Chapter 5 – Summertime Frustration
The summer is filled with tension. Everybody is waiting for something to happen. The only precaution possible is strengthening the wards around our homes. The dark side is so far laying low. The light side is frustrated because they can't throw the suspicious people in Askaban and get it over with. We all are waiting for that one moment which would mean that the war has begun.
Dumbledore re-formed The Order of the Phoenix. Sirius Black offered Grimmauld Place as the order headquarters. It made sense to use Grimmauld Place since it has some of the strongest wards around it. Most of my family is a part of the order. New members were inducted into the Order. New members included the Bill Weasley, Nymphdora Tonks (who preferred to be called Tonks) who is an auror, and my older brothers Michael and William, Michael's girlfriend Shonali Shekhar, she is an British-Indian muggle-born witch. Andrew was still in school so he didn't get picked. There were some members from the Auror department were also inducted but I didn't know their names. Dumbledore personally scrutinised the new entrants.
The Weasleys are having some problems with Percy. He refuses to believe Harry's words. Ron told me that his parents and Percy have an argument almost every night. And Percy is not the only one. When Harry said Voldemort is back in the physical sense and Dumbledore stood by his word, I expected everyone to believe them. But that was not the case. There was a large section of the wizarding world, which didn't believe them. How can people not believe Harry? How can people not believe Dumbledore? One is the 'Boy-who-lived', the other is one of the best wizards of our times.
Minister Fudge added fuel to the fire. Everyday, he makes statements such as 'Harry Potter is just looking for a way to stay in news', 'Dumbledore is going barmy in old age', 'Harry Potter and Dumbledore are trying to generate fear in the hearts of people', 'Where is You-know-who, if he is really back?'
That's when it hit me – seeing is believing. Unless they have concrete proof that Voldemort is here, they won't believe. As of now, the only people who have seen Voldemort are Harry, Diggory and the death eaters, If Diggory had survived then Harry's words may have more weight. The order is trying to gather as much as evidence as possible. Nothing so far! This is the stillness before the storm.
I had nothing much to do, besides homework and meet Draco on the weekends (I'll explain this part later), so I decided to research Voldemort. My starting point was the night that Harry's parents got murdered by him, from there I went back. I remembered the time in Chamber of Secrets where he told Harry and I, his name was Tom Marvolo Riddle originally. I couldn't find out much about his life at Hogwarts except that he was a straight O student. He worked in Borgin & Burkes after graduating from Hogwarts? Why would a top of the year student and head boy work there? Then he sort of disappeared for a couple of years and then reappeared as Voldemort. What happened in those few years? I even went through the list of old wizarding families, including the ones, which don't exist today. Turns out, there was never a wizarding family by that name. So, I'm guessing that either Voldemort is a half-blood or a muggle-born. Oh my! Imagine the scandal if he turns out to be a muggle-born.
Hermione came to stay at Grimmauld Place a few weeks later. God knows how that girl does not want to spend summer vacation with her parents! She spends half of her summer vacation at Ron's place. Sometimes, we have girls' night at my place. I have to hide all my photos with Draco before she comes home. Harry wrote to us and Sirius asking us what was going on. Dumbledore instructed us not to mention anything to Harry, so we wrote him letters, which didn't mean anything more than 'hi, how are you?' I know, lame! What were we supposed to do? We were not told everything either.
"Sir, I was wondering if I could have a word with you." I asked Dumbledore one day when I was in Grimmauld Place. "In private." I whispered.
"Of course, Ms. Shepherd. Let's go to the library."
"Thank you, sir."
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked me with a spark in his eyes.
"Sir, I've been researching Voldemort and Tom Riddle. It seems like some things don't add up."
I gave the folder I made on Voldemort. He studied it quickly in silence. "This is admirable work, Ms. Shepherd. What doesn't seem to add up?"
"Sir, after Hogwarts, he worked at Borgin & Burkes. Why would he do that? When he could have had any job at the ministry. Also he disappeared for a couple of years before reappearing as Voldemort. Do you have any idea what he was doing, sir?"
"That is definitely intriguing but I'm afraid I don't have any information for you." He told me after thinking for a bit. "Tell me why are you doing this?"
"For Harry. He needs to have all the information necessary if he wants to beat Voldemort. Do you know his mother's name, sir? I think his father is a muggle or a muggle-born wizard."
He was quiet for a moment as if contemplating what to tell me. "As a matter of fact, I do. Her name was Merope Gaunt. She was one of the last descendents of Salazar Slytherin himself."
