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Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows
by J. K. Rowling
brought to you by Dark Miasma
Special Thanks to the DSB release
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The
dedication
of this book
is split
seven ways
to Neil,
to Jessica,
to David,
to Kenzie,
to Di,
to Anne,
and to you,
if you have
stuck
with Harry
until the
very
end.
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Contents
Dedicationi
Table of Contentsii
Prologuev
1 The Dark Lord Ascending1
2 In Memoriam13
3 The Dursleys Departing30
4 The Seven Potters43
5 Fallen Warrior63
6 The Ghoul in Pajamas86
7 The Will of Albus Dumbledore111
8 The Wedding137
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9 A Place to Hide160
10 Kreacher's Tale176
11 The Bribe201
12 Magic is Might223
13 The Muggle-born Registration Commission246
14 The Thief268
15 The Goblin's Revenge284
16 Godric's Hollow311
17 Bathilda's Secret330
18 The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore350
19 The Silver Doe363
20 Xenophilius Lovegood388
21 The Tale of the Three Brothers405
22 The Deathly Hallows424
23 Malfoy Manor446
24 The Wandmaker477
25 Shell Cottage502
26 Gringotts519
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27 The Final Hiding Place544
28 The Missing Mirror554
29 The Lost Diadem571
30 The Sacking of Severus Snape589
31 The Battle of Hogwarts608
32 The Elder Wand638
33 The Prince's Tale659
34 The Forest Again691
35 King's Cross705
36 The Flaw in the Plan724
Nineteen Years Later753
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Oh, the torment bred in the race,
the grinding scream of death
and the stroke that hits the vein,
the hemorrhage that none can staunch, the grief,
the curse no man can bear.
But there is a cure in the house,
and not outside it, no;
not from others but from them,
their bloody strife. We sing to you,
dark gods beneath the earth.
Now hear, your blissful powers underground|
answer the call, send help.
Bless the children, give them triumph now.
Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in
one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and
live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass, they see
face to face: and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the
comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their
friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because
immortal.
William Penn, More Fruits of Solitude
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Chapter 1
The Dark Lord
Ascending
he two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart
in the narrow, moonlit lane. For a second they stood
quite still, wands directed at each other's chests; then,
Trecognizing each other, they stowed their wands be-
neath their cloaks and started walking briskly in the same direc-
tion.
\News?" asked the taller of the two.
\The best," replied Severus Snape.
The lane was bordered on the left by wild, low-growing bram-
bles, on the right by a high, nearty manicured hedge. The men's
long cloaks
apped around their ankles as they marched.
\Thought I might be late," said Yaxley, his blunt features slid-
ing in and out of sight as the branches of overhanging tress broke
the moonlight. \It was a little trickier than I expected. But I hope
he will be satis ed. You should con dent that your reception will
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Chapter 1
be good?"
Snape nodded, but did not elaborate. They turned right, into
a wide driveway that led o the lane. The high hedge curved with
them, running o into the distance beyond the pair of impressive
wrought-iron gates barring the men's way. Neither of them broke
step: In silence both raised their left arms in a kind of salute and
passed straight through, as though the dark metal were smoke.
The yew hedges mu ed the sound of the men's footsteps. There
was a rustle somewhere to their right; Yaxley drew his wand again,
pointing it over his companion's head, but the source of the noise
proved to be nothing more than a pure-white peacock, strutting
majestically along the top of the hedge.
\He always did himself well, Lucius. Peacocks . . . " Yaxley
thrust his wand back under his cloak with a snort.
A handsome manor house grew out of the darkness at the end
of the straight drive, lights glinting in the diamond-paned down-
stairs windows. Somewhere in the dark garden beyond the hedge a
fountain was playing. Gravel crackled beneath their feet as Snape
and Yaxley sped toward the front door, which swung inward at
their approach, though nobody had visibly opened it.
The hallway was large, dimly light, and sumptuously decorated,
with a magni cent carpet covering most of the stone
oor. The eyes
of the pale-faced portraits on the walls followed Snape and Yaxley
as they strode past. The two men halted at a heavy wooden door
leading into the next room, hesitated for the space of a heartbeat,
then Snape turned the bronze handle.
The drawing room was full of silent people, sitting at a long and
ornate table. The room's usual furniture had been pushed care-
lessly up against the walls. Illumination came from a roaring re
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The Dark Lord Ascending
beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded
mirror. Snape and Yaxley lingered for a moment on the thresh-
old. As their eyes grew accustomed to the lack of light, they were
drawn upward to the strangest feature of the scene; an apparently
unconscious human gure hanging upside down over the table, re-
volving slowly as if suspended by an invisible rope, and re
ected
in the mirror and in the bare, polished surface of the table below.
He seemed unable to prevent himself from glancing upward every
minute or so.
\Yaxley, Snape," said a high, clear voice from the head of the
table. \You are very nearly late."
The speaker was seated directly in front of the replace, so that
it was di cult, at rst, for the new arrivals to make out more
than his silhouette. As they drew nearer, however, this face shone
through the gloom, hairless, snakelike, with slits for nostrils and
gleaming red eyes whose pupils were vertical. He was so pale that
he seemed to emit a pearly glow.
\Severus, here," said Voldemort, indicating the seat on his im-
mediate right. \Yaxley|beside Dolohov."
The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around
the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke
rst.
\So?"
\My Lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry
Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at night-
fall."
The interest around the table sharpened palpably; Some sti -
ened, others dgeted, all gazing at Snape and Voldemort.
\Saturday . . . at nightfall," repeated Voldemort. His red eyes
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Chapter 1
fastened upon Snape's black ones with such intensity that some of
the watchers looked away, apparently fearful that they themselves
would be scorched by the ferocity of the gaze. Snape, however,
looked calmly back into Voldemort's face and, after a moment or
two. Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into something like a smile.
\Good. Very good. And this information comes|"
\|from the source we discussed," said Snape.
\My Lord."
Yaxley had leaned forward to look down the long table at Volde-
mort and Snape. All faces turned to him.
\My Lord, I have heard di erently,"
Yaxley waited but Voldemort did not speak, so he went on,
\Dawlish, the Auror, let slip that Potter will not be moved until
the thirtieth, the night before the boy turns seventeen."
Snape was smiling,
\My source told me that there are plans to lay a false trail;
this must be it. No doubt a Confundus Charm has been placed
upon Dawlish. It would not be the rst time; he is known to be
susceptible."
\I assure you, my Lord, Dawlish seemed quite certain," said
Yaxley.
\If he has been Confunded, naturally he is certain," said Snape.
\I assure you, Yaxley, the Auror O ce will play no further part in
the protection of Harry Potter. The Order believes that we have
in ltrated the Ministry."
\The Order's got one thing right, then, eh?" said a squat man
sitting a short distance from Yaxley; he gave a wheezy giggle that
was echoed here and there along the table.
Voldemort did not laugh. His gaze had wandered upward to
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The Dark Lord Ascending
the body revolving slowly overhead, and he seemed to be lost in
thought.
\My Lord," Yaxley went on, \Dawlish believes an entire party
of Aurors will be used to transfer the boy|"
Voldemort held up a large white hand, and Yaxley subsided at
once, watching resentfully as Voldemort turned back to Snape.
\Where are they going to hide the boy next?"
\At the home of one of the Order," said Snape. \The place,
according to the source, has been given every protection that the
Order and Ministry together could provide. I think that there is
little chance of taking him once he is there, my Lord, unless, of
course, the Ministry has fallen before next Saturday, which might
give us the opportunity to discover and undo enough of the en-
chantments to break through the rest."
\Well, Yaxley?" Voldemort called down the table, the relight
glinting strangely in his red eyes. \Will the Ministry have fallen
by next Saturday?"
Once again, all heads turned. Yaxley squared his shoulders.
\My Lord, I have good news on that score. I have|with dif-
culty, and after great e ort|succeeded in placing an Imperius
Curse upon Pius Thicknesse." Many of those sitting around Yax-
ley looked impressed; his neighbor, Dolohov, a man with a long,
twisted face, clapped him on the back.
\It is a start," said Voldemort. \But Thicknesse is only one
man. Scrimgeour must be surrounded by our people before I act.
One failed attempt on the Minister's life will set me back a long
way."
\Yes|my Lord, that is true|but you know, as Head of the
Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Thicknesse has regular
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Chapter 1
contact not only with the Minister himself, but also with the Heads
of all the other Ministry departments. I will, I think, be easy now
that we have such a high-ranking o cial under our control, to
subjugate the others, and then they can all work together to bring
Scrimgeour down."
\As long as our friend Thicknesse is not discovered before he
has converted the rest," said Voldemort. \At any rate, it remains
unlikely that the Ministry will be mine before next Saturday. If we
cannot touch the boy at his destination, the it must be done while
he travels."
\We are at an advantage there, my Lord," said Yaxley, who
seemed determined to receive some portion of approval. \We now
have several people planted within the Department of Magical
Transport. If Potter Apparates or uses the Floo Network, we shall
know immediately."
\He will not do either," said Snape. \The order is eschewing any
form of transport that is controlled or regulated by the Ministry;
they mistrust everything to do with the place."
\All the better," said Voldemort. \He will have to move in the
open. Easier to take, by far."
Again, Voldemort looked up at the slowly revolving body as he
went on, \I shall attend to the boy in person. There have been too
many mistakes where Harry Potter is concerned. Some of them
have been my own. That Potter lives is due more to my errors
than to his triumphs."
The company around the table watched Voldemort apprehen-
sively, each of them, by his or her expression, afraid that they
might be blamed for Harry Potter's continued existence. Volde-
mort, however, seemed to be speaking more to himself than to any
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The Dark Lord Ascending
of them, still addressing the unconscious body above him.
\I have been careless, and so have been thwarted by luck and
chance, those wreckers of all but the best-laid plans. But I know
better now. I understand those things that I did not understand
before. I must be the one to kill Harry Potter, and I shall be."
At these words, seemingly in response to them, a sudden wail
sounded, a terrible, drawn-out cry of misery and pain. Many of
those at the table looked downward, startled, for the sound had
seemed to issue from below their feet.
\Wormtail," said Voldemort, with no change in his quiet,
thoughtful tone, and without removing his eyes from the revolving
body above, \have I not spoken to you about keeping our prisoner
quiet?"
\Yes, m{my Lord," gasped a small man halfway down the table,
who had been sitting so low in his chair that it had appeared, at
rst glance, to be unoccupied. Now he scrambled from his seat and
scurried from the room, leaving nothing behind him but a curious
gleam of silver.
\As I was saying," continued Voldemort, looking again at the
tense faces of his followers, \I understand better now. I shall need,
for instance, to borrow a wand from one of you before I go to kill
Potter."
The faces around his displayed nothing but shock; he might
have announced that he wanted to borrow one of their arms.
\No volunteers?" said Voldemort. \Let's see . . . Lucius, I see
no reason for you to have a wand anymore."
Lucius Malfoy looked up. His skin appeared yellowish and waxy
in the relight, and his eyes were sunken and shadowed. When he
spoke, his voice was hoarse.
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Chapter 1
\My Lord?"
\Your wand, Lucius. I require your wand."
\I . . . "
Malfoy glanced sideways at his wife. She was staring straight
ahead, quite as pale as he was, her long blonde hair hanging down
her back, but beneath the table her slim ngers closed brie
y on his
wrist. At her touch, Malfoy put his hand into his robes, withdrew
a wand, and passed it along to Voldemort, who held it up in from
of his red eyes, examining it closely.
\What is it?"
\Elm, my Lord," whispered Malfoy.
\And the core?"
\Dragon|dragon heartstring."
\Good," said Voldemort. He drew out his own wand and com-
pared the lengths. Lucius Malfoy made an involuntary movement;
for a fraction of a second, it seemed he expected to receive Volde-
mort's want in exchange for his own. The gesture was not missed
by Voldemort, whose eyes widened maliciously.
\Give you my wand, Lucius? My wand?"
Some of the throng sniggered.
\I have given you your liberty, Lucius, is that not enough for
you? But I have noticed that you and your family seem less than
happy of late . . . What is it about my presence in your home that
displeases you, Lucius?"
\Nothing|nothing, my Lord!"
\Such lies, Lucius . . . "
The soft voice seems to hiss on even after the cruel mouth had
stopped moving. One or two of the wizards barely repressed a
shudder as the hissing grew louder; something heavy could be heard
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The Dark Lord Ascending
sliding across the
oor beneath the table.
The huge snake emerged to climb slowly up Voldemort's chair.
It rose, seemingly endlessly, and came to rest across Voldemort's
shoulders; its neck the thickness of a man's thigh; its eyes, with
their vertical slits for pupils, unblinking. Voldemort stroked the
creature absently with long thin ngers, still looking at Lucius
Malfoy.
\Why do the Malfoys look so unhappy with their lot? Is my
return, my rise to power, not the very thing they professed to desire
for so many years?"
\Of course, my Lord," said Lucius Malfoy. His hand shook as
he wiped sweat from his upper lip. \We did desire it|we do."
To Malfoy's left, his wife made an odd, sti nod, her eyes
averted from Voldemort and the snake. To his right, his son, Draco,
who had been gazing up at the inert body overhead, glanced quickly
at Voldemort and away again, terri ed to make eye contact.
\My Lord," said a dark woman halfway down the table, her
voice constricted with emotion, \it is an honor to have you here,
in our family's house. There can be no higher pleasure."
She sat beside her sister, as unlike her in looks, with her dark
hair and heavily lidded eyes, as she was in bearing and demeanor;
where Narcissa sat rigid and impassive, Bellatrix leaned toward
Voldemort, for mere words could not demonstrate her longer for
closeness.
\No higher pleasure," repeated Voldemort, his head tilted a
little to one side as he considered Bellatrix. \That means a great
deal, Bellatrix, from you,"
Her face
ooded with color; her eyes welled with tears of delight.
\My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!"
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Chapter 1
\No higher pleasure . . . even compared with the happy event
that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?"
She stared at him, her lips parted, evidently confused.
\I don't know what you mean, my Lord."
\I'm talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And your, Lucius and
Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You
must be so proud."
There was an eruption of jeering laughter from around the table.
Many leaned forward to exchange gleeful looks, a few thumped the
table with their sts. The great snake, disliking the disturbance,
opened its mouth and hissed angrily, but the Death Eaters did
not hear it, so jubilant were they at Bellatrix and the Malfoys'
humiliation. Bellatrix's face, so recently
ushed with happiness,
had turned an ugly, blotchy red.
\She is no niece of ours, my Lord," she cried over the outpouring
of mirth. \We|Narcissa and I|have never set eyes on our sister
since she married the Mudblood. This brat has nothing to do with
either of us, nor any beast she marries."
\What say you, Draco?" asked Voldemort, and though his voice
was quiet, it carried clearly through the catcalls and jeers. \Will
you babysit the cubs?"
The hilarity mounted; Draco Malfoy looked in terror at his
father, who was staring down into his own lap, then caught his
mother's eye. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, then re-
sumed her own deadpan stare at the opposite wall.
\Enough," said Voldemort, stroking the angry snake.
\Enough."
And the laughter died at once.
\Many of our oldest family trees become a little diseased over
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The Dark Lord Ascending
time," he said as Bellatrix gazed at him, breathless and imploring.
\You must prune yours, must you not, to keep it healthy? Cut
away those parts that threaten the health of the rest."
\Yes, my Lord," whispered Bellatrix, and her eyes swam with
tears of gratitude again. \At the rst chance!"
\You shall have it," said Voldemort. \And in your family, so
in the world . . . we shall cut away the canker that infects us until
only those of the true blood remain . . . "
Voldemort raised Lucius Malfoy's wand, pointed it directly at
the slowly revolving gure suspended over the table, and gave it
a tiny
ick. The gure came to life with a groan and began to
struggle against invisible bonds.
\Do you recognize our guest, Severus?" asked Voldemort.
Snape raised his eyes to the upside down face. All of the Death
Eaters were looking up at the captive now, as though they had
been given permission to show curiosity. As she revolved to face
the relight, the woman said in a cracked and terri ed voice. \Se-
verus! Help me!"
\Ah, yes," said Snape as the prisoner turned slowly away again.
\And you, Draco?" asked Voldemort, stroking the snake's snout
with his wand-free hand. Draco shook his head jerkily. Now that
the woman had woken, he seems unable to look at her anymore.
\But you would not have taken her classes," said Voldemort.
\For those of you who do not know, we are joined here tonight by
Charity Burbage, who until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry."
There were small noises of comprehension around the table. A
broad, hunched woman with pointed teeth cackled.
\Yes . . . Professor Burbage taught the children of witches and
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Chapter 1
wizards all about Muggles . . . how they are not so di erent from
us . . . "
One of the Death Eaters spat on the
oor. Charity Burbage
revolved to face Snape again.
\Severus . . . please . . . please . . . "
\Silence," said Voldemort, with another twitch of Malfoy's
wand, and Charity fell silent as if gagged. \Not content with
corrupting and polluting the minds of Wizarding children, last
week Professor Burbage wrote an impassioned defense of Mud-
bloods in the Daily Prophet. Wizards, she says, must accept
those thieves of their knowledge and magic.The dwindling
of the purebloods is, says Professor Burbage, a most desirable
circumstance . . . She would have use all mate with Muggles . . . or,
no doubt, werewolves . . . "
Nobody laughed this time; There was no mistaking the anger
and contempt in Voldemort's voice. For the third time, Charity
Burbage revolved to face Snape. Tears were pouring from her eyes
into her hair. Snape looked back at her, quite impassive, as she
turned slowly away from his again.
\Avada Kedavra."
The
ash of green light illuminated every corner of the room.
Charity fell, with a resounding crash, onto the table below, which
trembled and creaked. Several of the Death Eaters leapt back in
their chairs. Draco fell out of his onto the
oor.
\Dinner, Nagini," said Voldemort softly, and the great snake
swayed and slithered from his shoulders onto the polished wood.
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Chapter 2
In Memoriam
arry was bleeding. Clutching his right hand in his left
and sweating under his breath, he shouldered open his
bedroom door. There was a crunch of breaking china.
HHe had trodden on a cup of cold tea that had been
sitting on the
oor outside his bedroom door.
\What the|?"
He looked around, the landing of number four, Privet Drive,
was deserted. Possibly the cup of tea was Dudley's idea of a clever
booby trap. Keeping his bleeding hand elevated, Harry scraped
the fragments of cup together with the other hand and threw them
into the already crammed bin just visible inside his bedroom door.
Then he tramped across to the bathroom to run his nger under
the tap.
It was stupid, pointless, irritating beyond belief that he still
had four days left of being unable to perform magic . . . but he had
to admit to himself that this jagged cut in his nger would have
defeated him. He had never learned how to repair wounds, and
now he came to think of it|particularly in light of his immediate
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Chapter 2
plans|it seemed a serious
aw in his magical education. Making a
mental note to ask Hermione how it was done, he used a large wad
of toilet paper to mop up as much of the tea as he could, before
returning to his bedroom and slamming the door behind him.
Harry had spent the morning completely emptying his school
trunk for the rst time since he had packed it six years ago. At the
start of the intervening school years, he had merely skimmed o
the topmost three quarters of the contents and replaced or updated
them, leaving a layer of general debris at the bottom|old quills,
desiccated beetle eyes, single socks that no longer t. Minutes pre-
viously, Harry had plunged his hand into this mulch, experienced a
stabbing pain in the fourth nger of his right hand, and withdrawn
it to see a lot of blood. He now proceeded a little more cautiously.
Kneeling down beside the trunk again, he groped around in the
bottom and, after retrieving an old badge that
ickered feebly be-
tween SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY and POTTER STINKS, a
cracked and worn-out Sneakoscope, and a gold locket inside which
a note signed R.A.B. had been hidden, he nally discovered the
sharp edge that had done the damage. He recognized it at once. It
was a two-inch-long fragment of the enchanted mirror that his dead
godfather, Sirius, had given him. Harry laid it aside and felt cau-
tiously around the trunk for the rest, but nothing more remained
of his godfather's last gift except powdered glass, which clung to
the deepest layer of debris like glittering grit.
Harry sat up and examined the jagged piece on which he had cut
himself, seeing nothing but his own bright green eye re
ected back
at him. Then he placed the fragment on top of that morning's
Daily Prophet, which lay unread on the bed, and attempted to
stem the sudden upsurge of bitter memories, the stabs of regret
14
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In Memoriam
and of longing the discovery of the broken mirror had occasioned,
by attacking the rest of the rubbish in the trunk.
It took another hour to empty it completely, throw away the
useless items, and sort the remainder in piles according to whether
or not he would need them from now on. His school and Quidditch
robes, cauldron, parchment, quills, and most of his textbooks were
piled in a corner, to be left behind. He wondered what his aunt and
uncle would do with them; burn them in the dead of night, proba-
bly, as if they were the evidence of some dreadful crime. His Mug-
gle clothing, Invisibility Cloak, potion-making kit, certain books,
the photograph album Hagrid had once given him, a stack of let-
ters, and his wand had been repacked into an old rucksack. In
a front pocket were the Marauder's Map and the locket with the
note signed R.A.B. inside it. The locket was accorded this place
on honor not because it was valuable|in all usual senses it was
worthless|but because of what it had cost to attain it.
This left a sizable stack of newspapers sitting on his desk beside
his snowy owl, Hedwig: one for each of the days Harry had spent
at Privet Drive this summer.
He got up o the
oor, stretched, and moved across to his desk.
Hedwig made no movement as he began to
ick through the news-
papers, throwing them into the rubbish pile one by one. The owl as
asleep, or else faking: she was angry with Harry about the limited
amount of time she was allowed out of her cage at the moment.
As he neared the bottom of the pile of newspapers, Harry slowed
down, searching for one particular issue that he knew had arrived
shortly after he had returned to Privet Drive for the summer; he re-
membered that there had been a small mention on the front about
the resignation of Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies teacher at
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Chapter 2
Hogwarts. At last he found it. Turning to page ten, he sank into
his desk chair and reread the article he had been looking for.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE REMEMBERED
by Elphias Doge
I met Albus Dumbledore at the age of eleven, on our
rst day at Hogwarts. Our mutual attraction was
undoubtedly due to the fact that we both felt our-
selves to be outsiders. I had contracted dragon pox
shortly before arriving at school, and while I was
no longer contagious, my pockmarked visage and
greenish hue did not encourage many to approach
me. For his part, Albus had arrived at Hogwarts
under the burden of unwanted notoriety. Scarcely a
year previously, his father, Percival, had been con-
victed of a savage and well-publicized attack upon
three young Muggles.
Albus never attempted to deny that his father
(who was to die in Azkaban) had committed this
crime; on the contrary, when I plucked up courage
to ask him, he assured me that he knew his father
to be guilty. Beyond that, Dumbledore refused to
speak of the sad business, though many attempted
to make him do so. Some, indeed, were disposed to
praise his father's action and assumed that Albus
too was a Muggle-hater. They could not have been
more mistaken. As anybody who knew Albus would
attest, he never revealed the remotest anti-Muggle
tendency. Indeed, his determined support for Mug-
16
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In Memoriam
gle rights gained him many enemies in subsequent
years.
In a matter of months, however, Albus's own
fame had begun to eclipse that of his father. By
the end of his rst year he would never again be
known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing
more or less than the most brilliant student ever
seen at the school. Those of us who were privileged
to be his friends bene ted from his example, not to
mention his help and encouragement, with which he
was always generous. He confessed to me in later life
that he knew even then that his greatest pleasure
lay in teaching.
He not only won every prize of note that the
school o ered, he was soon in regular correspon-
dence with the most notable magical names of the
day, including Nicolas Flamel, the celebrated al-
chemist; Bathilda Bagshot, the noted historian; and
Adalbert Wa ing, the magical theoretician. Sev-
eral of his papers found their way into learned pub-
lications such as Trans guration Today, Challenges
in Charming, and The Practical Potioneer. Dum-
bledore's future career seemed likely to be meteoric,
and the only question that remained was when he
would become Minister of Magic. Though it was of-
ten predicted in later years that he was on the point
of taking the job, however, he never had Ministerial
ambitions.
Three years after we had started at Hogwarts,
17
--------------------------------------- 26
Chapter 2
Albus's brother, Aberforth, arrived at school. They
were not alike; Aberforth was never bookish and,
unlike Albus, preferred to settle arguments by duel-
ing rather than through reasoned discussion. How-
ever, it is quite wrong to suggest, as some have, that
the brothers were not friends. They rubbed along
as comfortably as two such di erent boys could do.
In fairness to Aberforth, it must be admitted that
living in Albus's shadow cannot have been an al-
together comfortable experience. Being continually
outshone was an occupational hazard of being his
friend and cannot have been any more pleasurable
as a brother.
When Albus and I left Hogwarts we intended to
take the then-traditional tour of the world together,
visiting and observing foreign wizards, before pur-
suing our separate careers. However, tragedy in-
tervened. On the very eve of our trip, Albus's
mother, Kendra, died, leaving Albus the head, and
sole breadwinner, of the family. I postponed my de-
parture long enough to pay my respects at Kendra's
funeral, then left for what was now to be a soli-
tary journey. With a younger brother and sister to
care for, and little gold left to them, there could no
longer be any question of Albus accompanying me.
That was the period of our lives when we had
least contact. I wrote to Albus, describing, per-
haps insensitively, the wonders of my journey, from
narrow escapes from chimeras in Greece to the ex-
18
--------------------------------------- 27
In Memoriam
periments of Egyptian alchemists. His letters told
me little of his day-to-day life, which I guessed to
be frustratingly dull for such a brilliant wizard. Im-
mersed in my own experiences, it was with horror
that I heard, toward the end of my year's travels,
that yet another tragedy had struck the Dumble-
dores: the death of his sister, Ariana.
Though Ariana had been in poor health for a
long time, the blow, coming so soon after the loss
of their mother, had a profound e ect on both of
her brothers. All those closest to Albus-and I count
myself one of that lucky number-agree that Ariana's
death, and Albus's feeling of personal responsibility
for it (though of course, he was guiltless), left their
mark upon him forevermore.
