Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate

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-*~| CHAPTER 2 - Old Acquaintances |~*-
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Harry went to Buckbeak's room as soon as he was dismissed by Dumbledore, which was sooner than he expected, with the appearance of Emmeline Vance.

For the last five minutes, he had been staring at the diary, mystified.

What was in it? he thought. Perhaps all the things that he ever wanted to know about his parents were somewhere in this diary. But he couldn't get over the fact of having to work out the clues.

Haven't I solved enough already! ... But, maybe there is something to all this after all, he thought grudgingly.

It was a simple diary, not Muggle-made. It had the name of 'Flourish and Blotts' and there were entries--many of them. It wasn't blank, as in the case of Tom Riddle's diary. But whenever Harry tried to open a page to read, the words just vanished. After several failed attempts of reading the fading entries, he became quite edgy and flustered. What is all this? he thought irately. Surely, there must be some way to open it. He couldn't do any magic on it because of the same old rule of 'Underage Wizardry'.

"Oh, when will I be of AGE!" he bellowed angrily, making Buckbeak screech alarmingly.

Harry sat there for sometime, trying every thing he could think of to crack the diary but to no avail, and when he couldn't think of anything new to do with it, he dejectedly started for his room.

He was halfway through the hallway, when he saw a small bundle just in front of Sirius's mother's portrait. The bundle was twitching and flailing--it looked like an over-large gnome covered with green pus-filled boils.

Harry thought at first that it was some new creature of the house that had somehow managed to evade Mrs. Weasley's clutches, but on a closer look, he was astonished to find Kreacher, his godfather's old and deranged house-elf, wincing in pain.

Harry looked about in dismay, as he could hear muffled laughter but it wasn't Kreacher, as he was opening and closing his mouth, but no sound of mirth or misery was coming out of it. Harry spun around and found Fred, George and Ginny emerge from behind the nearest curtain.

"We couldn't help it! He was just passing by - a beacon of light for our Hydra," said Fred between bouts of laughter.

"And because of what he did to... to--Sirius!" said Ginny, almost in a whisper. She was not laughing and her face was set in a grim expression. This transformed twin's laughs to low growls.

The scene was anything but beautiful, but in his inner heart, Harry was actually enjoying the sight of Kreacher in pain, remembering what had happened to his Godfather because of this elf's deceit and treachery.... But then he felt a twinge of guilt and remembered Hermione's S.P.E.W, which lead to his next thought of, why wasn't Kreacher screaming?

His question was answered by George, who was stuffing something yellow into Kreacher's open mouth. "After what he did last time, Dumbledore punished him with a permanent 'Silencing Charm', because he can't be set free. So he's still bound to the household and has been sworn not to tell anybody about the Order's whereabouts and the like."

Kreacher's face went slack and then he was heaved up by Fred, who said, "This is not good enough for what you did, but it is for the time being..." he trailed off threateningly, giving Kreacher a broad grin. Kreacher shot off towards the boiler room like a rocket without a single backward glance.

Harry saw all this with a kind of detachment of an outsider. During all the days that he had blamed himself, being the cause of Sirius's death, he had never thought about Kreacher as being the one to blame or even to share in it.

He went to his room and stashed away the diary in his trunk. He was not ready--at least not then--to share it with his friends. But it felt as if some of the blackness inside him had been broken by bright rays of hope.

"Harry, dinner time." Hermione brought him back to the reality by coming inside the room.

When he went to the kitchen, even Dumbledore was present at the table, which was a first, along with Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Mrs. Weasley, the twins, and of course Ron, Hermione and Ginny. The table was filled with scrumptious delicacies. Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself, again.

Harry ate heartily, laughing at Fred and George's jokes and Tonks' morphings. He contemplated that he was not alone after all. It was a fact that no one would ever take the place of his parents and, for that matter, Sirius's, but there were others who cared about him and his well being; he should not let them down... The prophecy flashed past his eyes like a jagged blaze of lightning against a dark sky--he had to kill or be killed....

