Chapter 13 – The fourth conspirator
Over the next two days Harry still hadn't managed to find a date for the ball although, much to his amazement, he had had plenty of offers. But Harry just simply couldn't bring himself to go with a girl he didn't know, and bring another person into his world of constant tension.
Harry, after being pressured by Ron, decided to go to the ball and, after further pressure from Ginny and Hermione, he dressed up in his dress robes also. He went down to the ball with Ron and Hermione arm in arm ahead of him, and Ginny and Dean a little way behind him. Harry's heart was thudding painfully in his chest at the thought of the trip to Godric's Hollow that evening, but his attention was captivated as he looked into the hall.
The hall was decorated with enormous pumpkins the size of tables, their evilly grinning faces lit up by fire charms inside. Half of the hall was given away to dancing, with a stage mounted at one end. The Weird Sisters (back by popular demand) were not yet on the stage, but Harry supposed they would be soon, as their instruments were already on stage. In the far corner of the hall a small bar selling Butterbeer had been set up, and the rest of the hall was full of lots of tables of all shapes and sizes.
As Harry entered the hall alone, alongside him another couple entered; Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Malfoy looked at him briefly, and Harry prepared himself for the comment about his lack of a partner, but to Harry's amazement Malfoy just walked straight past. Inwardly marvelling, Harry followed Ron and Hermione, still clutching each other tightly, towards a table.
However, no sooner had Harry sat at the table with them then the Weird Sisters had appeared on stage, and Hermione was dragging Ron up for a dance. With an attempt at an apologetic look, Ron set off grinning happily, and soon they were dancing happily. Dean and Ginny were dancing nearby, but before Harry could spot Malfoy, Neville had joined him at the table.
"I see you don't have a date either Harry," he said quietly. "Did you ask anyone?" Harry shook his head. "I did, Hermione again, did you know she was with Ron?"
"Yeah I did," Harry replied cautiously, "but I assured them I would let them announce it." This last bit was a lie, but Harry thought it would be better if Neville didn't think Harry had lied to him.
There was quiet for a moment, before Neville spoken again. "They make a good couple."
Harry looked up, surprised. Harry had long thought that Neville had liked Hermione, and was impressed with how well Neville was taking it. He was about to say so, when he heard behind him a soft pattering sound, which Harry soon realised were hooves. He turned around and smiled broadly.
"Hello Firenze." Harry looked up at the centaur who had briefly taught him Divination the previous year. He looked a little different, and Harry suspected he was still upset about the other centaurs in the forest banishing him for helping humans.
"Good evening Harry Potter," he said in his ethereal tones. "How are you this evening?"
"I'm fine," Harry replied quickly, "how are you?"
Firenze sighed disdainfully. "I am weary of, and yet becoming strangely accustomed to human ways," he said deeply, "yet this evening is too far. Humans miss out on the magical nature of this night and use it as an excuse for a ball. The planetary movements did not align Halloween as some sort of celebration."
Harry and Neville sat through Firenze's discussion of how Halloween had begun with the formation of the original Ministry of Magic, but Harry could not help but find his attention dwindling rapidly. As Firenze moved on to talk about the downfall of the very first Ministry in 1378, Harry spotted something that grabbed his attention.
Ginny and Dean had stopped dancing, and were standing not far from Harry's table, but Harry could not quite hear them. Dean was looking concerned as he spoke, and then after a paused Ginny started to cry. Dean put out an arm but she shrank away, and he turned and walked off. After a few seconds she ran out of the hall. Harry looked at his watch. He was to be meeting Ron and Hermione to head to Godric's Hollow in ten minutes, but he decided he'd better go and check on Ginny. He stood up abruptly.
"Sorry Firenze, I don't feel very well." Harry said quickly, and he walked out of the hall slowly, in case Neville and Firenze were still watching. Harry saw Ginny standing alone by the fountain outside, and he went to her.
"Are you alright?" he said cautiously.
She turned her tear stricken face to him, before hiding away again. "Oh Harry," she sobbed, "I'm f-fine, really." She let out a hiccup, and Harry frowned.
"I saw... inside with Dean... did he..." Harry trailed off, looking at her.
