Chapter 12 – Damien's Tale

Mad-Eye Moody and Harry made their way slowly back down the spiral staircase, leaving Lupin to stand guard. They moved to one side as Madam Pomfrey hurried up past them to attend to the ailing Ollivander. Professor McGonagall was pacing back and forth at the bottom of the stairs.

"What happened Alastor?" she asked anxiously as she saw them, "What has he said?"

"I need a quiet talk with Harry before I can tell you," he replied gruffly, "but don't you worry, Minerva. You'll know as soon as I can piece it together."

Finding an empty classroom along the corridor, the two of them took a seat on two cosy armchairs conjured from thin air by Moody, along with a bottle of Aphrodite's Plum Wine and two glasses.

"Your health, Harry," he smiled, filling the glasses and proposing a toast, "and, as I hear, many happy returns."

Harry managed as much of a smile as he could, raised his glass and drank deeply. Moody looked at him curiously after sipping his own wine. His magical eye had been wandering around the room for a while before both came to rest on Harry.

"Tell me, have you ever heard the name Damien Halskath?" he enquired.

Harry looked blankly at him.

"I don't think so, Professor."

Moody gave him a patient smile, and both his eyes now wandered. This time, it was as if he were trying to recall many fine details of the dim and distant past. He finally returned his gaze to Harry.

"Damien Halskath was a Death Eater I put away in Azkaban about twenty years ago," he said, "Parasite of the first order, the kind that's best stamped out quickly. I had a long talk with him a few weeks before he suffered the Dementor's Kiss, and from the way he spilled his guts, I could tell he had a feeling that he wasn't long for this world."

He took another sip of wine and continued, Harry listening closely.

"He said that during his time of service under the Dark Lord, it became a widespread truth amongst the followers that their master had an on-going passion for tracing his ancestry, all the way back to Salazar Slytherin himself. What I was a little more surprised to hear, was that Voldemort had shared certain knowledge with Halskath about this particular founder of Hogwarts. Apparently, he, just like Voldemort, had his followers who believed in the pure blood ideal. These followers of his were cast out of magical communities for their cruel and sadistic ways, in fact it was their kind who inspired so much of the fear amongst muggles that led to the witchcraft hysteria all those centuries ago."

Harry was trying hard not to groan at this point, remembering the staggeringly dull History of Magic lessons he had received from Professor Binns. He had often considered whether Binns, the ghost of a teacher who had died many years previously, had in fact managed to bore himself to death with the sound of his own monotonous voice.

"Those that remained loyal to Slytherin, even when their very lives were in danger, formed a pact. Using some very powerful dark magic, they pledged that after their deaths, their spirits would remain united to gather in the house of their master until they considered that a worthy enough heir had come to resurrect them to their living forms. For centuries, there were attempts to perform this ritual as the bloodline travelled on, but all who tried were said to have met a most grisly demise."

This reminded Harry of the rescue mission he had performed in his second year.

"Is this just like the chamber we found?"

"No Harry, it is not. The Chamber of Secrets and the monster that lay within it were all part of Slytherin's plan, but for all his wisdom, dear Salazar knew nothing of this mysterious collective, known thereafter as The Serpent's Coven. Its location, and indeed its very existence passed into legend a few hundred years ago. Possessing control over such immense power became the fabric of a madman's dream, and until today, Damien Halskath was the only one I had ever heard speak of it."

Moody up-ended his glass and drained it with a very severe look on his face.

"So naturally, my question of the moment is how did you find out about this?"

Harry was feeling most uneasy, not about disclosing the information to Moody – after all, he had been party to liberating Ministry property – but about the new piece that had now been added to the puzzle.

"It was part of Ginny Weasley's prophecy. We both heard it," he said.

"Ah," said Moody, feeling awkward, "Well, can you at least give me the assurance that only the three of us know about it? The err…coven, I mean?"

Harry grinned.

"Professor Lupin wanted to know everything we heard, but so far yes, just the three of us."

"Hmm, yes, thought he might," he replied, tapping his wooden leg thoughtfully on the floor, "Well, now is as good a time as any. I'll go fetch him and then you, my lad, will give us every last detail of that prophecy."

