Hogwarts: A History

The ghostly sound of the harsh November winds swept through the streets of Cokeworth. Tobias had been waiting for this moment. His wife had gone off to the shops with Arnica and the remaining daughter, and Erwin would be alone at home. The diary had convinced him to speak with Erwin. To speak with someone who was there with him when Grindelwald had come to him in the trenches of France. He needed to prove to him that the Holy Grail was as real as Grindelwald had been that day. That he had been right all along, and that his men had not died in vain.

With Bagshot's book on Hogwarts tightly held in his hand, he made his way out of Spinner's End. Halfway across the bridge he looked down at the flowing river, and watched the seeds of the maple trees propeller in the wind and land onto the surface of the water, never knowing the sharp rocks that lay hidden below. It brought back a memory of Severus as a young boy. Bringing the seeds home with him, trying to make them fly off from the palm of his hand. He had wanted to impress Lily with it. He had crushed the seeds up in his fist.

He drew several deep breaths before knocking on Erwin's door. Containing himself from bursting into a fit of rage whenever he encountered his nemesis of the past. After a few moments he heard Erwin shuffling towards the door, and before him appeared a thinning man worn of exhaustion and grief. 'Is there anything you need?' Erwin mumbled. 'I was about to head out for a run.'

'Talk with me instead,' Tobias demanded, and took a step over the threshold. 'There's something I must show you.'

'I don't appear to have much of a choice,' said Erwin as Tobias forced his way inside. 'Don't keep me too long. I need to go and clear my head.'

'Severus used to do that,' said Tobias as he sat down at the kitchen table, and placed Hogwarts: A History in front of him. 'Go out running. He'd be gone for hours and miss out on dinner.'

'I'm well aware,' said Erwin as he sat down across the table, and shoved a newspaper he had been reading aside. 'Because I would often find him knocking on my door, and I would run along with him. We used to do that too, remember? When we were still in service.'

'I remember you not being able to keep up with me,' said Tobias with a scoff.

'I couldn't keep up with Severus either,' said Erwin, and fond memories arose of all the times he would run after the boy. Making pit stops at the ice-cream shop. Talking about Lily and her shenanigans at Hogwarts. Of all the books they've read, and of his troubles at home. 'The speed. The determination. He got that from you. I see you've brought Hogwarts: A History with you.'

'You've read it before?' Tobias asked.

'Indeed I have,' said Erwin. 'Lily had brought it home after Severus had lend it to her all those years ago. It helped us understand what Hogwarts was all about.'

'Then you must remember the story of the Founding Members of Hogwarts?' said Tobias.

'Remind me,' said Erwin. He took the book and opened it up on the pages of the Founding Members. 'Anything in here that you wished to show me?'

Tobias pointed at the chapter dedicated to Helga Hufflepuff. 'Look at her image,' he said.

Erwin looked down on the portrait of the plump lady. She had a radiant smile, and her golden yellow robes accentuating her curves. 'House of the badgers,' he said. 'What is it that you want me to see here?'

'Look at what she's holding!' Tobias huffed. 'Don't you understand what this is?'

Erwin took a good look at the small cup that Helga held in her hands. It had two handles, appeared to be made of solid gold, and had a badger engraved into it. 'It's her cup,' he said with a shrug. 'All I remember is that she was known for her food-related charms, and that she never went anywhere without her cup.'

'Do you not remember me describing it to you?' said Tobias, growing angry. 'Do you not remember when we were there in Normandy, and I kept telling you that this is what we were looking for!'

Within his very soul, Erwin felt a rage boil up inside of him. 'We?' he spat. 'All you did was spout nonsense of the Holy Grail, captain! You were delusional! You were –'

' —IT WAS GRINDELWALD!' Tobias yelled. 'It was not a ghost in my head, Evans! He was there! He was there and only I could see him! And you know of him! I KNOW YOU DO! YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE STORIES OF THE WAR! AND OF DUMBLEDORE, AND –'

'—THAT'S ENOUGH!' Erwin slammed his fist on the table. For a brief moment, the two men looked at each other with loathing in their eyes, ready to strike out. 'That's enough. That's enough, Snape,' he said with venom in his voice. 'After all these years, and yet you are still –'

'— I know it was him,' said Tobias, his voice trembling in anger.

'And yet you've never mentioned his name.'

Tobias looked away, suppressing the urge to strangle the man before him until the light would fade from his eyes. In his mind he saw the dark-blue robes billowing in the wind as the battle raged behind him. A finger pressed against lips, keeping him quiet. 'I know what I believe,' he said quietly. 'I shall see myself out.' With a rough pull he took the book from Erwin's hands, stomped his way down the hall, and faced the ghostly winds outside.