I returned home to nd a young man who had
experienced a much older person's su ering. Al-
bus was more reserved than before, and much less
lighthearted. To add to his misery, the loss of Ar-
iana had led, not to a renewed closeness between
Albus and Aberforth, but to an estrangement. (In
time this would lift-in later years they reestablished,
if not a close relationship, then certainly a cordial
one.) However, he rarely spoke of his parents or of
Ariana from then on, and his friends learned not to
mention them.
Other quills will describe the triumphs of the fol-
lowing years. Dumbledore's innumerable contribu-
tions to the state of Wizarding knowledge, including
19
--------------------------------------- 28
Chapter 2
his discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood,
will bene t generations to come, as will the wisdom
he displayed in the many judgments he made while
Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. They say, still,
that no Wizarding duel ever matched that between
Dumbledore and Grindelwald in 1945. Those who
witnessed it have written of the terror and the awe
they felt as they watched these two extraordinary
wizards do battle. Dumbledore's triumph, and its
consequences for the Wizarding world, are consid-
ered a turning point in magical history to match the
introduction of the International Statute of Secrecy
or the downfall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Albus Dumbledore was never proud or vain; he
could nd something to value in anyone, however
apparently insigni cant or wretched, and I believe
that his early losses endowed him with great hu-
manity and sympathy. I shall miss his friendship
more than I can say, but my loss is as nothing com-
pared to the Wizarding world's. That he was the
most inspiring and the best loved of all Hogwarts
headmasters cannot be in question. He died as he
lived, working always for the greater good and, to
his last hour, as willing to stretch out a hand to a
small boy with dragon pox as he was on the day
that I met him.
Harry nished reading but continued to gaze at the picture ac-
companying the obituary. Dumbledore was wearing his familiar,
kindly smile, but as he peered over the top of his half-moon specta-
20
--------------------------------------- 29
In Memoriam
cles, he gave the impression, even in newsprint, of betraying Harry,
whose sadness mingled with a sense of humiliation.
He had thought he knew Dumbledore quite well, but ever since
reading this obituary he had been forced to recognize that he had
barely known him at all. Never one had he imagined Dumble-
dore's childhood or youth; it was as though he had sprung into
being as Harry had known him, venerable and silver-haired and
old. The idea of a teenage Dumbledore was simply odd, like trying
to imagine a stupid Hermione or a friendly Blast-Ended Skrewt.
He had never thought to ask Dumbledore about his past. No
doubt it would have felt strange, impertinent even, but after all, it
had been common knowledge that Dumbledore had taken part in
that legendary duel with Grindelwald, and Harry had not thought
to ask Dumbledore what that had been like, nor about any of his
other famous achievements. No, they had always discussed Harry,
Harry's past, Harry's future, Harry's plans . . . and it seemed to
Harry now, despite the fact that his future was so dangerous and
so uncertain, that he had missed irreplaceable opportunities when
he had failed to ask Dumbledore more about himself, even though
the only personal question he had ever asked his headmaster was
also the only on he suspected that Dumbledore had not answered
honestly:
\What do you see when you look in the mirror?"
\I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."
After several minutes' thought, Harry tore the obituary out of
the Prophet, folded it carefully, and tucked it inside the rst volume
of Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts.
Then he threw the rest of the newspaper into the rubbish pile and
turned to face the room. It was much tidier. The only things left
21
--------------------------------------- 30
Chapter 2
out of place were today's Daily Prophet, still lying on the bed, and
on top of it, the piece of broken mirror.
Harry moved across the room, slid the mirror fragment o to-
day's Daily Prophet, still lying on the bed, and on top of it, the
piece of broken mirror.
Harry moved across the room, slid the mirror fragment o to-
day's Prophet, and unfolded the newspaper. He had merely glanced
at the headline when he had taken the rolled-up paper from the
delivery owl early that morning and thrown it aside, after noth-
ing that it said nothing about Voldemort. Harry was sure that
the Ministry was leaning on the Prophet to suppress news about
Voldemort. It was only now, therefore, that he saw what he had
missed.
Across the bottom half of the front page a smaller headline was
set over a picture of Dumbledore striding along looking harried:
DUMBLEDORE|THE TRUTH AT LAST?
Coming next week, the shocking story of the
awed
genius considered by many to be the greatest wizard
of his generation. Stripping away the popular im-
age of serene, silver-bearded wisdom, Rita Skeeter
reveals the disturbed childhood, the lawless youth,
the lifelong feuds, and the guilty secrets that Dum-
bledore carried to his grave. WHY was the man
tipped to be Minister of Magic content to remain a
mere headmaster? WHAT was the real purpose of
the secret organization known as the Order of the
Phoenix? HOW did Dumbledore really meet his
end?
22
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In Memoriam
The answers to these and many more questions
are explored in the explosive new biography, The
Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, by Rita Skeeter,
exclusively interviewed by Betty Braithwaite, page
13, inside.
Harry ripped open the paper and found page thirteen. The
article was topped with a picture showing another familiar face:
a woman wearing jeweled glasses with elaborately curled blonde
hair, her teeth bared in what was clearly supposed to be a winning
smile, wiggling her ngers up at him. Doing his best to ignore this
nauseating image, Harry read on.
In person, Rita Skeeter is much warmer and
softer than her famously ferocious quill-portraits
might suggest. Greeting me in the hallway of her
cozy home, she leads me straight into the kitchen
for a cup of tea, a slice of pound cake and, it goes
without saying, a steaming vat of freshest gossip.
\Well, of course, Dumbledore is a biographer's
dream," says Skeeter. \Such a long, full life. I'm
sure my book will be the rst of very, very many."
Skeeter was certainly quick o the mark. Her
nine-hundred-page book was completed a mere four
weeks after Dumbledore's mysterious death in June.
I ask her how she managed this superfast feat.
\Oh, when you've been a journalist as long as
I have, working to a deadline is second nature. I
knew that the Wizarding world as clamoring for the
full story and I wanted to be the rst to meet that
need."
23
--------------------------------------- 32
Chapter 2
I mentioned the recent, widely publicized re-
marks of Elphias Doge, Special Advisor to the Wiz-
engamot and longstanding friend of Albus Dumble-
dore's, that \Skeeter's book contains less fact than
a Chocolate frog card."
Skeeter throws back her head and laughs.
\Darling Dodgy! I remember interviewing him
a few years back about merpeople rights, bless him.
Completely gaga, seemed to think we were sitting
at the bottom of Lake Windermere, kept telling me
to watch out for trout."
And yet Elphias Doge's accusations of inaccu-
racy have been echoed in many places. Does Skeeter
really feel that four short weeks have been enough
to gain a full picture of Dumbledore's long and ex-
traordinary life?
\Oh, my dear," beams Skeeter, rapping me af-
fectionately across the knuckles, \you know as well
as I do how much information can be generated by
a fat bag of Galleons, a refusal to hear the word
`no,' and a nice sharp Quick-Quotes Quill! People
were queuing to dish the dirt on Dumbledore any-
way. Not everyone thought he was so wonderful,
you know|he trod on an awful lot of important
toes. But old Dodgy Doge can get o his high hip-
pogri , because I've had access to a source most
journalists would swap their wands for, one who has
never spoken in public before and who was close to
Dumbledore during the most turbulent and disturb-
24
--------------------------------------- 33
In Memoriam
ing phase of his youth."
The advance publicity of Skeeter's biography has
certainly suggested that there will be shocks in store
for those who believe Dumbledore to have led a
blameless life. What were the biggest surprises she
uncovered, I ask?
\Now, come o it, Betty, I'm not giving away all
the highlights before anybody's bought the book!"
laughs Skeeter. \But I can promise that any-
body who still thinks Dumbledore was white as his
beard is in for a rude awakening! Let's just say
that nobody hearing him rage against You-Know-
Who would have dreamed that he dabbled in the
Dark Arts himself in his youth! And for a wizard
who spent his later years pleading for tolerance, he
wasn't exactly broad-minded when he was younger!
Yes, Albus Dumbledore had an extremely murky
past, not to mention that very shy family, which
he worked so hard to keep hushed up."
I ask whether Skeeter is referring to Dumble-
dore's brother, Aberforth, whose conviction by the
Wizengamot for misuse of magic caused a minor
scandal fteen years ago.
\Oh, Aberforth is just the tip of the dung heap."
laughs Skeeter. \No, no, I'm talking about much
worse than a brother with a fondness for ddling
about with goats, worse even than the Muggle-
maiming father|Dumbledore couldn't keep either
of them quiet anyway, they were both charged by
25
--------------------------------------- 34
Chapter 2
the Wizengamot. No, it's the mother and the sister
that intrigued me, and a little digging uncovered a
positive nest of nastiness|but, as I say, you'll have
to wait for chapters nine to twelve for full details.
All I can say now is, it's no wonder Dumbledore
never talked about how his nose got broken."
Family skeletons notwithstanding, does Skeeter
deny the brilliance that led to Dumbledore's many
magical discoveries?
\He had brains," she concedes, \although many
now question whether he could really take full credit
for all of his supposed achievements. As I reveal in
chapter sixteen, Ivor Dillonsby claims he had al-
ready discovered eight uses of dragon's blood when
Dumbledore `borrowed' his papers."
But the importance of some of Dumbledore's
achievements cannot, I venture, be denied. What
of his famous defeat of Grindelwald?
\Oh, now, I'm glad you mentioned Grindel-
wald," says Skeeter with a tantalizing smile. \I'm
afraid those who go dewy eyed over Dumbledore's
spectacular victory must brace themselves for a
bombshell|or perhaps a Dungbomb. very dirty
business indeed. All I'll say is, don't be so sure that
there really was the spectacular duel of legend. Af-
ter they've read my book, people may be forced to
conclude that Grindelwald simply conjured a white
handkerchief from the end of his wand and came
quietly!"
26
--------------------------------------- 35
In Memoriam
Skeeter refuses to give any more away on this
intriguing subject, so we turn instead to the rela-
tionship that will undoubtedly fascinate her readers
more than any other.
\Oh yes," says Skeeter, nodding briskly, \I de-
vote an entire chapter to the whole Potter-Dumble-
dore relationship. It's been called unhealthy, even
sinister. Again, your readers will have to buy my
book for the whole story, but there is no question
that Dumbledore took an unnatural interest in Pot-
ter from the word go. Whether that was really in
the boy's best interests|well, we'll see. It's cer-
tainly an open secret that Potter has had a most
troubled adolescence."
I ask whether Skeeter is still in touch with Harry
Potter, whom she so famously interviewed last year:
a breakthrough piece in which Potter spoke exclu-
sively of his conviction that You-Know-Who had
returned.
\Oh, yes, we've developed a close bond," says
Skeeter. \Poor Potter has few real friends, and we
met at one of the most testing moments of his life|
the Triwizard Tournament. I am probably one of
the only people alive who can say that they know
the real Harry Potter."
Which leads us neatly to the many rumors still
circulating about Dumbledore's nal hours. Does
Skeeter believe that Potter was there when Dum-
bledore died?
27
--------------------------------------- 36
Chapter 2
\Well, I don't wan to say too much|it's all in
the book|but the eyewitnesses inside Hogwarts
castle saw Potter running away from the scene
moments after Dumbledore fell, jumped, or was
pushed. Potter later gave evidence against Sever-
us Snape, a man against whom he has a notorious
grudge. Is everything as it seems? That is for the
Wizarding community to decide|once they've read
my book."
On that intriguing note, I take my leave. there
can be no doubt that Skeeter has quilled an instant
bestseller, Dumbledore's legions of admirers, mean-
while, may well be trembling at what is soon to
emerge about their hero.
Harry reached the bottom of the article, but continued to stare
blankly at the page. Revulsion and fury rose in him like vomit;
he balled up the newspaper and threw it, with all his force, at the
wall, where it joined the rest of the rubbish heaped around his
over
owing bin.
He began to stride blindly around the room, opening empty
drawers and picking up books only to replace them on the same
piles, barely conscious of what he was doing, as random phrases
from Rita's article echoed in his head: An entire chapter to
the whole Potter-Dumbledore relationship . . . It's been called un-
healthy, even sinister . . . He dabbled in the Dark Arts himself in
his youth . . . I've had access to a source most journalists would
swap their wands for . . .
\Lies!" Harry bellowed, and though the window he saw the
next-door neighbor, who had paused to restart his lawn mower,
28
--------------------------------------- 37
In Memoriam
look up nervously.
Harry sat down hard on the bed. The broken bit of mirror
danced away from him; he picked it up and turned it over in his
ngers, thinking, thinking of Dumbledore and the lies with which
Rita Skeeter was defaming him. . . .
A
ash of brightest blue. Harry froze, his cut nger slipping on
the jagged edge of the mirror again. He had imagined it, he must
have done. He glanced over his shoulder, but the wall was a sickly
peach color of Aunt Petunia's choosing: There was nothing blue
there for the mirror to re
ect. He peered into the mirror fragment
again, and saw nothing but his own bright green eye looking back
at him.
He had imagined it, there was no other explanation; imagined it,
because he had been thinking of his dead headmaster. If anything
was certain, it was that the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore
would never pierce him again.
29
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Chapter 3
The Dursleys Departing
he sound of the front door slamming echoed up the
stair and a voice yelled, \Oi, You!" Sixteen years of
being addressed thus left Harry in no doubt whom his
Tuncle was calling; nevertheless, he did not immediately
respond. He was still gazing at the mirror fragment in which, for
a split second, he had thought he say Dumbledore's eye. It was
not until his uncle bellowed, \BOY!" that Harry got slowly to his
feet and headed for the bedroom door, pausing to add the piece of
broken mirror to the rucksack lled with things he would be taking
with him.
\You took your time!" roared Vernon Dursley when Harry ap-
peared at the top of the stairs. \Get down here, I want a word!"
Harry strolled downstairs, his hands deep in his jeans pockets.
When he reached the living room he found all three Dursleys. They
were dressed for traveling: Uncle Vernon in a fawn zip-up jacket,
Aunt Petunia in a neat salmon-colored coat, and Dudly, Harry's
large, blond, muscular cousin, in his leather jacket.
30
--------------------------------------- 39
The Dursleys Departing
\Yes?" asked Harry.
\Sit down!" said Uncle Vernon. Harry raised his eyebrows.
\Please!" added Uncle Vernon, wincing slightly as though the word
was sharp in his throat.
Harry sat. He though he knew what was coming. His uncle
began to pace up and down, Aunt Petunia and Dudley following
his movements with anxious expressions. Finally, his large purple
face crumpled with concentration, Uncle Vernon stopped in front
of Harry and spoke.
\I've changed my mind," he said.
\What a surprise," said Harry.
\Don't you talk in that tone|" began Aunt Petunia in a shrill
voice, but Vern Dursley waved her down.
\It's all a lot of claptrap," said Uncle Vernon, glaring at Harry
with piggy little eyes. \I've decided I don't believe a word of it.
We're staying put, we're not going anywhere."
Harry looked up at his uncle and felt a mixture of exasperation
and amusement. Vernon Dursley had been changing his mind every
twenty-four hours for the past four weeks, packing and unpacking
ad repacking the car with every change of heart. Harry's favorite
moment had been the one when Uncle Vernon, unaware that Dud-
ley had added his dumbbells to his case since the last time it had
been unpacked, had attempted to hoist it back into the boot and
collapsed with roars of pain and much swearing.
\According to you," Vernon Dursley said now, resuming his
pacing up and down the living room, \we|Petunia, Dudley, and
I|are in danger. From|from|"
\Some of `my lot,' right," said Harry.
\Well, I don't believe it," repeated Uncle Vernon, coming to a
31
--------------------------------------- 40
Chapter 3
halt in front of Harry again. \I was awake half the night thinking
it's over, and I believe it's a plot to get the house."
\The house?" repeated Harry. \What house?"
\This house!" shrieked Uncle Vernon, the vein in his forehead
starting to pulse. \Our house! House prices are skyrocketing
around here! You want us out of the way and then you're go-
ing to do a bit of hocus-pocus and before we know it the deeds will
be in your name and|"
\Are you out of your mind?" demanded Harry. \A plot to get
this house? Are you actually as stupid as you look?"
\Don't you dare|!" squealed Aunt Petunia, but again, Ver-
non waved her down: Slights on his personal appearance were, it
seemed, as nothing to the danger he has spotted.
\Just in case you've forgotten," said Harry, \I've already got a
house, my godfather left me one. So why would I want this one?
All the happy memories?"
There was silence. Harry thought he had rather impressed his
uncle with this argument.
\You claim," said Uncle Vernon, starting to pace yet again,
\that this Lord Thing|"
\|Voldemort," said Harry impatiently, \and we've been
through this about a hundred times already. This isn't a claim,
it's fact, Dumbledore told you last year, and Kingsley and Mr.
Weasley|"
Vernon Dursley hunched his shoulders angrily, and Harry
guessed that his uncle was attempting to ward of recollections of
the unannounced visit, a few days into Harry's summer holidays,
of two fully grown wizards. The arrival on the doorstep of Kingsley
Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley had come as a most unpleasant
32
--------------------------------------- 41
The Dursleys Departing
shock to the Dursleys. Harry had to admit, however, that as Mr.
Weasley had once demolished half of the living room, his reappear-
ance could not have been expected to delight Uncle Vernon.
\|Kingsley and Mr. Weasley explained it all as well," Harry
pressed on remorselessly. \Once I'm seventeen, the protective
charm that keeps me safe will break, and that exposes you as well
as me. The Order is sure Voldemort will target you, whether to
torture you to try and nd out where I am, or because he thinks
by holding you hostage I'd come and try to rescue you."
Uncle Vernon's and Harry's eyes met. Harry was sure that
in that instant they were both wondering the same thing. Then
Uncle Vernon walked on and Harry resumed, \You've got to go into
hiding and the Order wants to help. You're being o ered serious
protection, the best there is."
Uncle Vernon said nothing, but continued to pace up and down.
Outside the sun hung low over the privet hedges. The next-door
neighbor's lawn mower stalled again.
\I thought there was a Ministry of Magic?" asked Vernon Durs-
ley abruptly.
\There is," said Harry, surprised.
\Well, then, why can't they protect us? It seems to me that, as
innocent victims, guilty of nothing more than harboring a marked
man, we ought to qualify for government protection!"
Harry laughed; he could not stop himself. It was so typical of
his uncle to put his hopes in the establishment, even within this
world that he despised and mistrusted.
\You heard what Mr. Weasley and Kingsley said," Harry
replied. \We think the Ministry has been in ltrated."
Uncle Vernon stroke to the replace and back, breathing so
33
--------------------------------------- 42
Chapter 3
heavily that his great black mustache tippled, his face still purple
with concentration.
\All right," he said, stopping in front of Harry yet again. \All
right, let's say, for the sake of argument, we accept this protection.
I still don't see why we can't have that Kingsley bloke."
Harry managed not to roll his eyes, but with di culty. This
question has also been addressed half a dozen times.
\As I've told you," he said through gritted teeth. \Kingsley is
protecting the Mug|I mean, your Prime Minister."
\Exactly|he's the best!" said Uncle Vernon, pointing at the
blank television screen. The Dursleys had spotted Kingsley on the
news, walking along discreetly behind the Muggle Prime Minister
as he visited a hospital. This, and the fact that Kingsley had
mastered the knack of dressing like a Muggle, not to mention a
certain reassuring something in his slow, deep voice, had caused
the Dursleys to take to Kingsley in a way that they had certainly
not done with any other wizard, although it was true that they
had never seen him with his earring in.
\Well, he's taken," said Harry. \But Hestia Jones and Dedalus
Diggle are more than up to the job|"
\If we'd even seen CVs . . . " began Uncle Vernon, but Harry
lost patience. Getting to his feet, he advanced on his uncle, now
pointing at the TV set himself.
\These accidents aren't accidents|the crashes and explosions
and derailments and whatever else has happened since we last
watched the new. People are disappearing and dying and he's
behind it|Voldemort. I've told you this over and over again, he
kills Muggles for fun. Even the fogs|they're caused by dementors,
and if you can't remember what they are, ask your son!"
34
--------------------------------------- 43
The Dursleys Departing
Dudley's hands jerked upward to cover his mouth. With his
parents' and Harry's eyes upon him, he slowly lowered them again
and asked, \There are . . . more of them?"
\More?" laughed Harry. \More than the two that attacked
us, you mean? Of course there are, there are hundreds, maybe
thousands by this time, seeing as they feed of fear and despair|"
\All right, all right," blustered Vernon Dursley. \You've made
your point|"
\I hope so," said Harry, \because once I'm seventeen, all
of them|Death Eaters, dementors, maybe even Inferi|which
means dead bodies enchanted by a Dark Wizard|will be able
to nd you and will certainly attack you. And if you remember
the last time you tried to outrun wizards, I think you'll agree you
need help."
There was a brief silence in which the distant echo of Hagrid
smashing something down a wooden front door seemed to rever-
berate through the intervening years. Aunt Petunia was looking
at Uncle Vernon; Dudley was staring at Harry. Finally Uncle Ver-
non blurted out, \But what about my work? What about Dudley's
school? I don't suppose those things matter to a bunch of layabout
wizards|"
\Don't you understand?" shouted Harry. \They will torture
and kill you like they did my parents!"
\Dad," said Dudley in a loud voice, \Dad|I'm going with these
Order people."
\Dudley," said Harry, \for the rst time in your life, you're
talking sense."
He knew that the battle was won. If Dudley was frightened
enough to accept the Order's help, his parents would accompany
35
--------------------------------------- 44
Chapter 3
him: There could be no question of being separated from their
Duddykins. Harry glanced at the carriage clock on the mantelpiece.
\They'll be here in about ve minutes," he said, and when
none of the Dursleys replied, he left the room. The prospect of
parting|probably forever|from his aunt, uncle, and cousin was
one that he was able to contemplate quite cheerfully, but there was
nevertheless a certain awkwardness in the air. What did you say
to one another at the end of sixteen years' solid dislike?
Back in his bedroom, Harry ddled aimlessly with his rucksack,
then poked a couple of own nuts through the bars of Hedwig's cage.
They fell with dull thuds to the bottom, where she ignored them.
\We're leaving soon, really soon," Harry told her. \And then
you'll be able to
y again."
The doorbell rang. Harry hesitated, then headed back out of
his room and downstairs. It was too much to expect Hestia and
Dedalus to cope with the Dursleys on their own.
\Harry Potter!" squeaked an excited voice, the moment Harry
had opened the door, a small man in a mauve top hat was sweeping
him a deep bow. \An honor, as ever!"
\Thanks, Dedalus," said Harry, bestowing a small and embar-
rassed smile upon the dark-haired Hestia. \It's really good of
you to do this . . . They're through here, my aunt and uncle and
cousin . . . "
\Good day to you, Harry Potter's relatives!" said Dedalus hap-
pily, striding into the living room. The Dursleys did not look at all
happy to be addressed thus; Harry half expected another change
of mind. Dudley shrank nearer to his mother at the sight of the
witch and wizard.
\I see you are packed and ready. Excellent! The plan, as Harry
36
--------------------------------------- 45
The Dursleys Departing
has told you, is a simple one," said Dedalus, pulling an immense
pocket watch out of his waistcoat and examining it. \We shall
be leaving before Harry does. Due to the danger of using magic
in your house|Harry being still underage, it could provide the
Ministry with an excuse to arrest him|we shall be driving, say,
ten miles or so, before Disapparating to the safe location we have
picked out for you. You know how to drive, I take it?" he asked
Uncle Vernon politely.
\Know how to|? Of course I ruddy well know how to drive!"
spluttered Uncle Vernon.
\Very clever of you, sir, very clever. I personally would be
utterly bamboozled by all those buttons and knobs," said Dedalus.
He was clearly under the impression that he was
attering Vernon
Dursley, who was visibly losing con dence in the plan with every
word Dedalus spoke.
\Can't even drive," he muttered under his breath, his mus-
tache rippling indignantly, but fortunately neither Dedalus or Hes-
tia seemed to hear him.
\You, Harry," Dedalus continued, \will wait here for your
guard. There has been a little change in the arrangements|"
\What d'you mean?" said Harry at once. \I thought Mad-Eye
was going to come and take me by Side-Along-Apparition?"
\Can't do it," said Hestia tersely. \Mad-Eye will explain."
The Dursleys, who had listened to all of this with looks of utter
incomprehension on their faces, jumped as a loud voice screeched,
\Hurry up!" Harry looked all around the room before realizing
that the voice had issued from Dedalus's pocket watch.
\Quite right, we're operating to a very tight schedule," said
Dedalus, nodding at his watch and tucking it back into his waist-
37
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Chapter 3
coat. \We are attempting to time your departure from the house
with your family's Disapparition, Harry: thus, the charm breaks
as the moment you all head for safety." He turned to the Dursleys.
\Well, are we all packed and ready to go?"
None of them answered him. Uncle Vernon was still staring,
appalled, at the bulge in Dedalus's waistcoat pocket.
\Perhaps we should wait outside in the hall, Dedalus," mur-
mured Hestia. She clearly felt that it would be tactless for them
to remain in the room while Harry and the Dursleys exchanged
loving, possibly tearful farewells.
\There's no need," Harry muttered, but Uncle Vernon made
any further explanation unnecessary by saying loudly,
\Well, this is good-bye, then, boy."
He swung his right arm upward to shake Harry's hand, but at
the last moment seemed unable to face it, and merely closed his st
and began swinging it backward and forward like a metronome.
\Ready, Diddy?" asked Aunt Petunia, fussily checking the clasp
of her handbag so as to avoid looking at Harry altogether.
Dudley did not answer, but stood there with his mouth slightly
ajar, reminding Harry a little of the giant, Grawp.
\Come along, then," said Uncle Vernon.
He had already reached the living room door when Dudley
mumbled, \I don't understand."
\What don't you understand, popkin?" asked Aunt Petunia,
looking up at her son.
Dudley raised a large, hamlike hand to point at Harry.
\Why isn't he coming with us?"
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia froze where they stood, staring
at Dudley as though he had just expressed a desire to become a
38
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The Dursleys Departing
ballerina.
\What?" said Uncle Vernon loudly.
\Why isn't he coming too?" asked Dudley.
