I do not own Harry Potter, the series would have been really different if I did. It would've been a dark fantasy if I wrote it.
Hello guys, Badger here. I want to apologise. This chapter has been sat ready and complete for a while now. However I lost the files. After a long time searching, I found the files on one of my USB drives. Then, my laptop needed to be taken into the shop to be fixed for a second time, delaying this chapter even further. However, it's here now and boy, I didn't realise just how many people loved this story and we aren't even five chapters in.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the previous ones and I will see you at the end.
Chapter 4
News For Potter
It was the next day, after Amelia had placed Sirius in a Ministry Holding Cell. The man had settled in well and was, rather impatiently, waiting for his trial. To her surprise, she had been summoned to the Ministers Office. As far as she knew, there were no reasons for her to be summoned, meaning Cornelius must have some urgent news. Whether it was good or bad, was unknown. Entering his office, she saw the Minister sat at his desk, reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. From the expression on his face, the news wasn't good.
"Minister, you summoned me?" She asked, causing Cornelius to look up from the newspaper in his hands
"Yes Amelia, it's not for a social call I'm afraid" He said, handing her the newspaper "See for yourself"
Amelia took the newspaper, gently, from the Ministers hands and looked at the front page, where she was shocked by the headline.
Confusion And Outrage In Gringotts, As An Unknown Assailant Escaped During An Unsuccessful Break In!
"Someone tried to break into Gringotts!" She exclaimed "They're either brave, or stupid to attempt such a thing"
"Yet its true" Cornelius said "I understand if you are busy Amelia, with recent events, but I was wondering if you would accompany me to Gringotts with a few Aurors, to do some investigations and, hopefully, make a start in extinguishing the flames…the Goblins are, understandably, enraged over this"
"I have a few trusted Aurors watching over Sirius and the Dursleys, so as of now I have an open schedule" Amelia replied "I'll gather up a few trusted Aurors and I'll meet you at the bank"
…
Meanwhile, inside Hogwarts, Harry sat with Susan and Hannah, at breakfast, where Susan was offering help to Harry, who was struggling with writing the essay given to them by Professor Flitwick, about the Levitation Charm.
"I just don't understand" Harry said, as he ate his breakfast "If we are able to preform the spell, why do we need to write an essay about it?"
"Its to show that we properly understand the spell and how it works" Susan replies "Knowing how to do the spell isn't enough, with proper spell knowledge is what helps us with more advanced spells in later years"
"Not to mention it also prepares us for our exams in our 5th and 7th years" Hannah spoke up "According to my mother, some exams have us writing essays on all kinds of spells, as well as the history of magic itself"
Harry frowned slightly. In Muggle school, one thing he always hated was having to write things like essays. He hoped he would get away from it, but that was wishful thinking. The sound of owls screeching caused Harry to look up, where he saw dozens, upon dozens of owls flying into the Great Hall, each one of them carrying a package of some kind, in their beaks.
"The mails here!" Susan said, happily, as the owls began dropping their packages to their respected owner
As an owl delivered letters to Hannah and Susan, Harry was surprised to see Hedwig land in front of him, a newspaper in her beak. Harry gently took the newspaper, giving her feathers a few strokes in appreciation, as well as a strip of bacon, which Hedwig happily ate up, giving Harry a gentle hoot, before flying off. Harry unrolled the newspaper and his eyes widened, at the headline.
"Hey guys, look at this" He said, showing them the newspaper
Confusion And Outrage In Gringotts, As An Unknown Assailant Escaped During An Unsuccessful Break In!
The Goblins of Gringotts Bank are left in outrage, after the wards of the Bank alerted them of an attempted break in. The assailant is unknown, having run away and escaped as soon as the wards were set off. The unknown assailant had attempted to break into Vault 713, in the deepest parts of the bank, where the Goblins were able to reassure that nothing had been taken.
In fact, according to sources, the vault had already been emptied long before the unknown assailant had attempted to steal, though what they wanted to steal is unknown. The Goblins are enraged over this break-in, the first break-in, in nearly 300 years and are demanding the Wizarding World that something is done, and the unknown assailant is found and justice is served to the Goblins of Gringotts.
