The Potter Twins II

by amadgirlwithabluebox

This is the sequel to The Potter Twins. The story takes place through the eyes of Chloe Potter, the twin of Harry Potter. Even though she works hard to keep herself under control, Chloe knows she is very different from her brother. Follow Chloe as she watches her brother struggle through the Triwizard Tournament and rekindles a friendship/romance with Draco Malfoy.

16. Chapter 16

p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; text-align: center; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chapter 16/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; text-align: center; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The Pensieve/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Professor Moody opened the door to Dumbledore's office and invited us in. We walked in and looked around the room. The only other time we had been in his office was after the events of the Chamber of Secrets. The room was circular, with portraits of all the previous headmasters lining the walls. They were all currently asleep, their chests rising softly. Cornelius Fudge was standing next to Dumbledore's desk, wearing a pinstripe cloak and holding his lime green bowler hat./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Harry, Chloe!" Fudge said jovially. "How are you?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Fine," said Harry. I just nodded in agreement. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We were just talking about the night when Mr. Crouch showed up on the school grounds. It was you who found him, right?" Fudge asked Harry./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes," said Harry. "I didn't see Madame Maxine anywhere though. And she would have a hard time hiding wouldn't she?" Harry added. Dumbledore gave Harry a smile behind Fudge's back, his eyes twinkling. I would have also said the same thing, if my being there hadn't been a secret./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, well, we are about to go on a short walk around the grounds if you'll excuse us. Perhaps the two of you should go back to your class." Fudge said, looking a bit embarrassed to be called out by Harry. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I wanted to talk to you, Professor." Harry said quickly looking at Dumbledore, who gave us a swift searching look. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wait here for me, Harry and Chloe. Our examination of the grounds should not take long." Dumbledore, Moody, and Fudge trooped out in silence, closing the door behind them. Soon we heard the clunks of Moody's wooden leg grow faint./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I looked around the room again and saw Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. I walked over to him, he was on a golden perch near the door. He had magnificent red and gold plumage, and was the size of a swan. He swished his long tail as he eyed me softly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hello Fawkes," I greeted him with a small smile. "It's been a while." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Since our second year." Harry added as he came over to greet him as well. Eventually we wandered back over to Dumbledore's desk and sat in a couple of chairs that were in front of it. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"We passed the time by watching the past headmasters and headmistress' sleep in their portraits. Harry looked like he had calmed down since leaving Divination./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Feeling better?" I asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah," said Harry with a small smile. "It feels safer to be in here." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hopefully Dumbledore will know what to do about your scar." I said, smiling back at him. Harry's eyes wandered to the wall behind Dumbledore's desk, where the sorting hat and the sword of Gryffindor were sitting on a shelf. I noticed a silvery light dancing off the glass case the sword was in and looked around for the source. Just underneath the case was a black cabinet that was slightly ajar. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What's that?" I asked, pointing at the cabinet./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No idea," said Harry as he looked in the direction I was pointing to. "Should we check it out?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm curious," I said as I stood up and walked over to the cabinet. I pulled open the door to reveal a stone basin with carving around the edge. The silvery light was coming from the basin's contents, and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. I felt Harry behind me, looking over my shoulder./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is that?" He asked as we watched the silvery substance flow around in the basin. It was a bright whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly. It looked like light that was made into a liquid, or perhaps wind that was made solid. I wanted to touch it, but knew better than to actually reach in and touch it. Harry took out his wand and prodded the silvery substance and it began to swirl very fast. We both leaned in, entranced by the stuff. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Do you see that?" Harry asked, still staring into the basin./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The room? At the bottom of the basin?" I asked, also still staring into the basin. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah," said Harry. He leaned in closer, his nose only an inch away from the liquid. The room was dimly lit with no windows, just torches lighting it up. There were rows and rows of witches and wizards sitting along the wall on benches. An empty chair stood in the middle of the room, in plain sight of all the people sitting down. There were chains sitting around the chair, as if the people who would sit there needed to be strapped down. