The Fifth Year

CHAPTER III: THE FORGOTTEN BOY

Things had been glum at the start of the school year and failed to improve by mid-October. Weekends were spent locked away in their respective towers since Hogsmeade was off limits and new rules about wandering the school grounds were imposed which also meant limitations to visiting Hagrid. The weather was quite dark and dreary with heavy clouds that kept the sun at bay making Hogwarts nothing more than a cold-hearted castle, which had long passed its glory days. While Hermione tutored Ron for the O.W.L.s, Harry spent the majority of his time thinking about Sirius, Lupin, Mad-eye Moody and even the persistent evil plaguing his life - Voldemort. If it weren’t for Quidditch and the Dueling Club, Harry would surely have floated away to the Isles of Melancholy for all stars lacked the bright light of hope and the day-to-day had at once become routine. While some looked forward to Visiting Day and the festivities surrounding that weekend, Harry kept to himself pretending to study for O.W.L.s alone in his room in Gryffindor Tower.

Yet in a room no more than twenty leagues in distance, there was another who felt a coldness accompanied by an insurmountable loneliness. Percy Weasley had been a bit overzealous the previous summer after the Ministry had discovered that Bartemius Crouch, one time Head of the International Cooperation for the Ministry, was dead. Percy took it upon himself to do something about it while the Ministry at a loss of ideas took little course of action. Ambitious as he was, nothing prepared him for what he found. While following a suspicious wizard who was thought to be dead on one sunny afternoon at the start of summer, he fell into the hands of the worst wizard ever, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who would have killed him had this suspicious wizard not been second-in-command to the evil lord. The wizard, Peter Pettigrew, a short beady fellow with a silver hand, had suggested to his master to find a more appropriate role for the young wizard.

So, there he was shivering in an empty room with peeling bare walls and broken glass covering the floor without a fire in the hearth or a crumb to eat. Emaciated and very weak, he wondered what his parents must be thinking and longed to be with them back at the Burrow, far away from this evil place. He hoped that they did not think that he of all people had become a supporter of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; but of course they wouldn’t. He wondered how he could be saved when no one knew where he was.

From somewhere in the house he heard a sinister, piercing laugh that frightened Percy every time he heard it. Even if the world had thought him evil or a lost cause, he longed to be anywhere but there.

Little did Percy know that he was far from being forgotten. All was not unobserved at the Burrow. Indeed, something ominous was afoot and his mother cried all day and night. His father trying to remain strong was eaten up inside with worry. Bill and Charlie made a point of sending an owl every day to comfort his parents. The Ministry had considered that he had run off due to the scandal within his department surrounding Crouch. They had tried to convince the Weasleys that Percy would appear on their doorstep in no time. The only problem was that when he didn’t, the Ministry was too busy with other affairs to lend any support in terms of a search party. Though there were some older wizards and witches who took note of this odd circumstance, they kept their thoughts to themselves and waited in fear for they anticipated the return to power of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Ginny who was in her fourth year was having a hard time with it. She had grown more and more depressed as his absence continued. The twins, Fred and George, tried with all their might to cheer their little sister up, but found themselves lacking their humorous edge and falling short of their normal antics. As time wore on, they wore a new air of seriousness and became a bit more withdrawn from the regular flurry of social activity in the school. Ron was handling things the best. His classwork was coming along well. He was always up for a chess match or a trip to the kitchen to sneak some food. Although he didn’t talk about the situation much, he was just as disturbed as the rest and could be found quite oft than not – lost in thought and memories of teasing his brother.

"Ron…Ron!" Harry tugged at Ron’s sleeve, snapping him out of his daze. "Look there! Up!" Harry pointed to the roof of the castle where Hagrid and a few large workmen were installing a number of gargoyle statues.

"Ugh, I hate gargoyles," said Dean Thomas who made a face while delousing a spider plant nearby.

"What are they for?" Ron wondered.

"Must be added protection for the school," Harry added.

"Gargoyles are nasty," Hermione joined the conversation and helped them with delousing seeing that Herbology class was almost over and they were far behind. "It must be part of Dumbledore’s plan to safeguard the school from attacks by You-Know-Who."

"Why don’t you just say his name?" Harry asked. "Just say it." Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay, V-o-l-d-e-mort…Are you happy?" Hermione flung a bug at Harry. After the gargoyles were in place, they spotted Hagrid heading back to his hut.

"We should swing by for a visit. Don’t you think?" Harry asked.

"Good idea." Ron quickly jumped to his feet, realizing that his arms were swarming with bugs. He brushed them off his sleeves and squashed them with a trowel. "Die, you filthy creeping things!"

 

SPECULATIONS

It wasn’t long after they knocked on the door to the hut, that Hagrid flung open the door and bellowed, "’Lo, there…Come in…come in…" Hagrid urged them inside.

