Harry Potter and The Secret of The Heirs

Chapter Ten

Sorting Out the Future

Harry screamed.

Quite literally he saw a face. Nothing more and nothing less. It looked as if it were rotting and falling apart from the neck upwards. Somehow he knew that it was a man's face. How he knew he could not tell. Finally it spoke.

'Young Harry Potter,' the face said in a haunting voice. 'You have a choice. Come with me now to serve your Lord Voldemort, or face his wrath. If you come now you will know your fate, otherwise you will be at my master's mercy.'

Harry was bewildered. He didn't know whose face this was, or why people weren't staring at them. His scar was burning. All he could see was this face, it didn't have a body, and in fact Harry thought he was hallucinating, except for the fact that it hadn't been there. There was eerie music filling the air. A shiver ran up Harry's spine, he wasn't anywhere normal.

'What have you done to me? Where have you taken me?' Harry yelled as he tried not to show the fear he was feeling.

'You are still in the car park at King's Cross Station Harry. But no one can see you. And no one can hear you. You are inside a bubble that they cannot see into and you cannot see out. They do not report it because they do not know it is there.'

Harry was starting to get confused. How had this thing got him here? It didn't even have a wand. It didn't even have arms. What was it?

He looked at the face.

'I will never serve Voldemort,' he screamed. 'You tell him that; I will never bow before him. Now let me go.'

'Alright,' the face said smiling. 'The time will come young man when you will have to make a choice which will change the world.' The face's voice had changed; it sounded like the face had become possessed. Then Harry heard a whisper;

'Finite Incantatum'

Harry was released from the curse and found himself flat on asphalt of the car park. He gathered up his belongings and sprinted towards the platform. Once he reached it he ran towards the barrier not wanting to miss the train, but when he got through no seemed concerned, in fact the train wasn't due to take off for another fifteen minutes. Ron and Hermione were waiting for him so they could check in their luggage. Harry was looking for signs of Lavender, he hadn't heard from her at The Burrow but he couldn't seem to see her.

'Harry, what's wrong?' Hermione asked.

'I'll tell you when we get on the train,' he replied.

They stowed their luggage, said goodbye to Mr and Mrs Weasley, then they heard the train's whistle so they headed to the front where the prefect's compartments were. Even though Ron was no longer a prefect, he was allowed to join them, as he was the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, so they wouldn't be separated.

After the train had taken off Harry told them what had happened on the platform. Ron looked worried and Hermione looked concerned.

'It must be Dark magic for us not to have noticed you were gone,' Hermione concluded. 'And it said you would have to make a choice that would change the world. What do you think that means Harry?'

'I've no idea Hermione' he replied. 'Somehow I don't think Voldemort's going to be as quiet as he has the last couple years. It's been eerie the way he has neglected to reap terror in the wizarding community.'

'Well,' she said, 'you'll just have to be extra careful then.'

Harry sighed. He knew what Hermione's idea of being careful was and it wasn't much fun.

They spent the majority of the train trip discussing Harry's birthday and Percy's wedding with a brief interruption from the plump witch with the trolley, stocking up on Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs and some Cauldron Cakes. Seeing Crookshanks asleep on a spare chair Harry asked why Hermione had brought him to his birthday.

'He just sort of jumped in the fire as I sprinkled the Floo powder' she replied. 'He's been doing weird things lately, I don't understand. I'm going to ask Hagrid to have a look at him, see if there's something wrong with the kneazle part of him.'

They spent the rest of the trip discussing what could be wrong with Crookshanks, developing lots of theories, the most popular being that he was upset because he hadn't got to Scabbers before the Dementors. Ginny entered their carriage, saying that she had had enough of the Slytherin prefects and wanted to join them for a while. They filled Ginny in on what had happened on the platform and she was just as amazed as they were. The whole event was just inconceivable, especially the part where the face had just let Harry walk away.

'Perhaps' Ginny suggested, 'they want you to know they're going to strike. That way they can instill terror at Hogwarts.'

It was possible, but Harry couldn't conceive that Voldemort would want to put him on guard.

Before they knew it, it was time to change into their robes. Harry ensured that he had his Head Boy badge pinned on his cloak. He had polished it secretly last night after Ron had gone to sleep. He didn't want Ron to think he was following in Percy's footsteps.

They walked out on the platform at Hogsmeade and saw the familiar face of Hagrid calling out;

'Firs' yers o'er here.'

Harry saw Leigha McLachlan nervously walk towards Hagrid and he gave her a smile, which she returned enthusiastically.

'Can't you tell me how we get sorted?' she asked for what could have been the hundredth time.

Harry shook his head.

'I'll see you after the sorting, have fun on the lake,' he said.

'Who's your little admirer?'

Harry turned around and saw Lavender behind him. He walked up to her and kissed her briefly.

'Got to set a good example,' he whispered softly to her. 'That's Leigha, Sirius' niece. Cute little thing and if you think she admires me you should she her sister.'

