Harry Potter and the Ruin of Tears

Harry Potter and the Ruin of Tears

Chapter 4- The Vestibule of Knowledge

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Harry was completely bewildered by what Dumbledore had said. He was trying to think where it could be, when suddenly Dumbledore started to speak to again.

"I imagine," said Dumbledore, "that the Death Eaters would want to start finding the orbs as soon as possible. I believe they are going to unlock the Vestibule of Knowledge tonight."

"Well, we have to be there when they do," said Tonks.

"Precisely," continued Dumbledore, "if we can get there when they open it, we have a chance of regaining the key."

"Then we can get the orbs!" exclaimed Harry.

"What do you mean 'we', kid?" said Moody, "you're not going. Too dangerous. Anyway, you have school; so you can't be following us around the world."

"What about you Professor," asked Harry, "are you going to go?"

"I must not; I have to watch over Hogwarts," replied Dumbledore, "now what kind of headmaster would I be if I am not even at the school!"

"Not a very good one, I presume," Lupin said.

Harry thought for a few seconds then had a very good idea.

"What if Ron, Hermione, and I go with you until school starts," suggested Harry, "then we can go back to Hogwarts!"

"How will we get back?" questioned Hermione.

"By using Portkeys. Professor Dumbledore, could you create one for us?" replied Harry.

"Sounds like a bloody brilliant plan!" said Ron.

"Well, I suppose. Since the end of school, Cornelius has allowed me to make Portkeyswithout having to clear them with the Ministry. I assume that the shock of seeing Voldemort in front of his very own eyes was enough to finally come back to reality," said Dumbledore.

"I want to go too you know!" said Ginny, with an irritated look on her face.

"No! I forbid any of you to go!" Mrs. Weasley instantly replied, "it is far too dangerous for you to just go traveling around the world. Right, Arthur?"

"Yes, yes, dear," said Mr. Weasley, "but I think Harry should go. This has a lot to do with him. Besides, he will be well protected."

Harry smiled at Mr. Weasley to show his appreciation for backing him up.

"I do not agree with you, Arthur," said Dumbledore, "This is far too dangerous for you. You will be safer here."

"Thank you Professor!" said Mrs. Weasley

Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran upstairs and started talking. 'Who knows where the Ruin is?' thought Harry, 'maybe it will be somewhere far from here, somewhere I have never visited...'

Harry said, "I'm going anyways. Who's going with me?"

"I'll go!" said Ron almost immediately.

"Didn't you here Dumbledore?" said Hermione, "It is way too dangerous for us to go tagging along. Besides, we might get in the way." They continued to talk for some time.

After they talked, it was already time for lunch. They ran downstairs and ate quickly, barely talking.

They then went upstairs, to Ron and Harry's room, where they discussed their plan ideas.

"I still think we should not go," said Hermione, "You-know-who might be there..."

"Just say Voldemort'sname," Harry said coolly.

Ron and Hermione winced every time they heard his name.

"I don't understand how we can sneak to the Vestibule when we don't even know where it is!" said Hermione.

"What we are about to attempt is exceptionally dangerous. We must be very careful and stick together. Be prepared for the worst," said Dumbledore, "as it will most likely come. I doubt that any of Voldemort's followers would be scared to perform an unforgivable curse. As for you three," Dumbledore looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "you are to always be with at least three guards. I will be one of those guards. You must not stray from us at any costs. May we repossess the key and stop Voldemort!"

"Well, let's get to it," said Moody, "we don't want to be late for our little 'get together'."

"Good luck! Keep in touch and stay safe," said Mrs. Weasley.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron approached the front door with their brooms.

"Where do you think you're going?" said Mrs. Weasley with her arms crossed while tapping her foot impatiently.

"Well?" continued Mrs. Weasley, "If you think you are going to follow them, you're crazy! Did you not here what Dumbledore said?"

"We were just going to go and practice quidditch..." Ron muttered.

"Quidditch? You think I'm going to believe that?" said Mrs. Weasley. "Now go upstairs. All of you!" she continued.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione went upstairs to think what they were going to do. Hermione got an idea.

Hermione wrote a letter and told Ginny to give it to Mrs. Weasley when they realized they were not there. Then she put a Disillusionment Charm on Harry, Ron, and herself.

"You can cast the Disillusionment Charm?" asked Harry.

"Well, I've been experimenting with it if that's what you mean," replied Hermione.