"He broke up with me!" She said tearfully, and she buried herself in Harry's chest. Harry was quite shocked but, realising that Ginny needed a friend, he put his arms around her and let her get on with it. Harry was annoyed to see that this was the exact moment when Ron and Hermione would choose to come outside to the fountain. Ron grinned at him, but a look from Ginny and he immediately stopped.
"What's wrong Ginny?" Hermione asked carefully. Ginny hiccuped again and Harry quickly told them what had happened. After consolation from Hermione and assurances from Ron that he would give Dean "a seeing to", Harry's thought's turned to the night ahead.
"Have you got the cloak?" Hermione asked, obviously thinking along the same lines. Harry reached under the fountain and pulled his cloak out of a hidden crevice.
"Harry..." Ginny said slowly, "what are you doing?" Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione, who nodded back at him.
"We're going to Godric's Hollow." He said simply.
"Godric's..." Ginny trailed off, and her eyes snapped up to Harry's face. "Isn't that where... where your parents lived?" Harry nodded simply, pulling the invisibility cloak out properly. "I'm coming." She said quickly.
Harry looked up at her. He was going to say no, but then reconsidered. Why shouldn't Ginny come? Harry looked at the other two, and nodded.
"Ok, but that means I'll have to make two trips with the cloak, it won't cover the four of us out of the grounds." Hermione stepped forwards.
"I'll go with you first." Harry held up the cloak, and they started the run down the lawns to Hogsmeade. When they were suitably far from Ron and Ginny, Hermione slowed Harry down to a walk.
"So what's going on with you and Ginny?" She said curiously.
"What?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You and Ginny," she repeated patiently. "You were quite close when we found you."
It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. "She had just been dumped by Dean," he said with his most patronising tone, "and I was making sure she was ok."
Hermione snorted loudly. "It looked like something more intimate to -"
"Be quite." Harry said suddenly. He was peering around, he was sure he had heard something. After a few minutes of holding his breath, Harry sighed. There was nothing. "You wait here."
He ran back up to the school, and quickly brought Ron and Ginny back to Hermione in Hogsmeade. It was very surreal walking up the empty Hogsmeade streets, the darkened shops looming suddenly into vision as they passed, and only the light of the Hogs Head still on. Harry pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The map spread itself out, and Harry quickly located the four of them, and ascertained they need to go about half a mile further down the high street, then down a driveway into the house. They walked on for a bit longer, and Harry gasped.
On his left, there was an enormous, rambling farmhouse. It was white in colour, and thick brown beams swept across in all directions, like a spider's web. There were three stories, and an extra wing to the house that looked like a workshop. In front of the house was a small garden, lavishly decorated with flowers that Harry recognised as lilies. Harry felt a tear -
"Harry, what are you looking at?" said Ron in puzzlement.
Harry spun around. "It's - it's my parents house..." he said slowly. Ron frowned even more. "Can't you see it?"
Ron shook his head as did Ginny, but Hermione seemed to be standing in quiet satisfaction.
"Go on then," Harry said, "why can't they see it?"
"I can't either," said Hermione quickly, "but I know why. The Fidelius charm must still be in place to protect you. But Harry, you said you saw Dumbledore here didn't you?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, and Lupin."
"Well then I suspect he will have left out a note for you," she said briskly. "Go and have a look!"
Harry strode up the drive, to the amazement of Ron. Harry assumed that from Ron's perspective, Harry must have just walked into a tree. Harry continued up to the house, and spotted a front door. In front of the door was a greeting map, reading "Home Sweet Home". But Harry's attention was drawn to an envelope with familiar neat handwriting on the outside saying:
"To Harry James Potter"
Harry ripped it open, his heart in his chest, and into his outstretched palm fell a key and out fell three scraps of parchment. Harry opened the first parchment and read in Professor Dumbledore's handwriting.
"Harry: we found this in a raid of Peter Pettigrew's house. It was believed to be used to tell Lord Voldemort the whereabouts of your parents. Along with the key and deed to this property, I give it to you. Professor Albus Dumbledore."
Harry's heart gave another painful thud at the mention of his parents, before he scanned over the deed to his house, and then finally turned to the last parchment, which had unfamiliar handwriting on it.
"The residency of James, Lily and Harry Potter may be found at Godric's Hollow, High Street, Hogsmeade."
