Harry Potter and the Black Grimoire

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - MEMORIES

In unity, the members of the Order of Light sat down at their places. Everything was in order, and the meeting began.

"Now," Dumbledore said, " we have a lot to get through tonight. I daresay our younger members might want to take advantage of their day off tomorrow and sleep in.

"I would like to start off the meeting by turning your attention to Mundungus Fletcher, who will fill you all in on everything we know about the Dark Lord and his present actions. Mundungus."

"Thank you, Albus," said an aging member of the Ministry of Magic. "Now, as you are all aware of by now, You-Know-Who, has returned as we all feared he would. Fortunatly for us though, we got early word, thanks to Harry and we were able to act quickly."

He was undoubtedly speaking about the end of last term when Harry witnessed the re-birth of the Dark Lord. Dumbledore, unlike the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, believed Harry and set out informants and messengers immediatly.

"Because of this early warning, we quickly sent out messages to the giants living in Europe and abroad. Most of them have givin us their word that they will not stray over to the dark side. After the Dark Reign, they have learned the error of their ways."

"What about the Dementors?" Sirius asked.

"The Dementors are another story, Sirius. We got to them first, but as you know, You-Know-Who has a bit more to offer them than we do. They have left our side and I fear for good."

There was a collective sigh that went through the room. Many members put their heads in their hands or experessed other forms of frustration. Harry too, found this bit of news particularly disheartening. Everytime he even thought of a Dementor vivid images came to his mind. After all, he heard the death of his parents everytime they came anywhere near him and they almost killed him as well. Hermione noticed his obvious concern over this topic and took his hand.

"This is not good news, but it is something we know how to deal with," Dumbledore said reasurringly.

"It is, of course Albus.

"As for the rest of the giants, they may or may not join You-Know-Who's forces."

"Even if they do, " Moody started, "I would expect that with the number of giants on our side, the rebels will not be that big of a problem."

"That's true," Fletcher said.

"But let us not underestimate the enemy," Dumbledore said.

"Of course not," many members said in unison.

"What else?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well," Fletcher continued, "also there is the army of other dark creatures that he has captured and trained. Trolls, goblins, elves, leprechauns, kappas, hags, veela, poltergeists, vampires. Anything that can have even the tiniest bit of evil in them is susceptable to his wily charms."

"That's quite a long list of evil creatures," Mrs. Figg said.

"Dark creatures. They're easy enough. You three can handle them by yourselves," Moody said, nodding in the direction of Harry, Hermione and Ron.

"You're probably right Alastor, but again, let us not underestimate the enemy."

Moody grunted in return and took a long swig from his flask.

"That's about all we know about his endeavors into army recruitment."

"Well that's enough to contend with for now anyway," Dumbledore said. "What do we know about Voldemort's other activities?"

"Besides gathering allies and creatures, we have gotten wind of several other possible You-Know-Who--"

"Please, call him Voldemort. And that goes for all of you. Not calling him by his true name shows weakness and fear."

"As you wish Albus. As I was saying, Voldemort appears to be linked with several dissapearances and muggle disturbances that have been reported."

"Dissapearances?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Miss Granger. We have been monitering the muggle police records and have come across several instances that seem to stand out."

He paused momentarily.

"Three weeks ago an entire train dissapeared out of thin air."

"Where does an entire train dissapear to?" Ron asked.

"That's something we'd like to know, Ron"

"And besides that," Fletcher continued, "last week a freight liner bound for Sweden vanished right out of the water."

"How odd," Mrs. Figg commented, scratching her head.

"Yes, very."

"Have the investigations yielded any clues?" Sirius asked.

"None, Sirius. There was no warning, no clues and apparantly no known motive."

"Well when Voldemort was in power before there were muggle disturbances and other things, can't this be just like that? The Death Eaters having a spot of fun?" Harry asked.

"That appears to be the only motive. It is what we thought of as well."

"Have searches been made?" Dumbledore asked.

"Of course, Albus. Search teams have combed every inch of Europe and found nothing at all. Absolutely no traces. They just... dissapeared."

"Well we all know that when wizards want to hide something, they'll hide it. You might've been staring straight at it the entire time," Moody said darkly.

"Good point."

"What about Peter Pettigrew?" Sirius asked.

"Ahh, Peter Pettigrew. I thought you would ask about him Sirius," Fletcher said with a knowing smile. "Since we spotted him awhile back, we have seen no more of him. He has probably paid dearly for his blunder. I doubt we'll see any more of him."

