I knew the last chapter would divide people at certain points. I needed somewhere in the story to get rid of Albus and Ron was a convenient tool
I own nothing
Peter
Peter apparated back to the Riddle Manor as soon as he left the Shrieking Shack. The alarms were ringing all over the village so it served as the perfect distraction. Racing through the hallways he found his way into the main hall, bursting through the doors to where Voldemort was holding a meeting he shouted "My Lord, I've done it" immediately he felt the cruciatus curse rip through his body
"You better have a damn good reason for bursting in unannounced Wormtail" Voldemort said striding around the table to where Peter was writhing on the ground "Speak!"
"I did it my lord" peter said trying to control the shaking "I did it"
"Did what?" Voldemort asked. At that moment he recalled what he had sent Peter out to do "Hand it over then Wormtail, and you shall be rewarded greatly"
Confused for a second Peter had to think. Realising what his master was asking for he paled and answered "it wasn't there master, I looked around everywhere for it" that was as far as he got before pain ripped through him again
"You mean to tell me you have been gone three days on a mission I sent you on, and not only do you not retrieve what I asked for but you have the nerve to show your face and tell me that you have failed? Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you Wormtail" Voldemort said gripping Peters face
"Because I killed Dumbledore" was all Peter got out before he passed out from the pain. Silence was all that was heard from the entire hall. Some had been gleeful at seeing Peter get cursed, some were wary hoping they wouldn't be next given their lack of information. But with Peters last utterance shock was the prevailing emotion. Then the whispers started before they were quickly silenced by Voldemort standing up. Looking down at Peter he didn't know what to do. Peter would know better than to lie about such a thing so he clearly believed what he said, but how could Peter do what he could not? And where was his horcrux? Making a decision he called out "Travers. Go to the ministry and see what you can find out, Burke go to Hogsmeade and do the same. I expect a report within the next two hours" sitting down in his chair he watched them leave
"Elf, bring me my wireless and then tend to Pettigrew. I expect him awake within the hour. He has vital news for me" within twenty seconds the wireless was set in the middle of the table and they were all listening to the emergency broadcast
"Hello, if you have just joined us welcome. As you can see we are all gathered here outside the gates of Hogwarts where less than an hour ago alarms started blaring out from all over the country but seemingly started here. We've had reports of two unforgivable curses being cast inside Hogwarts grounds but as yet were unsure of just who cast them or if anyone was hurt. Oh, here comes the minister now. Minister Scrimgeour can you please answer a few questions. What has happened?"
"I'll give a brief statement but I will not be taking any more questions until all the facts have been collected" came the voice of Rufus Scrimgeour "The alarms that went off are the new unforgivable wards that have been placed at various places across the UK. They're what alerted us to the coward Tom Riddle destroying a village a few days ago killing everyone there. At approximately 2:25pm they went off again. This afternoon a student, who will remain unnamed for now walked into the great hall and cast the killing curse at Headmaster Dumbledore hitting him in the chest before the student turned their wand onto themselves. At the moment we have ascertained that the student may have been a victim of the Imperius curse due to various reports of their actions shortly before the murders. We have alerted the family of the deceased student and will be meeting with them shortly. Dumbledores remaining family has also been alerted. We urge anyone that has any information to come forward. That is all for now"
Turning the radio off Tom stood up and strode out of the room to his chambers. Why would Peter claim to have killed Dumbledore when the report said a student did? Why would Peter lie about that? Wait a minute, didn't they say there was evidence of the Imperius curse? So, that's what he had done. He had got someone ese to do the dirty job. He would almost be proud of Peter for his ingenuity if he wasn't so irritated at his missing soul piece. He needed to get into Hogwarts but given the precarious situation he might actually be mortal right now so he would go ahead with his plans of conquering the ministry first. That would gain him Hogwarts. The plans for the goblins would be pushed back until he had them both first. Striding back to the room he was glad they were all still there. They knew better than to leave before he dismissed them
"Gringotts can wait" he began "with Dumbledore dead Hogwarts is easy to take. But first we need those unforgivable wards gone. To do that we need control of the ministry. So, to that end this meeting will now be about that. I will give you all a chance to speak. So, speak"
"Well master we need to gain access to the minister's office. So, we need to place someone at the side of him to strike him down at the correct moment. He had purged the ministry of those with the Dark Mark and set up various wards around the ministry. So maybe plant someone who is loyal but doesn't have your mark? Or maybe put someone under the Imperius and place him in the office. The wards clearly don't work on an already warded place or the Aurors would be swarming all over here. So, kidnap?"