Over the next two days Harry still hadn't managed to find a date for the ball although, much to his amazement, he had had plenty of offers. But Harry just simply couldn't bring himself to go with a girl he didn't know, and bring another person into his world of constant tension.
Harry, after being pressured by Ron, decided to go to the ball and, after further pressure from Ginny and Hermione, he dressed up in his dress robes also. He went down to the ball with Ron and Hermione arm in arm ahead of him, and Ginny and Dean a little way behind him. Harry's heart was thudding painfully in his chest at the thought of the trip to Godric's Hollow that evening, but his attention was captivated as he looked into the hall.
The hall was decorated with enormous pumpkins the size of tables, their evilly grinning faces lit up by fire charms inside. Half of the hall was given away to dancing, with a stage mounted at one end. The Weird Sisters (back by popular demand) were not yet on the stage, but Harry supposed they would be soon, as their instruments were already on stage. In the far corner of the hall a small bar selling Butterbeer had been set up, and the rest of the hall was full of lots of tables of all shapes and sizes.
As Harry entered the hall alone, alongside him another couple entered; Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Malfoy looked at him briefly, and Harry prepared himself for the comment about his lack of a partner, but to Harry's amazement Malfoy just walked straight past. Inwardly marvelling, Harry followed Ron and Hermione, still clutching each other tightly, towards a table.
However, no sooner had Harry sat at the table with them then the Weird Sisters had appeared on stage, and Hermione was dragging Ron up for a dance. With an attempt at an apologetic look, Ron set off grinning happily, and soon they were dancing happily. Dean and Ginny were dancing nearby, but before Harry could spot Malfoy, Neville had joined him at the table.
"I see you don't have a date either Harry," he said quietly. "Did you ask anyone?" Harry shook his head. "I did, Hermione again, did you know she was with Ron?"
"Yeah I did," Harry replied cautiously, "but I assured them I would let them announce it." This last bit was a lie, but Harry thought it would be better if Neville didn't think Harry had lied to him.
There was quiet for a moment, before Neville spoken again. "They make a good couple."
Harry looked up, surprised. Harry had long thought that Neville had liked Hermione, and was impressed with how well Neville was taking it. He was about to say so, when he heard behind him a soft pattering sound, which Harry soon realised were hooves. He turned around and smiled broadly.
"Hello Firenze." Harry looked up at the centaur who had briefly taught him Divination the previous year. He looked a little different, and Harry suspected he was still upset about the other centaurs in the forest banishing him for helping humans.
"Good evening Harry Potter," he said in his ethereal tones. "How are you this evening?"
"I'm fine," Harry replied quickly, "how are you?"
Firenze sighed disdainfully. "I am weary of, and yet becoming strangely accustomed to human ways," he said deeply, "yet this evening is too far. Humans miss out on the magical nature of this night and use it as an excuse for a ball. The planetary movements did not align Halloween as some sort of celebration."
Harry and Neville sat through Firenze's discussion of how Halloween had begun with the formation of the original Ministry of Magic, but Harry could not help but find his attention dwindling rapidly. As Firenze moved on to talk about the downfall of the very first Ministry in 1378, Harry spotted something that grabbed his attention.
Ginny and Dean had stopped dancing, and were standing not far from Harry's table, but Harry could not quite hear them. Dean was looking concerned as he spoke, and then after a paused Ginny started to cry. Dean put out an arm but she shrank away, and he turned and walked off. After a few seconds she ran out of the hall. Harry looked at his watch. He was to be meeting Ron and Hermione to head to Godric's Hollow in ten minutes, but he decided he'd better go and check on Ginny. He stood up abruptly.
"Sorry Firenze, I don't feel very well." Harry said quickly, and he walked out of the hall slowly, in case Neville and Firenze were still watching. Harry saw Ginny standing alone by the fountain outside, and he went to her.
"Are you alright?" he said cautiously.
She turned her tear stricken face to him, before hiding away again. "Oh Harry," she sobbed, "I'm f-fine, really." She let out a hiccup, and Harry frowned.
"I saw... inside with Dean... did he..." Harry trailed off, looking at her.
