Chapter 69:
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS
In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must- Not-Be Named has returned to this country and is active once more.
"It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord — well, you know who I mean — is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord — Thingy.
"We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defence that will be delivered free to all Wizarding homes within the coming month."
The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the Wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was "no truth whatsoever in these persistent rumours that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more."
Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening.
Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, was unavailable for comment last night. He has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who was not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile the Boy Who Lived —
"There you are, Harry, I knew they'd drag you into it somehow," said Hermione, looking over the top of the paper at him.
They were in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting on the end of Ron's bed and they were both listening to Hermione read the front page of the Sunday Prophet. Ginny, whose ankle had been mended in a trice by Madam Pomfrey, was curled up at the foot of Hermione's bed with Alicia; Neville, whose nose had likewise been returned to its normal size and shape (as Alicia's job had not been perfect), was in a chair between the two beds; and Luna, who had dropped in to visit clutching the latest edition of The Quibbler, was reading the magazine upside down and apparently not taking in a word Hermione was saying.
"He's 'the Boy Who Lived' again now, though, isn't he?" said Ron darkly. "Not such a show-off maniac anymore, eh?"
He helped himself to a handful of Chocolate Frogs from the immense pile on his bedside cabinet, threw a few to Harry, Alicia, Ginny, and Neville, and ripped off the wrapper of his own with his teeth. There were still deep welts on his forearms where the brain's tentacles had wrapped around him. According to Madam Pomfrey, thoughts could leave deeper scarring than almost anything else, though since she had started applying copious amounts of Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Untion, there seemed to be some improvement.
"They've mentioned Alicia! 'The thought-to-be lost Potter, Alicia, had previously been attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under her mother's maiden name of 'Evans' but is indeed alive and well and has been with her twin brother Harry through all his ordeals.'" Alicia didn't react.
"They'd have to if they're coming clean." she said simply.
"They're very complimentary about you now, Harry, as well," said Hermione, now scanning down the article. "'Both Potter's lone voice of truth… perceived as unbalanced, yet never wavered in either of their stories… forced to bear ridicule and slander…' Hmmm," said Hermione, frowning, "I notice they don't mention the fact that it was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering, though…"
She winced slightly and put a hand to her ribs. The curse Dolohov had used on her, though less effective than it would have been had he been able to say the incantation aloud, had nevertheless caused, in Madam Pomfrey's words, "quite enough damage to be going on with." Hermione was having to take ten different types of potion every day and although she was improving greatly, was already bored with the hospital wing.
" 'You-Know-Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry and Alicia Potter, page nine…' Well," said Hermione, folding up the newspaper and throwing it aside, "it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago…"
"Daddy sold it to them," said Luna vaguely, turning a page of The Quibbler. "He got a very good price for it too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer and see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, then said, "That sounds lovely."
Ginny caught Harry's eye and looked away quickly, grinning.
"So anyway," said Hermione, sitting up a little straighter and wincing again, "what's going on in school?"
"Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp," said Ginny. "He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off —"
"Why?" said Hermione, looking startled.
"Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic," said Ginny, shrugging.
"I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George," said Ron through a mouthful of chocolate. "They sent me all these, you know," he told Harry, pointing at the small mountain of Frogs beside him. "Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh? Though it's absolutely nothing to what Fred sent Alicia." Hermione looked at her and she shrugged.
"Apparently he's planning on visiting me at some point." she smiled slightly.
"I think you could use it." Alicia shrugged but didn't elaborate on Hermione's words
"So has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore's back?"
"Yes," said Neville, "everything's settled right back down again."
"I s'pose Filch is happy, is he?" asked Ron, propping a Chocolate Frog card featuring Dumbledore against his water jug.
