Chapter 31: The Seventh Secret

‘Many years ago,’ began professor Slughorn, ‘there was a witch. A very talented and beautiful witch. You all know her by the name of Helga Hufflepuff. She was a very loving and caring woman, very motherly. She believed that every person in this earh is special. She brought children from outside the wizarding families and made them into great wizards and witches. But what people don’t know about her is that she was also a great lover. She loved a man so majestic and great, that any wizard till now is nothing in front him. He Harry, was one of your ancestor, Godric Gryffindor. Yes, he was your ancestor Harry. Ever wondered why your parent’s lived in Godric’s hollow? I’ll come to it.’

‘So Helga loved Godric. Together, they took magic so far as no one had ever taken. Rowena Ravenclaw also helped them in taking magic further away. But together they also brought muggle children and taught them magic. This offended Salazar. He tried to talk Rowena into stopping the entry of muggle children, but even she did not mind them. She said that anyone with the talent for magic must be given an opportunity. Hence, as you know, Salazar made his secret chamber and left Hogwarts forever.’

‘But he did not forget or forgive Helga and Godric. He tried to take revenge for ruining Hogwarts. It was the time when Helga and Godric had gotten married. Helga was pregnant. Salazar returned. He said he was back to wish the couple, but the truth was something else. Salazar wanted to finish off Godric and Helga, before they could increase their family. So one night, he casted a sleeping spell on Godric and kidnapped Helga. He took her to a place no one had seen before. It was what we now call Godric’s hollow. When Godric woke up, he became furious and started looking for Helga.

‘Meanwhile, that night Helga had her labor pains. And she delivered the baby there. it was baby girl. A very beautiful girl. But Salazar wanted to kill her. But Helga came between him and the baby. She gave her life to protect the baby. By this time, Gryffindor came. Seen his wife dead, he started dueling with Salazar. It was the greatest battle that ever took place. And finally, Salazar lost. And he died.’

Godric made his home in the place where Helga had died. But he could never live there. He died within a year of all this. Rowena took the baby with her. But she had to manage Hogwarts and so she gave the baby to a muggle to take care of. But that girl never became a witch. She lived her whole life as a muggle. Never had any powers. She married a muggle, had muggle children, muggle grandchildren and so on. Until one day, one of their predecessors gave birth to a beautiful and supremely talented witch called Lily Evans. And I daresay history was repeated.’

‘But professor, how will this help us in saving Ron?’ asked Hermione.

‘Well, When Helga died, she was buried in the ministry of magic. In the department of mysteries. Because her death was a mystery to all. No one except Rowena knew. And she did not tell anyone, Godric had forbidden her to tell anyone. But there are some, very few magical families, who know this secret. So soon after she was put in the department of mysteries, the room in which she rested got locked, by itself. And since then it opened very few times. Only when someone desperately needed help and love was there in the desire for help. Her body became sand. And whenever you put that sand on someone with love, it heals that person. Any curse can be treated, except for the killing curse. So if you put that sand on Ron, the soul of Voldemort in him would die, as it is evil. And Ron will come, unscratched. And above all, it will help you Harry. It will protect you from anything. You know your cloak, why it always protects you? because it is made from the same sand. When your great-grandfather needed help and he happened to be in the department, the door opened and this cloak came. Since then it has been in your family. That is why Dumbledore had borrowed it from your father that day. And it was Dumbledore who told me this story, about the four founders and the very secret sand.’

‘But how are we supposed to go inside the ministry again? The security there must be really high.’ said Harry.

‘Then,’ said professor Slughorn, ‘you go to a place where the security is not there.’

‘Where?’ said Hermione.

‘Lily’s grave. she and Helga both died the same death. even her body has transformed into that sand. Harry, you are her son, you just have to tell her, with love to save your friend. She’s your mother. And this is a magical bond beyond and other magic. She’ll help you. do this as fast as possible. And now, excuse me, oh and it was nice to meet you people at this stage of my life.’

And Professor Slughorn took out a small bottle from his pocket and drank it. He said, ‘To the Dark Lord’s Defeat.’

He died. Almost instantly. Harry and Hermione called everybody. They did not cry because they knew he had died a like a fighter. They wanted to honor his death. they had decided that next evening, they after the funeral, they are going to Godric’s Hollow, again.’