Harry Potter and The Secret of The Heirs

Chapter Sixteen

Hogsmeade Under Fire

On Thursday, McGonagall announced that there would be a Hogsmeade weekend in four weeks, the second last weekend before the holidays. Ron was excited, he needed to restock his supplies of joke items, and he and Harry were looking forward to seeing Fred and George again.

Over that time, Harry became worried about his two best friends. Ron would only talk about seeing Fred and George, no mention being made of his Quidditch practices, although given the Cannon's losing streak, Harry had considered Ron very unlucky not to get a game. Ron had not mentioned what happened with Parvati, nor had he even spoken to her. He wasn't noticing Ginny's absences and he looked like he needed some sleep. He hadn't been pushing the Quidditch Team as hard as he had at the beginning of the year, he didn't appear to have the time, and was always struggling to get his schoolwork done on time.

Hermione on the other hand was becoming very uptight. She had copped a lot of flack for snogging Seamus at the Halloween party, and she appeared to be very unhappy about it. She always seemed to be reading that book on the mysteries of the Founders. Harry was sure that she was upset because of Ron and Parvati and he figured that was the reason she had turned to Seamus.

At least they were talking to him. If they hadn't been it would be a real problem. He sighed, as he got ready for his Animagus lesson.

He had decided that he wanted to become a lion. The feeling had been growing inside him ever since he had begun to think about what form to take. Harry couldn't explain why. There was just a sense that seemed like it was calling him. A voice kept telling him that he was a lion. He could see himself running through the woods as a lion with a pretty girl on his back. He couldn't work out who it was, but he could sense that the lion was him.

He walked in the door and told Sirius.

'A lion?' he asked.

'Is there a problem with that?' Harry replied slightly bewildered by Sirius' reaction.

'No Harry, it just suits you perfectly, you're a Leo for starters, you're in Gryffindor, and you're full of courage. If it's a lion you're to be then today we will work on changing your fur to gold.'

Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. He could see himself covered in gold fur. Then he burst out laughing.

'What's so funny?' asked Sirius.

'I'm just remembering what Hermione looked like when she used cat hair by mistake in a Polyjuice Potion,' Harry replied. 'It's okay, I'm concentrating now.'

Harry closed his eyes again. He could see himself covered in gold fur.

Sirius stopped him immediately.

'Harry that was fantastic,' he said. 'I think you'll be ready sooner that we anticipated.'

Harry transformed again, this time it took him only seconds to transform into 'Harry covered in gold fur.'

*~*

The end of term approached quickly, as did the Hogsmeade weekend. Everyone had been looking forward to it and the sixth and seventh years were excited by the prospect of their Care of Magical Creatures lessons involving real dragons in the week to come.

The morning of the Hogsmeade visit arrived at last. Ron asked Parvati to meet him at the Three Broomsticks, at three o'clock, Harry doing the same with Lavender. To the surprise of Gryffindor Tower; Parvati had said yes, despite having not spoken to Ron since Halloween. That would give Ron and Harry some time, time in which Harry hoped he could get Ron to talk. They would meet Hermione in the bookstore around lunchtime.

Ron and Harry headed straight for Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Fred and George were waiting for them, and were happy to give Harry a grand tour of what had changed since he had last visited. They pointed objects out to Harry, were utterly disappointed when Harry told them he had already seen them from Ron and then sent the two off with free samples.

'The best form of promotion' Fred said. 'You take them to school, everyone loves them, and we sell more! Don't tell Percy.'

'We'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks at three' George said. 'We're bringing Katie and Angelina. Lee and Alicia as well. Percy's bailing. He and Penny have 'work' to do.'

The look on George and Fred's faces were priceless.

'Great,' Ron called over his shoulder as they walked out the door. 'Charlie will be there as well.'

After they had left the store, Harry decided he'd had enough.

'Okay, Ron' he said, 'spit it out, what's wrong?'

Ron looked surprised.

'What are you talking about?' he asked Harry.

'Well, you're tired, never around and never talk to me anymore.'

'Don't take it personally Harry' Ron said. 'I've just been really busy. They're going to let me play, first game of the Christmas holidays. I'm nervous. They've been training me really hard. I haven't had time to think let alone talk. I'm beginning to think it was a mistake. Playing while I'm still at school that is.'

'Sorry for snapping' Harry said. 'I'm worried about you and Herm. She seems worse than you. She just seems so depressed.'

'I'm worried about her too.' Ron replied in agreement 'Think it's time we tried to loosen a few screws, what do you think?'

'I want her to lighten up, if the two of us are going to be the only seventh years in Gryffindor Tower for the whole holiday,' Harry replied.