"Well that may be a bit presumptuous, but it is a good bet that you are right," Dumbledore said.

"What is the Ministry doing as to all of this?" Remus asked.

"Ahh, thank you Remus. That brings me to my next topic. Most importantly to some of you," Fletcher said, his eyes falling on Harry, "the Ministry has implemented the continuation of the research that was started years ago by the Potters."

"Counter-curses?" Harry asked.

"Precisely, Harry. Working off of the little notes we have gathered from the days of their research, Unspeakables have begun to develop counter-curses for the Unforgivable Curses, which i fear will become evermore popular soon enough."

"How are they coming along?" McGonnagall asked.

"Well, they're Unspeakables, so we don't know exactly. But one thing is for sure, they'd be getting on much better if they knew what Lily and James had been up to before their passing."

"Where were all of the notes?" Harry asked. "In the house?"

"Nobody knows for sure. We assume since we haven't found any that they were destroyed with your home in Godric's Hollow."

"But really they could be anywhere," Sirius said more than asked.

"I would say that is a fair assumption."

"Well we really can do nothing about that until we have some sort of clues as to where they are." Dumbledore said. "What's next?"

"What's next...." Fletcher said absentmindedly, counting off on his fingers. "Ahh yes. Spies. On top of the counter-curse research, the Ministry has also placed several spies all over the continent. They are where we get a large amount of our information from."

"Have you had any word from Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'm sorry Albus. No."

"Professor Snape has been spying for the Ministry? That's why he's not in school?"

"That's correct, Mr. Weasley. He left before the end of the term to place his affairs in order and then he set out straight away after the end-of-the-year feast. He has been spending a great deal of his time in Germany, seeking out information directly from the Death Eaters. He is one of the few people on our side to have actually seen Voldemort since his rebirth," Dumbledore said.

"How has he been getting information from the Dark Side without being seen? Did he rejoin the Death Eaters?" Hermione asked.

"No, no. They would never except him, even if he wanted to. He disgraced them when he did not show up at the first gathering after the rebirth. They would rather kill him them let him rejoin. But the fact that Severus was a Death Eater gives him an advantage over the rest of us for getting information. You see, Voldemort is hiding in a manor located somewhere in the Black Forest of Germany. The house is protected though, from unwanted eyes. It has been bewitched so that only a person wearing the Dark Mark on their arm can see it."

"And since he has the mark, he can see it," Sirius added.

"So with the help of his invisibility cloak and his knowledge of the way the Dark Side works, he has been gathering information for us."

"But what happened to him? Why did you ask if they had had word from him?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

"Last week, Harry, we lost contact with him. He and I had been communicating with use of the key, but suddenly we were unable to reach him."

"Was he captured?"

"That, of course, is my worst fear, but we do not know for sure."

"If there isn't anything else to be said about Snape, I'd like to here about the Grimoire," Moody snarled.

"I was just getting to that, Alastor. Now, as you all know, the Grimoire is hidden somewhere in the castle."

"We think," Sirius added.

"We're pretty sure it is. All we have to go on are the legends and what information has been passed down through the generations. But all evidence would show that it is here. Also, before we lost contact with Severus, he told us that the Death Eaters had also givin word to Voldemort that it was here as well."

"So then Voldemort will make an attempt to get it?"

"Most likely, Harry. But when and how we do not know."

"Do you know where this secret founder's office is?" Hermione asked.

"Not exactly. We have journals from Gryffindor and we have pored over the Hogwart's building plans for hours, so we have a few ideas mapped out. All of us have agreed upon the fact that the most likely place it would be is somewhere in the dungeons. There are a few other places we have kept in consideration as well, but the dungeons are the best bet."

"Why the dungeons?" Arabella asked.

"Well, for the simple fact that it is the most secretive place in the castle. There are all kinds of secret passageways in the dungeon, any of which could hide a hidden room."

"Remus and Severus have also provided us with boundless knowledge of certain hidden corridors and passages, testament to their countless hours of time spent out-of-bounds after dark while here at school."

"We only did it cause we knew it would come in handy someday!"

There was laughter that broke some of the tension in the room. Harry couldn't help but feel more relaxed.

"Well whatever the case may be, that information could be the deciding factor," Dumbledore said.

"You might want to study that map of yours a bit closely over the next week, Harry," Remus said with a wink.

"Will do," Harry said. "So when are we going to do this?"