\Well, he|he doesn't want to," said Uncle Vernon, turning to
glare at Harry and asking, \You don't want to, do you?"
\Not in the slightest," said Harry.
\There you are," Uncle Vernon told Dudley. \Now come on,
we're o ."
He marched out of the room. They heard the front door open,
but Dudley did not move and after a few faltering steps Aunt
Petunia stopped too.
\What now?" barked Uncle Vernon, reappearing in the door-
way.
It seems that Dudley was struggling with concepts too di -
cult to put into words. After sever moments of apparently painful
internal struggle he said, \But where's he going to go?"
Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon looked at each other. It was
clear that Dudley was frightening them. Hestia Jones broke the
silence.
\But . . . surely you know where your nephew is going?" she
asked, looking bewildered.
\Certainly we know," said Vernon Dursley. \He's o with some
of your lot, isn't he? Right, Dudley, let's get in the car, you heard
the man, we're in a hurry,"
Again, Vernon Dursley marched as far as the front door, but
Dudley did not follow.
\O with some of our lot?"
Hestia looked outraged. Harry had met this attitude before.
Witches and wizards seems stunned that his closest living relatives
39
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Chapter 3
took so little interest in the famous Harry Potter.
\It's ne," Harry assured her. \It doesn't matter, honestly."
\Doesn't matter?" repeated Hestia, her voice rising ominously.
\Don't these people realize what you've been through? What dan-
gers you are in? The unique position you hold in the hearts of the
anti-Voldemort movement?"
\Er|no, they don't," said Harry. \They think I'm a waste of
space actually, but I'm used to|"
\I don't think you're a waste of space."
If Harry had not seen Dudley's lips move, he might not have
believed it. As it was, he stared at Dudley for several seconds
before accepting that it must have been his cousin who had spoken
for one thing. Dudley had turned red. Harry was embarrassed and
astonished himself.
\Well . . . er . . . thanks, Dudley."
Again, Dudley appeared to grapple with thoughts too unwieldy
for expression before mumbling, \You saved my life."
\Not really," said Harry. \It was your soul the dementor would
have taken . . . "
He looked curiously at his cousin. They had had virtually no
contact during this summer or last, as Harry had come back to
Privet Drive so brie
y and kept to his room so much. It now
dawned on Harry, however, that the cup of cold tea on which he
had trodden that morning might not have been a booby trap at
all. Although rather touched, he was nevertheless quite relieved
that Dudley appeared to have exhausted his ability to express his
feelings. After opening his mouth once or twice more, Dudley
subsided into scarlet-faced silence.
Aunt Petunia burst into tears. Hestia Jones gave her an ap-
40
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The Dursleys Departing
proving look that changed to outrage as Aunt Petunia ran forward
and embraced Dudley rather than Harry.
\S{so sweet, Dudders . . . " she sobbed into his massive chest.
\S{such a lovely b{boy . . . s{saying thank you . . . "
\But he hasn't said thank you at all!" said Hestia indignantly.
\He only said he didn't think Harry was a waste of space!"
\Yeah, but coming from Dudley that's like `I love you,'" said
Harry, torn between annoyance and a desire to laugh as Aunt Petu-
nia continued to clutch at Dudley as if he had just saved Harry from
a burning building.
\Are we going or not?" roared Uncle Vernon, reappearing yet
again at the living room door. \I though we were on a tight sched-
ule!"
\Yes|yes, we are," said Dedalus Diggle, who had been watch-
ing these exchanges with an air of bemusement and now seemed to
pull himself together. \We really must be o , Harry|"
He tripped forward and wrung Harry's hand with both of his
own.
\|good luck. I hope we meet again. The hopes of the Wiz-
arding world rest upon your shoulders."
\Oh," said Harry. \right. Thanks."
\Farewell, Harry," said Hestia, also clasping his hand. \Our
thoughts go with you."
\I hope everything's okay," said Harry with a glance toward
Aunt Petunia and Dudley.
\Oh, I'm sure we shall end up the best of chums," said Diggle
lightly, waving his hat as he left the room. Hestia followed him.
Dudley gently released himself from his mother's clutches and
walked toward Harry, who had to repress an urge to threaten him
41
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Chapter 3
with magic. Then Dudley held out his large, pink hand.
\Blimey, Dudley," said Harry over Aunt Petunia's renewed sobs.
\did the dementors blow a di erent personality into you?"
\Dunno," muttered Dudley. \See you, Harry."
\Yeah . . . " said Harry, taking Dudley's hand and shaking it.
\Maybe. Take care, Big D."
Dudley nearly smiled, then lumbered from the room. Harry
heard his heavy footfalls on the graveled drive, and then a car
door slammed.
Aunt Petunia, whose face had been buried in her handkerchief,
looked around at the sound. She did not seem to have expected to
nd herself alone with Harry. Hastily stowing her wet handkerchief
into her pocket, she said, \Well|good-bye," and marched toward
the door without looking at him.
\Good-bye," said Harry.
She stopped and looked back. For a moment Harry had the
strangest feeling that she wanted to say something to him. She
gave him an odd, tremulous look and seemed to teeter on the edge
of speech, but then, with a little jerk of her head, she bustled out
of the room after her husband and son.
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Chapter 4
The Seven Potters
arry ran back upstairs to his bedroom, arriving at the
window just in time to see the Dursleys' cat swinging
out of the drive and o up the road. Dedalus's top
Hhat was visible between Aunt Petunia and Dudley in
the backseat. The car turned right at the end of Privet Drive, its
windows burned scarlet for a moment in the now setting sun, and
then it was gone.
Harry picked up Hedwig's cage, his Firebolt, and his rucksack,
gave his unnaturally tidy bedroom one last sweeping look, and
then made his ungainly way back downstairs to the hall, where he
deposited cage, broomstick, and bag near the foot of the stairs.
The light was fading rapidly now, the hall full of shadows in the
evening light. It felt most strange to stand here in the silence
and know that he was about to leave the house for the last time.
Long ago, when he had been left alone while the Dursleys went
out to enjoy themselves, the hours of solitude had been a rare
treat: Pausing only to sneak something tasty from the fridge, he
had rushed upstairs to play on Dudley's computer, or put on the
43
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Chapter 4
television and
icked through the channels to his heart's content.
It gave him an odd, empty feeling to remember those times; it was
like remembering a younger brother whom he had lost.
\Don't you want to take a last look at the place?" he asked Hed-
wig, who was still sulking, with her head under her wing. \We'll
never be here again. Don't you want to remember all the good
times? I mean, look at this doormat. What memories . . . Dudley
puked on it after I saved him from the dementors. . . . Turns out
he was grateful after all, can you believe it? . . . And last summer,
Dumbledore walked through that front door. . . ."
Harry lost the thread of his thoughts for a moment and Hedwig
did nothing to help him retrieve it, but continued to sit with her
head under her wing. Harry turned his back on the front door.
\And under here, Hedwig"|Harry pulled open a door under
the stairs|\is where I used to sleep; You never knew me then|
Blimey, it's small, I'd forgotten. . . ."
Harry looked around at the stacked shoes and umbrellas, re-
membering how he used to wake every morning looking up at the
underside of the staircase, which was more often than not adorned
with a spider or two. Those had been the days before he had known
anything about his true identity; before he had found out how
his parents had died or why such strange things often happened
around him. But Harry could still remember the dreams that had
dogged him, even in those days: confused dreams involving
ashes
of green light and once|Uncle Vernon had nearly crashed the car
when Harry had recounted it|a
ying motorbike . . .
There was a sudden, deafening roar from somewhere nearby.
Harry straightened up with a jerk and smacked the top of his head
on the low door frame. Pausing only to employ a few of Uncle
44
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The Seven Potters
Vernon's choicest swear words, he staggered back into the kitchen,
clutching his head and staring out of the window into the back
garden.
The darkness seemed to be rippling, the air itself quivering.
Then, one by one, gures began to pop into sight as their Dis-
illusionment Charms lifted. Dominating the scene was Hagrid,
wearing a helmet and goggles and sitting astride an enormous mo-
torbike with a black sidecar attached. All around him other people
were dismounting from brooms and, in two cases, skeletal, black
winged horses.
Wrenching open the back door, Harry hurtled into their midst.
There was a general cry of greeting as Hermione
ung her arms
around him, Ron clapped him on the back, and Hagrid said, \All
righ', Harry? Ready fer the o ?"
\De nitely," said Harry, beaming around at them all. \But I
wasn't expecting this many of you!"
\Change of plan," growled Mad-Eye, who was holding two enor-
mous, bulging sacks, and whose magical eye was spinning from
darkening sky to house to garden with dizzying rapidity. \Let's
get undercover before we talk you through it."
Harry led them all back into the kitchen where, laughing and
chattering, they settled on chairs, sat themselves upon Aunt Petu-
nia's gleaming work surfaces, or leaned up against her spotless
appliances: Ron, long and lanky; Hermione, her bushy hair tied
back in a long plait; Fred and George, grinning identically; Bill,
badly scarred and long-haired; Mr. Weasley, kind-faced, balding,
his spectacles a little awry; Mad-Eye, battle-worn, one-legged, his
bright blue magical eye whizzing in its socket; Tonks, whose short
hair was her favorite shade of bright pink; Lupin, grayer, more
45
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Chapter 4
lined; Fleur, slender and beautiful, with her long silvery blonde
hair; Kingsley, taller and broad-shouldered; Hagrid, with his wild
hair and beard, standing hunchbacked to avoid hitting his head on
the ceiling; and Mundungus Fletcher, small, dirty, and hangdog,
with his droopy bloodhound's eyes and matted hair. Harry's heart
seemed to expand and glow at the sight: He felt incredibly fond of
all of them, even Mundungus, whom he had tried to strangle the
last time they had met.
\Kingsley, I thought you were looking after the Muggle Prime
Minister?" he called across the room.
\He can get along without me for one night," said Kingsley.
\You're more important."
\Harry, guess what?" said Tonks from her perch on top of the
washing machine, and she wiggled her left hand at him; a ring
glittered there.
\You got married?" Harry yelped, looking from her to Lupin.
\I'm sorry you couldn't be there, Harry, it was very quiet."
\That's brilliant, congrat|"
\All right, all right, we'll have time for a cozy catch-up later,"
roared Moody over the hubbub, and silence fell in the kitchen.
Moody dropped his sacks at his feet and turned to Harry, \As
Dedalus probably told you, we had to abandon Plan A. Pius Thick-
nesse has gone over, which gives us a big problem. He's made it
an imprisonable o ense to connect this house to the Floo Network,
place a Portkey here, or Apparate in or out. All done in the name
of your protection to prevent You-Know-Who getting in at you.
Absolutely pointless, seeing as your mother's charm does that al-
ready. What he's really done is to stop you from getting out of
here safely.
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The Seven Potters
\Second problem. You're underage, which means you've still
got the Trace on you."
\I don't|"
\The Trace, the Trace!" said Mad-Eye impatiently. \The
charm that detects magical activity around under-seventeens, the
way the Ministry nds out out about underage magic! If you, or
anyone around you, casts a spell to get you out of here, Thicknesse
is going to know about it, and so will the Death Eaters.
\We can't wait for the Trace to break, because the moment you
turn seventeen you'll lose all the protection your mother gave you.
In short: Pius Thicknesse thinks he's got you cornered good and
proper."
Harry could not help but agree with the unknown Thicknesse.
\So what are we going to do?"
\We're going to use the only means of transport left to us, the
only ones the Trace can't detect, because we don't need to cast
spells to use them: brooms, thestrals, and Hagrid's motorbike."
Harry could see
aws in this plan; however, he held his tongue
to give Mad-Eye the chance to address them.
\Now, your mother's charm will only break under two condi-
tions: when you come of age, or"|Moody gestured around the
pristine kitchen|\you no longer call this place home. You and
your aunt and uncle are going your separate ways tonight, in the
full understanding that you're never going to live together again,
correct?"
Harry nodded.
\So this time, when you leave, there'll be no going back, and
the charm will break the moment you get outside its range. We've
choosing to break it early, because the alternative is waiting for
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Chapter 4
You-Know-Who to come and seize you the moment you turn sev-
enteen.
\The one thing we've got on our side is that You-Know-who
doesn't know we're moving you tonight. We've leaked a fake trail
to the Ministry: They think you're not leaving until the thirtieth.
However, this is You-Know-Who we're dealing with, so we can't
just rely on him getting the date wrong; he's bound to have a
couple Death Eaters patrolling the skies in this general area, just
in case. So we've given a dozen di erent houses every protection
we can throw at them. They all look like they could be the place
we're going to hide you, they've all got some connection with the
Order: my house, Kingsley's place, Molly auntie Muriel's|you get
the idea."
\Yeah," said Harry, not entirely truthfully, because he could
still spot a gaping hole in the plan.
\You'll be going to Tonks's parents. Once you're within the
boundaries of the protective enchantments we've put on their house
you'll be able to use a Portkey to the Burrow. Any questions?"
\Er|yes," said Harry. \Maybe they won't know which of the
twelve secure houses I'm heading for at rst, but won't it be sort
of obvious once"|he performed a quick headcount|\fourteen of
us
y o towards Tonks's parents'?"
\Ah," said Moody. \I forgot to mention the key point. Fourteen
of us won't be
ying to Tonks's parents. There will be seven Harry
Potters moving through the skies tonight, each of them with a
companion, each pair heading for a di erent safe house."
From inside his cloak Moody now withdrew a
ask of what
looked like mud. There was no need for him to say another word;
Harry understood the rest of the plan immediately.
48
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The Seven Potters
\No!" he said loudly, his voice ringing through the kitchen.
\No way!"
\I told them you'd take it like this," said Hermione with a hint
of complacency.
\If you think I'm going to let six people risk their lives|!"
\|because it's the rst time for all of us," said Ron.
\This is di erent, pretending to be me|"
\Well, none of us really fancy it, Harry," said Fred earnestly.
\Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky,
sccrawny gits forever."
Harry did not smile.
\You can't do it if I don't cooperate, you need me to give you
some hair."
\Well, that's that plan scuppered," said George. \Obviously
there's no chance at all of us getting a bit of your hair unless you
cooperate."
\Yeah, thirteen of us against one bloke who's not allowed to use
magic: we've got no chance," said Fred.
\Funny," said Harry, \really amusing."
\If it has to come to force, then it will," growled Moody, his
magical eye now quivering a little in its socket as he glared at
Harry.
\Everyone here's overage, Potter, and they're all prepared to
take the risk."
Mundungus shrugged and grimaced; the magical eye swerved
sideways to glare at him out of the side of Moody's head.
\Let's have no more arguments. Time's wearing on. I want a
few of your hairs, boy, now."
\But this is mad, there's no need|"
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Chapter 4
\No need!" snarled Moody, \With You-Know-Who out there
and half the Ministry on his side? Potter, if we're lucky he'll have
swallowed the fake bait and he'll be planning to ambush you on
the thirtieth, but he'd be mad not to have a Death Eater or two
keeping an eye out, it's what I'd do. They might not be able to
get at you or this house while your mother's charm holds, but it's
about to break and they know the rough position of the place.
Our only chance is to use decoys. Even You-Know-Who can't split
himself into seven."
Harry caught Hermione's eye and looked away at once.
\So, Potter|some of your hair, if you please."
Harry glanced at Ron, who grimaced at him in a just-do-it sort
of way.
\Now!" barked Moody.
With all of their eyes on him, Harry reached up to the top of
his head, grabbed a hank of hair, and pulled.
\Good," said Moody, limping forward as he pulled the stopper
out of the
ask of potion. \Straight in here, if you please."
Harry dropped the hair into the mudlike liquid. The moment
it made contact with its surface, the potion began to froth and
smoke, then, all at once, it turned a clear, bright gold.
\Ooh, you look much tastier than Crabbe and Goyle, Harry,"
said Hermione, before catching sight of Ron's raised eyebrows,
blushing slightly, and saying, \Oh, you now what I mean|Goyle's
potion looked like bogies."
\Right then, fake Potters line up over here, please." said
Moody.
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Fleur lined up in front of
Aunt Petunia's gleaming sink.
50
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The Seven Potters
\We're one short," said Lupin.
\Here," said Hagrid gru y, and he lifted Mundungus by the
scru of the neck and dropped him down beside Fleur, who wrin-
kled her nose pointedly and moved along to stand between Fred
and George instead.
\I've told yer, I'd sooner be a protector," said Mundungus.
\Shut it," growled Moody. \As I've already told you, you spine-
less worm, any Death Eaters we run into will be aiming to cap-
ture Potter, not kill him. Dumbledore always said You-Know-who
would want to nish Potter in person. It'll be the protectors who
have got the most to worry about, the Death Eaters'll want to kill
them."
Mundungus did not look particularly reassured, but Moody was
already pulling half a dozen eggcup-sized glasses from inside his
cloak, which he handed out, before pouring a little Polyjuice Potion
into each one.
\Altogether, then . . . "
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur, and Mundungus drank.
All of them gasped and grimaced as the potion hit their throats.
At once, their features began to bubble and distort like hot wax.
Hermione and Mundungus were shooting upward; Ron, Fred, and
George were shrinking; their hair was darkening, Hermione's and
Fleur's appearing to shoot backward into their skulls.
Moody, quite unconcerned, was now loosening the ties of the
large sacks he had brought with him. When he straightened up
again, there were six Harry Potters gasping and panting in front
of him.
Fred and George turned to each other and said together,
\Wow|we're identical!"
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Chapter 4
\I dunno, though. I think I'm still better looking," said Fred,
examining his re
ection in the kettle.
\Bah," said Fleur, checking herself in the microwave door, \Bill,
don't look at me|I'm 'ideous."
\Those whose clothes are a bit roomy, I've got smaller here,"
said Moody, indicating the rst sack, \and vice versa. Don't forget
the glasses, there's six pairs in the side pocket. And when you're
dressed, there's luggage in the other sack."
The real Harry thought this might just be the most bizarre thing
he had ever seen, and he had seen some extremely odd things. He
watched as his six doppelgangers rummaged in the sacks, pulling
out sets of clothes, putting on glasses, and stu ng their own things
away. He felt like asking them to show a little more respect for his
privacy as they all began stripping o with impunity, clearly more
at ease with displaying his body than they would have with their
own.
\I knew Ginny was lying about that that tattoo," said Ron,
looking down at his bare chest.
\Harry, your eyesight really is awful," said Hermione, as she
put on glasses.
Once dressed, the fake Harrys took rucksacks and owl cages,
each containing a stu ed snowy owl, from the second sack.
\Good," said Moody, as at last the seven dressed, bespectacled,
and luggage-laden Harrys faced him. \The pairs will be as follows:
Mundungus will be traveling with me, by broom|"
\Why'm I with you?" grunted the Harry nearest the back door.
\Because you're the one that needs watching," growled Moody,
and sure enough, his magical eye did not waver from Mundungus
as he continued. \Arthur and Fred|"
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The Seven Potters
\I'm George," said the twin at whom Moody was pointing,
\Can't you even tell us apart when we're Harry?"
\Sorry, George|"
\I'm only yanking your wand. I'm Fred really|"
\Enough messing around!!" snarled Moody. \The other one|
George or Fred or whoever you are|you're with Remus. Miss
Delacour|"
\I'm taking Fleur on a thestral," said Bill. \She's not that fond
of brooms."
Fleur walked over to stand beside him, giving him a soppy,
slavish look that Harry hoped with all his heart would never appear
on his face again.
\Miss Granger with Kingsley, again by thestral|"
Hermione looked reassured as she answered Kingsley's smile;
Harry knew that Hermione too lacked con dence on a broomstick.
\Which leaves you and me, Ron!" said Tonks brightly, knocking
over a mug tree as she waved at him.
Ron did not look quite as pleased as Hermione.
\An' you're with me, Harry. That all right?" said Hagrid,
looking a little anxious. \We'll be on the bike, brooms an' thestrals
can't take me weight, see. Not a lot o' room on the seat with me
on it, though, so you'll be in the sidecar."
\That's great," said Harry, not altogether truthfully.
\We think the Death Eaters will expect you to be on a broom,"
said Moody, who seemed to guess how Harry was feeling. \Snape's
had plenty of time to tell them everything about you he's never
mentioned before, so if we do run into any Death Eaters, we're
betting they'll choose one of the Potters who look at home on a
broomstick. All right then," he went on, tying up the sack with the
53
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Chapter 4
fake Potters' clothes in it and leading the way back to the door,
\I make it three minutes until we're supposed to leave. No point
locking the back door, it won't keep the Death Eaters out when
they come looking. Come on . . . "
Harry hurried to gather his rucksack, Firebolt, and Hedwig's
cage and followed the ground to the dark back garden.
On every side broomsticks were leaping into hands. Hermione
had already been helped up onto a great black thestral by Kingsley,
Fleur onto the other by Bill. Hagrid was standing ready beside the
motorbike, goggles on.
\Is this it? Is this Sirius's bike?"
\The very same," said Hagrid, beaming down at Harry. \An'
the last time yeh was on it, Harry, I could t yeh in one hand!"
Harry could not help but feel a little humiliated as he got into
the sidecar. It placed him several feet below everybody else: Ron
smirked at the sight of him sitting there like a child in a bumper
car. Harry stu ed his rucksack and broomstick down by his feet
and rammed Hedwig's cage between his knees. It was extremely
uncomfortable.
\Arthur's done a bit o' tinkerin'," said Hagrid, quite oblivious
to Harry's discomfort. He settled himself astride the motorcycle,
which creaked slightly and sank inches into the ground. \It's got
a few tricks up its hindquarters now. Tha' one was my idea."
He pointed a thick nger at a purple button near the speedome-
ter.
\Please be careful, Hagrid," said Mr. Weasley, who was stand-
ing beside them, holding his broomstick. \I'm still not sure this
was advisable and it's certainly only to be used in emergencies."
\All right then," said Moody. \Everyone ready, please. I want
54
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The Seven Potters
us all to leave at exactly the same time or the whole point of the
diversion's lost."
Everybody mounted their brooms.
\Hold tight now, Ron," said Tonks, and Harry saw Ron throw
a furtive, guilty look at Lupin before placing his hands on either
side of her waist. Hagrid kicked the motorbike into life. It roared
like a dragon, and the sidecar began to vibrate.
\Good luck, everyone," shouted Moody, \See you all in
about an hour at the Burrow.On the count of three.
One . . . two . . . THREE."
There was a great roar from the motorbike, and Harry felt the
sidecar give a nasty lurch. He was rising through the air fast, his
eyes water slightly, hair whipped back o his face. Around him
brooms were soaring upward too, the long black tail of a threstral
icked past. His legs, jammed into the sidecar by Hedwig's cage
and his rucksack, were already sore and starting to go numb. So
great was his discomfort that he almost forgot to take a last glimpse
of number four, Privet Drive, by the time he looked over the edge
of the sidecar he could no longer tell which one it was. Higher and
higher they climbed into the sky|
And then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded.
At least thirty hooded gures, suspended in midair, formed a
vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen,
oblivious|
Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell
and the motorbike rolled over. Harry lost any sense of where they
were. Streetlights above him, yells around him, he was clinging
to the sidecar for dear life. Hedwig's cage, the Firebolt, and his
rucksack slipped from beneath his knees.
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Chapter 4
\No|HEDWIG!"
The broomstick spun to earth, but he just managed to seize
the strap of his rucksack and the top of the cage as the motorbike
swung the right way up again. A second's relief, and then another
burst of green light. The owl screeched and fell to the
oor of the
cage.
\No|NO!"
The motorbike zoomed forward; Harry glimpsed hooded Death
Eaters scattering as Hagrid blasted through their circle.
\Hedwig|Hedwig |"
But the owl lay motionless and pathetic as a toy on the
oor of
her cage. He could not take it in in, and his terror for the others
was paramount. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a mass of
people moving,
ares of green light, two pairs of people on brooms
soaring o into the distance, but he could not tell who they were|
\Hagrid, we've got to go back, we've got to go back!" he yelled
over the thunderous roar of the engine, pulling out his wand, ram-
ming Hedwig's cage into the
oor, refusing to believe that she was
dead. \Hagrid, TURN AROUND!"
\My job's ter get you there safe, Harry!" bellowed Hagrid, and
he opened the throttle.
\Stop|STOP!" Harry shouted, but he looked back again as
two jets of green light
ew past his left year: Four Death Eaters
had broken away from the circle and were pursuing them, aiming
for Hagrid's broad back. Hagrid swerved but the Death Eaters
were keeping up with the bike, more curses shot after them, and
Harry had to sink low into the sidecar to avoid them. Wriggling
around he cried, \Stupefy!" and a red bolt of light shot from his
own wand, cleaving a gap between the four pursuing Death Eaters
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The Seven Potters
as they scattered to avoid it.
\Hold on, Harry, this'll do it for 'em!" roared Hagrid, and Harry
looked up just in time to see Hagrid slamming a thick nger into
a green button near the fuel gauge.
A wall, a solid brick wall, erupted out of the exhaust pipe.
Craning his neck, Harry saw it expand into being in midair. Three
of the Death Eaters swerved and avoided it, but the fourth was not
so lucky; He vanished from view and then dropped like a boulder
from behind it, his broomstick broken into pieces. One of his fel-
lows slowed up to save him, but they and the airborne wall were
swallowed by darkness as Hagrid leaned low over the handlebars
and sped up.
More Killing Curses
ew past Harry's head from the two re-
maining Death Eaters' wands; they were aiming for Hagrid. Harry
responded with further Stunning Spells: Red and green collided
in midair in a shower of multicolored sparks, and Harry thought
wildly of reworks, and the Muggles below who would have no idea
what was happening|
\Here we go again, Harry, hold on!" yelled Hagrid, and he
jabbed at a second button. This time a great net burst from the
bike's exhaust, but the Death Eaters were ready for it. Not only did
they swerve to avoid it, but the companion who had slowed to save
their unconscious friend had caught up. He bloomed suddenly out
of the darkness and now three of them were pursuing the motorbike,
all shooting curses after it.
\This'll do it, Harry, hold on tight!" yelled Hagrid, and Harry
saw him slam his whole hand onto the purple button beside the
speedometer.
