Chapter 10
"Hogwarts is under threat! Students remain in classrooms! All teachers without classes are to meet in the Headmaster's office immediately," the magically enhanced voice of Professor McGonagall barked, a slight edge to her voice.
Sarah stopped, wide eyed with horror. She was running late to Charms after failing to rouse for breakfast. She had had a lot to think about in the last few days, and it had taken their toll. Of course, Ron and Hermione, separately, had asked about Dumbledore's little talk.
She had told them it was family matters. They had understood at once. Sarah's family consisted of Death Eaters. A Death Eater father and a Death Eater brother. For once, Sarah felt Ron understood more than Hermione, being brought up in the magical world, and right smack in the terror that consumed a person when they thought of the Dark Lord's followers.
She looked around. She was two corridors and three staircases away from her Charms class. She could hear the rush of activity in the classes she was near. Sarah hurried along, hoping she wouldn't meet anyone, and walked straight into Dennis Creevey. Methuselya hissed at the impact, poking his head out of her sleeve. Dennis cast a frightened look at the snake, before running off. Sarah sighed.
"It'ss okay, it was just Denniss," she said consolingly. He hissed back grumpily.
Sarah continued walking along, as quietly as possible. There was not a soul to be seen outside. It looked like everyone was listening to McGonagall. The tension could be sliced with a wand. She thought about slipping into one of the nearby classes, but then thought the better of it. Sarah knew the younger children were afraid of her, and there was no need to add to the fear they were already feeling.
Sarah spun around as a high pitch scream sounded at the end of the corridor.
The classes up and down the corridor quieted immediately. Sarah watched, her whole body frozen, as Dennis Creevey was dragged towards, in the firm grip of a silver masked Death Eater Sarah knew very well.
"Father?" she said in disbelief.
"Come on Harry!" Gryffindor shouted. The Lion Founder could not possibly expect him to win. He was bad enough at magic without his own wand, he was much worse with a sword. He struggled to block another blow from Leofrick. It was blindingly obvious who was going to win. Gryffindor's nephew could have taken him out in a few seconds, and Harry knew Leofrick was holding out. To keep a grip on the sword was difficult enough.
He tried to parry, like Gryffindor had taught him earlier, but it was so weak, Leofrick was able to deftly cast it aside with a flick of his own sword. A few minutes later, and Harry thumped on to the grass, nursing his arm.
Gryffindor strolled over as Leofrick offered him a hand up. Harry took it gratefully, and couldn't help but be in awe of how closely he resembled his uncle. Not just in looks, but in skill as well. Leofrick was almost as good as Godric Gryffindor himself.
"Well," Gryffindor said, running a hand through his hair, "you'll just have to stick to wands from now on. You're useless with a sword." Harry's face burned. Gryffindor caught it, and went on hurriedly. "That's not a bad thing, nearly all wizards prefer wands compared to physical combat." He shrugged. "It's just how it is."
His Founder had been putting him through rigorous exercises each day, and every time, it looked like he had failed to impress. The borrowed wand kept trying to reject him, and he felt as if he was using a toy, instead of the real thing. Every charm, spell or hex he performed was weaker than what he was normally capable of.
"How about we try some dueling now, hm? You are competent, I assume, in non verbal spells?" Gryffindor asked, almost rhetorically.
"Actually," Harry said, cringing, "that's not the case either."
"What?" Gryffindor's brown eyes swirled with confusion. "You should know by now. You're sixteen."
"Our Defense teachers haven't exactly been good," he replied.
Leofrick stood just behind Gryffindor, frowning. "Teachers? In the plural form?"
"Yeah, there's been a teacher every year, most of them end up dead," Harry explained, as Gryffindor frowned deeper, "but some of them don't. Our third year Defense teacher was the best, though," he continued, thinking of Lupin.
"Third year? You haven't had a competent teacher in three years?" he said incredulously, "They end up dead?"
"They say the job is jinxed, and in the case of the current one," Harry said, smiling savagely, "I hope it is."
Gryffindor shook his head at him. "That's not a good way to think." His Founder's reprimand only served to add to his misery for the day.
"What are you doing out of class Sarah?" Father demanded. His two cronies, whom Sarah guessed were the siblings Amycus and Alecto Carrow, carried the scared second year. Sarah winced at the bruise that was starting to show on the right side of Dennis' face. They were the most hideous, and coldest people Sarah had ever met, second only to Voldemort and Bellatrix.
"Let him go Father," Sarah said in a low voice, trying not to let the Carrows hear.
He laughed mockingly. "Did you hear that Amycus? Let him go."
