Diamond In The Rough

"Peardrop?"

"Sugar Quill?"

"Barley Sugar?"

The statue at the bottom of the steps still would not budge, despite Harry and Hermione’s list of both Magical and Muggle sweets. Then, Harry came up with one last idea.

"Coffee Cream?" he asked in frustration

The statue sprung aside, allowing the pair to climb the steps. Eventually, the reached the door. It stood ajar. With a look to Hermione, Harry pushed it open.

The office appeared surprisingly ordered. There was no sign of the torture, except for a broken object on the floor by the desk. Hermione picked it up, looked it over, the put the pieces in the bin.

"Only a Sneakoscope."

Harry was about to open the black cabinet when a quiet sound filled the room. It struck a chord in her memory. Hermione frowned. "Is that...."

"Phoenix song," muttered Harry, "Fawkes?"

A fluttering of wings was followed by a bird with glorious plumage of red and gold from underneath the desk. Fawkes glided gently on an unseen breeze to land on Harry’s shoulder. He blinked sadly down at the young man. The phoenix’s warm weight brought Harry a little more self-assurance, making him feel bolder. He pulled the cabinet door open.

Inside sat the Pensieve, it’s stone bowl with undulating silver mists inside. Putting hands carefully on either side of the dish, Harry lifted it gently. He turned and placed it carefully on the desk. Its silver light filled the room. Hermione came to stand next to him. "So how do we get into his memories? And how do we know if we have a set that will help?"

Harry turned his face from the rippling surface to look at her. "To go in, we just have to touch it. As for the memories... I just hope he was looking at something useful recently."

They both placed a hand over the surface. The silver substance swirled madly under their palms.

"Ready?" asked Harry.

"Ready Hermione replied with all the conviction she could muster.

Both of them plunged their heads into the Pensieve, and were sucked in, leaving the office deserted once more.

* * * * *

They landed in a classroom. A wizard in long black robes was sitting at a desk at the front of the room, as ten students traipsed through the door. Hermione surveyed each of their faces, before pointing to an auburn haired boy with bright blue eyes and a crooked nose.

"That one is Albus. And from their books, I would guess that this is a sixth year Charms class."

Harry nodded and walked to where the young Dumbledore sat. Fawkes, who still sat on Harry’s shoulder, sang out a shrill note. No one stirred. As the teachers at the front stood up, Hermione positioned herself by his desk.

"Right, well, good morning to those of you who have decided to engage your brain for my lesson. For the rest of you, enjoy your slumber. For once, this lesson is not important. I am going to be as bored teaching it as you are learning."

He turned to the black board behind him, and picking up the chalk, scrawled three words on it in a flowing script. "The Forgotten Curse"

Harry frowned. He couldn’t remember being taught about any such spell for his Charms NEWT. From her look of puzzlement, he guessed Hermione could’t either. The dark clothed Professor turned back to face the class.

"Can anyone tell the rest of the class this?"

Silence.

"Anyone?" asked the teacher impatiently

Still silence. Some students fidgeted in their seats, yet no one tried giving an answer.

The teacher chuckled, his brown eyes glinting. "Well this is a surprise. Here I was hoping that the brightest set of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws this classroom has seen in many a year might know already know all about the Founders and their legends."

He looked over their blank faces and sighed. He then started to speak again. "The Forgotten Curse is legendary as a spell that has never been used. Many, many years ago, the school’s three principal founders; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, decided their fourth member, Slytherin, had become too corrupt to be one of them. They thought death would be too easy a route for him. Besides, he wrote the Unforgivable curses."

"Legend has it that the three of them started work on a spell that destroys the soul, rendering the person living without mind or purpose."

"A shell sir?" ventured one girl.

"Yes Miss Figg, a shell. But Slytherin caught wind of it, and they had to include him. As the only intended victim was in on its existence, they voted that its papers be hidden and guarded in a secret place. No more happened, until Slytherin made a second version of the spell, which he bestowed upon a group of reformed vampires. They became known as Dementors."

The whole class shuddered. A black haired boy rose his hand. The teacher turned to him.

"Yes Mr. McKinnon?"

