Next morning the all went to Hagrid’s hut. Hagrid was surprised to see them all. Although they had met last night, he expected them to be in their classes at that time.
‘Hey, what are ya folks doin out here at this time? Don’t you have classes?’
‘We are not studying at Hogwarts this year. Not now when the term is half over.’ Said Harry.
‘So what brings you here?’
‘Hagrid, do you know any place in Hogwarts where Voldemort always went? Like some secret hideout?’ asked Hermione.
Hagrid looked shocked on being asked such a question, even offended. ‘what do you think I was his friend or something?’ he said.
‘Hagrid, it’s okay. We know at school he was everyone’s favorite. The most talented. It’s really important for us to know if he had any such place where no one else went.’ Said Harry.
‘well you know if there was some place he wanted to hide from someone, then he would make sure no one would ever get to know about it. But you can still try the secret room of Hogwarts. The room of requirements, I mean.’
‘But we’ve been there’ said Ron.
‘No, I think he is right, Ron.’ Said Harry. ‘When last year I went there to hide something, there were hundred’s of things there. Maybe, one of them was the –‘
‘Harry’ stopped Ron.
‘I think we should go and have a look.’ Said Hermione.
And they ran towards the castle. Hagrid behind them kept shouting,’ NEVER MIND TELLING ME WHAT YOU’RE UP TO’
They looked throughout the room of requirement but couldn’t find anything. It made Harry angry that their efforts were going in vain. Then suddenly, Ron jumped and said, ‘Harry, the chamber of secrets, it must be there. If Voldemort wanted to hide something anywhere, it would be in the chamber.’
‘Ron, you’re a genius’ said Hermione. And she hugged him.
Together they ran towards the girls bathroom that had the door to the chamber of secrets. Harry spoke in parseltongue and the door opened. They all went inside the chamber. The searched the pipes and passages, but found nothing. The main chamber, where Harry had met the young riddle some years ago still had the remnants of that fight. The basilisk had only it’s bones remaining. But there was nothing that could be a horcrux. Disappointment had filled Harry completely. He realized that he had been mistaken. That Ron and Hermione were right. That Voldemort wouldn’t dare keeping a Horcrux in close proximity of Dumbledore.
‘It’s not in Hogwarts’ he said. ‘we’ll leave tomorrow morning.’
And then, he heard a voice, a girl’s voice, ‘I would look in the forbidden forests if I were you’
Harry look back, surprised and said, ‘Myrtle, what are you doing here?’
Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of the girl who died when the chamber was first opened, was standing in front of Harry.
‘Well, Harry, I am here to help you. I know that you were looking for a place where he who must not be named used to spend a lot of time. I know that place. After my death, when I was floating in the lake I saw Tom Riddle going in the forests. Naturally, I followed him. He went deep into the forests, where no one had ever gone before. It was a place where there was a monolith. And there was a barren circle around the monolith. He sat there for quiet some time. And he kept coming back, yes he did. If I were you then I would go and see there. although I wouldn’t guarantee you that you will reach that place. It’s difficult, you know, to go there.’
‘Thanks, Myrtle. You were a great help.’ Said Harry. And within minutes, they were off to the forbidden forests.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Chapter Twenty: Back to Hogwarts
There was no place in the world like Hogwarts. Now that Harry was back there, he realized how much he had missed it. He was back in the great hall. They were all discussing the fight. On the staff table, the teachers were discussing something. after some time, professor McGonagall stood up and started speaking.
‘I am very disappointed tonight.’ She said, ‘three lives have been lost because of this stupid stunt of yours. I don’t know what on earth prompted to you to do such a thing. WHY?’
Luna stood up and said, ‘Professor, I know what we did was unforgivable, that the loss is irrecoverable. But still, it’s a war professor. We saw Professor Trelawney being killed in front of us. We know people are being killed everyday, everywhere. We decided that we can’t let the death eaters go away. They must remember that we are still fighting, that the war is not over. And all those who died, they knew what they were into. They were brave and we should be proud to have such great people amongst us. It was a mutual decision, Professor. We are sorry to disappoint you but we still feel that this fight was a necessary evil. So please Professor, instead of feeling gloomy about our stupidity, it would be better that we celebrate our victory.’
Professor McGonagall looked a bit taken aback by Luna’s reply. She said, ‘Well, I think you are right Luna, it’s a war. And wars are nasty. But we are responsible for whatever happened to those children. Their parents sent them here so that they will be safe, and if they start dying here also, no one would trust Hogwarts. But having said that, I must say that it was a very brave fight indeed. Congratulations to you all, for your bravery. Congratulations.’
The newspapers next day were filled with news of the death of Umbridge. Of course, the reporters, Rita mainly, were making the children of Hogwarts as culprits. The death of the three Hogwarts students was completely ignored. Back at Hogwarts, a small funeral was kept for those children. None of their parents were complaining for the loss of their children. They were proud, proud that their own flesh and blood was so brave, so talented. At the ministry, they had decided to make Cornelius Fudge the minister for magic. His picture also given in the prophet. He was under the imperious curse, professor McGonagall had said. She could make it out in the picture.
Later that night, Hermione asked Harry why they were staying there. Harry said, ‘because of the horcrux.’
‘But Harry, it can’t be here. Right under Dumbledore’s nose. He would never dare to do it… never’ she said.
‘But I saw it in the memory, Hermione. This was the only place he ever called home. If he is keeping his horcruxes at places that mattered to him, then it must be here.’
‘Fine’ said Ron, ‘so if it is here, where in Hogwarts could it be?’
‘We need to talk to someone for this, someone who knows every inch of Hogwarts’ said Harry.
‘Fred and George’ said Ron.
‘No. someone more experienced someone who knew Voldemort.’
‘Who?’ asked Ron
‘Hagrid’ said Hermione. ‘tomorrow morning we are meeting Hagrid.’
‘I am very disappointed tonight.’ She said, ‘three lives have been lost because of this stupid stunt of yours. I don’t know what on earth prompted to you to do such a thing. WHY?’
Luna stood up and said, ‘Professor, I know what we did was unforgivable, that the loss is irrecoverable. But still, it’s a war professor. We saw Professor Trelawney being killed in front of us. We know people are being killed everyday, everywhere. We decided that we can’t let the death eaters go away. They must remember that we are still fighting, that the war is not over. And all those who died, they knew what they were into. They were brave and we should be proud to have such great people amongst us. It was a mutual decision, Professor. We are sorry to disappoint you but we still feel that this fight was a necessary evil. So please Professor, instead of feeling gloomy about our stupidity, it would be better that we celebrate our victory.’
Professor McGonagall looked a bit taken aback by Luna’s reply. She said, ‘Well, I think you are right Luna, it’s a war. And wars are nasty. But we are responsible for whatever happened to those children. Their parents sent them here so that they will be safe, and if they start dying here also, no one would trust Hogwarts. But having said that, I must say that it was a very brave fight indeed. Congratulations to you all, for your bravery. Congratulations.’
The newspapers next day were filled with news of the death of Umbridge. Of course, the reporters, Rita mainly, were making the children of Hogwarts as culprits. The death of the three Hogwarts students was completely ignored. Back at Hogwarts, a small funeral was kept for those children. None of their parents were complaining for the loss of their children. They were proud, proud that their own flesh and blood was so brave, so talented. At the ministry, they had decided to make Cornelius Fudge the minister for magic. His picture also given in the prophet. He was under the imperious curse, professor McGonagall had said. She could make it out in the picture.
Later that night, Hermione asked Harry why they were staying there. Harry said, ‘because of the horcrux.’
‘But Harry, it can’t be here. Right under Dumbledore’s nose. He would never dare to do it… never’ she said.
‘But I saw it in the memory, Hermione. This was the only place he ever called home. If he is keeping his horcruxes at places that mattered to him, then it must be here.’
‘Fine’ said Ron, ‘so if it is here, where in Hogwarts could it be?’
‘We need to talk to someone for this, someone who knows every inch of Hogwarts’ said Harry.
‘Fred and George’ said Ron.
‘No. someone more experienced someone who knew Voldemort.’