"So, Hagrid, how have you been?" Harry asked.

"Oh, been busy with a little of this and a little of that." Hagrid shuffled across the tiny room to check on the teakettle warming over the fire.

"Did you find the Isle of Giants?" Ron asked before easing comfortably into a chair with a plush red cushion.

"Who told you ‘bout that?" Hagrid asked.

"You mentioned it in that letter to me this summer," Harry reminded Hagrid, who took out four teacups and set them upon the table.

"Did I? Well, not a word of that to anyone…Top…top secret, you hear? We’d better be changing the subject ‘fore…"

"Before what?" Hermione asked.

"It’s not important, well it is, but it isn’t for young minds as yourself to be worrying over." Hagrid poured a dark tea into the three cups and took a seat. Hagrid’s friendly boarhound, Fang, bounded forth from his resting place and flopped his head upon Hagrid’s knee.

"What do you know about Professor Yardley?" Harry was deliberately forthcoming.

"Yer here to pump me for information, ‘s that so?" Hagrid was a bit defensive.

"We were just wondering about her ties to Sirius Black, that’s all," Hermione stated. The three delighted in finally hearing the facts.

"Curious bunch, aren’t ye all….Well, they were a pair way back when’s they were ‘ere at Hogwarts...destined for one another…though some say destined in an ill sort of way…I myself thought them to be a perfect match until…" Hagrid for a moment was lost in thought.

"Go on," Harry prodded.

"We’ve been dying to know," Ron followed.

"You know, it’s probably not fer the best to be going ‘round gossiping about yer professor…"

"But Hagrid…" whined Harry, Ron and Hermione simultaneously.

"Please?" Hermione added.

Hagrid was either too much of a pushover or just too fond of them, for he easily caved into their demands.

"Well, all right." Hagrid leaned from across the table, his monstrous figure casting a large shadow across most of the room. "Professor Yardley knew your parents well, Harry. I suppose you have figured as much by now…better friends after Hogwarts though when they worked for the Ministry…" Harry’s eyes lit up, he always was interested in hearing anything about his parents. "At Hogwarts, the professor who was then a student, Sloane Yardley, and Sirius Black had been in love, although her ties with Slytherin House prevented so much as a dance ‘twixt the two. But during the latter years…after graduation, at a time when the evils-that-be were running rampant though the wizarding world, they shared their love with one another. And then Yardley joined the Ministry…"

"Yeah, yeah…a hit wizard right?" Ron impatiently interrupted.

"Do ye want to hear this or shall we talk about something different since ye seem so fond of interruptin’?" Hagrid was frustrated upon being distraction. "I’ve plenty more to talk about like the shipment of those gargoyles and the good discount I got."

"Sorry…I’ll be quiet." Ron sank into his chair.

"Well, she joined the Ministry as a Hit Wizard working ‘longside yer parents, Harry, with much disapproval from Sirius. The job’s one of the most dangerous dealing with the worst criminals… This was before there were dementors, of course…But being strong-willed and quite talented, she knew her place was in fighting against the Dark Arts and went against Sirius’ objections. She became famous, killing the worst of the worst."

"Killing! What happened to the right to a fair trial?" Hermione defender of all the injustices in the world cried.

"’Twas those who could never be brought to justice and never be conformed…Those criminals were notorious for killing normal folk and wizards alike. The Ministry, and most everyone back then, wanted them exterminated. That’s the way things were."

"Oh, don’t stop now!" Harry said trying to get Hagrid back on track.

"Then, alongside the Potters she battled with He-Who…"

"Voldemort!" Harry had spoken at a low tone. Hagrid cringed at the sound of his name.

"Right and one day…" Hagrid shook his head in regret. "One day, she took it upon herself to fight him by her lonesome and she lost."

"Lost!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed. "How can that be if she lost, she’d be…" Ron drew his finger across his throat in a slicing motion.

"Dead? Hagrid, is that possible?" Harry’s interest was definitely peaked.

"Yea, she passed." Hagrid shook his head in disapproval. "Following her death, Sirius was…from what I’d heard…had seen some better days. Being so young and having such a loss, he was a mess…and he…"

"Don’t leave us hanging!" Ron squealed.

"He brought her back," Hermione added after glancing at Hagrid who seemed at a loss for more appropriate words.

"Yea, he brought her back using the Dark Arts…I don’t know how this was done," Hagrid looked at each of them with such severity that they never had seen in the good-natured fellow. He focused mainly on Harry when he added, "And don’t yer go around putting funny stuff in yer head about bringing people back from the dead…I’m keen to how yer minds work." The three remained gravely silent.

"Don’t worry, we won’t," Ron said.