With an unmistakable bellowing roar, dragon re burst from
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Chapter 4
the exhaust, white-hot and blue, and the motorbike shot forward
like a bullet with a sound of wrenching metal. Harry saw the Death
Eaters swerve out of sight to avoid the deadly trail of
ame, and
at the same time felt the sidecar sway ominously: Its metal con-
nections to the bike had splintered with the force of acceleration.
\It's all righ', Harry!" bellowed Hagrid, now thrown
at onto
his back by the surge of speed; nobody was steering now, and the
sidecar was starting to twist violently in the bike's slipstream.
\I'm on it, Harry, don' worry!" Hagrid yelled, and from inside
his jacket pocket he pulled his
owery pink umbrella. \Hagrid! No!
Let me!"
\REPARO!"
There was a deafening bang and the sidecar broke away from
the bike completely. Harry sped forward, propelled by the impetus
of the bike's
ight, then the sidecar began to lose height|
In desperation Harry pointed his wand at the sidecar and
shouted \Wingardium Leviosa!"
The sidecar rose like a cork, unsteerable but at least still air-
borne. He had but a split second's relief, however, as more curses
streaked past him: The three Death Eaters were closing in.
\I'm comin', Harry!" Hagrid yelled from out of the darkness,
but Harry could feel the sidecar beginning to sink again: Crouching
as low as he could, he pointed at the middle of the oncoming gures
and yelled, \Impedimenta!"
The jinx hit the middle Death Eater in the chest; For a moment
the man was absurdly spread-eagled in midair as though he had hit
an invisible barrier: One of his fellows almost collided with him|
Then the sidecar began to fall in earnest, and the remaining
Death Eater shot a curse so close to Harry that he had to duck
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The Seven Potters
below the rim of the car, knocking out a tooth on the edge of his
seat|
\I'm comin', Harry, I'm comin'!"
A huge hand seized the back of Harry's robes and hoisted him
out of the plummeting sidecar; Harry pulled his rucksack with him
as he dragged himself onto the motorbike's seat and found himself
back-to-back with Hagrid. As they soared upward, away from the
two remaining Death Eaters, Harry spat blood out of his mouth,
pointed his wand at the falling sidecar, and yelled, \Confringo!"
He knew a dreadful, gut-wrenching pang for Hedwig as it ex-
ploded; the Death Eater nearest it was blasted o his broom and
fell from sight; his companion fell back and vanished.
\Harry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," moaned Hagrid, \I shouldn'ta
tried ter repair it myself|yeh've got no room|"
\It's not a problem, just keep
ying!" Harry shouted back,
as two more Death Eaters emerged out of the darkness, drawing
closer.
As the curses came shooting across the intervening space again,
Hagrid swerved and zigzagged. Harry knew that Hagrid did not
dare use the dragon- re button again, with Harry seated so in-
securely. Harry sent Stunning Spell after Stunning Spell back at
their pursuers, barely holding them o . He shot another blocking
jinx at them: The closest Death Eater swerved to avoid it and
his hood slipped, and by the red light of his next Stunning Spell,
Harry saw the strangely blank face of Stanley Shunpike|Stan|
\Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled.
\That's him, it's him, it's the real one!"
The hooded Death Eater's shout reached Harry even above the
thunder of the motorbike's engine. Next moment, both pursuers
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Chapter 4
had fallen back and disappeared from view.
\Harry, what's happened?" bellowed Hagrid, \Where've they
gone?"
\I don't know!"
But Harry was afraid: The hooded Death Eater had shouted
\It's the real one!"; how had he known? He gazed around at the
apparently empty darkness and felt its menace. Where were they?
He clamored around on the seat to face forward and seized hold
of the back of Hagrid's jacket.
\Hagrid, do the dragon- re thing again, let's get out of here!"
\Hold on tight, then, Harry!"
There was a deafening, screeching roar again and the white-blue
re shot from the exhaust: Harry felt himself slipping backward o
what little of the seat he had, Hagrid
ung backward upon him,
barely maintaining his grip on the handlebars|
\I think we've lost 'em Harry, I think we've done it!!" yelled
Hagrid.
But Harry was not convinced; Fear lapped at him as he looked
left and right for pursuers he was sue would come. . . . Why had they
fallen back? One of them had sitll had a wand. . . . It's him . . . it's
the real one. . . . They had said it right after he had tried to Disarm
Stan. . . .
\We're nearly there, Harry, we've nearly made it!" shouted
Hagrid.
Harry felt the bike drop a little, though the lights down on the
ground still seemed remote as stars.
Then the scar on his forehead burned like re: as a Death Eater
appeared on either side of the bike, two Killing Curses missed Harry
by millimeters, cast from behind|
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The Seven Potters
And then Harry saw him. Voldemort was
ying like smoke on
the wind, without broomstick or thestral to hold him, his snake-
like face gleaming out of the blackness, his white ngers raising his
wand again|
Hagrid let out a bellow of fear and steered the motorbike into a
vertical dive. Clinging on for dear life, Harry sent Stunning Spells
ying at random into the whirling night. He saw a body
y past
him and knew he had hit one of them, but he heard a bang and
saw sparks from the engine; the motorbike spiraled through the
air, completely out of control|
Green jets of light shot past them again. Harry had no idea
which way was up, which down: His scar was still burning; he
expected to die at any second. A hooded gure on a broomstick
was feet from him, he saw it raise its arm|
\NO!"
With a shout of fury Hagrid launched himself o the bike at the
Death Eater; to his horror, Harry saw both Hagrid and the Death
Eater falling out of sight, their combined weight too much for the
broomstick|
Barely gripping the plummeting bike with his knees, Harry
heard Voldemort scream, \Mine!!"
It was over: He could not see or hear where Voldemort was; he
glimpsed another Death Eater swooping out of the way and heard,
\Avada |"
As the pain from Harry's scar forced his eyes shut, his wand
acted of its own accord. He felt it drag his hand around like some
great magnet, saw a spurt of golden re through his half-closed
eyelids, heard a crack and a scream of fury. The remaining Death
Eater yelled; Voldemort screamed, \No!"; Somehow, Harry found
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Chapter 4
his nose an inch from the dragon- re button. He punched it with
his wand-free hand and the bike shot more
ames into the air,
hurtling straight toward the ground.
\Hagrid!" Harry called, holding on to the bike for dear life.
\Hagrid|Accio Hagrid!"
The motorbike sped up, sucked towards the earth. Face level
with the handlebars, Harry could see nothing but distant lights
growing nearer and nearer. He was going to crash and there was
nothing he could do about it. Behind him came another scream,
\Your wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!"
He felt Voldemort before he saw him. Looking sideways, he
stared into the red eyes and was sure they would be the last thing
he ever saw: Voldemort preparing to curse him once more|
And then Voldemort vanished. Harry looked down and saw
Hagrid spread-eagled on the ground below him. He pulled hard at
the handlebars to avoid hitting him, groped for the brake, but with
an earsplitting, ground trembling crash, he smashed into a muddy
pond.
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Chapter 5
Fallen Warrior
agrid?"
Harry struggled to raise himself out of the debris of
metal and leather that surrounded him: his hands sank
Hinto inches of muddy water as he tried to stand. He
could not understand where Voldemort had gone and expected him
to swoop out of the darkness at any moment. Something hot and
wet was trickling down his chin and from his forehead. He crawled
out of the pond and stumbled toward the great dark mass on the
ground that was Hagrid.
\Hagrid? Hagrid. Talk to me|"
But the dark mass did not stir.
\Who's there? Is it Potter? Are you Harry Potter?"
Harry did not recognize the man's voice. Then a woman
shouted, \They've crashed, Ted! Crashed in the garden!"
Harry's head was swimming.
\Hagrid." he repeated stupidly, and his knees buckled.
The next thing he knew, he was lying on his back on what felt
like cushions, with a burning sensation in his ribs and right arm.
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Chapter 5
His missing tooth had been regrown. The scar on his forehead was
still throbbing.
\Hagrid?"
He opened his eyes and saw that he was lying on a sofa in an
unfamiliar, lamplit sitting room. His rucksack lay on the
oor a
short distance away, wed and muddy. A fair-haired, big-bellied
man was watching Harry anxiously.
\Hagrid's ne, son," said the man, \the wife's seeing to him
now. How are you feeling? Anything else broken? I've xed your
ribs, your tooth, and your arm. I'm Ted, by the way, Ted Tonks|
Dora's father."
Harry sat up too quickly: Lights popped in front of his eyes and
he felt sick and giddy.
\Voldemort|"
\Easy, now," said Ted Tonks, placing a hand on Harry's shoul-
der and pushing him back against the cushions. \That was a nasty
crash you just had. What happened, anyway? Something go wrong
with the bike? Arthur Weasley overstretch himself again, him and
his Muggle contraptions?"
\No," said Harry, as his scar pulsed like an open wound. \Death
Eaters, loads of them|we were chased|"
\Death eaters?" said Ted sharply. \What d'you mean, Death
Eaters? I thought they didn't know you were being moved tonight,
I thought|"
\They knew," said Harry.
Ted Tonks looked up at the ceiling as though he could see
through to the sky above.
Well, we know our protective charms hold, then, don't we?
They shouldn't be able to get within a hundred yards of the place
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Fallen Warrior
in any direction."
Now Harry understood why Voldemort had vanished: it had
been at the point when the motorbike crossed the barrier of the
Order's charms. He only hoped they would continue to work: He
imagined Voldemort, a hundred yards above them as they spoke,
looking for a way to penetrate what Harry visualized as a great
transparent bubble.
He swung his legs o the sofa; he needed to see Hagrid with
his own eyes before he would believe that he was alive. He had
barely stood up, however, when a door opened and Hagrid squeezed
through it, his face covered in mud and blood, limping a little but
miraculously alive.
\Harry!" Knocking over two delicate tables and an aspidistra,
he covered the
oor between them in two strides and pulled Harry
into a hug that nearly cracked his newly repaired ribs. \Blimey,
Harry, how did yeh get out o' that? I thought we were both goners."
\Yeah, me too. I can't believe|"
Harry broke o . He had just noticed the woman who had en-
tered the room behind Hagrid.
\You!" he shouted, and he thrust his hand into his pocket, but
it was empty.
\Your wand's here, son," said Ted, tapping it on Harry's arm.
\It fell tight beside you, I picked it up. And that's my wife you're
shouting at."
\Oh, I'm|I'm sorry."
As shed moved forward into the room, Mrs. Tonks's resem-
blance to her sister Bellatrix became much less pronounced. Her
hair was a light, soft brown and her eyes were wider and kinder.
Nevertheless, she looked a little haughty after Harry's exclamation.
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Chapter 5
\What happened to our daughter?" she asked. \Hagrid said
you were ambushed; where is Nymphadora?"
\I don't know," said Harry. \We don't know what happened to
anyone else."
She and Ted exchanged looks. A mixture of fear and guilt
gripped Harry at the sight of their expressions; if any of the other
had died, it was his fault, all his fault. He had consented to the
plan, given them his hair. . . .
\The Portkey," he said, remembering all of a sudden. \We've
got to get back to the Burrow and nd out|then we'll be able to
send word, or|or Tonks will, once she's|"
\Dora'll be okay,'Dromeda," said Ted. \She knows her stu ,
she's been in plenty of tight spots with the Aurors. The Portkey's
through here," he added to Harry. \It's supposed to leave in three
minutes, if you want to take it."
\Yeah, we do," said Harry. He seized his rucksack, swung it
onto his shoulders. \I|"
He looked at Mrs. Tonks, wanting to apologize for the state of
fear in which he left her and for which eh felt so terribly respon-
sible, but no words occurred to him that did not seem hollow and
insincere.
\I'll tell Tonks|Dora|to send word, when she . . . Thanks for
patching us up, thanks for everything. I|"
He was glad to leave the room and follow Ted Tonks along
a short hallway and into a bedroom. Hagrid came after them,
bending low to avoid hitting his head on the door lintel.
\There you go, son. That's the Portkey."
Mr. Tonks was pointing to a small, silver-backed hairbrush
lying on the dressing table.
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Fallen Warrior
\Thanks," said Harry, reaching out to place a nger on it, ready
to leave.
\Wait a moment," said Hagrid, looking around. \Harry, where's
Hedwig?"
\She . . . she got hit," said Harry.
The realization crashed over him: He felt ashamed of himself as
the tears stung his eyes. The owl had bee his companion, his one
great link with the magical world whenever he had been forced to
return to the Dursleys.
Hagrid reached out a great hand and patted him painfully on
the shoulder.
\Never mind," he said gru y. \Never mind. She had a great
old life|"
\Hagrid!" said Ted Tonks warningly, as the hairbrush glowed
bright blue, and Hagrid only just got his fore nger to it in time.
With a jerk behind the navel as though an invisible hook and
line had dragged him forward, Harry was pulled into nothingness,
spinning uncontrollably, his nger glued to the Portkey as he and
Hagrid hurtled away from Mr. Tonks. Seconds later Harry's feet
slammed into hard ground and he fell onto his hands and knees
in the yard of the Burrow. He heard screams. Throwing aside
the no longer glowing hairbrush, Harry stood up, swaying slightly,
and saw Mrs. Weasley and Ginny running down the steps by the
back door as Hagrid, who had also collapsed on landing, clambered
laboriously to his feet.
\Harry? You are the real Harry? What happened? Where are
the others?" cried Mrs. Weasley.
\What d'you mean? Isn't anyone else back?" Harry panted.
The answer was clearly etched in Mrs. Weasley's pale face.
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Chapter 5
\The Death Eaters were waiting for us," Harry told her. \We
were surrounded the moment we took o |they knew it was
tonight|I don't know what happened to anyone else, four of them
chased us, it was all we could do to get away, and then Voldemort
caught up with us|"
He could hear the self-justifying note in his voice, the pleas for
her to understand why he did not know what had happened to her
sons, but|
\Thank goodness you're all right," she said, pulling him into a
hug he did not feel he deserved.
\Haven't go' any brandy, have yeh, Molly?" asked Hagrid a
little shakily. \Fer medicinal purposes?"
She could have summoned it by magic, but as she hurried back
towards the crooked house, Harry knew that she wanted to hide
her face. He turned to Ginny and she answered his unspoken plea
for information at once.
\Ron and Tonks should have been back rst, but they missed
their Portkey, it came back without them." she said, pointing at
a rusty oil can lying on the ground nearby. \And that one," she
pointed at an ancient sneaker, \should have been Dad and Fred's,
they were supposed to be second. You and Hagrid were third and,"
she checked her watch, \if they made it, George and Lupin ought
to be back in about a minute."
Mrs. Weasley reappeared carrying a bottle of brandy, which
she handed to Hagrid. He uncorked it and drank it straight down
in one.
\Mum!" shouted Ginny, pointing to a spot several feet away.
A blue light had appeared in the darkness; It grew larger
and brighter, and Lupin and George appeared, spinning and then
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Fallen Warrior
falling. Harry knew immediately that there was something wrong:
Lupin was supporting George, who was unconscious and whose face
was covered in blood.
Harry ran forward and seized George's legs. Together, he and
Lupin carried George into the house and through the kitchen to the
sitting room, where they laid him on the sofa. As the lamplight fell
across George's head, Ginny gasped and Harry's stomach lurched;
One of George's ears was missing. The side of his head and neck
was drenched in wet, shockingly scarlet blood.
No sooner had Mrs. Weasley bent over her son than Lupin
grabbed Harry by the upper arm and dragged him, none too gently,
back into the kitchen, where Hagrid was still attempting to ease
his bulk through the back door.
\Oi!" said Hagrid indignantly. \Le' go of him! Le' go of Harry!"
Lupin ignored him.
\What creature sat in the corner the rst time that Harry Potter
visited my o ce at Hogwarts?" he said, giving Harry a small shake.
\Answer me!"
\A|a grindylow in a tank, wasn't it?"
Lupin released Harry and fell back against a kitchen cupboard.
\Wha' was that' about?" roared Hagrid.
\I'm sorry Harry, but I had to check" said Lupin tersely. \We've
been betrayed. Voldemort knew that you were being moved tonight
and the only people who could have told him were directly involved
in the plan. You might have been an impostor."
\So why aren' you checkin' me?" panted Hagrid, still struggling
with the door.
\You're half-giant," said Lupin, looking up at Hagrid. \The
Polyjuice Potion is designed for human use only."
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Chapter 5
\None of the Order would have told Voldemort we were moving
tonight," said Harry. The idea was dreadful to him, he could not
believe it of any of them. \Voldemort only caught up with me
toward the end, he didn't know which one I was in the beginning.
If he'd been in on the plan he'd have known from the start I was
the one with Hagrid."
\Voldemort caught up with you?" said Lupin sharply. \What
happened? How did you escape?"
Harry explained brie
y how the Death Eaters pursuing them
had seemed to recognize him as the true Harry, how they had aban-
doned the chase, how they must have summoned Voldemort, who
had appeared just before he and Hagrid had reached the sanctuary
of Tonks's parents.
\They recognized you? But how? What had you done?"
\I . . . " Harry tried to remember; the whole journey seemed like
a blur of panic and confusion. \I saw Stan Shunpike. . . . You know,
the bloke who was the conductor on the Knight Bus? And I tried
to Disarm him instead of|well, he doesn't know what he's doing,
does he? He must be Imperiused!"
Lupin looked aghast.
\Harry, the time for Disarming is past! These people are trying
to capture and kill you! At least Stun if you aren't prepared to
kill!"
\We were hundreds of feet up! Stan's not himself and if I
stunned him and he'd fallen, he'd have died the same as if I'd
used Avada Kedavra!! Expelliarmus saved me from Voldemort two
years ago," Harry added de antly. Lupin was reminding him of
the sneering Hu epu Zacharias Smith, who had jeered at Harry
for wanting to teach Dumbledore's Army how to Disarm.
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Fallen Warrior
\Yes, Harry," said Lupin with painful restraint, \and a great
number of Death Eaters witnessed that happening! Forgive me,
but it was a very unusual move then, under imminent threat of
death. Repeating it tonight in front of Death Eaters who either
witnessed or heard about the rst occasion was close to suicidal!"
\So you think I should have killed Stan Shunpike?" said Harry
angrily.
\Of course not," said Lupin, \but the Death Eaters|frankly,
most people!|would have expected you to attack back! Expelliar-
mus is a useful spell, Harry, but the Death Eaters seem to think it
is your signature move, and I urge you not to let it become so!"
Lupin was making Harry feel idiotic, and yet there was still a
grain of de ance inside him.
\I won't blast people out of my way just because they're there."
said Harry. \That's Voldemort's job."
Lupin's retort was last; Finally succeeding in squeezing through
the door, Hagrid staggered to a chair and sat down: it collapsed
beneath him. Ignoring his mingled oaths and apologies, Harry
addressed Lupin again.
\Will George be okay?"
All Lupin's frustration with Harry seemed to drain away at the
question.
\I think so, although there's no chance of replacing his ear, not
when it's been cursed o |
There was a scu ing from outside. Lupin dived for the back
door; Harry leapt over Hagrid's legs and sprinted into the yard.
Two gures had appeared in the yard, and as Harry ran toward
them he realized they were Hermione, now returning to her normal
appearance, and Kingsley, both clutching a bent coat hanger. Her-
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Chapter 5
mione
ung herself into Harry's arms, but Kingsley showed no
pleasure at the sight of any of them. Over Hermione's shoulder
Harry saw him raise his wand and point it at Lupin's chest.
\The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us!"
\Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him," said Lupin calmly.
Kingsley turned his wand on Harry, but Lupin said, \It's him,
I've checked!"
\All right, all right!" said Kingsley, stowing his wand back
beneath his cloak. \But somebody betrayed us! They knew, they
knew it was tonight!"
\So it seems," replied Lupin, \but apparently they did not re-
alize that there would be seven Harrys."
\Small comfort!" snarled Kingsley. \Who else is back?"
\Only Harry, Hagrid, George, and me."
Hermione sti
ed a little moan behind her hand.
\What happened to you?" Lupin asked Kingsley.
\Followed by ve, injured two, might've killed one," Kingsley
reeled o , \and we saw You-Know-Who as well, he joined the chase
halfway through but vanished pretty quickly. Remus, he can|"
\Fly," supplied Harry. \I saw him too, he came after Hagrid
and me."
\So that's why he left, to follow you!" said Kingsley. \I couldn't
understand why he'd vanished. But what made him change tar-
gets?"
\Harry behaved a little too kindly to Stan Shunpike," said
Lupin.
\Stan?" repeated Hermione. \But I thought he was in Azka-
ban?"
Kingsley let out a mirthless laugh.
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\Hermione, there's obviously been a mass breakout which the
Ministry has hushed up. Traver's hood fell o when I cursed him,
he's supposed to be inside too. But what happened to you, Remus?
Where's George?"
\He lost an ear," said Lupin.
\Lost an|?" repeated Hermione in a high voice.
\Snape's work," said Lupin.
\Snape?" shouted Harry, \You didn't say|"
\He lost his hood during the chase. Sectumsempra was always
a speciality of Snape's. I wish I could say I'd paid him back in
kind, but it was all I could do to keep George on the broom after
he was injured, he was loosing so much blood."
Silence fell between the four of them as they looked up at
the sky. There was no sign of movement; the stars stared back,
unblinking, indi erent, unobscured by
ying friends. Where was
Ron? Where were Fred and Mr. Weasley? Where were Bill, Fleur,
Tonks, Mad-Eye, and Mundungus?
\Harry, give us a hand!" called Hagrid hoarsely from the door,
in which he was stuck again. Glad of something to do, Harry pulled
him free, then headed through the empty kitchen and back into the
sitting room, where Mrs. Weasley had staunched his bleeding now,
and by the lamplight Harry saw a clean, gaping hole where George's
ear had been.
\How is he?"
Mrs. Weasley looked around and said, \I can't make it grow
back, not when it's been removed by Dark Magic. But it could
have been so much worse . . . He's alive."
\Yeah," said Harry. \Thank God."
\Did I hear someone else in the yard?" Ginny asked.
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Chapter 5
\Hermione and Kingsley," said Harry.
\Thank goodness," Ginny whispered. They looked at each
other. Harry wanted to hug her, hold on to her; he did not even
care much that Mrs. Weasley was there, but before he could act
on the impulse there was a great crash from the kitchen.
\I'll prove who I am, Kingsley, after I've seen my son, now back
o if you know what's good for you!"
Harry had never heard Mr. Weasley shout like that before. He
burst into the living room, his bald patch gleaming with sweat, his
spectacles askew, Fred right behind him, both pale but uninjured.
\Arthur!" sobbed Mrs. Weasley. \Oh thank goodness!"
\How is?"
Mr. Weasley dropped to his knees beside George. For the rst
time since Harry had known him, Fred seemed to be lost for words.
He gaped over the back of the sofa at his twin's wound as if he could
not believe what he was seeing.
Perhaps roused by the sound of Fred and their father's arrival,
George stirred.
\How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Mrs. Weasley.
George's ngers groped at the side of his head.
\Saintlike" he murmured.
\What's wrong with him?" croaked Fred, looking terri ed: \Is
his mind a ected?"
\Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up
at his brother. \You see . . . I'm holy. Holey. Fred: geddit?"
Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever. Color
ooded Fred's
pale face.
\Pathetic," he told George. \Pathetic! With the whole wide
world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"
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\Ah well," said George, grinning at his tear-soaked mother.
\You'll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, Mum."
He looked around.
\Hi, Harry|you are Harry, right?"
\Yeah, I am," said Harry, moving closer to the sofa.
\Well, at least we got you back okay," said George, \Why aren't
Ron and Bill huddled round my sickbed?"
\They're not back yet, George," said Mrs. Weasley. George's
grin faded. Harry glanced at Ginny and motioned her to accom-
pany him back outside. As they walked through the kitchen she
said in a low voice,
\Ron and Tonks should be back by now. They didn't have a
long journey; Auntie Muriel's not that far from here."
Harry said nothing. He had been trying to keep fear at bay ever
since reaching the Burrow, but now it enveloped him, seeming to
crawl over his skin, throbbing in his chest, clogging his throat. As
they walked down the back steps into the dark yard, Ginny took
his hand.
Kingsley was striding backward and forward, glancing up at the
sky every time he turned. Harry was reminded of Uncle Vernon
pacing the living room a million years ago. Hagrid, Hermione, and
Lupin stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing upward in silence. None
of them looked around when Harry and Ginny joined their silent
vigil.
The minutes stretched into what might as well have been years.
The slightest breath of wind made them all jump and turn toward
the whispering bush or tree in the hope that one of the missing
Order members might leap unscathed from its leaves|
And then a broom materialized directly above them and
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Chapter 5
streaked toward the ground|
\It's them!" screamed Hermione.
Tonks landed in a long skid that sent earth and pebbles every-
where.
\Remus!" Tonks cried as she staggered o the broom into
Lupin's arms. His face was set and white: He seemed unable to
speak. Ron tripped dazedly toward Harry and Hermione.
\You're okay," he mumbled, before Hermione
ew at him and
hugged him tightly.
\I thought|I thought|"
\'M all right," said Ron, patting her on the back. \'M ne."
\Ron was great," said Tonks warmly, relinquishing her hold on
Lupin. \Wonderful. Stunned one of the Death Eaters, straight to
the head, and when you're aiming at a moving target from a
ying
broom|"
\You did?" said Hermione, gazing up at Ron with her arms
still around his neck.
\Always the tone of surprise," he said a little grumpily, breaking
free. \Are we the last back?"
\No," said Ginny, \we're still waiting for Bill and Fleur and
Mad-Eye and Mundungus. I'm going to tell Mum and Dad you're
okay, Ron|"
She ran back inside.
\So what kept you? What happened?" Lupin sounded almost
angry at Tonks.
\Bellatrix," said Tonks. \She wants me quite as much as she
wants Harry, Remus, she tried very hard to kill me. I just wish
I'd got her, I owe Bellatrix. But we de nitely injured Rodol-
phus. . . . Then we got to Ron's Auntie Muriel's and we'd missed
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our Portkey and she was fussing over us|"
A muscle was jumping in Lupin's jaw. He nodded, but seemed
unable to say anything else.
