Metamorphosis
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! My laptop crashed recently and I had to get it repaired, then I went out of town for the weekend. I'll try my best to update as many chapters as I can before I go on a week vacation, and a little bit after vacation I should be able to post more. That's my goal!
Chapter 2: Fear
The sky was filled with dark clouds as signs of more summer showers were seen. It wasn't too common for rain showers in mid-July, and strangely the dark clouds appeared to loom over those in the wizard world. The muggle world was not affected, for they were oblivious to the news that had traveled far. The savior of the wizard world, against the forces of Slytherin (and those who chose the dark side) that would bring about the war of the Dark Age, the young Boy-Who-Lived Harry Potter, was dead.
Deep in the heart of the wizard world, where dark clouds seemed to manifest, stood a rusting, old house that stood atop a large hill overlooking a graveyard. The house was hidden from the eye of any watchers due to the strange mist that appeared as if a sudden fog had hidden that part from the world. The walls were made of ordinary wood that was all ready decaying from years of downpour and age. Still, it somehow managed to stand without collapsing. A sign that was swinging off its hinges, the wood decayed for the most part and the words all blurred together, was placed at the very bottom of the hill, lying in a heap amongst the gravestones. Barely readable were the words Riddle House etched into the wood.
A chilly breeze swept over the vast, empty area, bringing leaves on a dangerous flight across the ground that had beneath it bodies of the dead. Strangely, one tomb stood in the ground, looking beaten and out of place, but it no longer had a body beneath it. The gravestone bear the name Tom Riddle in dripping letters that appeared similar to blood. Not to far from that a statue of an angel stood, almost weeping for the grave beneath her. The wing on the left side was partly shattered as if a duel had taken place not too long ago.
The leaves danced around the angel as if calling out to it, before suddenly leaping up off the ground as a sharp wind swept over. As the wind died down a sound echoed in the desecrated area. A loud pop followed as the strange whosh of wind, and a figure in a black, hooded cloak appeared out of thin air, holding what appeared to be a simple book. The book shimmered under the touch of the moonlight, mostly covered by the dark clouds now, as if an incantation had been placed on it. The figure clutched the book tightly, looking around several times in case of being followed, then moved slowly in the shadows, stepping on the decaying sign as the figure headed up the steep hill. Few rays of moonlight shone across the front of hood, illuminating the white mask that covered the face of the figure approaching the rotting house.
Holding the book close, the figure looked around again before reaching out toward the door. The hand nearly touched the knob but jumped as a beetle was spotted by the door on the rotting wood. Clenching a fist at being startled so easily, the figure lashed out and smacked the place where the beetle stood. Adjusting the black robes, the figure then opened the door, not noticing that the place where the beetle was supposedly squashed bore no mark or sign that anything had even been there.
The door closed and the figure walked slowly inside, following the dim-lighted hallway. The source of the light came from the serpent-shaped torches that lined the walls, floating mid-air. They illuminated a fire-red flame that flickered in many red specks of magic now and then. The hallway soon ended and came to a large wooden wall that blended in with the floor and walls around it. But the figure knew better. Taking out the wand from within the robes, the figure drew a symbol on the wall that came out in green sparks. The symbol of the Dark Mark glittered violently before the wall caved in from the center, opening up like a large hole. Upon entering a large, polished room, the figure took off his mask.
"Mulciber!" a voice hissed quietly.
Searching around the bowing hooded figures that filled the vast space of the main room in the west wing, the Death Eater, Mulciber, found his spot in between Macnair and Avery. Once seated in his position he looked around the dim space. They had all been there before, the previous year, where they had discussed the prophecy. Now that the prophecy had been destroyed, by Harry Potter no less, and news of the boy's death was spreading like fire, Mulciber was curious to know what they'd be in store for.
"Is there any hint of why we have been summoned here again?" Mulciber whispered to Avery.
Avery shook his head, "None, except that it doesn't seem like he's angry."
"That's good then, right? It means our lord believes Harry Potter to be dead," Mulciber whispered back with a smirk.
"SHH!" Macnair interrupted, glaring daggers at them. "Be careful of what you say. These walls have ears."
