Chapter 12 - Meetings & Discussions

A week after the second task, Harry and Hermione joined Neville and Luna on a double date to Hogsmeade. They were going to go eat at the Three Broomsticks and then head to where Sirius had told them to meet him in his letter. However, upon arriving they encountered none other than Albus Dumbledore, who blocked their path into the Three Broomsticks.

"Do you know how much trouble you have caused me, Harry?"

"Me, trouble? I don't know what you mean sir."

"My boy-" Dumbledore began.

"I am not your boy. I am Lord Potter, and you would do well to remember that."
"Harry-"
"No, Dumbledore. I'm through with you. You have done too much to my family and it stops now. If you don't leave us alone, I will make sure you can't even find refuge anywhere in the wizarding world. Leave."
Once Dumbledore apparated to wherever, the quartet hurried to the Three Broomsticks in order to keep their "date" with Padfoot. They quickly found a table and looked at their menus. Hermione and Harry got a shepherd's pie apiece. Luna and Neville both got bacon sandwiches. When they finished eating, they noticed they still had twenty minutes until they had to meet Sirius, so Neville suggested a quick stop to the bookstore. Arriving at the bookstore, Neville noticed that Harry hesitated going in and asked why.

"I, personally, am going to stay out here so that I can still go meet with Sirius."

"What are you talking about, Harry?"
"Well, Nev, you just suggested a bookstore to a Ravenclaw and an honorary Ravenclaw. Twenty minutes to you or me, is like an hour to either one of them."
"Oh, should I go drag them out then?"
"Nah, let them have their fun, while we go have some fun talking to Padfoot."

Surprisingly, Hermione and Luna came out of the bookstore with five minutes until they had to meet Padfoot. They walked down the lane until they got to the turn off to head to the Shrieking Shack. There they saw a black, massive dog on a leash that was firmly in the hand of one Remus Lupin.

"Moony! Padfoot didn't tell us you were coming," Harry exclaimed.

"Yeah, I decided to tag along so that the mutt here wouldn't get himself caught."
"Wise idea. And you get to try out the Christmas gift."
"True. Let's head for the Shack to talk."
The six of them walked quickly to the Shack constantly looking back to make sure they weren't being followed. Once inside the main room upstairs, Sirius shifted back into his human form. The four teens noticed that he looked much healthier than when they had seen him at Christmas, the same the noticed could be said for Remus.

"Now, what is it you want, Padfoot? Why risk exposing yourself?" Harry asked.

"Well, I'm still not sure I understand everything. I mean, Dumbledore has always been there for Moony and me, and I just don't know what to think."
"Padfoot," Harry sighed, "he is a manipulative old coot who would do anything to get what he wants. He turned Riddle into Voldemort just so he could get Minerva. Now, excuse me if I'm wrong, but that doesn't sound like a guy who should be the leader of the light."

"Harry, try and see where we're coming from. We've known Albus longer than you have. I'd like to think we know more about him than you-" Remus began and was cut off.

"He was the one who fired the Killing Curse that night," Harry interjected heatedly.

"Harry-"
"NO! You two sound like you have been talking with Dumbledore recently."
"Well, we did meet him when we arrived," Sirius said.

"Sirius, you weren't supposed to tell them that. Dumbledore told us not to."

Without warning, Remus and Sirius were hit with two silent stunners. Luna and Neville looked at each other and then at Harry and Hermione who had just put their wands up.

"Well, seems like they have been brainwashed," Harry said.

"How do we help them, then?" Neville asked.

"Umm, I'm not entirely sure. Hermione, any ideas?"
"No, Harry. I don't know how we can reverse this. We may have to hold them until we can find a way. Most people don't come here anyway, so we could keep them here. We'd just have to have Minerva or Severus place some wards so they can't escape."
"Alright. Mione, send a patronus to Severus or Minerva. Tell him we need an assist."

