Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate

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-*~| CHAPTER 3 - The Unresolved Mysteries |~*-
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Several days passed and there was a flurry of activities. Lupin was sent on some secret Order mission and Dumbledore was busy as well, so Harry was unable to tell anyone about his weird dream. He didn't discuss it with Hermione or Ron because he thought it to be useless, so he didn't let it bother him much.

July thirtieth was a normal day for him - chatting with friends, playing wizard's chess and Exploding Snap. As the time passed by in Grimmauld Place, he realized the fact that he was of no use, if he didn't let go of the past. Nothing would happen to Voldemort if he kept on brooding--Lupin was certainly right. He had to get a grip on himself. So, with the help of his friends, he was able to bury his feelings of self-loathing; he finally realized that he had to be strong for battling the unknown.

With the new perspective, he was able to see everyone in a new light--one person in particular: Ginny. She was not blushing or mooning over him anymore; instead, she had become confident and very easy to talk to. Harry couldn't understand it, but it was like he was seeing her for the first time. He noticed her hearty smile, which lightened up her face, so that she looked nothing but breathtaking, and it wasn't just her face but her vast knowledge of Quidditch, defensive spells, and hexes that sometimes he was amazed at how much talented she was. He remembered the twins' comment that, "size is no guarantee of power, look at Ginny..."

He was startled from his reverie by a loud crash and Sirius's mother's shrieks.

"BLOOD TRAITORS! MUDBLOODS! DIRT! SCUM! MUTANTS! FEAKS! BE GONE from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my FORE-fathers, THE MOST NOBLE--"

Mundungus had rung the bell again.

Mrs. Weasley came rushing out to stun the portrait. Harry and Ron came running to talk to 'Dung' but Harry got a jolt in between.

Sirius's mother gave another blood curdling scream and continued, "YOU! YOUUU, THE HALF-BLOOD SCUM, SPAWN OF FILTH! DOWNFALL OF MY DYNASTY--"

With the help of Dung, Mrs. Weasley was able to stun the portrait to silence.

"What was all that about..." said Harry, smiling half-heartedly

"Oh c'mon, Harry, everyone knows that she loves to make a racket," said Ginny, rolling her eyes.

They spent some time with Dung and found out his latest passion: quills. He had just bought a full batch of illegal quills--their specialty was writing swear words if they were left sitting idle, meaning: use it always or have your parchment and copies full of rude language. Harry thought this was a very dim-witted business deal, but didn't say so.

After dinner, they all went to their rooms. Ron told them that Charlie was due in London any day and he was doing some important stuff for the Order. They were in the process of figuring out what he could be doing.

"Maybe he is training dragons for the battle with V-v-v--You-Know-Who," suggested Ron.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry gave his friend a smack on the head. "Say his name already!"

"I will, mate, I will," said Ron with a sheepish smile.

"Hey, Hermione, did you meet Winky or Dobby? They're working here, you know," Harry informed, remembering his late-night encounter with the elf.

"Really!" Hermione exclaimed, almost jumping out of her seat.

"Oh boy, here we go again," muttered Ron, and looked at Harry with a pained expression. Harry just realized what he had done and was in no mood to be lectured on the 'house-elf rights.'

He was mumbling, "Umm...err...erm..." when like a rush of wind Tonks came in the room, sporting a hairstyle just like… his?

"I never knew my puffed up hair was 'in'," said Harry, looking amused.

Tonks beamed at him and said, "Mrs. Weasley wants to talk to you."

Suddenly there was a scramble and everybody rushed towards the kitchen.

"Hey! Wait up; what's the hurry?" Harry shouted at the retreating figures of his friends. But nobody answered. "That was strange," he mumbled and made his way to the kitchen.

Why was everything so dark? He squinted in the darkness, trying to locate a switch when he almost lost his balance with the bellowed, "SURPRISE!!!"

The kitchen lights came blazing back and he couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

Enchanted confetti was showering them all and a banner with big golden letters read, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY". The banner was sporting a Gryffindor lion and a Golden Snitch, which was zooming in and out of the view. At the bottom of the banner in sparkling red letters was written, '16^th Birthday.'

