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Chapter 8 - Doom Mongering
Harry sat stock still for several minutes, unable to swallow the conversation he had just had. The unabashed pessimism was so unlike Dumbledore that Harry suddenly felt very afraid. A sense of abandonment crept over him along with, (and Harry hated himself for feeling it), anger that Dumbledore could show such weakness in times such as these. Dumbledore was the only one Voldemort ever feared, and now it seemed Andromidus was the only one Dumbledore feared. Or was it Voldemort he was afraid of? Either way, Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment mingling with his fear and he turned away from where Dumbledore had entered the hall and strode off around the side of the lake, vanishing the chairs as he left.
It was not long before his new lodgings came into view. Hagrid was standing, waving and beckoning with his massive hands, next to a small cottage a little larger than Hagrid's own. It was the sort of cottage found on a postcard Harry thought to himself; the front door stood directly in the middle of the front of the house, with two windows placed symmetrically either side of it. A small garden was laid in front of it and there was even a small chimney protruding from the roof. All thoughts of Dumbledore gone, a wide smile spread across Harry's face as he ran the last few metres to the cottage placed next to Hagrid's own cabin.
"What... when... how?" questions tumbled from Harry's mouth, a torrent of surprise and disbelief echoed in the unbidden words that rose from his lips. Hagrid beamed at him.
"Dumbledore helped me build them yesterday," said Hagrid, gesturing proudly at his pink umbrella. "What do you reckon?"
"Well – blimey – I don't know what to say!" Harry let out a joyous laugh, and Hagrid's smile widened as he beckoned Harry towards the front door and held it open. Harry looked at Hagrid for a moment, grinning from ear to ear, before crossing the threshold into the cottage.
The first room Harry entered was obviously a living room, which merged into a kitchen further back. Although it was not big, it did not feel cramped. Indeed, the size gave the cottage a certain level of cosiness, an effect emphasised by the quaint wooden fireplace on the side of the living room. Hagrid raised his umbrella and small flames danced into being, casting flickering light across the rest of the room. The kitchen was kitted much like Hagrid's; with pots and pans and a kettle being the sole cooking appliances, with oven gloves, ladles, plates and other cutlery also hanging from a rack along the wall. Evidently the main cooking would be done upon that fireplace, and Harry wondered whether there would be enough room for Dobby or Winky to stay. Pushing this thought to one side for a moment Harry explored the rest of the cottage, a pastime that did not take long. There were two other rooms: a small bedroom which somehow had a double bed crammed into it but with little else; and an even smaller bathroom, with a toilet and shower somehow fitted into the tightly enclosed space.
Harry turned to face Hagrid. "It's wonderful," he said, striding forward and giving Hagrid a hug, which he soon regretted as the half-giant returned his embrace with interest. "How can I thank you?"
Hagrid blushed behind his bushy beard. "Think nuthin' of it, alrigh'?" he said, looking at the floor. "You can give me a hand with me game keeping duties if you'd like?" Harry nodded, and Hagrid beamed at him, before his expression changed to the one Harry had grown to fear: that of enlightened fervour. Harry associated this look with Hagrid's large and usually dangerous creature friends. He was not disappointed in his apprehension, but he couldn't help but be relieved when Hagrid expanded upon his demeanour.
"Would you like to come and see Grawpy?" he said excitedly, "he's loads better now; capable of holding his own in a conversation an' everythin'!" Grawp, Hagrid's half brother, was unlike any of Hagrid's other wild creature obsessions, in that he had the capacity to learn. This thought made Harry smile slightly as he remembered the Blast Ended Skrewts, and he relaxed. Compared to those, Grawp was positively tame.
Hagrid led Harry out of the house and into the forest. "I tell yer," he said happily as they progressed into the forest, "he'll be happy to see yer. I think he's missed Hermione a bit, may see if I can get her down soon. He can even say her name now!" Hagrid was obviously very proud of his half-brother. "Mine too!" he added.
It was not long before Harry could hear the crunch of large feet, but as they emerged into the clearing Harry was surprised to see that he was not the only one to have new accommodation. An enormous heap of earth had been piled to form a small mountain sticking out of the ground. The earth had obviously been excavated from underneath where the new hill was placed; the cave mouth was set lower into the ground than where Harry and Hagrid now stood, as Grawp the giant lumbered into view from the forest on the far side of the clearing.
"HAGRID," Grawp said in his booming voice, and Harry was impressed by the improvement in Grawp's language and pronunciation abilities. Grawp seemed to spot Harry and a wide smile cracked across his earthen face. "HARRY?"