Erwin remained seated for a while, feeling the stillness return in the absence of Tobias' storm. He grabbed the newspaper he had shoved aside and unfolded it in front of him. Eileen had arranged for The Daily Prophet to be delivered at their address, making sure that any news from the Wizarding world could continue to reach them now that the Ministry's officials were gone – and preventing Tobias from getting his hands on it. On the cover was a large photo of a young and haughty looking man. His black hair was waving in the wind, and his hands were holding a ship's wheel. The Headmaster of Durmstrang was still searching for his Spanish Galleon. The ship that could travel through lakes unseen.

It was all connected. Erwin understood that much. Dumbledore's disappearance, as well as learning from from Eileen that Grindelwald had disappeared from his prison – though how she knew, she did not say. But Lily and Severus, they had disappeared before the ship had, and therefore there was no chance for them to have been on it. As much as he wanted to reject the feeling, Tobias' words did resonate within him. And it gnawed at him. The history between Dumbledore and Grindelwald had been complex, and just how much their war had influenced his own were unknown to him. But then again, Tobias had only ever said to be in search for a golden cup. His Holy Grail, and any mention of Hufflepuff or the engraving of a badger had gone unmentioned. Something, he thought, that ought to have been vital information when he led his men to their death.

Shaking it off, he tossed The Daily Prophet aside and headed for the door. For now, he would run, leaving behind the troubles of his life for just a little while.

...o0o…

'I ought to get myself a new ship,' said Karkaroff. He was pacing around the living room at Malfoy Manor, speaking to the Dark Lord. 'The seabeds are graveyards to old ships. Surely there must be a way to resurrect one from the deep.'

'It is also a breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy,' said Voldemort, and neatly folded up The Daily Prophet he had been reading. 'Raising a new ship from the seabed will not go unnoticed, and it will not sit well with the government bodies if you do so.'

'Then what do you propose I do for my students, my Lord?' said Karkaroff with a scoff. 'Have a carriage pulled by Abraxan horses like those poofy Beauxbatons do? Surely, that much be a breach of the Statute also.'

'All you need to do is draw as little attention to yourself as possible,' said Voldemort as he tossed the newspaper into the hearth, and watched the picture of Karkaroff shrivel up in the flames. 'Your position at Durmstrang is essential, for you are responsible to persuade those young minds to join my cause. You will find another way.'

'Then for another way, I shall look,' said Karkaroff, and with a bow he left the living room.

From among the shelves, the Dark Lord pulled out a copy of Hogwarts: A history, and leafed through it until he reached the pages on the Founding Members of Hogwarts. He remembered reading it for the first time. Albus Dumbledore had come to him at the orphanage, and had given it to him to help him prepare for his new life at Hogwarts. His traced his fingers over the image of Salazar Slytherin, the Locket shining around his neck. The cup and the diadem, now also bound to his will. And then there was Godric Gryffindor. An unusually short but stout man, with his hands leaning on his Sword. He wondered if it was still there, presented on the wall up in the Headmaster's office. And he longed for it, as it was the last piece of the puzzle that formed Hogwarts. The only place he had ever called home.

Christmas break was but a mere month away. Soon Regulus Black and his ratty friend would come and pay Malfoy Manor a visit, and it was time to put Pettigrew's talent to the test. He would make the boy break into the Headmaster's office, and have him steal the Sword of Gryffindor for him. Only then would he know if the boy's motives to join his cause would be true. Only then would he know where his true loyalties lie.

...o0o…

'What's your plan for Christmas, Moony?' asked Sirius.

'Full moon,' he growled. 'Wish I could've stayed at the castle, but since most teachers will be gone it's best if I went home instead.'

'That's a bummer mate,' said Sirius. 'And what about you, Wormtail? Want to stay here with me and Prongs?'

'Can't,' Peter shrugged. 'Parents insist on me being home for Christmas. Got the whole family coming over for dinner. Mum's probably making all of Helga Hufflepuff's dishes for the Muggle side of the family, and –'

'—your mouth's watering, Wormtail,' said Remus with a playful push against Peter's shoulder. 'Looks like it'll be just the two of you then. 'What's the plan? Aside from your trip to Little Hangleton, of course.'

'Wormtail here managed to sniff out another secret passageway,' said Sirius as he unfolded the Marauders Map in front of them, and pointed at the Grand Staircase. 'There's a tunnel behind the portrait of Percival Pratt, but we don't know where it leads yet, since we haven't been able to figure out the password. Once we figure it out, we'll have seven secret passageways in and around the castle.'

'And,' James emphasised, 'Slughorn will be hosting the Christmas party.'

'And the Veritaserum will be ready by then,' said Remus with a confirming nod of approval. Sounds like a good plan, and – oh dear, would you look at McGonagall up there in the Headmasters office,' he said as he pointed at four little inky paws. 'Pacing around in her cat-form.'

