The Headmaster's Log Chapter 9, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter IX The Beginning of the Second War

July 1, 1995

I met with the surviving members of the Order of the Phoenix and new members Molly, Arthur, and Bill Weasley. Bill asked Gringotts to transfer him from Egypt back to London so he can help us. He told his brother Charlie what happened and Charlie also joined the order but since he must stay at the dragon colony in Romania I have asked him to try and recruit new members form the magical community on the continent.

Severus informed me that Voldemort was suspicious that he didn't return to the cemetery with the other death eaters when Voldemort summoned them. He told Voldemort he was with me at the maze at the time and it would have alerted me if he left immediately; he thinks he convinced Voldemort he came as quickly as possible and Voldemort seemed satisfied with this explanation.

Severus also said the first thing Voldemort wants now that he is back is the full prophecy about Harry. He is afraid of what it might say because Harry has survived encounters with him four times now. Severus told Voldemort he has tried to get the prophecy out of Sybil Trelawney with Legilimency but there is nothing about it in her mind since she was in a trance when she made the prophecy. That should keep Sybil safe. Voldemort knows he cannot get it from me and is forming plans to get the copy in the Hall of Mysteries at the ministry. He must be kept in the dark. The prophecy won't tell him anything important but not knowing will cause him to be hesitant. Anything that slows his actions or delays him in any way helps us by giving us time to recruit and organize against him.

Severus also told Voldemort that Fudge does not believe he is back and Voldemort will look on this as an advantage. It means he will not try to get the prophecy himself and possibly be seen by people at the ministry so he will have to rely on his few remaining death eaters to get it for him. I do not believe he knows that copies of prophecies at the ministry are protected by a spell that prevents anyone but the person the prophecy is about from getting it. That means either Harry or Voldemort himself will have to get it. Anyone else picking it off the shelf will be confunded severely. If I am correct in my supposition that he doesn't know this it means we can delay Voldemort for months. I have placed guards at the entrance to Hall of Mysteries in case a death eater tries taking the prophecy. My guard can grab whoever it is while they are confunded and bring them in for questioning. Voldemort will not even know what happened or why, and it will mean one less death eater will be left to help him. Harry doesn't know the prophecy exists and must not find out about it because he will certainly want to hear it and I don't believe he is read to face its meaning.

Sirius has offered to let us use his parent's old house at 12 Grimmauld Place as headquarters for the order. It is close to the ministry and already had many spell protecting it to which I have added my own. It is large enough for everyone to meet there and has enough bedroom space for the Weasley family to live there.

I have discussed with Molly and Arthur the danger to their family because Barty Crouch Jr. and Wormtail have certainly told Voldemort that Ron is Harry's closest friend. This makes likely an attempt to kidnap Ron in order to get to Harry. Their house on the southern coast of England is isolated and with both of them often being gone on missions for the order it would be better to move to Grimmauld Place where the children will be safer. I also asked whether Molly minds if Hermione comes to live there. She is in even more danger since her muggle parents can't protect her at all. Molly agreed it would be best; and she added that Hermione is mature enough not to cause any problems. Since the children will be essentially locked in the house Hermione will be a good companion for Ginny.

There are two problems using about Grimmauld Place. The first is that when Sirius' parents died they left it filled with all kinds of dark artifacts and spells that will have to be removed before it is safe to live in. Also in the ten years it has been unoccupied it has become filthy and infested with all typed of vermin. Just the non magical cleaning will take weeks.

The second problem is the house elf Kreacher who never liked Sirius as a boy because he did not follow the Black family policy of "Pure Bloods First" which is similar to what Voldemort wants. Sirius' parents were never death eaters but his younger brother Regulus was and Kreacher was indoctrinated by the family to believe that Sirius was not a good member of the Black family. Kreacher obeys Sirius because he is bound to follow orders of the family members but he does so reluctantly. As Kreacher learn more about the order and our actions there is a chance he may tell our secrets to Sirius' relatives like his cousin Narcissa Malfoy.

I have, together with Sirius, worked out a set of orders for Kreacher to make him keep our secrets. Sirius has given these orders to Kreacher but I still worry as events progress that he may prove to be a problem. I cannot kill him nor free him and banish him from the house which would kill him from the shame of it like what almost happened with Barty Crouch's elf Winky.

Harry knows nothing about the Order of the Phoenix nor about Grimmauld Place. I must make it clear to everyone especially the children they are to tell him nothing, not even where we are least Voldemort read his mind and discover our headquarters.

Headmaster APWBD

July 15, 1995

The Weasleys and Hermione are here and Molly has taken charge of cleansing the house of dirt and vermin with Alastor removing the most dangerous of the artifacts and spells. All the children are helping and don't seem real happy about the work but they don't complain. They are old enough to understand the danger.

Sirius has taken his old room which he checked for safety himself. In the last two weeks the kitchen has been cleaned because we need it for meetings. Arthur and Molly have cleaned out and move into Sirius' parent's room. The only thing the children objected to was the sleeping arrangements.

