The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Fourteen: The Figure Clothed In Black

Harry looked at the form of his sleeping younger brother, lying on the couch in the living room. Greg had woken up screaming around midnight and hadn't fallen back to sleep until five, despite Harry and Sirius's efforts to get him to sleep. He wouldn't tell either of them what the nightmare was about. Harry wished he would. They could probably help him if he told them what the nightmare was about. After thinking this Harry realized he was being hypocritical; he had never told anyone about his nightmares up until recently and all they wanted to do was help. Harry rubbed at his eyes sleepily. He had stayed up with Greg until he had fallen asleep. He didn't want to sleep since Kirsten and Dustin were coming over later and he wanted to see them. He could hear Sirius talking to Mrs. Weasley who had come over to discuss the plans for the weekend when all his friends were coming. His eyes drooping he gave into sleep.

*~*

Brittany looked around the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table searching her older sister, Hermione. She spotted her and went over to her squeezing in between her and Kayla.

"Am I going with you to Harry's this weekend, or am I staying here?" she asked.

"You're going with us. We want you to meet Harry's younger brother. He's starting here when Harry starts back and will be in your year," Hermione said while starting to butter her toast. Brittany nodded as a girl she didn't recognize sat down in front of them.

"Hi," Kayla greeted the newcomer. "Did you just come today? I don't remember seeing you at the sorting."

"Yes, I had to fly from France to get here. My plane was delayed and I left a day later than I should have," she said with a perfect British accent.

"You don't sound French," Hermione commented.

"Oh, I only moved there recently. My dad's job moved him there and since I'm only there on holidays I don't have an accent. I lived in London before I moved," she said smoothly just like she had been told to do.

"What year are you in?" Kayla asked.

"Sixth," the girl replied.

"We're in sixth too. Brittany is in fifth, she's Hermione's younger sister," Kayla said pointing to each one in turn.

"What school did you used to go to? I don't ever remember seeing you here," Hermione said suspicious of the girl for some reason she wasn't sure of.

"My parents home-schooled me. They didn't want me leaving home to go to school. I finally convinced them to let me go this year."

"My name's Kayla, I forgot to tell you that. What's yours?"

"Tabitha Smith," she replied. I wish I didn't have to betray you. You seem nice and I think we would be really good friends but... if it weren't for my father.

*~*

Snape looked at Kayla, his daughter. She was talking to a girl he didn't recognize and assumed she was new this year though he hadn't seen her at the sorting. Something clicked in his brain. It's her. She's already here and talking to Kayla. I'll talk to her after classes and convince her not to do what Voldemort says. I can not let my child be taken to Voldemort. I won't let it happen. I need to talk to Draco. I know he doesn't want to serve Voldemort. He doesn't want to face the consequences if she doesn't succeed. I probably convince them to spy for the right side. Maybe Dumbledore would let them join the Order. I'm surprised Potter didn't ask to over the summer. He was two depressed about his godfather's death to care about that.

Someone addressing him brought him out of his musings. "What?" he asked looking at his right where Albus Dumbledore sat.

"Is that her? The girl talking to Kayla, Hermione, and Brittany?" the old wizard asked.

Severus nodded. "I believe so. She's the only new student that wasn't at the sorting and the only new student here today," Snape replied quietly. He looked at his watch and excused himself to go get ready for class. He was about to get up when a figure cloaked in black came through the doors. It took the students a few moments to notice the figure, but when they did all was silent waiting for their Headmaster to say something, and he had a menacing aurora about him.

Dumbledore stood up, drawing his wand as he did so. The teachers, and a majority of the student body, placed their hand on their wand ready to defend their selves if it came to that.

"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" Dumbledore asked quietly thought it carried through the hall easily.

The figure stood there unmoving.

"Will you please remove your hood?" Dumbledore asked is the same quiet and firm voice.

"You do not need to know who I am, or how I got here. You should not bother yourself with such trivial information. I have come to warn you. Danger looms on the horizon. Your enemies are closing in. I am not talking about Voldemort. There are different enemies who threaten the school and your exsistence beside him, and I would warn, they are much more powerful than him when together. Some of those enemies reside in the castle. Some even are in you. This enemy is even feared by Voldemort. You must take every precaution available to you to save as many lives as you can. Also, you should get all the Potters and Sirius Black here immediately. I know he and his younger brother are not supposed to come back for a month, but unless you get them here immediately, they will surely die. Harry Potter is essential to the war. His and young girl's powers combined, and their knowledge will vanquish the Dark Lord soon, and then the evil that is worse than him. We can not afford to loose Harry Potter. You must get him here immediately."