Avery and Mulciber exchanged smirks, but didn't respond any longer. Mulciber searched around with his eyes, pulling his mask down in case their dear lord showed up sooner than expected. He had felt the painful burn on his way from scouring Knockturn Alley for some…useful ingredients. He could feel that the Ministry was hot on his tail. In fact, they were hot on a lot of their tails. They had to keep their masks on for as long as they could stand in case they were being spied upon.
Luckily he wasn't in the same position as Lucius Malfoy, the only Death Eater who was working out of Azkaban for Voldemort. The other Death Eaters that had been captured in the Ministry Voldemort apparently had no use for, but Lucius had a son who was in Hogwarts. That was something that could possibly be used when the time came. For now, he was lying low, doing simple tasks since he still had to appear in Azkaban when the guards working for the Ministry checked in on him. Occasionally, Lucius would seem a bit troubled when he returned from the Fortress prison. It was no surprise since the Ministry and secret Order of the Phoenix had gotten more…useful creatures to do the work. Dementors, the ones that Voldemort had not gotten to side with him still roamed the facility, but other creatures that devoured happiness and hope were also there, like the pogrebin, which not only devoured hope and happiness but the person if it got into their cell.
Mulciber inwardly shivered, but kept his eyes focused ahead. Any minute he would come and they'd have to be ready to report. If he asked any of the select few who had been inside the home of Potter's relative's house, they'd have to answer truthfully: that Harry Potter was only presumed dead. If he ever found out that…
He heard something soft nearby and turned his attention to his right where a piece of paper lay neatly by his hand. His eyes lifted and he caught site of Bella staring at him before she too pulled down her mask. He hurriedly opened the note and read it:
Meet outside of Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley immediately afterward.
Mulciber quickly waved his wand and the piece of paper dissolved into dust. He pocketed his wand just as a loud pop sounded ahead of them. He unconsciously pressed his hands closer to the floor, hoping that whatever happened Voldemort wouldn't find out the truth. He heard the swish of heavy robes and risked a peek. His eyes met with a much more powerful sight than he had expected. Lord Voldemort stood tall, looking much stronger in both strength and power, his long, new black robe flaring out around his abnormally pale body. The robe was designed specially by his top Death Eaters, which were only the few still alive. Most of the top Death Eaters had died for Voldemort after being captured during the first war, before the Dark Lord's defeat by a small baby. That's why most of the Death Eaters bowing before him now weren't as easily trusted since they hadn't willingly signed their lives away for him.
Voldemort's nostrils flared as he tried to sniff out all of their emotions. Mulciber held his breath, inwardly trying to calm his racing heartbeat. The crimson eyes searched around for guilty faces, so Mulciber looked down, bowing his head low enough so he was only staring at the floor.
"I have heard the news," Voldemort spoke softly, his voice somehow echoing around them, causing shivers to crawl up their spines.
Voldemort ignored some of the involuntary shivers as Death Eaters shifted in their places. His eyes ranked over the lot of them and he waited to see if he could detect any unusual feelings off of them before continuing.
"It seems that Fudge has taken the information sent to him. Well done, Lucius," Voldemort hissed to one of the Death Eaters in the third row.
"Thank you master," Lucius murmured, a small smile playing on his lips.
Voldemort's eyes held onto him for a few more seconds before he turned away, walking toward the other end, keeping his crimson eyes locked onto the Death Eaters bowing before him.
"The block from the wizard world to the muggle world and vice versa has proved troublesome for the Order. This will help us take an advantage over them," Voldemort spoke coldly, but not with any hint of a threat…yet. "Before we begin I want full reports from those who I asked."
"Macnair," Voldemort hissed, his eyes locking onto him.
Macnair bowed lower in respect, "My lord, I have done as you asked. I have gotten valuable information from one of the aurors in the Ministry."
Next to him, Mulciber inwardly smiled. No one in the Ministry still had an idea that their executioner was working against them. Of course, half of them still believed Lucius Malfoy was innocent, and he was the kind of man to not suppress his darker side. Macnair, however, rarely spoke and always hid in the shadows of the Ministry. The last time he had been in a case it was for some hippogriff connected to Hogwart's precious giant, Hagrid. After that, the Death Eater meetings became more frequent and he had to make excuses for not showing up at the trials. However, luckily the Ministry still trusted him. He was very good at persuading others to say things. The Order suspected him, but had no proof of anything.
