Stormseeker: Borrowed Destiny

It's remarkable how quickly they got the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade, and made arrangements for us all to go home. There's a somber, stunned silence among the students as we board the train. Shock, denial, disbelief... How could this have happened? Everything was going well enough, aside from the occasional attack, and then suddenly, everything's broken, like glass shattering across a stone floor.

I find myself sitting alone on the train ride back. Ron went off to sit with the other Gryffindor boys, and I didn't care to speak with them, not now. I'm positively moping in a self-imposed exile. At least, until Draco Malfoy pokes his head into my compartment.

"So, I hear that you lost your girlfriend, Potter," Draco says.

"Malfoy," I say, gritting my teeth. "Be glad that I've been having to learn to control myself better, or I'd 'accidental magic' you right out the window."

"But I'm standing in the corridor," Draco says.

"Exactly," I tell him darkly, shaking my head a little. "And Luna was a pureblood -- you shouldn't have anything against that."

Draco snorts softly. "So why are you sitting by yourself?" Draco asks. "Your so-called friends go and abandon you?"

"No," I say. "I just... wanted to be by myself for a bit."

"Well, in that case..." Draco plops down next to me, and gestures to Crabbe and Goyle to take a seat as well.

I smirk at them. "I don't know whether you're trying to annoy me or cheer me up." I pause.

"Certainly not the latter, that's for sure," Draco says.

"Either way, thanks, Draco," I say. Even if it's Draco, I find that I really didn't want to be alone today after all.

Draco snorts. "Don't mention it."

"I... Draco... I don't know if I ever told you, but I'm sorry about your parents," I say quietly.

"Why?" Draco says. "It's not like you killed them. Besides, at least they can't boss me around anymore."

I refuse to let my expression betray anything. He puts on a good mask himself, but I know he's still hurting. "Everything's just fallen apart this year, hasn't it."

"If you're going to sit in here moping, I will intervene," Draco says. "No way am I going to put up with that."

"Sorry," I say.

"And don't tell me you're planning to stay with the Weasleys again, are you?" Draco says.

"Yeah," I reply. "But at least their house has gotten a lot better now that I had Dobby clean it up a bit."

Draco snorts in amusement. "I'll bet. I'm going to hire a tutor to finish out the year. And to make up for having an utterly useless Defense professor this year."

"Good idea," I say. I hadn't really thought about that.

"And if you ever get sick of the Weasleys' barn, there's plenty of room in Malfoy Manor," Draco says. "Of course, I'd make you pay rent..."

He's afraid he's going to be lonely in that big house by himself, I think. "Thanks, Draco," I murmur. This is the friendliest I've seen him in a long time, so I'll take it for what it's worth.

"Don't thank me," Draco says. "It's not like I'm doing this for your sake."

When we arrive back at Kings Cross Station, Molly and Arthur Weasley are present to pick up their children and me.

"I took the day off of work to come and get you," Arthur says. "What in the world happened?"

Ron and I look at the ground. Even the twins are silent for once. Ginny looks as though she's about to be sick. Percy finally says, "It was a disaster."

"Let's go home," I say quietly.

Nobody cares to argue with that sentiment. We all pile into the Ford Anglia and head back for Ottery St. Catchpole. Nobody seems to be quite sure just what to say.

"I... Harry," Arthur says as we're unpacking at the Burrow. "I don't know when Hogwarts will open up again, but you're welcome to stay here until then. Or are you planning to go home?"

"Thanks for the offer," I say. "I appreciate it. I'd like to stay here for now."

After dinner, I pull out a quill and a piece of parchment to write a letter for Solomon to take to Dumbledore. Something to keep my mind off things a bit. "Headmaster Dumbledore," I write. "I am considering hiring a tutor for myself and my friends for the interim. Do you have any recommendations?"

The next morning, Solomon has a response for me. "Why don't you ask Remus Lupin?" Dumbledore wrote. "He was a friend of James and Lily Potter."

I pull out another parchment and write up a message. "Mr. Remus Lupin," I begin. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, Hogwarts has been closed for the time being. Because of this, I would like to hire a tutor for myself and my friends to make up for lost time. Headmaster Dumbledore recommended you to me. He told me that you were a friend of my parents. Would you be willing to do this for me? Signed, Harry Potter."

