Harry Potter and the Reign of Darkness

Chapter Nine - Stalking The Halls

Halloween approached rapidly, and Harry found himself anticipating the first trip to Hogsmeade followed by the holiday feast as a brief respite from his demanding schedule. Ron seemed taxed as well, although he had kept relatively quiet about his anxieties. Hermione seemed to be suffering the worst. While there hadn't been another incident between her and Malfoy that he was aware of, in-between the hours she needed to spend on Head Girl duties and her own incapability to give anything less than one hundred percent on her assignments was slowly, but surely, wearing her down. Only Ginny seemed to be in continually good spirits, and she consistently excelled in their Quidditch practices. Harry had little doubt that she would be a more than capable captain in the following year....if they ever got that far. Harry hadn't heard from Sirius since the evening he was caught by Snape in the Forbidden Forest, and his dreams had grown more cryptic and fitful. He had been reliving the nightmare where Dumbledore, dressed as a Death Eater, killed his friends and then him, but the last few nights, Harry had seen the same shadowy figure he had encountered at his Apparation test off in the distance, calling his name onto the wind before Dumbledore struck his killing blow.

Harry sat up, running a hand through his hair before reaching for his glasses. Sliding onto the wood floor, Harry turned to make for the door when he nearly tripped. Squinting in the moonlight, Harry found he had nearly fallen over his Transfiguration textbook. Quickly scanning the floor, Harry saw that his books and other belongings had been strewn about. Quickly darting for his open trunk, Harry dug through the debris wildly. "Be there, please be there..." With a sigh of relief, Harry felt his fingers wrap around the handle to the mirror Sirius had given him. It appeared undamaged. Setting it aside gently, Harry began to look through his things, occasionally glancing up towards Ron, who was soundly asleep. None of his clothes, his broom or any books seemed to be missing. It was only after Harry dug underneath the yearbook that Ron had given him for his birthday that he realized what had been taken. "THE MAP!" Leaping up, Harry made his way next to Ron and leaned into his ear. "Ron....Ron, wake up," he said in a whisper.

"Wh-what? Harry?" Ron's eyes fluttered open and he glared up at Harry. "What is it?"

"The map, the map's been taken, Ron."

"Map? Harry, it's late...."

Harry leaned in closer and stressed his words. "The Marauder's Map, Ron."

Ron shook his head and blinked his eyes rapidly. "Ma-but why? Who would, who could get up here?"

Harry stood up and folded his arms. "I don't have a clue, but I can't exactly report this to McGonagall...."

Ron sat up and leaned forwards. "I'd say not, you'd be in deep trouble...."

Harry and Ron both frowned. Harry turned and walked to the window next to Ron's bed. "Who would know about the map, know where it is and be able to get in here without making a noise?" said Harry, sounding very frustrated.

"I don't know, mate. But whoever they are, they're good. They're very, very good."

Harry made for the Great Hall the following morning without waking Ron. The sun had only begun to peek out over the clouds as Harry descended the ever-changing stairs and stepped into the corridor, nearly slamming into a rigid, robed figure.

"Harry?" a familiar voice rang out. Harry looked up to see Kingsley Shacklebolt staring down at him. "What are you doing up so early?" Harry gave him a quizzical look.

"Ki-I, well, I'm headed for breakfast. Couldn't get much sleep....What are you doing here?"

Shacklebolt took a step back and placed his left hand on his hips as he waves his right hand out. "Aurors have been assigned to security detail for the school's Hogsmeade trips. Headmistress McGonagall does not want to interrupt the school's schedule, but we can't exactly let a bunch of teenagers loose in the countryside. Speaking of that, there's been a lot of talk, Harry...."

"About what?"

"About you staying here, whether it's the best idea. McGonagall and Snape are convinced that your place is here, but many others, like myself, aren't so sure...."

Harry frowned. "Are you saying I can't take care of myself?" he bellowed.

