Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.
A/N: I know I had said that this part was going to be called 'Plans' but I've had a change of heart. This title is much more fitting. Sorry it took a little longer than normal, but here it is. Enjoy :).
- - - Book 2 – Part 5: Old Friend
Dumbledore didn't sleep that night, he was too busy thinking.
So Harry has Lord Voldemort's memories of that day…quite possible, the curse rebounded back, and it seems likely now that Harry received some of Voldemort's essence in return…but is that all that Harry received?
Dumbledore sank into his chair at the thought…
Would explain Harry's spells being more powerful than normal…but is that because of who he is, or what had happened?
And Peter…if I heard Harry correctly…that would mean Sirius is innocent. But why hadn't the truth come out in his trial? Why hadn't Sirius told them what had happened? Explain why he had gone after Peter…
…And why he had killed him, unintentionally killing those muggles…
Dumbledore exhaled.
He would have to look into this, and maybe even drop in and see Sirius himself. He couldn't understand why the truth hadn't come out, that is, if what Harry had said was true. But how could it not be? He had been rambling names of people he should not know, and even mentioned Secret Keeper, which Dumbledore was certain Harry didn't know about.
Oh yes, he would have to look into this, maybe talk with Harry a little more about it.
Dumbledore was so deep in thought, alone now in the living room, Moody and the others having left him to his thoughts and to sleep in the guestrooms, that he did not hear a boy hesitantly enter.
It was now in the wee hours of the morning, and Harry had woken up, no longer able to sleep another wink. He made his way downstairs, wary of the creaks of the floor boards, but somehow managed to lessen their pitch by going down slowly.
He wasn't sure where he was going, but settled in going to the room with dim shifting light, and soon found that it was the living room. Stepping forward, he soon realized the room wasn't empty, and that someone was in the large chair beside the fireplace.
He quickly learned who it was, but upon discovering this, he wasn't sure if he should continue in, or leave and maybe find the dinning room to sit in.
He was about to make a choice, when Dumbledore suddenly realized someone was watching him.
"Harry, I think you know by now I don't bite, though I have to admit, some of my candies do."
Harry jumped a little, Dumbledore turning his head a little to look at him, his face silhouetted by the low flickering flames.
Harry gave a slight smile and went in, stopping at the couch and a few feet away from Dumbledore.
Dumbledore stood up.
"Here, this seems like a good a time as any to talk," he said, gently moving past him to sit on the couch. He motioned Harry to join him. He did, taking the spot on the other end.
Dumbledore then waved his hand, and Harry quickly gathered it was a privacy ward. Hermione had mentioned something about them, how they would be handy to know later, since they prevented people outside the ward from listening in, and that if someone entered them, the people within would be quickly notified.
"Harry, I understand this is difficult, but I also know you understand that this is very important."
"Yes Professor."
Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, looking Harry dead in the eyes.
"Earlier you mentioned something about Peter being the secret keeper, could you tell me more?" he asked.
"I saw it through Voldemort's eyes sir. Peter had come to him, only as a rat at first, before changing into a man. He must be an Animagus, like Professor McGonagall…"
"A rat? Tell me Harry, what do you remember? What did Peter look like, in both forms?"
"He was a scroungy brown, normal looking rat, though his ears had a few longer hairs sticking off the tips. And as a man, he was a little fat and balding…
"Was he really my parents' friend?" he asked as Dumbledore leaned back slightly, taking in what Harry had just told him.
"I'm afraid so Harry, he was…and it is clear now that he betrayed them," Dumbledore admitted before pausing. "Harry, how do you know he had been your parents' friend?"
"Well…in the dream, I could hear Voldemort's thoughts…what he was thinking at the time…"
"I see," Dumbledore whispered, now even more troubled.
"Who is Sirius Black?" Harry asked, breaking the silence that had risen between them.
"One of your father's best friends. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were all friends of your father."
"Are they all dead now?" Harry asked quietly.