He was brought back to the real world by Dumbledore. "Harry, you will now learn Occlumency from me. I hope you don't have any problems with that?" he asked, his beard twitching.

"Oh... no, not at all!" exclaimed Harry, smiling. This could keep Snape out of his head for good!

After dinner, the Order members started discussing their 'confidential information' and the 'young crowd' was ushered out of kitchen.

"We've got to dash, we have an -ahem– important business appointment," said George, winking.

"See you all later," said Fred, and with the usual cracks, they Disapparated.

They all made their way to the boys' room and made themselves comfortable on the squashy chairs around the fire.

"How is that cousin of yours, Harry?" asked Ron, plopping on a settee.

"Oh, he's loads better; training to be a boxer, looking more menacing everyday, but whimpers whenever I pass him. And after the visit by our ol' Dementor friends last year, he has got oodles of motivation to crush everything in sight to pulp," said Harry with an amused look on his face.

"Why wasn't Percy here today?" asked Hermione, looking at Ron.

Before Ron could answer, Harry blurted out a loud, "Percy?!"

"Oh, forgot to fill you in on the latest development in Humungous Bighead's position," said Ron with a smirk on his face. "After last year's Ministry of Magic fiasco, Mr. Assistant-to-the-Minister learned a very good lesson on humility: he was wrong and we were right, all along. And as you know, he's quite... well, peculiar--it took him a whole month to muster up his courage and apologize."

"And not to Dad directly, but through Mum, who was all but begging for the proceedings," Ginny provided.

Harry was still not used to Ginny talking. After last year's experience and the encounter with the Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries, he was getting used to her presence, as well as intelligence.

"But Dad has refused to talk to him after what he said the last time they talked--or rowed, actually--and he is not the only one. Except for Mum, Charlie and Ginny, nobody has talked to him," said Ron, glaring daggers at Ginny.

"Hey! Don't give me that look, it's not my fault! I'm all for your not speaking to him. But he has to sort out, where his real priorities lie! He really never meant anything bad--as you know from the start, Percy has always been ambitious, he just doesn't know where to draw the line," Ginny said, in an explanatory voice.

"Well, I reckon it's high time that he does!" Ron continued menacingly. "Because unless, and until, he apologizes to Dad the right way--and I prefer begging after what he called him--till then I am not even ready to look at him!"

"Somebody has to egg him on to do that and that's what Mum and I are doing, and Charlie is keeping all the trouble at bay, so that no awkwardness arises from this whole situation," Ginny said evenly, glaring at Ron.

Ron was still gritting his teeth and Harry himself hadn't forgotten the letter Percy sent Ron last year, suggesting that he cut all ties of friendship with Harry and actually spy for Missy High Inquisitor Umbridge. Remembering that, Harry agreed with Ron entirely. He didn't care to speak to Percy either.

"Fred and George are actually so disgusted that they have put up a sign on the door of their shop saying: no Percy zone, whereas Bill has refused to even acknowledge his efforts of camaraderie," said Ginny in a bleak voice.

"Yeah, just as well," said Ron sourly.

"I think he's really sorry, he just can't express his emotions very well and..." Hermione trailed off and changed tracks because Ron was starting to look murderous. "I admit that he has done wrong and he should apologize to Mr. Weasley, but after his heartbreak, he is really miserable and he needs the family support!" Hermione said, defensively.

"Yeah. He's not even working very well for the Ministry," said Ginny worriedly.

"What kind of heartbreak?" Harry asked belatedly.

"Penelope has just broken up with him and he is miserable as a lost Knarl," said Ginny sympathetically.

"Serves him right! That haughty double-crossing numbnut," Ron barked.

At that very moment Mrs. Weasley popped her head inside the door and said, "What are you kids doing up so late?"

"We are not kids anymore, Mum!" Ron said, looking scandalized.

"Yes of course dear," Mrs. Weasley said, as if calming a four-year old boy who was craving chocolate frogs. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to tuck the girls in."