‘Who?’ asked Ron
‘Hagrid’ said Hermione. ‘tomorrow morning we are meeting Hagrid.’
Chapter Nineteen: Halloween At The Ministry
Within seconds they were on the floor of Umbridge. There were around seven death eaters there; they were fighting ten DA students. Harry Ron and Hermione joined the fight. Neville and Luna were fighting near them. Harry realized that Neville was right they were all damn good. Neville and Luna were talking while fighting.
‘Luna, I thought it would be right to tell you now that, Stupify’ said Neville.
‘what? Petrificus Totalus’
‘I – I like you, I mean, I – I leviocorpus’
‘What? About time. I thought you will never say that. Sectumsempra.’
‘that means you love me too? Annihilato’
‘Oh Yes I do. Even more that I love looking for Crumple Horned Snor- Reducto.’
The death eater they were fighting fell, and Neville and Luna kissed.
‘Oh come on!’ said Ron, ‘Not here.’
‘Oh! Sorry’ said Neville, ‘got carried away. Anyways, you know we have been joined by the order and the Hogwarts teachers. They are fighting on the floors above.’
‘And we just fought Voldemort.’ Said Harry.
‘How dare you take the dark lord’s name?’ it was Bellatrix.
‘Crucio’ shouted Neville, suddenly. The curse hit Bellatrix in her chest. She started to scream. Harry knew that you really need to feel the hatred to say this curse. But he wasn’t surprised. After what she had done to his parents, Neville was bound to feel the pain and hatred. The floor was now deserted. Most of the death eaters were now unconscious. And the students had moved to the floors above. There was Neville Luna ginny Harry Ron and Hermione and Dennis Creevey. Umbridge was still howling in pain. Neville was not ready to lift the curse, when from behind him came a shout, ‘stupefy’. It was Umbridge. Her spell hit Neville on his head and he fell on the ground. Bellatrix was now unconscious.
‘You mad old hag’ said Dennis. He was just raising his wand when Umbridge shouted, ‘AVADA KEDAVRA’ green light flew from her wand and hit Dennis on his Stomach. Everyone froze for a second. And when they realized what had happened, Ginny and Hermione went towards Dennis whereas Harry Ron and Luna went for Umbridge. ‘Expelliarmus’ shouted Ron, her wand flew from her hand. ‘Stupefy’ shouted Harry, she was stunned. ‘CRUCIO’ shouted Luna.
‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH’ Umbridge’s scream was deafening. Harry felt as if she was in extreme agony. She was trembling on the floor like a fish take out of water. ‘KILL ME, PLEASE, HAVE MERCY, KILL ME’ she was shouting.
‘Okay professor’ said Luna, ‘as you wish, SECTUMSEMPRA’
Blood started to come out of Umbridge’s body. Her screams became even louder. And Luna started to leave. She went towards Dennis’s body and started crying. And on the other side, Umbridge was dying in agony.
The lift door opened and professor Flitwick came out and said ‘The fight is over everyone. Let’s go back. The death eaters have all gone. I think they were ordered to come back. Harry, Ron, Hermione you were here too? Good to see you. now come with us to Hogwarts.’
‘No but professor – ’ Hermione started to say when Harry interrupted, ‘Okay. We’re coming.’
‘Luna, I thought it would be right to tell you now that, Stupify’ said Neville.
‘what? Petrificus Totalus’
‘I – I like you, I mean, I – I leviocorpus’
‘What? About time. I thought you will never say that. Sectumsempra.’
‘that means you love me too? Annihilato’
‘Oh Yes I do. Even more that I love looking for Crumple Horned Snor- Reducto.’
The death eater they were fighting fell, and Neville and Luna kissed.
‘Oh come on!’ said Ron, ‘Not here.’
‘Oh! Sorry’ said Neville, ‘got carried away. Anyways, you know we have been joined by the order and the Hogwarts teachers. They are fighting on the floors above.’
‘And we just fought Voldemort.’ Said Harry.
‘How dare you take the dark lord’s name?’ it was Bellatrix.
‘Crucio’ shouted Neville, suddenly. The curse hit Bellatrix in her chest. She started to scream. Harry knew that you really need to feel the hatred to say this curse. But he wasn’t surprised. After what she had done to his parents, Neville was bound to feel the pain and hatred. The floor was now deserted. Most of the death eaters were now unconscious. And the students had moved to the floors above. There was Neville Luna ginny Harry Ron and Hermione and Dennis Creevey. Umbridge was still howling in pain. Neville was not ready to lift the curse, when from behind him came a shout, ‘stupefy’. It was Umbridge. Her spell hit Neville on his head and he fell on the ground. Bellatrix was now unconscious.
‘You mad old hag’ said Dennis. He was just raising his wand when Umbridge shouted, ‘AVADA KEDAVRA’ green light flew from her wand and hit Dennis on his Stomach. Everyone froze for a second. And when they realized what had happened, Ginny and Hermione went towards Dennis whereas Harry Ron and Luna went for Umbridge. ‘Expelliarmus’ shouted Ron, her wand flew from her hand. ‘Stupefy’ shouted Harry, she was stunned. ‘CRUCIO’ shouted Luna.
‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH’ Umbridge’s scream was deafening. Harry felt as if she was in extreme agony. She was trembling on the floor like a fish take out of water. ‘KILL ME, PLEASE, HAVE MERCY, KILL ME’ she was shouting.
‘Okay professor’ said Luna, ‘as you wish, SECTUMSEMPRA’
Blood started to come out of Umbridge’s body. Her screams became even louder. And Luna started to leave. She went towards Dennis’s body and started crying. And on the other side, Umbridge was dying in agony.
The lift door opened and professor Flitwick came out and said ‘The fight is over everyone. Let’s go back. The death eaters have all gone. I think they were ordered to come back. Harry, Ron, Hermione you were here too? Good to see you. now come with us to Hogwarts.’
‘No but professor – ’ Hermione started to say when Harry interrupted, ‘Okay. We’re coming.’
Chapter Eighteen: The Very Secret Sand
Within the next few minutes they were all inside the ministry. The ministry was quiet deserted. Then malfoy said, ‘I think her office will be on level one. two. They had shifted the office there some time ago when the original room wouldn’t open for her.’
‘how do you know?’ asked Ron.
‘well, after you freed that elf of ours, father got a new one. When I left, he still kept coming to me to see if I am fine. I had taken all the information from him.’
‘But then your father must have killed him for telling you everything.’ Said Hermione in shock.
‘No. After I got all the information, I freed him. Anyone from the family of the elf’s master can free him.’
‘Well, good.’ She said, ‘you really have changed.’
‘you don’t know how it was, Hermione.’ He said. ‘it’s okay to talk about all that, but when you see all that cruelty, it’s horrible. At least for me it is.’
While walking, they came towards the fountain. Next to the fountain was a huge statue of Umbridge. Looking at that, fred and george said, ‘okay folks, time to have some fun.’
And with one swish of their wand, the statue shattered. Pieces of it flew all over. They kept running and entered the lift. The lift started going down when malfoy said ‘there are rooms of other death eaters too on other floors, would you like to see them?’
And one by one on each floor some DA members kept getting out of the lift and and going to the rooms malfoy had mentioned. On the second floor Neville Ginny and Luna left. Ron and Hermione were about to leave too when Harry stopped them.
‘I have some work at the department of mysteries. I want you to come with me’ he said. And they left.
When they reached the department of mysteries, Harry told them about a door that never opened. And that Dumbledore said that it had the power of love. He wanted to see that place again. They started looking for that door. From the floors above, they could hear loud bangs. Apparently, their ministry destruction campaign was a success. They reached the door. They tried to open it with all the jinxes they knew but nothing happened. But Harry knew it will not open. It had the power of love. So something strong and full of love could only open it. Something pure and full of love. He thought of Ginny and tried opening the door. Still it didn’t open. Then from behind Harry a cold voice said, ‘Harry Potter, we meet again’
Lord Voldemort was standing there. As scary as always looking with those slit-like eyes staring at Harry. Then Harry listened to the sounds above them, they now also had screams with the bangs. There was a fight going on above. The death eaters were there.
