Puzzle to a Frozen Heart

Puzzle to a Frozen Heart

Chapter 1: First Charge

Harry woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning. He had graduated yesterday and he supposed he should be very happy to have made it this far. He got up, put on his black swimming trunks and went to the pool. While he was doing his daily laps, someone called to him.

"Good morning Harry," greeted his best friend and fellow Jedi Wizard , Oliver Wood. Harry stopped swimming long enough to smile upon him.

"Hello Oliver. Slept well?"

"What do you think?"

"Oh, dreamed about Quaffles and Bludgers , eh? Someone can't wait to arrive at the Quidditch Tournament," Harry pointed out while getting out of the pool and grabbing his towel. He was perfectly aware that Oliver was leaving today so that he could take part in the annual Quidditch Tournament, which was to be held in Italy.

"I just don't understand why you won't come," Oliver whined.

"Oliver, I already told you, I want to spend my summer here. I want to decide what I want to do with my life."

"You can decide in Italy."

"You already have Viktor, you don't need another Seeker."

"You're way better than him and you know it."

"He's not that bad and stop trying to convince me. Besides, Master Yoda told me that he had to talk to me this afternoon."

"Really? What about?"

"No idea. He just said that it was very important."

"That's strange, considering that to Master Yoda, EVERYTHING is important," Oliver said matter of factly, taking a glance at his watch afterwards and suddenly noticing that he had only two hours left till he had to Apparate in Italy. "Yikes! I have to go pack!" Oliver gasped, running towards his room and leaving Harry to his thoughts.

Harry went back to his own dorm and took a shower. Putting on mauve jeans and a red sleeveless shirt, he went to breakfast. Those two hours passed quickly and before he knew it, he was saying goodbye to Oliver.

"Wood!" came the voice of Master Yoda, interrupting Oliver and Harry's goodbyes.

"Sir?" Oliver responded in a standard manner, though it was easy to notice the surprise in his voice.

"Have you received your new orders?"

"Orders, sir?"

"You're to report at Hogwarts in half an hour."

"Hogwarts? But sir, I'm going to the Quidditch Tournament, not to England."

"Not anymore."

"But..."

"No buts! It's Ms. Granger."

"Hermione? What about her?"

"She's going to Hogwarts and I want you there."

"What? It's the beginning of the summer, Sir." Oliver's face held a puzzled expression, but he wasn't about to neglect his Master's orders.

"Wood, go to the Apparition ward and get going!"

"Yes, sir! Bye Harry." Oliver picked up his bags, suddenly getting out of sight.

"Potter, come with me," Master Yoda requested, leading him into his office. As they entered, he signaled Harry to sit down while he looked in his drawers and pulled out a file. "Potter, as you know, you're the top Jedi Wizard here. You got excellent marks on all of your classes, not to mention the beyond expectations scores you managed to achieve on your finals. You're the best and we know it. That's why I'm giving you these orders." He handed him the file. "You're to report tomorrow morning at Hogwarts."

"Master, Hogwarts ? I don't need to take any more classes, I graduated," Harry said indignantly.

"Potter, you won't take any classes but you will pass as a student. You're to be Head Boy and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

"Uh, master?"

"What is it now?"

"May I remind you that they expelled me in Second year? I can't go back and certainly not to Gryffindor. I was a Slytherin."

"Of course you would think that I hadn't thought of that. I must say Potter, for a Jedi wizard, you're still incredibly naïve. We need you at Hogwarts. I have already talked to Dumbledore or rather, he talked to me."

"They need a Head Boy that bad? Surely they have more than qualified students in there to take the post," Harry interrupted, making Yoda lose the last thread of his patience.

"Potter, this isn't about the Head Boy or Quidditch captain post. That is just a cover up, so you can be in Hogwarts. I doubt they'd allow a graduated student around. Now, I'm going to tell you the real reason for which you're going to Hogwarts; Voldemort has murdered again." t this statement, Harry's face changed dramatically. "Last Thusday he killed a prestigious wizard family, leaving their only daughter on her own. I'm sure you can relate. Now, she's to be your charge , for we think that he'll come back and try to kill her once again."

"Which family was it?"

"Oh, the Grangers. I believe you are acquainted with their daughter, the Heir of Gryffindor." Harry flinched. Would this be....No, it couldn't....Well, how many Heirs of Gryffindor were there ?

"Would her name be..." Harry intended to ask that question which bothered him the most, but Yoda beat him to it.

"Hermione Granger. She's a Gryffindor seventh year and the Head Girl. She's to be your charge."