"But who?" another voice asked "the only people who get to see the minister these days are people he has scheduled meetings with, his undersecretary and his personal assistant. All of them are screened before every meeting"
"Well maybe not" came a voice from the end "it's clear that an emergency will see Rufus leave his office. And with Dumbledore now dead it means there's an opportunity at least one more time for us to kill him outside his office"
"How?"
"Dumbledores funeral. While security will be top notch it doesn't mean that we can't get a sleeper agent or a suicide agent willing to risk assassinating him. Maybe both to give us a better chance. It may be our only shot in the next few weeks. And with our Lords need to get rid of those wards and Rufus gone it shouldn't be too hard to buy the next minister into office. Hell, we may be able to get Fudge back in if we paid enough"
"See it done" Toms voice rang out silencing them all "your idea has much merit. And it may be the only time we can kill Rufus without me going to the ministry personally. That will be a last resort though and will be with our full army. I want this organised within the next few days. I will be unavailable until after Hallowe'en. Get three people willing to sacrifice themselves to do this. Tell them that their family will be rewarded, make sure they are! I will not tolerate lies given to our freedom fighters. Dumbledore was a big enough name that his funeral will be packed and public. The Minister will no doubt give a speech. That would be the perfect time to strike. Make sure they are all very proficient in stealth! Now, leave"
With that Tom strode out of the room to Peters room. He was determined to get the full story now that he had given Peter enough time to recover. Opening the door, he saw the elf giving Peter a potion. Sitting down he noticed the elf shaking and smirked. It was nice to see he still had it. Hearing a moan, the elf popped away as Peter came to. Immediately seeing his lord, he began to shake again.
"Stop shaking Wormtail. Unfortunately, you passed out before giving me the whole information. Now, Speak!"
Shakily Peter began with what he'd been doing over the past few days "I found out that no one could enter Hogwarts without Dumbledores permission or unless you were a student so I hid until today in the Shrieking Shack. It's a Hogsmeade day today so I saw the boy who's rat I used to be walking down the street and took a chance with the Imperius curse. I knew once I got into Hogwarts I would need a distraction, so once we had left the passage leading from Honeydukes I gave him three orders. Speak to no-one, try to kill Dumbledore and then kill himself. We split apart and I went to check the room for the item of yours. I searched everywhere Master; I swear I did but it wasn't there. I looked everywhere in the area of where you said it was and there was nothing there. As I was leaving the alarms sounded. I had no idea Hogwarts had such wards like that. The entire castle went into lockdown. I took my chance when the aurors arrived to escape and came straight here"
Tom grabbed Peters face and entered his mind. Usually, he'd be brutal but as he didn't want Peter passing out again, he was gentler than normal. He searched for the memory and watched it play out exactly as Peter said. It was a stroke of ingenuity he didn't expect from Peter capitalising on the red head walking down the street. He now had more information about how to enter Hogwarts which was beneficial. He assumed the wards had now passed to McGonagall, at least until the Board of Governors convened which likely wouldn't be until after Dumbledores funeral, so for now she'd be protected. Standing up he left and called for Bella. Walking with her he led them down to the dungeons where his first potions teacher was currently working. Striding into the room he sat down and waited for Slughorn to finish stirring. Usually, he'd demand recognition but he knew how tricky this potion was to make. After Horace had placed the potion under a stasis spell he turned round and asked him what he wanted. Deciding to forgo the usual torture at the blatant disrespect he opened with "how much longer will the potion take?"
"It should be done by Monday" Horace said nervously "Your blood needs to be added as the last ingredient tomorrow night. It needs to sit for a few hours before its finished. It then needs to rest for two days and then consumed the day after. Given that you're planning on using Samhain night you should make sure everything is in order. Bella cannot be allowed to use any kind of magic, or be around chaotic magic. I am still unsure on whether the substituted ingredients will even work. This potion is purely theoretical at this point"
"Well, you better hope it works Slughorn! I do not tolerate failure!" Tom said menacingly
"Explain your losses to Harry, Gellert and Albus then" Horace said petulantly
Anger flared in Tom but he knew that Horace could only get away with saying such things because of the volatile potion.