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Where is this?" I asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No idea, but I don't think it's in Hogwarts." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I leaned in closer, trying to get a clearer view of the room. The tip of my nose touched the liquid and all of a sudden I was thrown forward and fell into the basin. It felt like I was being pulled into a whirlpool. Suddenly I was sitting on a bench at the end of the room, up high near the top. I looked up, expecting to see where I had fallen, but there was nothing there. I felt a small amount of panic in my chest as I realized I didn't know how to get back to Dumbledore's office. Seconds later Harry appeared next to me, looking confused. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Did you touch the liquid?" I asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, I did. You disappeared after you touched it and I was taken by surprise and accidently also touched it." Harry answered as he looked around. "We must be in the room we saw."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No one is looking at us, do you think we are invisible?" I said as I waved my hand in front of a wizard I didn't know. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Chloe, it's Professor Dumbledore." Harry said. I turned to look at him and sure enough there was Dumbledore sitting next to Harry. "Professor, we were just looking in the basin behind your desk. Where are we?" Dumbledore ignored Harry, not showing the slightest sign that he heard or saw him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""They can't see or hear us." I said. I followed Dumbledore's gaze at a door on the other side of the room. "Wonder what they are waiting for."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You know what this reminds me of?" Harry asked me./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What?" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""When I was pulled into Riddle's diary. He showed me a memory, and no one could see or hear me. That's what this is, a memory." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Let's just sit here and see what's going to happen." I said, settling down./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Okay." Harry leaned back and looked around the room. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Soon we heard footsteps and the door on the other side of the room, in the corner, opened. Three people entered, and when I got a better look I realized it was actually one man flanked by two dementors. A chill of dread ran through my body. The dementors, tall dark creatures whose faces were concealed, glided to the center of the room where they sat the man down to the chair. All the witches and wizards that were watching shrunk back until the two dementors glided back out of the room./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The man in the chair took me a second to recognize, it was Karkaroff. He looked much younger than present day Karkaroff. His hair and goatee were black. He was not dressed in sleek furs, but in thin and ragged robes. He was shaking as he looked around the room at all the people watching. The chains next to the chair slid over his arms, locking him into place. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Igor Karkaroff," said a curt voice to my left. I looked around and saw Barty Crouch standing up. His hair was dark, and his face much less lined. He looked fit and alert. "You have been brought from Azkaban to present evidence to the Ministry of Magic. You have given us a reason to understand that you have information for us."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I have, sir." Karkaroff said after straightening himself up as best as he could. "I wish to be of use to the Ministry, I wish to help. I-I know that the Ministry is trying to round up the last of the Dark Lord's supporters. I am eager to assist in any way I can." There was a murmur around the benches. Some of the witches and wizards were surveying Karkaroff with interest, others with pronounced mistrust. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Filth," I heard a growling voice mutter from the other side of Dumbledore. Harry and I leaned forward to see who it was and saw Mad-Eye Moody. He did not have his magical eye, but two normal ones. Both were looking down at Karkaroff, and both were narrowed with intense dislike. "Crouch is going to let him out. He's done a deal with him. It took me six months to track him down and Crouch is going to let him go if he's got enough new names. Let's hear his information and I say throw him straight back to the dementors." He said to Dumbledore. Dumbledore made a small noise of unapproval. "Ah, I forgot you don't like the dementors, do you Albus?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No," said Dumbledore calmly. "I am afraid I don't. I have long felt the Ministry is wrong to ally itself with such creatures."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But for filth like this," Moody said softly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You say you have names for us, Karkaroff. Let us hear them." Crouch said. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You must understand," Karkaroff said quickly. "That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named operated always in the greatest secrecy. He preferred that we, I mean to say his supporters. And I regret now very deeply that I ever counted myself among them. We never knew the names of every one of our alone knew exactly who we all were."