Almost everyone was present: the whole Weasley clan (except Charlie and Percy), Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Mundungus, and surprise of all, Dumbledore! Even Dobby and Winky were there.

Everyone wished him happy birthday with hugs and kisses. The most awkward moment was when Ginny came to wish him and she stopped mid hug or kiss--whichever she was planning to do--and shook his hand instead with a nervous grin. The most outrageous was Tonks' behavior when she stifled his breath by giving him a bear hug and a kiss--he could feel steam bellow from his ears as she squeezed him so hard. Even Dumbledore gave him an affectionate hug and a pat on the head.

At the corner table there was a mountain of presents. He was feeling totally exhilarated and was musing on the thought that he didn't even remember his own birthday!

The twins' special fireworks were gliding across the room. This looked like an updated version though, because they were not bothering people, and not writing rude words on the walls either.

To top it all off, the cake (shaped as a silver stag) came with everyone singing:

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday to you!

Fred and George were doing a weird jig in the background with Ginny and Ron; the foursome started singing in unison:

We wish you great happiness
In everything you do,
We hope you win the Quidditch Cup
This term too.

Our Hero, bold and Valiant;
We know you'll come through.
With all your brilliance
You'll conquer You-Know-Who!

Conquer You-Know-Who!
SAY IT!!!(Screamed by George)
Conquer You-Know-Who!

Everybody laughed and clapped heartily. Harry was so over-whelmed that he didn't have words to utter his appreciation.

"Make a wish, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said affectionately, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

The cake was set in front of him so that he could blow out the sixteen enchanted candles that were flickering on top of it. Everyone's face swam in front of his eyes, all smiling at him, and just behind Tonks he saw Sirius.... The knife Harry held in his hand clanged to the floor and a sudden hush engulfed the room.

In the blink of an eye, Sirius was gone. He was there and then he wasn't.

Tonks also followed Harry's stare, but there was no one to look at. Was it really Sirius, or was his mind playing tricks on him again?

"Moody, is there someone here wearing an invisibility cloak?" asked Harry.

"No, there isn't," said Moody, surveying the whole room and beyond.

"What's the matter, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Oh, nothing, I thought I saw someone, that's all," Harry said apprehensively.

Nobody asked him anything, but almost everybody guessed who that could be. Bill scooped up the knife and handed it back to Harry. He blew out the candles wishing that for once and for all he could know, really know, about his parents and godfather. Not some secondary information, but first hand. He wished he could work out the diary, and soon.

Everything went normally after that; the party picked up and the fireworks went on with their toil. Harry's dark mood lifted, but he couldn't stop thinking about that flash or vision--whatever it was--of Sirius. Still, he had to behave like nothing was the matter.

He found an opportune moment and cornered Dumbledore. He told him the whole dream, along with a description of the shimmering light and voices.

Dumbledore looked at him thoughtfully and asked, "Are you sure that you weren't able to see anything? You only heard voices?"

"No, I couldn't see anything," Harry affirmed. "Was it Voldemort? I mean, is he again transmitting images to me?"

"No, I don't think so, Harry, this is different... I'm not sure, but you don't have to worry; it will become clearer with time. As you will be learning Occlumency this term, and in due time Legilimency as well. I don't see anything to worry about, just yet." Dumbledore finished and clinked his goblet for drawing the attention of the gathered crowd.

"May I have your attention please? I think a toast is in order. Today, Harry has turned sixteen, a very important and tender age." The headmaster gave Harry a twinkling glance. "His parents would have been very proud of him. He has proven himself time and time again against Voldemort and has lost more than blood and energy. And I dare say that there is still more to come, maybe more terrible than before, but, Harry, you are not alone and never will be. We all are with you, including your parents and Sirius--maybe not in material form, but still, we hope the very best for you… always. Cheers!"

Fifteen goblets were raised for him and the feeling of warmth and love in the room almost swept him away.