"Albus Dumbledore is dead, he was murdered on my orders today" Tom said viciously "Grindelwald is a has-been old man and Potter will join him as soon as the ritual is done. You have literally no one who will come save you now Horace. I suggest you get used to being my servant" and with that he pulled a vial of his blood out of his pocket, placed it on the table and left knowing that in less than a week's time his full focus would be on taking the ministry
Hogwarts
It had been a rough couple of hours for Hermione. She had gone from siting in the Three Broomsticks hoping her friendship with Ron could be saved to rushing to Hogwarts and finding out Ron had killed the headmaster. It didn't make sense to her. She knew Ron. She knew he idolised the former headmaster. After she had given her statement to the Aurors she walked aimlessly around the entrance hall. The great hall was now a crime scene. Some of the other students she had spoken to had given her a basic timeline. He had turned up in Hogsmeade at 2, made it to the doors of the Three Broomsticks and then seemingly changed his mind and walked off to Honeydukes with a strange looking balding man. Next time anyone saw him was twenty minutes later when he strode into the great hall and murdered Albus. Hermione told the aurors that there was a passageway leading from the One-Eyed witch on the third floor directly to Honeydukes basement, that only a handful of people knew about so that's likely where the twenty minutes went.
Racing off to investigate the Aurors discovered another magical signature but they couldn't trace it as the wards of Hogwarts had masked it. Headmistress McGonagall was only that in name and only held the basic wards so she couldn't authorise access to the wards until the board of governors gave her the job officially. From the description though she assumed it was Peter Pettigrew. The minister tried to protest and say he was dead until she told him that Potter had seen him alive and that he was responsible for the death of Cedric Diggory at Voldemort's resurrection. She told Scrimgeour that Sirius had been innocent at the time of his death. Any other protests were quelled by Hermione agreeing and saying she'd seen him too at the end of her third year but wasn't listened to because Snape convinced Fudge they'd been confounded and it was swept under the rug. Peter had been the Potters secret keeper, not Sirius. Fudge was told this and instead of doing the right thing he tried to silence Harry. "How the hell do you think Harry was able to become Lord Black if Sirius wasn't innocent?" stumped them. Shaking her head, she muttered about "incompetent morons" before having an idea. She called for Dobby. She needed Harry right now. When she heard his signature pop she asked if he could get Harry for her
"I'm sorry Missus Hermy. But master has forbidden us from going to him until he asks for us" Dobby said sorrowfully shaking his head
"Where is he Dobby? Do you know what he is doing?" Hermione asked concerned
"Master is upset with Mistress Death. So, he has left to go and fight the Dark Lord. He be's trying to find his main base and does not want to be disturbed" Dobby said
"What has Death done" The minister chirped in confused "and how does he contact her?"
"She be's take children with her" Dobby said "Master is very angry at her. He be's not realising she be's just doing her job, he be's letting his anger cloud his judgyments"
"So he's gone to find Voldemort" Hermione said biting her nails "do you know where he started looking?"
"Master said something about the first place he truly experienced life and death" Dobby replied "I must go Miss Hermy" with that Dobby popped away leaving them all wonder where he was on about.
Leaving them all to find out what happened to Ron Hermione made her way to the Black Lake where she sat on a stone and stared out at the calm water. Echoing across the grounds was the sound of Fawkes' mournful cries. Very few people in recorded history had heard the Phoenix's Lament before. It truly was a sorrowful thing to hear. Pondering Dobby's earlier words, she could only come up with a few places in her mind for the location of Harry. Godric's Hollow, The Chamber, the graveyard and The Veil Room. Hearing someone join her she turned around. It was Ginny, Neville and Luna. She waited for them to speak but no one seemed to want to
"Where did Harry first experience life and death?" Hermione asked suddenly forgetting her audience. Hearing a sob, she looked at Ginny and instantly felt ashamed "I'm sorry Ginny. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry about Ron. I was due to meet him today at Hogsmeade to see if we could renew our friendship"
Nodding Ginny said "I know. He ran it by me a few days ago after he heard Harry had met Death. He was afraid that Harry had been marked for death and that he'd never get the chance to apologise. He wrote Harry a letter but it returned unopened with a letter from Harry. I don't know what it said but given Rons reaction it didn't seem good"
"It wasn't" Hermione said interrupting "he sent me a letter too. It was partly my fault because I sent him a letter telling him I'd arranged a meeting to get it all sorted an hour before he was due to finish Blood Feud. I was so eager to get back to how we were I forgot that my timing would suck. He accused me of thinking with my privates about Ron rather than my head" she said blushing "he wasn't totally wrong as it's been difficult for me where Rons concerned. So, I told Harry I would be meeting Ron today. Harry simply replied with 'Good Luck' and that he wouldn't be there. I turned up today and then he didn't turn up"