She laughed as she replied;

'As long as they look and don't touch I'm happy.'

Hermione secretly wished Lavender would drown in the lake, that or she'd get used to seeing Harry and Lavender together. Although, the first option would probably be better, as Hermione had never really ever liked Lavender that much. In fact she really didn't like her at all.

They entered the castle and made their way to the Dining Hall, Harry and Hermione, waiting for everyone else to sit down, so they could sit up the front to welcome the new first years to their house. It was a different group that assembled there. There was Ron, Hermione and Harry of course, Lavender who was trying to make it very obvious to the entire Dining Hall that she and Harry were a couple, Ginny minus Malfoy and Parvati was there because she wanted to sit near Lavender. Colin Creevey was trying to get near them, but Seamus and Dean made sure he couldn't sit there. He had never ceased to stop annoying the members of their year.

Harry glanced up at the table and saw the regulars, Dumbledore, Snape (Harry shuddered), Binns, Flitwick, Sprout, Madam Hooch, Hagrid wasn't there yet he was in the boats with the first years and McGonagall would be meeting them, then he spied Sirius and Chrys, and Harry looked twice. There was Charlie Weasley. What was he doing there?

'Ron,' Harry and Hermione asked at the same time, 'what's Charlie doing there?'

'I don't know,' Ron looked up in amazement. Charlie saw them staring at him and gave them a wink. 'Wonder why he didn't say anything?'

The doors to the Great Hall swung open and the nervous first years walked in. Harry could understand their nerves, knowing that they did not know how they would be sorted. He saw that Leigha was positively shaking.

'Hope she's in Gryffindor' he thought.

McGonagall placed the sorting hat on its stool and it began its song.

I know I am not pretty,

But that's cause I was darned

Thousands of years earlier

When dragons were barned.

Four founders lived back then,

Each chose for their own

But who to choose when they were gone,

The answer came when I was sewn,

Gryffindor was brave and strong,

Courage his most treasured trait,

These ones will try to face,

The dangers that can't wait.

Hufflepuff was as loyal as can be,

She was your lifelong friend,

These ones will keep you secrets quiet,

Until the very end.

Ravenclaw was fair and wise,

With an every ready mind

In this house the cleverest

Witches and wizards you will find.

And Slytherin the shrewdest one,

The most cunning one of the lot,

Liked those, who like himself

Will not find the situation far too hot.

So put me on and I will find

Which house does suit you best?

Come try me on and see if you

Can put me to the test.

The school applauded the hat as McGonagall called the first name.

'Abbott, Tyrilly'

'Hufflepuff' the hat replied without a doubt. The Hufflepuff table cheered. Harry and his friends went back into deep discussion, stopping to listen as the hat called out each name and applauding as they gained new members. Seamus' sister, Katie was made a Gryffindor. Then Harry heard McGonagall call,

'McLachlan, Rechelleigha'

Leigha timidly made her way up and was visibly shaking as she placed the hat on her head.

After what seemed like a long ten seconds the hat called;

'Gryffindor!'

The Gryffindor table cheered, Harry saw Sirius secretly cheering out of the corner of his eye. He motioned to Leigha to sit down next to him.

'That wasn't so bad, was it?' he asked her.

She shook her head.

The sorting ended with Zabini, Thomal been made a Slytherin.

'No surprise there' thought Harry.

Dumbledore banged his glass to hush everyone so he could make his start of term notices.

'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts' Dumbledore said. 'First I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden as is the third corridor and the village of Hogsmeade to those who do not have a signed permission slip. Anyone caught out of bounds will suffer harsh consequences, as it is important that we take care of your safety. Second I would like to welcome three new teachers to our ranks.'

Harry looked at Ron questioningly

'I don't know anything,' he whispered.

'The first is Professor Àille who will be filling the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts this year. She is also a trained Auror, so I warn you not to get up to anything illegal or you may be suffering from unexpected consequences.'

'Look at Snape, he's not impressed,' said Ron.

Harry glanced at Snape. He looked almost as mad as he had when Lupin had been appointed. It appeared clear that Snape didn't like Auror's or anyone who had been associated with the Marauders having anything to do with the Dark Arts position. Harry wondered why Snape hadn't got it, if Dumbledore trusted him so much. He certainly knew a lot about the Dark Arts.

'Second is Professor Black, who will be taking some of the workload off Professor McGonagall, teaching some Transfiguration and taking over the Apparition lessons after the sad passing of Professor Markwell late last year. I'd like you all to stand and maintain a minute's silence for professor Markwell.' Although the majority of students had never been taught by Professor Markwell they stood and paid their respects to the great unknown Professor. Dumbledore commenced his address when the minute concluded. 'Professor Black additionally will also be tutoring some of the seventh years in advanced Transfiguration to prepare them for their N.E.W.Ts.'