"On Halloween. We're going to set up a Hogsmeade weekend and allow all of the students to go during the day. A few teachers will be going along to chaperone the younger students, so the castle will be relatively empty. That will leave us with free roam in peace."

"Who's going with?"

"Well, for starters, you, myself, Sirius and Remus, Minerva and I'm sure Ron and Hermione. When we find it, I will contact everyone else who will then transport themselves directly here and come and find us."

"Sounds like a plan," Ron said.

It does indeed, Mr. Weasley. Now, is there anything else Mundungus?"

"I think that's about it, Albus."

"Well then, unless there is anything anyone might want to add, then this meeting is adjourned," Dumbledore said, looking around the table.

"There is something," Harry said.

"What is it Harry?" Dumbledore asked, furrowing his brow from concern and curiosity.

"Well, this might sound a little stupid, but it's about a dream I had."

"Do go on, Harry. You have shown in the past that your dreams do hold truth in matters."

"Ok then. Well, last night I had a dream. It was very vivid, just like the ones that
I had last year, before Voldemort's return."

"Indeed then this could prove important. Go on, Harry. What did you see?"

"Well, it was Voldemort, Professor. He found the office and took the book."

Harry continued on, recounting the dream to everyone at the table while they listened intently with the most interested and curious looks on their faces. No detail was spared.

"I do believe this could be vital, Harry. If everything in the dream is accurate, then the details will allow for a much quicker and easier recovery."

"You don't think it was showing what was actually happening? Like the rest of my dreams?"

"No, Harry. The crystal in my key has not glowed red in awhile and obviously if the events of the dream did happen, then you would not be here right now. Or else you would have a new scar."

"Yeah."

"Well I think that's about it for now. Is it not? Any more questions?"

There was a collective murmur of no's around the table.

"Well that's it then. Meeting adjourned!"

Dumbledore clapped his hands jovially and stood, signaling to the rest to do the same. Everyone got up from their chairs and mingled a bit before leaving the room. Harry, Ron and Hermione hung around a bit with Dumbledore, McGonnagall and Sirius and Remus. ]

"Harry, I have some more things for you, by the way. From your parents. I cleaned out my safe at Gringotts of everything that belonged to them. You can have it all."

"Thanks!" Harry said, overjoyed that he would get to go through more of the stuff that was once his parents.

"No problem, it's yours anyway. It's in the staffroom though, we can go get it before you go back up to Gryffindor tower."

"Great! Let's go!"

With that, the trio, Sirius and Remus said goodbye to Dumbledore and McGonnagall and made their way out of the room and flooed to the staffroom.

"I kinda want to see Gryffindor tower again, so I'll tag along. If you don't mind," Remus said.

"Not at all Moony. I want to go up there as well. I haven't been up there yet and I kinda want to relive old memories."

"Cool," Ron said.

Momentarily they emerged from the fireplace in the staff room. Harry spotted a large trunk next to the large table.

"Whew! Where am I going to fit this?"

"Reducto."

The trunk reduced in size small enough for Sirius to pick it up and casually toss it to Harry.

"Stupid," Harry said, smacking himself in the forehead.

"We all have our brain overloads. And you have enough things going on up there right now, so it's understandable," Sirius said, putting his arm around Harry and ruffling his hair.

Harry ducked out and punched Sirius in the stomach playfully.

"Thanks for all this though, Sirius. I love getting stuff that belonged to my parents. It gives me something else to remember them by."

"Like I said, it's all yours anyway."

Harry smiled and placed the hand-sized trunk into one of the pockets in his robes.

"Shall we go up to Gryffindor tower?" he asked.

"Lead the way!"

****

"This sure does bring back the memories," Remus commented, looking about the common room nostalgically.

Sirius went over to the large couch and plopped down, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

"Still comfortable!"

"We wrote the Marauder's Map right there," Remus said, pointing to one of the tables in the corner.

"That's where my brothers do all of their dirty work!"

"Great minds think alike!" Sirius called from the couch. He looked like he was about to fall asleep.

"You know they would've given us a run for our money if we here at the same time," Sirius commented.

"Sure would have. And there's only two of them," Sirius said, getting increasingly groggier.

"I sure do miss this place," Remus said, crossing the room and going up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. "Don't you agree, Pads?"

The only answer he got in return was a loud snore that came from the couch.

"Some things never change," Remus said, rolling his eyes and pointing up the stairs. "Do you guys mind?"

"Not at all. It's late though, so the other guys are probably sleeping."