I hate having to play off sympathy for the dead, but I imagine that Harry Potter would do no differently. And I'm Harry Potter, now. Plus, I'm still here to learn, after all. I might as well try to do that however I can. If I had left well enough alone, I might have had a few more months at Hogwarts... No, I'm not going to start dwelling on what-ifs again.

I let the Weasleys know at breakfast about the tutor situation. Arthur says thoughtfully, "Hmm, I seem to recall a Remus Lupin. Good lad, fairly quiet."

After another exchange of letters, Remus Lupin comes over the next day to discuss things further in person. He's a bit of a scruffy man, in a ruggedly handsome sort of way.

"Hello, Mr. Lupin," I say.

"Ah, you're young Harry, aren't you," Remus says, giving me a look over. "Yes, you have your mother's eyes."

"So I'm told, sir," I say.

"There's no need to be so formal, Harry," Remus says. "Just call me Remus. None of this 'sir' and 'Mr. Lupin' business from you, alright?"

"Alright, Remus," I say.

"Why don't you come in and have a seat in the kitchen?" Molly says. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Ah, yes, please," Remus says. He comes inside and sits down, and Molly pours him a cup of hot tea. "It's good to finally meet you, Harry. I just wish we could have met under better circumstances."

"I just don't understand why you haven't tried to contact me before now," I say.

"Well, Dumbledore said you were to be placed with your Muggle family," Remus says. "And he forbade me to contact you. Said that any contact with the outside world might compromise security. But it seems that was just a cover up to send you to the States instead."

"I can understand that," I say. "But I've been at Hogwarts for the last two years."

"I apologize for that," Remus says. "I could not be certain that you might wish to speak with me after all this time."

"The only reason I didn't speak with you was because I was being hidden away on the other side of the world," I say. I rub my temples. "I-- just-- never mind. You know what? I don't even care anymore at this point."

There's a muffled crashing sound from outside. Molly says, "Oh dear. I'd best go help Dobby with that." She rushes out of the kitchen.

"Dobby?" Remus asks.

"House-elf," I reply. "So, are you willing to do the tutoring, and when can you start?"

"I would be reluctant, for most people, but for you, I'll do it," Remus says. "I've drawn up a schedule for the spring and summer, if this would be acceptable." He pulls out a calendar and passes it over to me. "I can get started on the tenth."

I look over the schedule, and scratch my head a bit. The dates are each marked with the day of the week, the phase of the moon on that day, and any holidays that fall upon them. Remus has also marked a few days off every month. "Remus, I can understand wanting time off now and then, but why only over the full moon? What are you, a werewolf?" I smirk at him.

"I-- erm..." Remus blinks at me. "I have a... medical condition."

"Wait, seriously?" I say, blinking back at him. "I was joking, but it's not like I'm going to hold that against you, anyway."

"I was just surprised," Remus says. "Most people don't figure it out quite that quickly."

"If you don't want people to figure it out that easily, don't ask for time off only during the full moon," I say.

"I normally wouldn't, but I wanted to make sure you had as much education as I could give you," Remus says. "You're really alright with that?"

I snort softly. "That seems like a minor thing compared to some of my secrets. I'll admit that I don't know much about werewolves, but if you want to keep it a secret, then I will keep your secret, no problem."

"Your secrets?" Remus repeats.

"I'm not telling you," I say. "They're secret." I smirk. "Maybe later."

"Ah," Remus says. "I understand that you don't really trust me yet. You barely know me, after all."

"That has nothing to do with it," I say. "There's just some things that I refuse to talk about unless under every privacy spell that can feasably be cast at the time."

"I see," Remus says. The door opens again, and Molly returns, leaving us to quickly drop this line of conversation. "So, is the lesson schedule acceptable?"

I nod. "It's fine. Do you mind if I invite some friends over to join us as well?"

"Invite whoever you like," Remus says. "What sort of subject matter would you like me to cover?"

"How good are you with Defense?" I ask, then quickly shake my head. "No, scratch that question. You can't possibly be as bad at Defense as our last professor was."

"What, Lockhart?" Molly says. "But he's a brilliant man, all those books he wrote..."