"No, no! Certainly not, Harry. Certainly not, but even with the giants protecting the forest, You-Know-Who has shown himself more than capable of penetrating the grounds. He is seeking you, Harry, with all that he has." Shackebolt removed his wand and pointed it at Harry's scar. "He wants whatever you took from him, and woe to the wizard who stands in his way."

The snow crunched underneath Harry's shoes as he silently marched down the path towards Hogsmeade. He had remained virtually silent all morning, even after Ron, Hermione and Ginny had come down to join him in the Great Hall. A light flurry swirled around as they trudged into the village, swollen with people. It was a welcome sight for Harry after the nearly vacant Diagon Alley to see Hogsmeade still living and breathing under the shadow of Voldemort.

"Where to first?" asked Ron, his eyes locked on the glistening outline of Honeydukes down the street.

Following Ron's eyes, Harry nodded and managed a small smile. "Let's get some sweets."

The four of them made their way down the street, but Ron and Ginny came to an abrupt stop halfway to Honeydukes. On their left, a ramshackle building seemed to have their complete attention. Looking up to the sign hanging over head, Harry read Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes - COMING SOON.

"Great location," said Ginny.

"I wonder how Zonko's is going to feel when this opens," said Hermione, sounding slightly concerned.

"They'll be shaking in their boots, I bet," said Ron as he leaned in to look through the window on the door. "It's dark inside, they must be out." He turned back to the other three and shrugged.

"We'll come back later," said Hermione. She then began to walk towards Honeydukes once more. The others followed.

Honeydukes was filled to the brim with Hogwarts students looking for their favorite treats along with a particularly tall and thin Auror surveying the area. Harry and Ron smiled at each other devilishly and then quickly set to work on restocking their respective sweets' collections. Ginny and Hermione picked through and Harry noticed them whispering to each other often. After exchanging a nod, Hermione called out to them.

"We're going to head down farther, meet us when you're done!"

Harry and Ron both looked up and nodded and then returned to weighing their bags of candies. Feeling satisfied, Harry grabbed his bag and got into line, quickly followed by Ron. After paying, the two stepped out once more into the growing chill and made their way in the direction of Ginny and Hermione. After a few minutes of trudging, Ron pointed them out standing in front of Gladrags, ogling something in the mirror. As Harry got closer, he saw Hermione staring wide-eyed at a particularly stunning, blood red dress. Glancing at Ron, Harry saw that he had also noticed the longing look in Hermione's eyes.

"It's pretty," Harry cried out as they approached.

Hermione could only nod, and after staring for a moment more, she turned to look at the boys and smiled, looking slightly embarrassed. "Let's make for the Three Broomsticks."

Ron stepped forward, shaking his head. "I think we should go to the Hog's Head." Harry saw Hermione scowl. "I'd be willing to bet you that my brothers are there, now. The owner did give them the great deal on the property back there." Ron grinned and started walking. With a huff, Hermione turned and trailed after him. Harry grinned at Ginny, who returned the smile, and they pulled up the rear.

The Hog's Head was filled with smoke, and an indiscernible yet foul odor seemed to linger faintly in the room. After Harry shut the door, he turned and brushed the collected snow off his jacket. Ron and Hermione had begun to walk towards the bar when Hermione suddenly started walking off towards the back with her arms outstretched. Squinting in the low light, Harry looked towards the person rising from a table to greet her. Harry recognized the oafish slump and connected brow even in the poor lighting. It was Viktor Krum.

"Viktor!" Hermione cried.

Ron, who hadn't noticed Hermione leave his side, snapped his head towards her voice just as he reached the bar. Harry's eyes searched his face for some kind of reaction, but he saw none. Ron's head just dipped down to the floor and he turned to walk back towards Harry and Ginny. Hermione had embraced Viktor and quickly taken a seat at his table, seemingly oblivious to the others.

"Let's get out of here," Ron said forcefully.

Ginny looked up at Harry and nodded her head vigorously. With one fleeting glance backwards, Ron exited the Hog's Head. Harry and Ginny quickly followed.