My eyes popped out, "Voldemort is a descendent of Slytherin?"
He chuckled at my expression. "Yes, Ms. Shepherd he is."
"His father, sir? Was he a wizard as well?"
"From what I have heard his father is a muggle."
"So, he is a half blood? But why is he be supporting pureblood supremacy then?"
He thought for a long while. "At this point of time, I can only make speculations, Ms. Shepherd. He assumes everything non-magical is weak and that they don't contribute in anyway."
That is something to think about. There was something else that was bothering me, "Sir, would things that belonged to Slytherin have sentimental value for Voldemort?"
He considered the question, "I'm not sure if they would sentimental value but they would mean something to him. Why do you ask?" He looked at me like he was scanning me.
"Nothing, I was just wondering."
Just then Mundungus Fletcher burst into the library. He looked scared and like he was going to spill but he saw me and stopped himself. "Dumbledore sir, I need to talk to you."
"Okay." Dumbledore looked at me, "If you don't mind, Ms Shepherd, may I keep this folder? It might help me refresh my memory. Ms. Shepherd, Hogwarts was a almost like a home to Tom Riddle."
"Okay, sir." I wonder why he told me that. I got up from my seat. "Thank you for talking to me sir." I left the library so Dumbledore and Fletcher could talk. I could tell something was up.
It wasn't until a team was sent to go get Harry that we were told that Harry was attacked by dementors in Little Whinging. We were outraged. That is Voldemort's first move. He didn't want to face Harry by himself that's why he sent dementors to suck Harry's soul. Good Thing, Harry knew how to produce a patronus. But weren't the dementors supposed to be on the Ministry's side? What the hell is going on? Then I remembered something – the dementors were on Voldemort's side in the first war as well then why was the Ministry even hiring them?
"But Dad, if the dementors are attacking Harry doesn't it mean that the prisoners in Askaban can get out any minute? Because the dementors will not put up a fight against anyone who comes to rescue them?" I asked my father.
My father and Mr. Wealsley exchanged an uncertain look, "Nat, they were just rogue dementors, I don't think all the dementors are going to be attacking civilians."
I was not impressed by the answer. There were voices heard from the hallway. Ron and Hermione ran out of the kitchen. Before leaving the kitchen, I asked my father, "Dad, are you sure? Don't you think this is something the order should look into before it's too late?"
His eyes softened, "Nat, as of now the situation is under control. Don't worry so much. You're a teenager, worry about teenage issues, we'll handle this." He pulled me into a bear hug. I wanted to be comforted by his hug but I just could not. There was just too much on my head. Irrespective of this, I gave him a smile and kissed him on his cheek.
"See you later, dad."
By the time, I got to the hallway my three friends, Andrew and Sirius were already having a heavy discussion. I cleared my throat and said, "Hey Harry."
He looked at me and a big smile spread on his face, "Hi." He got up and hugged me. While pulling back, he gave a chaste kiss on the lips. He has never done that before. I think, I'm going to faint. Near death experiences makes people braver.
I grinned back at him, "How are you?"
"Now that I'm here, I'm good. I'm pissed off by your letters, by the way."
"Blame the Headmaster!" Everyone snorted. Mrs. Weasley asked Sirius to join the others in the dining room for the order meeting. She asked all of us to go upstairs. Fred and George joined us and gave a demonstration of their new products. Ginny joined us in a little while. Harry and my proximity displeased her. I'm trying real hard not to do things, which can't be interpreted as rubbing it on her face. My parents took Andrew and I home after the meeting. Michael and William went back to their respective apartments.
Harry was declared 'not guilty', as if they could convict him. There was a party that night. And what a party it was. Harry was sort of lost in his thoughts most of the times though someone or the other was talking to him. When I finally got a chance to be alone with him, I asked him the reason.
"It's Dumbledore. He wouldn't look at me today. As soon as I was acquitted, he fled from there without even saying a word to me."
"That's strange."
"I know."
"There's something I want to ask you. I know this not the right time but the sooner this is over, the sooner, I'd feel better."
He looked at me curiously, "What is it?"
I took him to a small closet, which was in the far corner of the kitchen, "Do you feel it?"
He closed his eyes in concentration, "Yes." He said suddenly, making me jump.
"Just like how the diary felt in the chamber of secrets?" In the chamber of secrets, when the diary was giving energy or life to Tom Riddle, it gave off a dark aura. I get the same kind of aura from one particular object in that closet.