Hermione and Ginny left laughing their heads off at Ron's gaping face, while he turned a bright shade of magenta and Harry himself couldn't help but laugh at him. The boys quickly changed into their pyjamas and went to bed with Ron saying a muffled, "'Night."

Harry felt light-headed after weeks of apprehension. He had not laughed for so long, but spending only a day at Grimmauld Place made him ease off the continuous guilt that he felt. Obviously, its every nook and cranny reminded him of Sirius, but even then the bittersweet memories were all that he had of his Godfather... He could now fully appreciate how all of his friends and well wishers had tried their best to accommodate his feelings. Surely, Hogwarts was his home but Grimmauld Place was fast becoming his home away from home.

-*-

Where was he?

There was so much light surrounding him and so beautiful... glowing, shimmering, white light pulsing all around him. He was groping the air to catch onto something, when he realized that he was floating.

He was floating! Yes... no, more like swimming.

He couldn't even see his own hands but he could hear something... Someone was speaking, but he couldn't hear it clearly because it was somewhat muffled, and whenever he heard that voice, the surrounding white light pulsed to different colors: blue, orange, green, red, yellow and violet.

"I can't let you have it!" someone said, and after a long pause, between which he heard some other voices, but they seemed to come from such a distance that he wasn't able to give any meaning to them. He heard the same voice and the light around him changed colors again.

"No... nooo, don't hurt him..."

And with a flash of pain in his forehead he sat upright in his bed. His scar was throbbing and it felt like his heart was residing in his throat and beating faster by the second.

What was all that about? And that voice... it seemed so familiar... who was it? Was this one of Voldemort's new tricks? But he had occluded his mind before sleeping--he had emptied his mind of all thoughts, leaving only the gaping hole of Sirius. He shouldn't be feeling any emotion at all....

He checked his watch on the bedside table. It was quarter to four in the morning, and Ron was fast asleep with his usual rhythmic snores. Harry was himself in the process of going back to sleep when the light coming through the door crack was disturbed, as if somebody had just passed the door.

Who could it be? Up so late at night? he wondered.

His curious side got the better of him and he tip-toed towards the door to investigate the late-nighter. He opened the door and took a peek outside and didn't find anyone visible in the hallway.

Was it Kreacher, prowling the house after everyone had gone to sleep? This behavior wasn't new for him, but then again, there was a lot of difference between the Kreacher everybody thought to be 'crazy-bewildered' and the Kreacher who had spilled the beans about Sirius in front of the Malfoys.

No, this is definitely worth checking, Harry thought.

He made his way to the kitchen, and to his astonishment it was not Kreacher but an elf wearing about fifteen hats, lurid colored baby knickers and a woolen jumper with mismatched socks.

"Dobby!?" he croaked. "What are you doing here?" he asked, "And in the dead of ni--" but was cut off by a suffocating hug from Dobby.

"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby squealed gleefully. "Such an honor to meet you again, sir, Dobby was hoping and wishing so much to see you, sir," said Dobby looking as if his birthday wish had been granted early.

"Is everything all right? Has Dumbledore sent you to deliver a message?" asked Harry in concern.

"No, no, sir, Dobby was only cleaning," Dobby answered, waving a dust-covered cloth in front of Harry's face.

"But, wha--" again he was cut off by the elf, but to Harry's relief, it was not by another rib-cribbing hug.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, has appointed us to clean the house, sir. Dobby has been here for exactly," counting on his long spindly fingers, "thirty seven days, sir," he then continued in a hushed tone, "and also, sir, to keep an eye on that... on Kreacher."

Comprehension dawned upon him. He knew that Kreacher was of no use, and after what he did last year, there should have been some measures taken for the safety of the Order, and also for house-keeping, because Mrs. Weasley couldn't always baby-sit the Headquarters and cook, because of her responsibilities at the Burrow.

"Professor Dumbledore chose us, Harry Potter, sir! He thought we were"--puffing up his chest out--"gallant enough for the job. He trusts Dobby, that Dobby will never tell a living soul about the Order's dwelling, Harry Potter, sir," Dobby finished toothily.

