Chapter 23 : ...Here Comes the Beast
I do not own Harry Potter
Author's Notes:
So after posting an ending which was not as well thought out as I thought... and the mostly negative response its gotten, I've decided to edit what happened. Hopefully it's better now, and we can all forget that wildly OOC thing ever happened.
| Medical Wing| Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry| Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands| 31st October 1993|
"How?!" asked a befuddled Sirius, barely remembering to keep his voice down
"You tell me, you made the thing!" exclaimed Harry with a snicker, pointing his wand at the Marauders Map
"Not that! How did you know?!" exclaimed Sirius "...But not for one moment am I complaining!" he emphasized, pulling the Gryffindor into another hug
Harry let out a hiss of pain; Sirius had touched a still healing burn "Genius idea, my boy! What was you plan? killing yourself before the dementors kill you?!" he admonished
"Yeah.. that could have gone better" Harry admitted with a sheepish laugh
"Better?! I You gave me an aneurysm!" Padfoot tried to maintain a stern elderly demeanor, but the joy of the moment was just too much for him to resist. He smiled, and took Harry's hand in his. "...So, how'd you figure out what everyone couldn't?"
"Long story... involves your brother-"
"-Regulus?!" Sirius verbalized a little too loudly
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" warned Harry
"Sorry... go on" this time it was Sirius' turn to act sheepish
"Well - " began Harry, only to stop immediately as he heard a familiar tip-toe in the distance "Shit! Pomfrey's coming! Quick, hide!" Harry panicked
Without missing a beat, Sirius quickly transformed into Padfoot, and snuck into the shadows, hopefully out of visible range.
"Potter! How on earth are you still awake!" shouted the Hogwarts Matron, though she received her answer not too long after, spotting the undrunk sleeping potion tucked away by her patient. Even in the barely lit room, Harry could make out she looked murderous. The raven-haired boy had seen Sirius was near the Quidditch pitch, and in a bit of anticipation that surprised even him, asked Fred and George to leave him the Marauders' Map so he could see if Sirius came over to check on him. He'd skipped on his sleeping potion for that very purpose - just in case the grim showed up.
After the most inventive of dressing downs, even by Madam Pomfrey's standards, she proceeded to empty the flask into Harry's mouth herself, since the latter was clearly 'too much of a daredevil for his own health', as she put it. After being convinced the potion was starting to take effect, she retreated to her chamber.
Within moments, Harry could feel himself getting groggy. This was a bloody strong dose. He briefly wondered if this was what it was like when one was anesthetized... going numb and slowly fading away...
Sirius recognized the lack of time too. Emerging from his hiding spot as soon as he was convinced Poppy was gone, he started with pause "the whomping willow has a knot you can press in front of it to make it stop. Press it, go inside the hollow bark and follow - you'll find me. Come alone... please." Sirius spoke hurriedly. For a moment he was worried if Harry has even registered what he'd said, but a brief nod from his godson relieved his fear.
As he watched sleep take him, Sirius couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry at his fate.
After an agonizing wait, he finally got a chance to talk to Harry. His joy was elevated to heavenly heights upon finding out that he too know of his innocence. But in the blink of an eye, that had been taken from them. He shook his head and made off for the grounds, and forwards onto the Shrieking Shack. His cherished conversation would have to wait just a little bit longer.
The Next Day
Harry slowly opened his eyes. He was incredibly disoriented and his head felt heavy. He tried to awaken with a start, only to be jerk awkwardly as his right side refused to co-operate. In fact, he realized he had no feeling in his right limbs at all. He looked over anxiously, only to be alarmed even more by what he saw - heavy bandaging plastering his body. It took him longer than expected before he finally put the pieces together; he was in the hospital wing. Suddenly memories of the previous day flooded his mind, as he frantically processed everything, his mind-montage coming to a screeching halt as he recalled the last sentence he heard before passing out.
"Shrieking Shack from the Willow", the Gryffindor mumbled to himself
"What?"
With a jolt, Harry looked up
"Dora!" he exclaimed
"Yeah, me!" replied a confused Dora with her arms stretched out "Who did you think you were talking to for the last minute?!"
"Huh" came the eloquent reply
"Wha - the potions mess with your head or something? Or did you burn your brain too, you idiot!"
"They probably did Auror Tonks" commented Madam Pomfrey, entering the room "So don't pressurize him!" the formidable matron chided, and began to run what Harry guessed were diagnostic tests, waving her wand in crisscrossing patterns all over him.