‘You’ll have to fight us before you can even touch Harry.’ Said Ron and Harry was shocked and yet grateful to Ron for saying such a thing to Voldemort. Ron had gathered so much courage that he was now standing between Harry and Voldemort. And Harry realized what Ron was thinking. He was trying to sacrifice himself to save Harry, just like Lily. Before Harry could say anything, Voldemort said ‘interesting, very intresting indeed.’
But Harry saw that there was fear in voldemort’s eyes. For the first time, Lord Voldemort was afraid. And then, voldemort raised his wand and pointed it at Ron, a peacock blue light came from Voldemort’s wand and hit Ron straight in the chest. Ron rose in the air and fell on the ground away from the door and away from Harry and Hermione, screaming in agony. Seeing him suffer like this Hermione shouted to scream too. She went backwards and unknowingly touched the door. The door vanished. The secret door was opened. From inside the door, came cold dusty wind that made Harry forget everything that was there. Even Hermione had forgotten her pain. Ron on the other side was calm now. But Voldemort on the other side was not well, he was behaving as if he was choking. He was sweating trying to breathe. And then came a breeze of chilled air full of silver dust, it was going towards Voldemort. But before it could touch him, he was flying. And within seconds he was out of the room. Harry and Hermione went towards Ron. Hermione hugged Ron and started kissing him. Harry thought he should not interfere at that moment so he went inside the room. It was full of dust. Sliver duse. It made Harry feel happy. Harry knew it will help in his battle against Voldemort. By this time he was joined by Hermione. She took her watch and transformed it into a bottle and filled it with that sand. They then decided to go out and help thief friends. As soon as they left the room the door reappeared.
‘how come I don’t get to go in there?’ said Ron who was fine now. They all headed towards the upper floor, to fight.
‘how do you know?’ asked Ron.
‘well, after you freed that elf of ours, father got a new one. When I left, he still kept coming to me to see if I am fine. I had taken all the information from him.’
‘But then your father must have killed him for telling you everything.’ Said Hermione in shock.
‘No. After I got all the information, I freed him. Anyone from the family of the elf’s master can free him.’
‘Well, good.’ She said, ‘you really have changed.’
‘you don’t know how it was, Hermione.’ He said. ‘it’s okay to talk about all that, but when you see all that cruelty, it’s horrible. At least for me it is.’
While walking, they came towards the fountain. Next to the fountain was a huge statue of Umbridge. Looking at that, fred and george said, ‘okay folks, time to have some fun.’
And with one swish of their wand, the statue shattered. Pieces of it flew all over. They kept running and entered the lift. The lift started going down when malfoy said ‘there are rooms of other death eaters too on other floors, would you like to see them?’
And one by one on each floor some DA members kept getting out of the lift and and going to the rooms malfoy had mentioned. On the second floor Neville Ginny and Luna left. Ron and Hermione were about to leave too when Harry stopped them.
‘I have some work at the department of mysteries. I want you to come with me’ he said. And they left.
When they reached the department of mysteries, Harry told them about a door that never opened. And that Dumbledore said that it had the power of love. He wanted to see that place again. They started looking for that door. From the floors above, they could hear loud bangs. Apparently, their ministry destruction campaign was a success. They reached the door. They tried to open it with all the jinxes they knew but nothing happened. But Harry knew it will not open. It had the power of love. So something strong and full of love could only open it. Something pure and full of love. He thought of Ginny and tried opening the door. Still it didn’t open. Then from behind Harry a cold voice said, ‘Harry Potter, we meet again’
Lord Voldemort was standing there. As scary as always looking with those slit-like eyes staring at Harry. Then Harry listened to the sounds above them, they now also had screams with the bangs. There was a fight going on above. The death eaters were there.
‘You’ll have to fight us before you can even touch Harry.’ Said Ron and Harry was shocked and yet grateful to Ron for saying such a thing to Voldemort. Ron had gathered so much courage that he was now standing between Harry and Voldemort. And Harry realized what Ron was thinking. He was trying to sacrifice himself to save Harry, just like Lily. Before Harry could say anything, Voldemort said ‘interesting, very intresting indeed.’
But Harry saw that there was fear in voldemort’s eyes. For the first time, Lord Voldemort was afraid. And then, voldemort raised his wand and pointed it at Ron, a peacock blue light came from Voldemort’s wand and hit Ron straight in the chest. Ron rose in the air and fell on the ground away from the door and away from Harry and Hermione, screaming in agony. Seeing him suffer like this Hermione shouted to scream too. She went backwards and unknowingly touched the door. The door vanished. The secret door was opened. From inside the door, came cold dusty wind that made Harry forget everything that was there. Even Hermione had forgotten her pain. Ron on the other side was calm now. But Voldemort on the other side was not well, he was behaving as if he was choking. He was sweating trying to breathe. And then came a breeze of chilled air full of silver dust, it was going towards Voldemort. But before it could touch him, he was flying. And within seconds he was out of the room. Harry and Hermione went towards Ron. Hermione hugged Ron and started kissing him. Harry thought he should not interfere at that moment so he went inside the room. It was full of dust. Sliver duse. It made Harry feel happy. Harry knew it will help in his battle against Voldemort. By this time he was joined by Hermione. She took her watch and transformed it into a bottle and filled it with that sand. They then decided to go out and help thief friends. As soon as they left the room the door reappeared.
‘how come I don’t get to go in there?’ said Ron who was fine now. They all headed towards the upper floor, to fight.
Chapter Seventeen: Reunion of The Army
As Harry returned from the memory, he told Ron and Hermione that the memory was not related to the fight. But it was his mother’s memory. He did not tell them what he had seen. It was too private for him to share to anyone. But after seeing that, his did not know what to feel for Snape after this. His mother loved Snape. And Snape loves his mother… but he betrayed Dumbledore. He killed him. Harry was confused.
For some weeks Harry Ron and Hermione stayed at Dumbledore’s house. It was safe and comfortable. They kept thinking about the places where the horcruxes could be hidded. There were still two of them out there. One was the cup, the other was the unknown object. Also, they kept practicing some difficult jinxes and spells, specialy the ones they had seen in the pensive. Although they still didn’t know about the Corazio spell.
On Halloween day they were sitting in the house when a patronus came to them. It was a bunny. Coming there it said in the same misty dreamy voice Harry knew to be Luna’s, ‘hi Harry Ron and Hermione. This is Luna. We are all fine here. We are at Hogwarts. Neville and Ginny and other say hello. Actually we are trying to do something. We are… ar – trying to break into the ministry. Just to make things difficult for the other side. And we plan to er- leave some Halloween presents for Umbridge. The whole DA is coming. Plus we now have malfoy. He has told us some real good secrets about the ministry to make things much easier. We haven’t told the teachers about it because – you know – they will try to stop us. But we are doing this anyway. If you would like to join us come and meet us at the telephone booth tonight. We are doing this at night so that there won’t be anyone at the ministry. We can cause as much destruction as we want without being interrupted. So see you tonight. But if you don’t come, it’s fine. We’ll understand.’
‘they’re mental’ said Ron.
‘it’s insane. They’ll get caught within minutes’ said Hermione.
‘we need to go and stop them’ said Harry.
Before dark they were ready to go. They apparated from outside the house. Apparating together under the cloak was difficult. The squeezing feeling was bad and there was the fear of being seen. When they reached the ministry entrance it was deserted. There was no one. Then they heard some music from behind. They turned. It was a small pub.
‘let’s go in there’ said Hermione.
And they went inside. As they went there they saw some familiar faces. The room was full of the DA members. They immediately removed the cloak and showed themselves. There was a huge applause as everyone saw them. People started hugging them. Then Hermione shouted ‘silence’ there was pin drop silence immediately. She continued, ‘what are you guys doing? Are you insane? It’s suicidal to go to the ministry like this… most of you are already wanted by the ministry-
‘Hermione’ Ginny interrupted, ‘we have thought about all this. Trust me we have a plan. We are going to drink poly-juice potion and going to get into the ministry. We have already drank some felix felicus to give us luck. And we are going to destroy Umbridge’s office and her supporters’ too. We know there is no one there tonight-
Hermione interrupted, ‘but they’ll know. They’ll come. And when they do come, how can a bunch of kids fight death-eaters? We have tried doing it before and we lost. Remember?’