\So what happened to you lot?" Tonks asked, turning to Harry,
Hermione, and Kingsley.
They recounted the stories of their own journeys, but all the
time the continued absence of Bill, Fleur, Mad-eye, and Mundun-
gus seemed to lie upon them like a frost, its icy bite harder and
harder to ignore.
\I'm going to have to get back to Downing Street, I should have
been there an hour ago," said Kingsley nally, after a last sweeping
gaze at the sky. \Let me know when they're back."
Lupin nodded. With a wave to the others, Kingsley walked
away into the darkness toward the gate. Harry thought he heard
the faintest pop as Kingsley Disapparated just beyond the Burrow's
boundaries.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came racing down the back steps, Ginny
behind them. Both parents hugged Ron before turning to Lupin
and Tonks.
\Thank you," said Mrs. Weasley, \for our sons."
\Don't be silly, Molly," said Tonks at once.
\How's George?" asked Lupin.
\What's wrong with him?" piped up Ron.
\He's lost|"
But the end of Mrs. Weasley's sentence was drowned in a gen-
eral outcry: A thestral had just soared into sight and landed a few
feet from them. Bill and Fleur slid from its back, windswept but
unhurt.
\Bill! Thank God, thank God|"
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Chapter 5
Mrs. Weasley ran forward, but the hug Bill bestowed upon her
was perfunctory. Looking directly at his father, he said, \Mad-
Eye's dead."
Nobody spoke, nobody moved. Harry felt as though something
inside him was falling, falling through the earth, leaving him for-
ever.
\We saw it," said Bill; Fleur nodded, tear tracks glittering on
her cheeks in the light from the kitchen window. \It happened just
after we broke out of the circle: Mad-Eye and Dung were close by
us, they were heading north too, Voldemort|he can
y|went
straight for them. Dung panicked, I heard him cry out, Mad-Eye
tried to stop him, but he Disapparated. Voldemort's curse hit Mad-
Eye full in the face, he fell backward o his broom and|there was
nothing we could do, nothing, we had half a dozen of them on our
own tail|"
Bill's voice broke.
\Of course you couldn't have done anything," said Lupin.
They all stood looking at each other. Harry could not quite
comprehend it. Mad-Eye's dead; it could not be . . . Mad-Eye, so
tough, so brave, the consummate survivor . . .
At last it seemed to dawn on everyone, though nobody said
it, that there was no point waiting in the yard anymore, and in
silence they followed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley back into the Burrow,
and into the living room, where Fred and George were laughing
together.
\What's wrong?" said Fred, scanning their faced as they en-
tered. \What happened? Who's|?"
\Mad-Eye," said Mr. Weasley. \Dead."
The twins' grins turned to grimaces of shock. Nobody seemed
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Fallen Warrior
to know what to do. Tonks was crying silently into a handkerchief;
She had been close to Mad-Eye, Harry knew, his favorite and his
prot eg e at the Ministry of Magic. Hagrid, who had sat down on
the
oor in the corner where he had most space, was dabbing at
his eyes with his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.
Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of
rewhisky and some glasses.
\Here," he said, and with a wave of his wand he sent twelve
full classes soaring through the room to each of them, holding the
thirteenth aloft. \Mad-Eye,"
\Mad-Eye," they all said, and drank.
\Mad-Eye," echoed Hagrid, a little late, with a hiccup.
The rewhisky seared Harry's throat. It seemed to burn feel-
ing back into him, dispelling the numbness and sense of unreality,
lling him with something that was like courage.
\So Mundungus disappeared?" said Lupin, who had drained
his own glass in one.
The atmosphere changed at once. Everybody looked tense,
watching Lupin, both wanting him to go on, it seemed to Harry,
and slightly afraid of what they might hear.
\I know what you're thinking," said Bill. \and I wondered that
too, one the way back here, because they seemed to be expecting us,
didn't they? But Mundungus can't have betrayed us. They didn't
know there would be seven Harrys, that confused them the moment
we appeared, and in case you've forgotten, it was Mundungus who
suggested that little bit of skullduggery. Why wouldn't he have told
them the essential point? I think Dung panicked, it's as simple as
that. He didn't want to come in the rst place, but Mad-Eye made
him, and You-Know-Who went straight for them. It was enough
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Chapter 5
to make anyone panic."
\You-Know-Who acted exactly as Mad-Eye expected him to,"
sni ed Tonks, \Mad-Eye said he's expect the real Harry to be with
the toughest, most skilled Aurors. He chased Mad-Eye rst, and
when Mundungus gave them away he switched to Kingsley. . . ."
\Yes, and zat eez all very good," snapped Fleur, \but still eet
does not explain 'ow zey knew we were moving 'Arry tonight, does
it? Somebody must 'ave been careless. Somebody let slip ze date
to an outsider. It is ze only explanation for zeim knowing ze date
but not ze 'ole plan."
She glared around at them all, tear tracks still etched on her
beautiful face, silently daring any of them to contradict her. No-
body did. The dnly sound to break the silence was that of Hagrid
hiccuping from behind his handkerchief. Harry glanced at Hagrid,
who had just risked his own life to save Harry's|Hagrid, whom
he loved, whom he trusted, who had once been tricked into giving
Voldemort crucial information in exchange for a dragon's egg. . . .
\No," Harry said out loud, and they all looked at him, surprised.
The rewhisky seemed to have ampli ed his voice. \I mean . . . if
somebody made a mistake," Harry went on, \and let something
slip, I know they didn't mean to do it. It's not their fault," he
repeated, again a little louder than he would usually have spoken.
\We've got to trust each other. I trust all of you, I don't think
anyone in this room would ever sell me to Voldemort."
More silence followed his words. They were all looking at him;
Harry felt a little hot again and drank some more rewhisky for
something to do. As he drank, he thought of Mad-eye. Mad-Eye
had always been scathing about Dumbledore's willingness to trust
people.
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Fallen Warrior
\Well said, Harry," said Fred unexpectedly.
\Yeah, 'ear, 'ear," said George, with half a glance at Fred, the
corner of whose mouth twitched.
Lupin was wearing an odd expression as he looked at Harry. It
was close to pitying.
\You think I'm a fool?" demanded Harry.
\No, I think you're like James," said Lupin, \who would have
regarded it as the height of dishonor to mistrust his friends."
Harry knew what Lupin was getting at: that his father had
been betrayed by his friend, Peter Pettigrew. He felt irrationally
angry. He wanted to argue, but Lupin had turned away from him,
set down his glass upon a side table, and addressed Bill, \There's
work to do, I can ask Kingsley whether|"
\No," said Bill at once, \I'll do it, I'll come."
\Where are you going?" said Tonks and Fleur together.
\Mad-Eye's body," said Lupin. \We need to recover it."
\Can't it|?" began Mrs. Weasley with an appealing look at
Bill.
\Wait?" said Bill. \Not unless you'd rather the Death Eaters
took it?"
Nobody spoke. Lupin and Bill said good bye and left.
The rest of them now dropped into chairs, all except Harry, who
remained standing. The suddenness and completeness of death was
with them like a presence.
\I've got to go to," said Harry.
Ten pairs of startled eyes looked at him.
\Don't be silly, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley, \What are you
talking about?"
\I can't stay here."
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Chapter 5
He rubbed his forehead; it was prickling again. It had not hurt
like this for more than a year.
\You're all in danger while I'm here. I don't want|"
\But don't be so silly!" said Mrs. Weasley. \The whole point of
tonight was to get you here safely, and thank goodness it worked.
And Fleur's agreed to get married here rather than in France, and
we've arranged everything so that we can all stay together and look
after you|"
She did not understand; she was making him feel worse, not
better.
\If Voldemort nds out I'm here|"
\But why should he?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
\There are a dozen places you might be now, Harry," said Mr.
Weasley. \He's got no way of knowing which safe house you're in."
\It's not me I'm worried for!" said Harry.
\We know that," said Mr. Weasley quietly. \but it would make
our e orts tonight seem rather pointless if you left."
`Yer not goin' anywhere," growled Hagrid. \Blimey, Harry, after
all we wen' through ter get you here?"
\Yeah, what about my bleeding ear?" said George, hoisting
himself upon his cushions.
\I know that|"
\Mad|Eye wouldn't want|"
\I KNOW!" Harry bellowed.
He felt beleaguered and blackmailed. Did they think he did not
know what they had done for him, didn't they understand that
it was for precisely that reason that he wanted to go now, before
they had to su er any more on his behalf? There was a long and
awkward silence in which his scar continued to prickle and throb,
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Fallen Warrior
and which was broken at last by Mrs. Weasley.
\Where's Hedwig, Harry?" she said coaxingly. \We can put
her up with Pigwidgeon and giver her something to eat."
His insides clenched like a st. He could not tell her the truth.
He drank the last of his rewhisky to avoid answering.
\Wait till it gets out yeh did it again, Harry," said Hagrid.
\Escaped him, fought him o when he was right on top of yeh!"
\It wasn't me," said Harry
atly. \It was my wand. My wand
acted of its own accord."
After a few moments, Hermione said gently, \But that's impos-
sible, Harry. You mean that you did magic without meaning to,
you reacted instinctively."
\No," said Harry. \The bike was falling. I couldn't have told
you where Voldemort was, but my wand spun in my hand and
found him and shot a spell at him, and it wasn't even a spell I
recognized. I've never made gold
ames appear before."
\Often," said Mr. Weasley, \when you're in a pressured situa-
tion you can often produce magic you've never dreamed of. Small
children often nd, before they're trained|"
\It wasn't like that," said Harry, through gritted teeth. His car
was burning. He felt angry and frustrated; he hated the idea that
they were all imagining him to have power to match Voldemort's.
No one said anything. He knew that they did not believe him.
Now that he came to think of it, he had never heard of a wand
performing magic on its own before.
His scar seared with pain; it was all he could do not to moan
aloud. Mutter about fresh air, he set his glass down and left the
room.
As he crossed the dark yard, the great skeletal thestral looked
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Chapter 5
up, rustled its enormous batlike wings, then resumed its grazing.
Harry stopped at the gate into the garden, staring out at its over-
grown plants, rubbing his pounding forehead and thinking of Dum-
bledore.
Dumbledore would have believed him, he knew it. Dumbledore
would have known how and why Harry's wand had acted indepen-
dently, because Dumbledore always had the answers; he had known
about wands, had explained to Harry the strange connection that
existed between his wand and Voldemort's. . . . But Dumbledore,
like Mad-Eye, like Sirius, like his parents, like his poor owl, all
were gone where Harry could never talk to them again. He felt a
burning in his throat that had nothing to do with rewhisky. . . .
And then, out of nowhere, the pain in his scar peaked. As he
clutched his forehead and closed his eyes, a voice screamed inside
his head.
\You told me the problem would be solved by using another's
wand!"
And into his mind burst the vision of an emaciated old man
lying in rags upon a stone
oor, screaming, a horrible, drawn-out
scream, a scream of unendurable agony. . . .
\No! No! I beg you, I beg you. . . ."
\You lied to Lord Voldemort, Ollivander!"
\I did not. . . . I swear I did not. . . ."
\You sought to help Potter, to help him escape me!"
\I swear I did not. . . . I believed a di erent wand would
work. . . ."
\Explain, then, what happened. Lucius's wand is destroyed!"
\I cannot understand. . . . The connection . . . exists only . . . be-
tween your two wands. . . ."
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Fallen Warrior
\Lies!"
\Please. . . . I beg you. . . ."
And Harry saw the white hand raise its wand and felt Volde-
mort's surge of vicious anger, saw the frail old man on the
oor
writhe in agony|
\Harry?"
It was over as quickly as it had come: Harry stood shaking in
the darkness, clutching the gate into the garden, his heart racing,
his scar still tingling. It was several moments before he realized
that Ron and Hermione were at his side.
\Harry, come back in the house," Hermione whispered. \You
aren't still thinking of leaving?"
\Yeah, you've got to stay, mate," said Ron, thumping Harry on
the back.
\Are you all right?" Hermione asked, close enough now to look
into Harry's face. \You look awful!"
\Well," said Harry shakily, \I probably look better than Olli-
vander. . . ."
When he had nished telling them what he had seen, Ron looked
appalled, but Hermione downright terri ed.
\But it was supposed to have stopped! Your scar|it wasn't
supposed to do this anymore! You mustn't let that connection
open up again|Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind!"
When he did not reply, she gripped his arm.
\Harry, he's taking over the Ministry and the newspapers and
half the Wizarding world! Don't let him inside your head too!"
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Chapter 6
The Ghoul in Pa jamas
he shock of losing Mad-Eye hung over the house in
the days that followed; Harry kept expecting to see
him stumping in through the back door like the other
TOrder members, who passed in and out to relay news.
Harry felt that nothing but action would assuage his feelings of
guilt and grief and that he ought to set out on his mission to nd
and destroy Horcruxes as soon as possible.
\Well, you can't do anything about the"|Ron mouthed the
word Horcruxes |\till you're seventeen. You've still got the Trace
on you. And we can plan here as well as anywhere, can't we? Or,"
he dropped his voice to a whisper, \d'you reckon you already know
where the You-Know-Whats are?"
\No," Harry admitted.
\I think Hermione's been doing a bit of research," said Ron.
\She said she was saving it for when you got here."
They were sitting at the breakfast table; Mr. Weasley and Bill
had just left for work. Mrs. Weasley had gone upstairs to wake
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
Hermione and Ginny, while Fleur had drifted o to take a bath.
\The Trace'll break on the thirty- rst," said Harry. \That
means I only need to stay here four days. Then I can|"
\Five days," Ron corrected him rmly. \We've got to stay for
the wedding. They'll kill us if we miss it."
Harry understood \they" to mean Fleur and Mrs. Weasley.
\It's one extra day," said Ron, when Harry looked mutinous.
\Don't they realize how important|?"
\'Course they don't," said Ron. \They haven't got a clue. And
now you mention it, I want to talk to you about that."
Ron glanced toward the door into the hall to check that Mrs.
Weasley was not returning yet, then leaned in closer to Harry.
\Mum's been trying to get it out of Hermione and me. What
we're o to do. She'll try you next, so brace yourself. Dad and
Lupin've both asked us as well, but when we said Dumbledore
told you not to tell anyone except us, they dropped it. Not Mum,
though. She's determined."
Ron's prediction came true within hours. Shortly before lunch,
Mrs. Weasley detached Harry from the others by asking him to
help identify a lone man's sock that she thought might've come out
of his rucksack. Once she had him cornered in the tiny scullery o
the kitchen, she started.
\Ron and Hermione seem to think that the three of you are
dropping out of Hogwarts," she began in a light, casual tone.
\Oh," said Harry. \Well, yeah. We are."
The mangle turned of its own accord in a corner, wringing out
what looked like one of Mr. Weasley's vests.
\May I ask why you are abandoning your education?" said Mrs.
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Chapter 6
Weasley.
\Well, Dumbledore left me . . . stu to do," mumbled Harry.
\Ron and Hermione know about it, and they want to come too."
\What sort of `stu '?"
\I'm sorry, I can't|"
\Well, frankly I think Arthur and I have a right to know and
I'm sure Mr. and Mrs. Granger would agree!" said Mrs. Weasley.
Harry had been afraid of the \concerned parent" attack. He forced
himself to look directly into her eyes, noticing as he did that they
were precisely the same shade of brown as Ginny's. This did not
help.
\Dumbledore didn't want anyone else to know, Mrs. Weasley.
I'm sorry, Ron and Hermione don't have to come, it's their choice|
"
\I don't see that you have to go either!" she snapped, dropping
all pretense now. \You're barely of age, any of you! It's utter
nonsense, if Dumbledore needed work doing, he had the whole
Order at his command! Harry, you must have misunderstood him.
Probably he was telling you something he wanted done, and you
took it to mean that he wanted you |"
\I didn't misunderstand," said Harry
atly. \It's got to be me."
He handed her back the single stock he was supposed to be
identifying, which was patterned with golden bulrushes.
\And that's not mine, I don't support Puddlemere United."
\Oh, of course not," said Mrs. Weasley with a sudden and
rather unnerving return to her casual tone. \I should have real-
ized. Well, Harry, while we've still got you here, you won't mind
helping with the preparations for Bill and Fleur's wedding, will
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
you? There's still so much to do."
\No|I|of course not," said Harry, disconcerted by this sud-
den change of subject.
\Sweet of you," she replied, and she smiled as she left the
scullery.
From that moment on, Mrs. Weasley keep Harry, Ron, and Her-
mione so busy with preparations for the wedding that they hardly
had any time to think. The kindest explanation of this behavior
would have been that Mrs. Weasley wanted to distract them all
from thoughts of Mad-Eye and the terrors of their recent journey.
After two days of nonstop cutlery cleaning, of color-matching fa-
vors, ribbons, and
owers, of de-gnoming the garden and helping
Mrs. Weasley cook vast batches of canap es, however, Harry started
to suspect her of a di erent motive. All the jobs she handed out
seems to keep him, Ron, and Hermione away from one another;
he had not had a chance to speak to the two of them alone since
the rst night, when he had told them about Voldemort torturing
Ollivander.
\I think Mum thinks that if she can stop the three of you getting
together and planning, she'll be able to delay your leaving," Ginny
told Harry in an undertone, as they laid the table for dinner on
the third night of his stay.
\And then what does she think's going to happen?" Harry mut-
tered. \Someone else might kill o Voldemort while she's holding
us here making vol-au-vents?"
He had spoken without thinking, and saw Ginny's face whiten.
\So it's true?" She said, \That's what you're trying to do?"
\I|not|I was joking," said Harry evasively.
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Chapter 6
They stared at each other, and there was something more than
shock in Ginny's expression. Suddenly Harry became aware that
this was the rst time that he had been alone with her since their
stolen hours in secluded corners of the Hogwarts grounds. He was
sure she was remembering them too. Both of them jumped as the
door opened, and Mr. Weasley, Kingsley, and Bill walked in.
They were often joined by other Order members for dinner now,
because the Burrow had replaced number twelve, Grimmauld Place
as the headquarters. Mr. Weasley had explained that after the
death of Dumbledore, their Secret-Keeper, each of the people to
whom Dumbledore had con ded Grimmauld Place's location had
become a Secret People in turn.
\And as there are around twenty of us, that greatly dilutes the
power of the Fidelius Charm. Twenty times as many opportunities
for the Death Eaters to get the secret out of somebody. We can't
expect it to hold much longer."
\But surely Snape will have told the Death Eaters the address
by now?" asked Harry.
\Well, Mad-Eye set up a couple of curses against Snape in case
he turns up there again. We hope they'll be strong enough both
to keep him out and to bind his tongue if he tries to talk about
the place, but we can't be sure. It would have been insane to keep
using the place as headquarters now that its protection has become
so shaky."
The kitchen was so crowded that evening was di cult to ma-
neuver knives and forks. Harry found himself crammed beside
Ginny; the unsaid things that had just passed between them made
him wish they had been separated by a few more people. He was
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
trying to hard to avoid brushing her arm he could barely cut his
chicken.
\No news about Mad-Eye?" Harry asked Bill.
\Nothing," replied Bill.
They had not been able to hold a funeral for Moody, because
Bill and Lupin had failed to recover his body. It had been di cult
to know where he might have fallen, given the darkness and the
confusion of the battle.
\The Daily Prophet hasn't said a word about him dying or
about nding the body," Bill went on. \But that doesn't mean
much. It's keeping a lot quiet these days."
\And they still haven't called a hearing about all the underage
magic I used escaping the Death Eaters?" Harry called across the
table to Mr. Weasley, who shook his head.
\Because they know I had no choice or because they don't want
me to tell the world Voldemort attacked me?" \The latter, I think.
Scrimgeour doesn't want to admit that You-Know-Who is as pow-
erful as he is, nor that Azkaban's seen a mass breakout."
\Yeah, why tell the public the truth?" said Harry, clenching his
knife so tightly that the faint scars on the back of his right hand
stood out, white against his skin: I must not tell lies.
\Isn't anyone at the Ministry prepared to stand up to him?"
asked Ron angrily.
\Of course, Ron, but people are terri ed." Mr. Weasley replied,
\terri ed that they will be next to disappear, their children the
next to be attacked! There are nasty rumors going around; I for
one don't believe the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts re-
signed. She hasn't been seen for weeks now. Meanwhile Scrim-
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Chapter 6
geour remains shut up in his o ce all day. I just hope he's working
on a plan. There was a pause in which Mrs. Weasley magicked her
empty plates onto the work surface and served apple tart.
\We must decide 'ow you will be disguised,'Arry," said Fleur,
once everyone had pudding. \For ze wedding," she added, when he
looked confused. \Of course, none of our guests are Death Eaters,
but we cannot guarantee zat zey will not let something slip after
zey 'ave 'ad champagne."
From this, Harry gathered that she still suspected Hagrid.
\Yes, good point," said Mrs. Weasley from the top of the table,
where she sat, spectacles perched on the end of her nose, scanning
an immense list of jobs that she had scribbled on a very long piece
of parchment. \Now, Ron, have you cleaned out your room yet?"
\Why?" exclaimed Ron, slamming his spoon down and glaring
at his mother. \Why does my room have to be cleaned out? Harry
and I are both ne with it the way it is!"
\We are holding your brother's wedding here in a few days'
time, young man|"
\And are they getting married in my bedroom?" asked Ron
furiously. \No! So why in the name of Merlin's saggy left|"
\Don't you talk to your mother like that," said Mr. Weasley
rmly, \And do as you're told."
Ron scowled at both his parents, then picked up his spoon and
attacked the last few mouthfuls of his apple tart.
\I can help, some of it's my mess." Harry told Ron, but Mrs.
Weasley cut across him.
\No, Harry, dear, I'd much rather you helped Arthur muck out
the chickens, and Hermione, I'd be ever so grateful if you'd change
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
the sheets for Monsieur and Madame Delacour, you know they're
arriving at eleven tomorrow morning."
But as it turned out, there was very little to do for the chickens,
\There's no need to, er, mention it to Molly," Mr. Weasley told
Harry, blocking his access to the coop, \but, er, Ted Tonks sent me
most of what was left of Sirius's bike, and, er, I'm hiding|that's
to say, keeping|it in here. Fantastic stu ! There's an exhaust
gaskin, as I believe it's called, the most magni cent battery, and
it'll be a great opportunity to nd out how brakes work. I'm going
to try and put it all back together again when Molly's not|I mean,
when I've got time."
When they returned to the house, Mrs. Weasley was nowhere
to be seen, so Harry slipped upstairs to Ron's attic bedroom.
\I'm doing it, I'm doing|! Oh, it's you," said Ron in relief, as
Harry entered the room. Ron lay back down on the bed, which he
had evidently just vacated. The room was just as messy as it had
been all week; the only change was that Hermione was now sitting
in the far corner, her
u y ginger cat, Crookshanks, at her feet,
sorting books, some of which Harry recognized as his own, into two
enormous piles.
\Hi, Harry," she said, as he sat down on his camp bed.
\And how did you manage to get away?"
\Oh, Ron's mum forgot that she asked Ginny and me to change
the sheets yesterday," said Hermione. She threw Numerology and
Grammatica onto one pile and Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts onto
the other.
\We were just talking about Mad-Eye," Ron told Harry. \I
reckon he might have survived."
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Chapter 6
\But Bill saw him hit by the Killing Curse," said Harry.
\Yeah, but Bill was under attack too," said Ron. \How can he
be sure what he saw?"
\Even if the Killing curse missed, Mad Eye still fell about a
thousand feet," said Hermione, now weighing Quidditch Teams of
Britain and Ireland in her hand.
\He could have used a Shield Charm|"
\Fleur said his wand was blasted out of his hand," said Harry.
\Well, all right, if you want him to be dead," said Ron grumpily,
punching his pillow into a more comfortable shape.
\Of course we don't want him to be dead!" said Hermione,
looking shocked. \It's dreadful that he's dead! But we're being
realistic!"
For the rst time, Harry imagined Mad|Eye's body, broken
as Dumbledore's had been, yet with that one eye still whizzing in
its socket. He felt a stab of revulsion mixed with a bizarre desire
to laugh.
\The Death Eaters probably tidied up after themselves, that's
why no one's found him," said Ron wisely.
\Yeah," said Harry. \Like Barty Crouch, turned into a bone
and buried in Hagrid's front garden. They probably trans gured
Moody and stu ed him|"
\Don't!" squealed Hermione. Startled, Harry looked over just
in time to see her burst into tears over her copy of Spellman's
Syllabary.
\Oh no," said Harry, struggling to get up from the old camp
bed. \Hermione, I wasn't trying to upset|"
But with a great creaking of rusty bedsprings, Ron bounded o
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
the bed and got there rst. One arm around Hermione, he shed
in his jeans pocket and withdrew a revolting-looking handkerchief
that he had used to clean out the over earlier. Hastily pulling out
his wand, he pointed it at the rag and said, \Tergeo."
The wand siphoned o most of the grease. Looking rather
pleased with himself, Ron handed the slightly smoking handker-
chief to Hermione.
\Oh . . . thanks, Ron. . . . I'm sorry. . . ." She blew her nose and
hiccuped. \It's just so awf-ful, isn't it? R{right after Dumble-
dore . . . I j{just n{never imagined Mad-Eye dying, somehow, he
seemed so tough!"
\Yeah, I know," said Ron, giving her a squeeze. \But you know
what he'd say to us if he was here?"
\'C{constant vigilance,'" said Hermione, mopping her eyes.
\That's right," said Ron, nodding. \He'd tell us to learn from
what happened to him. And what I've learned is not to trust that
cowardly little squit, Mundungus."
Hermione gave a shaky laugh and leaned forward to pick up
two more books. A second later, Ron had snatched his arm back
from around her shoulders; she had dropped The Monster Book of
Monsters on his foot. The book had broken free from its restraining
belt and snapped viciously at Ron's ankle.
\I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Hermione cried as Harry wrenched the
book from Ron's leg and retied it shut.
\What are you doing with all those books anyway?" Ron asked,
limping back to his bed.
\Just trying to decide which ones to take with us," said Her-
mione. \When we're looking for the Horcruxes."