"May I tell you of my findings, my lord?" Macnair continued.
Voldemort's lips curled ever-so-slightly, "Proceed."
"I have gathered information from one of the aurors, Amelia Bones. She has told me that Fudge has finally suspected the secret organization of the Order of the Phoenix. She also told me that by way of accidentally eavesdropping on the Minister she found out that the Minister is gathering up an army, for what purpose is still unclear."
"Ah, so our dear Minister is intimidated," Voldemort's lips curled into a sneer.
The Death Eaters around him burst into quiet laughter at this statement until Voldemort hushed them with a look.
"Is there anymore?"
"No, my lord."
Voldemort's eyes moved toward another Death Eater positioned closer to him.
"Bella, what have you to report?"
"Something you will find quite useful, my liege," she responded confidently. "I have heard a rumor from watching some of the members of the Order and gathered that Dumbledore is planning on using the giants against the Dementors and dark creatures on your side. When they are distracted, as far as I have gathered, they will try and lure us into one area and surround us. They're using Hogwarts as the main bait, my lord, waiting for you to attack and then they will surround the castle and the area around it, in a large charmed-shield."
Voldemort laughed quietly, his cold voice echoing off the walls, "Is that so? That muggle-loving fool thinks he can capture me in a vortex. Clever, but dangerous on his part," Voldemort said as he slowly paced in front of them.
"Master, please explain," Bella said softly, bowing her head low.
Voldemort stopped pacing and looked down at her with gleaming eyes. For a moment, Mulciber thought she'd receive the Cruciatus Curse, but Voldemort turned and settled his eyes elsewhere.
"A vortex is a shield used from the power of a shaman. They are a very rare form of sorcerer. They can put up a barricade sealed with magic in order to trap us in a very large area," Voldemort said. "But Dumbledore would be a fool to try this. Shamans are so rare that most of them are at an old age, older than he is and will be too incompetent. Surely they wouldn't have enough power. And in order to activate it he'd have to acquire certain ingredients to give to the shaman for the ritual. By the time he gets everything he needs, my plan will be complete. If he is planning that we will need to move fast," Voldemort said, his eyes scanning over them.
"Burley," Voldemort hissed, staring down at Death Eater who was visibly shaking. "What have you to report?"
The man, Burley, bowed clumsily. He was nearly as cowardly as Pettigrew, but disliked a bit more. He was a bit chubby with glasses and was hardly picked to do services for Voldemort and when he did nearly messed everything up. He was usually only saved by bits of information he'd heard from other Death Eaters talking and so he'd only get the Cruciatus Curse, not death. He had been one of the few Death Eaters never caught by the Ministry, or suspected in any way. One reason was that he wasn't even a Slytherin. The truth was that he was a softy who had attended a private school that had long since shut down due to the expenses. It wasn't half as great as the Beauxbatons or any other, and though he had done fairly well in his classes, was nothing but a lowly man who lived off of everyone else.
"M-master," he stuttered, "I t-tried to find the information on the auror you desired. Um…s-she was harder to find than expected and--"
"You failed me again, Burley," Voldemort interrupted, his voice unusually cold. "I asked for you to find one of aurors who had witnessed the prophecy on the night it was told all those years ago. You had a list and all you had to do was find them. And you failed, yet again. Another simple mission. I have no use for incompetent fools like you."
"N-no, master, please. I beg of you to forgive me! I tried, but she wasn't home and--"
"Silence!" Voldemort hissed, pulling out his wand and pointing it at the shivering Death Eater. "Every failure has a price."
"W-wait, master, what about the boy! What about Harry Potter?!"
The Death Eaters around held their breath as they waited to see what would become of the cowering Burley. Voldemort seemed to hesitate in saying the killing curse for the green flash of light never came. Burley, who was still cowering on the floor, shakily looked up.
"What about him?" Voldemort hissed softly, his voice still threatening as he held the wand steady.
"W-well, he's d-dead master! Haven't you heard?"
Voldemort stared at him for several minutes before pulling his wand away. His eyes stayed hooked to the man before him.
"Yes, I have heard…," he hissed, his eyes falling on others nearby that had their heads still bowed.