The Carrows both joined in. Sarah took a deep breath. They were only doing this for the fear factor. Insane laughter made people more afraid. She was used to these kinds of tactics, and had grown immune to them quite some time ago. Dennis, however, was not. He had visibly blanched. Sarah tried to surreptitiously send him a reassuring look, but she could tell her father caught it when he raised an eyebrow at her.
"How about a trade then Sarah? Him for you," Father held out a hand to her. "A nice family gathering would no doubt please the Dark Lord, and assure everyone on where your true loyalties lie." The challenge was clear in his eyes.
"And where do my true loyalties lie?" Sarah responded sadly. He was her only family, and he was turning his back on her. Join him in trade for Dennis, his meaning was clear enough. He also knew she would never do it. She couldn't perceive what her father was planning by getting her to openly, and officially announce her position against the Dark Lord. What did he stand to gain? Except shame on the family? Or was it just simple blackmail?
The Carrows were looking at my father curiously. Their grip on Dennis had laxed, and the boy looked like he might make a run for it, but was too terrified to take the first step. Sarah mentally prayed that he didn't, because a quick spell could knock him down, and Avada Kedavera was as quick a spell as any.
"Amycus, please persuade my daughter a little. Cruciatus will do," he said, smiling coldly. Sarah looked at Dennis, eyes wide. She opened her mouth to agree, but her father held up his hand in warning.
Dennis' screams could be heard throughout the castle, Sarah was sure. Someone was bound to hear them and come. Even the neighbouring classes. They had to. Sarah closed her eyes, and started to count up from one. She got to the number twenty before the screams stopped. Twenty was light.
"Well?" Father demanded. "Will you accept?"
"Do I have a choice?" she asked.
"Of course you do, you could both come with us," Father smiled, without warmth, "but I do warn you now, even though there is no need, that the boy will probably have an unfortunate accident on the way."
"A rather painful one," Alecto added, speaking for the first time. Her eyes glittered in delight behind her mask.
"I accept, take me and release him," Sarah nodded towards Dennis. "Now. And then I'll hand myself over to you."
"Let the boy go," Father said.
"How do you know she's telling the truth?" Amycus asked. "No disrespect to your family sir, but your daughter brings shame upon us all. How do you know she's not lying?"
"Do you honestly think my teenaged daughter can get the better of three fully qualified wizards?" Father snapped irritated, most likely at the jab at the family.
Amycus looked away, letting his hold on Dennis go. As did Alecto. Dennis hesitated, and Father took a threatening step forwards that had Dennis scampering away immediately.
"Walk," Father ordered, indicating that Sarah walk in front of them. "We're going to the Great Hall."
"What are you even doing at Hogwarts?" Sarah asked.
"The Dark Lord hasn't seen much activity from Potter. We've come to find out where he is," he said; now indicating she turn left.
"He's not here," Sarah said quickly. She knew immediately that she'd said the wrong thing when her Father smiled.
"Oh yes, we know, we came here to find one of his friends. The blood traitor, or the mudblood, or you," his smile widened. "Amycus, send a message to the rest, tell them to meet us in the Great Hall, I think my daughter will do the job."
Amycus Carrow rolled up his left sleeve, revealing the tattoo of the Dark Mark. He touched the tip of his wand on it, gradually adding more pressure. Sarah had no idea how they were going to tell the rest of the Death Eaters to meet in the Great Hall, but she assumed he'd gotten the job done when the Carrow rolled up his sleeve.
"Keep walking Sarah," Father snapped. "You do know the way to the Great Hall, I presume?"
"Why not the Slytherin common room?" she asked, in spite of herself.
Father snorted, "Do you think we're stupid? That's the first place they're bound to look."
They arrived at the Great Hall, just in time to see Bellatrix, Nott, and Greyback going in. Sarah shivered at the sight of Bellatrix. For the first time, she was scared.
"What's Bellatrix doing here?" she asked.
"Aunt Bellatrix," Father said disapprovingly. "She's here in case you need a bit of persuasion. We might not be close, but I know your fears, and you're terrified of my sister in law. Who isn't though?" he asked to no one in particular, the Carrows nodding in agreement.
Together, they shoved her in.
"Is there anything that you are good at?" Slytherin asked drily as they sat for lunch. Since Harry wasn't actually a student, he ate with the Founders. Today, he picked at his food dejectedly.
"I can fly," he muttered, "and I'm pretty good at dueling, but not with this wand," he twitched the borrowed wand in his hand.
Ravenclaw gave him a thoughtful look. "In some cases, you can be more powerful with a specially made wand."
"Our wandmaker, Ollivander, always says the wand chooses the wizard," Harry said.
"Well you can certainly fly better that anyone I know, but until you miraculously find your own wand again, your dueling is barely average," Slytherin said, giving him an icy look when he scowled.