He limped off towards the classroom door, but turned back hesitantly.

"Oh yes, and er…not a word of this to anyone for the time being, alright?"

Harry nodded, and listened to the heavy clump of Moody's leg as he continued on back to the Headmistress's study. The wine had calmed his nerves, and as he waited for Mad-Eye and Lupin, he at last had time to think over the words of Mr Ollivander. Voldemort had wanted a wand, but why? It may have been so he could attack Harry without the complication of the wand cores, but he had been told that first day in Ollivander's shop that it was the wand that chose the wizard, not the other way around. So why? And what of his words as they were leaving? Voldemort had seen him, but Harry already knew this, even though it was an odd way of putting it. But also, Voldemort had seen…HER?

His eyes opened wide with realisation and his heart began pounding like thunder inside his chest. Ginny! Voldemort must have discovered that he was close to her by now, whether he was told before or after the break-up. He had known this to be a risk, but now all he could think about was getting back to her. He made a bolt for the door, but found his path blocked by the two professors who had just returned.

"Harry, what's wrong?" asked Lupin, "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Harry was already breathless.

"I need to get back…back to The Burrow. She's in danger! Voldemort knows about Ginny!"

Lupin grabbed Harry's arm and looked him in the eye.

"Harry, calm down and pull yourself together! The Burrow is heavily protected, not just by the five members of The Order who are there as we speak, but by enchantments similar to those that guard this very castle!"

Harry no longer pushed forward, but still looked determinedly back at Lupin.

"But you heard him!" he protested, "You heard Ollivander! He'll be coming after her!"

Mad-Eye nudged Harry back into the room and sighed.

"Sit down Harry, and listen to me. We would know if there was an immediate threat to the Weasley's, but if you believe that girl to be in danger, then the best thing you can do for all concerned is to tell us right now exactly what the two of you heard when that prophecy was opened."

Reluctantly admitting defeat, Harry sat down in front of his two former Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers and took them through the whole story. How Ginny was an heir of Gryffindor, how she held powers that were most likely even unknown to her – Harry had already been surprised by the appearance of her patronus – and how they had interpreted the wisdom that she would be a protector.

He had expected them to regard this information with scepticism and ridicule, but from their expressions, they were refusing to dismiss any of it.

"Well, you seem to have a logical explanation, given what we know now," murmured Professor Moody, "but how Voldemort could know where to find this coven when even Salazar Slytherin didn't know about it is beyond me. I mean, the man travelled around a lot, and as far as I know, nobody quite knew the place he called home."

Harry was really beginning to worry if Voldemort had already found the coven, and was now gathering his new followers. The more he though about it, the less he could believe that he had been appointed such a gargantuan quest. He sat massaging his temples with his fingertips and continued to worry. A voice inside him was trying to tell him that he was still alive, that Lord Voldemort had not yet triumphed, and that he now knew that at least he would not be alone.

The two professors were discussing the matter at length, but Harry already felt very tired indeed, and found his attention span shortening. He barely registered the fact that Professor McGonagall had taken the place of Remus Lupin, and was now hearing the story from Mad-Eye. The sky was heavily darkening as they heard a knock on the door. Madam Pomfrey walked in, looking very pale and nervous.

"Professors…I know how important it is to you that the patient remains here to answer your questions," she said in a very humble voice, "but now I insist, he must be taken to St Mungo's as soon as possible. Otherwise, I assure you, he will not last the night."

After a few moments' deep thought, Moody spoke.

"Very well, but I'm going with him. Not letting him out of my sight until I have to."

Professor McGonagall stood up and addressed Harry and Lupin.

"I think it best that you two head back to The Burrow. You both look like you've got a few weeks worth of sleep to catch up on. Don't worry; Kingsley Shacklebolt will be here soon to hold the fort, hopefully with some reinforcements, so rest easy."

It was safe to say that Harry had never been so glad to leave Hogwarts in his life. His brain was having enough trouble piecing together everything he heard, and right now, he would love to just be able to forget about it for a day at least. But if he was being honest with himself, knowing that everyone in The Burrow was safe would be enough. Being with Ginny, that would be enough.