"A-and it's good master! He's out of your way so now you c-can concentrate on your goal!" the man said more confidently.
"And I wonder who gave the order to kill him," Voldemort hissed, as Burley's smile disappeared into a horrified look. "I said I wanted to kill the boy myself."
Unnoticed by him, as Burley began shaking his head in disbelieve, several Death Eaters tensed. Voldemort's eyes remained riveted to the frightened man as the wand rose to face him.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort hissed as a green light erupted from his wand .
The man screamed but couldn't move in time as the curse hit him, surrounding him in a flash of green mist before his eyes glazed over and he fell to the floor with a sickening thump, his mouth still partially open in terror. Voldemort pocketed his wand as if nothing had happened and moved to the other side of the room.
"I will overlook this matter since I have waited nearly fifteen years for this. I have wanted to kill him myself to prove that no insolent boy can stand in my way. However, eventually I will have to show proof of a body," Voldemort's eyes glinted dangerously. "There will be a reward for whoever recovers the boy's body. Lucius," Voldemort hissed, turning his eyes on him, "I suggest you stay away from this matter. If you are discovered the Order will be on to me. And I cannot let them take the advantage."
"Yes, my lord," Malfoy replied.
Voldemort's nostrils flared again, "It is time to set the first stage of my plan. Those of you who I have selected to do the first stage are to let loose Dementors into the muggle world. Without a way in, the Ministry and Order will be able to do nothing. I will need to prepare for the second stage if I am to retrieve the item I desire before the Order begins to figure it out," Voldemort said, pacing. "Bella, you will find out where I am able to find the item."
"Yes, my liege," she answered.
"The rest of you will report back after the first stage is put into action," Voldemort said quietly, sitting down upon his "throne," or large, plush-red chair. "I will wait until I am sure the Order isn't onto my tracks before continuing. You are dismissed."
The Death Eaters all disappeared with a pop. Several of them reappeared in Knockturn Alley outside of the Dark Arts shop. Bella appeared first, followed by Mulciber, Lucius, Macnair, Avery, and Nott. People were bustling about not caring for their presence or the way they were dressed up. Bella angrily turned on all of the men.
"How could you all be so stupid?! Who knew that he wanted the boy alive?!"
"I didn't!" Avery exclaimed immediately. "I thought he'd be happy if the boy was killed!"
"Well he's not! And once he finds out we not only told him the boy was dead when we're sure he isn't, but also that we went against his orders in the first place, he's going to torture us all and probably kill us!" Bella exclaimed breathlessly, her face turning red from anger.
"Don't get so carried away, Bella," Lucius said calmly, a frown on his face. "He did order us to find out where Potter's relatives lived and attack them."
"Yes, attack them! Who told us that we were supposed to attack and kill the boy?! Someone must've wanted the boy dead and sent us the wrong message so that we would do the job and they wouldn't get in trouble!"
"It has to be someone who received the message directly and was told to report it to the rest of us," Mulciber said, staring at each of them.
"I bet it was Bagman or Dolohov!" Nott exclaimed. "They've looked for an opportunity to kidnap the boy and bring him to master. Perhaps one of them holds a personal grudge against the boy and wanted him dead."
"We won't know for sure until we question everyone who was directly there," Avery said. "So for now, what should we do?"
Bella stood thoughtfully before looking up at them, "We make sure the boy is dead. That way, if our lord finds out we got the message wrong we won't be the ones punished. But if he finds that out and also that the boy's still alive, we all will be punished!"
Avery glanced at her, "How can we get into the muggle world when it's blocked?"
"Didn't you hear him? He's sending Dementors in!" Bella snapped.
"So?" Nott said.
Mulciber rolled his eyes, "Dementors aren't affected by the block because they're not dead or alive. They can still travel to and from the wizard world and the muggle world. If we go with them and create a portkey we have one chance to get in and out to make sure the boy is dead."
"But we only have a limited of time until the first stage is absolutely complete. If he's not dead by then we'll have to hope the Dementors get to him," Bella said. "Lucius, you should get back to your cell before they suspect something. Dolohov won't be able to cover you for long."
"And while you're in there, see if he knew anything about the message," Mulciber added.
Lucius nodded somberly and disappeared with a pop. Bella sighed angrily and turned to the rest of them.