"Not at all," said Ginny. "He's really, really miserable, actually…" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "He keeps saying Umbridge was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts…"
All seven of them looked around. Professor Umbridge was lying in a bed opposite them, gazing up at the ceiling. Dumbledore had strode alone into the forest to rescue her from the centaurs. How he had done it — how he had emerged from the trees supporting Professor Umbridge without so much as a scratch on him — nobody knew, and Umbridge was certainly not telling. Since she had returned to the castle she had not, as far as any of them knew, uttered a single word. Nobody really knew what was wrong with her either. Her usually neat mousy hair was very untidy and there were bits of twig and leaf in it, but otherwise she seemed to be quite unscathed.
"Madam Pomfrey says she's just in shock," whispered Hermione.
"Sulking, more like," said Ginny
"Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this," said Ron, and with his tongue he made soft clip-clopping noises. Umbridge sat bolt upright, looking wildly around.
"Anything wrong, Professor?" called Madam Pomfrey, poking her head around her office door.
"No… no…" said Umbridge, sinking back into her pillows, "no, I must have been dreaming…"
Hermione and Ginny muffled their laughter in the bedclothes.
"Speaking of centaurs," said Hermione, when she had recovered a little, "who's Divination teacher now? Is Firenze staying?"
"He's got to," said Harry, "the other centaurs won't take him back, will they?"
"It looks like he and Trelawney are both going to teach," said Ginny.
"Bet Dumbledore wishes he could've got rid of Trelawney for good," said Ron, now munching on his fourteenth Frog. "Mind you, the whole subjects useless if you ask me, Firenze isn't a lot better…"
"How can you say that?" Hermione demanded. "After we've just found out that there are real prophecies?"
Alicia and Harry's eyes met instantly as Alicia felt Harry worry. Neither of them had told Hermione, Ron or anyone else what the prophecy had contained. Neville had told them it had smashed while Harry was pulling him up the steps in the Death Room, and neither twin had not yet corrected this impression.
They continued to stare before in sync they both got up from their places.
"It is a pity it broke," said Hermione quietly, shaking her head.
"Yeah, it is," said Ron. "Still, at least You-Know-Who never found out what was in it either — where are you going?" he added, looking both surprised and disappointed at the twins.
"Er — Hagrid's," said Harry and Alicia just watched him. "You know, he just got back and I promised we'd go down and see him and tell him how you two are…"
"Oh all right then," said Ron grumpily, looking out of the dormitory window at the patch of bright blue sky beyond. "Wish we could come…"
"Give it time." Alicia added
"Say hello to him for us!" called Hermione, as Harry proceeded down the ward, Alicia following. "And ask him what's happening about… about his little friend!" Harry waved in response as they left.
The castle seemed very quiet even for a Sunday. Everybody was clearly out in the sunny grounds, enjoying the end of their exams and the prospect of a last few days of term unhampered by studying or homework. Harry walked slowly along the deserted corridor, peering out of windows as he went. He could see people messing around in the air over the Quidditch pitch and a couple of students swimming in the lake, accompanied by the giant squid.
Alicia was staring at the floor, watching her feet as they walked. She didn't pay attention but knew they were heading towards the grounds, down the Marble Staircase, to the Entrance Hall. They had just descended the last marble step into the entrance hall when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle emerged from a door on the right that led down to the Slytherin common room. Harry stopped dead; so did Malfoy and the others. Alicia watched him, waiting.
For a few moments, the only sounds were the shouts, laughter, and splashes drifting into the hall from the grounds through the open front doors.
Malfoy glanced around. Harry knew he was checking for signs of teachers. Then he looked back at Harry and said in a low voice, "You're dead, Potter."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Funny," he said looking at Alicia, "you'd think I'd have stopped walking around…"
"Gonna say, don't feel like it." she shrugged
Malfoy looked angrier than either had ever seen him, his pale, pointed face contorted with rage.
"You're going to pay," said Malfoy in a voice barely louder than a whisper. "I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to my father…"
"Well, I'm terrified now," said Harry sarcastically. "I s'pose Lord Voldemort's just a warm-up act compared to you three — what's the matter?" he said, for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had all looked stricken at the sound of the name. "He's your dad's mate, isn't he? Not scared of him, are you?"