They then walked downstairs, to the front door. Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen, periodically peering out as if to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione leaving. It worked! They got out of the front door and mounted their brooms.

After about an hour, they arrived at a familiar red telephone booth in a familiar part of town. About five of them went in at a time, each time dialing a number in which a woman responded "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." After two trips, everyone was inside the Ministry of Magic and Harry, Ron, and Hermione went in next, making sure that no one was around. After they got their badges, they started to descend into the ground Hermione took off the Disillusionment Charm.

"Why did you take it off" Ron said.

"Well, I believe that once Dumbledore has seen us he won't want us to go back. He's expecting us to come. Then we will be protected by him from You-know wh- I mean Voldemort and the Death Eaters."

Ron cringed at the name 'Voldemort' every time.

"Good idea," said Harry.

'Why are we here?' thought Harry, 'This doesn't seem like a place that can hold the Vestibule of Knowledge, or could it..."

Harry felt as though a light bulb flickered in his mind.

"Of course! Why didn't I see it before?" muttered Harry.

"See what?" asked Hermione.

"Remember when we came to the Department of Mysteries. There was that one door that we could not open. That one which melted the knife. I think that is where we are going. That must be where the Vestibule of Knowledge is!" Harry said.

"Of course!" whispered Hermione, "So that's what they have been keeping in there."

Ron looked utmost horrified. The thought of seeing Voldemort in person made his stomach squirm. 'I knew it would be dangerous, but this is suicide!' thought Ron.

"Ron, are you ok?" Harry asked with concern.

"Yea, I'm fine. Just nervous I guess," replied Ron.

"About what?" asked Hermione.

"Err--about actually seeing You-know-wh-" Ron stopped talking as Harry lanced at him, then started talking in a lower voice, as not to be overheard, "I mean Voldemort, in person. It can make any one nervous."

"You mean frightened?" said Hermione, smiling.

"No, I'm not frightened, just-err-uneasy," replied Ron.

"Right..." said Hermione.

Dumbledore and the others were now in the Silent Corridor. Harry waited until Dumbledore was on the far end until they started crossing the corridor. They tiptoed very quietly and finally got to the circular room. Harry's stomach started churning. Just a couple of months ago, they were here, in this same room, looking for Sirius. Harry could not stop thinking about Sirius and his death until they reached the circular room. The room did not turn. This time, they went through another door. This door was already open. Probably the door Dumbledore went through.

"They're already here," Harry could here Moody whispering.

Harry could hear a distant voice, cold and shrill, through the heavy blanket of darkness that hung over them.

Harry entered the door, which closed after them. They were in a big, rectangular room, not unlike the others, but this one was empty except for the occasional table and chairs and the torches on the walls. Dumbledore turned around and had a stern look on his face.

"And may I ask what you three are doing here?" asked Dumbledore.

"Er-we just wanted to see what's going on," replied Harry, "We are very sorry Professor." Harry could see the disappointment in Dumbledore's eyes, but at the same time, he saw that Dumbledore knew this would happen.

"Well, it's too late now, come along, stay close to me," said Dumbledore.

They entered another door at the far end of the room. They were now in a sort of amphitheater that had a stone block in the middle with carved writings all over it. This room was like the veil and archway room, except it had a stone block instead of an archway. Harry could see the person talking. It was Wormtail. He was reciting the incantation and had just finished it. The whole earth seemed to shake when he was finished. 'The Ruin must be unearthing,' thought Harry. Then the stone block descended into the ground to form a flat floor.

Another Death Eater said, "We thought you would never make it." All the other Death Eaters started cackling evilly. Harry knew the Death Eater speaking was Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father.

"I see you have broken out of Azkaban," said Lupin with hatred brewing in his eyes, "or more like released from Azkaban. I see you finally persuaded the Dementors."

"Yes. It was quite easy. We just had to offer them power and they released us in an instant. Azkaban was lovely, but it just didn't appeal to me," Lucius said.

"Hand over the key," said Moody, "now."

"I'm sorry, did you just say you wanted us to hand over the key?" said a familiar woman. It was Bellatrix Lestrange and she started talking in her baby voice, taunting Harry. "Well, that's not going happen. Oh! Look, it's little baby Potty Wotty! Come to hurt me. Oh! I'm so scared. Are you going to throw your bottle at me?" The other Death Eaters started shaking with laughter. Harry was so furious that he was turning red. She killed Sirius, so she must die. Harry took a step forward but was stopped by Dumbledore.