"Didn’t a Dementor, you know, Kill Sly-"

"A Dementor ate Slytherin’s soul McKinnon, it didn’t kill him. But Rowena Ravenclaw eventually ‘killed’ Slytherin’s shell out of pity, with her penknife I believe. But to this day, no one knows the whereabouts of the first spell, if it indeed exists. The founders weren’t saints. It could be a fairy story they made up to establish dominance."

"But Sir..."

"Miss Figg?"

"Why teach us about it if you don’t believe it exists?"

"Much as I wish I chose your curriculum Miss Figg, I don’t. The Ministry does. My belief is that someone high placed in our government would like one of you to be enthused enough to go searching for it. That’s all very well. But why I have to teach it and not that fool Binns I don’t know."

Harry grinned at Hermione who smiled back. They remembered from when Hermione had asked about the Chamber of Secrets that Binns hated teaching anything but fully ascertained facts. As the classroom filled with muttering, the scene faded into another.

* * * * *

This time, they were in someone’s kitchen. It had 60’s style decor. Harry and Hermione had no trouble recognising Dumbledore, whose hair was nearly completely silver. But they did not know the short, bald man who now poured from a silver teapot in two cups. It was he who spoke first. "So, from ‘Albus Dumbledore, Teacher’ to ‘Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster’. Its about time!"

"Nicholas, I was quite happy as a teacher. To be asked is an honour and I plan to take the opportunity."

"Well, you cant become Headmaster of that place without know its secrets."

"I doubt anyone could learn all of Hogwarts’ secrets, not even you Nicholas."

The baldman smiled. "Nicholas Flamel knows one that few others know. Not even you Albus."

Dumbledore sipped his tea quietly. "Well spill the beans then Nicholas. What is this secret?"

Nicholas’ eyes twinkled. "Long ago, when I was at school, one legend was told to me. It has been passed down my family for generations, from the founding mother Rowena Ravenclaw. She is the oldest female ancestor recorded on my family tree."

He took a sip of his own tea. "According to Rowena, there is something very important guarded underneath the lake. After the obvious water obstacle, there are a series of challenges that are both mentally and physically challenging. There is only one mix of people that will ever be able to get past these barriers and claim the prize, what that is."

"This group must be made of four persons of pure heart, two male and two female. There must be one representative of the four houses, and none may be related, not even by marriage. And each must have been selected by an independent source."

Nicholas fell silent, and stirred another spoonful of sugar into his cup. "Rowena was not known for being particularly clear when she spoke. By the time of her death, she had been speaking completely in riddle for ten years. It may just been interpreted wrong. Dont pay it much heed. It is an interesting tale none the less."

Harry exchanged looks with Hermione, sure they were both thinking the same thing. But before he could ask her. The scene faded for a second time.

* * * * *

Now it jumped to a scene set in Dumbledore’s office. Outside, there were a few stars twinkling on a very dark nights sky. Harry recognised the situation immediately, for there sat his fourteen-year-old self, Sirius at his side. As Fawked of the memory sattled on the teenaged Harry’s knee, Dumbledore spoke.

"If I thought that letting you sleep would help, I would. But it just delays the pain. Tell us what happened."

So Harry and Hermione sat and watched the youngster tell all about the night. As he continued, the nights horror was brought back to Harry. The memory was still venomous, each word adding poison to the reopened wound. Finally it came to the main point, where Harry of the past relayed Voldemort’s speech to the Death Eaters.

"’Pain beyond pain my friends’ he said. I remember only what he spoke of after that, not the actual words. He said that he didn’t die, but.... well, like he was a soul without body, like a person who has undergone the Dementor’s Kiss is a body without soul. He went on about how he met Wormtail; Pettigrew I mean, and-"

Hermione stood and walked over to where Harry, Harry of her time, sat with present day Fawkes beside him. She’d heard enough, and this was torture to him. She crouched by him. "Lets go. How do we get out?"

Harry looked up. "I-I dont know. Dumbledore took me out last time-"

Fawkes chirped and flapped his wings. Harry turned to him. "Can you take us?"

The phoenix whistled, and hovered above their heads. With a shrug, Harry let Hermione take his hand in her left and Fawkes’ talon in her right. With another chirp, the great bird flew up, pull them out of the Pensieve’s grip.