"I've never heard Salazar compliment anyone on their flying before. He thinks it's useless," Gryffindor grinned. "I must see you fly, I heard you beat my champion. Good thing you're a Gryffindor, wouldn't want the championship to go to Salazar. He hates it because he's a terrible flyer," he said in a mock whisper. Hufflepuff laughed at Slytherin's incensed look.
"Yeah well the Slytherins in our time are obsessed with winning Quidditch, which is a game we have that's played on brooms, they always try and curse the other team before a match," Harry grimaced.
"Of course they would, they wouldn't be able to win any other way," Gryffindor said, laughing.
"My House prides itself on a variety of skills," Slytherin said stiffly, though there was a curl to his lips.
"Are Gryffindor the supreme champions of this 'Quidditch'?" Gryffindor asked eagerly, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Harry sighed wistfully and shook his head. "Ravenclaw's on top at the moment, then it's Slytherin, then it's Gryffindor, and then it's Hufflepuff."
Gryffindor looked more than shocked. "Rowena's House is beating mine? At flying?"
"Is that so hard to believe Godric?" Ravenclaw asked coolly, though she smiled all the same.
"Don't worry," Harry reassured him, "Hermione, one of my best friends, is the brightest witch of her age, and top in the year. She's a Gryffindor. We thought she'd be in Ravenclaw for sure though."
"What?" Ravenclaw said startled. "My House has had the top student for every year since the school opened."
Gryffindor was grinning again. "Times change Rowena."
"What about my House?" Hufflepuff asked eagerly.
"Well, there's a thing called the Triwizard Tournament, it's a competition between three schools," Harry explained. "A Hufflepuff was the Hogwarts' champion." Harry swallowed at the reminder of Cedric.
Hufflepuff's eyes lit up. "Did he win?"
Harry's eyes watered a little, and he took deep breaths to calm himself down.
"Harry?" Ravenclaw swooped down on him, concerned.
"H-he tied," Harry said softly. The other Founders nodded, confused.
"Whom did he tie with?" Hufflepuff asked cautiously.
"He tied with me," Harry said. Gryffindor looked at him speculatively.
"I thought you said the Hufflepuff was Hogwart's champion," Slytherin said sharply.
Harry laughed without much humour. "Some strange things happened that year."
"So Gryffindor and Hufflepuff both tied for the championship," Hufflepuff said to herself, shooting Gryffindor a glare.
"Actually, I'm recognized as the official champion," Harry said, his face showing no sign of pleasure.
Hufflepuff narrowed her eyes. "Is this just because the other boy was in Hufflepuff? I will not have my House slandered against simply because they don't have a particular skill to define them," she snapped. Ravenclaw gave her a look.
"No I'm recognized because the other boy, Cedric," Harry said in a trembling voice, trying to bury down the flashbacks that came to his mind, at his use of Cedric's name. "H-he died during the last challenge." Harry looked down. "It was all my fault, I told him to take the cup with me, so we could tie. The trap was meant for me. I-I killed him," Harry said bitterly.
There was a resounding silence in the room. Harry was well aware that all eyes were on him. It was a feeling he was very much used to.
"Harry," Ravenclaw murmured softly. "Look at us."
It took all the mental power he had to follow that command. To look up and see the pity and the curiosity written on their faces.
"Yes?" he asked, his throat dry. He hated talking about Cedric, so if that's what they were going to ask, he would refuse point blank.
All they're faces were impassive, though Hufflepuff's betrayed a hint of sympathy.
"You need to tell us what's going on Harry," Hufflepuff said gently. "You're at Hogwarts, under our protection, and you are our responsibility."
"I can't, you know that," Harry said. "I might stuff up the timeline or something."
Ravenclaw sighed, and looked to Gryffindor.
"She's right. We want to know what's going on. We can't ignore it any longer," Gryffindor looked at him seriously. "You're obviously struggling, and you have so much hatred in you, I'm actually surprised you're not a Slytherin," he joked half-heartedly.
Harry felt like a cornered animal. It's not like he couldn't, he just didn't want to. Away from all the fame and expectations, this was as normal a life as he had ever experienced. And there was still something off about him. Would it follow him around everywhere?
"You will tell us boy," Slytherin said, his eyes glinting slightly, "Or we will use Legilimency." Harry tried to appeal some help from the other Founders. They all looked the same as Slytherin. Harry's Occlumency was dreadful.
He looked around desperately, there had to be a way out.
"Don't even bother trying," Slytherin said, catching his drift. "We will have some answers now."
Harry gave up. There was no way he would ever overpower the Founders, get out of the room, and hide so that they'd never find him again. No way.
"It all started with my mother, she—"
There was a loud crack, and the space in front of them warped for just a second as a girl appeared. Sarah looked at them all, wobbled on her feet, and fainted.