'She's been doing that a lot lately,' said James. 'Can't imagine the burden she's carrying now that Dumbledore's gone.'

'Looks like your little brother's here,' said Peter as he pointed at the Gryffindor portrait.

'Did he fail his test or something?' asked Sirius.

'He's your brother,' said Peter with a huff. 'Why don't you go and ask him yourself! But yeah, his teacup still hasn't changed into a gerbil, nor has he been able to transfigure his cauldron cakes into cabbages – though I wonder why anyone would want to do that anyway.'

'Why would you want to help him out anyway?' Sirius barked. 'You know what he's bound to become.'

Peter got up and made his way towards the portrait. 'Because McGonagall will give me extra credit when I do. So long, my fellow critters!'

'Follow me,' said Regulus after Peter crawled his way through the portrait hole. 'I received my parents' plan for Christmas break.'

'In the library, please,' said Peter. 'You know they can follow me on the Map.'

The two young men made their way down to the library, and found a secluded corner where they could not easily be overheard. 'What's my brother doing for Christmas?' said Regulus as he brought his voice down to a whisper.

'Staying here with Potter,' said Peter. 'Not that it matters much now that he's officially moved in with the Potters anyway. Why do you care?'

Regulus shrugged it off. 'My parents want to know. They may resent him for having been sorted into Gryffindor, but they're still keeping track of him. For him to be at Hogwarts – it's probably for the best.'

'Don't worry about him, alright?' said Peter. 'Now what did your parents sent you?'

Regulus pushed the letter he had received to Peter. 'Read it carefully,' he said. 'I'll have to destroy it afterwards.'

Peter carefully read the letter several times, making sure that all the information was in his head. 'At least I'll actually get to be home for Christmas, but I'm sure I could concoct a lie for staying with a friend during new years eve.'

'I'll ask one of my aunties to pick you up,' said Regulus as he folded the letter back in his pocket. 'Now that that's settled, what do we do?'

Peter got up and rummaged through the shelves until he found what he was looking for. 'Here's Hogwarts: A History for you,' he said as he handed Regulus the book.

'I've read this before,' said Regulus. 'How's this supposed to help me with Transfiguration?'

'Helga Hufflepuff's recipes are in here,' he said. 'If you want to transfigure those cauldron cakes into cabbages, you'll first have to know how they're made. You can't transfigure anything if you don't know the essence of the object you're transforming.'

Regulus opened the book, and found the pages on the founding members of Hogwarts. He stopped when the image of Salazar Slytherin came up, and looked at the locket that was hanging around his neck. The young men looked at each other, and without words they both understood what they were thinking. 'Any chance you could help me out with Charms as well?' Regulus asked. 'I think I might need to brush up on the Doubling Charm.'

...o0o…

Aberforth was cleaning glasses with a dirty rag, when the door to his empty pub was swung open. 'We're closed,' he growled, but the person who entered came forth and sat on a stool by the bar. 'Miss Bagshot,' he said as he looked up. 'To what do I owe the pleasure?'

'You must have read my new book by now, Aberforth,' said Bathilda. 'Omens, Oracles & The Goat has been been success.'

'It's not as good as your other work,' said Aberforth, and handed her a dusty butterbeer. 'Divination is still a subject most steer clear from.'

'And yet, who would've thought that goats had such an impact on the history of our world,' said Bathilda, who didn't seem insulted in the slightest. 'From the divination practises of Southern Ethiopia, to the good omens of ancient Rome. I owe it all to you, my friend.' She clunked her butterbeer against the empty glass he was holding, and took a celebratory swig.

'You're not here to talk about your book,' said Aberforth as he put the glass down. 'C'mon, out with it. What is it that you want to know?'

'I came here to talk about your brother,' she said, suddenly sounding much more serious. 'He's been missing for quite some time now, hasn't he?'

'I'm sure Albus is off doing whatever it is he needs to do, as always,' said Aberforth.

'I just can't help shake the feeling that there's more going on,' said Bathilda. 'It's as if there's history in the making. First the students that have gone missing. Then Dumbledore disappears, and Durmstrang's ship shorty after. History, I'm telling you! History in the way that this inn has made history.'

'What history?' said Aberforth, who did not appear to be interested in hearing anything she had to say.

'The Goblin Rebellion of sixteen-twelve of course!' said Bathilda as she waved around the pub. 'This inn was their headquarters. Finding a way to get inside the walls of Hogwarts, and retrieve back the Sword that was stolen!'

Aberforth glanced at the portrait of his sister Ariana, and she just shook her head. 'The Sword was never stolen,' he said.

'From the castle, or from the Goblins?' asked Bathilda.

Aberforth knew that Bagshot knew more than she was leading on. 'You're prying,' he said as he uncorked a bottle of butterbeer for himself. 'But you know as well as I do that the Sword of Gryffindor never belonged to the Goblins in the first place.'