Two small bedrooms were cleared, one for the twins and one for Ginny and Hermione. A larger bedroom was cleaned and I insisted it go to Ron who is alone for now and that is what raised the objections from the other children. Before the summer is over I am sure Ron will have to share the bedroom with Harry and there is a picture of Phineas Nigellus Black in there.

As a past headmaster at Hogwarts Phineas also has a portrait in my study and can move between the two keeping an eye on Harry for me. If the children are not aware of this he can also eavesdrop on their conversations and inform me in case Harry does anything or learns of things I don't want him to know. Of course I couldn't explain this to the children but I did tell Molly and Arthur why I wanted these arrangements and they agreed it is for the best and quelled the protests from the children.

Headmaster APWBD

July 28, 1995

Things are not going well. As we try to tell people Voldemort is back and they must take precautions, Fudge is using the ministry and his influence at the Daily Prophet to deny it and to smear me and Harry as hysterical liars. He makes me out to be going senile and his supporters have forced me out of positions in several organizations that gave me an opportunity to present my evidence of Voldemort's return.

Fudge has used Rita Skeeter's last article about Harry being mentally ill to discredit his account of what happened. I hope Harry is able to handle the smear campaign on his own because he is isolated from his friend's support because of my orders not to give him any information that Voldemort may eventually read in his mind using the mental tie between them.

Headmaster APWBD

Aug 3, 1995

Another problem has come up. I was worried that Harry would do something foolish like running away as he did two years ago because he was being left in the dark by his friends. I hoped he had matured enough not to, but in any case I had him under constant watch by members of the order. I also alerted Arabella Figg my old friend who I arranged to live in a house around the corner from the Dursleys when I brought Harry to live there fourteen years ago.

She has been checking on him from time to time over the years and watching for attempts by death eaters to get to Harry. I asked her to keep an even more close watch without letting Harry know she is working for me. Yesterday she sent an urgent message that Harry was attacked by two Dementors and produced a patronus to repel them. This will give Fudge the chance he has been after; he can charge Harry with underage magic and discredit him completely.

I asked Arthur to send a message to Harry and tell him not to leave the house until he was contacted while I hurried to the ministry to see what could be done. Cornelius must be out of his mind. He already had an owl sent to Harry telling him he was expelled from Hogwarts and officials would be coming to break his wand; Harry must be in a panic. I contacted Arthur to again write Harry and tell him not to surrender his wand and not to use any more magic. I then pressured Fudge as much as possible pointing out he had no right to expel a student and a wand could not be destroyed without a hearing. I told him I would use all the influence I have left to have him removed from office if he did not follow the laws concerning the use of underage magic. He hesitated but finally relented and ordered a hearing for Harry. He had another owl sent to Harry telling him of this decision.

This will give me time to collect information and prepare a defense. First I must find out why the guard I had on duty watching Harry did not repel the Dementors and why Harry had to do magic. I will have to talk with Arabella to get the details. Meanwhile Harry will have to be moved and the only place that is safe is Grimmauld Place. It will be harder to keep information from him but I knew that would happen sooner or later and it can't be helped. I asked Alastor to arrange to bring Harry there.

Before I left the ministry Cornelius retaliated by reminded me of the new educational decree allowing the ministry to appoint a new teacher if the headmaster cannot find a suitable candidate. This is part of his attempt to push me out of Hogwarts and lower my prestige among the people I am trying to tell about Voldemort's return.

Everyone thinks the position DADA instructor is cursed. He knows nobody wants to take the position since Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort and Lockhart was hexed and lost his memory. I was lucky to get Lupin for one year and for Alastor to accept the position for a year even though he never actually taught a day because of Crouch Jr. capturing him. I have nobody for this year. Everyone I know who is qualified is working for the order and can't be spared. Others that may be qualified have not been checked out for security. Being as busy as I am with Voldemort I can't have someone in the castle near Harry that may be a Voldemort sympathizer or susceptible to an Imperious Curse from some death eater.

To get even with me for confronting him about Harry, Fudge said if I don't have somebody by August 15 he will appoint his own candidate. He will have a spy in the castle reporting on everything I do.

Headmaster APWBD

Aug 5, 1995

A group from the order brought Harry safely to Grimmauld Place and I reminded everyone before he got there that my order to tell him as little as possible still stands. Sirius doesn't understand why I don't want Harry getting any information and I do not want to tell anyone else the entire truth; that Harry possibly being a Horcrux is causing the connection between Harry's mind and Voldemort's. I just asked him to trust that I have a good reason and not to give Harry too much information. I am not sure he will follow orders.

Harry's hearing at the ministry is on the ninth and Arthur will see he gets there safely. After arriving, Harry met Ron and Hermione in his bedroom and Phineas reported that Harry is extremely upset about the black out of news and was told by Ron and Hermione I ordered it. Also the children have been trying to eavesdrop on the order's meetings. I have warned Arthur and Molly and they have begun putting an Imperturbable charm on the door before the meetings start to stop the children from learning too many secrets.