"You think you're such a big man, Potter," said Malfoy, advancing now, Crabbe and Goyle flanking him. "You wait. I'll have you. You can't land my father in prison —"
"I thought I just had," said Harry.
"He's in there isn't he?" Alicia asked lazily.
"The dementors have left Azkaban," said Malfoy quietly. "Dad and the others'll be out in no time…"
"Yeah, I expect they will," said Harry. "Still, at least everyone knows what scumbags they are now —"
Malfoy's hand flew toward his wand, but Harry was too quick for him. He had drawn his own wand before Malfoy's fingers had even entered the pocket of his robes. Alicia had her hands in her pocket but was more cautious than her brother.
"Potter!"
The voice rang across the entrance hall; Snape had emerged from the staircase leading down to his office, and Alicia felt the great rush of hatred from Harry, something far beyond anything he felt toward Malfoy.
"What are you doing, Potter?" said Snape coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them.
"I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir," said Harry fiercely.
Snape stared at him.
"Put that wand away at once," he said curtly. "Ten points from Gryff —"
Snape looked toward the giant hourglasses on the walls and gave a sneering smile.
"Ah. I see there are no longer any points left in the Gryffindor hourglass to take away. In that case, Potter, we will simply have to —"
"Add some more?"
Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone steps into the castle. She was carrying a tartan carpetbag in one hand and leaning heavily on a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked quite well.
"Professor McGonagall!" said Snape, striding forward. "Out of St. Mungo's, I see!"
"Yes, Professor Snape," said Professor McGonagall, shrugging off her traveling cloak, "I'm quite as good as new. You two — Crabbe — Goyle —"
She beckoned them forward imperiously and they came, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward.
"Here," said Professor McGonagall, thrusting her carpetbag into Crabbe's chest and her cloak into Goyle's, "take these up to my office for me."
They turned and stumped away up the marble staircase.
"Right then," said Professor McGonagall, looking up at the hourglasses on the wall, "well, I think the Potters and their friends ought to have fifty points apiece for alerting the world to the return of You-Know-Who! What say you, Professor Snape?"
"What?" snapped Snape. "Oh — well — I suppose…"
"So that's fifty each for two Potters, the two Weasleys, Longbottom, and Miss Granger," said Professor McGonagall, and a shower of rubies fell down into the bottom bulb of Gryffindor's hourglass as she spoke. "Oh — and fifty for Miss Lovegood, I suppose," she added, and a number of sapphires fell into Ravenclaw's glass. "Now, you wanted to take ten from Mr. Potter, I think, Professor Snape — so there we are…"
A few rubies retreated into the upper bulb, leaving a respectable amount below nevertheless.
"Well, Potter, Malfoy, I think you ought to be outside on a glorious day like this," Professor McGonagall continued briskly.
Alicia took Harry's hand and the two went without needing to be told twice. They went outside and began to cross the lawns in the hot sun towards Hagrid's cabin. Students lying around on the grass sunbathing, talking, reading the Sunday Prophet, and eating sweets looked up at them as they passed. Some called out to the two, or else waved, clearly eager to show that they, like the Prophet, had decided the two Potters was something of heroes. Alicia waved back at a few, putting a small smile in place while Harry did nothing. So far, the two had not been questioned or asked what had happened three days ago, and Alicia at least preferred it that way.
There was no answer when they both first knocked on Hagrid's door. The two shared a look before Fang came charging around the corner and almost bowled Harry over with the enthusiasm of his welcome. Hagrid, it transpired, was picking runner beans in his back garden.
"All righ', Harry! Alicia!" he said, beaming, when Harry and Alicia approached the fence. "Come in, come in, we'll have a cup o' dandelion juice…"
"How's things?" Hagrid asked them, as they settled down at his wooden table with a glass apiece of iced juice. "You — er — feelin' all righ', are yeh?"
Alicia looked at her glass and Harry watched the giant.
