harry was ready to exit the Forbidden Forest posthaste.
"Ah! Hagrid! Welcome again to my home!" the enormous spider said with a deep and chilling voice.
"Hello there, Aragog!" Hagrid replied with a smile as though reuniting with an old friend down at the pub, "an' how er things in the forest these days?"
Aragog and the other spiders slowly closed in on Hagrid, Harry, and Fang as though ready to pounce and turn them into a meal. Harry stepped closer to his big friend just in case, his heart pounding and feeling unnerved at all the beady eyes directed toward him in particular.
"It's getting harder to find food for my children, Hagrid. Have you brought us a snack?" the spider asked while gazing at Harry.
Hagrid's brow furrowed.
"Huh? Oh! No, Aragog. This here's Harry, a good friend o' mine. Thought I'd introduce yeh to him."
Aragog stared at the boy, his sharp pincers clicking back and forth, giving Harry another chill.
"Hello...friend of Hagrid," the spider uttered.
"Um...hello..." Harry muttered breathily in response.
Despite Hagrid's nonchalance, Harry had the sneaking suspicion that if the caretaker wasn't present, he would indeed become these creepy spiders' snack. Harry was never so glad to leave the forest that day.
Twice a week, Harry sat with either Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall, and sometimes both, to receive lessons on various subjects. With the headmaster, Harry learned more about the British wizarding world and its inner-workings. The old wizard also regaled him of what he knew about the international wizarding world and told him stories of his travels to distant lands as well as his duties as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation. This gave Harry some inspiration and a desire to one day do his own traveling to see how wizards and witches in different parts of the world lived. On the practical side, Dumbledore taught Harry concealment and containment charms and techniques, as well as how to approach and observe areas without being seen. Harry would later realize that most of what the man taught was to prepare him for the search for the Gaunt ring.
Harry also spent time in the library, looking up information on subjects the professors had spoken of as well as anything he found interesting. He discovered that Filch's ghost had taken up permanent abode in the Restricted Section. Madam Pince, away for the summer and still strangely smitten with Filch, was now taking care of Mrs. Norris at her home in Somersetshire. According to the ghost, she would bring the cat back with her next term so Filch and Mrs. Norris could resume their unofficial vigil in the library. Harry could only shake his head at that bizarre arrangement.
And of course, Harry spent time flying his Nimbus. McGonagall allowed him to use the actual Snitch on occasion to practice with and Harry worked hard on his banking, swerving, and rolling skills around the Hogwarts' Quidditch pitch. And, from time to time, he would take leisurely flights over the grounds, the lake, the Forbidden Forest, and even Hogsmeade, looking for anything interesting or strange. The twelve-year-old was thoroughly enjoying his time at Hogwarts.
Then, almost two months into the holidays, Professor Dumbledore informed Harry they would go in search of Marvolo Gaunt's ring. Excited at the prospect, he met the headmaster behind The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade one evening where they would travel to the location spoken of by Harry's older self.
"Now, take my arm, Harry, and hang on tight," the old man told him. Harry nodded and did so.
POP!
They disappeared from Hogsmeade and suddenly reappeared beside a tall hedgerow lining an old asphalt road. Dumbledore lowered his wand and glanced around. Harry let go of the man's arm and leaned over, trying to catch his breath while holding his stomach with both hands.
He felt nauseous, like he'd just stepped off that dizzying Twirl-n-Whirl ride at the Fun Fair a few years ago. It also felt like someone had tried to stretch his body out like a rubber band...and succeeded. It was the first time he had ever apparated, and he didn't like it one bit.
Dumbledore, now noticing the twelve-year-old's reaction to the side-along apparition, gazed at him in concern.
"Are you alright, my boy?" he asked.
Harry stood upright, giving the old man a sour look.
"That was...rather unpleasant, sir, to say the least," he said, trying to keep his dinner down.
Dumbledore chuckled.
