The Fountain of Oblivion

Chapter 8 Amos and Arthur

Flying his Firebolt was even better that Harry had expected: because of Umbridge's ban, it had been several months since he had not experienced the powerful sensation of soaring high above the highest tower and then dive so fast the ground was fuzzy only to turn up again when the hem of his cloak was sweeping the ground. He engaged in endless series of figures and looping, sometimes clutching his broom with only one hand, sometimes whirling like a mad man until he was too dizzy to go straight again. The other good surprise for Harry was the way Ron was flying: he had obviously retained the spectacular level he had had gained in the last Quidditch match of last year season, and even though his Cleansweep was no match against Harry's Firebolt, he flew in a powerful and precise way that reminded Harry of Oliver Wood's style. Sure enough, the Gryffindor team was going to have a strong Keeper this year.

''Hey Harry, shall we practice passing, and then you can take free shot at me!'' Ron yelled from the opposite side of the Quidditch field. The training session confirmed what Harry had thought: not only did Ron perfectly performed the simple pass movements they practised, but he also blocked most of the free shot Harry tried on him.

''Man, I guess I will need you for the new Chasers tryouts'' said Harry ''but please let some score, or how will we select them, if no-one manages to score at least once.'' Ron just laughed.

''Have you seen Hermione after all'' Ron asked after they had finished training and had posted a sign calling for new tryouts on Friday on the Gryffindor poster-board.

''No'' said Harry ''I thought she had gone to Potion, I'll see her in the evening.''

''You know what, we shouldn't have dropped Potion, that new teacher looked kind of cute.''

Harry smiled sourly. ''Come on, let us look at the bright side of things, we have the immense privilege of learning Defence against the Dark Arts with Snape and the Slytherin.'' Ron looked disgusted. ''That make me thinks, I should post a sign for the DA too'' Harry said.

When they went back to the Gryffindor common room, they found Ginny and Neville working together, and a bit further Hermione knitting by the hearth, not talking to anyone. An uneasy feeling spread in Harry, and he waited a few moment, trying to set his mind on what he was going to tell her. But he could not find anything that satisfied him, so he chose to just go to talk to her, and see how it was going to go. She was Hermione, after all.

''Hey Hermione'' he said. ''I er... I looked for you at lunch.'' he said.

''You did?'' asked Hermione, raising her eyes from the hat she was knitting.

''I am sorry for yelling at you, it's just that sometimes I cannot bear the death of Sirius anymore so I explode'' Harry said in such a short time that the words collided unexpectedly. But Hermione did not comment on that, rather she looked intensely at Harry and whispered:

''I know'' in a soft voice. ''I understand, I really do. I have been worried for you all through the summer.''

''Worried? But why?'' asked Harry while looking back at Hermione scrutinising eyes.

''I had the impression something was wrong. You were so silent at the end of last year: I was afraid you were hiding something us.''

''I was'' thought Harry ''but do you really want to know my fate is to kill Voldemort? Do you really want to know I am the only one who could do that? Do you want to know why everyone has to die for me?''

Just as if she could read his thoughts, Hermione said: ''You do know Ron and I can hear everything Harry, do you? You know we never doubted you last year when you were afraid you were going to attack us.''

''So, are you guys still upset at each other, or have you made up?'' asked Ron cheerfully, jumping to join them.

''We were never upset at each other'' retorted Hermione with a almost undetectable coldness in her tone.

''Oh, I thought it wasn't a big deal myself'' Ron said; but Harry thought he could have missed a point. ''I was wondering Hermione, maybe we could that reading we have to do for Transfiguration together, what do you think?''

''Sorry Ron'' she said ''I have already done it, I'll see you later, I have something to do in my room.'' And she left them looking at each other.

''Did I say something wrong?'' asked Ron. ''Can you imagine that, I was asking for work and she turned me down.''

Harry's evening and night was quite uneventful, he did his reading and even practised some spell-casting. After that, he walked a bit through the castle, thought about visiting Hagrid but did not as he wanted to go there with Ron and Hermione and they were on prefects duty. So he toured the castle, enjoying the solitude of the less well-known corridors and rooms. He even went to the Room of the Requirement, checking if it was still open for the DA meeting and that Umbridge had not managed to seal it. It was empty when he entered, except a small desk with a quill and some parchments folded near an envelope. Harry had a strange longing to sit there and write to Sirius, but the thought of Sirius' letters hurt him. An awkward melancholy seized him so he went down again the moving staircases, waving half-heartily at Sir Cadogan when he saw him galloping in his small portrait frame. Just before going back to the tower, he noticed a small group of Slytherin gathering around someone and speaking excitedly. What kind of evil or twisted plans were they once again making? What will it be this year? Inquisitorial squad? Potter stinks! badges? He went closer to see what they were doing, but exactly when he was at hear-reach from their discussion, the group dissolved and Harry discovered who was at the centre of it. The new Potion teacher put a bottle in her bag, closed it and left.