‘But Hermione, we all are damn good’ said Neville. ‘we have been practicing some really good jinxes and spells in the past few months. And trust me Hermione we are really good. And all the death eaters are already out scaring muggles so we will be alone.’
Harry knew there was no point arguing. Even Ron and Hermione understood this. It was a choice they had to make, weather to be with their friends or not. They decided to go with them.
‘okay then, let’s make this the scariest Halloween for them’ said Harry.
And they all drank the poly-juice potion. Harry Ron and Hermione also drank the felix felicus.
For some weeks Harry Ron and Hermione stayed at Dumbledore’s house. It was safe and comfortable. They kept thinking about the places where the horcruxes could be hidded. There were still two of them out there. One was the cup, the other was the unknown object. Also, they kept practicing some difficult jinxes and spells, specialy the ones they had seen in the pensive. Although they still didn’t know about the Corazio spell.
On Halloween day they were sitting in the house when a patronus came to them. It was a bunny. Coming there it said in the same misty dreamy voice Harry knew to be Luna’s, ‘hi Harry Ron and Hermione. This is Luna. We are all fine here. We are at Hogwarts. Neville and Ginny and other say hello. Actually we are trying to do something. We are… ar – trying to break into the ministry. Just to make things difficult for the other side. And we plan to er- leave some Halloween presents for Umbridge. The whole DA is coming. Plus we now have malfoy. He has told us some real good secrets about the ministry to make things much easier. We haven’t told the teachers about it because – you know – they will try to stop us. But we are doing this anyway. If you would like to join us come and meet us at the telephone booth tonight. We are doing this at night so that there won’t be anyone at the ministry. We can cause as much destruction as we want without being interrupted. So see you tonight. But if you don’t come, it’s fine. We’ll understand.’
‘they’re mental’ said Ron.
‘it’s insane. They’ll get caught within minutes’ said Hermione.
‘we need to go and stop them’ said Harry.
Before dark they were ready to go. They apparated from outside the house. Apparating together under the cloak was difficult. The squeezing feeling was bad and there was the fear of being seen. When they reached the ministry entrance it was deserted. There was no one. Then they heard some music from behind. They turned. It was a small pub.
‘let’s go in there’ said Hermione.
And they went inside. As they went there they saw some familiar faces. The room was full of the DA members. They immediately removed the cloak and showed themselves. There was a huge applause as everyone saw them. People started hugging them. Then Hermione shouted ‘silence’ there was pin drop silence immediately. She continued, ‘what are you guys doing? Are you insane? It’s suicidal to go to the ministry like this… most of you are already wanted by the ministry-
‘Hermione’ Ginny interrupted, ‘we have thought about all this. Trust me we have a plan. We are going to drink poly-juice potion and going to get into the ministry. We have already drank some felix felicus to give us luck. And we are going to destroy Umbridge’s office and her supporters’ too. We know there is no one there tonight-
Hermione interrupted, ‘but they’ll know. They’ll come. And when they do come, how can a bunch of kids fight death-eaters? We have tried doing it before and we lost. Remember?’
‘But Hermione, we all are damn good’ said Neville. ‘we have been practicing some really good jinxes and spells in the past few months. And trust me Hermione we are really good. And all the death eaters are already out scaring muggles so we will be alone.’
Harry knew there was no point arguing. Even Ron and Hermione understood this. It was a choice they had to make, weather to be with their friends or not. They decided to go with them.
‘okay then, let’s make this the scariest Halloween for them’ said Harry.
And they all drank the poly-juice potion. Harry Ron and Hermione also drank the felix felicus.
Chapter Sixteen: Message through the Patronus
Once recovered from the grand battle they had just witnessed, they moved towards the third memory. There was a note on this memory that said, “Harry, watch it alone.” Ron and Hermione were disappointed.
‘you can come with me if you want’ said Harry. ‘as it is I’m going to tell you what it contains once I’m back.’
Ron was about to say yes when Hermione stopped him. ‘No, Dumbledore must have had a strong reason for saying this. Harry you go alone.
Ron looked scandalized. But Harry understood. He then went into the pensive completely unaware of what he might find there. When Harry landed he was in his father’s home. There was his mother sitting near the fireplace. Along with her was Dumbledore.
‘I just don’t know what’s wrong with him. We used to be friends. Severus and I.’ said Lily.
‘Love, Lily, love’ said Dumbledore. ‘It makes you do stupid things. And Severus loved you. Yes Lily, he did. And when you fell in love with James, he got jealous. He got jealous, extremely jealous. His frustration took him towards the dark arts. It’s all very sad. But now he is in grave danger. By telling about the prophecy to Voldemort he had put you and your family in danger. He never expected that Voldemort would choose your son as the boy mentioned in the prophecy. And now by joining our side at the last moment, he has also put his own life in danger. In fact, he is in more danger than anyone else right now. You can imagine how difficult it is to stay at all times near Voldemort and keep lying to him.’
‘But that’s insane. He-he’ll die. I want to talk to him. Where is he?’
‘He is at spinner’s end right now’ said Dumbledore.
\
‘I am going there, right now’ said Lily.
‘No. it’s dangerous. Why don’t you use a patronus?’ said Dumbledore.
Lily took out her wand and took out a patronus. Her patronus was a doe, she said ‘Severus, I forgive you for what you have done. Dumbledore had already told me why you did it. Why didn’t you ever tell me what you felt for me? I always waited for you to say that. I – I loved you too. But you were always busy with your death eater friends. And that’s was why I stopped talking to you. Then I James proposed to me. And I said yes. I knew you were too much interested in the dark arts to love anyone. and now I love James. But that doesn’t means I hate you. You will always be special to me. And I want you to stop risking your life now. Stop this two-timing. You might die any moment. I don’t want you to. So just come to out side. We have Dumbledore, you will be safe with him. Please, come back.’ And the patronus left, carrying her message.
Just as she had sent the patronus, Dumbledore said, ‘I have to go now. But may I please borrow James’s invisibility cloak for some time?’
‘Yes, sure. But what do you need it for? You can cast the best invisibility spell I have ever seen.’
‘Well, it’s a special cloak,’ he said, ‘Voldemort can detect all kinds of spells. but this cloak is the only thing that can deceive him. And I must say I will be going quiet close to him tonight, quiet close.’
‘you can come with me if you want’ said Harry. ‘as it is I’m going to tell you what it contains once I’m back.’
Ron was about to say yes when Hermione stopped him. ‘No, Dumbledore must have had a strong reason for saying this. Harry you go alone.
Ron looked scandalized. But Harry understood. He then went into the pensive completely unaware of what he might find there. When Harry landed he was in his father’s home. There was his mother sitting near the fireplace. Along with her was Dumbledore.
‘I just don’t know what’s wrong with him. We used to be friends. Severus and I.’ said Lily.
‘Love, Lily, love’ said Dumbledore. ‘It makes you do stupid things. And Severus loved you. Yes Lily, he did. And when you fell in love with James, he got jealous. He got jealous, extremely jealous. His frustration took him towards the dark arts. It’s all very sad. But now he is in grave danger. By telling about the prophecy to Voldemort he had put you and your family in danger. He never expected that Voldemort would choose your son as the boy mentioned in the prophecy. And now by joining our side at the last moment, he has also put his own life in danger. In fact, he is in more danger than anyone else right now. You can imagine how difficult it is to stay at all times near Voldemort and keep lying to him.’
‘But that’s insane. He-he’ll die. I want to talk to him. Where is he?’
‘He is at spinner’s end right now’ said Dumbledore.
\
‘I am going there, right now’ said Lily.
‘No. it’s dangerous. Why don’t you use a patronus?’ said Dumbledore.