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Chapter 6
\Oh, of course," said Ron, clapping a hand to his forehead. \I
forgot we'll be hunting down Voldemort in a mobile library."
\Ha ha," said Hermione, looking down at Spellman's Syllabary.
\I wonder . . . will we need to translate runes? It's possible. . . . I
think we'd better take it, to be safe."
She dropped the syllabary onto the larger of the two piles and
picked up Hogwarts, A History.
\Listen," said Harry.
He had sat up straight. Ron and Hermione looked at him with
similar mixtures of resignation and de ance.
\I know you said after Dumbledore's funeral that you wanted
to come with me," Harry began.
\Here he goes," Ron said to Hermione, rolling his eyes.
\As we knew he would," she sighed, turning back to the books.
\You know, I think I will take Hogwarts, A History. Even if we're
not going back there, I don't think I'd feel right if I didn't have it
with|"
\Listen!" said Harry again.
\No, Harry, you listen," said Hermione. \We're coming with
you. That was decided months ago|years, really."
\But|"
\Shut up," Ron advised him.
\|are you sure you've thought this through?" Harry persisted.
\Let's see," said Hermione, slamming Travels with Trolls onto
the discarded pile with a rather erce look. \I've been packing for
days, so we're ready to leave at a moment's notice, which for your
information has included doing some pretty di cult magic, not
to mention smuggling Mad-Eye's whole stock of Polyjuice Potion
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
right under Ron's mum's nose.
\I've also modi ed my parents' memories so that they're con-
vinced that they're really called Wendell and Monica Wilkins, and
that their life's ambition is to move to Australia, which they have
now done. That's to make it more di cult for Voldemort to track
them down and interrogate them about me|or you, because un-
fortunately, I've told them quite a bit about you.
\Assuming I survive our hunt for the Horcruxes, I'll nd Mum
and Dad and lift the enchantment. If I don't|well, I think I've
cast a good enough charm to keep them safe and happy. Wendell
and Monica Wilkins don't know that they've got a daughter, you
see."
Hermione's eyes were swimming with tears again. Ron got back
o the bed, put his arms around her once more, and frowned at
Harry as though reproaching him for lack of tact. Harry could not
think of anything to say, not least because it was highly unusual
for Ron to be teaching anyone else tact.
\I|Hermione, I'm sorry|I didn't|"
\Didn't realize that Ron and I know perfectly well what might
happen if we come with you? Well, we do. Ron, show Harry what
you've done."
\Nah, he's just eaten," said Ron.
\Go on, he needs to know!"
\Oh, all right. Harry, come here."
For the second time Ron withdrew his arm from around Her-
mione and stumped over to the door.
\C'mon."
\Why?" Harry asked, following Ron out of the room onto the
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Chapter 6
tiny landing.
\Descendo," muttered Ron, pointing his wand at the low ceiling.
A hatch opened right over their heads and a ladder slid down to
their feet. A horrible, half-sucking, half, moaning sound came out
of the square hole, along with an unpleasant smell like open drains.
\That's your ghoul, isn't it?" asked Harry, who had never actu-
ally met the creature that sometimes disrupted the nightly silence.
\Yeah, it is," said Ron, climbing the ladder. \Come and have
a look at him."
Harry followed Ron up the few short steps into the tiny attic
space. His head and shoulders were in the room before he caught
sight of the creature curled up a few feet from him, fast asleep in
the gloom with its large mouth wide open.
\But it . . . it looks . . . do ghouls normally wear pajamas?"
\No," said Ron. \Nor have they usually got red hair or that
number of pustules."
Harry contemplated the thing, slightly revolted. It was human
in shape and size, and was wearing what, now that Harry's eyes
became used to the darkness, was clearly an old pair of Ron's
pajamas. He was also sure that ghouls were generally rather slimy
and bald, rather than distinctly hairy and covered in angry purple
blisters.
\He's me, see?" said Ron.
\No," said Harry. \I don't."
\I'll explain it back in my room, the smell's getting to me," said
Ron. They climbed back down the ladder, which Ron returned to
the ceiling, and rejoined Hermione, who was still sorting books.
\Once we've left, the ghoul's going to come and live down here
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
in my room," said Ron. \I think he's really looking forward to it|
well, it's hard to tell, because all he can do is moan and drool|but
he nods a lot when you mention it. Anyway, he's going to be me
with spattergroit. Good, eh?"
Harry merely looked his confusion.
\It is!" said Ron, clearly frustrated that Harry had not grasped
the brilliance of the plan. \Look, when we three don't turn up at
Hogwarts again, everyone's going to think Hermione and I must be
with you, right? Which means the Death Eaters will go straight
for our families to see if they've got information on where you are."
\But hopefully it'll look like I've gone away with Mum and Dad;
a lot of Muggle|borns are talking about going into hiding at the
moment," said Hermione.
\We can't hide my whole family, it'll look too shy and they
can't all leave their jobs," said Ron. \So we're going to put out the
story that I'm seriously ill with spattergroit, which is why I can't
go back to school. If anyone comes calling to investigate, Mum
or dad can show then the ghoul in my bed, covered in pustules.
Spattergroit's really contagious, so they're not going to want to
go near him. It won't matter that he can't say anything, either,
because apparently you can't once the fungus has spread to your
uvula."
\And your mum and dad are in on this plan?" asked Harry.
\Dad is. He helped Fred and George transform the ghoul.
Mum . . . well, you've seen what she's like. She won't accept we're
going till we've gone."
There was silence in the room, broken only by gentle thuds
as Hermione continued to throw books into one pile or the other.
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Chapter 6
Ron sat watching her, and Harry looked from one to the other.
The measures they had taken to protect their families made him
realize, more than anything else could have done, that they really
were going to come with him and that they knew exactly how dan-
gerous that would be. He wanted to tell them what that meant to
him, but he simply could not nd words important enough.
Through the silence came the mu ed sounds of Mrs. Weasley
shouting from four
oors below.
\Ginny's probably left a speck of dust on a poxy napkin ring,"
said Ron. \I dunno why the Delacours have got to come two days
before the weddings."
\Fleur's sister's a bridesmaid, she needs to be here for the re-
hearsal, and she's too young to come on her own," said Hermione,
as she pored indecisively over Break with a Banshee.
\Well, guests aren't going to help Mum's stress levels," said
Ron.
\What we really need to decide," said Hermione, tossing De-
fensive Magical Theory into the bin without a second glance and
picking up An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, \is where
we're going after we leave here. I know you said you wanted
to go to Godric's Hollow rst, Harry, and I understand why,
but . . . well . . . shouldn't we make the Horcruxes our priority?"
\If we knew where any of the Horcruxes were, I'd agree with
you," said Harry, who did not believe that Hermione really under-
stood his desire to Godric's Hollow. His parents graves were only
part of the attraction: He had a strong, though inexplicable, feeling
that the place held answers for him. Perhaps it was simply because
it was there that he had survived Voldemort's Killing Curse; now
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
that he was facing the challenge of repeating the feat, Harry was
drawn to the place where it happened, wanting to understand.
\Don't you think there's a possibility that Voldemort's keeping
a watch on Godric's Hollow?" Hermione asked. \He might expect
you to go back and visit your parents' graves once you're free to
go wherever you like?"
This had not occurred to Harry. While he struggled to nd a
counterargument, Ron spoke up, evidently following his own train
of thought.
\This R.A.B. person," he said, \You know, the one who stole
the real locket?"
Hermione nodded.
\He said in his note that he was going to destroy it, didn't he?"
Harry dragged his rucksack toward him and pulled out the fake
Horcrux in which R.A.B.'s note was still folded.
\`I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon
as I can,'" Harry read out.
\Well, what if he did nish it o ?" said Ron.
\Or she." interposed Hermione.
\Whichever," said Ron, \it'd be one less for us to do!"
\Yes, but we're still going to have to try and trace the real
locket, aren't we?" said Hermione, \to nd out whether or not it's
destroyed."
\And once we get hold of it, how do you destroy a Horcrux?"
asked Ron.
\Well," said Hermione, \I've been researching that."
\How?" asked Harry. \I didn't think there were any books on
Horcruxes in the library?"
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Chapter 6
\There weren't," said Hermione, who had turned pink. \Dum-
bledore removed them all, but he|he didn't destroy them."
Ron sat up straight, wide-eyed.
\It|it wasn't stealing!" said Hermione, looking from Harry to
Ron with a kind of desperation. \They were still library books,
even if Dumbledore had taken them o the shelves. Anyway, if he
really didn't want anyone to get at them, I'm sure he would have
made it much harder to|"
\Get to the point!" said Ron.
\Well . . . it was easy," said Hermione in a small voice. \I
just did a Summoning Charm. You know|Accio. And . . . they
zoomed out of Dumbledore's study window right into the girls'
dormitory."
\But when did you do this?" Harry asked, regarding Hermione
with a mixture of admiration and incredulity.
\Just after his|Dumbledore's|funeral," said Hermione in an
even smaller voice. \Right after we agreed we'd leave school and
go and look for the Horcruxes. When I went back upstairs to get
my things it|it just occurred to me that the more we knew about
them, the better it would be . . . and I was alone in there . . . so I
tried . . . and it worked. They
ew straight in through the open
window and I|I packed them."
She swallowed and then said imploringly, \I can't believe Dum-
bledore would have been angry, it's not as though we're going to
use the information to make a Horcrux, is it?"
\Can you hear us complaining?" said Ron. \Where are these
books anyway?"
Hermione rummaged for a moment and then extracted from
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
the pile a large volume, bound in faded black leather. She looked
a little nauseated and held it as gingerly as if it were something
recently dead.
\This is the one that gives explicit instructions on how to make
a Horcrux. Secrets of the Darkest Art |it's a horrible book, really
awful, full of evil magic. I wonder when Dumbledore removed it
from the library. . . . If he didn't do it until he was headmaster, I
bet Voldemort got all the instruction he needed from here."
\Why did he have to ask Slughorn how to make a Horcrux,
then, if he'd already read that?" asked Ron.
\He only approached Slughorn to nd out what would happen
if you split your soul into seven," said Harry. \Dumbledore was
sure Riddle already knew how to make a Horcrux but the time he
asked Slughorn about them. I think you're right, Hermione, that
could easily have been where he got the information."
\And the more I've read about them," said Hermione, \the
more horrible they seem, and the less I can believe that he actually
made six. It warns in this book how unstable you make the rest of
your soul by ripping it, and that's just by making one Horcrux!"
Harry remembered what Dumbledore had said about Voldemort
moving beyond \usual evil."
\Isn't there any way of putting yourself back together?" Ron
asked.
\Yes," said Hermione with a hollow smile, \but it would be
excruciatingly painful."
\Why? How do you do it?" asked Harry.
\Remorse," said Hermione. \You've got to really feel what
you've done. There's a footnote. Apparently the pain of it can
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Chapter 6
destroy you. I can't see Voldemort attempting it somehow, can
you?"
\No," said Ron, before Harry could answer. \So does it say
how to destroy Horcruxes in that book?"
\Yes," said Hermione, now turning the fragile pages as if exam-
ining rotting entrails. \because it warns Dark wizards how strong
they have to make the enchantments on them. From all that I've
read, what Harry did to Riddle's diary was one of the really fool-
proof ways of destroying a Horcrux."
\What, stabbing it with a basilisk fang?" asked Harry.
\Oh well, lucky we've got such a large supply of basilisk fangs,
then," said Ron. \I was wondering what we were going to do with
them."
\It doesn't have to be a basilisk fang," said Hermione patiently.
\It has to be something so destructive that the Horcrux can't repair
itself. Basilisk venom only has one antidote, and it's incredibly
rare|"
\|phoenix tears," said Harry, nodding.
\Exactly," said Hermione, \Our problem is that the are very
few substances as destructive as basilisk venom, and they're all
dangerous to carry around with you. That's a problem we're going
to have to solve though, because ripping, smashing, or crushing a
Horcrux won't do the trick. You've got to put it beyond magical
repair."
\But even if we wreck the thing it lives in," said Ron, \Why
can't the bit of soul in it just go and live in something else?"
\Because a Horcrux is the complete opposite of a human being."
Seeing that Harry and Ron looked thoroughly confused, Her-
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
mione hurried on, \Look, if I picked up a sword right now, Ron,
and ran you through with it, I wouldn't damage your soul at all."
\Which would be a real comfort to me, I'm sure," said Ron.
Harry laughed.
\It should be, actually! But my point is that whatever happens
to your body, your soul will survive untouched," said Hermione.
\But it's the other way round with a Horcrux. The fragment of
soul inside it depends on its container, its enchanted body, for
survival, It can't exist without it."
\That diary sort of died when I stabbed it," said Harry, remem-
bering ink pouring like blood from the punctured pages, and the
screams of the piece of Voldemort's soul as it vanished.
\And once the diary was properly destroyed, the bit of soul
trapped in it could no longer exist. Ginny tried to get rid of the
diary before you did,
ushing it away, but obviously it came back
good as new."
\Hang on," said Ron, frowning. \The bit of soul in that diary
was possessing Ginny, wasn't it? How does that work, then?"
\While the magical container is still intact, the bit of soul in-
side it can
it in and out of someone if they get too close to the
object. I don't mean holding it for long, it's nothing to do with
touching it," she added before Ron could speak. \I mean close
emotionally. Ginny poured her heart out into that diary, she made
herself incredibly vulnerable. You're in trouble if you get too fond
of or dependent on the Horcrux."
\I wonder how Dumbledore destroyed the ring?" said Harry.
\Why didn't I ask him? I never really . . . "
His voice tailed away: He was thinking of all the things he
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Chapter 6
should have asked Dumbledore, and of how, since the headmaster
had died, it seemed to Harry that he had wasted so many oppor-
tunities when Dumbledore had been alive, to nd out more . . . to
nd out everything. . . .
The silence was shattered as the bedroom door
ew open with a
wall-shaking crash. Hermione shrieked and dropped Secrets of the
Darkest Art. Crookshanks streaked under the bed, hissing indig-
nantly; Ron jumped o the bed, skidded on a discarded Chocolate
Frog wrapper, and smacked his head on the opposite wall; and
Harry instinctively dived for his wand before realizing that he was
looking up at Mrs. Weasley, whose hair was disheveled and whose
face was contorted with rage.
\I'm so sorry to break up this cozy little gathering," she said,
her voice trembling. \I'm sure you all need your rest . . . but there
are wedding presents stacked in my room that need sorting out and
I was under the impression that you had agreed to help."
\Oh yes," said Hermione, looking terri ed as she leapt on her
feet, sending books
ying in every direction, \we will . . . we're
sorry . . . "
With an anguished look at Harry and Ron, Hermione, hurried
out of the room after Mrs. Weasley.
\It's like being a house-elf," complained Ron in an undertone,
still massaging his head as he and Harry followed. \Except without
the job satisfaction. The sooner this wedding's over, the happier
I'll be."
\Yeah," said Harry, \then we'll have nothing to do except nd
Horcruxes. . . . It'll be like a holiday, won't it?"
Ron started to laugh, but at the sight of the enormous pile
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
of wedding presents waiting for them in Mrs. Weasley's room,
stopped quite abruptly.
The Delacours arrived the following morning at eleven o'clock.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were feeling quite resentful to-
ward Fleur's family by this time, and it was with ill grace that
Ron stumped back upstairs to put on matching socks, and Harry
attempted to
atten his hair. Once they had all been deemed
smart enough, they trooped out into the sunny backyard to await
the visitors.
Harry had never seen the place looking so tidy. The rusty caul-
drons and old Wellington boots that usually littered the steps by
the back door were gone, replaced by two new Flutterby bushes
standing either side of the door in large pots, though there was no
breeze, the leaves waved lazily, giving an attractive rippling e ect.
The chickens had been shut away, the yard had been swept, and the
nearby garden had been pruned, plucked, and generally spruced up,
although Harry, who liked it in its overgrown state, thought that
it looked rather forlorn without its usually contingent of capering
gnomes.
He had lost track of how many security enhancements had been
placed upon the Burrow by both the Order and the Ministry; all
he knew was that it was no longer possible for anybody to travel
by magic directly into the place. Mr. Weasley had therefore gone
to meet the Delacours on top of a nearby hill, where they were
to arrive by Portkey. The rst sound of their approach was an
unusually high-pitched laugh, which turned out to be coming from
Mr. Weasley, who appeared at the gate moments later, laden with
luggage and leading a beautiful blonde woman in long, leaf-green
107
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Chapter 6
robes, who could only be Fleur's mother.
\Maman!"cried Fleur, rushing forward to embrace her.
\Papa!"
Monsieur Delacour was nowhere near as attractive as his wife;
he was a head shorter and extremely plump, with a little, pointed
black beard. However, he looked good-natured. Bouncing toward
Mrs. Weasley on high-heeled boots, he kissed her twice on each
cheek, leaving her
ustered.
\You 'ave been to much trouble," he said in a deep voice. \Fleur
tells us you 'ave been working very 'ard."
\Oh, it's been nothing, nothing" trilled Mrs. Weasley. \No
trouble at all."
Ron relieved his feelings by aiming a kick at a gnome who was
peering out from behind one of the new Flutterby bushes.
\Dear lady!"said Monsieur Delacour, still holding Mrs.
Weasley's hand between his two plump ones and beaming. \We
are most honored at the approaching union of our two families! Let
me present my wife, Apolline."
Madame Delacour glided forward and stooped to kiss Mrs.
Weasley too. \Enchant ee," she said. \Your 'usband 'as been telling
us such amusing stories!"
Mr. Weasley gave a maniacal laugh; Mrs. Weasley threw him
a look, upon which he became immediately silent and assumed an
expression appropriate to the sickbed of a close friend.
\And, of course, you 'ave met my leetle daughter, Gabrielle!"
said Monsieur Delacour. Gabrielle was Fleur in miniature; eleven
years old, with waist|length hair of pure, silvery blonde, she gave
Mrs. Weasley a dazzling smile and hugged her, then threw Harry
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The Ghoul in Pajamas
a glowing look, batting her eyelashes. Ginny cleared her throat
loudly.
\Well, come in, do!" said Mrs. Weasley brightly, and she ush-
ered the Delacours into the house, with many \No, please!"s and
\After you!"s and \Not at all!"s.
The Delacours, as it soon transpired, were helpful, pleasant
guests. They were pleased with everything and keen to assist with
the preparations for the wedding. Monsieur Delacour pronounced
everything from the seating plan to the bridesmaids' shows \Char-
mant!" Madame Delacour was most accomplished at household
spells and had the oven properly cleaned in a trice; Gabrielle fol-
lowed her elder sister around, trying to assist in any way she could
and jabbering away in rapid French.
On the downside, the Burrow was not built to accommodate so
many people. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were now sleeping in the sit-
ting room, having shouted down Monsieur and Madame Delacour's
protests and insisted they take their bedroom. Gabrielle was sleep-
ing with Fleur in Percy's old room, and Bill would be sharing with
Charlie, his best man, once Charlie arrived from Romania. Op-
portunities to make plans together became virtually nonexistent,
and it was in desperation that Harry, Ron, and Hermione took to
volunteering to feed the chickens just to escape the overcrowded
house.
\But she still won't leave us alone!" snarled Ron, as their sec-
ond attempt at a meeting in the yard was foiled by the appearance
of Mrs. Weasley carrying a large basket of laundry in her arms.
\Oh, good, you've fed the chickens," she called as she ap-
proached them. \We'd better shut them away again before the
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Chapter 6
men arrive tomorrow . . . to put up the tent for the wedding,"
she explained, pausing to lean against the henhouse. She looked
exhausted. \Millamant's Magic Marquees . . . they're very good.
Bill's escorting them. . . . You'd better stay inside while they're here,
Harry. I must say it does complicate organizing a wedding, having
all these security spells around the place."
\I'm sorry," said Harry humbly.
\Oh, don't be silly, dear!" said Mrs. Weasley at once. \I didn't
mean|well, your safety's much more important! Actually, I've
been wanting to ask you how you want to celebrate your birthday,
Harry. Seventeen, after all, it's an important day. . . ."
\I don't want a fuss," said Harry quickly, envisaging the ad-
dition strain this would put on them all. \Really, Mrs. Weasley,
just a normal dinner would be ne. . . . It's the day before the wed-
ding. . . ."
\Oh, well, if you're sure, dear. I'll invite Remus and Tonks,
shall I? And how about Hagrid?"
\That'd be great," said Harry. \But please don't go to loads of
trouble."
\Not at all, not at all . . . It's no trouble. . . ." She looked at
him, a long, searching look, then smiled a little sadly, straightened
up, and walked away. Harry watched as she waved her wand near
the washing line, and the damp clothes rose into the air to hang
themselves up, and suddenly he felt a great wave of remorse for
the inconvenience and the pain he was giving her.
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The Will of Albus
Dumbledore
e was walking along a mountain road in the cool blue
light of dawn. Far below, swathed in mist, was the
shadow of a small town. Was the man he sought down
Hthere, the man he needed so badly he could think
of little else, the man who held the answer, the answer to his
problem . . . ?
\Oi, wake up,"
Harry opened his eyes. He was lying again on the camp bed in
Ron's dingy attic room. The sun had not yet risen and the room
was still shadowy. Pigwidgeon was asleep with his head under his
tiny wing. The scar on Harry's forehead was prickling.
\You were muttering in your sleep."
\Was I?"
\Yeah. `Gregorovitch.' You kept saying `Gregorovitch.'"
Harry was not wearing his glasses; Ron's face appeared slightly
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Chapter 7
blurred.
\Who's Gregorovitch?"
\I dunno, do I? You were the one saying it."
Harry rubbed his forehead, thinking. He had a vague idea he
had heard the name before, but he could not think where.
\I think Voldemort's looking for him."
\Poor bloke," said Ron fervently.
Harry sat up, still rubbing his scar, now wide awake. He tried
to remember exactly what he had seen in the dream, but all that
came back was a mountainous horizon and the outline of the little
village cradled in a deep valley.
\I think he's abroad."
\Who, Gregorovitch?"
\Voldemort. I think he's somewhere abroad, looking for Gre-
gorovitch. It didn't look like anywhere in Britain."
\You reckon you were seeing into his mind again?"
Ron sounded worried.
\Do me a favor and don't tell Hermione," said Harry. \Al-
though how she expects me to stop seeing stu in my sleep . . . "
He gazed up at little Pigwidgeon's cage, thinking . . . Why was
the name \Gregorovitch" familiar?
\I think," he said slowly, \he's got something to do with Quid-
ditch. There's some connection, but I can't|I can't think what it
is."
\Quidditch?" said Ron. \Sure you're not thinking of Gorgov-
itch?"
\Who?"
\Dragomir Gorgovitch, Chaser, transferred to the Chudley Can-
nons for a record fee two years ago. Record holder for most Qua e
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
drops in a season."
\No," said Harry, \I'm de nitely not think of Gorgovitch."
\I try not to either," said Ron. \Well, happy birthday anyway."
\Wow|that's right, I forgot! I'm seventeen."
Harry seized the wand lying beside his camp bed, pointed it at
the cluttered desk where he had left his glasses, and said \Accio
Glasses!" Although they were only around a foot away, there was
something immensely satisfying about seeing them zoom toward
him, or at least until they poked him in the eye.
\Slick," snorted Ron.
Reveling in the removal of his Trace, Harry sent Ron's pos-
sessions
ying around the room, causing Pigwidgeon to wake up
utter excitedly around his cage. Harry also tried tying the laces
of his trainers by magic (the resultant knot took several minutes to
untie by hand) and, purely for the pleasure of it, turned the orange
robes on Ron's Chudley Cannons posters right blue.
\I'd do your
y by hand, though," Ron advised Harry, snig-
gering when Harry immediately checked it. \Here's your present.
Unwrap it up here, it's not for my mother's eyes."
\A book?" said Harry as he took the rectangular parcel. \Bit
of a departure from tradition, isn't it?"
\This isn't your average book," said Ron. \It's pure gold:
Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches. Explains everything
you need to know about girls. If only I'd had this last year I'd
have known exactly how to get rid of Lavender and I wouldn't
have known how to get going with . . . Well, Fred and George gave
me a copy, and I've learned a lot. You'd be surprised, it's not all
about wandwork, either."
When they arrived in the kitchen they found a pile of presents
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Chapter 7
waiting on the table. Bill and Monsieur Delacour were nishing
their breakfasts, while Mrs. Weasley stood chatting to them over
the frying pan.
\Arthur told me to wish you a happy seventeenth, Harry," said
Mrs. Weasley, beaming at him. \He had to leave early for work,
but he'll be back for dinner. That's our present on top."
Harry sat down, took the square parcel she had indicated, and
unwrapped it. Inside was a watch very like the one Mr. and Mrs.
Weasley had given Ron for his seventeenth; it was gold, with stars
circling around the face instead of hands.
\It's traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age."
said Mrs. Weasley, watching him anxiously from beside the corner.
\I'm afraid that one isn't new like Ron's, it was actually my brother
Fabian's and he wasn't terribly careful with his possessions, it's a
bit dented on the back, but|"
The rest of her speech was lost; Harry had got up and hugged
her. He tried to put a lot of unsaid things into the hug and perhaps
she understood them, because she patted his check clumsily when
he released her, then waved her wand in a slightly random way,
causing half a pack of bacon out of the frying pan onto the
oor.
\Happy birthday, Harry!" said Hermione, hurrying into the
kitchen and adding her own present to the top of the pile. \It's
not much, but I hope you like it. What did you get him?" she
added to Ron, who seemed not to hear her."
\Come on, then, open Hermione's!" said Ron.
She had bought him a new Sneakoscope. The other packages
contained an enchanted razor from Bill and Fleur. (\Ah yes, zis will
give you ze smoothest shave you will eve 'ave," Monsieur Delacour
assured him, \but you must tell it clearly what you want . . . ozzer-
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
wise you might nd you 'ave a leetle less hair zan you would
like. . . ."), chocolates from the Delacours, and an enormous box
of the latest Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes merchandise from Fred
and George.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione did not linger at the table, as the
arrival of Madame Delacour, Fleur, and Gabrielle made the kitchen
uncomfortably crowded.
\I'll pack these for you," Hermione said brightly, taking Harry's
presents out of his arms as the three of them headed back upstairs.