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Which was a wise move on his part as it prevented someone like you, Karkaroff, from turning all of them in." Muttered Moody./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yet you say you have some names for us?" said Mr. Crouch./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I-I do," said Karkaroff breathlessly. "And these were important supports mind you. People I saw with my own eyes doing his bidding. I give this information as a sign that I fully and totally renounce him and am filled with a remorse so deep I can barely-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""These names are?" said Crouch sharply. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""There was Antonin Dolohov. I saw him torture countless muggles and non-supports of the Dark Lord."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We have already apprehending Dolohov," said Crouch. "He was caught shortly after yourself."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Indeed?" Karkaroff said, his eyes widening. "I-I am delighted to hear it." I could tell that this news came as a real blow to him. One of the names he had was useless. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Any others?" said Crouch coldly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Why, yes. There was Rosier. Evans Rosier."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Rosier is dead. He was caught shortly after you were too. He preferred to fight rather than come in quietly."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No-no more than Rosier deserved," said Karkaroff, a real note of panic in his voice now. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Any more?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, there was Travers. He helped murder the McKinnens. Mulciber, he specialized in the Imperious Curse. Rookwood, who was a spy and passed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named useful information from inside the Ministry itself." I could tell that this time Karkaroff had struck gold. A murmur went through the crowd./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Rookwood," said Mr. Crouch as he nodded to a witch in front of him, who started scribbling on a piece of parchment. "Augustus Rookwood of the Department of Mysteries?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The very same!" said Karkaroff eagerly. "I believe he used a well placed network of wizards both inside the Ministry and out to collect information."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But Travers and Mulciber we have." Crouch said. "Very well, Karkaroff, if that is all you will be returned to you cell while we decide-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Not yet!" Cried Karkaroff sounding desperate. "Wait, I have more." He was starting to sweat in the spotlight. "Snape! Severus Snape." He shouted./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Severus Snape has been cleared by this council. He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No!" Shouted Karkaroff. "I assure you, Severus Snape is a Death Eater." Harry and I looked at each other. He had a 'I told you so' look on his face. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I have presented evidence to this council already on this matter." Dumbledore said after standing up. "Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater, however, he rejoined our side before Voldemort's downfall, and turned spy for us, a great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am." It was my turn to give Harry the 'I told you so' look./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Very well, Karkaroff," said Crouch. "You have been of assistance. I shall review your case. You will return to Azkaban in the meantime." Mr. Crouch's voice faded. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I looked around and the room started to turn into smoke. Everything started fading and all I could see was myself and Harry. Soon the dungeon returned, and we were sitting close to where we were before. The atmosphere seemed quite different, relaxed and even cheerful. Witches and wizards were chatting around the room almost as though they were at some sort of sporting event. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Look," Harry said, pointing to a witch halfway up the rows of benches opposite of us. She had short blonde hair, was wearing magenta robes, and was sucking the end of an acid green quill. It was unmistakingly Rita Skeeter. I looked around some more and saw Dumbledore was sitting next to me this time. Mr. Crouch looked more tired and somehow fiercer and gaunter. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We must be in a different memory now." I said to Harry. He nodded in agreement. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The door in the corner opened, and Ludo Bagman came through the door. This wasn't the Bagman we were used to seeing. This was Bagman at the height of his quidditch career. His nose wasn't broken, and he was tall and lean. He sat down in the chair, and unlike with Karkaroff, the chains did not hold him down. He must have felt a bit better because now he was waving at the surrounding witches and wizards. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Ludo Bagman, you have been brought here in front of the council of magical law to answer charges relating to activities relating to the Death Eaters. We have heard the evidence against you and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgment?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Ludo Bagman a Death Eater?" Harry muttered to me in surprise. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Only," said Bagman, smiling softly. "I know I have been a bit of an idiot." A few witches and wizards chuckled at his words. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to Lord Voldemort's supporters." Mr. Crouch said, unamused. "For this I suggest a term of imprisonment," but there was an angry outcry from the surrounding witches and wizards. Several around the walls stood up shaking their heads and some even brandishing their fists at Mr. Crouch. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But I told you, I had no idea." Bagman called earnestly. "None at all. Old Rookwood was an old friend of my dads. It never crossed my mind that he was in league with You-Know-Who. I thought I was collecting information for our side. Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job in the Ministry later on, once my days on the quidditch field are over. I mean, I can't keep getting hit with bludgers for the rest of my life can I?" There was some laughter from the crowd at his words. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It will be put to the vote." Mr. Crouch said coldly. "The jury will please raise their hands. Those in favor of imprisonment?" I looked towards the right hand side of the dungeon. Not one person raised their hand. Many of the witches and wizards around the walls began to clap. One of the witches on the jury stood up. "Yes?" ask Crouch./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We'd just like to congratulate Mr. Bagman on his splendid performance for England against Turkey last Saturday," said the witch breathlessly. Mr. Crouch looked furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman stood up and took a few bows for them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Despicable." Crouch spat as he sat down next to Dumbledore. "Rookwood get him a job, indeed. The day Ludo Bagman joins us will be a sad day for the Ministry." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The dungeon disappeared again. When it returned Dumbledore was still sitting beside Mr. Crouch, but the atmosphere was completely different. There was total silence, broken only by the sobs of a frail looking witch in the seat next to Mr. Crouch. She was clutching a handkerchief against her mouth with her small hands. I looked up at Crouch and saw his face was gaunter and greyer than before, a nerve was twitching on his temple./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Bring them in." He said and his voice echoed across the dungeon. Six dementors entered from the door in the corner, flanking a group of four people. I noticed the crowd turning to look at Mr. Crouch, a few started whispering to one another. The dementors placed each of the four people in four chairs with chained arms in the center of the room. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"There was a thick set man, staring up at Mr. Crouch. A thinner and more nervous looking man whose eyes were darting around the room. A woman with thick shining dark hair with heavily hooded eyes who was sitting in the chained chair as though it were a throne. Last was a boy in his late teens, who looked nothing short but petrified. He was trembling, his straw colored hair in his eyes. The witch that was sitting next to Mr. Crouch started to whimper and rock back and forth in her seat. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Crouch stood up and looked down at the four people in front of him, and there was pure hatred in his face. "You have been brought here before the council of magical law," he said clearly. "So that we may pass judgment on you for a crime so heinous."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father," said the teen boy. "Father please." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That we have rarely heard the like of it within this court." Crouch said loudly, drowning out the sound of his son's voice. "We have heard the evidence against you. The four of you stand accused of capturing an auror, Frank Longbottom, and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse. Believing him to have knowledge of the whereabouts of your exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, I didn't!" Cried the boy in chains. "I didn't, I swear it Father! Don't send me back to the dementors."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You are further accused," bellowed Mr. Crouch. "Of using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank Longbottom's wife when he would not give you information. You planned to restore He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to power and to resume the lives of violence that you presumably led while he was strong. I now ask the jury-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Mother!" Screamed the boy, and the witch sitting next to Crouch began to sob harder. "Mother stop him! Mother I didn't do it! It wasn't me!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I now ask the jury to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban." In unison the witches and wizards on the right hand side of the dungeon raised their hands. The crowd around the walls began to clap as they had done for Bagman, their faces full of triumph. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The boy began to scream, "No mother no! I didn't do it! I didn't know, don't send me there. Don't let him!" The dementors glided back into the room. The boys three companions rose from their seats./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The woman with the heavy lidded eyes looked up at Crouch and called, "The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch. Throw us into Azkaban, we will wait. He will rise again and will come for us. He will reward us beyond any of his other supporters. We alone were faithful, we alone tried to find him." But the boy was trying to fight off the dementors, even though I could see their cold draining power affect them. The crowd was jeering, some on their feet, as the woman swept out of the dungeon and the boy continued to struggle./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am your son!" He screamed at Crouch. "I am your son!