"That's great, Dobby," said Harry, genuinely pleased.

"So, Dobby and Winky comes here with Professor Dumbledore, sir, to serve the good cause, Harry Potter, sir." Dobby then continued on in a hushed voice, "He gave us a raise, Harry Potter, sir, and now Dobby is being paid two Galleons a week," he said, giving a disbelieving shudder.

"Winky is being paid too?" asked Harry.

"No, sir." Dobby's ears drooped. "Winky says she has not sunk so low as that, Harry Potter, sir. Winky will never want paying," said Dobby sadly.

"So it was your shadow I saw across the hallway?" Harry asked.

"Yes, sir, Dobby was returning from the hippogriff's room," answered Dobby.

"Okay, Dobby, happy cleaning then," said Harry, and he started to return to his room when he heard growling from somewhere below the kitchen level--scratching more like. He never knew that there was any sort of basement in the Grimmauld Place, but wouldn't be surprised if there was, because this house held so many things unknown.

"Is there a ghoul in this place, Dobby?" Harry enquired.

Dobby gave him a frightened stare and while wringing his hands, said, "Ghouls never make such sounds, Harry Potter, sir. Tonight's a full moon, Harry Potter, sir." Dobby gave him a pointed look.

"Is that Lupin?!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yes, Harry Potter, sir. Professor Dumbledore, sir, has bounded the trap-door of the cellar, so that everyone here remains protected for their own good," said Dobby with wobbling knees.

Now Harry remembered Lupin's drawn looks. He didn't notice it before, because he had been quite occupied himself.

"Er... okay, Dobby... 'Night," said Harry.

"Good night, Harry Potter, sir." Dobby gave a sad squeak.

Harry tip-toed back across the hallway to his room. He lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling, pondering.

Why was everything he was related to strange or weird? Couldn't he have a normal life?

His parents were brutally murdered by Voldemort because of a prophecy. He had already battled a mountain troll, giant spiders, a Hungarian Horntail, solved many enchanted puzzles, and fought Voldemort himself three times. His Godfather had been a wanted criminal, his uncle and friend was a werewolf, his known relatives were a bunch of nimrods and now he was having strange dreams... again.

Or were they some kind of visions?

But surely, they weren't from Voldemort's mind as they felt so pure. But then again, why did his scar hurt when he finally woke up from these visions? He had to tell all this to Dumbledore or Lupin tomorrow....

With all these thoughts still swirling in his head, Harry fell to a dreamless sleep.

-*-

Harry woke up with a start. Ron was poking him in the sides.

"Whassamatterr!" he said groggily.

"Our O.W.L results have just arrived!" Ron hollered.

"What?!" Harry was instantly out of bed. "What, when, where?" he asked absently, wiping his eyes and putting on his glasses.

Ron just rolled his eyes and handed him his letter.

"What did you get, Ron?"

"You open yours, I'll open mine, then we'll swap, okay?" said Ron.

"Okay."

He tore off the official seal of the Ministry, to read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

The Ministry of Magic is pleased to inform you of your O.W.L results of last month.

They are stated below:

Astronomy: A (1 owl) - 1 owl out of 1
Care of Magical Creatures: O (1 owl) - 1 owl out of 1
Charms: E (2 owls) - 2 owls out of 2
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O (2 owls) - 2 owls out of 2
Divination: D (1 owl) - [failed]
Herbology: E (1 owls) - 1 owl out of 1
History of Magic: P (1 owl) - [failed]
Potions: E (1 owl) - 1 owl out of 1
Transfiguration: E (2 owls) - 2 owls out of 2

We anticipate that you will perform as well as in your N.E.W.T exams as you have done so in your O.W.Ls. We wish you best of luck with your studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Enjoy your remaining holidays!
Sincerely yours,
Giles Eiseley,
Examination Controller,
Wizarding Examinations Authority Office.