"Okay."
"Neville, Luna, help me find something to tie them up with."
"There's nothing here. Oh, what do we do, Harry?"
"Well, Luna, are we two wizards and a witch for nothing?"
"Oh. Right."

Neville and Luna both conjured some ropes, while Harry placed Sirius and Remus in a couple chairs.

Hermione rejoined Harry after, and asked him what he didn't really want to hear.

"Harry, do you really think we can get them back?"
"I have to think so, Hermione, they are part of my family."
"If we can't get them back, though, then what?"
"We will get them back. We have to."

As Neville and Luna finally finished tying Sirius and Remus up, Severus and Minerva burst through the door.

"What were they thinking? Having contact with Dumbledore," Minerva ranted.
"I'm not entirely sure, Grandma Min. All I know is that we have to get them back."
"And we will. I think I know of a way to get them to see they are being brainwashed," Severus said.

"Well?"

"Well, if we were to use the same method that you two did to bring back the Longbottoms, then that should, in theory, work."
"Uncle Sev, you are a genius."
"I know," he smirked.

"Now all we have to do is implement it. However, I think we should wait until tomorrow."
"Why, Harry?"
"Well, we need to get back to the castle before our absences are noticed.

"Alas, Harry is right. Severus, why don't you come back later, after everyone has gone asleep, to keep an eye on them? We can have Harry and Hermione rest up and then do whatever it is they do tomorrow night. Deal?"
Everyone agreed to that, and noticing that the carriages would already have left, the group went back up the passageway to the grounds. From there, Neville and Luna went back to their respective common rooms, Severus to his quarters to get ready for that night, and Minerva to her quarters, and Harry and Hermione to their shared quarters.

Once inside their room, Harry and Hermione were shocked to find a solid black owl carrying a letter sitting on their table next to an angry-looking Hedwig.

"Harry, I thought that the only owl who could get in here was Hedwig."
"So did I."

"I wonder who the letter is from."
She hesitantly reached out for the letter on the owl's leg, but Hedwig nipped at her before she could take it.

"Ouch, Harry maybe you should test it, to make sure there are no curses."
"Alright. Maledicta revelare."
The letter on the owl's leg glowed white, indicating that the letter was clean. Hedwig gave a hoot of approval when Harry reached out to grab it.

"To Harry Potter? But who sent it?"

"Well, maybe we should read it."
"Alright."

Harry unfurled the letter and the two of them began to read:

Dear Harry,

I hope that you at least give this letter consideration before you toss it into your fire. I am sorry for everything I have done, or well, I don't know exactly. I am so confused being one person and then the next minute someone else entirely. I hope that I'm making some form of sense. Anyway to the crux of why I wrote you, I need your help. I'm beginning to regain my memories from who I really am, and I want to continue to come back to the light, but with Dumbledore in any semblance of control I know that can't happen. I want your help in regaining myself. I realize everything I have done to you, and I am sorry, but I don't know who to turn to. I won't blame you if you don't help me.

Here's hoping you help me,

Tom Marvolo Riddle

Neither Harry nor Hermione could even begin to contemplate what to do.

"Is your master expecting an answer tonight?" Harry asked the owl. The owl shook its head.

"Then would you mind waiting until morning, so that we can write with a clear head and that would give you time to rest?" The owl nodded its head in agreement. Hedwig, however, hooted indignantly.

"Hedwig, I know this might sound callous, but I don't want anything to happen to you. If Riddle keeps shifting personalities, then who knows what he could have when you get there. I don't want to lose you."
Harry was relieved when Hedwig nipped at his ear, because that meant that she was placated for now. Both he and Hermione were so knackered that all they did was get into their pajamas and collapse into bed.

(A/N I know it has been awhile since you heard from me. Now that I'm out of school, I hope to update more often. I hope that this placates you. Please continue to read and review and thank you to those who have reviewed, even though I didn't update for nearly two months.)

Riddle Potter 23