"Do you know what happened?" Ginny asked "mum won't tell us anything"
"Only what the aurors told me" She replied "He arrived at Hogsmeade on time, then out of nowhere left with a man and twenty minutes later he appeared in the great hall and killed the headmaster. Students mentioned he was very focused and didn't react to them saying hello when he walked past. The aurors suspect the Imperius being involved. From the description it sounded like Pettigrew but what he was doing in Hogsmeade I don't know. Or why he chose Ron. But it sounds like it was pure coincidence and Ron is as much of a victim as Dumbledore. We all know Ron idolised Dumbledore and would never cast that curse on anyone"
Nodding Ginny thanked her as she could now tell her brothers what happened. It irritated her that her mother still thought of her as a child. She was nearly sixteen for Merlins sake! She had a right to know what happened today and why? How else could they properly grieve Ron? Today had cemented her decision to move out as soon as she could to escape the smothering arms of her mother. Her brothers had already done so, Fred and George had even told her that she had a room over their shop should she want it. She had decided to take them up on that, just as soon as she was legally able. Wanting to take her mind off what happened today she asked "what was that about Harry?"
"It's just something Dobby said not long ago when I asked where Harry was" Hermione said "he's gone hunting Voldemort and Dobby said he has started the hunt 'where Harry first truly experienced life and death' and I could only come up with a few places"
"He's gone hunting Tom?" Ginny asked alarmed standing up "and we're just sitting here?"
"And just what do you think you could do" Neville asked arching his eyebrow "we are nowhere near Harry's skill level, hell we're not even on par with McGonagall and she's old! We'd be nothing more than a hindrance so sit back down and let's try and figure out a way we CAN help him"
"Thank you for that Mr Longbottom" came a voice behind them causing them all to spin around to see the Headmistress and Flitwick walking towards them "I'll take it as the compliment I'm sure it was. Come along you four. We need to talk" leading them all up to the seventh floor she explained along the way that Filius had been able to trace Peters magical signature to the wall but they couldn't get any further
"What would Peter want with the Room?" Ginny asked the other three students
"Room? What room? There is nothing more than a wall here" Filius said
"Neville" Luna said smiling "do you want to do the honours?"
Shrugging his shoulders Neville walked back and forth three times in front of the wall earning confused looks for the professors. Exclaiming in surprise when they saw the door appear Neville smiled and walked through to find a cavernous room filled with junk.
"Welcome Professors to the Room of Requirement" he said turning round to see their shocked faces "this is perhaps the most secret room in all of Hogwarts. It's called by the elves the 'Come and Go' room or the 'Room of Requirement'. To get in here you walk in front of the stretch of wall three times thinking about what you want the room to become. I asked the room to show me what Pettigrew entered. I have no idea what he was after in here though"
"Leave that to me Mr Longbottom" Filius said quickly overcoming his surprise and pulling out his wand. Chanting in Gobbledygook an ethereal Pettigrew appeared and began making his way through the shelves of junk. Following him for a good fifteen minutes while Peter consulted a piece of paper they eventually stopped in front of an empty crate where a bust sat on. Seeing him look around they carried on following until he eventually left empty-handed. Watching Minerva and Filius have a private chat the foursome wondered what was going on. They seemed to have come to a decision. Telling them to follow her McGonagall led them and Filius to her office. Locking and warding the office she asked them all to take a seat
"What we're about to tell you is extremely classified. So, this conversation never happened. The Aurors have warned me not to say anything but as your brother was involved Miss Weasley, I did not want you believing the worst of him for a minute more than you have to. What you saw then was the actions of Peter Pettigrew. It was obvious from what you told us earlier Miss Granger that Peter needed a distraction to go through with whatever he was tasked with in these halls. He used the Imperius on your brother Miss Weasley to assassinate Albus while he checked out that room. Given that he left empty handed its clear he did not achieve whatever he set out to do. What he was after though we have no idea. And as Albus portrait will not activate for another two weeks we cannot ask him either that's even assuming he knows or will even tell us"
"What I used" Filius said "was a form of Goblin magic. It's been banned by the ministry from being used anywhere but Gringotts because the purebloods in charge have no way of defending against it. It shows a person's last actions up to six hours from when they set foot in a place. Peter was not there by chance; his magical signature enters on the third floor where he and Mr Weasley part ways, it then stops at the seventh floor at that room. After he leaves, I traced it back to the entrance hall and to the whomping willow where his signature disappears. Do any of you four have any idea why he would be here?"
