After Limbo
Chapter Five
Harry made his way back to Gryffindor Tower. The common room fell silent when he entered. Harry sighed, not really wanting to relive everything. Once again, he pulled out his wand.
"I swear on my life and magic that I did not enter the tournament" The flash of gold surrounded him and many of the Gryffindors looked sheepish. Fred abd Geore Weasley popped up behind him.
"Hiya mate. If you need any help, let us know" Fred said.
"Thanks, but I think I got it. I'm going to bed" Harry headed up the stairs to the boys dorms, where Ron and Seamus were talking. They stopped when Harry entered. Ron glared at him.
"How did you do it?" He asked coldly.
"Do what?" Harry asked, just as coldly.
"You know bloody well what" Ron snapped.
"I didn't ask for this to happen Ron" Harry said angrily. "And even if I did, its none of your business. After you tried to kill me, I don't have to explain myself to you!"
"I didn't try to kill you" Ron glowered, "I just..."
"Tried to put a hole in my stomach" Harry snapped. He glanced at Seamus and softened his tone. "I didn't put my name in that cup. I don't WANT eternal glory I just wanna be.. Never mind" He shook his head and plopped onto his bed, closing the curtains.
Harry groaned when he realized that it was time for his interview with Rita Skeeter. But he was going to play all the cards right this time.
"What a charismatic quartet. Hello!" Rita said cheerfully. The four tri-wizard champions stood together in a group. She walked over to them and shook each of their hands.
"I'm Rita Skeeter, I write for the daily prophet. But of course you know that don't you. It's you we don't know, you're the news. What quirks lurk beneath those rosy cheeks?" She patted Fleur's cheek. "what mysteries do the muscles mask?" She sized up Viktor. "Does courage lie beneath those curls?" She tousled Cedric's hair. "In short, what makes a champion tick. Me, myself and I want to know. Not to mention my rabid readers. So, who's feeling up to sharing? Mmm? Shall we start with the youngest. Lovely" She grabbed Harry by the hand, but he refused to move.
"Come on deary" She said.
"No" Harry said. "I'd rather stay here. If you'd like to interview me, than you'll have to do it in front of witnesses" Harry crossed his arms. Rita began to protest until the other three champions stood up next to Harry. She sighed.
"Do you mind if I use a quick quotes quill?" Rita asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes" Cedric replied quickly. "They are unreliable" Rita rolled her eyes and pulled out a normal quill.
"So Harry, here you sit, a mere boy of twelve.." She began.
"I'm fourteen" Harry interjected.
"...about to compete against three students. Not only vastly more emotionally mature than yourself but have mastered spells that you wouldn't attempt in your dizziest daydreams. Concerned?" Rita continued.
"Of course I'm concerned!" Harry snapped. "I could die out there"
"Course you're not just any ordinary boy of twelve are you..." Rita said, this time Viktor cut her off.
"He has already told you he is Fourteen" He snapped. "I vant to know vot you have to gain by lying about his age?" Rita ignored him and continued.
"The story's legend. Do you think it was the trauma of your past that made you so keen to enter such a dangerous tournament?" She asked. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I didn't enter and there are plenty of witnesses who saw me swear it" Harry replied. "I think we're done here" He stood and stalked out of the room, leaving a flabbergasted reporter.
Harry was in the Common room when he received a letter from Sirius.
"Harry. I couldn't risk sending Hedwig. It was since the world cup and the ministry's been intercepting more and more owls and she's too easily recognized. We need to talk Harry. Face to face. Meet me in the Griffindor common room at one o clock this Saturday night and make sure you're alone"
On Saturday, Harry quietly entered the common room. He noticed the Daily Prophet and grimaced.
"Sirius?" He whispered.
The fireplace flared up a little, a face appeared in it.
"I don't have much time Harry so let me get straight to it. Did you or did you not put your name into the goblet of fire?" Sirius asked. Harry sighed,
"Of course not!" He said. "Now, I sense that there is something you wish to tell me" Harry nodded.
"Voldemort is coming back Sirius" Harry whispered. "I have a connection to him, but I have a way of stopping him from coming back and I need your help"
"Anything" Sirius replied. Harry nodded.
"I am going to send you a list of items and locations" He said. "The items must be found and destroyed. They were created by dark magic, but the goblins will destroy them for a small fee. Talk to Barchoke. He is Potters account manager and is well aware that you are free. Any items you find, pass on to him" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"What exactly are these items, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"They are horcruxes" Harry replied. "Voldemort created them to keep himself from dying"
"I see. Once I have the list, I will do my best to retrieve these items" Sirius replied. "Harry, be careful in the tournament. I feel that Hogwarts is no longer safe"
"I know Sirius. I know" Harry replied. Sirius vanished from the fire.
"Harry?" Harry turned to see Hermione coming down the stairs.
"Everything alright?" He asked. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sirius vanish from the fire.
"I couldn't sleep" Hermione said quietly. She threw her arms around him. Harry noddd.
"Me either" He said. "Care to join me in a hunt for a piece of Voldemort's soul?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"We can't leave the grounds" She protested.
"We don't have to" Harry replied. "This one is hidden inside the castle" Hermione looked at him surprised.
"Where?" She asked.
"The room of requirement" Harry said. He grabbed his invisibility cloak which he had brought with him, intending to deal with it tonight anyway. Hermione nodded and they both slipped under the cloak. Harry led them to the room and paced in front of it. The door appeared and he opened it. Hermione looked around at all the junk.
"What are we looking for?" She asked.
"Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem" Harry replied.
"Are you sure it's in here?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.
"Yes" Harry said firmly. "We just need to find it. It won't call to me like before, because I no longer have a piece inside my head" Hermione nodded. The two began searching the room. It seemed like forever before Harry heard Hermione's voice say,
"I think I found it" He walked over to her and saw that she was pointing at a tiara, set high above a pile of stuff.
"That's it alright" He said. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and placed it in the palm of his hand. He thought of a ladder and it appeared. He climbed the ladder and grabbed the diadem with the handkerchief. He wrapped it up and descended the ladder.
"I have to send this to Gringotts" He said. "They'll destroy it" Hermione smiled.
"I think you're brave Harry" She said. "Facing this all over again" Harry smiled.
"I have to" He said. "I want to end this war before lives are lost" They two of them left the room, heading back to the tower. When they got there, Hermione pecked Harry on the cheek and ran up to her dorm. Harry smiled and went up to his own dorm.