"I was in his classes," I say. "Ask Percy if you don't believe me. I'll say no more about it. He did his best, even if it cost him his life in the end. But I won't gloss over the fact that all we managed to learn this year was the Disarming Charm, and that was because Snape demonstrated it for us. On Lockhart."

"Very well," Remus says. "I'll focus primarily on Defense, then."

"I'll have Percy and the twins attend as well," Molly says. "They could use a refresher course, and given the spotty quality of the Hogwarts Defense professors in general, filling in the gaps and giving them a more solid foundation as well."

"Good idea," I say.

After working out the details a bit more, Remus heads home, and I head up to the room I share with Ron to write out messages for Dean, Seamus, and Neville, and as an afterthought, I send one to Justin Finch-Fletchley as well. I let them know that they're welcome to invite anyone else they like as well.

"Master Harry?" says Dobby's voice behind me as I'm giving Justin's letter to Solomon.

"I'm not your master, anymore, just your employer," I tell him.

"Boss?"

"That'll do, I suppose," I say, smirking. "What is it, Dobby?"

"Dobby was vanishing rubbish earlier," Dobby says, pulling out a small book and handing it to me. "But Dobby couldn't vanish this."

I take it from him and peer at it, frowning. It looks like an ordinary diary, but if Dobby couldn't vanish it, it must have strong enchantments on it. "This was in the rubbish?" I ask.

Dobby nods. "What should Dobby do with it?"

"I'll take care of it myself," I say. "Thanks for bringing this to me, Dobby."

Dobby beams at me, and leaves. I take a closer look over the diary. It's marked with the name 'T. M. Riddle'. I don't recall anyone at school by that name, but then I haven't memorized the names of everyone in every year, either. Maybe one of the Weasleys brought it home by mistake, or perhaps the twins stole his diary as a prank. Perhaps I should have Solomon send it back to him, once he's done carrying letters for me.

I flip open the diary out of curiosity, and notice that every page is blank. How strange. Did Mr. Riddle never get a chance to write in it? Or did the twins perhaps erase every page as a joke? Well, I'd best return it, anyway, and apologize for this. I pull out my quill again and write a note on the first page of the diary. "Mr. Riddle," I write. "I apologize that your diary has found its way into my hands in this condition. This is doubtless someone's idea of a bad joke. I'm sending my owl to return it to you promptly."

As I finish writing and put the quill aside again, the ink sinks into the page and vanishes, and then reforms into the words, "Wait. Who are you?"

Perhaps I should have expected this, as the diary was obviously enchanted. Of course it's a magic diary of some sort. I pick up my quill and write a reply. "I'm Harry Potter. I was in second year in Gryffindor."

Again, the writing vanishes, and new words appear. "Harry Potter... My name is Tom Riddle. Do not send me away, please."

I write, "You don't want your diary back?"

"I am not a student at Hogwarts any longer," the diary reads. "I attended Hogwarts many years ago. This diary holds my memories, and many secrets that some would wish to keep quiet."

"I see," I write, frowning a little. "Did you tell someone about the Chamber of Secrets, then?"

"I did," Tom Riddle replies.

"Someone forced you to divulge your secrets in hopes of attaining knowledge and power?" I scrawl onto the page. "Now it all makes sense."

"Tell me what has happened," Tom Riddle's diary states.

"The Chamber of Secrets was opened," I write. "Salazar Slytherin's basilisk was unleashed upon the school. The teachers tried to fight it, and half of them wound up dead. The school was closed, and we were sent home."

"That is grave news indeed," Tom replies.

"Please help me," I write back frantically. "I need to know where the Chamber of Secrets is located." This might just be my chance to solve this problem once and for all. I'll have to remember to thank the twins for stealing this diary from whoever the culprit really was, even though I'm sure they had no idea what it really was.

"Where are you now?" Tom asks. "And how did you come upon this diary?"

"I'm at the Burrow, the home of the Weasley family, in Ottery St. Catchpole," I write. "My house-elf found the diary in the rubbish. I imagine that the Weasley twins probably stole it and threw it away as a prank. Who had you before then? Who used you to inflict this horror upon the school?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say," Tom replies. "I apologize. My previous owner forced me not to divulge their secrets."

"I'm not surprised," I write, sighing. "Would that it were that easy."

"Perhaps it would be best not to let anyone else find out that you have this diary," Tom suggests. "It would be bad if anyone were to discover its true nature."