Headmaster APWBD

Aug 10, 1995

I learned from Arabella that Mundungus was on duty guarding Harry the day of the attack and left to make some underhanded deal for stolen cauldrons. I will deal with him later but I need him as a source of information from the underground community of thieves and black market dealers who would not talk to any other members of the order. These are the very types of people that would hear things about Voldemort and his death eaters.

Fudge changed the time of the hearing at the last minute hoping I wouldn't make it and he could find Harry guilty in a phony trial. Kingsley Shacklebolt sent a message of the change while Arthur rushed to get Harry to the courtroom on time. I was able to pick up Arabella as a witness and we got to the ministry just in time. With her testimony and the fact that Harry is still looked upon by many as the savior of the magical world for stopping Voldemort fourteen years ago a majority of the court acquitted him. Fudge is furious and will certainly take it out on me with his appointment of the new DADA teacher.

Arthur took Harry back to Grimmauld Place and Molly invited me to a celebration in honor of the verdict but I do not want to be close to Harry unless necessary and I made an excuse about being busy which I really am. The beginning of the year school details have to be finished and Minerva who usually takes care of those things is busy working for the order so I will have to do more than usual on that front.

Prefects in the fifth year need to be appointed and I have decided to make Hermione and Ron the girl and boy from Gryffindor. Hermione is top of the class academically and the obvious choice. Ron is less qualified than Harry but Harry has too many other worries right now and Ron will not only be a good prefect but also more help to Harry if I can bring out the leadership qualities I know are in him. My choices from the other houses were easy except for Draco Malfoy. His parent's involvement with Voldemort has almost made him a lost cause. I appointed him prefect in the hope the responsibility of helping the younger students will bring him to see that Voldemort's way is wrong and save him from following the dark side.

Headmaster APWBD

Aug 15, 1995

Fudge notified me he has appointed his deputy Delores Umbridge as the DADA teacher. This is as bad as it could be. She is a stooge for Fudge and has no educational qualifications. I remember her as only an average student in DADA; certainly not good enough to teach it. I will have to warn all the other teachers to be careful around her because anything they say or do will get back to Fudge.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 1, 1995

At the opening feast Delores interrupted me to make a speech. Not only were the faculty scandalized but most of the students also noted it. Her speech showed two things; what a boring speaker she is, and her intent on behalf of Fudge to take over Hogwarts. I am limited as to what I can do about it. I cannot openly oppose her and Fudge because although the ministry does not have the power to remove me outright, Fudge does have influence with the members of Hogwarts' board of directors. Some of them already want me removed and an open fight with Fudge could swing enough members that now support me the other way.

If I am removed, Delores is most likely to be appointed to replace me instead of Minerva and I hesitate to leave the children in that situation. It would be difficult for me to hide in the castle and protect Harry and the other children like I did three years ago when Lucius Malfoy forced me out for a few weeks. It is better that I allow her to act openly and the children, faculty, and I will have to make out as best we can with the situation. Eventually Voldemort will show himself and everyone will know that Harry and I are telling the truth. Fudge will lose his support quickly when the people realize he allowed Voldemort to come back and begin a second war on the magical community.

In addition Hagrid has not returned from the journey to meet with the giants on which I sent him and Madam Maxime. Madam Maxine contacted me reporting the meeting went badly because death eaters were there getting the giants on Voldemort's side. She and Hagrid were on their way back when they got separated but he should be back soon. I asked retired Professor Grubbly Plank to come back temporarily to take Hagrid's classes until he returns.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 2, 1995

One of the members of the order, Sturgis Podmore, was caught trying to get into the Hall of Prophecies. He could not remember why and was sent to Azkaban for six months. He was on guard duty that night and must have been discovered by a death eater trying to get to the prophecy about Harry and confounded or imperialized.

Earlier last month a worker in the Department of Mysteries, Broderick Bode, had been found confounded and I knew one of Voldemort's death eaters must have put him under the Imperious curse and ordered him to get the prophecy. When he touched it the protections on it confounded him. I thought since my guards would be alert and looking for intruders they would catch the death eater not the other way around. I will have to renew my warning of the danger and to stay alert but the job must be done in any means

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 3, 1995

Delores is striking at Harry already. She challenged his story of Voldemort's return in class in front of his friends knowing he could not hold his temper in a situation like that and that she as a teacher has power over him as a student. When he responded to being called a liar she gave him a week's detention. Harry has been in detention before and will live through it. The worst thing is she has given the students more reason not to believe Voldemort is back. They are not sure whether to believe Harry's story and have heard their parents talking about the lies Fudge has been spreading about me and Harry. Harry has been under pressure and feeling isolated all summer because of my news blackout. To have his classmates think he is a liar will add to this and most likely cause him to do something foolish.

I asked Minerva talk with him and she told me she has already and warned him to control himself around Delores. I will also have to talk with Hermione and explain that she must try to convince Harry not to defy Delores openly. He cannot win an open fight any more than I can but Delores can hurt him in ways he doesn't realize. Hermione may have better luck convincing Harry than Minerva.