"I suggest you give back the key for your own good," Dumbledore said coolly, "I don't want to have to send you to St. Mungo's."

Bellatrix suddenly stopped talking and a look of hatred appeared on her face.

"Dumbledore..." she said full of hatred, "I'm sure you will take back those words once the Dark Lord becomes more powerful than ever."

"If Voldemort does," Dumbledore corrected.

"How dare you speak his name! You are not worthy to!" hissed Lucius.

"Hand over the key, now," said Dumbledore. Now Dumbledore's cold fury could be seen in his eyes.

"Never!" yelled Bellatrix.

Everyone took out their wands, even Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The Death Eaters also took out their wands.

Harry heard some Death Eaters mutter "Avada Ke-" but were soon either petrified or stunned.

"Stay back here," Dumbledore uttered to Harry, Ron, and Hermione as he stood in front of them, like a father would protect his children.

Harry saw blasts of every color zoom in every direction. In fact, one almost hit him in the head but he ducked so it missed.

He saw Moody dueling two death eaters. Moody managed to defeat one, but the remaining one stunned him successfully. Tonks was dueling Bellatrix. Bellatrix hit Tonks with a 'Petrificus Totalus' spell. Lucius stunned two other members of the Order. If any Death Eater was starting to say the 'Avada Kedavra' curse, they were immediately stunned or petrified by the Order members.

Wormtail stunned three Order members. His confidence must have boosted after he received his enhanced arm.

Soon the only Death Eaters left were Wormtail, Bellatrix, and Lucius.

On the other hand, the only Order members left were Dumbledore, Lupin, and Mr. Weasley.

"Don't worry, they will be fine," said Dumbledore, looking straight into Harry's eyes. 'Did Dumbledore just read his mind?' Harry thought. Then Harry remembered that Dumbledore had mastered Legilimency.

"You've lost," Lupin said calmly, "now hand it over."

"Never!" Wormtail shouted, holding what seemed to be a round, golden ball with many inscriptions on it.

"Very well then," said Dumbledore. Lupin and the others had their wands pointed at the three remaining Death Eaters. Dumbledore pointed his wand at the key and said "Accio Key!" but Wormtail said "Protego" and his arm had been greatly enhanced by Voldemort, so Dumbledore failed to get the key.

"Now I suggest you leave, Albus," said a terrifying, cold voice from behind them.

"Master! We did not know you would be coming here!" said Wormtail.

"Sadly, there is much that you don't know. Once again, I suggest you leave," said Voldemort.

Dumbledore replied, "Very well, but you have not seen the last of us." Harry did not understand why Dumbledore wanted to leave. Then he realized that they left for his, Hermione's, and Ron's safety. Moody, Tonks, and the others got to their feet and left with them. They were bleeding heavily.

"Why did Voldemortjust let us go?" asked Harry.

"Because he wants to torture and kill us using the power," said Lupin, "he wants us to have an excruciating and long death."

"Lovely," said Ron.

"Where are we off to now?" asked Hermione.

"We are off to Egypt after St. Mungo's of course," replied Lupin "to the first Regere Orb and the place of the Ruin."

"How do you know the first orb is in Egypt, though?" asked Harry.

"The first is always in the birthplace," replied Dumbledore, smiling, "I checked with the key and memorized the locations of the 5 orbs while we were in possession of the key. That's precisely the reason I wanted to leave, to get a head start."

They arrived at St. Mungo's and Moody and Tonkswere fine. Mrs. Weasley was there. She was furious. It looked like she would explode and release all the anger that was built up.

"WHERE WERE YOU THREE?, THE MINISTRY?" she said at once, "I WAS WORRIED SICK YOU KNOW!"

"Well...mom, you see..." stuttered Ron.

"YOU ARE NEVER LEAVING THE HOUSE AGAIN UNSUPERVISED! YOU HEAR ME?" said Mrs. Weasley, "YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOURSELVES KILLED WITH ALL THOSE DEATH EATERS AND YOU-KNOW-WHO!"

"Yes mom," Ron said sadly while lowering his head.

"As for you two," Mrs. Weasley said calmly to Harry and Hermione, "Would you care for some tea?"

"Uh...sure," replied Harry.

"Yes, that would be lovely," said Hermione.

So they set off for Egypt, or so they wished. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back to Number 12, Grimmauld Place with Mrs. Weasleyand were always heavily supervised.

There was no chance they could go to Egypt, unless...

The doorbell rang and they all ran downstairs and were very surprised at who they saw.