"I apologize, Harry. I should have warned you in advance. Apparition takes some getting used to. Though as you can see it's far quicker than the Express or a muggle automobile."
"Yes, sir," Harry said.
"Consider this pre-training, if you will, as we don't formally teach Apparition until your sixth year."
Harry nodded and noted to himself to not eat before apparating when he did formally learn it. But after a few moments, the nausea subsided.
The headmaster stepped away from their position and searched for something among the thick foliage on the opposite side of the road from the hedgerow.
"Now, the sign should be nearby, if I'm not mistaken...ah! There it is!" he uttered while moving several paces ahead and craning his neck up to read something.
Harry moved to the wizard's side and glanced up. An old wooden post held two wooden arms. The top one pointed to their left.
Great Hangleton, 5 miles
And the one below pointed to their right.
Little Hangleton, 1 mile
"Just as I recall from Ogden's memory. This way, Harry," the headmaster spoke, promptly turning and following the road in the direction of Little Hangleton.
The sky was clear and filled with a multitude of stars on this warm, midsummer's night. A full moon lay to the west and provided enough light to allow them to see without resorting to wand light - and was dim enough to give them a bit of cover in the event someone appeared unexpectedly.
The lane continued for several meters before veering left, the hedgerow following it on one side and the thick foliage on the other. When the pair turned along the lane, Harry saw it descend steeply downward into a valley upon which stood a small village. Most of the buildings, including the imposing church, were dark, though the few which weren't gave out such faint light from their windows it seemed as though the inhabitants were trying to conceal the light from something...or someone. Whatever the case, not a soul seemed to stir in the sleepy village.
Dumbledore stopped and Harry followed suit.
"Little Hangleton, Harry. The town where Tom Riddle's relatives once lived."
Harry nodded and the headmaster then pointed at something.
"See that manor house on the hill beyond?"
Harry screwed up his eyes and noticed the imposing structure sitting on a grassy hill overlooking the town. Its windows were dark and the house appeared abandoned. The sight gave Harry a chill.
"Yes, sir," he replied.
"That house belonged to Voldemort's father, Tom Riddle senior, and was the site of the murders I mentioned to you and Hermione back in the Spring."
Harry nodded.
"So, you've been here before?" he asked.
"Oh no, Harry. Not in person. I viewed all this through a memory in the Pensieve, back at Hogwarts."
"Whose memory?"
"A Mr. Bob Ogden, whose name I mentioned earlier. He was an official with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement many years ago, and before his death was kind enough to provide me with a memory of his visit to the Gaunt house. Of course, things have changed since, as the man's memory was made long before young Riddle was even born. This road, for example, was mere dirt at the time, and those houses you see there, near the beginning of town are new as well. However, the town itself seems strangely the same. Almost as though it's been...under a curse..."
Dumbledore's expression grew concerned, as though he contemplated something disturbing. But then he snapped out of it.
"Anyway, our destination is just ahead," he said pleasantly while pointing further down the lane.
The pair resumed their descent in the direction of the village and Harry was surprised when the road, instead of proceeding toward Little Hangleton, veered to the right. Several more meters and the professor stepped through a gap in the hedgerow, Harry following. They were now on a small dirt path enveloped between more hedgerows which were taller and very unkempt, as though no one had bothered to trim them for ages. The path was crooked and sloped downward toward a stand of tall, shadowy trees.
Dumbledore retrieved his wand and without him uttering a word, it lit with that bluish-white hue, illuminating the environment around them as the moonlight was unable to penetrate the hedgerows. Upon moving into a small clearing before the trees, the professor held up his wand and Harry was taken aback. There, in between the trees, stood a dilapidated old shack.
The structure sat slightly at an angle as several trees had grown so close to the outer walls their roots had tilted it upward. The walls were made of uneven stones, nearly all of which were covered in moss and green mold. The two front windows were broken and debris littered the grassy lawn below the house. But another chill ran down Harry's spine when he gazed at the front door. There, in the middle of the door, the decayed corpse of a snake hung from a single nail, its bones sticking through its faded skin. Harry's stomach churned at the sight of the old residence. It wasn't just creepy, it was revolting.