Arthur has learned that Fudge doesn't want the children to learn to duel or even defend themselves because he thinks I will use them to oppose him. I have an idea that may help Harry vent his frustration, and also help train the children to defend themselves.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 5, 1995

Minerva reported that Hermione came to her after class and told her Harry's punishment in detention is to write "I must not tell lies." over and over using a hexed quill that cuts Harry's hand and writes the words using his blood. I told Minerva again of the situation between myself and Fudge and explained that I wish I could get rid of Delores but Fudge will get rid of me if I try anything. While what Delores is doing is horrible it will be worst if she replaces me as headmaster. Minerva still thinks I should act and I fear she will confront Delores and get into trouble that I will not be able to get her out of. In the mean time since Harry himself didn't report the incident to me or another teacher I assume he is either that angry at me he doesn't want to talk or he is so angry with Delores he is making it a personal war of wills to show her he won't give in to her lies. I hope he will hold his temper during Delores' taunts and simply stay out of her detentions.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 10, 1995

Sirius contacted me to report he got an owl from Harry saying Harry had a pain in his scar similar to last year. I was afraid of this; Harry will be sensing Voldemort more often and more deeply as Voldemort grows in power.

Sirius talked with Harry, Ron, and Hermione using the flue network to enter the Gryffindor fireplace like he did last year. He told them about Delores' history of being anti non human at the ministry. Also when they complained about the way Delores is teaching DADA he told them about Fudge being afraid of me using the students to take on the ministry.

I will ask Hermione to suggest to Harry with Ron's help that they start a secret dueling club where not only Harry but all the children can learn to defend themselves, pass their OWLs, and at the same time burn off their dislike of Delores. I will of course tell Hermione that Harry can't know it is my idea because he is angry with me right now and will resist any suggestion from me; she must make it seem to be her idea. Although Hermione has helped Harry for the last four years this will be the first time I have approached her directly to start something. If she does this with finesse it means I will be able to guide Harry indirectly and not have to be in personal contact with Harry giving Voldemort a chance to use the connection with him to get to me.

I will again have to remind Sirius not to tell Harry things that Voldemort might read in Harry's mind some day.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 12, 1995

Delores and Fudge have started the campaign to oust me as headmaster. Fudge issued an educational decree making Delores "High Inquisitor" with the right to review teacher performance and fire any teacher not meeting her standards without my approval or even consulting me. The next thing will be to give her the right to overrule my decisions.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 15, 1995

Hermione told me she made the suggestion to Harry and he resisted the idea but she got the feeling he can be convinced to do it. She is letting him think about it for a few days before bringing the subject up again.

Headmaster APWBD

Sept 26, 1995

Hermione has convinced Harry to start the dueling club because he has the responsibility to teach the others what he knows about defending themselves against Voldemort. He gave in easier than I thought he would. They are meeting in Hogsmeade during the first weekend visit for the year. I was about to warn her of the danger that one of the children involved might let news of the meeting slip and Delores would find out about it when she told me that she was asking only the friends she trusted to come to the meeting. She seems to be a natural at maintaining secrecy.

Headmaster APWBD

Oct 6, 1995

It seems Hermione needs some lessons in maintaining secrecy after all. She called the meeting in the Hog's Head Inn which is almost empty on most days. That means it was quiet enough for the few people that were there to overhear the plans to form the club. One of these people was Mundungus, who I am punishing because he abandoned Harry the day of the Dementor attack, by having him follow Harry every Hogsmeade weekend dresses as a witch.

He reported the conversation at the meeting to me and that there were twenty eight children and three other people at the bar besides my brother Aberforth who owns the place. Mundungus was not able to give me the names of these people and I contact Aberforth and ask him if he knows them. He knew all but one stranger. This means I cannot check if this one person is connected to Voldemort or the ministry. Pehaps word of the supposedly secret club may have gotten out. Headmaster APWBD

Oct 7, 1995

Word of the meeting must have gotten back to Delores because she had another decree issued stopping all student organization meetings without her approval. This includes the Quidditch teams and of course secret dueling clubs. She is trying to intimidate Harry and the others into dropping their plans by threatening that students attending a meeting not approved by her can be expelled. I know Harry is so angry at her he will not care and go on with the dueling club. I expect Ron and Hermione to also continue but I wonder how many other children are willing to take the chance.

Hermione reported that twenty five other students besides her, Ron, and Harry signed up for the group which matches what Mundungus told me. Then she asked if I knew of a place where they could practice dueling because none of the children could think of a spot where Delores wouldn't find them. I told her I had a place in mind and would check into it. If it was suitable I would get the word to her about where it is.

Last year I accidently went into a room I had never seen before and then I couldn't find it again. After checking into school lore I discovered references to "The Room of Requirement" also known as "The Come and Go Room" which appears when a person has need of it and is equipped for that person's needs. I will check with the house elves who know more about the castle's rooms than anyone else and after checking its suitability I can get the information to Hermione.

Headmaster APWBD

Oct 10, 1995

Sirius told me he talked with Harry, Ron, and Hermione using the flue network again. He told them about being overheard by Mundungus which means Harry know he is being followed every time he goes into town. Sirius was almost caught by Delores who reached in from her own fireplace and tried to grab him. I think that will be the end of his visits to Harry.