This article was brought to you by:
Rita Skeeter
"Someone tried to break into Gringotts!" Hannah said, eyes widening, as she read the headline over and over again, wondering if it was real
"If my aunt knows about this, she'll probably be investigating it" Susan said "If anyone can find anything, she can"
"It's strange" Harry commented "Vault 713, when Hagrid took me to Gringotts, to my vault, we also went to Vault 713, where he removed a small bundle inside, apparently it was for Professor Dumbledore"
"If Professor Dumbledore wanted it removed, it must've been important" Susan said "And the fact that someone tried breaking into that vault no longer after it was emptied, proves that…I'll send a letter to my aunt letting her know, maybe it will help with any investigations"
Harry nodded, before he rolled up the newspaper once more, wanting to move the conversation along. Especially with everyone else starting to talk about it, as more people began reading the article and word began to spread. Digging back into their breakfast, Susan opened the letter, immediatley recognising the neat calligraphy of her aunts handwriting and began reading the contents.
Susan,
I hope you are well and I hope Harry is settling in well and I hope you are looking after him, like I asked. Did you end up in Hufflepuff like you hoped? Remember, it doesn't matter to me which House you end up in.
Anyway, I'm afraid this letter isn't a social one. I have some news to give. News that you, and Harry especially, should know, before it becomes public knowledge in the Daily Prophet. To be blunt, Harry's relatives, are currently in a Ministry Holding Cell, awaiting trial. Meeting Harry at Kings Cross, and the state of him, left me suspicious and my investigations confirmed that Harry has been abused by his relatives. I questioned them under Veritaserum, though something tells me they weren't telling me everything. Their trial will see the full truth come out where, hopefully, they'll be put away for a long time. When it comes to their trial, I will collect Harry and bring him to the Wizengamot, should they require evidence, or a statement from Harry himself.
And I will also be having a word with Dumbledore, as he was the apparently the one who placed Harry in their care.
However, as I done my investigations, I found something worrying. I'm sure you remember about me telling you about Sirius Black. The convict who betrayed the Potters to You-Know-Who. Well, during my investigations, I have reasons to suspect that he might be innocent. He is Harry's godfather, meaning he would've taken the Godfather's Oath. I'm sure you've read about it. If he took the Godfather's Oath, that means he couldn't have betrayed the Potters. If he is innocent, it means the real culprit is still out there.
I don't know if Harry knows about Sirius, but I want you to tell him immediatley. Tell him everything I've told you. He deserves to know and it would be better then finding out when this, no doubt, becomes public news in the Daily Prophet. Rita Skeeter always has a way of finding information hidden from the public.
I will see you and Harry soon.
Your loving Aunt,
Amelia
"You okay Susan?" Hannah asked "You've been looking at that letter for a while now…is something wrong?"
Susan looked up, her gaze landing on Hannah, before moving to Hannah. She looked between the two, before looking around the Great Hall and grimaced slightly at all the possible eavesdroppers. From what her aunt had said in her letter, it was best if none of the other students heard anything they said.
"Harry, can we talk in private?" Susan asked
Harry looked at her curiously, but nodded in response. He and Susan stood up, to leave the Great Hall, when Hannah spoke up.
"Can I come to?" She asked
Not wanting to keep secrets from her friend, and trusting Hannah to keep everything quiet, Susan nodded and the three left the Great Hall, where Susan, who still had the letter in her hands, led the two of them into one of the several abandoned classrooms, where no one would be able to eavesdrop on the conversation the three were about to have.
"Harry…your relatives…" Susan said, trying to find the right words to use "Do they…abuse you?"
Harry went pale at her words and found himself falling onto one of the many dusty chairs in the room. He began to shake and had a fearful look in his eyes. Seeing Harry's response shocked both Hannah and Susan.