After many toasts, ended by a hiccupping Dung, who almost passed out because of the effort, Harry opened his gifts and thanked them all profusely.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him a bag full of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, along with a book called Advanced Defensive Spells--by Samuel T. Colderidge; Bill gave him a wand maintenance kit; Fred and George gave him a jacket made up of dragon hide; Ron gave him different flavors of Honeydukes' chocolate and a bag full of skiving snack boxes and Hermione gave him a neat diary of DA classes, in which every spell they had already learned were recorded along with a list of the new spells they would learn in the coming term; Ginny gave him a book on Quidditch maneuvers; Dung gave him a cauldron--which Harry suspected was one of last year's stolen ones; Tonks gave him a bag full of chocolate frogs and Weird Sister's records which were self-playable; Moody gave him an extra-sensitive foe-glass; Lupin gave him a two way mirror just like Sirius's; Hagrid sent him a Revealer and a bunch of rock cakes; and Dumbledore gave him a shining orangish-red orb, just like a rememberall, with the instructions to, "Use it when in in grave danger and no way out."

It was almost four in the morning when people started clearing off. Harry and Ron made their way to their room, but before sleeping, Ron extracted another gift from his trunk and gave it to him, saying it was from Percy.

"But why--" Harry began, only to be cut off by Ron.

"You know, because of Dad. He didn't want to make a scene," he said, rolling his eyes.

There was a letter along with a hurriedly wrapped gift--a fancy set of quills.

Dear Harry,

I hope I find you well?

I am very sorry for my behavior last year; it was selfish of me. I couldn't see straight when the Minister offered me a job as his assistant. I just accepted whatever he said. However now I know that You-Know-Who is still at large and I was very short-sighted, just like I was with Crouch.

I don't know what got into me, insulting my parents. Well, in a way I have received my punishment. ("Screwed up again, more like," piped up Ron, referring to his break-up with Penelope.) Please accept my condolences for Sirius's demise. I never actually knew him, but I am sure that he cared about you.

As I know that my family, my father in particular, is very close to you, could you possibly talk to them about accepting me? But it's no obligation, I'll not mind if you don't. (Ron snorted. "Who cares what he'll think!")

I again apologize for my behavior and hope you like my gift (these quills do not need ink to write; they are enchanted to write for almost forever without refilling).

Sincerely Yours,

Percy.

"Couldn't help boasting, could he? He's still a brainless git," said Ron exasperatedly.

"Well, at least he's trying," said Harry, shrugging.

-*-

They were awakened by Lupin the next day. Their supply list had arrived and for a change they were all going to Diagon Alley with Mrs. Weasley and Lupin by Floo Powder. Incidentally, Advanced Defensive spells was on the list as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts book. There was also The Standard Book of Spells: Grade Six and a new book on Transfiguration.

After breakfast, they all got ready and one by one made their way to Diagon Alley by flooing through the fireplace of Grimmauld Place, and this time Harry pronounced it right, to his relief.

Like always, Diagon Alley was full of witches and wizards of all shapes and sizes and everything magical. Grown ups zipped in and out of the shops in a hurry while the kids and teens gawked at different displays of the numerous shops offering almost everything imaginable.

Harry and company went to Gringotts first. This was the first time that Harry didn't feel uncomfortable with his increased fortune. With twins' earnings, the Weasleys were not poor anymore, and to Harry no one in the whole wide world deserved wealth more than the Weasleys. This was also the first time that the Weasleys bought everything new, no hand-me-downs. Mrs. Weasley was very cheerful and Ron couldn't wipe the grin off his face.

They were making their way to number ninety-three, when the boys stopped in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies to goggle at the new Nimbus 2003, and Harry saw someone very familiar in the shop; it was Cho, buying a new broomstick.

Harry caught Ron's sleeve and almost whisked him inside the nearest alleyway and hid behind the crates. What they didn't expect was that there were three people just beyond the crates, hidden from view, scheming Harry's death.

"What's up, mate?" asked Ron, and was instantly shushed by Harry.

"Father will soon join us--without Dementors, the stupid Ministry officials can't hold them back for long. Don't worry, Crabbe, Goyle, both your fathers will snatch the opportunity as well. The Dark Lord needs his men now more than ever, and nobody can stop him when he wants something," said a very arrogant voice, belonging to Harry's old time nemesis: Draco Malfoy.