'And yet King Ragnuk the First claimed to have made it,' said Bathilda. 'At least, that is what I believed when I wrote A History of Magic.'

'It's best to keep it that way,' said Aberforth. 'But you digress, for this does not relate to the disappearance of my brother.'

'So you admit he disappeared,' said Bathilda. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment Aberforth could feel something tugging in the back of his mind. 'Where has he gone off to?'

'Get out of my head!' said Aberforth as he slammed his butterbeer down. 'I do not know where he is – nor do I care to know!'

A sly grin formed on Bathilda's aging face. 'He's not your brother, is he?'

...o0o...

Halfway across the bridge, he stopped again to look down at the river below. Tobias had been fuming by how the conversation with Erwin had ended. Oh how he wanted to rip that insolent ginger moustache from the man's upper lip, along by stripping him of his blindness. But most of all, he was angry at Grindelwald. Angry, that the had become his chosen man to carry the burden. Angry, that he had played with his mind so well he could never convince anyone else what he'd been after.

With a hurl, he tossed Hogwarts: A History down into the river. With a splash it landed on the surface, and he watched it sank as the pages soaked up the water, and disappeared from sight.

With a sense of relieve washing over him, Tobias returned to Spinner's End. He made his way upstairs and sat down behind Severus' writing desk, and opened Riddle's diary.

He didn't listen to me, he wrote. He didn't want to believe Grindelwald was behind all of this.

He was your friend

He was. There was a time where I would have called him my brother.

He was never truly your friend, Tobias.
Has there been any news on your son?

No, he wasn't. Not unlike you. You're always here for me.

Tobias could feel the stinging sensation of tears prickling behind his eyes. Tears he hadn't felt in a very long time, and he was trying hard to force them back in again. The diary had often asked about his son. How he was doing at school. What House he belonged in. What he was like as a child. If he had any particular talents. And perhaps most of all, the diary was interested in his son's magical family lineage. And he had told it all. Of the Prince family, and the Black, and of Ravenclaw. The diary had been pleased to learn.

There hasn't been any news on my son, he wrote. I fear the worst.

The tears were falling freely now. Soaked into the diary's paper where they disappeared.

And what of the girl?

The diary sounded demanding. As if it were hungry to know more. Nothing about her either. Why?

Perhaps it is all her fault

I don't know.

Tobias put the fountain pen down. More than anything, he wanted to blame it all on Evans' daughter. But he knew in his heart that it was Severus that had been going down a darker path. He had wanted to write more, but by the sound of the front door opening, he closed it instead. His feelings about the girl, it would have to wait. He put the diary in the desk's drawer, and placed it next to the white peacock feather. He looked at the eye-shaped pattern on the feather, remembering his mother's words. It represents the Third Eye, jaanu. It is a spiritual reawakening. A rebirth, if you will.

A/N According to , Durmstrang's ship did breach the Statute of Secrecy, as well as Beauxbatons with their Abraxan-pulled carriages because it can too easily be seen my Muggles.

A/N In both November and December 1977, full moon occurred on the 25th. It must've sucked for Remus that it happened on a Christmas day.

A/N On Peter: "It turned out that he was a betterwizardthan they knew." — J.K. Rowling describing Pettigrew's skills.
Peter did the opposite of Severus. He first joined the Order of the Phoenix, and then after James and Lily's death he joined the Death Eaters. Being a rat, he made a great spy within the Order that even Dumbledore could not detect.
His friends talents overshadowed him, but we know he was rather good at Charms because he co-created the Marauder's Map and used many spells non-verbally in the books, as well as Transfiguration, since he became an Animagus. He even helped brew the Polyjuice potion for Barty Jnr to disguise himself as Moody, as well as the Rudimentary body potion and the Regeneration potion to bring back Voldemort. Then there's also his intellectual keenness for being able to find Voldemort's hidden location in Albania, and pin the death of 12 Muggles onto Sirius.
Peter wasn't stupid in the slightest, but being overshadowed, diffident, and a bit of a laughingstock to his friends his talent never truly revealed itself.

Point is, Peter is not someone to be underestimated. He knows how to play the parts, and like Severus, he played them well.

A/N Not all seven passages were revealed in the books. Percival Pratt is shown as a portrait in several movies and some video games. The password in the game was "this password is absurd!"

A/N "Omens, Oracles & The Goat" by Bathila Bagshot was a book cover made by the arts department of the HP movies. It was seen in Deathly Hallows: part 1, as well as in the Lego HP games years 5-7. It's supposedly a book about Divination.

A/N "But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it? In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain –" — Hermione Granger regarding this book's contents. The book never specified in which inn the rebellion actually happened, so I just picked the Hog's Head.

A/N "Jaanu" is Hindi, meaning 'my life'. A popular term of endearment.