"No professor. Harry may though. He knows the ins and outs of that room better than anyone alive" Ginny said "he's been using it for two to three years now as a training room. I would suggest sending him a message when he shows up again. Harry and professor Dumbledore had a lot of private meetings over the last few years so I would bet Harry knows what Peter was after. Hopefully he resurfaces soon"
Nodding in agreement Hermione asked "do you know where Harry experienced life and death for the first time? I've only been able to come up with four places so far. Godric's Hollow where his parents died, The Chamber where Ginny nearly died, the graveyard where Cedric died and The Veil Room where Sirius died. Harry nearly died at all four of those places. He survived death at all four of those places too so that could be the 'life' part"
"Those are sound surmisings" Filius squeaked "If Harry is indeed hunting Tom then The Graveyard would be the place I first searched Miss Granger. It was said that Voldemort's father was from a village nearby so there is that connection. The Hollow would be the second place I searched because it's where Harry should have grown up and its where Voldemort died. Other than that, I'm afraid I have no clue"
Sensing the meeting was over the six left to go about their day. It was shaping up to be a very busy day. Aurors were still milling around the great hall that was still warded, students were walking around as if in a dream, some were still crying. Hermione decided that the best course of action would be to investigate the library to see if she could find any information about the four places that she was sure Harry was going to visit. She knew she wouldn't find anything about the Hangleton village as it was a muggle place and she couldn't gain access to the chamber without Harry so that left the Veil Room and Godric's Hollow. Hopefully she could find out something, anything to focus her mind off what had happened. She knew she was staving off grieving, she just couldn't afford to at the minute and if Harry found Tom, she knew only one would walk away. She just wanted to help in any way she could
Harry
It had been nearly a week since Harry had last been seen by anyone. Hallowe'en was tomorrow and Harry knew that he needed to find Voldemort soon, preferably before he did the ritual. He had deliberately masked his Magical signature all week so that he couldn't be tracked, he had also placed a variant of the fidelius on a little flat he owned where only he and Dobby knew about. It was his base of operations for the time being. At least until his house was done and he could move in there. He had spent the first few days hiding out in the Chamber. No one could find him there and he needed information. He was very concerned about the "Heirship Ritual" as Tom having kids could only be a terrible idea. He felt slightly sorry for Bellatrix but given that she volunteered for this he didn't feel sorry for very long. She was just as insane as Tom was. Harry was in research mode and as such needed no distractions, applying a curtain to Salazars portrait was the first thing he did along with several layers of cushioning charms on the chairs there.
Finally, he found a passage in a very nondescript scroll about it. It mentioned what book it was in so Harry spent the next day searching for that and discovered that of all the ingredients necessary only three of them were currently not extinct. Also given it required semen from the father and Tom was unequipped Harry wondered how the hell Tom was going through with this? Shaking his head, he decided he had wasted enough time and used the passageway that led to the forest to escape. He needed to find out where Tom was so the public library in London was his first stop to find information on the location of the graveyard. He was tempted to go and ask Albus but decided he needed to do this alone, Albus would want to know why and would likely try and stop him. Honestly that man was infuriating at times. He did wonder why Fawkes hadn't come to find him but counted it as a blessing
After a crash course on using a computer Harry found the location of Greater Hangleton. Ten miles east of Bognor Regis and four miles west of Worthing it was a tiny village. Why it was split into Little and Greater Hangleton baffled Harry but he had found it. Printing off a map he decided to do apparition jumps to find it, it didn't take as long as he feared and soon enough he was on the familiar dirt track he had walked in Dumbledores pensieve. Checking out the Shack, he saw it was in ruins, looking around he noticed fresh footprints in the soil. Someone had been here in the last few weeks. Wondering who he left to find the village. That didn't take long either. Walking into the local pub he knew that he'd been identified as a total stranger to the assembled crowd. Knowing he'd have to come up with an identity he recalled the first conversation he'd had with Tom Riddle. He had said they looked alike, so why not use that? Walking up to the barman he said hello
"I'm sorry Lad, but we cannot serve you any alcohol" the barman said cleaning a glass with a cloth
"Oh, I'm not after a drink. I'm after information" Harry said "My great-grandfather and great-grandmother were from around here and I was searching for any way of finding them. I know they'd be dead by now but if you can help in any way, I'd be very grateful"