"'Ello Grawpy!" Hagrid exclaimed, obviously delighted by Grawp's recognition of Harry and himself. "I've brought Harry Potter to see yer!" He leant towards Harry. "Say hello then!"
"Hello Grawp!" Harry half-shouted up towards the giant. He puzzled for a moment, wondering what to say to a giant. "How are you?" Grawp's earthy, weather-beaten face creased into an even more pronounced grin; Harry knew instantly that Grawp had understood every word he had said.
"GRAWP IS GOOD!" He said and Hagrid looked at him proudly, before giving him a kick with his foot. Grawp shook his head with a sense of remorse that was as unexpected to Harry as it was emphatic. "HOW IS HARRY?" He looked fairly depressed that he had not remembered this personally, and Harry took it upon himself to cheer him up.
"I'm very well Grawp, thanks!" Harry replied loudly. "That was very kind of you to ask!" Hagrid and Grawp both beamed at him, before Hagrid waved goodbye to Grawp and Harry followed him back out of the forest.
"Thanks fer tha'," Hagrid patted Harry heavily on the back. "That really made his day, I can tell." Harry made it-was-nothing gestures as Hagrid led him back out of the forest. "Listen," he continued, his voice sounding suddenly serious, "I know you'd rather be in Godric's Hollow righ' now, but Dumbledore'll look after yer. You'll be home in no time." And with an almighty clap on the shoulder, Hagrid turned and headed back into the forest.
*
The evening that Hogwarts reopened was one of the most surreal that Harry could remember. As the sun began to set at the end of a mild summer day, Harry watched from his hut as first thestral-drawn carts began to trace the far side of the lake. A moment later, lit by hovering lanterns which gleamed softly across the dusk light, small boats began to swarm across the lake. Harry watched with a strong feeling of nostalgia as, weighed down by his huge weight, Hagrid led the first boat into the cavern which Harry knew contained the first set of Hogwarts steps. It had been there where he and Ron had first met Professor McGonagall and Draco Malfoy. Harry would never have guessed from that moment that he and Malfoy would end up as good friends as they were now. With a small smile to himself he headed out of his front door and up towards the castle.
He watched as the last set of students entered the large front doors before following them inside. He was still a little unsure and surprised about Dumbledore's insistence that he attend the sorting ceremony and opening feast. He supposed Dumbledore thought that, since they would find out anyway, it would be best if they all found out at the same time, right at the beginning of term. He pushed open the thick oak doors and found himself in the entrance hall, where, seconds later, he found himself in the embrace of Ginny.
"You took your time!" she said, smiling broadly at him. "I was about to go in!" Harry laughed as he led her towards the great hall.
"I think I'm sitting up on the staff table," Harry said, a hint of apology in his voice. Ginny obviously noticed this as she nodded understandingly without question. "I'll see you in a bit." She kissed him softly on the cheek before turning and heading into the hall. Harry, ignoring the front entrance, took the corridor around the hall, past the small chamber where he could hear the nervous buzzing of the first years, until finally he was standing in line with the end of the staff table. As he looked along it, he saw a familiar face smiling and beckoning towards him.
"Hermione?" Harry said, surprised. "I thought you weren't starting for a few weeks?"
Hermione beamed at him, though Harry thought he could note a trace of apprehension hidden within her wide smile. "Hello Harry!" She drew back the chair between herself and Professor Hilier, who also gave Harry a wide smile.
"Good evening Harry," said Professor Hilier, embracing him and giving him a kiss on the cheek, "I trust you like your new lodgings?"
"Very much," Harry replied enthusiastically, "I couldn't believe Dumbledore and Hagrid did that for me!"
Professor Hilier leaned closer in a secretive manner. "I was just telling Hermione – sorry, Professor Granger" [Hermione gave a small shiver at this title] "that Dumbledore is giving Hagrid magic lessons! He and the minister have agreed that, since his expulsion was an unfair one, he should be allowed to learn!" Professor Hilier's smile widened, though now there was a small hint of amusement creeping in. "Though they also decided that letting Dumbledore teach him privately would probably be the best idea, they've already arranged for him to get a new wand soon!"
Harry leaned back in his chair, amazed. He had never really thought about the fact that Hagrid was forbidden to do magic, he was so used to Hagrid's use of his pink umbrella that all thoughts of the Chamber of Secrets and Aragog had been driven from his mind. Now he thought about it though, he thought letting Hagrid learn magic was the only fair thing to do, although he agreed with Mr Weasley and Professor Hilier that letting Dumbledore teach him was probably the safest way forward. He turned back to Hermione.
"So what made you decide to start early?" he asked.