Lily took out her wand and took out a patronus. Her patronus was a doe, she said ‘Severus, I forgive you for what you have done. Dumbledore had already told me why you did it. Why didn’t you ever tell me what you felt for me? I always waited for you to say that. I – I loved you too. But you were always busy with your death eater friends. And that’s was why I stopped talking to you. Then I James proposed to me. And I said yes. I knew you were too much interested in the dark arts to love anyone. and now I love James. But that doesn’t means I hate you. You will always be special to me. And I want you to stop risking your life now. Stop this two-timing. You might die any moment. I don’t want you to. So just come to out side. We have Dumbledore, you will be safe with him. Please, come back.’ And the patronus left, carrying her message.
Just as she had sent the patronus, Dumbledore said, ‘I have to go now. But may I please borrow James’s invisibility cloak for some time?’
‘Yes, sure. But what do you need it for? You can cast the best invisibility spell I have ever seen.’
‘Well, it’s a special cloak,’ he said, ‘Voldemort can detect all kinds of spells. but this cloak is the only thing that can deceive him. And I must say I will be going quiet close to him tonight, quiet close.’
Chapter Fifteen: The Distinguished Duel
Without wasting any time, they decided to move on to the next memory. This time when they went in, they landed at a unfamiliar place. It was a cold and less crowded city. They were on a road. On one side of them was a tall, old man.
‘It’s Grindelwald,’ Hermione said.
On the other side, was Albus Dumbledore. They were coming towards each other. All the men present there had raised their wands, but they were pointing it towards Dumbledore. And then, Grindelwald said, ‘Albus, you are alone. I have my men all around. You have got just chance, for old times sake Albus, come to my side. After all, we were friends.’
‘Our friendship had ended on that very day when you showed your interests in the dark arts by performing that curse on Ariana. Now there is only war.’ Was dumbledore’s reply.
‘well then, if you wish,’ said Grindelwald. ‘CRUCIO’
Dumbledore deflected the curse. His jinx made Grindelwald fall. Grindelwald’s men tried to jinx Dumbledore but with just one flick of his wand and the word, ‘folevitato’ all of them rose in the air and were thrown away.
By that time, Grindelwald had thrown another curse on Dumbledore, Dumbledore was trapped in a giant bubble and started spinning. Dumbledore shouted ‘relivio’ and the bubble vanished, Dumbledore landed on the ground and shouted, ‘hoarfrost’ from under the ground pieces of pointed ice started coming out and started crashing Grindelwald’s body. He was shouting in pain. Grindelwald shouted, ‘corpucus’. Three translucent figures appeared. In no time, they became solid. They were Ariana, Kenedra, and a man whom Harry thought must be Dumbledore’s father. They were screaming in pain. Shouting, dying. Even Dumbledore started screaming with them. Then Grindelwald shouted ‘lashiea’ and the doors on the houses on the two sides of the road transformes into rope and started tying Dumbledore.
Then Harry couldn’t believe his eyes as in front of him, Dumbledore shouted, ‘Blazio Patronum’ and Dumbledore transformed into a giant Lion on fire. The ferocious fire-lion moved so fast that even Grindelwald couldn’t react. He was trapped in the fire that was Dumbledore. Grindelwald was screaming in agony. Then he shouted ‘Aqualter’. He too transformed into water. The water extinguished into fire.
Within seconds, they were back in their original form. Pointing his wand towards the house on the side of Grindelwald, Dumbledore shouted ‘animato’ the house started moving towards Grindelwald and started crushing him towards the house on the other side. Grindelwald blasted the house. Grindelwald shouted, ‘Avada kedavra’ with a flick of Dumbledore’s wand, a house came between them and the curse hit it. The house was shattered. Dumbledore raised his wand and shouted, ‘GRINDELWALD CORAZIO’
A flash of pure white light hit Grindelwald in his chest. There was a loud band and Grindelwald was covered in golden mist. When the mist vanished, he was on the ground. Dumbledore went to him. They looked at each other and then Grindelwald said, ‘You won, Albus. You won.’
The place faded and Harry, Ron and Hermione came back to the present time, clearly awed by what they had seen.
‘It’s Grindelwald,’ Hermione said.
On the other side, was Albus Dumbledore. They were coming towards each other. All the men present there had raised their wands, but they were pointing it towards Dumbledore. And then, Grindelwald said, ‘Albus, you are alone. I have my men all around. You have got just chance, for old times sake Albus, come to my side. After all, we were friends.’
‘Our friendship had ended on that very day when you showed your interests in the dark arts by performing that curse on Ariana. Now there is only war.’ Was dumbledore’s reply.
‘well then, if you wish,’ said Grindelwald. ‘CRUCIO’
Dumbledore deflected the curse. His jinx made Grindelwald fall. Grindelwald’s men tried to jinx Dumbledore but with just one flick of his wand and the word, ‘folevitato’ all of them rose in the air and were thrown away.
By that time, Grindelwald had thrown another curse on Dumbledore, Dumbledore was trapped in a giant bubble and started spinning. Dumbledore shouted ‘relivio’ and the bubble vanished, Dumbledore landed on the ground and shouted, ‘hoarfrost’ from under the ground pieces of pointed ice started coming out and started crashing Grindelwald’s body. He was shouting in pain. Grindelwald shouted, ‘corpucus’. Three translucent figures appeared. In no time, they became solid. They were Ariana, Kenedra, and a man whom Harry thought must be Dumbledore’s father. They were screaming in pain. Shouting, dying. Even Dumbledore started screaming with them. Then Grindelwald shouted ‘lashiea’ and the doors on the houses on the two sides of the road transformes into rope and started tying Dumbledore.
Then Harry couldn’t believe his eyes as in front of him, Dumbledore shouted, ‘Blazio Patronum’ and Dumbledore transformed into a giant Lion on fire. The ferocious fire-lion moved so fast that even Grindelwald couldn’t react. He was trapped in the fire that was Dumbledore. Grindelwald was screaming in agony. Then he shouted ‘Aqualter’. He too transformed into water. The water extinguished into fire.
Within seconds, they were back in their original form. Pointing his wand towards the house on the side of Grindelwald, Dumbledore shouted ‘animato’ the house started moving towards Grindelwald and started crushing him towards the house on the other side. Grindelwald blasted the house. Grindelwald shouted, ‘Avada kedavra’ with a flick of Dumbledore’s wand, a house came between them and the curse hit it. The house was shattered. Dumbledore raised his wand and shouted, ‘GRINDELWALD CORAZIO’
A flash of pure white light hit Grindelwald in his chest. There was a loud band and Grindelwald was covered in golden mist. When the mist vanished, he was on the ground. Dumbledore went to him. They looked at each other and then Grindelwald said, ‘You won, Albus. You won.’
The place faded and Harry, Ron and Hermione came back to the present time, clearly awed by what they had seen.
Chapter Fourteen: Of Love and Friendship
For some time, the memories that Dumbledore had given them were forgotten. First they kept talking about what had happened last night and then they all slept heavily. Then when they were awake, the first thing they did was to takeout the pensive and see the memories of Dumbledore. They first took out the bottle number one, and emptied it into the pensive. They all went inside the pensive. They had entered the memory of the young Dumbledore. He was tall, handsome and thin, with the same bright blue eyes. He was sitting with another man, young and handsome. Hermione screamed, ‘Oh Harry! It’s Grindelwald’
Harry could not believe this. What was the connection between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. They were looking very happy, immersed in conversation. And then everything faded.
They entered a new scene. There was Dumbledore again. This time with a woman.
‘But mother,’ Dumbledore said, ‘we are friends. If there is one person here who understood me, it’s Gellert. And I don’t know why you think I should be away from him.’
‘I know everything. Everything. You-you are, in love with that man. Yes I know. You think we don’t know. Why do you think your father went to Azkaban? Those muggle boys – they were gay. He knew they were trying to influence you. And when he tried to stop them, they abused him. And he jinxed them.’
‘But they were not trying to influence me. You can’t make someone walk the other side of hedge. And yes I love Gellert. But it’s not my fault if I am like this.’
‘I am telling you that boy is no good. He is a lunatic. And you are not gay. I am sure you aren’t’
‘Mother, I love him’
His mother, Kenedra knew she had lost. She left the room crying.