"Hmm.. everything seems to be in order... your skin was remarkably resistant to the fire, and healed faster than expected too..." she observed "...quite a peculiarity..." she stated with a hint of scrutiny, making the boy she was examining a bit nervous
"That's him, alright - a big weirdo" came the helpful comments of Nypmhadora, eliciting a chuckle from the other two.
"Here we go, Mr Potter" said Poppy, summoning a cart-load of potions. The Potter Heir took an inward sigh of relief as Poppy seemed to move on from her suspicion, the fewer people knew about his somewhat shady business over the summer, the better.
"Oh God" Harry blurted involuntarily, watching what was no less than 7 separate flasks of varying capacity
"Maybe try drowning yourself within an inch of your life next time, stud" jibed Tonks as the mediwitch placed the potions next to Harry's bed
"...Well what are you waiting for?!" cried out Pomfrey "After your little bravado last night, I'm not leaving till I see you down every last drop!" the mediwitch declared, hands on her hips - to emphasize how mad she was.
Needless to say, Harry complied without a word.
Satisfied that the regimen had been completed, the matron departed again, to look over a new patient, muttering something about incompetent Ministry officials and demons. This left Harry and Tonks, reunited for the first time since the summer.
"Its good to see you Tonks" the Gryffindor said sincerely
"You too" the metamorphmagus replied in earnest ".. Actually became kind of quiet after you left" she admitted
"You're still there?!" Harry remarked in mock horror "I thought you'd have moved out ages ago!"
"Oh, shut up!" Tonks outraged, firing a stinging hex in retaliation
"Ow, severely injured man here!"
"Well then maybe you should take it into account before being a smartarse" Tonks retorted, sarcasm in abundance.
"Soooo" transitioned Harry moving him sole motorable arm up and down over the newly graduated Auror "... What brings you here?"
Tonks took a pause before answering, as if thinking of the most embarrassing way to say what she wanted "... The higher ups decided you're too much of a menace and need a babysitter" Dora spoke with a straight face. It took Harry a second to catch on...
And once it dawned on him, his cousin spelled it out -
"Dementors are gone. Aurors only now, and I'm on you personally"
Harry let out a groan, before realizing the implication "..Not that I'm not happy to see you!" he said hurriedly
"Hmm? Too late now" Tonks replied with a pout, facing the other way
"Oh quit it" Harry stated dismissively, donning on a character markedly different from what he was like in school. His dynamic with Dora was an entirely unique thing... like a sibling? While he didn't feel comfortable enough to admit that yet, it certainly had shades of it. Hopefully he could feel intimate enough one day to think about it without reservations, like he did now.
"Guess its you and me now, shorty - and hey, I'm taller than you now!" exclaimed Harry, protecting himself with a pillow just in case. And what he'd said wasn't an exaggeration either; Nymphadora was 5''4, roughly the same height as him... He'd grown another inch or so since the summer. But this was a matter for another time.
"Yeah, guess I will be following you everywhere" Harry sighed again, unhappy about the surveillance "...But" Nypmhadora started
"But...?" questioned Harry as Nymphadora gestured him to come closer. He acquiesced, and Dora simultaneously bent downwards, until their noses were inches away from each other's. Then, in a soft, slow voice, as if explaining something to a toddler, said -
"I already know Black's no danger to you" `
Harry burst out laughing, realizing the rather obvious answer. And as luck would have it, the sole other Ministry employee aware of the whole truth was the one assigned to him.
Once the guffawing subsided, he remarked in a solemn tone "We have a lot to talk about - the kind I can't put in a letter"
"We do" acknowledged Tonks, alluding to the fact that she too had information of her own "... But for now, you need to rest" Dora emphasized with a look over to his bandages "I'll get out before Pomfrey starts charging me with my dignity for every second I overspent here" she joked, then proceeded to walk out swiftly and confidently, fitting of an Auror... till she knocked over a vase on her way out.
"Oh no, not again!"
Later
Harry had a lot of visitors, each allotted small amounts of visitation time - his friends from Gryffindor, Remus, surprisingly, who offered to teach him the patronus - with Harry agreeing to start after the winter break. It was an interesting, albeit brief conversation, and the raven-haired boy noted the undertone of guilt running throughout the conversation. Maybe Remus was a good guy after all, or at least that's what his dad thought... wasn't that something that still made Harry smile no matter how many times he thought about it; he could speak to this parents now.
Also on the list were McGonagall, who seemed genuinely concerned too, and lastly - Daphne, Astoria and Tracey.
Harry was surprised to see them, though he guessed it made sense, considering they were allies now. Daphne acted strangely out of character, but whether it was her trying to act like she cared, or act like she didn't, he couldn't guess. He filed that bit of information away for now, instead focusing on what lied ahead - his discharge.