"That Potter!" he continued, "I will kill him myself this term; I've tolerated him long enough. That sneaky little ba--"

Crabbe mumbled, "Kill him, but how? And with Dumbledore around...."

Harry thought that this was the most intelligent question ever asked by Crabbe to date.

"Haven't I mentioned that already, Crabbe? I have been trained by Bellatrix all this summer. I have learned Avada Kedavra... and so much more," Draco said smugly.

Ron's eyes were popping and Harry could guess from the silence that both Crabbe and Goyle must be gaping at Malfoy.

"Oh, that Potter won't know what hit him... and if he is able to survive, there are so many other things to keep him busy, oh so many more," Malfoy continued gleefully, "I'd love to try Avada Kedavra on that Mudblood, Miss Know-It-All Granger--she is such a pain in the--"

Ron started flailing his arms with anger and Harry whispered, "Shut it, Ron! Let's get out of here!" Grabbing his arm, he made his way out of the alley as silently as possible.

They surveyed the mouth of the alleyway for a little while but the three in question didn't show up, so Harry and Ron concluded that Malfoy and his cronies were unaware of their presence.

"What took you so long?" asked Hermione when they entered number ninety-three.

"Later," said Harry and Ron in unison.

The shop was full of many familiar faces from Hogwarts. Everything on display sold like hot cakes and a very long waiting list was hung in the corner for different products; it was magically elongating by the second as new names kept being added to the list. Vanishing Hydras were on display along with the Headless hats.

Harry was not very surprised to see Lee Jordan behind the counter, as he was bound to work with the twins. At that exact moment, Lee noticed Harry and yelled a big, "How are you, Harry?" which almost reverberated in the shop because of the sudden silence.

Many heads turned in his direction and the usual murmuring started. A middle-aged witch wearing a weird pointy hat came towards him and shook his hand.

"Finally! It was so brave of you to warn everybody of You-Know-Who. I always believed you, you know," she said, smiling at him. "I am Dederot Schloper, very pleased to meet you."

Harry, taken by surprise, managed a, "Thank you."

Now everyone was watching him. Some were smiling and some were just staring like he was a newly found species of basilisk. There was a lot of muttering and whispering going about, when Fred signaled to his mother and Mrs. Weasley shooed them inside the private room of the store and out of the prying eyes.

Harry looked around and saw a very comfortable and cozy living room. He was completely captivated by a painting of a very beautiful red-haired witch who was sitting on a rock looking glum, twirling her wand in her hand.

Ginny, following his gaze, informed him, "She's our great-great grandmother. She is sad because of our great-great grandfather. They loved each other deeply, but then he participated in the war with the Trolls and was killed. She waited for him for about three months after the war ended, sitting on the same rock you are seeing in the portrait, without eating anything, and when the news of his death came on Halloween, she performed some kind of hex on herself and evaporated on the spot--but legend has it that on every Halloween night she appears beside the rock and sits there crying."

Hermione gasped and Harry just stared at the witch.

"Yeah, real creepy... I heard that she was a very powerful witch," provided Ron, looking mystified.

"Yes, she was, that's why nobody knows what spell she did to commit suicide, or even whether she has really died or not. And the most amazing thing is that she never leaves the portrait except on Halloween nights--she's never here on Halloween," said Mrs. Weasley, thoughtfully.

"Yes, I have heard about her. Ursula Weasley, is it not?" asked Lupin, to which Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"Where is this place?" asked Harry, pointing to the surroundings of the portrait.

"It's a small wizard town called Iridese situated on a small island known as Boaz," said Mrs. Weasley. Looking at the time, she said, "Well, anyway let's go back, we are already late."

Harry was so deep in thought on his way back from Diagon Alley that he swallowed a lot of soot and came out coughing from the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley came hurrying with a clean cloth to wipe his face and cloak and Harry went redder with every rub, saying in muffled voice, "It's alright Mrs. Weasley, I'll clean it."