"And so, here we are. The Gaunt ruins," Dumbledore spoke, not revulsed in the slightest, it seemed. The headmaster looked at Harry.
"Shall we?" he asked.
Harry gulped and nodded, a sour look on his face again. Dumbledore stepped up to the old door. He pulled the handle and the door creaked open, almost coming off its hinges. The professor then walked up two stone steps into the house. Harry followed and was immediately hit by the pungent scent of mold and decay.
Bits of moonlight trickled down through open gaps in the trees towering over the hovel and made their way inside via two sections of roof which had caved in over the years. The space the two stood in appeared to be a combination of living room and kitchen, with a fireplace center of the back wall made of similar stones as the outer walls. More debris littered the rotten, wooden floor. As Dumbledore swung his lit wand around, Harry viewed a dusty old kitchen table with several plates and glasses on it and a single chair set at one end. The shelves in the cooking area had collapsed and several rusty pots and pans lay scattered on the floor.
"You may light your wand, Harry, as I may need your help locating the ring," the headmaster told him.
Harry pulled out his wand, but hesitated to utter the spell, remembering what happened after Dobby showed up and exploded Aunt Petunia's dessert at Privet Drive a year earlier.
"The Ministry won't know I'm using magic, professor?" he asked.
Dumbledore looked at him and smiled.
"The Department of Magical Detection can't distinguish individual users of spells, only what magic was used and its location, as you may recall from what happened at your uncle and aunt's house. And besides, even if they could detect it was you, I am giving you permission. As both Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, I must carry some weight, don't you think?"
Harry chuckled.
"Yes, sir. No doubt."
Harry held his wand out and with a whisper of "Lumos" the house interior grew brighter.
"Now then," Dumbledore continued while gazing around, "the question is where Riddle hid the ring. I would imagine that wherever it might be, he will have protected it by at least one, possibly more, magical enchantments. Keep in mind, Harry, this could be dangerous."
Harry gazed at the chaotic mess around them.
"What should we be looking for, professor?" he asked.
The headmaster stroked his beard in thought.
"Let me try this first."
The wizard held out his wand.
"Aparecium!" he uttered.
A white light emanated from the tip and flowed outward like ripples in a pond. After the light swept over the moldy furniture and then struck the walls, something just above the fireplace caught Harry's eye. He turned and spotted what appeared to be glowing embers on the edge of one stone nearly center of the stack just above the pit. But as soon as he saw them, they disappeared.
"Professor!" he said quietly as he stepped briskly over several bits of debris and stood before the fireplace.
Dumbledore moved to his position.
"Here," Harry said, pointing at the stone, "I saw something glowing after the spell hit it."
Both of them stared at the blank face of the grey rock.
"Well then," the headmaster stated, "I believe it's your turn, Harry. You know the incantation. Let's see what the stone will reveal."
Harry glanced at the man once, then looked at the stone, pointing his wand at its face.
"Aparecium!" he said.
The white light flowed across the stone and the glowing embers returned. There were four of them and as Harry squinted to examine them better, they appeared to be strange letters of some sort, made of straight but also angled lines. A couple resembled letters of the alphabet, but Harry guessed they weren't what they appeared to be.
"Is that some kind of language, professor?"
Dumbledore produced the revealing spell again, but without speaking the word. The letters glowed once more.
"Ancient runes, Harry. A form of writing that wizards and witches have used for centuries as a way to communicate officially or clandestinely to prevent muggles from understanding them. A number of famous books and documents from our world are written in runes and require translation. Hence, we offer classes in the study of runes, beginning your third year, in fact. It's no surprise then to find a hidden message in runes on this stone placed by someone who no doubt excelled in his study of the subject at Hogwarts."
Harry nodded.
"Tom Riddle," he said, "so, what do these runes mean?"