* * * * *

Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Hermione were stood outside the staff room. In her arms, Hermione carried a battered looking old hat. Harry, with Fawkes on his shoulder, opened the door and strode in.

Everyone inside fell silent as the two people walked in. Hermione quickly slipped into a seat by her husband. Harry however continued to the centre of the room, and looked at all the people there.

"So its back to this."

Sighing, he clumped into a chair set in place by a house elf, before turning to Lyca. "Could you make a register please dear?"

With a nod, Lyca produced a quill and parchment. "Can everyone please say their name, starting with Harry and going clockwise round ‘til we reach him again."

"Harry Potter."

"Lyca Lupin."

"Remus Lupin."

"Rubeus Hagrid."

"Sirius Black."

"Ron Weasley."

"Hermione Weasley."

"Cho Chang."

"Neville Longbottom."

"Justin Finch-Fletchly."

"Hannah Abbott."

"Mundungus Fletcher."

"Minerva McGonagall."

"Molly Weasley."

"Arthur Weasley."

"Bill Weasley."

"Percy Weasley."

"Penelope Weasley."

"Arabella Figg, and no Potter, I am quite young enough for this."

"Severus Snape."

There was a brief pause before the last person spoke. "Draco Malfoy."

No one said a word for a while. No one questioned the presence of anyone else. Each of the new members had lost something to Voldemort, except for Lyca. Penelope her brother. Cho, Draco and Justin had all lost both parents, Hannah her sister, and Neville his parents’ sanity. Lyca was the only one there by default. And she had earnt her place three year before."

Finally, Harry spoke. "You have heard why you are here. Voldemort is back. And his first victim is the only man he was ever truly afraid of. Albus Dumbledore is dead."

He waited for the little outbreak of muttering to quieten before he continued. "The Order of the Phoenix has reached a new beginning. And I do not base this on false hopes. For before he passed on, I talked to Albus. He told me that there is only one way to truly defeat the Dark Lord."

He took a deep breath. "We must destroy his soul."

There was a long silence, before the voice of Draco Malfoy sliced the air. "And how do you plan to do that Potter? Have the Dementors changed side or something?" he scoffed.

Before Harry could respond, Arabella Figg’s voice drifted across the room. "The Forgotten Curse!" she exclaimed.

Harry nodded. "Dumbledore recently linked three memories together Pensieve. One of them is the night of the third test. That was when I told Dumbledore that Voldemort’s soul survived when his curse reflected back on him."

He paused again before carrying on. "The other two memories tell us of what we must do to destroy his soul. Long ago, the founders created a spell that could destroy the soul. But after its creation, they decided it too harmful and hid it. But Rowena Ravenclaw passed on the knowledge of the hiding place through her descendants, the Flamels. The spell is hidden beneath the lake. But after that obstacle, there are many further guards. And only one group of people may enter the ‘Chamber of Challenges’." He carried on to explain as Nicholas had who could enter.

Hermione then stood forward and spoke. "Amongst us are members from each house, male and female. TO destroy Voldemort we must find this spell. Although it is a curse, it is not a dark spell, as the Ministry has not had a chance to rule it so. And there is only one truly independent source as far as I know.

She placed the battered wizard’s hat upon he desk. "The Sorting Hat will tell us who will go. A couple of seconds later it started to sing.

" Many years have gone by

Since I was taught this song

Since I learnt which four must try

And go to face the journey long

Each of you must place me upon your head

And I will look upon your mind

If the dark path you must tread

Then your founder’s trophy you will find

Gryffindor had a mighty sword

Ruby-encrusted and made to maim

Light enough for the weakest lord

Only bravery need to make it tame

Ravenclaw owned a magicked knife

With blade of silver pure

It could take both mortal life

And dark spirits beyond cure

About cautious Hufflepuff’s neck hung

A crystal shaped as a phoenix tear

A warning note is has always sung

If danger is very near

Slytherin prized a staff of yew

Crowned with a sphere of hematite

If darkness veils all from view

Then the gem will give you a ghostly light

So come forward those of the Order great

I assure you there is nothing to fear

I will select those who must wait

And those who must not tarry here"

The hat stopped. Afters its brief pause, it sang another verse.

