Harry Potter and the Unanswered Question

Harry Potter and the Unanswered Question

Chapter Three: Godric's Hollow

Harry awoke the next morning to a beautiful August morning. It had rained the night before and he could see the water sparkling on the lawn through his bedroom window. He got up and went over to his desk. He picked up his journal from Hermione and opened it. On the first page he saw his name written in green ink twice, once in Hermione's handwriting and once in Ron's. Harry picked up his wand, tapped the page and muttered, "Prongs." Two letters appeared. He read Hermione's first.

Dear Harry,

It worked! Of course I was sure it would, but it was still nice to see it work! I'm not with Ron yet. I'm still in the country with my parents. No, I haven't heard anything about Voldemort. I should be traveling to Headquarters day-after tomorrow. See you soon!

Love from,

Hermione

Harry then read Ron's letter.

Harry,

Mum said she and dad would take the car (courtesy of Fred and George) and pick you up tomorrow and bring you to Headquarters. I will fill you in on everything when you get here. I can't tell you where we are, Mum thinks it's a little too risky, even if Hermione's sure no one can read it.

I don't really know what the Order has been up to. You know how Mum is, she won't let us anywhere near them during meetings, and no one talks about it when they're not at meetings. Order members haven't really been hanging around, what with the Ministry finally admitting that You-Know-Who is back. I suppose they must be working together, but I really don't know. Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow then, bye!

~Ron

Harry smiled. He couldn't wait to get away from Privet Drive. Harry went about, packing stuff for tomorrow, throwing his clothes into his trunk and gathering his schoolbooks together. He was glad that they wouldn't be going back to Grimmauld Place. That house held too many memories of Sirius. He also wondered where the new Headquarters would be. Where else could Dumbledore find that would be safe?

That night at dinner, Harry told Uncle Vernon that the Weasleys were coming to get him tomorrow. "About time, we were afraid you were gonna stay the whole summer," mumbled Uncle Vernon. Harry assumed that meant he didn't care. He finished his dinner and went back up to his room. Once there, he remembered he was going to write to Hermione and ask about that Ravenclaw girl. He picked up his journal and began writing.

Dear Hermione,

I was wondering if, in all your reading, you had ever come across anything about a Ravenclaw named Natalie Brookes? She would have been at school with my parents. Do you know anything about her? If you do, let me know. Thanks a million!

~Harry

Like last time, the words faded away into the paper.

Harry decided to read some more of his father's journal before he went to bed. He opened the journal to the second entry.

Wednesday, September 8

Well, Sirius has definitely lost his mind! Picking a fight with his cousin Narcissa right in front of her stuck up boyfriend, Lucius Malfoy! Of course Malfoy cursed Sirius, sending them both to detention. Then, when Natalie told Sirius he got what he deserved, Sirius blew up at her. Lily had to come over and threaten to send Sirius straight to Dumbledore before things finally settled down. Sirius is going to be really lucky if he doesn't get expelled this year!

Harry smiled. He could easily see Sirius picking a fight with Lucius Malfoy. He read on.

Thursday, September 9

Next week is a full moon. Can't wait! I've been wondering if I should tell Nat everything about our full moon adventures. Of course I would never do so without talking to Moony first. I just don't know how she would take it. Nat's not into the whole rule breaking. She puts up with it as ling as no one gets hurt, but I don't think she would like it much if she found out we had not only broken school rules, but wizarding law!

Harry thought this Natalie reminded him of Hermione in their first year. He put his father's journal down. He decided it was time for bed.

The next morning Harry woke up excited and ready to go with the Weasleys. The Weasleys arrived in a new, expensive looking car at ten o'clock sharp. The new car must have cost a fortune. Harry was glad to see that the twins' joke shop was doing well. Even Uncle Vernon was staring at the car. It was tan and was shining in the sunlight. It was large enough to hold the six people comfortably, but sporty looking at the same time. Harry decided he liked it.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley! It's wonderful to see you again," Mr. Weasley said to Uncle Vernon. Vernon just grunted and went inside. Harry could see his Aunt Petunia peeking out the front window, watching the Weasleys closely.

"Ready to go then, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Yes sir," he answered. "Nice car," he told Mr. Weasley.