"I'm fine," Harry said quickly. He didn't want to talk about it. Even the twins hadn't to one another. "So, where've you been?"
"Bin hidin' out in the mountains," said Hagrid. "Up in a cave, like Sirius did when he —"
He broke off, cleared his through gruffly, looked at the twins and took a long draft of juice.
"Anyway, back now," he said feebly.
"You — you look better," said Harry, who was determined to keep the conversation moving away from Sirius.
"Wha?" said Hagrid, raising a massive hand and feeling his face. "Oh — oh yeah. Well, Grawpy's loads better behaved now, loads. Seemed right pleased ter see me when I got back, ter tell yeh the truth. He's a good lad, really… I've bin thinkin' abou' tryin' ter find him a lady friend, actually…"
Alicia rose one eyebrow at the man. More than one giant around sounded terrible. And yet, she didn't rise to argue, and neither did Harry. There was less energy in a lot of things the twins did lately.
"Ev'ryone knows you've both bin tellin' the truth now, Harry," said Hagrid softly and unexpectedly. "Tha's gotta be better, hasn' it, Alicia?"
Harry shrugged.
"Look…" Hagrid leaned toward them across the table, "I knew Sirius longer 'n you did… He died in battle, an' tha's the way he'd've wanted ter go —"
"He didn't want to go at all!" said Harry angrily and Alicia swallowed the lump that rose in her throat as she thought about it. It just reminded her of the prophecy and what might happen to Harry. It was too much for her to deal with at once at the current moment.
Hagrid bowed his great shaggy head.
"Nah, I don' reckon he did," he said quietly. "But still, Harry… he was never one ter sit around at home an' let other people do the fightin'. He couldn' have lived with himself if he hadn' gone ter help —"
Harry leapt up again.
"I've got to go and visit Ron and Hermione in the hospital wing," he said mechanically.
"Oh," said Hagrid, looking rather upset. "Oh… all righ then, Harry… Take care of yerself then, an' drop back in if yeh've got a mo…"
"Yeah… right…"
Harry crossed to the door as fast as he could and pulled it open. He was out in the sunshine again before Hagrid had finished saying goodbye.
Hagrid looked at Alicia.
"We'd prefer not to talk about it yet." she whispered and she finished her juice. "Sorry Hagrid." she got up and, much more calmly, she smiled at him a small smile, and followed Harry.
Alicia had wondered whether Sirius had known about the prophecy's contents. He knew about it obviously, whether he knew what it was was another matter. She knew he'd have been angry with Dumbledore and perhaps he'd agree that Harry at least needed to know.
She had to admit, it surprised her when she thought about the fact that Harry and her had only asked the important question once; why had Voldemort wanted Harry? Maybe if they'd asked it more, Dumbledore would have told them sooner, maybe he'd had listened to her… Maybe none of this would have happened.
Alicia had to admit she'd never felt more alone in the world. Even through this entire year, while in Surrey, while locked in Grimmauld Place, or even at Hogwarts, where Harry had snapped at so many, and felt cut off, she had not. She knew she had people around her she could rely on, that could help. But she'd never ever felt so alone before now. And she now understood how Harry must have felt when she'd left in the summer. And although it hurt to feel it, although it was terrible, and she hated it, she embraced it. Because it seemed that Harry's fait was laid out, and it was inevitable that his life was to include, or conclude with, murder. And that, in turn, could lead to Alicia always feeling this way, no matter how accepted she was by others.
It all seemed inevitable. And if there was another way, Dumbledore would have known about it. And he himself had cried over it.
One thing he had mentioned through, was because of all of this strife and burden, it was why the two twins weren't Prefects. Such a thing seemed meaningless now, so pointless but so normal. It was such a luxury all of a sudden, because those who had it, didn't have much more than that to worry about, Hermione and Ron included. All they needed to worry about was the results of their exams, Harry might not even be able to act on those results…
Alicia found herself at the Room of Requirement, though the door was not there. She simply leaned on the wall and slid to sit on the floor, staring at the tapestry opposite.