Ron's pace was quick as he put as much distance as possible between himself and the Hog's Head. Harry frowned as he and Ginny followed after him. Ron finally slowed and then stopped in front of Gladrags, staring up at the dress Hermione had been admiring earlier. Harry slowly walked up and placed a gloved hand on Ron's shoulder. Ginny circled around her brother and stood off to the side of the dress.

"Ron...." she said as she folded her arms.

"You've got to come clean with us, Ron," Harry said as sympathetically as he could manage. "You've just go-"

"I don't have to do a damn thing, Harry," snapped Ron. Slowly, Ron turned his eyes to Harry. They were filled with a swirling mix of rage and sadness. "She does it all. I just sit on the sidelines and watch."

"Then do something about it, Ron!" Ginny cried.

Harry watched Ron's fists clench tightly, and he removed his hand from Ron's shoulder.

"Harry, why....why don't you let Ron and I talk. I think he needs a woman's touch."

Harry glanced from Ginny to Ron, who didn't acknowledge what his sister had said, and then nodded to Ginny.

"I'll meet you when we're headed back to school," Harry said, and then turned and walked down the main street.

Harry's mind was tumultuous as he watched the other students dart from shop to shop, all under the watchful eye of Ministry Aurors who had perched themselves across the village, watching every movement like a hawk. Harry managed a smile for Kingsley Shacklebolt when he passed him standing in front of the Post Office, but the Auror did not return the gesture. Glancing at the Three Broomsticks, Harry turned and began to walk down the narrow, beaten path towards the Shrieking Shack. He was almost mown down by a pack of third years laughing wildly as they ran past, probably after a round of daring each other to approach the dilapidated home. Harry stifled a laugh. "If only they knew," he mused. As he reached the battered fence that surrounded the Shack's bounds, Harry noticed a disturbing sight in the snow. Amid the fresh footprints undoubtedly left by the pack of third years, Harry saw a set of tracks heading all the way to the shack itself. However, they weren't human footprints but something entirely separate. They appeared to have been left by a wolf, or possibly...."A dog," Harry gasped. Harry immediately began to run alongside the tracks, following them up to the front door, which had been flung open. Harry rocketed into the shack itself and scrambled up the staircase. He began to frantically search the environs of each room, as the snow that had been left on the tracks had already melted. In one of the smaller rooms that Harry peeked into, something on the wall caught his eye. Composing himself, Harry approached what he found to be a photograph, held to the wall by a slim dagger with strange markings engraved on the handle. Harry leaned in to examine the picture, and gasped. Staring back at him with was a picture of his godfather in happier times. Harry wrapped his hands around the dagger and ripped it from the wood, using his other hand to grab the photograph. Harry looked at the dagger for a moment and then tucked it into his jacket along with the picture, and then turned back towards the door.

"Sirius?" he called, desperately. "SIRIUS, ARE YOU HERE?" Harry looked frantically down the hallway, and then stopped to listen. There was nothing but the slight rustle of the wind outside. With a sigh, Harry made his way down the stairs once more and stepped into the entryway of the shack. Glancing to the opposite wall which had a large gaping hole in it, Harry noticed something he had missed on his way in. A set of footprints, not tracks, led out of the shack and into the woods. Removing his wand, Harry began to trail behind them. The tracks led out behind the shack and into the woods that bordered the village. Harry found himself having a more difficult time identifying the tracks due to the relatively light snow failing to penetrate to the forest floor in any consistent manner. Regardless, the imprints into the ground were clear enough for Harry to follow them for close to ten minutes before he found himself turning sharply and stepping out of the bounds of the forest and back into Hogsmeade village. Taking a moment to orient himself, Harry found himself between Dervish & Banges and the Hog's Head. The tracks made a line directly to a back door in the Hog's Head, and Harry bolted for the door, tucking his wand away as he stepped inside for the second time that day. Harry had stepped into a small alcove separated from the main tavern area, making it an ideal place for someone wanting to slip in, or out, unnoticed. The tracks of snow, once inside, soon disappeared and Harry stopped, breathing heavily, and swore.