As far as he knew, she was the only other seventh year staying; Dumbledore had specifically requested that the two of them stay. Ron was going home because Bill had managed to secure a job at Gringott's in Diagon Alley and Mrs Weasley wanted a big family Christmas with the family all together.

They conferred for a few minutes over their course of action. They knew Hermione was in the bookstore; she was looking for some book called 'Arithmancy and The Founders'. (When they had discovered this they had told her she was too obsessed with the founders.)

The first stop on their mission was Honeydukes. To cheer up Hermione (and themselves) they would need lots of sweets. Once they had filled their pockets with every kind of sweet that Hermione liked they moved onto the next step of their mission. This involved trying to bewitch the sweets to do silly things, such as explode, dance and sing songs to her. Then they entered the bookshop and bought the most ridiculous history book they could find 'The Life of Helga Hufflepuff - an entirely factual account of the forgotten founder.'

It was now time to find Hermione. They wandered around they store calling out

'Hermione, Oh Hermione, where for art thou Hermione?'

They received odd glances from other customers in the store.

Finally Hermione emerged.

'I found the book I'm after and it would appear I've found you' she said. 'Now can you stop acting like fools? You really are making a scene.'

'Buy your book Hermy' Ron said. 'Then we are kidnapping you.'

'You are not.' She replied as she went and paid for her book. 'I need to find an ailment for Crookshanks. He's getting much worse. And don't call me Hermy.'

'Sorry Hermy' began Harry, 'but the joke's on you, I told you that you were my next victim remember.'

The two boys picked her up and carried her up to the Shrieking Shack, where they pulled out the packages from their pockets.

'You need cheering up' said Ron.

'We have presents' said Harry.

They gave her the packages and were pleased when she laughed at the sweets. Then when she opened the package, she asked them;

'You do realise this book is a joke don't you.'

'Why do you think we bought it for you?' Harry said. 'A little light entertainment for Christmas.'

They were glad to hear her laughter.

'I guess I did need a little cheering up,' she said. 'Anyway, I've got something to tell you.'

Ron and Harry looked at her in anticipation.

'I've found out what the face was.'

*~*

Severus Snape ran into the headmaster's office. He was clutching his arm.

'Dumbledore' he yelled. 'Something is going to happen today. I can feel the mark. Are there any staff members in Hogsmeade today? The students are at risk.'

He looked around and saw that Dumbledore's office was empty. Except for a woman in the corner.

'Professor Figg' he said startled. 'What are you doing here?'

'Working for Dumbledore' she replied. 'I'm not a Professor anymore Severus. Dumbledore, incidentally, is in London. You'd better find that Auror he hired, there are children who are indeed at risk, Mr Snape. It has been foreseen.'

He ran back to the Staff Quarters and began banging on Chrystal Àille's door. He couldn't believe that his old Divination Teacher had been sitting in Dumbledore's office. He wondered if she had anything to do with The Prophecy of Saoghal.

Tere was no reply. He tried Sirius' door, then Flitwick and McGonagall's. No one answered.

Hopefully the Auror was already there.

*~*

Harry and Ron were listening in anticipation.

'A face is a creation of it's master. It is simply just that, a face. It usually has non-distinct characteristics. That's not important, what's important is that it can only do magic at the will of its master, but the master cannot control it. They are dark creations, which usually want to do evil, so Voldemort didn't anticipate the face letting you go. If he had he probably would have killed you, I mean if Voldemort's after you, you'd imagined he would have tried to kill you on the platform if he'd had the chance. But the face didn't want to. It gave you a prophecy instead.'

'I will have to make a choice.' Harry said. 'Are their prophecies accurate?'

'That's the thing Harry,' Hermione continued, 'they are usually the exact opposite, they are usually completely false, they predict the right thing but inform the involved with the exact opposite so as to confuse them.'

'Then he doesn't have to make a choice.' Ron looked confused. 'What's going on Hermione?'

'That's all I could find out. And to find out that I had to trick Professor Àille into signing a permission slip so I could get into the Restricted Section. It was in the same book as the one I used for our Celts essay. She didn't even look at the name though, she appeared in fairy land.'

Hermione was okay, Harry breathed a sigh of relief, and it would appear that he wouldn't have t make a decision. Things were back on track.

'Hermione and I think we should warn Ginny' Harry said.

'About what?' Ron asked.

'About Malfoy becoming a Death Eater.' Hermione said.

'Why does it matter?' They aren't together anymore.'

Hermione and Harry stared at each other in disbelief.

'Are you blind Ron?' Harry asked.