"You have a point," I write. "Can you help me, though? Can you at least tell me how to get into the Chamber of Secrets?"

"I will help you," Tom replies, and I breathe a sigh of relief. "I must ask something of you in exchange, however."

"What is it?" I write.

"I require a bit of your blood in order to unlock this diary's secrets," Tom tells me.

That seems reasonable enough. I carefully prick my finger and spill a few drops of scarlet dragon's blood onto the diary. Just like the ink, the blood sinks into the page and disappears. "Will that be sufficient?" I write.

"Ah..." Tom replies. "Yes, that is sufficient. Now I can tell you what I know. The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is located in the girls' lavatory on the first floor, behind one of the sinks. In order to open the way, the word 'open' must be said in Parseltongue."

I stare at the page incredulously for several long moments before fumbling with my quill and writing, "You can't be serious."

"I have spoken truly, and divulged a great secret to you," Tom states.

"You're telling me that Salazar Slytherin put his fabled Chamber of Secrets inside of a GIRL'S RESTROOM?" I write.

"Perhaps it was not always a restroom," Tom replies. "I do not know. But it would be a clever place of hiding it, wouldn't it? Who would think to look there?"

"I suppose you have a point," I write.

"Be certain to take me with you when you go."

I'm about to write to ask him more questions, but I hear noises from downstairs and someone coming up the stairs. The boys must have gotten home. I quickly tuck the diary away into my robes. This isn't something I'm going to trust just laying around. I'd best keep it on me at all times.

"Hey, Harry," Ron says, poking his head in the door. "What're you doing?"

"I was writing letters to some of the other boys in our year," I say. "I've invited anyone who wants to come to join us with our tutoring."

"So Mr. Lupin took the job?" Ron says. "That's great." He grimaces. "I hope he doesn't give homework, though."

"I've asked him to focus primarily on Defense," I say. "Hopefully that'll help make up for this past year being useless and the previous one being mediocre."

"Sounds good," Ron says. "Mum said dinner's almost ready. Best come on downstairs."

"Right," I say. Ron heads out ahead of me, and I take a moment to secure the diary and make sure that it's not going to slip out at the wrong moment. Another secret that I can't tell anyone about. I should be used to secrets by this point.

I exchange several letters with Dumbledore, begging him to be allowed back to the school to help with the investigation. But he firmly tells me to stay at the Burrow, and that I will be notified if I'm needed or if the situation changes. I try to hint to him that I've learned something more about the Chamber of Secrets, but he won't listen or entirely misses it. I sigh and resolve myself to enjoy my tutoring, at least. I'm getting annoyed enough about the situation that I'm not sure if I even want to share the secret of the chamber with them.

At Remus's first lesson, Dean and Justin show up in addition to the Weasleys. "Thanks for inviting me," Dean says. "My family's Muggle, so I wouldn't have the chance to practice my magic otherwise."

We've all gathered in a makeshift classroom at the Burrow, and the room seems to have been magically expanded to make sure we'd have room to move around. Remus Lupin gets up in front of the room, and says, "Welcome, children. My name is Remus Lupin. I'm glad to see you all value your magical education. I will be focusing primarily upon combat and defensive magic for the moment. Before we get started, I'd like to get an idea of how much you all have learned in this subject so far."

"This year's professor hid under his desk from pixies," Ron says.

"Last year's professor stuttered all the time and fainted at the sight of trolls," Dean says.

"The year before that was taught by a Squib," Fred says.

"And the one before that was a drunk," George adds.

"And then there was the little old lady who taught us how to politely signal before casting any spell," Percy says.

"I think I get the idea," Remus says dryly. "Very well. Let's start with the basics." He gestures toward a line of dummies laid out along the wall. "These dummies can take quite a bit of punishment. Let's start with the basics. Let me see your Knockback Jinx."

Ginny has a bit of trouble with the spell, but we can all manage to cast it well enough. After ascertaining that we all have a fairly solid grasp of the Knockback Jinx, he checks on our Disarming Charms. Ginny hasn't actually learned that one yet, but after seeing it demonstrated, she manages to cast it after a few tries.

Remus says, "Alright. Let's look at something different. Can you cast the Full Body-Bind Curse?"

Everyone but the twins and Percy shake their heads. "We haven't learned that one yet," I say. "What's the incantation?"