When Harry joined the Gryffindor table the following day, he found Ron, Hermione and Ginny immersed in the reading of the Daily Prophet. That in itself did not really surprise Harry: he had seen Hermione read the Prophet extensively every day since he had arrived at Grimmauld Place. However, the fact that half the Great Hall seemed to be doing the same thing and people passing themselves newspapers attracted his attention.

''What's going on?'' he asked ''Why is everyone reading today?''

''Amos Diggory has announced his candidature for the next Minister of Magic election'' Ginny said.

''There's a full article on him and an another one on Dumbledore'' Hermione added in a grim voice.

''Dumbledore? Why Dumbledore?'' asked Harry. ''He's not candidate, is he?''

''No'' said Ron ''and that's exactly what they are reproaching him. They say he's the only one for the job, and that if he does not go for it, it must be because he is really afraid of Voldemort.''

''Afraid of Voldemort!'' Harry gasped ''the bunch of fools, if they knew. But surely Mr Diggory doesn't say that, does he?''

Ginny gave Harry a dispirited look and handed him the article. It was a full-column speech Amos Diggory had given the dau before in front of the Wizengamot, the highest institution of the Wizarding World.

Fellow wizards of the United Kingdom: the resigning of Cornelius Fudge, former Minister of Magic, has opened a new cycle in our beloved Wizarding World. This year, we gather in this honourable chamber deeply aware of decisive days that lie ahead. No wizard now ignores it: the days of peace are over, and He Who Must Not Be Named is back. Few know better than me what this means to our world, few can tell the pain of loosing a child to the cruelty of Dark Wizards, few are more willing than me to see these times of doom and despair end. So let me ask all of you one question: what did the Ministry of Magic do last year, when the news of the return of He Who Must Not Be Named spread? What was done to prevent him gaining supporters? Where was Justice when the first casualties fell? I will tell you: nothing was done, our administration lied to us and tried to hid the truth, and the worst of our kind have roamed free without serious investigation.

We will not accept to live with such a terrible threat above our head. I have heard some of you say:

''Fudge has failed, but Dumbledore will protect us.''

But I want to ask all of you:

''Where was Dumbledore last year? What did he do these fifteen years since He Who Must Not Be Named disappeared to prevent him from coming back? Nothing, he has done nothing. He has stayed at Hogwarts with the greatest contempt towards the safety of anyone but himself. He has hired former Death Eater as teachers. He has left his own school in the middle of the year to go in hiding.''

My fellow wizards, we cannot trust our children future in the hand of Albus Dumbledore anymore, I have learnt this the hard way. This is why I here announce my intention to be candidate to the coming elections. My pledge to you is to fight with all the might and justice of our world to defeat the evil that has risen against us.

When I am elected, Aurors will be given special powers to investigate Dark Arts; suspicious activities will be carefully monitored; allies of the Dark Lord will be fought against restlessly. But strength and courage are nothing if we do not follow the path of Justice. Alleged Death Eaters will soon be submitted to trial. It is crucial that we discriminate between real followers and those who have fallen prey to the powers of He Who Must Not Be Named. If the first war against the worse evil that has ever plagued our world has taught us something, it is that the hardest task sometimes is to discriminate between criminals and victims. Never again will a crime left unpunished, but never again will an innocent been sent to Azkaban.

The times we are facing are dark and bleak, my fellow wizards, but never shall we despair. This is why I run for Minister of Magic, and this is why I ask today for your support.

Harry shook his head in disbelief and looked back at his friends.

''What is this all about? I mean, Mr Diggory cannot mean what he said about Dumbledore. Dumbledore has been the only one to say Voldemort had returned last year, and he accuses him of hiding!'' he said.

''I am not sure many people are seeing the situation like this'' said Hermione. ''The readers of the Daily Prophet don't know about the Order, all they have heard is Dumbledore being on the run last year. And the article on Dumbledore is not going to change their views.''

''But wait, does Dumbledore says anything at all in the article?'' Harry asked. ''Does he respond to Diggory?''

''No, all he said was that elections was an important time to make choices for the future, and that he hoped the candidates would defend equality between all magical folks and justice.'' Ginny said.

''I wonder if he is going to support Diggory after what he told the Wizengamot though'' Ron said.

''Of course not'' said Harry ''but I am starting to get worried if there will ever be a Minister of Magic who is up to the task.''

Their first lesson of the morning was Charms. Professor Flitwick looked extremely excited to teach NEWT level classes, and like McGonagall, he did not resist showing some of the spells they were going to learn during the year. He also stressed that they were important links between Charms, Transfiguration and Defence against the Dark Arts, so that it was illusory to expect mastering one of these discipline without studying the other seriously as well. He ended the lesson by encouraging them and telling them not to be to afraid by the amount of work they were going to have this year.