"No," Dumbledore replied, his mind focusing on something else…Peter's animagus…
He got off the couch.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
"I have something I need to check on Harry. I will be back, and we will talk more on this, and I will try to answer any questions you have, but right now, because of this, there is something very important I need to attend to. Thank you Harry, if I'm right, you might have just helped one of your father's true friends."
Dumbledore then stepped into the fireplace, throwing some floo powder within.
"The Burrow," he stated firmly, disappearing in a roar of green flames.
- - -
Harry paused, confused at Dumbledore's words, what did he mean? What was he checking on? And why had he gone to the Burrow? That was where the Weasley's lived, right?
Deciding he would have to wait until Dumbledore returned to find out, he left the dim and empty room.
Walking down the large hall and passing by the stairs to his room, he marveled at the intricately crafted floors and walls, everything being lined with polished wood and stone, and then he heard someone beyond the hall, in the area beyond the hall.
Exiting the hall, he found himself entering a kitchen, several someones already cooking, it seemed, within.
"Neville?" Harry asked, seeing Neville at the stove.
Neville jumped, turning to face him.
Harry quickly saw that Neville had helpers. Three house elves, one of them being Dobby.
"Oh. Hi Harry, I thought I was the only one up," he said, putting a pan down.
"No, I got up a few minutes ago. Hi Dobby," he greeted.
"Good morning Harry Potter sir," he said with a bow, the other house elves bowing as well.
"You fixin' breakfast?" Harry asked, continuing in.
"Yeah, we do almost every morning," Neville said with a shrug.
"I fix breakfast every morning too. Here, let me help."
And so Harry and Neville, along with the house elves, began to make breakfast, the whole rest of the house still sleeping away, but soon Draco joined them.
"You two morning birds or something?" Draco asked, still trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.
"I guess," Harry said, flipping an egg over.
Draco looked at the three house elves working diligently around them, getting ingredients and things.
Why aren't the house elves doing this alone? Draco wondered. And how did they get Dobby to let them help?
"Young Master, Dobby tried to—" Dobby began, seeing Draco looking at him in confusion, but Neville cut him off.
"I help make breakfast, I like to cook. So when I was about eight, I finally convinced the elves to let me, and they agreed, only after I nearly ordered them…well, Gran did. Anyways, now that they see how much I like it, they don't have a problem with it," Neville said.
"Oh, well," Draco said, walking around the large island in the middle of the kitchen, sunlight now beginning to make its way through the window. "I suppose I'll set up the table then," he said, going to a cabinet and pulling out plates.
Draco and Neville took this time to bring Harry up to date with everything that had been going on, and Harry stared at Neville in pride and wonder when Draco told him about Neville going off on Vernon.
Harry paused in his work when they told him that he wouldn't be going back to the Dursleys, Neville telling him this as gently as he could, knowing Harry would probably want to be told this from him, instead of from one of the adults. They then told him that the Dursley's were already gone and that some of Kingsley's friends had already taken care of moving them.
"Where am I going to stay then?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, but I…I sort of overheard Gran talking to Dumbledore…you might be staying here, at least until school starts," Neville said.
Harry looked up and smiled. "I'd like that. Oh, and Neville? Thanks for those seeds. They helped a lot," he said.
"Glad I was able to help," Neville replied.
They continued working, Harry not exactly surprised when Draco told him he would be going to live with Snape soon since he was his Godson.
Draco paused after that, his eyes no longer focusing on anything as he spoke.
"The funeral's tomorrow…"
None of them spoke for a while after that, all silently realizing they all had this one thing in common…they had all lost their parents.
Draco knew of Neville's parents, for his father had told him where the Longbottoms were years before even going to Hogwarts. And of course Harry knew as well, having discovered it from one of the memories at the beginning of the year on the train.
Draco looked up at both of them, for a moment forgetting about the half buttered toast in front of him, and said, "We will bring them down. Every-single-one."