"Oh? What was their names lad?" the barman asked
"Tom Riddle and Merope Gaunt" Harry said
Smash. The glass fell from the barman's hand as silence reigned in the pub "er, was it something I said?" Harry asked with fake concern
"No Lad" the barman said trying to gather himself "it's just that those names don't have happy connotations around here I'm afraid. Are you sure you want to hear this? It's not a story for the faint of heart lad" seeing Harry nod and sit down the barman started his story "now I'll begin by saying I was born in the Twenties so this all could be put down to rumour. Heard most of it from my parents. Tom was a very snobbish lad. Born just after the turn of the century if I recall rightly. He lived in the manor just up the hill with his well to-do parents. Dunno what they did but they thought themselves a better breed of people because they had money. He was a good-looking lad who had a way with the ladies. Merope on the other hand was from the local ruffians' brood. Had a brother who was incredibly mentally unstable and their father wasn't far off neither. Attacked everyone with a knife if they looked at him funny. Anyway, when Tom was about to turn twenty-one, not long before his wedding to a lady from the big town, he suddenly ran off with Merope. Caused such a scandal it did. The local squire and the village idiot's sister eloping.
Anyway, less than a year later Tom came back claiming he'd been hoodwinked into marrying Merope and that she had 'potioned' him. He must have been blind drunk to have married her but evidently he had come to his senses and came crawling back. We never really saw or heard from him again until fifteen years later he was found murdered in his home along with his parents with not a mark on them. We were convinced it was the caretaker but he had a rock-solid alibi when it happened. Claimed he saw a lad earlier that day that looked like a younger version of Tom going up to the house but didn't think nothing of it. Twas mighty strange. Frank continued to do the gardens until he died two years ago. I mean, we say he died but it's more like he just disappeared and hasn't been seen since"
Nodding Harry gave it a few minutes as if thinking about what was told him. In his head though he knew he had found the place he was looking for. Looking through the window he saw that the Manor was just about visible from here. Realising he needed to give a reply he said "My grandfather did visit here around 1943 to try and reconnect with his dad but was turned away. Apparently, he didn't want anything to do with my grandfather because of his mother and what she'd supposedly done. The truth is he slept with Merope for a bet and got her pregnant, then realised the magnitude of his screw up and married her. She found out and kicked him out but sadly died giving birth to my grandfather. He ended up in an orphanage in London, saved up as much as he could and came here to find his father when he turned sixteen. Don't forget this was war-time London too so money was scarce and he was spurned. It hurt my grandfather, I only found out myself a few weeks ago when he died and left me his journals from when he was a lad. I came here on a whim really hoping to find something, I don't even know what I'm looking for in all honesty. Closure for my grandfather perhaps? Hopefully he found some before he died" standing up Harry went to leave "thank you for your information. You've been very helpful" with that Harry left leaving the assembled crowd to talk amongst themselves. At last, an eighty-year mystery had been solved
Harry wandered his way up to the hillside not bothered about the lies he had just told. As far as he was concerned Tom and Merope were equally as guilty. Merope more-so for her rapey ways but Voldemort had come to find his father and was turned away. That must have hurt him, especially for someone who had spent years trying to find their identity. Tom Sr may not have deserved death but he certainly didn't deserve life leaving a pregnant woman to live on her own. It wasn't Tom Jr's fault what Merope did. As Harry drew closer, he felt the wards interact with him. Wondering what was going on he realised they were testing him. Finally, they seemed to come to a decision and let him pass. Smirking Harry realised what they were. Blood wards. Tom was an idiot. He used his own blood to power the wards around his base. The very same blood that flowed through Harrys own veins. It was the very reason Harry couldn't claim Blood Feud with Voldemort. You can't fight your literal own blood after all. He was still surprised no one had asked him that question yet. Nym had been close to the subject once before she was drawn away from it
He walked closer until a familiar feeling drew him away from the mansion and into the graveyard. As if magnetised he made his way to where Cedric had died at the feet of the winged angel of death adorning Tom Riddle Sr's grave. Feeling very hollow he knelt down to where Cedric lay. He wasn't a religious person by any means but he recalled a passage he had overheard when he was forced to go to a neighbour's funeral when he was young. Not caring who heard he recited it
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die!)