Harry's owl Hedwig was injured by Delores when she intercepted his mail. I had Minerva warn him that the mail was being read and I hope nothing compromising was in the letter.

Headmaster APWBD

Oct 11, 1995

The elves knew of the Room of Requirement and told me how to enter it. It is perfect. It was small and filled with chamber pots the first time I found it accidently while looking for a bathroom. Today it was large with cushions and had several shelves of reference books on dueling. I wonder what other secrets the castle holds that I will never discover.

I have decided to let Dobby tell Harry directly about the room instead of Hermione. If she tells Harry he will wonder how she found out about it and I don't want him to know she has been talking with me about him because he is still angry with me and may transfer some of that anger to her if he thinks she is telling his private feelings to me.

I went to the kitchen asking for some sweets and saw Dobby. While the elves were getting my favorite treats I casually told Dobby I was in the Room of Requirements and asked if he knew of it; and he did. I then switched the conversation to Harry, asking if he had seen Harry lately and that I heard Harry wasn't happy this year but his owl was healed and I would have to make sure Hedwig was taken back to him so he would be cheered up a little. I trusted that the house elf's need to make people happy would make Dobby visit Harry and ask if there is anything he can do for Harry. If Harry mentions his problem Dobby will most likely inform him of the room. Dobby immediately volunteered to take Hedwig back to Harry.

I told Hermione to wait a few days and if Dobby doesn't give Harry the information she will have to tell him in a way not to make it look suspicious. She said it would not be a problem since Harry knows she always goes to the library to look things up she will just tell him she found the Room of Requirements in a reference book about the school. Headmaster APWBD

Oct 15, 1995

Hermione reported Dobby told Harry about the room and he has called for a meeting tonight. She will let me know how many students came and what happened tomorrow. I reminded her not to let Harry know she is reporting to me and she said it is not a problem since Harry and Ron are in Divination class when she goes to Arithmancy which is near my office and she can stop by almost any day without them knowing.

Headmaster APWBD

Oct 16, 1995

Hermione reported all the students from the meeting at the Hog's Head Inn came to the first session in the Room of Requirement. I guess they are not afraid of Delores. The last time we talked I asked her for a list of the students that came to the meeting in case of a problem in the future and she gave it to me today. Of all the names the only one that surprised me was Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw. The professors all have reported her to be in a world of her own and that she was either teased or avoided by the other students. Hermione said Ginny Weasley has been talking to Luna and trying to be friendly toward her and that's how she came to be at the meeting.

Hermione also said that when she mentioned the club should have a name they could use when talking about it Ginny Weasley suggested calling the group Dumbledore's Army or DA for short. I am proud they chose this name and it will make it easier if they are caught by Delores for me to take the blame for forming the group which may protect Harry and the others from being expelled. It is more important to keep him in school protected and developing his powers than for me to stay here. Snape and the other professors will see to this and it may actually give me time to work on the Voldemort situation. I hope that they are not discovered but must be prepared for all situations and events.

Headmaster APWBD

Nov 1, 1995

Hermione continues to give me reports on what Harry is teaching the other students in Dumbledore's Army. She seems to think they are learning enough to pass their upcoming OWLs and all the students seem happy with things. She explained how she placed a Protean charm on some fake galleons they use to inform members of meeting times. I am impressed with the Idea but more so that as a fifth year she was able to do a charm Professor Flitwick doesn't teach until seventh year. She gave me one of the galleons so I would know when a meeting was happening and could keep an eye on Delores at that time.

I asked if Harry had told her of any dreams he may have had about Voldemort. She said she knew of the dreams last year and that this year his scar had hurt him during a detention with Professor Umbridge. He thought she might be possessed by Voldemort like Professor Quirrell was but after talking to Sirius he decided it was not her that caused it. I asked her for details but that was all she could tell me so I told her if it happened again to find out as much as she could from Harry and the report to me as soon as she could.

I have been meaning to and finally took time to talk with her about her experiences at Hogwarts since her first year. She is a muggle born and I wanted to get a feeling if Hogwarts is doing a good job introducing these children who don't know anything about magic to our world. She seems to think we do.

We also talked about her relationship to Harry, which has interested me since their first year when I began to worry about a love triangle between her, Ron and Harry causing the type of problem I had with Harry's mother, father, and Severus when they were students. She told me she was in awe of Harry at first having read his story at age eleven when she discovered she was a witch and would be coming to Hogwarts. After meeting him however she came to see he was not a super wizard but a nice boy in more trouble than he could handle alone but he still took time to worry about and help others. She began to help him like one helps a family member in trouble and began to think of him like a brother. Since she is an only child and so is Harry I believe it is only natural for this at age eleven.

She then asked me why I made Ron the Gryffindor prefect instead of Harry. I hesitated at first to explain the reason for my decisions to a student but decided she has been honest with my questions and I should be the same with hers. I told her that Harry already had too much on his plate without taking on the extra work of a prefect; and that Ron has been second to Harry for too long and needed to take the lead in something to bring out the good qualities I felt were in him. To my surprise she smiled and said she was glad someone besides her noticed that Ron was smarter and braver than most people gave him credit for. I responded that several of the teachers have noticed and made comment about this in Ron's school records over the years.