They all nodded in solid agreement before turning back to their work.
- - -
Breakfast was an experience, the adults of the house shocked to see that three boys, no less, had fixed breakfast with the house elves.
Moody looked on in hidden bemusement at the interaction between Harry, Draco, and Neville.
Lupin was quiet, not sure how much Harry knew about him and didn't want to make him nervous or somthing, though he watched him in barely concealed pride.
Gran had accepted Draco, seeing how he treated her grandson, and after the display at dinner the night before, knew that, for whatever reason, the young Slytherin had sided himself with Neville and his friend, Harry Potter.
Augusta Longbottom watched the three boys, Draco and Neville on either side of Harry, finding respect and loyalty etched on their faces.
Her grandson had changed; he had become her son's son…
McGonagall, Snape, Kingsley, and Stephanie had left soon after breakfast, all of them having things that needed to be done.
The next day would be the funeral, and so Snape and McGonagall were making the final arrangements. Stephanie and Kingsley had things to check on in the Ministry concerning the investigations on both of the attacks; they also needed to gather intel about how the public and the Ministry were handling the news, and what their next actions might be.
The Daily Prophet had already written several articles on the events, and had just sent in the morning edition.
Moody and Lupin both had the day's edition, and were quickly reading it.
Moody, Lupin, Augusta, Neville, Harry, and Draco, were now all in the living room, those without a newspaper wondering what Moody and Lupin were reading.
"So? What's going on?" Augusta asked, a little impatiently.
Moody threw the paper at her, being finished with it.
"Well…they certainly haven't wasted any time," she muttered.
The boys gathered around her. She lowered the paper so they could see.
There was a picture of the house on number 4 Privet Drive, Aurors and such all over the lawn, walking in and out of the now cleared out house, the door having been ripped off its hinges.
The Boys-of-Light Safe after a Second Dark Attack
After going missing, Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy (may they rest in peace), was harbored by Harry Potter, but soon after was once again attacked by unknown dark wizards. It is unknown at this time how Draco arrived at Potter's house, but some believe they had arranged a portkey during the school year, just in case, this assumption coming from the probable rumor that young Malfoy had befriended Potter last term. It is also believed that this portkey had been supplied by a light supporter, though it is still under investigation.
According to Kingsley Shacklebolt, Head Auror in the investigations, the attack occurred between 11 pm and midnight on July 31st at the muggle residence in Little Whinging, Surrey, number 4 Privet Drive.
An unknown number of dark wizards and witches, perhaps over a dozen, advanced, thinking they had free reign, but forgot whose home they were intruding…The-Boy-Who-Lived's.
Harry Potter, the Savior of the Wizarding World, did the impossible again, fighting off countless enemies, and according to some reports killed at least four of the intruders. He succeeded in protecting young Malfoy (who had been injured in the first attack at his own residence), and held them back until the Aurors arrived, Albus Dumbledore among them.
The current location of The-Boy-Who-Lived and Draco Malfoy is classified, but it has been confirmed by Albus Dumbledore himself that they are safe.
Several arrests were made, and though only rumors at this time, many of these individuals had once followed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It has been stressed that security throughout the Wizarding World is being increased, and that the rest of the individuals responsible are close to being caught, but such reassuring words need not be spoken, for The-Boy-Who-Lived and young Malfoy were able to thwart these dark wizards and bring a great number of them down.
It is clear to this reporter that if any new Dark Lord is thinking about rising, they not only have a unified and capable Ministry on their hands, but the wit of the last Malfoy and the power of the last Potter—the Boys-of-Light…
An In Depth View of Both Attacks… Read what the experts say about the amazing escape made by young Malfoy and the astonishing defensive made by Harry Potter-----see pg 3.
Why were these Boys-of-Light attacked? ... See what they did before the Summer-----see pg 5.
What can -YOU- do? … Learn what extra precautions any family can place-----see pg 8.
"Well, at least they got some things right…" Neville murmured.