"They…they hate me" Harry said, after a moment "To begin with I didn't understand why they hate me so much…but…after finding out I was a wizard, it made sense…they hate me for having magic…for not being 'normal'…they would always beat me, yell at me, scream in my face…I always have to do a bunch of difficult chores and if they weren't done in time, or to their standards…I would receive more beatings by my uncle"
"Didn't you tell anyone about this?" Hannah asked, horrified at what Harry was telling them
"I tried" Harry said "but no one would believe me…when my uncle found out that I was telling people he…he broke my arm…I didn't tell anyone again, afraid of what he would do if he found out"
"Susan, can't your aunt do something about this?" Hannah asked, looking to her friend, desperately
"She already has" Susan reassured "She's arrested them"
"They're in prison?" Harry asked, looking to Susan in surprise
"Not yet" Susan replied "Your relatives are in a Ministry Holding Cell, awaiting a trial, she'll be collecting you before the trial, just in case you are required to give evidence…she wanted you to know, before this became public knowledge"
"Will…will my relatives be locked up?" Harry asked
"I know they will" Susan reassured "My aunt is thorough when it comes to investigations, she'll make sure they are put away for a long time"
"They deserve Azkaban" Hannah said, darkly "Did your Aunt say when the trial is?"
"No, but I imagine it will be soon" Susan sighed "And…there's something else you should know"
"What is it?" Harry asked
"Do you know Sirius Black?" Susan asked
"Sirius Black!" Hannah gasped, in fear, whilst Harry looked confused
"I…I don't know who that is" Harry replied "Who is he?"
"He was arrested and convicted…he…he was believed to be the reason why You-Know-Who…killed your parents…he told him where they were hiding" Susan said, slowly "However…my aunt believes he may be innocent"
"What?" Hannah looked to her friend "How come?"
"Because…Sirius Black is…Harry's godfather" Susan replied
"But…but that means…" Hannah said, unable to finish her sentence
"I know" Susan said
"I have a godfather" Harry said softly, shocked at everything he was hearing "I…I didn't know…where is he?"
"He's currently in a Ministry Holding Cell" Susan replied "After your relatives trial, he will then be put on trial, to confirm his innocence"
"But if he is innocent" Hannah spoke up "Then…who actually betrayed the Potters?"
"I don't know" Susan said "But I imagine this will become a nightmare for the Ministry, for having an innocent man locked up in Azkaban for ten years, whilst the real culprit is still out there, somewhere…there's going to be outrage all over the Wizarding World, when it becomes public knowledge"
"I….I feel ill" Harry said, unable to handle everything he was hearing "I….I need something to drink"
"If you don't want to go back to the Great Hall, we can go to the Kitchens" Susan said "It's not that far from the Hufflepuff Common Room and I'm sure the House Elves will be happy to help out"
"That will be nice" Harry replied
Nodding, Susan and Hannah helped Harry stand up, and the trio quickly made their way to the Hogwarts Kitchens, before breakfast was over and lessons began.
…
Quirrell twitched on the floor of his office, in agonising pain. His Master was already less then happy that Quirrell had failed in getting the Philosophers Stone from Gringotts. Seeing his failure broadcasted to the entirety of Wizarding Britain in the Daily Prophet relit that fire and sent his Master into a rage, before punishing Quirrell with some of the worst pain the man had ever felt, by tearing into his mind, ripping through his thoughts, making all the nerves in his body feel like they were on fire. It was worse then the Cruciatus Curse. His Master eventually stopped after a few minutes of torture, not wanting to break his servant who, so far, had been keeping him alive.
Slowly standing up, not wanting to cause any more unnecessary pain, Quirrell leant against his desk to steady himself, where the pain began to slowly, but surely, subside. His entire body felt numb and weak, barely able to remain standing. He was going to need to find the Philosophers Stone, for his Master.
And quickly
...
And that is the new chapter done. What did you guys think?
Not much happened in this chapter I know, but it included what I wanted to happen. When developing this story, I felt like it would be better for Harry to be told about the Dursleys arrest, and Sirius, immediately, instead of finding out about it in an article in the Daily Prophet. I know some of you are anxiously waiting for the Dursleys and Sirius' trial. Don't worry, it will be happening soon within the next few chapters. I don't know how soon. But soon.
Anyway, that is all for now. If you have any story suggestions or requests you would like to make, feel free to let me know and I will see you next time, in whichever story I see you in.
Badger Out