The hooded figure said the last word with a note of finality. The figure turned and left just as silently as it had entered, leaving a shocked student body and teachers in its wake. Dumbledore watched the figure leave, bemused.

How could anyone be worse than Voldemort?

The old man pushed the thought ahead and told Minerva to go and fetch Harry.

*~*

Harry groaned as someone shook him. He was still sleepy and had no desire to get up.

"Harry, come on get up. We have to leave now," Sirius whispered in his godson's ear. He shook Harry more forcefully. Harry groaned and opened his eyes. "Good, you're finally awake. Get dressed and bring your stuff down here ASAP," Sirius said quickly moving to wake up Greg.

"Why? What's going on? What happened?" Harry asked confused suddenly wide awake.

"I don't have time to explain. Just so as I say," Sirius replied shortly.

Harry nodded and went upstairs followed by Dustin. Harry changed in about ten seconds and then he and Dustin carried his trunk downstairs. Greg's trunk was already down there. Kirsten and Minerva had brought it down earlier. Sirius had done a spell to change Greg's clothes so he wouldn't have to wait for him to change.

"All right," Sirius said, "Greg you go first, then Harry, Kirsten, Dustin, Minerva, then me." After saying this he threw floo powder into the fireplace. Greg stepped into the flames and said loudly and clearly,

"The Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy," and speed away. Sirius looked around the room before he left. He heard the door bang and quickly left.

He fell out of the fireplace into Headmaster Dumbledore's office. He stood up and brushed himself off. Harry immediately came over to him.

"What happened? Professor Dumbledore won't tell me. He said we should wait till you got here. Professor Dumbledore," Harry called to old man sitting behind his desk, "Sirius is here now. Will you tell me what's going on now?"

"Have a seat and I will explain everything."

Everyone hurriedly sat down.

Dumbledore pulled out his Pensive. "I think it will do you more good to see it than for me to tell you." He touched the surface and Great Hall rose up out of it with a cloaked figure standing at doors. The figure started to speak. By the end of it Harry was pale and shaking slightly. Sirius, who was sitting beside him, reached and an arm over and wrapped it around him. Harry scooted closer to Sirius and laid his head on Sirius's shoulder.

Harry recognized the voice of the cloaked person, or at least it sounded like someone he had know. It can't be him. He's dead and he was a muggle. How would he know anything about Voldemort? Maybe he wasn't a muggle. I'm assuming he was since the Dursleys associated with him, but they associate with Mrs. Figg and she knows about the wizarding world. And besides he's dead. He died when I was eight.

"Albus, who in the world could be worse then Voldemort? I don't see how it's possible," Minerva said quietly.

"I do not know. I honestly don't. There's only one thing that could be worse, but it's just legend," he said.

"The Chamber of Secrets was thought to be legend and it's real," Harry said voice shaking slightly. Sirius moved his arm and stroked Harry's hair, trying to calm him.

"Well, my dear boy, you do have a point. There is a legend that speaks of a Tom Riddle, more commonly known as Voldemort, who spreads terror through out the land. No one thought anyone could be worse than him. The legend says there is one and gave his name but, alas, the name escapes me. It's actually a very detailed legend, but I haven't heard it in many years and do not remember any, but what I told you, which is very little."

"Why did you believe the person? How do you know it isn't a sick student playing some kind of joke?" Harry asked hoping that was the case.

"Even in disguise I am able to recognize by students who currently attend here and those who have in the past. That was no student," Dumbledore said gently.

"Someone did come to the house. The door was blown off its hinges right as I was about to leave. I didn't see who did it," Sirius said. He wrapped his arm tighter around Harry and kissed the top of his head as he felt Harry shudder.

"Do have any clue who the young girl could be?" Sirius asked.

No. I am just as confused as you are," Dumbledore said the twinkle gone from his eyes and looking older than ever.

Harry buried his face in Sirius's shoulder tears threatening to spill out of his eyes. Sirius rubbed his back soothingly. Tears leaked out Harry's eyes at the memory of his death. Sirius felt something wet coming through his shirt. He turned slightly and picked Harry up out his chair and placed him on his lap. Harry buried his head in Sirius's chest. He couldn't get the sound of gun shot out of his head and then the dull thud of a body hitting the ground.

*~*