Dumbledore used the spell once more and the runes illuminated.
"Isa, ansuz, laguz, wunjo. Ancient Norse. The first three represent 'I', 'A', 'L', respectively. Wunjo can be either 'W' or 'V'. And in this particular case, I would surmise it represents 'V'. I dare say you can guess what they stand for then?"
Harry gazed hard at the runes and only a moment after, an answer came to mind.
"I Am Lord Voldemort," he said.
The headmaster smiled.
"An excellent deduction, Harry. I agree. And so, it appears we may have found the location of the ring."
"So, how do we open it?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard once more in thought.
"I know a few spells to blast the stone and break any enchantments surrounding it. However, present company considered, I believe there is an easier and...less destructive method."
The headmaster looked pointedly at Harry, who gazed back with a furrowed brow. Then it hit him.
"You mean Parseltongue."
Dumbledore smiled.
"Precisely."
Harry contemplated this.
"But will I be able to speak it now? Now that the soul shard is gone?"
The headmaster smiled again.
"Well, let's find out, shall we?" he said, almost suggesting he already knew the answer to Harry's question.
Harry stared at the stone again.
"Alright."
Harry thought back to second term of last year when he stood before the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
"Open," he mouthed, the hissing sound of the word striking him again, though pleased he was able to remember it. But nothing happened and the stone remained blank and unmoved. Dumbledore again stroked his beard.
"Hmm. Perhaps the password is a bit more complicated. Based on what I saw in Ogden's memory, Riddle's grandfather Marvolo, his uncle Morfin, and his mother Merope spoke to one another in Parseltongue in this house regularly. And while Riddle no doubt hid the ring here long after they were dead, it would come as no surprise if he chose a less commonly spoken password...just in case. And one that would appeal to his vainglorious ego. I would suggest, Harry, the key is in the runes."
The man looked at Harry once more. By this time, Harry realized that Dumbledore knew more about all this than he let on, and was using their search as much to teach the twelve-year-old as to have him help solve a mystery. But understanding what the headmaster suggested, Harry stared back at the stone.
"Okay. Let's see if this works," Harry said.
Firmly concentrating, he recalled the final nightmare from last term, the one inside Malfoy Manor where the spirit of Voldemort scolded Draco's father and spoke to his snake, Nagini. The cold feeling the vision gave him at the time still seemed fresh, as though he had the nightmare that very morning. With that feeling in mind, he spoke.
"I am Lord Voldemort."
The four runes reappeared with their fiery glow, then disappeared just as quickly. But now, a faint, sparkling haze formed around the edges of the stone and with a brief burst of light, the stone shifted forward out of the fireplace structure, then stopped partway and hung on the stones below and above it. Harry looked at the professor, grinning.
"Excellent, Harry! Your intuition has served you well again. Now, allow me."
The headmaster grabbed both sides of the stone and slowly pulled it out of the fireplace. The two gazed at the old rock front and back. It appeared intact with no external markings. Harry then pointed his lit wand at the gap where the stone had been. Behind the spot the stone occupied, something shiny reflected back at them: a dust-coated black stone set inside a dusty gold band.
Marvolo Gaunt's ring!
"There it is, professor!" Harry uttered excitedly with a huge smile at Dumbledore who returned the same.
"Indeed, my boy. Indeed. Now," he started while placing the stone on the floor, "recall what I taught you about potentially dangerous objects. How would you obtain the ring, knowing what you do about it?"
Harry looked inside the gap and pointed his wand at the object.
"Aliquetrim!" he spoke.
The ring rose and floated. Harry then stepped back and with his wand pulled the hovering object out of the space. As it hovered in the air, the two wizards stared at it in the faint light of the room. Dumbledore then reached up and briefly touched the ring, making sure there was no immediate effect from the curse on it. Smiling at Harry he grasped hold of the object. He then relit his wand and Harry relit his.