Pomfrey released him from her penitentiary after 2 days of care. He left with an arm sling he would need to wear till the end of the week, some salve, and an abundance of verbal assaults on the Ministry. She like many, seemed not to blame him for what had happened.
But that didn't stop the uncomfortable looks from his peers he got the second he walked out of the Medical Wing. Their apprehension upset him if he was being honest... between his eventual option, suicide diving and getting kissed, what choice was he really left with?
He didn't show a shred of it however. He'd gone through this exact same thing last year. He realized people were going to talk... it was their job to talk. They were going to talk about one thing or the other, be it in your praise or condemnation.
And they were going to forget.
The lifespan of a public discourse can be exceptionally short. One day you're the savior of the masses, the other, you're a future war criminal. Harry had been shifted into either category multiple times by these 'people'. They didn't even know him enough to have an opinion of him.
And that's why... they didn't matter.
So, as Harry walked past a whisper of 'I told you he's a dark wizard!' he walked past without so much so as batting an eyelash, as if he hadn't even heard it, though he was sure those words were said for that very purpose. Salazar's endless reminders for him to keep a straight face were finally showing their use...
Harry and Nymphadora reached a discreet corner in the school grounds, and the Auror put up a silencing charm for good measure.
"You've gotta teach me that, by the way" remarked Harry
"All in good time, hero"
You KNOW I hate that name" growled the Lion, only adding to Tonks' amusement
"And that is precisely why I used it" the currently blue-haired girl replied cheekily "...Ignore those prats in the corridor by the way" she added worriedly
"yeah I know, I know... couldn't give less of a darn about what they're chattering about" dismissed Harry
"Attaboy" exclaimed Dora "...Now - onto business." she said at once, tone shifting into a solemn one
"I'll go first" volunteered Harry, then proceeded to regale the story about his meet with Sirius, and that he would be sneaking out later in the night to meet him. Tonks, knowing the only danger to her assignee were the Dementors - who were now hundreds of miles away in the North Sea, agreed readily.
"You really don't mind?"
"No... the two of you deserve some privacy"
"Thanks Dora. Not that I don't wanna hang out with you, but... it's just that I don't want Sirius to stay in one place for too long" he explained
"Mhmhmm" agreed Tonks "Better you tell him to head on over to Grimmauld Place, he's safer behind those wards than about anywhere else" she added after a pause. "...Now, onto me. Ok - this could NOT have gone any better for you" declared Dora
"Ummm - arm in a sling?"
"Exactly. Now hold your horses -" she added hurriedly, in anticipation of her younger friend's obvious objection "-See - you got hurt, which is bad. BUT" emphasized Dora "your injuries have mostly healed, and there was no permanent damage, while this facilitated getting rid of the dementors. MOREOVER" she spoke assertively, indicating she wasn't finished "you got the one person who knows the whole story and won't be on your arse the entire time... it also helps that she's an exceedingly beautiful and talented woman, who's -"
"-oh so humble" barbed Harry
"That too. But that's not all... so, since the summer, we've found out a few things - about Riddle"
Harry perked up instantly... Could they have found out something about a horcrux?
"Being an auror has its benefits, one of them being access to records... So, after school, Tom Riddle, the best student of his year by a mile, took up a job at Borgin & Burkes... Weird right? We think this is so that he could study dark and/or rare magical artefacts. He left the job after a few years, disappearing for around a decade."
"Why'd he leave?"
"I was getting to it. We didn't think much over it initially, before we thought - why specifically then? He was too good for it the day he walked in. Why leave now?... SO, we started looking for significant events that may have enticed him to do so" at this, she began fumbling in her pocket. Harry guessed it was magically enlarged, just like his.
"Took us weeks before we even looked into it" she said at once, producing an old newspaper report "But, once we did see it, it seemed pretty obvious in hindsight" she continued, placing the headline in front of Harry
"Hepzibah Smith, Descendant of Hufflepuff, Dead"
"So Smith was reported dead by her house elf, passing away a few short minutes after supposably having had a meal cooked by her. The elf confessed to the authorities that she had accidentally poisoned her master."
"That seems...odd" remarked Harry "I don't think I've ever heard an elf "accidentally" add poison. Its..."
"Fishy" the metamorphmagus completed for him "We know. But here's what really caught our eye. Read this" she said, finger placed at a line in the column
"Helga is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, who have reported that two of the most valuable possessions in Madam Smith's possession, the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff, and the Locket of Salazar Slytherin have gone missing. While it is unknown if those artefacts really are remnants of two Hogwarts Founders, there is a lot of credibility in favor of Madam Smith, with the..."
"Tom got the locket off of her!"