"Boys-of-Light?" Draco asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Could be worse, you two could be the Dead-Boys-of-Light," Moody said gruffly.
"Honestly Alastor, must you always be so grim?" Gran asked, turning the page to find a picture of a few of the Aurors involved in the investigation.
Moody shrugged, and stated, "I'm looking at the bright side of things."
"I'm sure," Gran retorted.
- - -
It was approaching lunch time and the others had told Harry that the Weasley's would be coming around lunch time, them having been told the previous night.
Well, for whatever reason, they still hadn't come, it now being past lunch, and as a matter of fact, Dumbledore was still gone.
It was clear to the founders of the Custosae present that something was up, especially after one of Kingsley's men came in and had taken Moody aside. Draco told Neville and Harry that that man was an Auror called Moy and was a friend of Kingsley's family.
Going to Neville's room, Harry and Draco started a game of Wizard's Chess while they started talking about what they thought might be happening, as well as recent events.
"I saw Dumbledore this morning, before I went into the kitchen. I told him more about my dream, and then he said something about me having possibly helped one of my father's true friends. Then he just flooed to the Burrow," Harry said, moving his pawn.
"He went to the Weasley's? Is that why they still aren't here yet?" Neville asked.
"I don't know," Harry said.
"What did you say? What did you talk about?" Draco asked.
"I told him that Peter Pettigrew was an animagus, a ra—Oh no…"
"What?! What is it?" they asked, seeing that the color had drained from Harry's face.
"Ron's rat… He's Peter. He's Wormtail…" Harry breathed.
"That's the guy you were talking about from your dream last night, right? The Secret Keeper or something?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. You see? He betrayed my parents, he's the reason they're dead," Harry told them, looking blankly at the chessboard.
"Whoa, wait. How do you know that? Are you a kind of seer?" Draco asked.
Harry kept his face down a little, but looked up at them with his eyes.
"Guys, I will talk more about this when everyone is here…I don't really want to repeat it, and this does tie into the business of the Custosae…"
"Can you at least tell us something?" Neville asked.
"Promise you won't freak out?" Harry asked.
"We won't freak out, and you know we won't tell anyone else," Draco said, already knowing Harry would want to be told that.
"I have Voldemort's memories…"
Harry looked down, not wanting to see their expressions.
After a length of silence that went on for a while, Draco cleared his throat.
"Well, I promised I wouldn't freak out…so, I won't," Draco said slowly, exhaling.
"Y-you're sure? I mean…" Neville began.
"I'm sure, and I'm not crazy Neville, but believe me, for a long time I thought I was."
Harry risked it and looked up at them. After a few seconds of continued shock, Draco suddenly looked thoughtful, while Neville's expression shifted into acceptance.
"It makes a little more sense now, I mean, you being good at spells and all," Draco said.
"Yeah, reliving lectures over and over, even Binn's…sort of gets grilled into my head," Harry said.
"Wow, sorry about Binns…it's a miracle you're still among the living, I would have been bored to death."
Harry smiled.
"So, when we get with the others, you'll tell us more? I mean, having his memories could be really helpful to us," Neville said.
"Oh I know; I have plans. I just hope Ron and the rest of the Weasley's will get here soon. I hope Dumbledore was able to do whatever he intended to do. I'm certain it involved Ron's rat…" Harry said.
"I hope Ron didn't have a fit at Dumbledore wanting see, what's his name? Scabbers?" Draco asked.
"Yeah," Harry said, hoping everything had gone alright, considering it was approaching dinner time.
- - -
The Burrow, 7:22 am
Ron went down with Scabbers into the kitchen. His mom was already up, and he was anxious to go to Neville's house. He had been told the night before, after Stephanie Somac had come and told them what had happened, that they would be going the next day.
He wanted to see how his friends were doing, and to make sure they were okay, especially after what Stephanie had told them.
Good thing Harry wrote to Snape and Hermione, Ron thought, setting Scabbers on the table.