'No, what's going on.' His voice began to rise. 'She told me on Halloween that she thought he was going to break up with her. Isn't that what happened? I haven't been worried about her since.'

'Should you tell him or should I?' Hermione asked.

'You' Harry replied, 'then he can bite your head off.'

'Thanks Harry' she replied. 'They are certainly not broken up, he was all over her at the last prefect's meeting.'

'WWWHAAATTTTT?' Ron screamed.

'Apparently they're still an item.' Harry said. 'So should we warn her?'

'We bloody well better. This is my sister we're talking about.'

Despite the seriousness of the situation they laughed. It was hard to believe how overprotective of Ginny Ron was. She was sixteen years old after all.

Once they had agreed to talk to Ginny that night, they made their way to The Three Broomsticks where Hermione would in fact be meeting Seamus.

'It doesn't mean anything' she said, 'but you guys all have a date. I don't want to be alone.'

'Let's sneak up on them,' Ron said. 'Do you have your invisibility cloak? It would give Parvati a little shock.'

Harry pulled the Invisibility cloak over the three of them. Lavender, Seamus and Parvati were waiting outside. Ron poked at Parvati making her jump. He pulled off the cloak as a grin appeared on his face.

'Ron Weasley,' she cried.

As they walked inside Sirius pulled Harry aside.

'I've got to tell you something' he said mischievously. 'Chrystal and I are getting married. I know it's a bit of a shock, but we're going to announce it this afternoon so I thought I'd tell you first.'

'What?' Harry asked. 'How, when?'

It was a bit of a shock, given that the last time Harry had seen them it together it had been at the end of a screaming match.

'Halloween' Sirius replied. Harry most certainly raised his eyebrows. 'If you want I'll explain more later, but your little girlfriend is glaring at me and if she keeps doing that I'll have to let off a Dungbomb in her bag during the next apparition class.'

'Nah,' he said jokingly, 'She'd know it was you and never come back to class.'

Harry and Sirius headed over towards the table, where Lavender greeted Harry very enthusiastically, whereas Sirius just gave Chrys a nod. Charlie looked like he had already made himself at home. Harry joined Hermione at the bar, who was visibly not impressed with the way Ron and Parvati appeared joined together.

'What's with them?' she asked. 'First they're snogging, then they're not speaking, then they're snogging again. Honestly.'

'Don't ask me Hermione' he replied. 'Perhaps Ron doesn't know himself. But you are sounding a little jealous.'

She gave him a look that said you've got to be kidding. Harry collected his and Lavender's Butterbeer, before he walked back to the table, where the Weasley twins, Angelina, Katie, Alicia and Lee had joined them.

'Gryffindor reunion' Fred called as Hermione and Harry walked over. Harry looked behind him and saw that Sirius had beckoned McGonagall to come over.

Sirius waited for the laughter to die down, before he dropped what he was sure was going to be a bit of a bombshell.

'Hey everyone' he called as he tried to get everyone's attention. 'I am here to announce that my quest is over. I have been pining for years, I have been searching high and low since I escaped from Azkaban and I have found it at last.'

'What is it Sirius?' McGonagall asked. 'Or do I have to punish you the way I had to when you were at school. When you could still use Transfiguration as punishment. You are honestly so melodramatic sometimes Black.'

She transfigured him into a jester's hat. Everyone laughed hysterically. It wasn't often McGonagall would do something like that.

Sirius stood up, having been transfigured back, looking like a little of his pride had been stolen.

'I shall continue with my epic, instead of taking revenge on ye who will steal my pride,' Sirius said laughing. 'What I was searching for was right under my eyes. It had been since I was about a year old. I had been so blind. It is in fact right here in this pub.'

'Sirius Black' Chrys said. 'You are unnecessarily torturing everyone listening to you. They suffer enough at the hands of Professor Binns as it is. Get on with it.'

'Okay' he said. 'Now that this witch has destroyed my story I may was well tell you that I've decided to get married in the summer break.'

He paused.

'To the witch.'

He pointed at Chrystal.

There was a mixed vibe in the air, people offering congratulations, even McGonagall, although she had a concerned look on her face when she looked at the ring on Chrystal's hand. She offered her congratulations before leaving. Everyone else began shouting them drinks amidst the congratulations.

Ron looked over and saw Ginny walk into the pub with Malfoy. Harry could see that he was absolutely fuming. Charlie had noticed it too.

'Ron,' Charlie said, but he was interrupted.

'What's she doing here with him?' Ron said furiously. 'If she's going to go out with that drip, the least she could do is have a discreet relationship.'

Malfoy had his arm draped around Ginny's shoulders, nothing that wasn't quite innocent. Nevertheless it didn't stop on from fuming over.