"Two things really," said Hermione, straightening up and giving the hall a slightly nervous glance. "Firstly, Professor Grubby-Plank fell ill and so would have been unable to teach, and secondly, I guess I had been working so hard on the lessons that I wouldn't have needed to wait any longer!"
Harry gave raised his eyebrows slightly. "And how was Ron about this?" Hermione's face seemed to fall a little bit.
"I think it took him a while to adjust to the idea, mainly because we would be apart so often," she said slowly, obviously choosing her words with care, "but I've spoken to Dumbledore and he'll be able to.." she blushed and trailed off.
"Come and stay here occasionally?" Harry finished for her. Hermione nodded shyly, and Harry laughed, though he felt a little awkward in doing so.
He was saved the effort of redirecting the conversation by the arrival from one of the side rooms of the new first years. The evening had been a clear one so none had arrived as soaked as Dennis Creevey had all those years ago. They congregated at the corner of the staff table, and Harry couldn't help but be amazed by how small they were.
Professor McGonagall placed a stool in front of the students with the battered sorting hat on top of it. As the hat burst into song, Harry was prodded by Professor Hilier, who passed him a note. Harry opened it up to reveal a short note in Dumbledore's familiar slanting handwriting. He quickly glanced up and met Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes. Dumbledore gave him a small wink and nodded at the note in Harry's hands. Harry turned his attention to the piece of parchment and began to read.
"Dear Harry,
I just wish to send this note as an apology for our conversation earlier. There is no excuse for my tone and pessimism, and I hope you can forgive me for letting my anxieties overbear on our talk. I apologise sincerely, and look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. If Friday night at 8 o'clock is possible, please let me know by return owl. Alternatively, just pass the note back along the table.
Yours faithfully,
Albus Dumbledore.
PS. My fondness for Honeydukes is as great as ever."
Harry smiled and immediately passed the note back along the table to Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled broadly at him, before turning his attention to the end of the sorting. As the last student was sorted, the headmaster got to his feet.
"Good evening students!" he said jovially, his arms spread wide in that familiar, welcoming gesture. "To new students, hello! To old students, hello again! I hope you all had a good summer." His bright eyes swept the hall. "Now before the feast begins, I have two new staff members to introduce. Firstly, dear Professor McGonagall has decided that the time is right to retire, so it is my great pleasure to introduce a recent pupil as the new transfiguration teacher. Please give a warm welcome to Professor Hermione Granger." The hall, led by a particularly vocal group of older Gryffindors including Ginny, burst into applause which Dumbledore matched enthusiastically. Harry pointed her wand at her and burst out laughing as, much to her surprise, Hermione rose to her feet. Looking mortified, Hermione gave an embarrassed wave to the students before sitting down.
"You git!" she whispered at him, but there was a smile of evident relief on her face at the warm welcome she had received. Dumbledore waited for quiet to fall.
"This year we also have the privilege of having one of Miss Granger's classmates helping around the school as a general assistant, particularly for Professor Hagrid, Professor Hilier and Professor Granger. Please put your hands together for Harry Potter."
Having nicked Hermione's wand a moment before to save himself the same treatment, Harry was amazed as he found himself too standing up as he received an even bigger round of applause. Looking around, he saw none other than Professor Dumbledore's wand aimed at him from behind his back, with Hermione and Professor Hilier sat next to him shaking with laughter. Grinning along the table and waving at the students, Harry sat down, shaking his head in disbelief at Dumbledore's trick.
Giving Harry another of his small winks, Dumbledore turned his attention back to the waiting students. "Well, after those new staff announcements I must remind all students as to the banned items list, which can be found outside Mr Filch's office. Otherwise, the only thing left to say is dig in!" There was the usual appreciative laughter as the tables in front of them filled with food.
"The house elves have out done themselves this year!" said Professor Hilier, still with an expression of repressed mirth on her face. Harry looked around for the expected Hermione complaint, but was surprised as he didn't receive one. Noting Harry's surprised look, Hermione lowered her fork, swallowing a mouthful of Yorkshire pudding.
"I spoke to Professor Dumbledore, and he has said I can talk to the house elves," she said, a smug look of satisfaction on her face. "I'll have to take it slowly, but I think I'll be able to make an impression on them." Harry rolled his eyes, but didn't comment.
The rest of the meal was spent discussing either Hermione's class schedules or Harry's lodgings, although Harry readily volunteered his help teaching if necessary. His experiences with the D.A. had made him far more comfortable with the prospect of teaching, and he was also pretty sure that he would not have huge amounts of stuff to do.
*
Over the next couple of days, he was proved right. Whilst he occasionally went into the forest with Hagrid, he found himself often just walking or flying round the grounds. He took advantage of his freedom to perform magic and his new work in the forbidden forest to explore further than he had even in his school days.