"Long ago young Potter drew from me

The peerless blade of Gryffindor

The representative of Godric he will be

And so we move to Ravenclaw!"

Slowly, ever so slowly, the four Ravenclaws present; Cho, Penelope, Lyca and Arabella, stood up and moved towards the hat. Arabella waved the three younger witches in front of her. "Go ahead, its unlikely an old biddy like me is going to get selected."

With a look of apprehension on her face, Cho placed the hat onto her head. After a moment, it sang out again.

"True Ravenclaw is she

But not the one described to me."

Next in line stood Lyca as a relieved Cho returned to her seat. Harry watched as she carefully picked up the Sorting Hat and put in on her head gingerly. She sat silently there for a few seconds, before the hat suddenly contracted, and Lyca cried out with pain. Falling to her knees, she pulled the hat off her head, and watched in amazement as a knife of silver blade and ebony handle slipped to the ground before he. The hat sang its next words with further cheer.

"Lyca Lupin has claimed the trophy of Ravenclaw

A woman of knowledge and logic tough

She will be the second of the four

And so we proceed to Hufflepuff."

As the three Hufflepuffs sidled up to the hat’s stool, Remus knelt down by his daughter, from whose head dripped blood.

"Which end hit you Lyca?" he asked in concern

"The silver." She said wincing.

With a nod, Remus pulled out his wand. Drawing a line over the wound on her scalp he muttered three words. "Plata Veneno Mudar." The hurt sealed

Harry looked at him as the two took their seats. "What was that? It wasn’t a normal healing spell."

Remus whispered back, "Silver is dangerous to werewolves. If a silver wound is not magically healed quickly, however minor the cut, it can poison the blood. That spell was pioneered by the Spanish. Stops all silver poison in the bloodstream and destroys it."

With a nod, Harry turned back to the Hufflepuff selection. Hannah had just put the hat on her head. Almost instantly, a white gold chain fell out of the side of the hat, and a tear shaped, colourless crystal was pulled down after it. The hat sang another four lines.

"Hannah Abbot has released Helga’s chain

Because of her strong character and life free from sin

Now she will journey the journey of no gain

And at last we come to Slytherin."

Hannah picked up the chain from the floor, her face pale. Placing in over her neck, she came to stand by Lyca and Harry.

Harry then realised there were only two Slytherins in the Order, Malfoy and Draco. Which did he want to travel with least? Both disliked him intensely, and he had both their grudgingly given respect. Although Snape might have slightly more patience with him, he would never listen to Harry’s decisions. On the other hand, Draco was indebted to Harry, but detested him. Neither scenario made much peace with him, and he stirred uncomfortably in his seat as Draco placed the hat upon his silver blonde head.

Within seconds, he staggered forwards, looking dazed. When he regained his balance, he ripped the hat off his head. As he did so, a large staff fell from it to the floor. Draco picked it up as the hat sang out yet again.

"The staff he holds is no fake

Draco Malfoy will represent Slytherin

These four people must reach the bottom of the lake

And be tested to the limit from then on in."

The hat froze, closed its eyes, and fell silent. Hermione took it from Draco, and spoke to the Order. "So it is decided. Harry Potter, Lyca Lupin, Hannah Abbott and Draco Malfoy will leave tomorrow in search of the Forgotten Curse. I suggest the four of you," she said, turning to the small party behind her, "I suggest you go home and get together what you might need. Be by the lake at midday tomorrow, with your luggage and founder’s item. Harry?"

Harry looked up wearily. "I have nothing to add. Meeting adjourned."

As people filed out through the door, Lyca sighed just loud enough for Harry to hear. "Welcome to Midpoint Madness. Next stop, Ultimate Chaos."

He rubbed her shoulder. "Don’t be such a fatalist."

She glared at him, "Harry, this may be normal for you, but I don’t appreciate being chosen as one of the people who have to attempt to break guards of the founders for Merlin’s sake! It’s going to make your Philosopher’s Stone escapade look like a saunter in the sunshine in comparison. This isn’t going to be easy you know!"

Harry tightened his grip on the shoulder. "Lyca, we’ll be fine. There’s safety in numbers."

She shook her head, unconvinced. "I only hope you’re right."