'Malfoy,' he yelled. 'If you hurt her I'll kill you with my bare hands.'

It took Sirius, Fred and George to pull Ron away from Malfoy's smirking grin before he did something stupid. Harry was beginning to wish he had never said anything to Ron or better yet that Ginny had decided to stay away from Malfoy.

There was no new news given afterward although it appeared that Charlie would have a full working load a little while longer. Everyone knew that Fred and George had managed to open the store in Diagon Alley, and people were only slightly surprised when they found at that Lee and Alicia were going to run it.

'Thank goodness for Apparition,' Lee said. 'It doesn't matter where you work because it's always easy to get to. And Lish, really needs to be in London, for the band.'

Then Angelina decided to drop her own bombshell.

'I've got a new job,' she said. 'As a Chaser with the Holyhead Harpies. I got sick of the Wasp's never giving me a chance, so I asked to be traded. And I'm not a reserve either, I'll be playing in the first game next year.'

There was a big grin on her face. Again everyone began to shout drinks.

Lee spoke up.

'Is there anything else anyone has to tell?' he asked somewhat tongue in cheek.

Then a sudden bang was heard. Everyone was screaming loudly. Harry looked around to try and see if anyone was hurt. Everyone in the pub looked fine. Harry and Hermione ran outside immediately looking for any students, while Chrystal and Sirius tried to find out who was responsible.

They ran outside, and ran in the direction of the bang. They looked up. The Shrieking Shack no longer stood alone on the hill. It had been blown to pieces.

The Dark Mark was hovering in the air.

A chill ran up Harry's spine. How many people had been in there? They had just been in there, and they hadn't left...

'We were wearing the invisibility cloak' Ron was repeating over and over again. 'They saw us go in, but not out. We went in but not out. They think they blew us up. They were trying to kill us.'

Ron was becoming hysterical, while Hermione and Harry were trying to help the students who had been near the shack when it blew. So far they had found six or seven students lying around the shack all with minor injuries of varying descriptions.

Harry knew he had to ignore the thoughts that were running through his brain, so he could help the students.

Chrystal, McGonagall, Charlie and Sirius came back to help Harry and Hermione who were searching for students in the wreckage. There was an absolute look of terror on their faces. Sirius had run into Neville, who had said that a group of fourth, fifth and sixth years were heading towards the Shrieking Shack half an hour ago on a quest to find the ghost that haunted it.

As they sorted through the wreckage, the bodies became apparent. At first count there were ten found, laying on top of the debris, all seem too stunned to move. They were all suffering from some degree of shock, two were dead, fourth years that Harry did not know, and eight that were injured. Some were critical; others had just minor injuries, which could be tended to by Madam Pomfrey. Those with more serious injuries were shipped off to St Mungos.

The group of Sirius, Chrystal, Harry and Hermione kept working while McGonagall and Charlie took injured students back to Hogwarts. They especially made sure they took the stunned Ron straight up to the hospital wing. Snape joined them in their attempt as soon as he reached the village. They had come across six more students, two dead one of them a Gryffindor Beater. The other students who were seriously hurt were immediately shipped off to St Mungos. Soon there was just a little rubble left. Harry was exhausted but there was something that kept him going. He reached for a large piece of debris and lifted it up.

He saw the lifeless body of Colin Creevey lying there.

*~*

With the loss of five students, there was a depressing feel to the procession of students back from the village. Their plan to talk to Ginny had been abandoned. Harry and Hermione were summoned directly to Dumbledore's office.

As they entered his office, they could hear Dumbledore.

'Well,' he began, 'the Ministry cannot deny it any longer. People will realise that Voldemort is back.'

He spied Harry and Hermione.

'Come in you two' he said. 'I'd like a quick word.'

Harry and Hermione sat down.

'I am sending the students home tomorrow. Their parents will be worried about them and no one is likely to focus on their schoolwork. I also fear that we may become a target, if we are not careful and wish to try and secure the school further. I will still require you to stay over the holidays, however you will be the only two staying. Miss Granger, you will inform your parents that you are safe, Mr Potter, I know your aunt and uncle are not too concerned and Sirius will be staying here anyway, as I will require his help, so it should cause too much of a problem. It is perhaps best if you head back to Gryffindor Tower now. The Heads of Houses are addressing the students now. It is perhaps best if you are there to help Minerva.'

Harry and Hermione reluctantly made their way back to Gryffindor Tower.

'Do you think this could be the end of Hogwarts Harry?' Hermione asked him with an essence of fear in her voice.

'If we do that,' Harry replied, 'then Voldemort has already won.'