"Actually, it's bit more stronger."
I opened the closet and picked up an ancient looking locket from the closet. "This belonged to Slytherin. Voldemort is the last descendent of Slytherin. At least the last direct descendent."
He looked shocked at the revelation, "Are you serious?"
"What you half bloods be doing in Kreacher's room?" Kreacher screeched behind us. He saw the locket in my hand and got even angrier. He tried to yank it from me. "Half bloods stealing from the noble house of Black."
"Kreacher, where did you get this from?" Harry asked him patiently.
"You not my master."
I had to think of a different approach. "Did Mrs. Black give it to you?"
"I is not tell you." He yelled. Thank God for the loud talk and music playing or else someone would have heard him already.
"You know this is a dark object, right?"
He looked shocked. Bull's eye! "How…how does the half blood Shepherd know?"
"I have a knack for these things." I joked.
"What she means to say is she can sense the dark aura coming off of it!" Harry covered up quickly. He rolled his eyes at my dramatics.
"Were you supposed to destroy it?"
Shocked again. I'm so on a roll tonight. He nodded his head and tears started filling his eyes. "Kreacher tried everything that Kreacher could think of. But it can't get destroyed. I failed Master Regulus."
Did he just say Regulus? As in Regulus Black, the death eater? Sirius' little brother, Regulus? "Regulus Black asked you to destroy it?"
"Yes."
Harry looked confused, "What if we said we could destroy it will you let us keep it?" Harry asked carefully.
A look of hope lit up Kreacher's face, "Potter can really do it?"
"There's something at Hogwarts which will destroy it." Harry said confidently.
"If half bloods help Kreacher with this, I let you keep."
"Kreacher where did Regulus find it?"
"Some cave under the sea. Lot of magic around that cave."
"Was Regulus planning to leave the death eaters?" Harry looked at me curiously when I asked that.
Tears were freely falling from Kreacher's eyes now, "Yes, Master found The Dark Lord's secret. Master not like to kill and torture people."
"What secret?" Harry asked.
"The Dark Lord have more dark objects." Kreacher answered.
"Do you know what they are and where they are?" Harry asked.
He shook his head.
"Thank You, Kreacher." I gave him a chocolate that I had in the pocket. That was the least I could do. He took it suspiciously.
I wrapped the sinister locket in one of the kitchen rags and we left the kitchen after bidding Kreacher goodbye. We went up to the room that Harry and Ron were staying in, Harry quickly stuffed the locket in his trunk.
"Hey, who is Regulus Black?" Harry asked me.
"He is…was Sirius' little brother. He joined the death eaters right after passing out of Hogwarts."
"No one stopped him?"
"Harry, everyone except Sirius is a death eater in this family. Except Tonks' mother. Joining the death eaters was a matter of pride for a lot of pureblood families."
"Tonks' mother?"
"Yes, Tonks' mother is Sirius' cousin." Just to tease him a bit I added, "So is Malfoy's mother."
"So that ferret and my godfather and Tonks are related."
I didn't like Harry calling him ferret. "Yes, those are the lovely stories you'll get you hear if purebloods insist on marrying within themselves. Almost everyone is related."
"What about you? Is your family related to the Blacks or Malfoys in anyway?"
I thought for a while. "I think someone from the family married someone from the Black family but that was generations ago. But the Malfoys and Shepherds have a lot of hatred towards each other. Shepherds don't like how uptight Malfoys and Malfoys don't like how liberal we are." But if Draco and I don't find a way to end out marriage contract soon we'll be family.
He laughed, "I didn't think we would get some alone time tonight. I missed you a lot."
My heart warmed up. "I missed you too. I wanted to write more to you but…"
"Hey, it's okay. That part is over now. I'm glad we're here right now." He kissed me on the cheek. I bit my lip in nervousness. He kissed me. I let him move his lips on mine then I remembered that I was supposed to respond as well.
Suddenly, Hermione and Ron, burst through the door. We broke apart suddenly. I didn't even realise that was sitting on his lap. They went red in the face.
"Ummm…everyone is looking for the both of you." Hermione said shyly.
"We'll…uh…be right down." Harry said smugly.
They left as abruptly as they came in.
"So, are we…like…boyfriend-girlfriend now?" I asked him tentatively.
He smiled brightly at me, "Yes. I mean if you want to."
"I would like that." I kissed him.
"Good." Now grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"We'll them about the locket tomorrow?" I asked Harry.
"Yes." He kissed me quickly before we went back downstairs.
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