"Let's go before the Dementors leave!"
With several pops they all disappeared.
XXXXXXX
It had been at least an hour, as far as he could tell, though he didn't have a watch with him and he couldn't use magic. He had been standing on the side of the street waiting for the Knight Bus that had rescued him in his third year. Harry sighed heavily and slumped down onto the curb. He didn't understand why it wasn't coming. Surely Dumbledore had heard of the Dursley's house being burned down. Why wasn't anyone coming to rescue him? Even if somehow Voldemort had hidden the attack, for the time being, from the eyes of the Ministry, he had sent an urgent note to Hermione. She had to have gotten in. Could they have not believed him? Or maybe his friends were still being held on lock-down, unable to reply to him or have anyone come to the muggle world.
No, Dumbledore should know by now that Voldemort is able to find me here! It's not safe so why shouldn't anyone be able to come and get me?!
He had thought about it over and over but could find no explanation, unless something drastic had happened, but what would that be? Getting up, Harry brushed off his jeans and decided to head back toward the Dursleys in order to go to the same spot where the Knight Bus had picked him up before. Perhaps by some chance he needed to be in the same spot. He held his wand tightly in his right hand as he walked back down the path he had taken through the large garden surrounded by trees.
He was sure it was past dawn by now, but for some reason the sun appeared blocked by the clouds. He walked on through the same path, hoping that there was someplace to go if the Knight Bus didn't show. A rustle nearby caused him to freeze in his spot, holding his breath. He squinted his eyes, looking around the tall trees and grass as he tried to find out what it could be. Some of the trees moved from the breeze but that was all.
Suddenly, voices caught his attention. He could hear something a distance away, but couldn't make out what it was. Hoping that it was one of his friends, or the Knight Bus, he crept quietly through some of the flower beds toward the narrow alley-way that led to the park with the swings nearby what used to be the Dursleys' house. He crept quietly, leaning against the wall and peered out around a corner. At first he couldn't make out a sign of anyone, but out from behind one of the closed coffee-shops across the street, came several figures dressed in black.
Oh no, Death Eaters!
Harry began backing away when he suddenly stopped. If something had happened in the wizard world, or even something along the lines of what Voldemort was planning, the Death Eaters might give away a clue. Harry took a few deep breaths before creeping back behind some hedges and drawing closer to the figures. He watched closely and stayed a distance away as they walked away from the old coffee shop and toward the street. They stopped at the curb and seemed to be looking around. When their backs were turned, Harry crept around toward the coffee shop, running as quietly as he could behind him and sneaking around to the other side. As he slid along the side of the shop, he very slowly peeked one eye around the corner to make sure they weren't looking, before peering out completely.
"Why are we here?" one of the Death Eaters demanded, his voice sounding far away.
"Because…couldn't have traveled… away… you idiot!" a familiar voice hissed, the voice too far away to hear everything.
Harry recognized the voice as Bella's, one of Voldemort's top Death Eaters. The one that had killed Sirius. Harry unconsciously clenched his fists, glaring at her, but remained hidden. He could just barely hear them. Walking to the side he found a large mail-delivery stand and ducked down, leaning against it. He heard the Death Eaters take several steps, their cloaks brushing against the ground and held his breath.
"How do we even know the boy was near the house when it happened?" another Death Eater demanded.
This time Harry could hear them perfectly. He sat still, crouched onto his knees as he pressed his back against the mail stand.
"Ugh! This is hopeless!" Bella exclaimed. "He could be anywhere and we don't have enough time to search the entire town!"
The Death Eaters seemed to murmur amongst themselves for a minute before their voices grew louder again.
"Wait, what about doing a spell to search for signs of magic?"
"Oh Nott, you idiot! The boy doesn't know that he's been sealed off from the wizard world. He's had no contacts since he came back for his own safety. That's why he's been so difficult to track here in the first place! It's a good thing Bagman overheard some of the Ministry members talking about Arabella who lived next to the boy. She was much easier to track down," Bella explained.
Harry nearly stifled a gasp at the information he was receiving. He had no time to think on it as he heard the footsteps approaching. They stopped and the Death Eater seemed to turn around again from the swish of the cloak.
"It's too bad she wasn't here when we arrived, otherwise I would've paid her a little visit," Bella hissed bitterly.