He sighed deeply.... He only got an overall 'E' in Potions, which meant that his whole plan of becoming an Auror went down the drain, because as he remembered, McGonagall had warned him last term that Snape only accepted student with 'O' in O.W.Ls for his N.E.W.T classes. So his dreams to be an Auror crumbled with the results. Oh well, he couldn't say he was disappointed, because according to his predictions, he should have gotten an 'A' in it. He wasn't in any way expecting ten O.W.Ls.

"I failed Divination," said Ron grudgingly. "Now I can't study with Firenze."

"I did too, mate, but we weren't too good in it anyway," said Harry, swapping his results with Ron. His and Ron's results were almost identical except that, in the case of History of Magic, Ron got an 'A' and an 'E' in Care of Magical creatures, making his O.W.Ls to eleven.

"We also have to say bye-bye to our ambition of becoming Aurors," said Ron dejectedly. Harry murmured his agreement.

"But, at least you passed History. You got eleven O.W.Ls you prat; you should be happy," Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

"You failed!" Ron exclaimed jealously. "Agh! You are off Binns and I still have to listen to him drone on and on and-"

With a flurry of footsteps and squealing, Hermione appeared at the door. "How did you two do?" she asked excitedly, then skidded to a halt in front of them upon seeing Ron's furious look.

"Did you fail the O.W.Ls?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice, saying failed as if it was a swear word.

Ron's wrath was transferred pell-mell towards Hermione. "What do you mean, I failed? Who said, I failed anything?" Ron shouted at Hermione.

"I... um..." Hermione looked at Harry for some clue.

Harry, seeing that a raging war would ensue if he didn't do anything quickly; he swiftly came up with a reply, "Ron's just angry that he didn't fail History, like I did."

Hermione looked from Harry's grinning face to Ron's furious one, opening her mouth and then closing it, as if she couldn't find words to express her feelings.

"You are upset because you passed a subject?" Hermione said, unbelievingly.

"Yes, exactly," Harry said before Ron could retort and poked him in the ribs to shut up.

Hermione gave an incredulous sigh, while Harry and Ron (after continuous prods from Harry), started chirruping for the sake of Hermione because they didn't want to ruin her happiness.

"Don't tell me, Hermione, you must have gotten twelve O.W.Ls," said Harry, passing her his and Ron's result, which Hermione took with a faltering smile.

"Thirteen, actually," Hermione said, grinning.

"Blimey, that must be a record, Hermione." Ron sounded impressed, while Hermione blushed.

"Congrats, Hermione," said Harry, grinning broadly.

"What's the bedlam about?" asked Ginny, coming inside the room, stifling a yawn.

"O.W.L results, dumbo," said Ron.

"Not bad, you two, but you could have done better," said Hermione, trying hard not to disapprove.

"Oh, don't be such a killjoy, Hermione," Ron said pointedly.

Before they could start yelling at each other, Ginny provided a diversion by hugging Hermione and steering towards her the kitchen, talking non-stop about O.W.Ls. Harry couldn't help the smile spreading across his face, while Ron only shrugged and they both made for the kitchen, as well.

Breakfast that day turned into a feast. Mrs. Weasley was as pleased as a songbird in spring.

"I knew about Hermione from the start, but you two still got eleven and ten O.W.Ls to boast about. Now that you've got the feel of it, I expect better for your N.E.W.Ts!" said Mrs. Weasley. "And I saw that Ron!" she finished, trying not to laugh. Ron had been trying to gag himself when Mrs. Weasley was not looking.

The main attraction of breakfast was Lupin emerging from the cellar, giving Mrs. Weasley quite a fright. He excused himself by saying that while he was Apparating from his room he became disoriented in the middle, but Harry knew better.

That evening, Harry tried his best to work out the diary again, but to no avail. He tried writing on it, but whenever he did, the ink just oozed out, like the pages were made of some plastic substance, though by the feel of them, the pages were still authentic paper. He tried Hermione's Revealer, but it didn't work either. After working on it for almost two hours, he chucked it back inside his trunk. Maybe this mystery would just have to remain unresolved for the time being.

~*~