"Ron, help me set the table," Molly said, just as their fireplace ignited in green flames.
"Ah Molly, I knew you would be up," Dumbledore greeted, his eyes falling on the rat momentarily…
- - -
Wormtail
Something is not right… Something is going on… Why were the Malfoy's killed? Wormtail wondered, only having heard bits and pieces of the Weasley's talking.
Dark Wizards? Death Eaters? Does that mean my Lord is… no… I would have felt the mark awaken… he concluded as Ron carried him down the stairs and into the kitchen before placing him on the table.
Why would they turn on the Malfoy's? The most loyal family to the Dark Lord? Wormtail asked himself, deep in thought. Did…Did they turn or something?… Did they talk?
Fear ran through Wormtail. Lucius knew of Peter's betrayal…knew how the Dark Lord had been able to enter the Potter's house…had he told? Was that why the other Death Eaters killed him and his wife?
He jumped at the green flare of the fireplace, and his blood ran cold upon seeing who stepped forth from the flames, the only wizard who the Dark Lord ever feared, a man whose eyes briefly rested upon him.
He knows! Wormtail shouted in his mind, suddenly acting on impulse, all in an attempt to survive.
He leapt from the table, landing on the floor behind Molly, and transformed back into his human form and grabbed a hold of her…
"AHHH!" Ron shouted as Dumbledore quickly stepped in front of him.
Molly was petrified, frozen in place, Wormtail already having managed to get a hold of her wand and was currently using her as a human shield.
"Peter, you do not want to do this," Dumbledore stated, his eyes a steely blue, the twinkle completely absent.
Wormtail looked desperately around him, for some hole or crevasse to escape through, but he found none, at least not ones he could get to without being caught by his old Headmaster.
Desperation grew, and he came to one conclusion, an action he had done over a decade ago…
He thrust Molly toward Dumbledore as hard as he could just before screaming out a curse filled with all of his fear and urgent need to get away.
"BOMBARDA!!!"
Dumbledore did the only thing he could do.
He threw up a shield, protecting Molly and her son, as well as himself, but sadly it meant that the curse reflected…
The old house shook, rising the alarm of the people upstairs who had just been woken up by Ron's previous shout.
Wormtail was hit, the curse more than enough to propel him through the wall and out onto the sunbaked lawn…
The burning light overcame him, but soon, he felt nothing…
He didn't know how much time had passed, but somehow knew he was no longer among the living.
Where was he? He was moving…that much was clear, but where? Where was he going?
There was no light, there was no dark, there was just…nothing…
And then…
There was something.
A figure. A man.
Everything slowed, and then finally stopped.
Peter blinked.
He could not be seeing what he was seeing…could he?
"J-James?" Peter squeaked.
The man said nothing; his hazel eyes, however, slowly looked up, meeting Peter's frantic ones. The man's jet black hair shifted slightly in an odd nonexistent breeze, his stance solid.
James.
Peter, who was quavering already, held his breath as James lowered his face to him slightly, showing Peter, without a doubt, who he was. But he still said nothing.
"James! My old friend!"
Peter moved to embrace him, but quickly found his feet were firmly planted, and would not move. James took a step back, only greeting Peter with continued silence and an unrelenting gaze before he looked away, saddened and disappointed.
"J-James?"
"Friend?" James whispered, so quietly it sounded like a breeze instead of a voice. "I once considered you my friend," he continued, his voice just as quiet…and eerie. "But apparently…I was never yours…"
James turned his back fully to him, and walked away, literally disappearing as he did so.
And then Peter fell.
Not down, there was no definite direction, but he knew he was falling in every other sense of the word…
Falling into darkness and despair…into the infernal depths…
And he knew…wherever he was going…Azkaban would be a mere shadow…
- - -
A/N: Again, for those of you who review (kindly and honestly), -thanks- each of you help me improve and type faster. :)
Next Part: Rest and Action