The room faded. They entered a new place. It was garden. Dumbledore was walking in the garden when found a body lying. ‘Ariana,’ he screamed. He went close to her. She was dead. She was a small and young girl. Her body was bleeding. Harry saw dumbledore’s mother and brother aberforth coming. Aberforth was shouting, ‘He did it, he did it, Gellert did it. He was practising a curse when it hit her. I saw it.’
The view faded. They were now in Dumbledore’s house. A heated argument was going on.
‘I told you, he was no good. That’s why he ran away. Practicing the killing curse.’ Said Kenedra.
‘It’s because of you she died. I’m not going to leave you.’ said Aberforth.
And he hit him. He had hit Dumbledore with hard on his nose. Dumbledore started bleeding. Behind them Kenedra was shouting, trying to stop Aberforth.
The room faded again. Another scene began. It was a funeral. But not Ariana’s, it was Kenedra’s funeral. She had died. The room faded and Harry Ron and Hermione came back to the present.
Harry did not know what to say. He never thought Dumbledore’s own life was so sad and lonely. Ron looked sad too. But it was Hermione who was sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Oh! It’s all so sad. I never thought he was so lonely. So much in love, so much betrayed.’
‘He was – was gay,’ said Ron.
‘So what, that doesn’t makes him a lesser human being. Or a lesser wizard.’ said Harry.
‘yeah.’ Said Ron.
Harry could not believe this. What was the connection between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. They were looking very happy, immersed in conversation. And then everything faded.
They entered a new scene. There was Dumbledore again. This time with a woman.
‘But mother,’ Dumbledore said, ‘we are friends. If there is one person here who understood me, it’s Gellert. And I don’t know why you think I should be away from him.’
‘I know everything. Everything. You-you are, in love with that man. Yes I know. You think we don’t know. Why do you think your father went to Azkaban? Those muggle boys – they were gay. He knew they were trying to influence you. And when he tried to stop them, they abused him. And he jinxed them.’
‘But they were not trying to influence me. You can’t make someone walk the other side of hedge. And yes I love Gellert. But it’s not my fault if I am like this.’
‘I am telling you that boy is no good. He is a lunatic. And you are not gay. I am sure you aren’t’
‘Mother, I love him’
His mother, Kenedra knew she had lost. She left the room crying.
The room faded. They entered a new place. It was garden. Dumbledore was walking in the garden when found a body lying. ‘Ariana,’ he screamed. He went close to her. She was dead. She was a small and young girl. Her body was bleeding. Harry saw dumbledore’s mother and brother aberforth coming. Aberforth was shouting, ‘He did it, he did it, Gellert did it. He was practising a curse when it hit her. I saw it.’
The view faded. They were now in Dumbledore’s house. A heated argument was going on.
‘I told you, he was no good. That’s why he ran away. Practicing the killing curse.’ Said Kenedra.
‘It’s because of you she died. I’m not going to leave you.’ said Aberforth.
And he hit him. He had hit Dumbledore with hard on his nose. Dumbledore started bleeding. Behind them Kenedra was shouting, trying to stop Aberforth.
The room faded again. Another scene began. It was a funeral. But not Ariana’s, it was Kenedra’s funeral. She had died. The room faded and Harry Ron and Hermione came back to the present.
Harry did not know what to say. He never thought Dumbledore’s own life was so sad and lonely. Ron looked sad too. But it was Hermione who was sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Oh! It’s all so sad. I never thought he was so lonely. So much in love, so much betrayed.’
‘He was – was gay,’ said Ron.
‘So what, that doesn’t makes him a lesser human being. Or a lesser wizard.’ said Harry.
‘yeah.’ Said Ron.
Chapter Thirteen: The Second Secret: The Muggle’s Revenge
Harry waited for the orphanage to open. At eight in the morning he knocked. The room was opened by a slim young woman. Harry asked if he could meet Mrs. Rosetta. He was taken inside to Rosetta’s room. The orphanage had changed. It was not grim anymore. It was bright and more positive. When he went inside, he found a very old woman, who had a very pleasant face. She asked Harry to sit down. He sat.
‘Yes, my dear, how may I help you?’ she said.
‘I want to know if you know anything about R. A. B.?’
Her face changed. She looked scandalized. ‘How do you know about that? You have read that note, haven’t you? Who are you?’ she said.
‘I am Harry, Harry Potter. I want to know where the locket is. I want to destroy it. And I want to know how you came to know about the Horcrux.’
‘Well, I knew him, Tom Riddle, you know. He used to share this orphanage with me. He was strange. Very strange, demented if you ask me. And then he took me to that place, that c-c-cave.’
Harry could see just how the mention of the cave had changed her. She was no longer the amiable woman who had welcomed Harry a minute ago. But she was a scared petrified and even sad woman.
‘He spoke to snakes. I was petrified. I was never the same after that day. But then he left. He went to Hogwarts. He used to come every year during holidays, and he became scarier every year. There was something sinister about him. And then, after seven years he left for good. Never returned.’
She took a sigh. The woman who had opened the door came with a cup of coffee. Amy took a sip and started again, ‘and then after some years, I met Gordon. Gordon was a wizard, an auror. For some years, we lived happily. But then dark times began. Voldemort came to power. Things were dark and dangerous. And on one night, Albus Dumbledore came to our house. I heard him tell Gordon that he suspects Voldemort to be actually a former Hogwarts student called Tom Riddle. I was shocked to hear that name again. That night I told Gordon about Tom. He asked me about Tom, I told him about the cave incident. He decided that we go to the cave.’
Again that fear was on her face. She continued, ‘we went to the cave. It was dark and cold. There was a lot of hidden magic out there. At one point, he had to give some of his blood. It was all so evil. Then we went on a boat. Gordon said that the boat was meant for only one wizard. But since I was a muggle I could come to. There on the goblet, a locket was lying. He said it was a horcrux. He told me what it was and what it could do. He asked me to take out my locket, the one I was wearing at that time. He them transformed it to copy of locket in the goblet. He said that he is going to drink the whole potion. And after he has finished it I should swap the two lockets. And then he drank that awful potion. He had told me to make him finish the whole potion.’
As she was saying this, Harry could visualize the scene between him and Dumbledore in the cave. Even he was scared of what he might hear next next.
‘And then,’ she continued, ‘he became thirsty. I told him to drink some water from the lake. He was in terrible pain. I could see that. He told me to take the locket. He then drank some water from the lake. And then, b-b-bodies came out. They t-t-took him with t-t-them. I had taken the locket from the goblet. But before keeping the fake locket in the goblet, I decided that I will write a note in it. I took out a parchment and wrote a note to him. And then I came back. I tried to break that locket, burn it but nothing happened. And then, one night, when I was defeated, sad on my incapability to finish the locket, I cried. Ever since my husband’s death I had kept the tears in my eyes. But that night, they came out. The tears of pain, of agony and of love. And they fell on the locket. My tears fell on the locket. And a scream came out of it. It was destroyed. The locket was destroyed. What knives, fire and guns cannot do, the tears did it. Even I don’t know how, but it happened.’
‘I know,’ said Harry. ‘Dumbledore always said that love if the most powerful magic. It was your love for your husband that the horcrux couldn’t bear. But I don’t understand one thing. I thought your name Amy Benson. Where did Rosetta come from?’
‘Gordon gave this name to me. After his death I left that world forever. I have no news of what’s happening there for the last fifteen years. I had heard of you, destroying Voldemort. Is everything in the wizarding world fine?’ She said.
‘Everything will be fine. I am glad you destroyed the locket. The two things that thought were of no good are the two things that finished a part of him. Muggles and Love.’
There was silence for some time. Harry finished his coffee. And said, ‘I must go now, M’am. It was really good to see you. just one more thing, can I apparate from here?’
‘yes, off course’
And Harry dissapparated. He went to Dumbledore’s house and told Hermione and Ron everything. When he finished, they jumped in joy. They were now one more horcrux down.
‘Yes, my dear, how may I help you?’ she said.