"Petrificus Totalus," Remus says. "It renders a person completely immobile."

"What's the difference between that and Immobulus?" I ask.

"I'm glad you asked that, Harry," Remus says. "Oftentimes, you may see spells that have superficially similar effects. But the type of magic and the specifics of the effects and requirements may be very different. The Freezing Charm holds something in place exactly as it is, and it usually isn't strong enough to affect something human-sized, but it can affect objects. The Full Body-Bind Curse, however, is only used on living beings. It snaps the victim's arms and legs together, but does not hinder their breathing or sight."

"And one's a charm and the other's a curse," Ron says helpfully.

"Yes, and that distinction means more than it might appear at first glance," Remus says. "Different types of magic have a different... flavor to them, so to speak. Some people are naturally better at casting some types of spells than others. And sometimes certain effects are blocked or hindered, but others are not."

"I see," I say thoughtfully.

"Now, let's see you all try this out on the dummies," Remus says. "First, a demonstration. Watch my wand movements." Remus pulls out his wand and waves it at one of the dummies. "Petrificus Totalus!" The dummy's limbs snap together, and it wobbles a little. "Now it's your turn."

We take our turn to practice the spell. I'm able to get it on the first try without any problem. The others in my year have a little more trouble with it, but get it after a few attempts.

"We already know this spell, too," Fred says, demonstrating that he can cast it.

"But Mum is making us be here anyway," George says.

"She has good reason for it," Percy tells them. "There's no telling what we may or may not have learned over the years. And more practice never hurts."

"This is a fun spell, though," Fred says.

"And you're not supposed to use Defense Against the Dark Arts to prank people with!" Percy says firmly.

"Even Slytherins?" George says.

"No," Percy says.

"You're not a prefect here, Percy," Fred says.

"And there's no Slytherins to prank, either," Percy says. "Now pay attention to the lesson. Harry's generously paying for it and allowing us to attend, after all."

The twins grumble a little more, and return their attention back to the lesson.

Over the next few weeks, Remus continues to tutor us. Some more students in the first, second, and third years show up after hearing about what we're doing, and we soon wind up with a group almost as large as many actual classes at school.

Following one class, after everyone else has gone home, Remus takes me aside. "Harry, I'm going to need an extra day off this month."

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Dumbledore requested to have me come to Hogwarts to help search for the Chamber of Secrets," Remus says.

"He's asking for your help, but refuses mine?" I say.

"You're only twelve, Harry," Remus says. "You can leave this one to the adults."

"I know where the Chamber of Secrets is, though," I say.

Remus stares at me. "If you knew this, why didn't you tell anyone? Aurors have been scouring the castle for weeks."

"Because Dumbledore wouldn't listen to me and shut me out of the investigation," I say. "If you're going up to Hogwarts, take me along. I can get us into the Chamber of Secrets."

"Why don't you just tell me?" Remus says.

"You won't be able to get in," I say. "You need someone that can speak Parseltongue to do it."

"And, what, are you going to tell me you're a Parselmouth now?" Remus says.

"No," I say. "But I've an idea."

Remus sighs. "And, let me guess, you're going to refuse to tell anyone anything unless you're allowed to come along."

"Yes," I say.

"That's very immature," Remus says.

"Remus, I'm twelve," I say.

"Exactly," Remus says, and sighs. "I'll speak with Dumbledore."

"Thanks," I say.

"Don't thank me," Remus says. "I'll not be giving him any compliments on your maturity, and you certainly won't be allowed to put yourself into unnecessary danger. But if you're going to insist on being foolish and withholding vital information just for the sake of doing so, I can't stop you."

"I'm sorry, Remus," I say. "I have my reasons. And enough people have died because of me already."

"They died doing their job," Remus says. "That was hardly your fault."

"You don't understand, and I can't tell you," I say. He's one of the few people who would know Harry Potter. If he knew that his friends' child was really dead and Dumbledore's been lying to everyone... I can't tell him. I can't tell him that. I'd like to be able to trust him, but this is one secret I can't bear to tell him.

That evening, I receive an owl from Dumbledore. It reads, "Remus will bring you to Hogwarts on April 4th. Be prepared."

Finally, I'm going to get to do something. It's time to finish this.