Ron snickered gleefully in the background, while Hermione and Ginny didn't do that well in the keeping-a-straight face department either. After Harry had been rubbed raw, he made his way to his room, his face flaming like a ripe tomato.

"Oh shut up, Ron!" said Harry, irritated at his friend's chuckles, but was distracted by too much hooting. Pig was going wild, going round and round in their room. Hedwig was awake and glaring coldly at Pig.

"Hey, why haven't I noticed Pig before? Wasn't he here?" asked Harry, confused.

"No, he wasn't, you couldn't ever miss his stupid, weeny, hooting face anyway, could you? Always showing off!" said Ron, snatching Pig in his hands and taking off his load, which was a letter from Charlie.

"He was with Charlie all along. He wanted him for speedy communication, whatever that meant," Ron said indignantly. "And I was only too happy, not to reject the offer."

Ron read the letter, sent Ginny to pass it on to his mother, and informed everybody that Charlie was expected next week.

"So, now can you tell me what took you so long in Diagon Alley?" asked Hermione.

"Oh yeah, we had a little rendezvous with dear Draco," Ron said, rolling his eyes, and explained in detail with Harry's assistance, the whole conversation, eliminating Hermione's part marvelously.

"He's learned Avada Kedavra!?" said Hermione, horror struck. "He must have learned the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses as well...."

"Don't count on it," interjected Ron.

"Harry, this isn't good... what if he gets you mad and leads you off somewhere, and- and--" Hermione stuttered.

"Kills me?" Harry provided skeptically. "Hermione, you should know better. I can take care of dear Draco--he will just need to come within an inch of me and I'll hex his pointy face to hell!"

"Oh yes," Ron said with a dreamy expression just like the one he had when Moody transfigured Draco into a ferret in their fourth year.

"We have to inform Dumbledore!" insisted Hermione. "What if he catches you at a bad moment?"

"Oh don't fret, Hermione, Harry can take care of himself," said Ron confidently.

"You don't know that! There can be so many situations and..." Hermione continued, and the bickering started. It was so long that everybody forgot the topic of the fight along with Ron and Hermione, who went back to their usual quarreling selves.

Both were biting each other's head off and Harry and Ginny were looking to and fro as the argument got more intense. And at the same moment each caught the other's eye and burst into giggles. This sound brought the other two back from the pit of wrangle-land to reality, making Ron and Hermione act civilly again.

-*-

The days almost flew by, and thirty-one August came in a whirlwind. Lupin was popping all over the house to check and double-check for stray items. In between, Winky made a brief appearance during which she was bombarded with questions from Hermione. It appeared that she had improved a lot in two years. Check - she was not clutching a butterbeer in her hand. Check - she was dressed very smartly for an elf and (check) she was talking very politely and doing a lot of curtseying. Dobby was very protective of her and started wiggling his ears madly whenever Hermione asked her a difficult question about the elf status.

Ron was looking very amused indeed by the whole proceedings, and when the two house-elves left the room hand in hand, Ron couldn't help but say, "Made for each other!"

They all burst into laughter, like they were just waiting for his cue.

When everything was packed, they all filed towards the kitchen for dinner, and the only uncharacteristic thing about the dinner was Crookshanks' peculiar behavior when he ran for the pantry, his teeth bared and tail in the air. Lupin was the one who went for further investigation and found nothing unusual. But Crookshanks kept on patrolling the whole house after that, like he was trying to find something.

In the morning, they ate breakfast in a hurry and started loading luggage into the Ministry-sent cars. This year, the Ministry was more than ready to cooperate. Fred and George also came to see them off, along with Tonks, Lupin, Moody, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Moody was beside himself, grinning broadly, and growling now and then to anybody who cared to listen, "The more there are, the merrier the guard will be."

Like always, they became late, but with some special features used by the Ministry cars, they were able to reach King's Cross at fifty past ten. They unloaded in a hurry and headed for Platform Nine and Three Quarters. In pairs, they went through the barrier. Harry was the second to last to enter, followed by Moody and Lupin. But as soon as Harry entered the platform, he was forced to duck by Tonks, as a stunning spell shot past them.

~*~