"Now, let's take a look at the engraving on its..." the man spoke before suddenly stopping mid-sentence.
The headmaster's face registered not simply surprise, but shock. And even in the dim light, Harry could see the man's face turn sheet white. The twelve-year-old was both intrigued and puzzled.
"What is it, sir?" he asked pensively.
But Dumbledore failed to answer immediately, gazing almost trance-like at the black stone.
"I must say, Harry, I'm...quite astonished..." he uttered, mesmerized by the ring.
The man lowered the stone to allow Harry to view what looked like scratchings on its surface. It appeared to be a triangle with a circle fitting perfectly inside of it and a straight, vertical line fitting perfectly inside the circle.
"What kind of symbol is that? Is it another rune?" he asked.
"No, Harry. Far from it," Dumbledore uttered, still stunned. He stared hard at the symbol again.
"Riddle's grandfather believed this engraving to be the Peverell coat of arms. But the man was mistaken. This symbol is altogether different and far more significant than a family crest. Indeed, Harry, if this is real, it could be of immense importance, even more than the fact this ring is a horcrux."
Dumbledore looked up in thought.
"All this time, Riddle had no idea what was in his possession. And I hazard a guess, Voldemort still does not know," he spoke almost to himself.
Harry's brow furrowed.
"Does not know what, sir?" he asked pensively again.
The headmaster snapped out of his trance and looked at him.
"Harry, our first order of business is to break the curse on this ring and dispose of the Horcrux. Then after, I must consider what is to be done with it. I realize I am being a bit vague and enigmatic, but suffice it to say, our friend Ronan's words concerning how the knowledge given by Saturn shall be great? Well, it's even greater than I would have imagined. Indeed, your older self has provided us with more than just knowledge - he's provided us with a potentially powerful weapon."
Harry's eyes went wide.
"Really?" he now wondered, intensely curious while gazing at the ring in Dumbledore's hand.
"Yes. But now is not the time to discuss it. I have a designated place for us to take care of the Horcrux and we should waste no time as the night is growing long and I am, as you might recall, way past my bedtime."
Harry chuckled. The professor continued.
"Now then, take my arm like before and this time, gird yourself for the trip."
Harry breathed out with a frown.
"Alright," he said, though not looking forward to apparating again.
He was just able to grasp hold of the wizard's arm and take a deep breath before they disappeared out of the Gaunt ruins.
~HP~
When they disapparated, Harry still felt winded and slightly nauseous, but it didn't seem as bad as before. Gazing around, he saw they had arrived in a grassy clearing surrounded by dark woods of tall oak and fir. The full moon illuminated the clearing and Harry was struck by the sight of several large standing stones forming a circle around an equally large stone at its center. The center stone lay flat and at a slight angle. It was apparent they were further north than Little Hangleton as the night air here was much cooler.
"Where are we, professor?" Harry asked while gazing at the imposing stones which looked like motionless phantoms under the whitish hue of the moon.
"An ancient Druidic ritual site. Its existence has been concealed from the muggle world and conveniently, it's not terribly far from Hogwarts," the old man responded and then pointed at a gap in the woods to their right, "that path there winds through several mountain ranges and at around three miles of hiking on foot will deposit you just north of the school."
Harry nodded. The headmaster then walked into the stone circle and placed the Gaunt ring on the flat, middle stone. He then walked back to nearly the edge of the circle.
"Stand near that stone next to you, Harry and don't step any closer inside the circle," the professor told him sternly, "it's been years since I've used this spell and I hope my old age hasn't dimmed my power or ability to control it. But just in case, you can duck behind the stone if something goes awry. And be prepared to use the shield spell if necessary."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied with a nod, both curious and concerned over which spell the headmaster was referring to.
Harry stepped beside the enormous bluestone rock which stood nearly twice his height and was around three feet in width. Dumbledore then produced his wand and pointed it diagonally upward while at the same time holding his left hand forward with palm out. The wizard then gazed up with intense concentration.