\I'm nearly done, I'm just waiting for the rest of your underpants
to come out of the wash, Ron|"
Ron's splutter was interrupted by the opening of a door on the
rst-
oor landing.
\Harry, will you come in here a moment?"
It was Ginny, Ron came to an abrupt halt, but Hermione took
him by the elbow rugged him on up the stairs. Feeling nervous,
Harry followed Ginny into her room.
He had never been inside it before. It was small, but bright.
There was a large poster of the Wizarding band the Weird Sisters
on one wall and a picture of Gwenog Jones, Captain of the all-witch
Quidditch team the Holyhead Harpies, on the other. A desk stood
facing the open window, which looked out over the orchard where
he and Ginny had once played two-a-side Quidditch with Ron and
Hermione, and which now housed a large, pearly white marquee.
The golden
ag on top was level with Ginny's window.
Ginny looked up into Harry's face, took a deep breath, and said,
\Happy seventeenth."
\Yeah . . . thanks."
She was looking at him steadily; he, however, found it di cult
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Chapter 7
to look back at her; it was like gazing into a brilliant light.
\Nice view," he said feebly, pointing toward the window.
She ignored this. He could not blame her,
\I couldn't think what to get you," she said.
\You didn't have to get me anything." She disregarded this
too.
\I didn't know what would be useful. Nothing too big, because
you wouldn't be able to take it with you."
He chanced a glance at her. She was not tearful; that was
one of the many wonderful things about Ginny, she was rarely
weepy. He had sometimes thought that having six brother must
have toughened her up.
She took a step closer to him.
\So then I thought, I'd like you to have something to remember
me by, you know, if you meet some veela when you're o doing
whatever you're doing."
\I think dating opportunities are going to be pretty thin on the
ground, to be honest."
\There's the silver lining I've been looking for," she whispered,
and then she was kissing him as she had never kissed him before,
and Harry was kissing her back, and it was blissful oblivion better
than rewhisky; she was the only real thing in the world, Ginny,
the feel of her, one hand at her back and one in her long, sweet-
smelling hair|
The door banged open behind them and they jumped apart.
\Oh," said Ron pointedly. \Sorry."
\Ron!" Hermione was just behind him, slightly out of breath.
There was a strained silence, then Ginny said in a
at little voice,
\Well, happy birthday anyway, Harry."
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
Ron's ears were scarlet; Hermione looked nervous. Harry
wanted to slam the door in their faces, but it felt as though a
cold drain had entered the room when the door appeared, and his
shining moment had popped like a soap bubble. All the reasons
for ending his relationship with Ginny, for staying well away from
her, seemed to have slunk inside the room with Ron, and all happy
forgetfulness was gone.
He looked at Ginny wanting to say something, though he hardly
knew what, but she had turned her back on him. He thought that
she might have succumbed, for once, to tears. He could not do
anything to comfort her in front of Ron.
\I'll see you later," he said, and followed the other two out of
the bedroom.
Ron marched downstairs, through the still-crowded kitchen and
into the yard, and Harry kept pace with him all the way, Hermione
trotting along behind them looking scared.
Once he reached the seclusion of the freshly mow lawn, Ron
rounded on Harry.
\You ditched her. What are you doing now, messing her
around?"
\I'm not messing her around," said Harry, as Hermione caught
up with them.
\Ron|"
But Ron held up a hand to silence her.
\She was really cut up when you ended it|"
\So was I. You know why I stopped it, and it wasn't because I
wanted to."
\Yeah, but you go snogging her now and she's just going to get
her hopes up again|"
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Chapter 7
\She's not an idiot, she knows it can't happen, she's not ex-
pecting us to|to end up married, or|"
\As he said it, a vivid picture formed in Harry's mind of Ginny
in a white dress, marrying a tall, faceless, and unpleasant stranger.
In one spiraling moment it seemed to hit him: Her future was
free and unencumbered, whereas his . . . he could see nothing but
Voldemort ahead.
\If you keep groping her every chance you get|"
\It won't happen again," said Harry harshly. The day was
cloudless, but he felt as though the sun had gone in. \Okay?"
Ron looked half resentful, half sheepish; he rocked backward
and forward on his feet for a moment, then said, \Right then, well,
that's . . . yeah."
Ginny did not seek another one-to-one meeting with Harry for
the rest of the day, nor by any look or gesture did she show that
they had shared more than polite conversation in her room. Nev-
ertheless, Charlie's arrival came as a relief to Harry. It provided
a distraction, watching Mrs. Weasley force Charlie into a chair,
raise her wand threateningly, and announce that he was about to
get a proper haircut.
As Harry's birthday dinner would have stretched the Burrow's
kitchen to breaking point even before the arrival of Charlie, Lupin,
Tonks, and Hagrid, several tables were placed end to end in the
garden. Fred and George bewitched a number of purple lanterns,
all emblazoned with a large number 17, to hang in midair over the
guests. Thanks to Mrs. Weasley's ministrations, George's wound
was neat and clean, but Harry was not yet used to the dark hole
in the side of his head, despite the twins' many jokes about it.
Hermione made purple and gold streamers erupt from the end
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
of her wand and drape themselves artistically over the trees and
bushes.
\Nice," said Ron, as with one nal
ourish of her wand, Her-
mione turned the leaves on the crabapple tree to gold. \You've
really got an eye for that sort of thing."
\Thank you, Ron!" said Hermione, looking both pleased and a
little confused. Harry turned away, smiling to himself. He had a
funny notion that he would nd a chapter on compliments when he
found time to peruse his copy of Twelve Fail-Safe ways to Charm
Witches; he caught Ginny's eye and grinned at her before remem-
bering his promise to Ron and hurriedly striking up a conversation
with Monsieur Delacour.
\Out of the way, out of the way!" sang Mrs. Weasley, coming
through the gate with what appeared to be a giant, beach-ball-
sized Snitch
oating in front of her. Seconds later Harry realized
that it was his birthday cake, which Mrs. Weasley was suspending
with her wand, rather than risk carrying it over the uneven ground.
When the cake had nally landed in the middle of the table, Harry
said,
\That looks amazing, Mrs. Weasley."
\Oh, it's nothing, dear." she said fondly. Over her shoulder,
Ron gave Harry the thumbs-up and mouthed, Good one.
By seven o'clock all the guests had arrived, led into the house by
Fred and George, who had waited for them at the end of the lane.
Hagrid had honored the occasion by wearing his best, and horrible,
hairy brow suit. Although Lupin smiled as he shook Harry's hand,
Harry thought he looked rather unhappy. It was all very odd;
Tonks, beside him, looked simply radiant.
\Happy birthday, Harry," she said, hugging him tightly.
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Chapter 7
\Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized
glass of wine from Fred. \Six years ter the day we met, Harry,
d'yeh remember it?"
\Vaguely," said Harry, grinning up at him. \Didn't you smash
down the front door, give Dudley a pig's tail, and tell me I was a
wizard?'
\I forge' the details," Hagrid Chortled. \All righ', Ron, Her-
mione?"
\We're ne," said Hermione. \How are you?"
\Ar, not bad. Bin busy, we got some newborn unicorns. I'll
show yeh when yeh get back|" Harry avoided Ron's and Her-
mione's gazes and Hagrid rummaged in his pocket. \Here, Harry|
couldn' think what ter get yeh, but then I remembered this." He
pulled out a small, slightly furry drawstring pouch with a long
string, evidently intended to be worn around the neck. \Mokeskin.
Hide anythin' in there an' no one but the owner can get it out.
They're rare, them."
\Hagrid, thanks!"
\S'nothin'," said Hagrid with a wave of a dustbin-lid-sized hand,
\An' there's Charlie! Always liked him|hey! Charlie!"
Charlie approached, running his hand slightly ruefully over his
new, brutally short haircut. He was shorter than Ron, thickset,
with a number of burns and scratches up his muscly arms.
\Hi, Hagrid, how's it going?"
\Bin meanin' ter write fer ages. How's Norbert doin'"
\Norbert?" Charlie laughed. \The Norwegian Ridgeback? We
call her Norberta now."
\Wha|Norbert's a girl?"
\Oh yeah," said Charlie.
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
\How can you tell?" asked Hermione
\They're a lot more vicious." said Charlie. He looked over his
shoulder and dropped his voice. \Wish Dad would hurry up and
get here. Mum's getting edgy."
They all looked over at Mrs. Weasley. She was trying to talk
to Madame Delacour while glancing repeatedly at the gate.
\I think we'd better start without Arthur," she called to the
garden at large after a moment or two. \He must have been held
up at|oh!"
They all saw it at the same time: a streak of light that came
ying across the yard and onto the table, where it resolved itself
into a bright silver weasel, which stood on its hind legs and spoke
with Mr. Weasley's voice.
\Minister of Magic coming with me."
The Patronus dissolved into thin air, leaving Fleur's family
peering in astonishment where it had vanished.
\We shouldn't be here," said Lupin at once. \Harry|I'm
sorry|I'll explain another time|"
He seized Tonks's wrist and pulled her away; the reached the
fence, climbed over it, and vanished from sight. Mrs. Weasley
looked bewildered.
\The Minister|but why|? I don't understand|"
But there was no time to discuss the matter; a second later, Mr.
Weasley had appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by
Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled
hair.
The two newcomers marched across the yard toward the garden
and the lantern-lit table, where everybody sat in silence, watching
them draw closer. As Scrimgeour came within range of the lantern
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Chapter 7
light, Harry saw that he looked much older than the last time they
had met, scraggy and grim.
\Sorry to intrude," said Scrimgeour, as he limped to a halt
before the table. \Especially as I can see that I am gate crashing
a party."
His eyes lingered for a moment on the giant Snitch cake.
\Many happy returns."
\Thanks," said Harry.
\I require a private word with you," Scrimgeour went on. \Also
with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger."
\Us?" said Ron, sounding surprised, \Why us?"
\I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private,"
said Scrimgeour. \Is there such a place?" he demanded of Mr.
Weasley.
\Yes, of course," said Mr. Weasley, who looked nervous. \The,
er, sitting room, why don't you use that?"
\You can lead the way," Scrimgeour said to Ron. \There will
be no need for you to accompany us, Arthur."
Harry saw Mr. Weasley exchange a worried look with Mrs.
Weasley as he, Ron, and Hermione stood up. As they led the
way back to the house in silence, Harry knew that the other two
were thinking the same as he was: Scrimgeour must, somehow,
have learned that the three of them were planning to drop out of
Hogwarts.
Scrimgeour did not speak as they all passed through the messy
kitchen and into the Burrow's sitting room. Although the garden
had been full of soft golden evening light, it was already dark in
here. Harry
icked his wand at the oil lamps as he entered and they
illuminated the shabby but cozy room. Scrimgeour sat himself in
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
the sagging armchair that Mr. Weasley normally occupied, leaving
Harry, Ron, and Hermione to squeeze side by side onto the sofa.
Once they had done so, Scrimgeour spoke,
\I have some questions for the three of your and I think it will
be best if we do it individually. If you two\|he pointed at Harry
and Hermione|" can wait upstairs, I will start with Ronald."
\We're not going anywhere," said Harry, while Hermione nod-
ded vigorously. \You can speak to us together, or not at all."
Scrimgeour gave Harry a cold, appraising look. Harry had
the impression that the minister was wondering it was worthwhile
opening hostilities this early.
\Very well then, together," he said, shrugging. He cleared his
throat. \I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dum-
bledore's will."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another.
\A surprise, apparently? You were not aware the that Dumble-
dore had left you anything?"
\A|all of us?" said Ron. \Me and Hermione too?"
\Yes, all of|"
But Harry interrupted.
\Dumbledore died over a month ago. Why has it taken this
long to give us what he left us?"
\Isn't it obvious?" said Hermione, before Scrimgeour could
answer. \They wanted to examine whatever he's left us. You had
no right to do that!" she said, and her voice trembled slightly.
\I had every right," said Scrimgeour dismissively. \The De-
cree for Justi able Con scation gives the Ministry the power to
con scate the contents of a will|"
\That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark ar-
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Chapter 7
tifacts," said Hermione, \and the Ministry is supposed to have
evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing
them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying
to pass us something cursed?"
\Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss
Granger?" asked Scrimgeour.
\No, I'm not," retorted Hermione. \I'm hoping to do some
good in the world!"
Ron laughed, Scrimgeour's eyes
ickered toward him and away
again as Harry spoke.
\So why have you decided to let us have our things now? Can't
you think of a pretext to keep them?"
\No, it'll be because the thirty-one days are up," said Hermione
at once. \They can't keep the objects longer than that unless they
can prove they're dangerous. Right?"
\Would you say you were close to Dumbledore, Ronald?" asked
Scrimgeour, ignoring Hermione. Ron looked startled.
\Me? No|not really . . . It was always Harry who . . . "
Ron looked around at Harry and Hermione to see Hermione
giving him a stop|talking|now! sort of look, but the damage
was done: Scrimgeour looked as though he had heard exactly what
he had expected, and wanted, to hear. He swooped like a bird of
prey upon Ron's answer.
\If you were not very close to Dumbledore, how do you ac-
count for the fact that he remembered you in his will? He
made exceptionally few personal bequests. The vast majority of
his possessions|his private library, his magical instruments, and
other personal e ects|were left to Hogwarts. Why do you think
you were singled out?"
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
\I . . . dunno," said Ron, \I . . . when I say we weren't close . . . I
mean, I think he liked me. . . ."
\You're being modest, Ron," said Hermione. \Dumbledore was
very fond of you."
This was stretching the truth to breaking points as far as Harry
knew, Ron and Dumbledore had never been alone together, and
direct contact between them had been negligible. However, Scrim-
geour did not seem to be listening. He put his hand inside his cloak
and drew out a drawstring pouch much larger than the one Hagrid
had given Harry. From it, he removed a scroll of parchment which
he unrolled and read aloud.
\`The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian
Dumbledore' . . . Yes, here we are. . . .'To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I
leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when
he uses it.'"
Scrimgeour took something from the bag an object that Harry
had seen before. It looked something like a silver cigarette lighter,
but it had, he knew, the power to suck all light from a place, and
restore it, with a simple click. Scrimgeour leaned forward and
passed the Deluminator to Ron, who took it and turned it over in
his ngers, looking stunned.
\That is a valuable object," said Scrimgeour, watching Ron. \It
may even be unique. Certainly it is of Dumbledore's own design.
Why would he have left you an item so rare?"
Ron shook his head, looking bewildered.
\Dumbledore must have taught thousands of students," Scrim-
geour persevered. \Yet the only one he remembered in his will are
you three. Why is that? To what use did he think you would put
his Deluminator, Mr. Weasley?"
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Chapter 7
\Put out lights, I s'pose," mumbled Ron. \What else could I
do with it?"
Evidently Scrimgeour had no suggestions. After squinting at
Ron for a moment or two, he turned back to Dumbledore's will.
\`To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The
Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will nd it enter-
taining and instructive.'"
Scrimgeour now pulled out of the bag a small book that looked
as ancient as the copy of Secrets of the Darkest Arts upstairs. Its
binding was stained and peeling in places. Hermione took it from
Scrimgeour without a word. She held the book in her lap and gazed
at it. Harry saw that the title was in runes; he had never learned
to read them. As he looked, a tear splashed onto the embossed
symbols.
\Why do you think Dumbledore left you that book, Miss
Granger?" asked Scrimgeour
\He . . . he knew I liked books," said Hermione in a thick voice,
mopping her eyes with her sleeve.
\But why that particular book?"
\I don't know. He must have thought I'd enjoy it."
\Did you ever discuss codes, or any means of passing secret
messages, with Dumbledore?"
\No, I didn't," said Hermione, still wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
\And if the Ministry still hasn't found any hidden codes in this
book in thirty-one days, I doubt that I will."
She suppressed a sob. They were wedged together so tightly
that Ron had di cultly extracting his arm to put it around Her-
mione's shoulders. Scrimgeour turned back to the will.
\`To Harry James Potter,'" he read, and Harry's insides con-
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
tracted with a sudden excitement, \`I leave the Snitch he caught in
his rst Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards
of perseverance and skill.'"
As Scrimgeour pulled out the tiny, walnut-sized golden ball,
its silver wings
uttered rather feebly, and Harry could not help
feeling de nite sense of anticlimax.
\Why did Dumbledore leave you this Snitch?" asked Scrim-
geour.
\No idea," said Harry. \For the reasons you just read out, I
suppose . . . to remind me what you can get if you . . . persevere
and whatever it was."
\You think this is a mere symbolic keepsake, then?"
\I suppose so," said Harry. \What else could it be?"
\I'm asking the questions," said Scrimgeour, shifting his chair
a little closer to the sofa. Dusk was really falling outside now;
the marquee beyond the windows towered ghostly white over the
hedge.
\I notice that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch,"
Scrimgeour said to Harry. \Why is that?"
Hermione laughed derisively.
\Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact that Harry's a great
Seeker, that's way too obvious," she said. \There must be a secret
message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!"
\I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing," said Scrim-
geour, \but a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small
object. You know why, I'm sure?"
Harry shrugged. Hermione, however, answered: Harry thought
that answering questions correctly was such a deeply ingrained
habit she could not suppress the urge.
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Chapter 7
\Because Snitches have
esh memories," she said.
\What?" said Harry and Ron together; both considered Her-
mione's Quidditch knowledge negligible.
\Correct," said Scrimgeour. \A Snitch is not touched by bare
skin before it is released, not even by the maker, who wears gloves.
It carries an enchantment by which it can identify the rst hu-
man to lay hands upon it, in the case of disputed capture. This
Snitch"|he held up the tiny golden ball|\will remember your
touch, Potter. It occurs to me that Dumbledore, who had prodi-
gious magical skill, whatever his other faults, might have enchanted
this Snitch so that it will open only for you."
Harry's heart was beating rather fast. He was sure that Scrim-
geour was right. How could he avoid taking the Snitch with his
bare hand in front of the Minister?
\You don't say anything," said Scrimgeour. \Perhaps you al-
ready know what the Snitch contains?"
\No," said Harry, still wondering how he could appear to touch
the Snitch without really doing so. If only he knew Legilimency, re-
ally knew it, and could read Hermione's mind; he could practically
hear her brain whirring beside him.
\Take it," said Scrimgeour quietly.
Harry met the minister's yellow eyes and knew he had no option
but to obey. He held out his hand, and Scrimgeour leaned forward
again and placed the Snitch, slowly and deliberately, into Harry's
palm. Nothing happened. As Harry's ngers closed around the
Snitch, its tired wings
uttered and were still. Scrimgeour, Ron,
and Hermione continued to gaze avidly at the now partially con-
cealed ball, as if still hoping it might transform in some way.
\That was dramatic," said Harry coolly. Both Ron and Her-
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
mione laughed.
\That's all, then, is it?" asked Hermione, making to prise her-
self o the sofa.
\Not quite," said Scrimgeour, who looked bad tempered now,
\Dumbledore left you a second bequest, Potter."
\What is it?" asked Harry, excitement rekindling.
Scrimgeour did not bother to read from the will this time.
\The sword of Godric Gry ndor," he said.
Hermione and Ron both sti ened. Harry looked around for a
sign of the ruby-encrusted hilt, but Scrimgeour did not pull the
sword from the leather pouch, which in any case looked much too
small to contain it.
\So where is it?" Harry asked suspiciously.
\Unfortunately," said Scrimgeour, \that sword was not Dum-
bledore's to give away. The sword of Godric Gry ndor is an im-
portant historical artifact, and as such, belongs|"
\It belongs to Harry!" said Hermione hotly. \It chose him, he
was the one who found it, it came to him out of the Sorting Hat|"
\According to reliable historical sources, the sword may present
itself to any worthy Gry ndor," said Scrimgeour. \That does not
make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumble-
dore may have decided." Scrimgeour scratched his badly shaven
cheek, scrutinizing Harry. \Why do you think|?"
\|Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?" said Harry,
struggling to keep his temper. \Maybe he thought it would look
nice on my wall."
\This is not a joke, Potter!" growled Scrimgeour. \Was
it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric
Gry ndor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give
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Chapter 7
you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you
are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
\Interesting theory," said Harry. \Has anyone ever tried stick-
ing a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some
people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down De-
luminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban. So this is what
you've been doing, Minister, shut up in your o ce, trying to break
open a Snitch? People are dying|I was nearly one of them|
Voldemort chased me across three countries, he killed Mad-Eye
Moody, but there's been no word about any of that from the Min-
istry, has there? And you still expect us to cooperate with you!"
\You go too far!" shouted Scrimgeour, standing up; Harry
jumped to his feet too. Scrimgeour limped toward Harry and
jabbed him hard in the chest with the point of his wand: It singed
a hole in Harry's T-shirt like a lit cigarette.
\Oi!" said Ron, jumping up and raising his own wand, but
Harry said,
\No! D'you want to give him an excuse to arrest us?"
\Remembered you're not at school, have you?" said Scrim-
geour, breathing hard into Harry's face. \Remembered that I am
not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination?
You may wear that scar like a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a
seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you
learned some respect!"
\It's time you earned it." said Harry.
The
oor trembled; there was a sound of running footsteps,
then the door to the sitting room burst open and Mr. and Mrs.
Weasley ran in.
\We|we thought we heard|" began Mr. Weasley, looking
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
thoroughly alarmed at the sight of Harry and the Minister virtually
nose to nose.
\|raised voices," panted Mrs. Weasley.
Scrimgeour took a couple of steps back from Harry, glancing at
the hole he had made in Harry's T-shirt. He seemed to regret his
loss of temper.
\It|it was nothing," he growled. \I . . . regret your attitude,"
he said, looking Harry full in the face once more. \You seem to
think that the Ministry does not desire what you|what Dumble-
dore|desired. We ought to be working together."
\I don't like your methods, Minister," said Harry. \Remem-
ber?"
For the second time, he raised his right st and displayed to
Scrimgeour the scars that still showed white on the back of it,
spelling I must not tell lies. Scrimgeour's expression hardened.
He turned away without another word and limped from the room.
Mrs. Weasley hurried after him; Harry heard her stop at the back
door. After a minute or so she called, \He's gone!"
\What did he want?" Mr. Weasley asked, looking around at
Harry, Ron, and Hermione as Mrs. Weasley came hurrying back
to them.
\To give us what Dumbledore left us," said Harry. \They've
only just released the contents of his will."
Outside in the garden, over the dinner tables, the three objects
Scrimgeour had given them were passed from hand to hand. Ev-
eryone exclaimed over the Deluminator and The Tales of Beedle
the Bard and lamented the fact that Scrimgeour had refused to
pass on the sword, but none of them could o er any suggestion as
to why Dumbledore would have left Harry an old Snitch. As Mr.
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Chapter 7
Weasley examined the Deluminator for the third or fourth time,
Mrs. Weasley said tentatively, \Harry, dear, everyone's awfully
hungry, we didn't like to start without you. . . . Shall I serve dinner
now?"
They all ate rather hurriedly and then, after a hasty chorus of
\Happy Birthday" and much gulping of cake, the party broke up.
Hagrid, who was invited to the wedding the following day, but was
far too bulky to sleep in the overstretched Burrow, left to set up a
tent for himself in a neighboring eld.
\Meet us upstairs," Harry whispered to Hermione, while they
helped Mrs. Weasley restore the garden to its normal state. \After
everyone's gone to bed."
Up in the attic room, Ron examined his Deluminator, and Harry
lled Hagrid's mokeskin purse, not with gold, but with those items
he most prized, apparently worthless though some of them were:
the Marauder's Map, the shard of Sirius's enchanted mirror, and
R.A.B.'s locket. He pulled the strings tight and slipped the purse
around his neck, then sat holding the old Snitch and watching its
wings
utter feebly. At last, Hermione tapped on the door and
tiptoed inside.
\Mu iato," she whispered, waving her hand in the direction of
the stairs.
\Thought you didn't approve of that spell?" said Ron.
\Times change," said Hermione. \Now, show us that Delumi-
nator."
Ron obliged at once. Holding it up in front of him, he clicked
it. The solitary lamp they had lit went out at once.
\The thing is," whispered Hermione through the dark, \we
could have achieved that with Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder."
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
There was a small click, and the ball of light from the lamp
ew
back to the ceiling and illuminated them all once more.
\Still, it's cool," said Ron, a little defensively. \And from what
they said, Dumbledore invented it himself!"
\I know, but surely he wouldn't have singled you out in his will
just to help us turn out the lights!"
\D'you think he knew the Ministry would con scate his will
and examine everything he'd left us?" asked Harry.
\De nitely," said Hermione. \He couldn't tell us in the will why
he was leaving us these things, but that still doesn't explain . . . "
\ . . . why he couldn't have given us a hint when he was alive?"
asked Ron.
\Well, exactly," said Hermione, now
icking through the The
Tales of Beedle the Bard. \If these things are important enough
to pass on right under the nose of the Ministry, you'd think he'd
have let us know why . . . unless he thought it was obvious?"
\Thought wrong, then, didn't he?" said Ron. \I always said he
was mental. Brilliant and everything, but cracked. Leaving Harry
an old Snitch|what the hell was that about?"
\I've no idea," said Hermione. \When Scrimgeour made you
take it, Harry, I was so sure that something was going to happen!"
\Yeah, well," said Harry, his pulse quickening as he raised the
Snitch in his ngers. \I wasn't going to try too hard in front of
Scrimgeour, was I?"
\What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
\The Snitch I caught in my rst ever Quidditch match?" said
Harry. \Don't you remember?"
Hermione looked simply bemused. Ron, however, gasped,
pointing frantically from Harry to the Snitch and back again until
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Chapter 7
he found his voice.
\That was the one you nearly swallowed!"
\Exactly," said Harry, and with his heart beating fast, he
pressed his mouth to the Snitch.
It did not open. Frustration and bitter disappointment welled
up inside him: He lowered the golden sphere, but then Hermione
cried out.
\Writing! There's writing on it, quick, look!"
He nearly dropped the Snitch in surprise and excitement. Her-
mione was quite right. Engraved upon the smooth golden sur-
face, where seconds before there had been nothing, were ve words
written in the thin, slanting handwriting that Harry recognized as
Dumbledore's:
I open at the close.