Harry applauded loudly, although many students could be heard whispering 'Sirius Black?'

'Finally I would like to welcome Charlie Weasley, who will be teaching sixth and seventh year Care of Magical Creatures, as Hagrid's responsibilities are increasing. He has specialist training in dragons, and so will be of great benefit to our older students.'

Ron and Ginny looked just as stunned as everyone else, it was clear that he hadn't had any idea that Charlie would be teaching.

'Anyone wishing to play Quidditch should talk to Madam Hooch or their house captain. And on that note might I suggest we tuck in.'

The plates and cups filled with food and drink, and Harry was reminded that this would be their last year at Hogwarts.

'Strange' he thought, 'seems like yesterday we arrived.'

As they left the hall, Filch grabbed Harry and Hermione.

'The other prefects can take care of this lot' he said 'you two are to come wit' me.'

He led them up the passageway towards Dumbledore's office.

'Password's fizzing sherbets, best remember that,' he said as he walked away.

Harry and Hermione entered Dumbledore's office. He was waiting there to greet them.

'Harry, Hermione,' he began. 'Welcome. We just need to go through a few things then you too can get to bed. We need to be extremely careful this year, which means you two have to keep an extra eye on the students. The board of governors wanted to cancel Hogsmeade visits, so you'll need to ensure that students don't go wandering off,' he gave Harry a glance. 'I want you to keep me informed of anything strange that happens. You're both very good at that, had a lot of practice. Also, I expect you to hold prefect meetings on a Sunday evening every second week, alternating with our staff meetings, so that if you have any concerns you can bring them to the staff meeting. Hermione you are free to go, Harry, Sirius would like to see you. It's best not to wait Hermione, Harry may be a while.'

As if on call Sirius walked through the door. Dumbledore turned to walk out the door but Harry stopped them,

'Before you go' he said, and then he told them what happened in the car park. He described the haunted face, the sound and what it had said. Neither Dumbledore nor Sirius could hide their surprise.

'I knew they were recruiting' Sirius said. 'I didn't think they'd be as bold as to approach someone at Kings Cross, or to approach Harry. Looks like I'm in the right place to keep an eye on you then Harry.'

'We shall have to endeavour to discover how they are recruiting,' Dumbledore began. 'We must try and prevent students from being targets, as they were the last time around. Leave me to it for now; we shall discuss it with Professor Àille tomorrow. And I shall set my operatives to work tomorrow.'

Sirius led Harry out of Dumbledore's office.

'I wanted to show you how to get to the staff quarters' he said. 'That way you can come and visit me, but if you're going to make sure you knock first, and you'd probably be best to wear you're invisibility cloak, so Snape doesn't bite your head off.'

Harry nodded. He didn't need to tell Sirius that he had The Marauder's Map and would be able to work out when Snape was around and possibly other times that would be inappropriate to drop in. Sirius led him back down to the Great Hall, and then took him up a winding staircase Harry had never seen before. He showed him to the entrance of the Staff Quarters, a painting of a young lady in a tutu.

'Pavlova,' Sirius whispered. 'Remember that Harry, but don't tell anyone'

Sirius entered and showed Harry to his room the second door on the right. There was a sign that said 'BLACK' on the door.

'No Padfoot's Manor eh Sirius,' joked Harry. 'Or did Snape object?'

Sirius laughed at the thought.

'He didn't get a chance,' replied Sirius. 'I've got to be a grown up now. I still want to hear about anything strange. Nothing is too small to bother me about. Please promise me that Harry.'

Harry gave his word that he'd keep Sirius up to date with what was happening.

Sirius bid Harry goodnight, as Harry walked back down the winding staircase toward the Gryffindor common room. He saw his four roommates waiting for his arrival.

'We couldn't go in without you,' Neville said. 'We have to admire the seventh year sign on the door.'

'It's a ritual,' Dean said 'We've all got to go in together.'

Harry shook his head in disbelief. He walked over to Lavender, giving her a soft goodnight kiss, as Ron called out;

'No PDAs please.'

Harry replied by kissing her for longer before he said;

'I've got my marching orders; I'd better go now. Sleep well; make sure you dream of me! See you at breakfast tomorrow morning.'

They walked up the staircase to the top and indeed looked at the seventh year sign. It was hard to believe it was their last year, that they had been there for seven years and that this would be their last sorting ceremony.

They entered their room and saw that as per usual their beds had been made, warmed, their trunks unpacked and everything was in order.

*~*

After everyone else had fallen asleep Harry sat staring out the large window.

What was the decision he was going to have to make that would change the world. Harry wished that he could have a normal life just for once. Then he wouldn't have to keep looking over his shoulder for Voldemort.

Finally he managed to get to sleep, despite it being a very interrupted one. He kept picturing Voldemort giving him a choice and Harry kept seeming to fail. The prospect wasn't a good one. The question remained why would Voldemort want to recruit him?