"Okay, good…now, where was I…oh…they say he went to Voldemort of all people for help; but that could be a pile o’ rubbish I picked up in Diagon Alley when rumours where flying everywhere. More tea?" Hagrid’s face lightened a bit. The three nodded as he poured refills. Harry wondered if there was a possibility of bringing the dead back. If this was so, why had Dumbledore mentioned otherwise? Perhaps, Harry could in fact see his parents again.

It seemed Hagrid could read his mind, for he was staring directly at Harry, "The thought of bringing the dead back to life is insane and highly dangerous to all who attempt it. Nonetheless, Sirius succeeded. When Sloane came to, she was horrified that Sirius would take such risks. So, she left him."

"But…what about their love?" Hermione frowned.

"Don’t mind her, she’s a hopeless romantic," Ron added, but his words fell upon deaf ears.

"Doesn’t love conquer all?" Hermione asked.

"I dunno the answer to that. I can only assume that, she knew that if anyone caught wind of what he had done – using the Dark Arts like that - Sirius would have most assuredly be sent to Azkaban…and so would she for breaking the Wizarding Rules of Conduct…So, she left."

"For where?"

"I think it was the Far East." Hagrid scratched his bushy black beard. "Left all ties with the wizarding world behind…lived in some temple…those few years are pretty obscure to me…One day years later, she received an owl informing her about the death of yer parents, Harry. Fearing that Sirius was at fault and had fallen prey to the Dark Arts, she returned home to find him…to stop him." Harry felt a tinge of sadness whenever his parents came up in conversation. Harry’s only memories of them were confined to old photographs, visions and what he had seen in the Mirror of Erised. Sensing Hagrid’s discomfort in talking about his parents to him, Harry tried his best to remain strong. Nonetheless, he felt slightly uncomfortable talking about those events with his parents in front of his best friends, even though they already knew everything about him.

"But Sirius was innocent!" Harry cried and fidgeted in his seat.

"When she arrived, the Ministry welcomed her with open arms. By that time everyone had known why and how she was brought back to the land of the living – they weren’t happy with it; but they couldn’t blame her for it was not in her control. What really mattered was bringing about an end to You-Know-Who’s reign of terror. What was in the past with her was no longer an issue, although some Ministry members were unsettled. The Ministry hired her back and her first job was to find Sirius Black…and that’s all I really know." Hagrid concluded.

"I know what happens next," Ron answered. "Late night owl from Bill. She found him - Ministry was keeping close tabs on her just in case. She came face-to-face with him and couldn’t kill him…She was discredited from the community. The Ministry fired her, although she could have been put in Azkaban for letting him go."

"Shortly after dementors replaced the Hit Wizards because of what happened," Hermione offered.

"That’s right," Hagrid slumped back in his chair and threw another log in the fire. "Professor Yardley was disgraced and lived in the world of muggles…in fact she was to be married to one…"

"Really?" Hermione’s interest was piqued.

"What happened?"

"He died." Hagrid frowned.

"Volde…?" Harry asked.

"Nah, died in a muggle way…some accident. And that’s that."

"Incredible." Harry’s mind was once again wandering to the possibilities of bringing his parents back. "I still can’t believe Sirius brought her back to life!" He said with optimism. Hagrid slammed his fists upon the table and rose with a start that shook the entire hut and even startled Fang. Ron steadied their teacups from dancing across the table into their laps.

"Don’t yer go believing that this can be done without any repercussions…I’m serious, Harry…Don’ t get it in yer mind to do anything THAT stupid. Nothing will bring yer parents back and that’s the plain truth."

But it wasn’t stupid, wanting to see the parents that he never knew. "I’m sorry, Harry," Hagrid tried to right things once he saw that Harry was a dam about to burst as tears spilled upon his cheeks. Angry at Hagrid and embarrassed at being so emotional in front of his friends, Harry ran from Hagrid’s home.

"Harry!" Hagrid said.

"Harry, wait!" Ron followed after him.

"Repercussions?" Hermione asked. "What sort?"

"Oh, I don’t know…it just sounded right…" Hagrid sniffled, tears welling in his eyes. "I was too hard on him, wasn’t I?"

"You were right to say what you said," Hermione said. "Don’t worry about Harry…he’ll be okay."

"I shouldn’t have said a thing…now, he’ll have it in mind to try. He’s too young to know any better and if anything happens, it’s my fault!"

"I don’t think he’ll be that dumb to try it and if he does, I’ll make certain he doesn’t," Hermione assured Hagrid.

"You’re a good friend, Hermione."

"Well, I’d better get going. Thanks for the tea…and don’t worry. See you!" She smiled and waved before disappearing out the door. As she walked back to the castle, she could hear Hagrid’s loud sobs.