"Yeah! We thought Marvolo had it already, but apparently not!"
"And the cup-"
"Has not been found yet... I don't think it's a coincidence that Riddle had left his post around the time this headline came out" Dora concluded
"Do we know if Riddle ever met-"
"Yes. Yes we do" answered Tonks "... When asked about regular visitors, the elf named Tom Riddle, representing Borgin & Burkes as a dealer in sale and acquisition of magical artefacts and such. She'd dress specially on days he would come, and talk about him for hours at length after he left... the elf testified he was her favorite guest"
"How do we know the elf-"
"Smith lived in a Muggle neighborhood, they had to give the police something too, I compulsed the archives guy to get me everything they had on the case... and after figuring out they just replaced the elf with a fictional maid in their story, and combining everything already in public domain... presto" she concluded
"Great... I think I have the story - Riddle found out where the Cup and the Locket were at some point, resigned from his post to avoid suspicion later, privately contacted Smith - who didn't know Tom had resigned - that he'd be showing up. He goes in, stuns the elf, kills Smith... then like he did with Morfin, modifies her memories to make her confess to accidentally 'poisoning' her. And now, its like he wasn't even there" surmised Harry
"Good summary" complimented Tonks
"But how does this tie up to Hogwarts?"
"Oh it does" reassured the metamorphmagus, hair red with excitement "Like I said, Riddle wasn't seen for 10 years - until he came back to Hogwarts"
"He came back here?!"
"Unbelievable stroke of luck - So Mum went round to Grimmauld Place to study Old Voldie's special tricks - unassisted flight, the dark mark, and so on...
In Grimmauld Place, a few weeks ago
Andi had been at it for hours. She'd scrolled through shelves and shelves worth of books, but for the life of her, she couldn't find anything about what she was looking for. As another book came and went by without being of any help, she slammed it in frustration and sighed
"How bloody useless is this place!"
"Watch your tone, woman!" chided a voice from nearby, making Andromeda shriek in surprise.
"Bloody portraits" she muttered to herself, though apparently not silently enough
"Is that all I am to you?!" the painting outraged "I'm Phineas Nigellus Black, your ancestor, distinguished Lord of the Wizard's Council and one of the finest Headmasters in the history of Hogwarts!"
Andi sighed again "My apologies Sir Phineas"
"There, much better" he observed "Now, tell me - what were you looking for that is so extraordinary that it is hard to find even in this prestigious library" the ancestoral Black asked in consternation, after all, how could anything overshadow the Blacks?
Andromeda thought about her answer for a long time, before simply stating "A boy named Riddle did an extraordinary piece of magic. It was so outstanding I simply must master it for myself" she expressed in the most upper-crust and snobbish way possible - even for someone already born into nobility. This seemed to please Phineas to no extent. "Ah yes, that Black vigor I love to see - we must be the best after all!" he said with a laugh
"And this boy, Riddle you say?... It couldn't possibly be Tom Riddle could it?"
Andi was caught off guard by the centuries old wizard knowing of him "...Why, yes Sire" she answered matter-of-factly "You are aware of him?"
"Aaah!" exclaimed Phineas in reminiscence "Delightful boy indeed. Would've loved to have taught him myself... but alas, time waits for none." he said at once "Extraordinary student... hmmm - last I saw of him, he was getting rejected by Dumbledore for the DADA job!"
Andi nearly fell out of her chair
"He met with Dumbledore?!" she shrieked in the most unladylike manner... for a highborn of course
"What's there to yell about it!" responded the old Black "He wanted a job - so, he went to the Headmaster. What's stunning is Dumbledore turned him down! I tell you - the gods have never forgiven the school for that mistake, since the day, not a single DADA teacher has lasted longer than 1 year! It's a clear indication the spirits want Dumbledore to go seek Riddle again, and they give him a chance every year! And that barmy old codger"
Andi didn't listen to what Phineas had to say beyond that - Voldemort had come back to Hogwarts at some point, and if this is right after before the jinx began... that makes it 10 years after his last known public sighting.
As the portrait's tirade against the falling standard of DADA continued, Andi had a eureka moment - They'd figured that Tom left his horcruxes in locations of sentimental or historical value to him - the cave, the Gaunt House... Hogwarts, if Harry's account was to be believed - he thought of Hogwarts as his home. Only wizards as capable as Voldemort could ever put such a terrible curse for so long on the DADA post... the jinx itself is further proof of the school's value to him...
And then it hit her
What if Riddle hid something at Hogwarts?