Feeling a presence behind him he turned around to see Dee sitting on a nearby bench there looking at him sadly. Immediately the feelings of anger came back but he pushed them away. He recalled what he had said to her in her house about how it was the most thankless, loneliest job in the world. "I'm Sorry Dee for what I said last week. I was angry, I was emotional and I let my temper get the best of me. I've had a few days to think over what happened and I realised I was angry at the wrong person. I meant what I said when I asked you that final question at your house. I really do wish I could help you. So would you please accept my apology?"
Dee looked at Harry like he was the most remarkable person she had ever met. She was very afraid that she had lost what felt to her like her first true friend for doing something that was her very nature. It was her job to greet people at the Doorway. It was a sad but she had met some remarkable people over the millennia. Not all good, not all bad. It wasn't her place to judge really. That came after they made the choice to pass through the Doorway "Harry, there was never anything to forgive as far as I was concerned. You had a right to be upset. But you asked questions I literally have no answer for. And they're questions that have been asked for centuries, and will still be asked centuries after you die. I wish I could have given you an answer but I have none. Am I forgiven?" She asked in a small voice
"Oh Dee, of course you are" Harry said walking over to her and sitting at her side "there was nothing to forgive really. I'm sorry I upset you, you're sorry you couldn't give me an answer. Shall we call it even and move on?" seeing her nod he asked "why are you here? And why do we always meet in a graveyard?"
"I'm here because I needed to give you a warning. You are very close to finding where Tom is. Your research is spot on. But you must let the ritual tomorrow happen" holding up a hand to stall him she continued "his daughter will also be prophecy bound Harry, she too has a destiny to fulfil. I cannot tell you what, why or how. They're not for mortals to hear. But should you stumble across her just remember what you thought about coming up here. Delphine is not at fault for who her parents are!"
Sighing Harry got up and started pacing going over in his head. He already knew what he'd decide to do. He was just convincing himself he would do it "Ok. But only because you asked Dee. I plan on ending him as soon as I can. The longer he is alive the more chances he has to kill my friends and that I cannot allow. I was hoping to end it tomorrow. Now I'm told I can't so I'll train for our showdown. Question?" seeing her tilt her head he continued "If I kept Bellatrix alive until Delphine is born but kill Tom would that affect her destiny?"
"I'm unsure Harry" Dee replied "Bellatrix needs to give birth to her that much I can tell you. After that I do not know. Tom needs to do the ritual tomorrow"
"Hmm I have a proposition for you then, given I have at least nine months to wait, I feel that is a suitable timeframe for you to think it over" Harry said looking at her. Seeing her nod, he asked his question. Dees immediate response would be to say "No" but then she stopped herself. It wasn't a bad request by any means, there was just no precedent for it. Struggling to come up with an answer Harry quickly said "think it over Dee, you have nine months after all. I don't need an answer now but know this, my mind is made up on this and I will do the same regardless. I don't particularly need anyone's permission. Your help would go a long way of improving my chances, that's all"
"I will give it some thought Harry, my immediate response would be to say no but given your obvious sincerity I will think it over" Dee replied "so what plans are you going to make now?"
"Well given that I believe I've found Voldemort's base of operations near here, I can feel it, I may go and visit Albus and see if he wants to include the Order in this. I'd never hear the end of it otherwise" looking at her face he asked "What? What's the matter?"
"Harry, Albus Dumbledore is dead" Dee said gently "I helped his soul pass on minutes after you left the other day. Did you not know?"
"No of course I didn't!" Harry exclaimed standing up "I've stayed out of contact and masked my magic since then. I didn't want to be found. I'm still surprised you found me to be honest. How did he die? He looked ok to me the last time I saw him. He was only due to die next year, wasn't he?"
"No one can hide from me Harry now that the cloak has been reclaimed" Dee said also standing up and putting a hand on his shoulder "He was killed by a student at Hogwarts. The student had the Imperius placed on them by one of Toms followers and killed him in the great hall before killing himself. Albus and Ronalds funerals are the day after tomorrow"
"Ronald?" Harry shouted "Ronald Weasley? You have got to be kidding me! How was he at Hogwarts when he was suspended?"
"Harry, I suggest you go and see your friends and find out. I will give your request some thought, I promise you I will truly think it over but you need to leave Harry" giving him a hug she disappeared leaving Harry shocked. Giving the mansion one last look he apparated away. He had a Hermione to find