I am no longer worried about a love triangle causing problems. Hermione has made a decision but I don't think Ron knows it yet.

Headmaster APWBD

Nov 9, 1995

The first Quidditch match was yesterday and Delores finally got to punish Harry in a way that really hurt; not just marking his hand with her evil cursed quill. The match was filled with cheap shots and derogatory chants by the Slytherin fans but Harry managed to grab the snitch and the win for Gryffindor. Draco Malfoy the Slytherin seeker began to taunt Harry and the Weasley twins with insults about their parents to the point where they lost their tempers and went after Malfoy hitting him several times. Professor McGonagall as the head of Gryffindor issued a week's worth of detentions but under a new educational decree the high inquisitor has the power to overrule other professors and Delores removed Harry and the twins from the team for life. To a diehard Quidditch player it is a fate worse than death. Without these three excellent players Gryffindor has little chance of winning this year so Delores essentially punished all the students in Gryffindor at one shot.

Once again I am helpless to oppose her and the minister who is behind her without getting me removed as headmaster. I hope Harry takes out his frustrations by working harder with the students in Dumbledore's Army rather than trying to get back at Delores in some other way that will just get him in more trouble.

Headmaster APWBD

Nov 9, 1995

Hermione came in to report Harry had another incident of his scar hurting and he thinks that he is feeling Voldemort's emotions. I have know this for some time but if Harry has figured it out the connection between him and Voldemort must still be getting stronger. Soon he will be getting Voldemort's thoughts and when that happens Voldemort will become aware of the connection. This will be not only dangerous for Harry but also for all of us fighting Voldemort that are known to Harry and could be discovered if read by Voldemort in Harry's mind.

I must make preparations to have Harry study occlumency so he can block Voldemort's access to his mind. I cannot be near him with his and my minds open to each other least Voldemort get into my mind so I will have to ask Professor Snape to do it. His bad feelings about Harry's father will interfere but it can't be helped. We must wait until Voldemort becomes aware of the connection; then Severus must tell Voldemort that I asked him to teach occlumency to Harry and he could not refuse without making me suspicious. If Voldemort learns of it on his own while being connected to Harry it will put Severus in danger. He will have to make Voldemort think he is teaching Harry in such a way that he is not actually helping Harry block Voldemort's entering Harry's mind. Hopefully Harry will not begin to sense Voldemort's thoughts and all of this will be unnecessary.

Headmaster APWBD

Nov 11, 1995

Hagrid has finally returned but he is keeping something from me. He gave the same report about the giants siding with Voldemort as I got from Madam Maxime but refuses to say what took him so long to get back. He is bruised and badly beaten but claims the giants didn't do it to him and won't tell me how he got hurt. Headmaster APWBD

Nov 13, 1995

In his first lesson after getting back Hagrid decided to show the fifth year class Hogwarts' Thestral herd. Thestrals have a bad reputation because they can only be seen by someone who has witnessed someone's death; but in reality they are no worse than a big dog. The ministry however has classified them as dangerous and Delores chose this day to inspect Hagrid's teaching method. Hermione came to me to report how Delores twisted everything Hagrid did to make him look bad on her report and asked me to do something about it. I did not want to explain the politics behind the situation that make me so helpless to a student so I said I would do what I could for Hagrid.

Headmaster APWBD

Nov 28, 1995

I Have been talking with Hermione almost weekly, keeping up on the progress of Dumbledore's Army. I still get a feeling of pride thinking the children thought of that name. I also want to know if there has been any change in Harry's reception of Voldemort's feelings. Hermione tells me Harry and everyone else is working hard on defensive spells but that Harry hasn't had any more events of feeling Voldemort's emotions.

Headmaster APWBD

Dec 23, 1995

Professor McGonagall brought Harry and Ron to my study near midnight last night because Harry had an intense dream about Arthur Weasley being attacked by a large snake. He claimed Arthur was badly injured and had to get help immediately and I believed him but could not act until I knew the exact situation.

Harry looked as if he were about to pass out but I questioned him about the details and it was clear he had been sensing Voldemort's thoughts not just his emotions. He said in the dream he was a snake crawling in a hallway of black tile floor and walls. He came across Arthur sitting on the floor asleep and was about to pass by when Arthur awoke. Harry the said he struck at Arthur biting him several times. Then he woke up feeling violently ill with his dorm mates around him.

I knew Voldemort had a large snake he called Nagini and from Harry's description the snake had been in the corridor outside the Hall of Prophecies where my guards from the Order of the Phoenix were on duty to protect the prophecy. It seems that Voldemort is getting frustrated by his death eater's inability to get the prophecy but is still afraid of being seen in person and alerting the ministry of his return. He must have taken possession of the snake's mind and sent it there so he could see the situation for himself.