‘I want to know if you know anything about R. A. B.?’
Her face changed. She looked scandalized. ‘How do you know about that? You have read that note, haven’t you? Who are you?’ she said.
‘I am Harry, Harry Potter. I want to know where the locket is. I want to destroy it. And I want to know how you came to know about the Horcrux.’
‘Well, I knew him, Tom Riddle, you know. He used to share this orphanage with me. He was strange. Very strange, demented if you ask me. And then he took me to that place, that c-c-cave.’
Harry could see just how the mention of the cave had changed her. She was no longer the amiable woman who had welcomed Harry a minute ago. But she was a scared petrified and even sad woman.
‘He spoke to snakes. I was petrified. I was never the same after that day. But then he left. He went to Hogwarts. He used to come every year during holidays, and he became scarier every year. There was something sinister about him. And then, after seven years he left for good. Never returned.’
She took a sigh. The woman who had opened the door came with a cup of coffee. Amy took a sip and started again, ‘and then after some years, I met Gordon. Gordon was a wizard, an auror. For some years, we lived happily. But then dark times began. Voldemort came to power. Things were dark and dangerous. And on one night, Albus Dumbledore came to our house. I heard him tell Gordon that he suspects Voldemort to be actually a former Hogwarts student called Tom Riddle. I was shocked to hear that name again. That night I told Gordon about Tom. He asked me about Tom, I told him about the cave incident. He decided that we go to the cave.’
Again that fear was on her face. She continued, ‘we went to the cave. It was dark and cold. There was a lot of hidden magic out there. At one point, he had to give some of his blood. It was all so evil. Then we went on a boat. Gordon said that the boat was meant for only one wizard. But since I was a muggle I could come to. There on the goblet, a locket was lying. He said it was a horcrux. He told me what it was and what it could do. He asked me to take out my locket, the one I was wearing at that time. He them transformed it to copy of locket in the goblet. He said that he is going to drink the whole potion. And after he has finished it I should swap the two lockets. And then he drank that awful potion. He had told me to make him finish the whole potion.’
As she was saying this, Harry could visualize the scene between him and Dumbledore in the cave. Even he was scared of what he might hear next next.
‘And then,’ she continued, ‘he became thirsty. I told him to drink some water from the lake. He was in terrible pain. I could see that. He told me to take the locket. He then drank some water from the lake. And then, b-b-bodies came out. They t-t-took him with t-t-them. I had taken the locket from the goblet. But before keeping the fake locket in the goblet, I decided that I will write a note in it. I took out a parchment and wrote a note to him. And then I came back. I tried to break that locket, burn it but nothing happened. And then, one night, when I was defeated, sad on my incapability to finish the locket, I cried. Ever since my husband’s death I had kept the tears in my eyes. But that night, they came out. The tears of pain, of agony and of love. And they fell on the locket. My tears fell on the locket. And a scream came out of it. It was destroyed. The locket was destroyed. What knives, fire and guns cannot do, the tears did it. Even I don’t know how, but it happened.’
‘I know,’ said Harry. ‘Dumbledore always said that love if the most powerful magic. It was your love for your husband that the horcrux couldn’t bear. But I don’t understand one thing. I thought your name Amy Benson. Where did Rosetta come from?’
‘Gordon gave this name to me. After his death I left that world forever. I have no news of what’s happening there for the last fifteen years. I had heard of you, destroying Voldemort. Is everything in the wizarding world fine?’ She said.
‘Everything will be fine. I am glad you destroyed the locket. The two things that thought were of no good are the two things that finished a part of him. Muggles and Love.’
There was silence for some time. Harry finished his coffee. And said, ‘I must go now, M’am. It was really good to see you. just one more thing, can I apparate from here?’
‘yes, off course’
And Harry dissapparated. He went to Dumbledore’s house and told Hermione and Ron everything. When he finished, they jumped in joy. They were now one more horcrux down.
Chapter Twelve: Godric’s Hollow
Finally they reached Godric’s Hollow. They had arrived inside Harry’s house. Harry had seen this place in his visions. So he concentrated on that place itself. Finally when he was at that it was a completely different feeling. It was as if he was in his dream. The place was battered now, but it still made Harry feel at home. The home that he had always longed for. There were spiders in the house, and beetles, flies. Dust covered every inch of the house. Harry had a mixed feeling walking through the house. He was happy and sad a the same time. The house was half broken now. They started going out.
Once out all of them started looking for dumbledore’s home. And soon they found it. It was in front of Harry’s house. Harry went inside the house. Ron and Hermione followed.
The inside of dumbledore’s house was as dirty as Harry’s but it was intact. Harry went inside. There were a lot of things. There was also an old trunk kept there. There was a note on that trunk that said, To Harry. Harry opened that trunk and saw that there was the pensive inside it. Also, there were three bottles of memories with numbers labeled on them. There was also Griffindor’s sword in the box. Harry took the pensive out. And took the bottle labeled one, when Hermione screamed.
‘Harry, look out’ Ron said. Even Ron looked almost dead. And Harry saw outside. It was Voldemort. He was looking all over. It seemed that he could not see the house.
‘Harry’ we need to apparate. Right now!’ said Hermione.
‘We can’t. I haven’t even visited my parents’ grave’
‘But he is here. He’ll surely find out’ said Hermione.
‘No. he won’t’. It was Ron who said that. ‘It’s dumbledore’s house. He has protected this house with all the magic he knew. This is probably the safest place for us to be.’
Hermione thought for a moment. Then she looked outside. Voldemort still couldn’t see the house. She then said, yes I think you are right. But still, we need to be ready to leave. If he is able to come inside, we need to be prepared to apparate. So they got ready. But nothing happened. Perhaps this place was also protected by fidilius charm. After some time, Voldemort left. They all took a deep breath. By the time he left, it was midnight. They all took the invisibility cloak under which they were hiding. All, except Harry.
‘Harry where are you?’ asked Ron.
‘I am going to visit my parents grave’ he replied.
‘But Harry, it’s too dangerous. He might be out there’ said Hermione.
‘I don’t know. I am ready to take this risk.’
And he left the house. Ron and Hermione kept looking for him in the house but he was not there. Harry was walking down the road looking for sign of a graveyard. Finally after walking for ten minutes he found it. He found the graveyard. He entered the graveyard. There were a lot of graves there. Harry started looking for his parent’s grave. He was looking when he found the graves of Ariana Dumbledore and Kenedra Dumbledore. Harry stared at it for some time. Were these the relatives of Dumbledore? They were bound to be. But who were they? He then moved forward.
Next to their graves were the two graves he was looking for, James Potter and Lily Potter. Still inside the cloak, he bent down and touched the tombstone. He was crying. But he dared not make any noise. He kept sitting there for a long time. He kept thinking about his parents and how they died. He thought of Voldemort and how than small boy called Tom Riddle became the man who killed his parents.
Then, when the sun was about to rise, he stood up, went to a corner and plucked two flowers. He had just put them on his parents grave when he heard the same high pitched voice, ‘Hiding under the same old cloak, Potter?’
Terror was spreading through Harry. What could he do? Where should he run? Where? Without thinking anything, Harry apparated.
It had just come to his mind instantly. When he was going, he heard Voldemort scream. He knew he was safe. Voldemort didn’t knew where he went. It was the spontaneity of Harry’s plan that made him escape. He himself didn’t know where he was going. It was only when he had disappeared that he thought of the place. It was a building in London. Harry felt he has been here before. But when? He then saw a sign. The New London Orphanage. And Harry knew where he was. It was the same orphanage where he had seen the young Tom Riddle. But it was different from the orphanage he had seen. It had changed. Even the name, Harry thought was different. But it was closed. It was just dawn. He went close to the orphanage board when he saw a name, the head of the name was Mrs. Rosetta Amy Benson. Harry had heard the name Amy Benson before. It was the guy whom Voldemort had scared in the cave. He decided that he will wait for the office to open and that he will speak to Amy.
Once out all of them started looking for dumbledore’s home. And soon they found it. It was in front of Harry’s house. Harry went inside the house. Ron and Hermione followed.