"Thanks. Fred and George picked it out for us," Mrs. Weasley told Harry. Mr. Weasley leaned over and whispered to Harry, "Wait 'til we get home and I'll show you some...er...modifications I've made." He smiled. That sounded like something Mr. Weasley would do. Harry thought back to the flying car he and Ron had used to fly to Hogwarts during their second year. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley helped Harry put his things in the trunk of the car, then he piled into the back and they set off.

After a few hours of driving they reached a small town named Godric's Hollow. For some reason this name sounded familiar to Harry. Where have I heard that name? he wondered. Mrs. Weasley noticed the look on Harry's face. "Something wrong, Harry dear?" she asked.

"I was just thinking about that name. It sounds familiar," he told her.

"Well, it should," Mrs. Weasley said. "It's where your parents lived after they graduated." Harry was shocked.

"But, didn't their house, I mean, wasn't their house destroyed?" he asked.

"Yes, but Dumbledore knew we needed a new meeting place, so he had it rebuilt," Mr. Weasley explained.

"Oh," was the only thing Harry could think of to say.

When they arrived at the house, all Harry saw was a pile of old rubble, overgrown by grass. He was confused until Mr. Weasley handed him a piece of parchment. Harry knew what to do now. After reading the parchment, written in Professor Dumbledore's loopy writing, he looked up again and this time, to his amazement, he saw a neat, two story cottage-like house. So, this is where Mum and Dad lived, Harry thought. It wasn't quite what he thought it would be, but he decided he liked it. It looked...cozy.

Ron ran outside. "Harry! I'm glad you made it! How do you like the new car? Brilliant, isn't it?" he exclaimed.

"I like it. I'm glad to be here. Is Hermione here yet?" he asked Ron.

"Not yet, she should be here tomorrow. Come on inside, I'll show you your room," Ron told him.

Harry, Ron and Ron's parents entered the house to find Professor Lupin and Ginny in the middle of an exciting game of wizard chess. Ginny was about to lose, but was hanging on by a miracle. Finally Lupin moved his queen to checkmate Ginny's king. She gave a sigh. "Oh well, I was never that good at chess anyway," she mumbled. She suddenly caught sight of Harry. "Hiya Harry! How are you?" she asked him.

"I'm good, and you?" he asked her.

"Fine," she replied.

Ron then led Harry through the kitchen, which reminded him of the kitchen back at the Burrow. There were pots simmering on the stove, being stirred by magic. There were also potatoes peeling themselves in the sink. On the other side of the kitchen, they came to a stairway. The stairway was covered in emerald green carpet and the banister was shining as if it had been waxed within an inch of its life. They climbed up the stairs to the second floor landing. Ron led them to the second door on the right and into a large bedroom. The room had two identical four-poster beds. The beds reminded Harry of the ones at Hogwarts, only these had emerald green hangings to match the carpet on the stairs, as opposed to the red of Hogwarts. Harry put his stuff down on the bed and looked around at the rest of the room. It was...quaint. He liked it. There was a small desk by the window, which looked out onto the back yard. He could just see a hill in the distance, with a large, towering oak at the top of the hill. He could also see a small pond to the right of the hill, just perfect for a swim after a hot summer day.

Harry began unpacking his things. After he was finished, they went downstairs to the drawing room. Hermione will love this room, Harry thought. It looked like a miniature library. All the shelves surrounding the room were lined with books. There were two desks, standing directly opposite each other, both littered with bits of parchment. Ron went to get some juice and snacks for them, leaving Harry and Ginny alone.

"Ginny, I want to thank you again for sending me that journal. I've really enjoyed reading it," he told her.

"You were able to read it then? Good," she replied.

"Well, of course I could read it, why wouldn't I have been able to read it?" he asked.

"Well, when I found it, the only thing I could read was the name. The rest was gibberish," she told him. "But I thought it was probably enchanted so no one else could read it. You must have to have Potter blood to be able to read it," Ginny surmised.

Harry just smiled. "Thanks again, Gin."

"No problem, Harry," Ginny replied as Ron brought in the food. The three friends sat down and ate their snacks while talking about the upcoming year and the fun they would have.