I am not positive of how he could do this but I have a theory. I am sure that Voldemort made more than one Horcrux to protect himself from dying and I am reasonably sure Harry himself is a Horcrux made unintentionally by Voldemort when he tried to kill Harry as a baby. This is the cause of the connection between the two of them. If Voldemort also make the snake a Horcrux it would explain how he could take control of the snake and see what the snake sees and why Harry was also able to see things from the snake's point of view. The big question is how many Horcruxes did Voldemort make? The books all say making a Horcrux weakens the soul so he couldn't have made too many without damaging himself irreparably. All of them must be destroyed including the one in Harry before Voldemort can be killed. Some way I need to discover the exact number and it must be soon before he becomes too strong to attack.

Once I was sure of the details of the attack on Arthur I sent Everard one of the former headmasters who was also the Minister of Magic years ago from his picture here in my study to his picture in the ministry to alert the guards there and rescue Arthur. I also sent Dilys a former headmistress and one time administrator of St. Mungo's hospital from her picture here to the one at St. Mungo's to check on Arthur's condition when he arrived there.

Fortunately we got to him in time and he will recover. I also sent Minerva to get the other Weasley children here to my study. While we waited for them I sent Phineas Black to Grimmauld Place to alert Sirius that the children would be coming there. When Ginny and the twins arrived I told them their father had been hurt while on duty for the order and sent them and Harry by port key to Grimmauld place before Delores could find out what happened and question them.

First thing this morning I told Hermione of what happened and she wanted to go see if Harry was safe but I told her she couldn't leave until the last class was over because it would make Delores even more suspicious. Hermione agreed and sent an owl to her parent's house to tell them she wouldn't be coming home for Christmas as planned but that she decided to stay at Hogwarts to study for her upcoming OWL examinations. She thought the less they know of the truth the safer they would be and I agreed. I made arrangements for her to take the Knight Bus to Grimmauld Place as soon as the last class was over.

I questioned Hermione as to Harry's emotional state that night. I thought perhaps he had another run in with Delores and being emotionally upset brought on this sudden increase in intensity of the connection with Voldemort. When I asked if he had been upset before bed time she answered no; in fact he had been very happy. She explained reluctantly that Harry had fancied a girl, Cho Chang, for some time. Harry told Hermione and Ron that after the practice session for Dumbledore's Army was over he stayed behind because he saw that Cho was upset. When Harry asked what was wrong she talked about Cedric being killed last year and after talking a while she and Harry kissed under the mistletoe.

I had things backward. Harry's strong emotion that opened his mind that night was love not hate. If Harry was in love with Miss Chang his emotions would make him more susceptible to Voldemort's intrusions than even the hatred of Delores. Now I must tell Severus to start teaching Harry occlumency. This deep intrusion into Voldemort's mind must certainly been noticed by him and he will begin to explore the connection in order to make use of it. I hope he doesn't realize that the connection is caused by Harry being a Horcrux because if he does he may drop plans to kill Harry since it would mean killing part of his own soul. That would mean he may also drop plans to find out what is in the prophecy and begin to move more actively in his plans to take over the magical world. It is only his desire to know the prophecy in order to kill Harry that has slowed his other plans for the last six months. I must keep him pursuing the prophecy as long as possible to give me time to unravel the questions about the Horcruxes so he can be stopped once and for all.

Headmaster APWBD

Dec 25, 1995

While at the hospital visiting Arthur Harry and the other children overheard Alastor tell the others that I am worried about Harry being possessed by Voldemort, and in a way he is. Now Harry thinks he is possessed and he will not go near or talk with anyone. I have sent Phineas to his portrait in Harry's bedroom at Grimmauld Place to watch and make sure he doesn't run away in fear of hurting his friends. I asked Hermione to talk with him as soon as she got there.

Headmaster APWBD

Dec 26, 1995

Phineas reported that Harry packed his trunk and was leaving Grimmauld Place so he gave Harry the message I sent; "Stay where you are." Harry protested but put his trunk back and is staying. I told Phineas to keep watching him and report if he tried to leave again.

Phineas eavesdropped on the children's conversation and reported that Hermione convinced Harry into talking with the other children about being possessed by Voldemort and Ginny Weasley asked if he could remember what he did. I had forgotten she had been possessed by the part of Voldemort's soul in Tom Riddle's diary. She told him she couldn't remember what she had done for hours at a time. She convinced Harry he was not possessed and Phineas said Harry feels better about himself now. I believe Harry has another loyal friend besides Ron and Hermione.

When he returns to school Severus will begin the occlumency lessons but this is an art learned through mental discipline and I doubt Harry will learn enough to completely block out Voldemort for many years but even if he learns just a little it will help by delaying Voldemort's plans. Headmaster APWBD

Jan 5, 1996

The occlumency lessons have started and Professor Snape began by telling Harry that Voldemort was skilled in Legilimency and was able to sense Harry's emotions and memories. He said occlumency would help block Voldemort out of Harry's mind. After just the first lesson Severus reports Harry's mind is undisciplined and he doesn't think Harry will be able to block Voldemort. I hope this negative report is just Severus' dislike for Harry's father showing through and I urged him to continue. He is reluctant but agreed to keep trying.