"Yeah, that's what makes me so suspicious of Bagman," a fourth Death Eater spoke up. "He was the one who tipped us off on where the boy lived. But I'm not sure if he knew he was giving us false information or not. Someone obviously wants us out of the way so they can move up in ranks toward our lord! And when I find out who tried to sell us out…"
"Relax Mulciber, there's nothing we can do about that now. We've got to lie low until everything is sorted out," Bella explained. "Master is more concerned about the Order finding out about the Talisman he needs. Dumbledore and his precious Order think they've got all of us cornered with that plan of his. He can only summon it with a shaman's power, but they'd need something stronger. That is the reason master is so afraid. If they find out he's after the Talisman, not only will they try and stop him, but they'll want it for themselves. If they get it in their possession all could be lost," she hesitated. "And right now our concern is to make sure Harry Potter is dead."
Harry held his breath as he heard that, his hand unconsciously going to his wand. He was sure he wasn't going to hear anything else of importance from them, at least not for the time being. He moved slowly to try and get to the side of the mail stand in order to get back to his hiding place. As he moved his hand slipped and banged lightly on the stand. He froze in place, his heart hammering in his chest.
He heard footsteps, "Hey, did you hear that?"
He could barely breathe as the footsteps came closer. He tilted his head up as he saw a Death Eater walk nearby with his back turned, staring at the shop and the trees behind it.
"It might be the muggles. They're probably waking up and they might get suspicious of us. Let's go, there's no time to waste," Bella snapped heatedly.
The Death Eater standing nearby Harry turned, luckily at an angle that looked on the other side of the mail stand where Harry wasn't kneeling. He walked back over to them, looking back once over his shoulder before shrugging it off.
"So, what about the boy?"
"He has no where to go. And there's no way he'd be able to get into the wizard world," one of the Death Eaters spoke.
"There's always a way to get by everything, what if he figures out a way? What if he figures out how to transfigure or something?"
"I doubt he'd be able to figure out such a complicated spell before the Dementors get to him," Bella spoke coldly. "It's a rare ability for anyone to have, let alone a small boy who thinks he's not even allowed to use magic at this point."
"What about a portkey?"
"He can't make one from the muggle world because of the block. And the only way we can do it is because of the Dementors. Sooner or later he'll die, whether his soul gets sucked out, or he starves to death. Let's not worry too much at this point. Master thinks he's dead. Now, give me the portkey!"
"Why do you get to hold it?"
"Stop whining and give it to me!"
Harry heard some rustling before a loud whosh sounded. He let out the breath he was holding and slowly peeked around the mail stand. There was no one in sight. Apparently they had all left without realizing how close they had been to their seemingly "failed mission." He sat, leaning against the mail stand in a daze. The information he learned finally began to sink in. He was trapped in the muggle world, without a way into the wizard world. That's why the Knight Bus hadn't come, because the barricade sealing off the two worlds had been put up. No doubt it was Fudge's doing. Not only that, but they had set Dementors into the unsuspecting muggle world. They would surely be after him as well. Bella had said that Harry wouldn't use magic because he thought he couldn't, but did that mean he could? Or maybe certain types of magic could be used? He needed more answers.
They said something about a spell that can be used to get past the barricade, but how am I going to figure that out?
They had also said that Voldemort needed a Talisman. Harry wasn't sure what that was, but had a feeling it wasn't good. Whenever he needed an object, like the Sorcerer's Stone, it was always something rare and valuable that would help him succeed in taking over. But since he knew very little about Voldemort's plan, he needed to concentrate more on surviving and finding a way to warn Dumbledore that Voldemort was onto his plan.
Standing up, Harry stood still for a moment thinking things through. There was always a chance that Mrs. Figg had some food and other things at her house. Harry could take that with him in his search for finding out how to escape his deathtrap. He had no idea where he was going to go or how he was going to find out what spell to use. Wishing that he was back at Hogwarts, or some place where he didn't feel so vulnerable, Harry turned around to begin heading toward Mrs. Figg's. He took several steps and nearly stumbled, his stomach clenching tightly as a strange shiver passed over him. His head ached and his energy felt drained.