"Fiendfyre!" he suddenly uttered.
Harry jumped when an enormous surge of flame exploded from the tip of the wand, curling into the sky. The stone circle and the woods beyond the clearing lit up in yellow, red, and orange hues. The flames erupting from Dumbledore's wand grew bigger and fiercer, their roaring noise almost deafening. Harry staggered backwards, awestruck at the raw power of this spell and fearful of being consumed by it. Using Incendio seemed like merely flicking one of those muggle cigarette lighters in comparison.
The flames now swirled like a cyclone above the flat rock, and just as it seemed they were getting out of the headmaster's control, he shook his left hand violently and then gently turned it as though shaping something in the air. Indeed, as Harry glanced back up at the flames, he saw them slow in speed and even flow gracefully upward while morphing into what looked like a Chinese dragon.
Then, before the twelve-year-old knew it, Dumbledore brought both his wand and left hand downward. The head of the dragon swooped straight down, its cylindrical body of flame following. With a mighty rush, the dragon's head slammed into the ring.
BANG!
A shockwave erupted from the top of the stone, causing Harry to stagger backwards. He pulled out his wand, ready to use the shield spell as fear coursed through his body. But then he heard an awful screeching noise following by a terrific scream. His heart beating wildly, he glanced at Dumbledore, afraid the professor was in trouble. But the man was standing firm, perfectly controlling the flames which continued pouring down on the stone and ring. Dumbledore wasn't the one screaming. It was coming from the ring. It was coming from...the Riddle soul shard inside it.
Amazed, Harry watched as the last of the flames fell upon the stone. The terrible scream quieted and finally disappeared, just like the soul pieces inside him did when Madam Accola performed the Lift. Then, in an instant, the flames ceased, the roaring disappeared, and silence once more took over. All that remained of this spectacle was a plume of smoke rising from the top of the flat stone which was now blackened. Dumbledore, still gazing at the stone, lowered his hand and returned his wand to his robe pocket. He looked back at Harry.
"I think that should do it, don't you?" he asked.
Harry chuckled.
"Um...yeah...I think so," he uttered with amusement. Dumbledore smiled.
"The spell I used, Harry, Fiendfyre, is very powerful and dangerous, as you witnessed. It's easy to conjure once you have the magical ability. But it took me years to learn to control it. While it is one of the few things which can destroy a Horcrux, I would caution you against trying it until you've mastered other, less destructive spells."
Harry nodded. The professor continued.
"At the very least, I'm glad to know I haven't lost my touch. Now, let's see what has become of the ring."
They walked up to the large stone and gazed down. Amidst the blackened surface which still smoked, Marvolo's ring sat, still intact, it seemed. Harry was astonished at this considering the power of the flames Dumbledore brought down on it. But mysteriously, there was a small pool of black sludge beneath it. The headmaster reached down and touched the ring.
"Is it hot?" Harry wondered.
"No, my boy. It's quite cool."
Dumbledore picked it up and held it in his hand, the stone's face now revealing a crack running down its center line. Harry's brow furrowed.
"So, how did it survive the flames?"
The headmaster gave Harry a pointed look.
"It survived because there is more to this ring than it being a Horcrux, as no doubt you could tell by my reaction back at the Gaunt ruins. But now...it is a Horcrux no more."
Harry nodded. The old wizard gazed at the stone's cracked face.
"As I mentioned earlier, I will ponder what is to be done with it and will let you know what I've decided. In the meantime, I'll make sure it is safe and secure. And I reiterate, Harry, as I impressed upon you and Miss Granger in the Spring, that you not tell a soul about the ring or what's happened this night. Secrecy is imperative in this matter, even more than what we discussed concerning the Horcruxes. Is that understood?"
The headmaster stern gaze caused Harry to gulp.
"Yes, sir."
Dumbledore smiled.
"Excellent, then. Shall we?"
Harry nodded, took the professor's arm, and the two apparated back to Hogsmeade.