Headmaster APWBD

Jan 6, 1996

Voldemort staged a mass breakout of ten of his death eaters from Azkaban. The ministry is claiming it was Sirius that did it so they would not have to admit Voldemort is back.

Also Broderick Bode the ministry official who was confunded trying to take the prophecy was murdered last week. He was beginning to recover and could have testified as to who forced him to try and get the prophecy. Voldemort could not let Bode live and accuse one of his death eaters.

Headmaster APWBD

Jan 20, 1996

I questioned Hermione about how things were going since they have returned from Christmas break and she said everything was quiet. Harry told her his occlumency lessons were going poorly with no sign of progress. As far as Dumbledore's Army was concerned things were good. Harry was working hard at teaching the others and Neville has had a complete turnaround in attitude. He works harder than anyone else and is learning fast. Hermione said he is like a new person. The escape of two of the death eaters that tortured his parents, Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband, must be the catalyst he needed to overcome his uncertainty and timid demeanor.

I asked about Luna Lovegood because of the reports from the professors that say she is flighty and inattentive; but Hermione said she is really a nice person and very smart when she is interested. She likes the others treating her as a friend and so she is showing more talent than anyone gave her credit for.

Headmaster APWBD

Feb 15, 1996

Hermione arranged with Rita Skeeter for an interview with Harry to get out to the public Harry's account of what happened in the cemetery last year when Voldemort returned. Fudge has been suppressing the story so only the members of the order and Harry's closest friends know the truth. It seems Hermione discovered that Rita is an unregistered Animagus which is punishable by a long term in Azkaban. She is black mailing Rita into writing the true story and Luna Lovegood's father who runs the off beat paper "The Quibbler" has agreed to publish it.

If I had known I would have stopped her since it will only aggravate Delores more and get the children in more trouble but I didn't find out until it was done. Hermione also told me Harry had an argument with Cho and they had broken up as a couple. Perhaps this emotional event will have an effect on the connection with Voldemort but I am not sure which way.

Headmaster APWBD

Feb 27, 1996

Xenophilius Lovegood must have rushed Harry's interview because it was in the March edition of "The Quibbler" and Delores was furious as I thought she would be. Harry is in a week's detention for giving the interview and she has threatened to expel any student caught with a copy of the article.

Headmaster APWBD

Mar 1, 1996

Hermione came to me the moment she could get away from Ron and Harry to report that Harry had another dream in which he was Voldemort and he was talking to Augusatus Rookwood one of the death eater who escaped from Azkaban. Rookwood once worked in the Department of Mysteries and explained about the spell on prophecies that allows only the person about whom the prophecy is written to touch it. Now Voldemort knows either he has to get Harry to retrieve it of he has to go for it himself.

I admitted to Hermione that Voldemort was after a prophecy that would help him take over the magical community but didn't tell her it was about Harry. He still doesn't know about it and I fear if he finds out he will want to retrieve and hear it. I do not believe he is ready for what it means; and once Harry takes it the odds of Voldemort or one of his death eaters getting it increases. The protections on it hold only until the person it is about picks it up; then anyone else can hear it also.

Headmaster APWBD

Mar 19, 1996

Professor Snape reported that during an occlumency lesson he saw a vision of the dream Harry had. I did not tell Severus about it when Hermione told me He also said Harry picture himself moving through the entrance to the Department of Mysteries and through the door to the Hall of Prophecies. He was planning to find out what else Harry has been dreaming about when they heard a woman scream and they stopped the lesson to check on what was happening.

The scream came from Sybil Trelawney. Delores has finally fired Professor Trelawney for incompetence. I had to step in to keep Sybil here in the castle for her own safety. Although Voldemort was told by Severus that she knows nothing about the prophecy and he hasn't tried to take her from the well protected castle; he may capture her if she is forced out into the unprotected magical community just to check for himself.

Delores was outraged when I reminded her that while she does have the power to fire my teachers she does not have the power to banish them from the castle. Also knowing this was coming I arranged for my centaur friend Firenze to take over Sybil's divination classes. Centaurs are well known for their skills at divination so Delores couldn't say he is not qualified and get to appoint another ministry spy to the position. Her hatred of non humans just adds to her desire to remove me as headmaster and I am expecting another decree from the ministry give her more power over the school. Headmaster APWBD

Apr 8, 1996

Professor Umbridge discovered the room of requirements and though she couldn't enter it she caught the students in Dumbledore's Army trying to flee back to their dorms. The Minister of Magic was called and Dumbledore was ordered arrested and sent to Azkaban; but he escaped and is now hiding from the ministry. Professor Umbridge was named the new headmaster but the headmaster's office was sealed against her entrance by Dumbledore before he left. He also asked me to continue to make entries in the official headmaster's log in his absence.

As I understand it he took the blame for organizing Dumbledore's Army to save Harry Potter and the others from being expelled. The children are being punished with daily detention with the horrid quills that cut the back of their hands and write in their own blood on the parchment. I realize now what the headmaster told me in September about being helpless to stop her. If she could drive him out she can certainly do the same for me so I must remain silent and stay here to try and help the children any way I can without being removed myself.