"He broke up with me!" She said tearfully, and she buried herself in Harry's chest. Harry was quite shocked but, realising that Ginny needed a friend, he put his arms around her and let her get on with it. Harry was annoyed to see that this was the exact moment when Ron and Hermione would choose to come outside to the fountain. Ron grinned at him, but a look from Ginny and he immediately stopped.
"What's wrong Ginny?" Hermione asked carefully. Ginny hiccuped again and Harry quickly told them what had happened. After consolation from Hermione and assurances from Ron that he would give Dean "a seeing to", Harry's thought's turned to the night ahead.
"Have you got the cloak?" Hermione asked, obviously thinking along the same lines. Harry reached under the fountain and pulled his cloak out of a hidden crevice.
"Harry..." Ginny said slowly, "what are you doing?" Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione, who nodded back at him.
"We're going to Godric's Hollow." He said simply.
"Godric's..." Ginny trailed off, and her eyes snapped up to Harry's face. "Isn't that where... where your parents lived?" Harry nodded simply, pulling the invisibility cloak out properly. "I'm coming." She said quickly.
Harry looked up at her. He was going to say no, but then reconsidered. Why shouldn't Ginny come? Harry looked at the other two, and nodded.
"Ok, but that means I'll have to make two trips with the cloak, it won't cover the four of us out of the grounds." Hermione stepped forwards.
"I'll go with you first." Harry held up the cloak, and they started the run down the lawns to Hogsmeade. When they were suitably far from Ron and Ginny, Hermione slowed Harry down to a walk.
"So what's going on with you and Ginny?" She said curiously.
"What?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You and Ginny," she repeated patiently. "You were quite close when we found you."
It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. "She had just been dumped by Dean," he said with his most patronising tone, "and I was making sure she was ok."
Hermione snorted loudly. "It looked like something more intimate to -"
"Be quite." Harry said suddenly. He was peering around, he was sure he had heard something. After a few minutes of holding his breath, Harry sighed. There was nothing. "You wait here."
He ran back up to the school, and quickly brought Ron and Ginny back to Hermione in Hogsmeade. It was very surreal walking up the empty Hogsmeade streets, the darkened shops looming suddenly into vision as they passed, and only the light of the Hogs Head still on. Harry pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The map spread itself out, and Harry quickly located the four of them, and ascertained they need to go about half a mile further down the high street, then down a driveway into the house. They walked on for a bit longer, and Harry gasped.
On his left, there was an enormous, rambling farmhouse. It was white in colour, and thick brown beams swept across in all directions, like a spider's web. There were three stories, and an extra wing to the house that looked like a workshop. In front of the house was a small garden, lavishly decorated with flowers that Harry recognised as lilies. Harry felt a tear -
"Harry, what are you looking at?" said Ron in puzzlement.
Harry spun around. "It's - it's my parents house..." he said slowly. Ron frowned even more. "Can't you see it?"
Ron shook his head as did Ginny, but Hermione seemed to be standing in quiet satisfaction.
"Go on then," Harry said, "why can't they see it?"
"I can't either," said Hermione quickly, "but I know why. The Fidelius charm must still be in place to protect you. But Harry, you said you saw Dumbledore here didn't you?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, and Lupin."
"Well then I suspect he will have left out a note for you," she said briskly. "Go and have a look!"
Harry strode up the drive, to the amazement of Ron. Harry assumed that from Ron's perspective, Harry must have just walked into a tree. Harry continued up to the house, and spotted a front door. In front of the door was a greeting map, reading "Home Sweet Home". But Harry's attention was drawn to an envelope with familiar neat handwriting on the outside saying:
"To Harry James Potter"
Harry ripped it open, his heart in his chest, and into his outstretched palm fell a key and out fell three scraps of parchment. Harry opened the first parchment and read in Professor Dumbledore's handwriting.
"Harry: we found this in a raid of Peter Pettigrew's house. It was believed to be used to tell Lord Voldemort the whereabouts of your parents. Along with the key and deed to this property, I give it to you. Professor Albus Dumbledore."
Harry's heart gave another painful thud at the mention of his parents, before he scanned over the deed to his house, and then finally turned to the last parchment, which had unfamiliar handwriting on it.
"The residency of James, Lily and Harry Potter may be found at Godric's Hollow, High Street, Hogsmeade."