''You will get used to it, and besides, once you have mastered the Quick Quote spell, you will find writing an essay can be very enjoyable'' he told them in his squeaking voice. Afterwards, they were to have their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Hagrid. Harry had not yet met him since the term had started, so he was looking forward to seeing him. They walked across the grounds of Hogwarts under a soft very wetting rain that seemed to linger in the air rather than fall down. Only very few students were attending the lesson, and Harry felt slightly disappointed for his friend. Yet he knew that meant Malfoy was not going to upset Hagrid's lesson anymore, and that's was a definite improvement.

''What o you think we are going to study this year?'' Hermione ask. ''Chimera? Dragons maybe?''

''Are you kidding Hermione? Hagrid will never bring dragons to class.'' Ron said. ''They are way too inoffensive for a NEWT class.''

Hagrid was waiting for them at the very edge of the Forbidden Forest, his huge stature dominating the scenery. A warm and welcoming expression glowed on his face.

''Hello yer all! Harry, Hermione, Ron. How's summer bin goin'?''

''Fine, thanks'' Hermione said ''you seemed to be going splendidly as well Hagrid.''

''Not bad, not bad, I mus' say. Now who would ever be grumpy just before a lesson on Runespoor'' he said, but it was plain that some of his joy did not came for the pure teaching excitement.

''How is Grawp going?'' Harry asked, lowering his voice a little.

''Good, good'' Hagrid bellowed, ruining any efforts to keep their conversation quiet. ''He has improved a whole lot during the summer. He can talk a bit now, and I am teachin' him to juggle with rocks so he don't break trees for fun anymore. Still hard for him to throw more than one rock at the time, but it's a start. You three should come and visit him one day, he still talks about you Hermione.''

Hermione winced and told Hagrid she would be delighted to but changed of subject as quickly as she could.

When all the students were there, Hagrid told them that he was glad they had chose to kept the subject and that ''at least we are goin' to learn a bit about interestin' animals, not that the Blast-Ended Skrewt were boring mind you, but they aren't clever enough to be really nasty.'' Worried looks were exchanged among the class, and Harry saw Lavender Brown raise her eyebrows. Hagrid brought a large box made of exotic, jet black wood and which gave the impression that it had travelled from far away. Hagrid positively shook with pride and excitement before the puzzled eyes of his students.

''Wasn't easy to bring this all the way back from Burkina Faso'' he said. ''And they are pretty sneaky, hidin' in forests and all.'' A loud hiss came from the still closed box, and a few students made an instinctive move backward. ''No need for all of you to panic'' Hagrid said ''the box is specially enchanted to hold 'em. Now you lot draw your wands, in case it goes out of control.''

''What's ... what's in there?'' a Hufflepuff asked, drawing her wand and pointing directly at the box.

''Oh yeah, forget to tell yer! I got a wild Runespoor. Anybody knows what those are? Hermione?''

''They are magical three-headed snakes from Africa'' she said.

''Very good, ten points for Gryffindor. Ready? There you go.''

Hagrid opened cautiously the box. For a moment, nothing happened, and the tensed faces started to relax. But suddenly, three golden and orange heads came out the box, looking in all directions with blazing red eyes. The right one was intensely watching the group and moved to bite with startling speed and violence. The middle one was resting on the side of the box, as if supremely uninterested in all the cacophony of cries that was made each times the first head was moving to bite. The last one was hissing harshly and often hit the two others. Then, unexpectedly, the middle head seemed to notice someone was watching and made a soft hiss. The snakes then crawled outside the box, revealing its bright orange, black-banded, sleek and powerful body. When it was completely out, Harry saw that in full length it was at least seven feet.

''Be careful, its poison can leave a Mountain Troll dead in less than a minute'' Hagrid said.

Most of Harry classmates had retreated behind Hagrid by now, but he was fascinated by the beast. Even though the three heads were looking in different directions most of the times, the animal seemed highly intelligent, and when he met the piercing crimson gaze of the middle head, he had the impression the snake was seeing through him. He suddenly remembered he could speak Parseltongue when in presence of a snake and was about to try it, but he knew being a Parselmouth was associated with the darkest of wizards and had no desire to terrify even more the rest of the class. Hagrid was looking at the fierce serpent with in a caring way.

''Ain't it beautiful! It's a Runespoor, the famous three-headed snake.''

''Why is it famous?'' asked Ron, who had dared approach a bit closer.

''Ah, we will learn all about that. See, the three heads have each a distinct personality. The right one is called the planner, it decides what the animal is goin' to do. The middle one is called the dreamer, it enjoys dreamin' about the world, and if it was up to it, the poor snake would never budge. And the left one is call the critic, it usually hiss at the two other heads behaviour, and sometimes even fight with 'em. Most of the times, the three heads are too different to get along, but you'd better watch out when they do, because they can be deadly, those Runespoor.''