The inside of dumbledore’s house was as dirty as Harry’s but it was intact. Harry went inside. There were a lot of things. There was also an old trunk kept there. There was a note on that trunk that said, To Harry. Harry opened that trunk and saw that there was the pensive inside it. Also, there were three bottles of memories with numbers labeled on them. There was also Griffindor’s sword in the box. Harry took the pensive out. And took the bottle labeled one, when Hermione screamed.
‘Harry, look out’ Ron said. Even Ron looked almost dead. And Harry saw outside. It was Voldemort. He was looking all over. It seemed that he could not see the house.
‘Harry’ we need to apparate. Right now!’ said Hermione.
‘We can’t. I haven’t even visited my parents’ grave’
‘But he is here. He’ll surely find out’ said Hermione.
‘No. he won’t’. It was Ron who said that. ‘It’s dumbledore’s house. He has protected this house with all the magic he knew. This is probably the safest place for us to be.’
Hermione thought for a moment. Then she looked outside. Voldemort still couldn’t see the house. She then said, yes I think you are right. But still, we need to be ready to leave. If he is able to come inside, we need to be prepared to apparate. So they got ready. But nothing happened. Perhaps this place was also protected by fidilius charm. After some time, Voldemort left. They all took a deep breath. By the time he left, it was midnight. They all took the invisibility cloak under which they were hiding. All, except Harry.
‘Harry where are you?’ asked Ron.
‘I am going to visit my parents grave’ he replied.
‘But Harry, it’s too dangerous. He might be out there’ said Hermione.
‘I don’t know. I am ready to take this risk.’
And he left the house. Ron and Hermione kept looking for him in the house but he was not there. Harry was walking down the road looking for sign of a graveyard. Finally after walking for ten minutes he found it. He found the graveyard. He entered the graveyard. There were a lot of graves there. Harry started looking for his parent’s grave. He was looking when he found the graves of Ariana Dumbledore and Kenedra Dumbledore. Harry stared at it for some time. Were these the relatives of Dumbledore? They were bound to be. But who were they? He then moved forward.
Next to their graves were the two graves he was looking for, James Potter and Lily Potter. Still inside the cloak, he bent down and touched the tombstone. He was crying. But he dared not make any noise. He kept sitting there for a long time. He kept thinking about his parents and how they died. He thought of Voldemort and how than small boy called Tom Riddle became the man who killed his parents.
Then, when the sun was about to rise, he stood up, went to a corner and plucked two flowers. He had just put them on his parents grave when he heard the same high pitched voice, ‘Hiding under the same old cloak, Potter?’
Terror was spreading through Harry. What could he do? Where should he run? Where? Without thinking anything, Harry apparated.
It had just come to his mind instantly. When he was going, he heard Voldemort scream. He knew he was safe. Voldemort didn’t knew where he went. It was the spontaneity of Harry’s plan that made him escape. He himself didn’t know where he was going. It was only when he had disappeared that he thought of the place. It was a building in London. Harry felt he has been here before. But when? He then saw a sign. The New London Orphanage. And Harry knew where he was. It was the same orphanage where he had seen the young Tom Riddle. But it was different from the orphanage he had seen. It had changed. Even the name, Harry thought was different. But it was closed. It was just dawn. He went close to the orphanage board when he saw a name, the head of the name was Mrs. Rosetta Amy Benson. Harry had heard the name Amy Benson before. It was the guy whom Voldemort had scared in the cave. He decided that he will wait for the office to open and that he will speak to Amy.
Chapter Eleven: Another Letter
Inside Hogwarts, were the other teachers patrolling the corridors. Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, Sprouts, and Slughorn were patrolling together instead of spreading around as they knew there was nothing to worry. The children were all safe in their dormitories as Hogwarts itself was protecting them. It was the letter Dumbledore had written to Hagrid before his death that had all the details about Hogwarts and it’s hidden magic. Hagrid had taken the letter at once to Professor McGonagall who was astonished to see it. And they had sent letters to all hogwats students… well almost all Hogwarts students and had asked if they would like to continue their education. All of them came back to Hogwarts, which was now hidden by magic. All that she had to do was to go in front of the main gates and ask for help and the rest of it happened itself. The whole castle vanished. It was only when you said to the doors that you mean no harm to anybody inside that the doors opened. But even that was not sufficient. You actually had to be good from inside. Only then, will the castle show itself to you.
It was the twentieth of August when the unfortunate accident with professor Trelawney had happened. But most of the students were there. Due to the danger that lied outside, most parents had already sent their children to Hogwarts. A funeral was help for professor Trelawney and she was buried near the lake. The Patil twins and lavender Brown had done all the preparations for the funeral. Everyone was sad. Even though most of them did not believe in divination, but still, it was an unfortunate accident. A few students had seen what happened as they were wandering outside when this had happened, Ginny Luna and Neville among them. And they couldn’t believe that their divination teacher could be so brave. They couldn’t hear the prophecy though.
Back in Number 12, Harry still was still gloomy about the whole R.A.B. incident. He thought he had solved the mystery, but he was wrong. Now they did no know anything about that person. One day when he was sitting in Sirius’s room, he spotted an owl. The owl was carrying a letter. Harry opened it and saw the same hand writing, Dumbledore’s hand writing. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It said,
Dear Harry
I might be dead and buried before you get this but what I am writing in this letter is crucial for Voldemort’s defeat. I have left some things for you Harry. And I want you to collect them from my house. I want you to go to Godric’s Hollow and there, you will find my house just in front of your house. There you will find all those things. Please go and see all that as soon as you can.
Yours truly,
Professor Dumbledore
Harry read that letter and showed it to Ron and Hermione. They exclaimed in joy. Finally there was something to work on. A clue. But there was something else in the letter. The very first line said that Dumbledore that he might be dead. He knew, he suspected… but trusted Snape. Why? Anger was burning inside Harry once again. Snape was dead now, and Harry was happy. He hated Snape.
‘so when are we going there?’ asked Ron.
‘tonight’ ansered Hermione.
And they packed their stuff. By the time it was dark, they were ready to go. They decided that they would not take kreature with them. They cannot risk his life. But kreature insisted on going. It took them an hour on persuading him to stay. Finally they apperated and left Grimmauld Place.
It was the twentieth of August when the unfortunate accident with professor Trelawney had happened. But most of the students were there. Due to the danger that lied outside, most parents had already sent their children to Hogwarts. A funeral was help for professor Trelawney and she was buried near the lake. The Patil twins and lavender Brown had done all the preparations for the funeral. Everyone was sad. Even though most of them did not believe in divination, but still, it was an unfortunate accident. A few students had seen what happened as they were wandering outside when this had happened, Ginny Luna and Neville among them. And they couldn’t believe that their divination teacher could be so brave. They couldn’t hear the prophecy though.
Back in Number 12, Harry still was still gloomy about the whole R.A.B. incident. He thought he had solved the mystery, but he was wrong. Now they did no know anything about that person. One day when he was sitting in Sirius’s room, he spotted an owl. The owl was carrying a letter. Harry opened it and saw the same hand writing, Dumbledore’s hand writing. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It said,
Dear Harry
I might be dead and buried before you get this but what I am writing in this letter is crucial for Voldemort’s defeat. I have left some things for you Harry. And I want you to collect them from my house. I want you to go to Godric’s Hollow and there, you will find my house just in front of your house. There you will find all those things. Please go and see all that as soon as you can.
Yours truly,
Professor Dumbledore
Harry read that letter and showed it to Ron and Hermione. They exclaimed in joy. Finally there was something to work on. A clue. But there was something else in the letter. The very first line said that Dumbledore that he might be dead. He knew, he suspected… but trusted Snape. Why? Anger was burning inside Harry once again. Snape was dead now, and Harry was happy. He hated Snape.
‘so when are we going there?’ asked Ron.
‘tonight’ ansered Hermione.
And they packed their stuff. By the time it was dark, they were ready to go. They decided that they would not take kreature with them. They cannot risk his life. But kreature insisted on going. It took them an hour on persuading him to stay. Finally they apperated and left Grimmauld Place.
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