"Yeah, worth a shot, amirite?" Dora remarked as Harry stood wide-eyed by the revelation`
"This-"
"-Is the perfect opportunity to sketch the school" Tonks completed for the Gryffindor "Think - for the first couple of days, I'll hide in the crowd in disguise, show up randomly and make a show - from the next day no one will ever question why I'm not seen with you... Since I already know there's no danger to you, I can look around the school in the meantime!"
"Dora, that's brilliant!" Harry said in elation
"And that is why, this could NOT have gone better for you!"
"I agree!"
Later, that same day
Harry snuck out onto the grounds using one of the secret passages, with Dora having told him patrol patterns. It also helped that Dumbledore wasn't in school today.
Once sufficiently away from the castle, he took off his invisibility cloak, storing it in his pocket. A bright full moon lit up the sky. With November's onset, the weather had started to get noticeably chillier, though with a sufficiently warm sweater, Harry still enjoyed his walk outdoors. He reached the edge of the school's grounds, where his point of interest lay. The Whomping Willow.
Even from afar, Harry could feel the gust of wind created by its swinging branches. After a quick survey, he found what he was looking for. The Boy-Who-Lived pressed the knot in front of the Whomping Willow as instructed. And in the flash of an eye, the code of the iconic tree, a mystery to the many that had walked the Hogwarts Halls, was broken. There it stood now, utterly motionless.
Not keen on testing how long the freeze worked for, the raven-haired boy made his way into the Willow, and down into the shaft below.
A short walk, and he found himself faced with a great, black dog, eagerly wagging its tail.
'Must've heard my footsteps' thought Harry, a broad smile on his face. And as Sirius transformed, he ran into his waiting arms.
This had been in the making for so long. Oh, and did they have so much to talk about.
Sirius cupped Harry's face with his hands
"Harry-"
"Step away from him, Black!" a raspy voice bellowed, startling them both
Remus Lupin stood a few feet behind Harry, supporting himself with the frame of the door. He was panting heavily, though it didn't seem to be because he was out of breath.
"Remus-"
"I'll do the talking!" the Professor growled ferociously
"Professor Lupin, did Snape do something with your Wolfsbane?!" asked Harry, remembering the full moon he'd just seen
"So... you know I'm a werewolf?" Remus laughed "How long?"
"Since before you came here" responded Harry, before quickly following up "...How did you find us, Professor?"
Remus pulled out a parchment form inside his coat - the Marauders' Map.
"Did you not know you were missing it, Harry?"
"...No" admitted Harry "I asked Hermione to take it and-"
"I took it from Hermione the second he left the Hospital Wing...You must be wondering how... I visited you once before while you were passed out...By the grace of my lycanthropy, I picked up a strange lingering smell... weak, but not unfamiliar... Took me a while, but I remembered just who... and then I saw the damning evidence - black hair by the windowsill... that was all I needed to know" he slurred at the end "Also, my apologies, but I eavesdropped on your conversation... my werewolf sense helping me once more... I heard you give it to her for safekeeping... took it off from the girl with a combination of promises, threats and explanations... girl does care about you though" he added as an afterthought
"Professor - he really is innocent!"
"What is it, Black? Confundus?" asked Lupin, turning to face his childhood friend
"You forgot to take your Wolfsbane while rushing out after Harry" said Sirius, ignoring Lupin's question, and drawing his wand
"Unfortunately... that is correct" conceded Lupin, straining himself
Realizing time was of the essence, Harry quickly blurted "Pettigrew was the rat - Ron's rat!"
And for one moment, Lupin froze too.
"Scabbers is missing a toe, and all they found of Pettigrew-"
"-was his finger" finished Lupin
"A garden rat living for 12 years, come on Remus, tell me that doesn't sound suspicious to you!" implored the supposed traitor
Lupin looked at the two with heavy huffs... what they'd said had made perfect sense... at least enough to give Black a chance...
However, in response, the Professor managed only one word "Leave" he said grimly, before starting to twitch painfully
"Harry, you really should leave" asked Sirius, as Lupin howled. The werewolf was near...
"No" came the defiant reply
"Harry, I'm not asking you-"
"Look at you! You're gaunt! You can't win right now, animagus or human!"
"And you're still hurt!"
"Together" Harry replied, looking directly into Sirius' eyes...
Evidently, they were enough to convince his godfather he wasn't going anywhere. Sirius knew he could stand his ground - just ask the dementors... With a nod he turned his attention back to Lupin.
In a flash, the man was no more. Now, stood before them was a brute of light grey skin and bared fangs, growling with menace.
As Harry drew his own wand, Lupin let out a great howl, reigniting the legend of the Shrieking Shack one more time, as his voice echoed throughout Hogsmeade.
"Buckle up, Harry... here comes the beast"
Endnotes:
Thank you for reading!