Hagrid went on explaining them how to catch and feed a Runespoor (the feeding was especially tricky as the dreamer often just forgot to eat) and told them they were going to study the animal for the whole month, ending with a lesson where they were going to collect eggs from it. No matter how much Hagrid was gleeful when he said so, many faces turned ashen-grey. Afterwards, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to speak to Hagrid, but when they joined him near his hut, he was already discussing with someone.

''Oh look that's Professor Meadows, the new Potion teacher'' said Hermione, pointing to the green-clothed slender figure of the new member of the staff. Harry waved to Hagrid.

''Sorry yer three'' Hagrid answered from afar ''I have some business to do with Professor Meadows, can't see yer now.''

''Please call me Mélanie, Hagrid'' Professor Meadows said in soft and engaging voice ''so you were telling me that the thing I have asked from you will soon be ready.''

''Sure they will, er Mélanie'' said Hagrid clearing his throat ''er... maybe yer could come in so that we can discuss that. See yer Harry, Ron, Hermione.'' And with these words they disappeared inside Hagrid's hut.

''I can't believe he left us to be alone with her'' said Ron in an outraged tone. ''You don't believe there's something between...''

''Don't be thick, Ron'' cut Hermione

''How is she though, that new teacher?'' Harry asked.

''Oh she's great'' said Hermione. ''She told us about all we were going to study this year, and recommended books for those who wanted to do more. I have read some, and they are very good. I think we are going to review Exciting and Calming Potions, and then she has told us we would move on to Love Potions.''

''Love Potions?'' said Ron a bit too loud to sound perfectly natural. ''Why would anyone need a stupid Love Potion anyway?''

Hermione looked at him with a puzzled expression, thought for a second, then said in an even voice: ''it's not about who might need a Love Potion, it is just they are extremely challenging to brew and very interesting academically, but I have the feeling you don't quite get this Ron.'' Harry looked at both of his friends, and somehow had the idea he would better remain silent.

The three of them enjoyed greatly their lunch together, chatting without interruption about everything that was new this year, and laughing madly when they started imagining with whom the new Potion teacher could be with. Ginny joined them in the middle of the meal but looked oddly irritable and confused. Hermione asked her what was going on but she only spoke about her Charms homework being especially frustrating these days and went on discussing the weather. Harry wondered vaguely if he was the only one of his friends who was not acting oddly these days, then admitted he was not really a good example of sanity, having spent most of the previous year sharing thoughts with Voldemort. He discussed Mr Diggory's candidature with Hermione: she seemed to think it wasn't a good thing he was running.

''He has a lost a son, see, so the campaign is going to be all about his personality and how it is hard to be a father and I bet no-one will address the really important issues. Like House-Elf welfare, for one thing. Maybe I should write a letter to all the candidates in the name of SPEW'' she said passionately. ''By the way, I have an idea for the next Hogsmead week-end, I sure have found a way to open many eyes to what social progress for elves can be.''

Harry was about to divert the subject of the conversation to the weather again when Professor McGonagall crossed the Hall, walking straight at them.

''Mr and Mrs Weasly, the Headmaster wants to speak with both of you as soon as possible. As soon as possible Mr Weasley, no need to help yourself with an extra slice of cake.''

''But why?'' asked Ginny. McGonagall eyed her with a melange of concern and softness.

''You'll see. Hurry now. And Potter, you'd better book the Quidditch pitch for Friday, if I believe the length of the list of the candidates, you will have a hard time choosing.''

''What was that about?'' asked Harry to Hermione as they left, Professor McGonagall leading them with as fast as she could. ''Did Ginny tell you anything?''

''No, she didn't. It is not that I don't have an idea though'' she said mysteriously.

''But what? You are not going to tell me before checking in the Library, and then you'll meet a Basilisk and I would have to find it for myself, is that it?'' Harry said, reminding her of their second year. But Hermione said no more about the event.

A few hours later, Harry and Hermione were hanging in the Gryffindor common room. She were completing her essay on Arithmancy while Harry was reading the chapter on shielding spells in his new Defence against the Dark Arts book. The portrait of the Pink Lady opened and Ron and Ginny entered. The only colours left on Ron's face were the reddish marks of his freckles, and he seemed to be at loss for words.

''What's going on Ron?'' shouted Hermione, running towards him. ''What has happened?'' Ron's lips moved, but no sound came out of them. Hermione leaned closer, as if to hear a whisper, but nothing came out of his mouth.

''Dad is running for Minister of Magic'' Ginny finally said, looking exasperatedly at her brother.

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This document was translated from L^AT_EX by H^EV^EA.