Taking several stumbling steps backward, Harry wrenched out his wand that he had placed in his pocket and wheeled around. He blinked several times, not seeing anything. Suddenly a cold raspy sound echoed nearby as the trees rustled. Out from trees came a dark, hooded figure, and Harry was certain that it wasn't a Death Eater. The cold, bony hands of the Dementor shone in the daylight as the empty hooded face stared directly at him. Harry's eyes widened as he froze to the spot. He had been sighted.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Hey guys! Sorry this was posted so late (hehe…at like nearly midnight), but I did work hard to get it up on time! I know, bad cliffhanger. I know nothing too interesting and exciting happened, but the plot will thicken! Don't worry if you don't understand something, it should come together in the end. If it doesn't, then you can ask anything. I doubt this story will be even half as long as my other Harry Potter stories, especially if I keep the chapters nice and long. Hope to update this soon!!
To Reviewers:
Watashi no wa baka: Wow, thanks! I'm really glad you like this story! I know I'm taking FOREVER to update, and I hope that doesn't happen again. My goal is to finish this story by the end of the summer, so we'll see how that goes. Thanks for being patient!
Bertie Botts: Thanks so much for the advice! I changed the summary a bit! - Hope you think it's better now. I'm really glad you think the characters are in character. That's good, because some of the characters are rarely seen in the HP books so I have to really think hard on how to portray them. I know this chapter was as long as the others, but they will get longer, promise! The plot just needs to thicken a bit. Actually, yes, I have considered writing professionally. I do have an original (sci-fi/suspense) story I'm working on, well, have been for several years, but these things you just never know. Heck, I'm so young I might decide I like something different. Who knows. And yes, thanks again for your help! I'm sorry for the slow update, hopefully it will be a lot quicker for next time!
Iniysa: Thanks!! I'm glad you like it so far!
Dreamer43: Hehehe, thanks! Yeah, I spotted that "Head boy" problem right after I had posted it. It's fixed now! But thank you! Sorry for the slow update!
D: yes, thank you! I realized my mistakes when I was double-checking things. I was in such a hurry to post it on time I posted the rough draft without reading through it and editing it myself like I usually do. But that's all fixed now!
Kjkit: Thank you! I'm glad it's suspenseful. I know nothing too exciting happened in this chapter, but I promise the plot will thicken!
story girl: yes, I have all ready taken all that into account. Some of the inconsistencies have been fixed and were errors because I hastily posted the chapter without editing it myself. But I don't need a beta, or at least I've never had one before and I've never really had complaints about inconsistencies. I wanted to try something different with this story, and everything will come together in the end. Such as, Snape working for Voldemort. Everyone assumes that Voldemort thinks that Snape is still on his side, but if you read the Fourth book carefully you will see that Voldemort hints that he realizes a couple Death Eaters have completely betrayed him (possibly Snape and Karkaroff), so I'm using that in this story. That was never clearly stated, that Snape is a spy for Voldemort, in the HP books, and right now the only thing he does for the Order is occasionally eavesdrop on Death Eaters, that's what I meant by spying. And for Hogwarts, yes, it's the safest place in general but actually they're not really moving because it's not safe. That's what the students are being told. I don't want to ruin this for you, but since you want to know, Dumbledore is trying to trick Voldemort and use Hogwarts as "bait" as you learned in this chapter. So everything happens for a reason, but I accept your criticism, thank you.
Romm: Thanks! I'm glad the plot is thick enough for you. I promise you'll find out about Harry trying to get into the wizard world and everything, but not just yet.
Bookworm2000: hehehe, yes, Fudge, annoying guy isn't he. Don't worry, good news is that I don't like him. Hint…Anyway, sorry for the slow update. I WILL update this faster!! I did finally manage to finish Sick Pleasures though.
Kaye: Hey there, long time no talk! I finally finished Sick Pleasures, aren't you happy!? The sequel should be up by late July! And Fire Wall I will update later on, and hopefully I can update this a lot faster now.
Anonymous: hey there! I'm really sorry about taking so long! I'll try not to leave you too long in suspense this time. Since I finished another one of my HP stories: Sick Pleasures, I should have more time to update this. If you haven't read Sick Pleasures yet, and you're interested in keeping yourself busy with another HP story, you should start with that now that it's finished. Hopefully I can update this story soon!