Transforming into a phoenix, or occasionally a thestral or hippogriff, Harry would take hours first above, and then within the forest, but also up beyond the reach of the marauders map, going further out of Hogsmeade in one direction, and leaving the lake trailing behind him in the other. He also found time, using his invisibility cloak, to locate the common rooms for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw: the Hufflepuff common room being a little further beyond the kitchens; and the Ravenclaw common room being, (as Harry had found slightly obvious), up in Ravenclaw tower, behind a magnificent portrait of Hogwarts itself.
By the time Friday night came around Harry felt he had explored more of the grounds themselves in those few days then he had in his six and a half years at Hogwarts. Harry and Dumbledore had conversed very briefly on the possibility of Harry sitting his N.E.W.T.s the previous year but, much to Harry's relief, Dumbledore decided that Harry's achievements out of school would ensure that he would never struggle to get a job, and that Harry should only sit them if he wanted to. Harry had not even needed to answer this question verbally, before the conversation had turned to Professor McGonagall's retirement.
Now however, he was going to see Dumbledore for a completely different reason. So Dumbledore wanted to teach him how to communicate with the next realm. Pushing the slightly morbid reasoning to one side for a moment, he pondered the consequences of this. He would be able to talk to Godric, Sirius, and Lupin... but most of all, he could talk to his parents again. It was fantastic to talk to the portrait he had in his room, but this was different. This would be his actual parents.
He arrived outside Dumbledore's office and, remembering the letter, addressed the gargoyle. "Honeydukes," he said, and he couldn't help a small smile creeping across his face. He stepped forward onto the already moving staircase and a moment later he found himself facing the familiar golden office door. Before he could knock, the door opened, and Harry found himself facing Mr Weasley.
"Harry!" said Mr Weasley jovially, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "Albus said you would be coming up around now. How are you settling in?"
"I'm settling in fine Mr Weasley," Harry replied, eyeing Mr Weasley carefully. Despite the outward portrayal of calmness and being carefree, he looked tired. Lines of anxiety creased his face, and there were dark smudges hanging beneath his weary eyes. He gave Harry a smile that looked to Harry like it had cost him a lot of effort, before squeezing past Harry, shutting the door behind him.
"He's had a lot of work to do recently." Dumbledore's voice was grave as Harry came and sat in front of the desk. "Andromidus and Regalus seem to have been rather active."
"How so?" This news caught Harry, who had not heard much regarding the Secret Elite since he had returned to Hogwarts, very much off guard, and he sat up straighter in his seat. Dumbledore rested his arms on the desk between them.
"There have been disappearances," Dumbledore sighed wearily. "Disappearances like when Voldemort was last in power. There haven't been attacks on muggles yet, but there's been a couple of people who've just vanished. Elizabeth Brown hasn't been seen for three days." His face fell. "I suppose the only upside is Remus is not around to see this." He sighed heavily. "Not exactly a huge bonus." Harry couldn't think of any thing to say to this, but after a few moments of silence Dumbledore coughed and turned his gaze to Harry.
"Well, you didn't come here to listen to such sad tidings," he said, examining his long slender fingers. "We are here to discuss how to converse with the next realm. Hopefully, in a few weeks, you will be able to talk with Godric and, therefore, your parents." Dumbledore's face relaxed slightly and Harry felt that aura of calm descend again. "Sadly, unlike Occlumancy and Legilimancy, this is not something I can donate to you. It requires all forms of magic: wand movement; incantation; focus and, most importantly, a magical object."
Harry was surprised. "Any magical object?"
Dumbledore smiled. "No, not just any magical object I'm afraid. It requires – " Dumbledore's sentence was cut short as Fawkes disappeared in a flash of fire. Dumbledore got to his feet immediately and, before Harry could ask what was going on, Fawkes reappeared, bearing a message. Dumbledore, in a manner that reminded Harry forcefully of the Goblet of Fire in his fourth year, plucked the scroll out of the air and scanned it quickly. He placed it down on his desk before pointing his wand at a chocolate frog sat wrapped up on his desk.
"Portus," he murmured quietly. "Come here Harry."
Harry stepped forward. "Where are we going?"
"In a moment Harry, now place your finger on the portkey..." Dumbledore placed his own hand on the chocolate frog. "One... Two... Three!" Harry felt that familiar pull and, in a flash of howling wind and light, he and Dumbledore landed softly on a patch of grass. Harry looked up as Dumbledore helped him to his feet, the back door of Godric's Hollow already open. Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared, and they followed him inside.