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You are no son of mine!" Bellowed Mr. Crouch venomously. His eyes bulged suddenly, "I have no son!" The witch beside him gave a huge gasp and fainted beside him. Crouch appeared to have not noticed. "Take them away!" Crouch roared at the dementors, spit flying out of his mouth. "Take them away, and may they rot there."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, I wasn't involved. No, no, no, please."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I think, Chloe and Harry, it is time to return to my office," said a quiet voice from behind us. I turned around and saw Professor Dumbledore, looking at the two of us. "Come," said Dumbledore and he put a hand under both of our elbows and I felt us rising in the air. The dungeon melted away and for a moment all was black. I felt as though I was doing a slow motion sumersault and landed on my feet back in Dumbledore's office. The stone basin was shimmering in the cabinet in front of us, and Dumbledore was standing between us. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Professor," said Harry. "I know we shouldn't have, we didn't mean. The cabinet door was sort of open and-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I quite understand," said Dumbledore. He lifted the basin and carried it over to his desk and sat in the chair behind it. He motioned for us to sit down opposite of him. We did so, staring at the basin. The contents resumed their state of silvery whiteness. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is it?" I asked, shakily. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""This, this is called a pensieve." Dumbledore said. "I sometimes find, and I'm sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind." I nodded in agreement, at least for the thoughts part./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Uh," muttered Harry as though he couldn't relate. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""These times," said Dumledore indicating the pensieve. "I use the pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You mean that stuff are your thoughts?" said Harry, staring at the swirling white substance in the basin. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Certainly," said Dumbledore. "Let me show you." Dumbledore drew his wand from the inside of robes and placed the tip in his own silvery hair, near his temple. When he took the wand away, hair seemed to be clinging to it. However, it was actually the same silvery substance that was in the basin. Dumbledore added this fresh thought into the basin and to my surprise I saw both my face and Harry's. Dumbledore swirled the contents and our faces turned to Professor Snape's face./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's coming back, Karkaroff's too. Stronger and clearer than ever." Snape said up to the ceiling. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""A connection I could've made without assistance, but nevermind." Dumbledore said. He peered over the top of his half-moon spectacles at us. "I was using the pensieve when Mr. Fudge arrived for a meeting and put it away hastily. Undoubtedly, I did not fasten the cabinet door properly. Naturally it attracted your attention."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'm sorry," Harry and I mumbled at the same time, looking down at our feet. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Curiosity is not a sin," Dumbledore said while shaking his head. "But we should exercise caution with our curiosity, yes indeed." Frowning slightly, he prodded the contents of the basin with his wand. Instantly a figure rose out of it, a plump scowling girl of about sixteen, who began to revolve slowly with her feet still in the basin. She took no notice whatsoever of anyone of us. When she spoke her voice echoed, as Snape's had done, as though it were coming from the depths of the basin. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He put a hex on me, Professor Dumledore. And I was only teasing him, I only said I had seen him kissing Florence behind the greenhouses last Thursday."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But why Betha?" said Dumbledore sadly, looking up at the revolving girl. "Why did you have to follow him in the first place?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Bertha?" I whispered, looking up at the girl. "Is that, was that, Bertha Jorkins?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes," said Dumbledore, prodding the thoughts again. Bertha sank back into them and they became silvery and opaque again. "That was Bertha as I remember her at school." The silvery light from the pensieve illuminated Dumbledore's face, and it struck me suddenly how old he was looking. Of course I knew that Dumbledore was old, but I never really thought about it until then. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""So, Harry and Chloe, before you got lost in my thoughts you wanted to tell me something." Dumbledore said as he sat back into his chair. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes," said Harry. "I was in Divination just now and I fell asleep."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Quite understandable, continue." Dumbledore said with a nod./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Well, I had a dream. A dream about Lord Voldemort. He was torturing Wormtail, you know who Wormtail-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I know. Please continue," said Dumbledore promptly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Voldemort got a letter from an owl. He said something like Wormtail's blunder had been repaired. He said someone was dead. Then he said Wormtail wouldn't be fed to the snake, there was a snake beside his chair. He said that he would be feeding me to the snake instead. Then he did the Cruciatus Curse on Wormtail and my scar hurt. It woke me up, it hurt so badly." Dumbledore merely looked at Harry. "Uh, that's all," said Harry. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I see," said Dumbledore quietly. "I see. Now, has your scar hurt at any other time this year? Except for the time it woke you up over the summer."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, I… How did you know my scar hurt over the summer?" Harry asked. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You are not Sirius' only correspondent," said Dumbledore. "I have also been in contact with him since he left Hogwarts last year. It was I who suggested the mountain side caves as the safest place for him to stay." Dumbledore stood up and began walking behind his desk. Every now and then he placed his wand tip to his temple, removing a shiny silver thought and added it to the pensieve./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Professor," said Harry quietly after a couple of minutes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""My apologies," said Dumbledore quietly and he sat back down at his desk. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Do you know why my scar is hurting me?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Dumbledore looked very intently at Harry for a moment and then said, "I have a theory, no more than that. It is my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near you and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But why?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Because you and he are connected by the curse that failed," said Dumbledore. "That is no ordinary scar." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""So you think, that dream, did it really happen?" I asked curiously./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It is possible. I would say probable. Harry, did you see Voldemort?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, just the back of his chair." Harry answered. "There wouldn't have been anything to see would there? I mean he hasn't got a body, but then how could he have held a wand?" Harry said, slowly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How indeed," muttered Dumbledore. "How indeed." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Professor," I said quietly. "Why is it that Harry is the only one affected by the presence or feelings of Voldemort?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I believe that because Harry was the one the curse was aimed at, he is the only one connected by it."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Do you think that if he was successful in killing Harry that I would have been next?" This was a question that I had always wondered about./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It would make sense that Lord Voldemort would want to kill everyone in your family." Dumbledore answered softly. "However, as he never got that far there is not telling what his intent was for you."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The three of us sat in Dumbledore's office in silence, thinking about what we had discussed. Every now and then, Dumbledore placed his wand to his temple and added another memory to the pensieve. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Professor," Harry said at last. "Do you think he's getting stronger?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Voldemort?" said Dumbledore, looking up at Harry. "Once again Harry, I can only give you my suspicions." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "The years of Voldemort's ascent to power were marked by disappearances. Bertha Jorkins has vanished without a trace in a place where Voldemort was known to be last seen. Barty Crouch has disappeared within these very grounds. And there was a third disappearance, one of which the Ministry I regret to say does not consider to be important because it concerns a muggle. His name was Frank Bryce. He lived in the village where Voldemort's father grew up and he has not been seen since last August. You see, I read the muggle newspapers unlike most of my Ministry friends." Dumbledore looked very seriously at us. "These disappearances seem, to me, to be linked. The Ministry disagrees, as you may have heard as you waited outside my office." Silence fell between us again. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Professor," said Harry again. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, Harry?" said Dumbledore./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Can I ask you about that court thing?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You could," said Dumbledore heavily. "I attended it many times. Some trials come back to me clearer than others, particularly now."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You know the trail that you found us in? The one with Crouch's son. Were they talking about Neville's parents?" It never occurred to me to ask this question. I wasn't close to Neville, and didn't know much about him. Other than that he was slower at learning things than his peers./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Has Neville never told you why he was being brought up by his grandmother?" Dumbledore said sharply. Harry shook his head. "Yes, they were talking about Neville's parents. His father, Frank, was an auror. Just like Professor Moody was. He and his wife were tortured for Voldemort's whereabouts after he lost his powers, as you heard."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""So they're dead," said Harry quietly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No," said Dumbledore, his voice full of a bitterness that I never heard before. "They are insane. They are both in St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I believe that Neville visits them with his grandmother during the holidays. They do not recognize him." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Harry and I sat there, horror struck. Certainly it was worse to have parents that don't know who you are than to have dead parents. I suddenly felt bad for the way I have treated Neville in the past. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The Longbottoms were very popular," said Dumbledore. "The attacks on them came after Voldemort's fall from power. Just when everyone thought they were safe. Those attacks caused a wave of fury such as I have never known. The Ministry was under great pressure to catch those who had done it. Unfortunately, the Longbottoms evidence was, given under their conditions, unreliable."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Then, Mr. Crouch's son might have not been involved." I said slowly. Dumbledore shook his head. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""As to that, I have no idea." We sat in silence once more. I thought of another question to ask after a few minutes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Mr. Bagman?" I asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He has not been accused of any dark activities since," said Dumledore calmly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What about Snape?" Harry asked quietly. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No more has Professor Snape." Dumbledore answered./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What made you think he really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?" Harry asked before he could stop himself. I rolled my eyes, annoyed that he kept looking for reasons to hate Snape./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That, Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself." Dumbledore said, holding his gaze with Harry. Dumbledore's voice sounded as though he was finished answering questions, but did not look angry. Harry and I stood up to leave, Dumbledore stood with us./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Harry, Chloe, please do not speak about Neville's parents to anyone else. He has the right to let people know when he is ready."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes, Professor." Harry and I said at the same time. We turned to leave./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""And," we looked back. Dumledore's face was illuminated by the silvery light of the pensieve. "Good luck with the Third Task."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Harry and I left and started walking down to the Entrance Hall. We walked in silence, thinking of all the information we had just learned. Once we reached the Entrance Hall, Harry said he was going to go to owlery and send a letter to Sirius. He asked if I wanted to come with him, but I had just spotted Cedric. I declined and told him I was going to spend some time with Cedric. Harry nodded and headed off towards the owlery alone. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Cedric looked like he had just come in from a Herbology class, he was surrounded by his fellow Hufflepuffs. I walked up to him slowly, not wanting to interrupt his conversation. It only took a few moments for one of his friends to point me out to Cedric. He looked over to me and gave me a wide smile./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Chloe!" He closed the distance between us and embraced me. I took in a deep breath as he held me in his arms. "What are you doing here?" He asked after he let me go. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I was chatting with Professor Dumbledore, and by the time that was done class was practically over." I shrugged. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Why were you talking with Professor Dumbledore?" He asked curiously. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""If we go somewhere private, I'll tell you." I said, eyeing his friends who were all listening in on our conversation. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Cedric said his goodbyes and the two of us walked hand in hand to the school grounds. It was a warm day, and while there were a few students hanging out in the sun, we were able to find a quiet place to settle down. I told Cedric almost everything I had just learned from Dumbledore. I left out the bit about Neville's parents, just like Dumbledore asked. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It's hard to believe that Bagman would pass information to the Death Eaters, even if he didn't realize what he was doing." Cedric said after I finished talking. "I always kind of looked up to him, he was after all a great quidditch player."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I feel worse about Mr. Crouch's son." I said solemnly. "It couldn't have been easy to send his own son to Azkaban, especially with his wife crying right there next to him." I thought about the cries of Crouch's son as he begged to not be taken to Azkaban. I shuddered at the thought./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Do you think he really did it?" Cedric asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't know, but if he did I think he deserved the sentence he got." Cedric nodded in agreement. We sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company. I rested my head against Cedric's shoulder and watched the birds fly in the sky./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is Harry ready for the last Task?" Cedric asked as a couple of raven's danced in the sky./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's still got to do some practicing, but he's getting there." I answered softly. "What about you? Are you ready?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yeah, I feel pretty good about it." Cedric gave me a reassuring smile. He leaned down and planted a small kiss on my lips. I smiled back up at him and wished that this moment would last forever. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"AN: Thank you all for reading my fanfic! Please leave a review on what you think of it so far./span/p