"I'll be quiet. I just want to take a look around."

"Coming in with us?" Harry asked, turning to Hermione.

"Of course. It's not like they haven't seen me enough times in there already. They should be used to it."

"Good point! Let's go!"

Harry opened the door and they tiptoed in, careful not to wake the other sleeping boys. They were barely in the door when Sirius crept up behind them and scared Ron, causing him to jump and let out a yelp. They turned around to find a wide-smile on the culprit's face.

"Still got it!" Sirius whispered.

They all shook their heads and walked into the room as quietly as they could.

"Harry? Ron? That you?" came Dean's voice from behind his bed curtains.

"Yeah, it's us. We're just showing around Sirius and Remus. They wanted to see the place again. You can go back to sleep."

"Remus? Remus Lupin?" he asked, pulling the curtains aside.

"Professor Lupin! How's it going?" he said, a little more loudly than he should have.

"Professor Lupin's here?" said Seamus from his bed.

"Wha? Lupin? Who's here?" came Neville's groggy voice.

By now everyone in the room was awake and Harry turned on his bedside lamp.

"No use in staying in the dark anymore," Harry said.

"Please guys, call me Remus. I'm not your teacher anymore," Lupin said, still walking around the room.

"What are you looking for Remus?" Harry asked.

"Nothing in particular, just soaking in the memories."

"Yeah, sure Moony. I know what you're looking for," Sirius said with a sly smile and a wink.

"Well you would, now wouldn't you Pads?"

"What're you two talking about?" Dean asked.

"Have you ever hidden something Dean? Like in hopes that you could come back when you've grown up and then find it again?"

"Yeah, yeah! Before we moved out of my old house three years ago I left some old things behind in a shoebox under the floor."

"Well there you go."

Dean still had a bewildered look on his face, but Hermione brightened up.

"You left something behind when you left Hogwarts? That's so cool!"

"Yeah, if I could only find it...," Remus said absentmindedly.

"Ok, James' bed was closest to the door. Harry, that's your bed. Sirius' bed was next to his, right there. Then it was me and then Peter. That sound right?"

"Sounds right to me," Sirius said.

"So my bed would be yours Seamus. Mind if I take a look?"

"No, I guess not. Just let me move my dirty underwear."

"Please do. Boys and their dirty things," Hermione said with a disgusted look on her face.

Seamus tidied up his bed surroundings while Remus waited behind him. When he was all done he turned and gave Remus the ok for his inspection.

Remus moved towards the bed and got down on his back to slide under. Soon all that could be seen of him was a pair of cracked leather shoes.

"Apparecio," Remus said from under the bed.

Everyone looked around at each other, wondering what he was doing.

"Damn," came Remus' voice again.

Soon his feet were joined by his legs and finally the rest of his body as he crawled out from under the bed.

"What were you doing under there, Remus?" Dean asked.

"Looking for something. It wasn't there though."

There was a hint of disappointment in his voice as he dusted himself off. He obviously wanted to find what he was looking for under there. But by the look on his face, whatever it was wasn't there.

"Oh well. It wasn't important anyway," Remus said.

Even though he said it was ok, everybody in the room could tell it wasn't.

"They must have changed the beds," Sirius said, lying down on Ron's four-poster. "I'll let you know in a minute."

With that he put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. This was where mine was and this is definitely not mine. Not as comfortable."

"Well that's it then. I'll be going. It's been great to see you all again."

Remus shook hands with everyone again and wished them all a good school year. He stopped at the doorway and turned to Sirius.

"You coming Pads?"

A loud snore reverberated through the room.

An annoyed look came over Remus' face but was soon replaced by a wicked smile.

"Avis!" he said, pointing his wand at Sirius.

A flock of small birds shot directly at the sleeping Sirius.

"Ahh!!!" Sirius shouted as his eyes flew open.

He jumped out of the bed as the tiny birds flitted around him, pecking at his head.

Everyone in the room was doubled over with laughter seeing the grown man run around the room shrieking. After they had all had their fun Remus opened up a window and the birds flew out into the night air.

"That... was... cruel," Sirius said, panting to catch his breath.

"Oh, but it was so much fun!" Remus said, laughing.

"I'll get you back for that one of these days!"

"Yeah, I'm sure you will. Now are you coming or what? I have some things to ask you about on the way down."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. See you all in class Monday!"

With that the teachers ducked out of the dormitory and left the common room.

"Well," Hermione said, "I wonder what that was all about."