He had barely read them when the words vanished again.
\`I open at the close . . . ' What's that supposed to mean?"
Hermione and Ron shook their heads, looking back.
\I open at the close . . . at the close . . . I open at the close . . . "
But no matter how often they repeated the words, with many
di erent in
ections, they were unable to wring any more meaning
from them.
\And the sword," said Ron nally, when they had at last aban-
doned their attempts to divine meaning in the Snitch's inscription.
\Why did he want Harry to have the sword?"
\And why couldn't he just have told me?" Harry said quietly.
\I was there it was right there on the wall of his o ce during all
our talks last year! If he wanted me to have it, why didn't he just
give it to me then?
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The Will of Albus Dumbledore
He felt as though he were sitting in an examination with a
question he ought to have been able to answer in front of him, his
brain slow and unresponsive. Was there something he had missed
in the long talks with Dumbledore last year? Ought he to know
what it all meant? Had Dumbledore expected him to understand?
\And as for this book" said Hermione, \The Tales of Beedle the
Bard . . . I've never even heard of them."
\You've never heard of The Tales of Beedle the Bard?" said
Ron incredulously. \You're kidding, right?"
\No, I'm not." said Hermione in surprise. \Do you know them,
then?"
\Well, of course I do!"
Harry looked up, diverted. The circumstance of Ron having
read a book that Hermione had not was unprecedented. Ron, how-
ever, looked bemused by their surprise.
\Oh come on! All the old kids' stories are supposed to be Bee-
dle's, aren't they? `The Fountain of Fair Fortune' . . . `The Wiz-
ard and the Hopping Pot' . . . `Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling
Stump' . . . "
\Excuse me?" said Hermione, giggling. \What was that last
one?"
\Come o it!" said Ron, looking in disbelief from Harry to
Hermione. \You must've heard of Bubbitty Rabbitty|"
\Ron, you know full well Harry and I were brought up by Mug-
gles!" said Hermione. \We didn't hear stories like that when
we were little, we heard `Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and
`Cinderella'|"
\What's that, an illness?" asked Ron.
\So these are children's stories?" asked Hermione, bending
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Chapter 7
again over the runes.
\Yeah," said Ron uncertainly, \I mean, that's just what you
hear, you know, that all these old stories came from Beedle. I
dunno what they're like in the original versions.
\But I wonder why Dumbledore thought I should read them?"
Something creaked downstairs.
\Probably just Charlie, now Mum's asleep, sneaking o to re-
grow his hair," said Ron nervously.
\All the same, we should get to bed," whispered Hermione. \It
wouldn't do to oversleep tomorrow.'
\No," agreed Ron. \A brutal triple murder by the bridegroom's
mother might put a bit of a damper of the wedding. I'll get the
lights."
And he clicked the Deluminator once more as Hermione left the
room.
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Chapter 8
The Wedding
hree o'clock on the following afternoon found Harry,
Ron, Fred, and George standing outside the great white
marquee in the orchard, awaiting the arrival of the wed-
Tding guests. Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice
Potion and was now the double of a redheaded Muggle boy from
the local village, Ottery St. Catchpole, from whom Fred had stolen
hairs using a Summoning Charm. The plan was to introduce Harry
as \Cousin Barny" and trust to the great number of Weasley rela-
tives to camou
age him.
All four of them were clutching seating plans, so that they could
help show people to the right seats. A host of white-robed waiters
had arrived an hour earlier, along with a golden jacketed band,
and all of these wizards were currently sitting a short distance
away under a tree. Harry could see a blue haze of pipe smoke
issuing from the spot.
Behind Harry, the entrance to the marquee revealed rows and
rows of fragile golden hairs set on either side of a long purple carpet.
The supporting poles are entwined with white and gold
ow-
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Chapter 8
ers. Fred and George had fastened an enormous bunch of golden
balloons over the exact point where Bill and Fleur would shortly
become husband and wife. Outside, butter
ies and bees were hov-
ering lazily over the grass and hedgerow. Harry was rather uncom-
fortable. The Muggle boy whose appearance he was a ecting was
slightly fatter than him, and his dress robes felt hot and tight in
the full glare of a summer's day.
\When I get married," said Fred, tugging at the collar of his
own robes, \I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You
can all wear what you like, and I'll put a full Body Bind Curse on
Mum until it's all over."
\She wasn't too bad this morning, considering," said George.
\Cried a bit about Percy not being here, but who wants him? Oh
blimey, brace yourselves|here they come, look."
Brightly colored gures were appearing, one by one, out of
nowhere at the distant boundary of the yard. Within minutes
a procession had formed, which began to snake its way up through
the garden toward the marquee. Exotic
owers and bewitched
birds
uttered on the witches' hats, while precious gems glittered
from man of the wizards' cravats; a hum of excited chatter grew
louder and louder, drowning the sound of the bees as the crowd
approached the tent.
\Excellent, I think I see a few veela cousins," said George, cran-
ing his neck for a better look. \They'll need help understanding
our English customs, I'll look after them. . . ."
\Not so fast, Your Holeyness," said Fred, and darting past
the gaggle of middle-aged witches heading the procession, he said,
\Here|permettez-moi to assiter vous," to a pair of pretty French
girls, who giggled and allowed him to escort them inside. George
was left to deal with the middle-aged witches and Ron took charge
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The Wedding
of Mr. Weasley's old Ministry colleague Perkins, while a rather
deaf old couple fell to Harry's lot.
\Wotcher," said a familiar voice as he came out of the marquee
again and found Tonks and Lupin at the front of the queue. She
had turned blonde for the occasion. \Arthur told us you were the
one with the curly hair. Sorry about last night," she added in a
whisper as Harry led them up the aisle. \The Ministry's being very
anti-werewolf at the moment and we thought our presence might
not do you any favors."
\It's ne, I understand." said Harry, speaking more to Lupin
than Tonks. Lupin gave him a swift smile, but as they turned
away, Harry saw Lupin's face fall again into lines of misery. He
did not understand it, but there was no time to dwell on the mat-
ter: Hagrid was causing a certain amount of disruption. Having
misunderstood Fred's directions he had sat himself, not upon the
magically enlarged and reinforced seat set aside for him in the back
row, but on ve seats that now resembled a large pile of golden
matchsticks.
While Mr. Weasley repaired the damage and Hagrid shouted
apologies to anybody who would listen, Harry hurried back to the
entrance to nd Ron face-to-face with a most eccentric-looking
wizard. Slightly cross-eyed, with shoulder-length white hair the
texture of candy
oss, he wore a cap whose tassel dangled in front
of his nose and robes of an eye-watering shade of egg-yolk yellow.
An odd symbol, rather like a triangular eye, glistened from a golden
chain around his neck.
\Xenophilius Lovegood," he said, extending a hand to Harry,
\my daughter and I live just over the hill, so kind of the good
Weasleys to invite us. But I think you know my Luna?" he added
to Ron.
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Chapter 8
\Yes," said Ron. \Isn't she with you?"
\She lingered in that charming little garden to say hello to the
gnomes, such a glorious infestation! How few wizards realize just
how much we can learn from the wise little gnomes|or, to give
them their correct name, the Gernumbli gardensi."
\Ours do know a lot of excellent swear words," said Ron, \but
I think Fred and George taught them those."
He led a party of warlocks into the marquee as Luna rushed up.
\Hello, Harry!" she said.
\Er|my name's Barny," said Harry,
ummoxed.
\Oh, have you changed that too?" she asked brightly.
\How did you know|?"
\Oh, just your expression," she said.
Like her father, Luna was wearing bright yellow robes, which she
had accessorized with a large sun
ower in her hair. Once you got
over the brightness of it all, the general e ect was quite pleasant.
At least there were no radishes dangling from her ears.
Xenophilius, who was deep in conversation with an acquain-
tance, had missed the exchange between Luna and Harry. Bidding
the wizards farewell, he turned to his daughter, who held up her
nger and said, \Daddy, look|one of the gnomes actually bit me!"
\How wonderful! Gnome saliva is enormously bene cial!" said
Mr. Lovegood, seizing Luna's outstretched nger and examining
the bleeding puncture marks. \Luna, my love, if you should feel
any burgeoning talent today|perhaps an unexpected urge to sing
opera or to declaim in Mermish|do not repress it! You may have
been gifted by the Gernumblies!"
Ron, passing them in the opposite direction, let out a loud snort.
\Ron can laugh," said Luna serenely as Harry led her and Xeno-
philius toward their seats, \bu my father has done a lot of research
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The Wedding
on Gernumbli magic."
\Really?" said Harry, who had long since decided not to chal-
lenge Luna or her father's peculiar views. \Are you sure you don't
want to put anything on that bite, though?"
\Oh, it's ne," said Luna, sucking her nger in a dreamy fashion
and looking Harry up and down. \You look smart. I told Daddy
most people would probably wear dress robes, but he believes you
ought to wear sun colors to a wedding, for luck, you know."
As she drifted o after her father, Ron reappeared with an
elderly witch clutching her arm. Her beaky nose, red-trimmed
eyes, and feathery pink hat gave her the look of a bad-tempered
amingo.
\ . . . and you hair's much too long, Ronald, for a moment I
thought you were Ginevra. Merlin's beard, what is Xenophilius
Lovegood wearing? He looks like an omelet. And who are you?"
she barked at Harry.
\Oh yeah, Auntie Muriel, this is our cousin Barny."
\Another Weasley? You breed like gnomes. Isn't Harry Potter
here? I was hoping to meet him. I thought he was a friend of
yours, Ronald, or have you merely been boasting?"
\No|he couldn't come|"
\Hmm. Made an excuse, did he? Not as gormless as he looks
in press photographs, then. I've just been instructing the bride
on how best to wear my tiara." she shouted at Harry. \Goblin-
made, you know, and been in my family for centuries. She's a
good-looking girl, but still|French. Well, well, nd me a good
seat, Ronald, I am a hundred and seven and I ought not to be on
my feet too long."
Ron gave Harry a meaningful look as he passed and did not
reappear for some time. When next they met at the entrance,
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Chapter 8
Harry had shown a dozen more people to their places. The marquee
was nearly full now, and for the rst time there was no queue
outside.
\Nightmare, Muriel is," said Ron, mopping his forehead on his
sleeve. \She used to come for Christmas every year, then, thank
God, she took o ense because Fred and George set o a Dungbomb
under her chair at dinner. Dad always says she'll have written
them out of her will|like they care, they're going to end up richer
than anyone in the family, rate they're going. . . . Wow," he added,
blinking rather rapidly as Hermione came hurrying toward them.
\You look great!"
\Always the tone of surprise," said Hermione, though she
smiled. She was wearing a
oaty, lilac-colored dress with match-
ing high heels; her hair was sleek and shiny. \Your Great|Aunt
Muriel doesn't agree, I just met her upstairs while she was giving
Fleur the tiara. She says, `Oh dear, is this the Muggle-born?' and
then, `Bad posture and skinny ankles.'"
\Don't take it personally, she's rude to everyone," said Ron.
\Talking about Muriel?" inquired George, reemerging from the
marquee with Fred. \Yeah, she' just told me my ears are lopsided.
Old bat. I wish old Uncle Bilius was still with us, though; he was
a right laugh at weddings."
\Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours
later?" asked Hermione.
\Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end," conceded
George.
\But before he went loopy he was the life and soul of the party."
said Fred. \He used to down an entire bottle of rewhisky, then run
onto the dance
oor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling bunches
of
owers out of his|"
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The Wedding
\Yes, he sounds a real charmer," said Hermione, while Harry
roared with laughter.
\Never married, for some reason," said Ron.
\You amaze me," said Hermione.
They were all laughing so much that none of them noticed the
latecomer, a dark-haired young man with a large, curved nose and
thick black eyebrows, until he held out his invitation to Ron and
said, with his eyes on Hermione, \You look vunderful."
\Viktor!" she shrieked, and dropped her small beaded bag,
which made a loud thump quite disproportionate with its size. As
she scrambled, blushing, to pick it up, she said, \I didn't know you
were|goodness|it's lovely to see|how are you again?"
Ron's ears had turned bright red again. After glancing at
Krum's invitation as if he did not believe a word of it, he said,
much too loudly, \How come you're here?"
\Fleur invited me," said Krum, eyebrows raised.
Harry, who had no grudge against Krum, shook hands; then,
feeling that it would be prudent to remove Krum from Ron's vicin-
ity, o ered to show him his seat.
\You friend is not pleased to see me," said Krum as he entered
the now packed marquee. \Or is he a relative?" he added with a
glance at Harry's red curly hair.
\Cousin," Harry muttered, but Krum was not really listening.
His appearance was causing a stir, particularly amongst the veela
cousins: He was, after all, a famous Quidditch player. While people
were still craning their necks to get a good look at him, Ron, Her-
mione, Fred, and George came hurrying down the aisle.
\Time to sit down," Fred told Harry, \or we're going to get run
over by the bride."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats in the second row
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Chapter 8
behind Fred and George. Hermione looked rather pink and Ron's
ears were still scarlet. After a few moments he muttered to Harry,
\Did you see he's grown a stupid little beard?"
Harry gave a noncommittal grunt.
A sense of jittery anticipation had lled the warm tent, the
general murmuring broken by occasional spurts of excited laughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley strolled up the aisle, smiling and waving at
relatives: Mrs. Weasley was wearing a brand-new set of amethyst-
colored robes with a matching hat.
A moment later Bill and Charlie stood up at the front of the
marquee, both wearing dress robes, with large white roses in their
buttonholes; Fred wolf-whistled and there was an outbreak of gig-
gling from the veela cousins. Then the crowd fell silent as music
swelled from what seemed to be the golden balloons.
\Ooooh!" said Hermione, swivelling around in her seat to look
at the entrance.
A great collective sigh issued from the assembled witches and
wizards as Monsieur Delacour and Fleur came walking up the aisle,
Fleur gliding, Monsieur Delacour bouncing and beaming. Fleur
was wearing a very simple white dresses and seemed to be emitting
a strong, silvery glow. While her radiance usually dimmed everyone
else by comparison, today it beauti ed everyone it fell upon. Ginny
and Gabrielle, both wearing golden dresses, looked even prettier
than usual, and once Fleur had reached him, Bill did not look as
though he had ever met Fenrir Greyback.
\Ladies and gentlemen," said a slightly singsong voice, and with
a slight shock, Harry saw the same small, tufty-haired wizard who
had presided at Dumbledore's funeral, now standing in front of bill
and Fleur. \We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of
two faithful souls . . . "
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The Wedding
\Yes, my tiara sets o the whole thing nicely," said auntie
Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. \But I must say, Ginevra's
dress is far too low cut."
Ginny glanced around, grinning, winked at Harry, then quickly
faced the front again. Harry's mind wandered a long way from the
marquee, back to afternoons spent alone with Ginny in lonely parts
of the school grounds. They seemed so long ago; they had always
seemed too good to be true, as though he had been stealing shining
hours from a normal person's life, a person without a lightning-
shaped scar on his forehead. . . .
\Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle. . . . ?"
In the front row, Mrs. Weasley and Madame Delacour were
both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace. Trumpetlike sounds from
the back of the marquee told everyone that Hagrid had taken out
one of his own tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs. Hermione turned
and beamed at Harry; her eyes too were full of tears.
\ . . . then I declare you bonded for life."
The tufty-haired wizard waved his wand high over the heads of
Bill and Fleur and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling
around their now entwined gures. As Fred and George led a round
of applause, the golden balloons overhead burst: Birds of paradise
and tiny golden bells
ew and
oated out of them, adding their
songs and chimes to the din.
\Ladies and gentlemen!" called the tuft-haired wizard. \If you
would please stand up!"
They all did so, Auntie Muriel grumbling audibly; he waved his
wand again. The seats on which they had been sitting rose grace-
fully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee vanished, so
that they stood beneath a canopy supported by golden poles, with
a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding countryside.
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Chapter 8
Next, a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to
form a gleaming dance
oor; the hovering chairs groped themselves
around small white-clothed tables, which all
oated gracefully back
to earth around it, and the golden-jacketed hand trooped toward
a podium.
\Smooth," said Ron approvingly as the waiters popped up on
all sides, some bearing silver trays of pumpkin juice, butterbeer,
and rewhisky, other tottering piles of tarts and sandwiches.
\We should go and congratulate them!" said Hermione, stand-
ing on tiptoe to see the place where bill and Fleur had vanished
amid a crowd of well-wishers.
\We'll have time later," shrugged Ron, snatching three butter-
beers from a passing tray and handing one to Harry. \Hermione,
cop hold, let's grab a table. . . . Not there! Nowhere near Muriel|"
Ron led the way across the empty dance
oor, glancing left and
right as he went: Harry felt sure that he was keeping an eye out
for Krum. By the time they had reached the other side of the
Marquee, most of the tables were occupied: The emptiest was the
one where Luna sat alone.
\All right if we join you?" asked Ron.
\Oh yes," she said happily. \Daddy's just gone to give Bill and
Fleur our present."
\What is it, a lifetime's supply of Gurdyroots?" asked Ron.
Hermione aimed a kick at him under the table, but caught Harry
instead. Eyes watering in pain, Harry lost track of the conversation
for a few moments.
The band had begun to play. Bill and Fleur took to the dance
oor rst, to great applause; after a while, Mr. Weasley led
Madame Delacour onto the
oor, followed by Mrs. Weasley and
Fleur's father.
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The Wedding
\I like this song," said Luna, swaying in time to the waltzlike
tune, and a few seconds later she stood up and glided onto the
dance
oor, where she revolved on the spot, quite alone, eyes closed
and waving her arms.
\She's great, isn't she?" said Ron admiringly. \Always good
value."
But the smile vanished from his face at once: Viktor Krum had
dropped into Luna's vacant seat. Hermione looked pleasurably
ustered, but this time Krum had not come to compliment her.
With a scowl on his face he said, \Who is that man in the yellow?"
\That's Xenophilius Lovegood, he's the father of a friend of
ours," said Ron. His pugnacious tone indicated that they were
not about to laugh at Xenophilius, despite the clear provocation.
\Come and dance," he added abruptly to Hermione.
She looked taken aback, but pleased too, and got up. They
vanished together into the growing throng on the dance
oor.
\Ah, they are together now?" asked Krum, momentarily dis-
tracted.
\Er|sort of," said Harry.
\Who are you?" Krum asked.
\Barny Weasley."
They shook hands.
\You, Barny|you know this man Lovegood vell?"
\No, I only met him today. Why?"
Krum glowered over the top of his drink, watching Xenophilius,
who was chatting to several warlocks on the other side of the dance
oor.
\Because," said Krum, \if he was not a guest of Fleur's, I would
duel him here and now, for vearing that lthy sign upon his chest."
\Sign?" said Harry, looking at Xenophilius too. The strange
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Chapter 8
triangular eye was gleaming on his chest. \Why? What's wrong
with it?"
\Grindelvald. That is Grindelvald's sign."
\Grindelwald . . . the Dark wizard Dumbledore defeated?"
\Exactly."
Krum's jaw muscles worked as if he were chewing, then he says,
\Grindelvald killed many people, my grandfather, for instance. Of
course, he vos never poverful in this country, they said he feared
Dumbledore|and rightly, seeing how he vos nished. But this"|
he pointed a nger a Xenophilius|\this is his symbol, recognized
it at vunce: Grindelvald carved it into a vall at Durmstrang ver he
vos a pupil there. Some idiots copied it into their books and clothes,
thinking to shock, make themselves impressive|until those of us
who had lost family members to Grindelvald taught them better."
Krum cracked his knuckles menacingly and glowered at Xeno-
philius. Harry felt perplexed. It seemed incredibly unlikely that
Luna's father was a supporter of the Dark Arts, and nobody else in
the tent seemed to have recognized the triangular, runelike shape.
\Are you|er|quite sure it's Grindelwald's|?"
\I am not mistaken," said Krum coldly. \I valked past that sign
for several years, I know it vell."
\Well, there's a chance," said Harry, \that Xenophilius doesn't
actually know what the symbol means.The Lovegoods are
quite . . . unusual. He could easily have picked it up somewhere
and think it's a cross section of the head of a Crumple-Horned
Snorkack or something."
\The cross section of a vot?"
\Well, I don't know what they are, but apparently he and his
daughter go on holiday looking for them. . . ."
Harry felt he was doing a bad job explaining Luna and her
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The Wedding
father.
\That's her," he said, pointing at Luna, who was still dancing
alone, waving her arms around her head like someone attempting
to beat o midges.
\Vy is she doing that?" asked Krum.
\Probably trying to get rid of a Wrackspurt," said Harry, who
recognized the symptoms.
Krum did not seem to know whether or not Harry was making
fun of him. He drew his wand from inside his robes and tapped it
menacingly on his thigh; sparks
ew out of the end.
\Gregorovitch!" said Harry loudly, and Krum started, but
Harry was too excited to care; the memory came back to him at
the sight of Krum's wand: Ollivander taking it and examining it
carefully before the Triwizard Tournament.
\Vot about him?" asked Krum suspiciously.
\He's a wandmaker!"
\I know that," said Krum.
\He made your wand! That's why I thought|Quidditch|"
Krum was looking more and more suspicious.
\How do you know Gregorovitch made my vand?"
\I . . . I read it somewhere, I think," said Harry. \In a|a fan
magazine," he improvised wildly and Krum looked molli ed.
\I had not realized I ever discussed my vand with fans," he said.
\So . . . er . . . where is Gregorovitch these days?"
Krum looked puzzled.
\He retired several years ago. I vos one of the last to purchase
a Gregorovitch vand. They are the best|although I know, of
course, that you Britons set much store by Ollivander."
Harry did not answer. He pretended to watch the dancers, like
Krum, but he was thinking hard. So Voldemort was looking for a
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Chapter 8
celebrated wandmaker, and Harry did not have to search far for a
reason: It was surely because of what Harry's wand had done on the
night that Voldemort had pursued him across the skies. The holly
and phoenix feather had conquered the borrowed wand, something
that Ollivander had not anticipated or understood. Would Gre-
gorovitch know better? Was he truly more skilled than Ollivander,
did he know secrets of wands that Ollivander did not?
\This girl is very nice-looking," Krum said, recalling Harry to
his surroundings. Krum was pointing at Ginny, who had just joined
Luna. \She is also a relative of yours?"
\Yeah," said Harry, suddenly irritated, \and she's seeing some-
one. Jealous type. Big bloke. You wouldn't want to cross him."
Krum grunted.
\Vot," he said, draining his goblet and getting to his feet again,
\is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the
good-looking girls are taken?"
And he strode o , leaving Harry to take a sandwich from a
passing waiter and make his way around the edge of the crowded
dance
oor. He wanted to nd Ron, to tell him about Gregorovitch,
but he was dancing with Hermione out in the middle of the
oor.
Harry leaned up against one of the golden pillars and watched
Ginny, who was now dancing with Fred and George's friend Lee
Jordan, trying not to feel resentful about the promise he had given
Ron.
He had never been to a wedding before, so he could not judge
how Wizarding celebrations di ered from Muggle ones, though he
was pretty sure that the latter would not involve a wedding cake
topped with two model phoenixes that took
ight when the cake
was cut, or bottles of champagne that
oated unsupported through
the crowd. As the evening drew in, and moths began to swoop
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The Wedding
under the canopy, now lit with
oating golden lanterns, the revelry
became more and more uncontained. Freda and George had long
since disappeared into the darkness with a pair of Fleur's cousins;
Charlie, Hagrid, and a squat wizard in a purple porkpie hat were
singing `Odo the Hero" in a corner.
Wandering through the crowd so as not to escape a drunken
uncle of Ron's who seemed unsure whether or not Harry was his
son, Harry spotted an old wizard sitting alone at a table. His cloud
of white hair made him look rather like an aged dandelion clock as
was topped by a moth-eaten fez. He was vaguely familiar: Racking
his brains, Harry suddenly realized that this was Elphias Doge, the
member of the Order of the Phoenix and the writer of Dumbledore'
obituary.
Harry approached him.
\May I sit down?"
\Of course, of course," said Doge; he had a rather high-pitched,
wheezy voice.
Harry leaned in.
\Mr. Doge, I'm Harry Potter."
Doge gasped.
\My dear boy! Arthur told me you were here, disguised. . . . I
am so glad, so honored!"
In a
utter a nervous pleasure Doge poured Harry a goblet of
champagne.
\I've thought of writing to you," he whispered, \after Dumble-
dore . . . the shock . . . and for you, I am sure . . . "
Doge's tiny eyes lled with sudden tears.
\I saw the obituary you wrote for the Daily Prophet," said
Harry. \I didn't realize you knew Professor Dumbledore so well."
\As well as anyone," said Doge, dabbing his eyes with a napkin.
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Chapter 8
\Certainly I knew him longest, if you don't count Aberforth|and
somehow, people never do seem to count Aberforth."
\Speaking of the Daily Prophet . . . I don't know whether you
saw, Mr. Doge|?"
\Oh, please call me Elphias, dear boy."
\Elphias, I don't know whether you saw the interview Rita
Skeeter gave about Dumbledore?"
Doge's face
ooded with angry color.
\Oh yes, Harry, I saw it. That woman, or vulture might be a
more accurate term, positively pestered me to talk to her. I am
ashamed to say that I became rather rude, called her an interfering
trout, which resulted, as you may have seen, in aspersions cast upon
my sanity."
\Well, in that interview." Harry went on, \Rita Skeeter hinted
that Professor Dumbledore was involved in the Dark Arts when he
was young."
\Don't believe a word of it!" said Dodge at once. \Not a word,
Harry! Let nothing tarnish your memories of Albus Dumbledore!
Harry looked into Doge's earnest, pained face and felt, not reas-
sured, but frustrated. Did Doge really think it was that easy, that
Harry could simply choose not to believe? Didn't Doge understand
Harry's need to be sure, to know everything?
Perhaps Doge suspected Harry's feelings, for he looked con-
cerned and hurried on, \Harry, Rita Skeeter is a dreadful|"
But he was interrupted by a shrill cackle.
\Rita Skeeter? Oh, I love her, always read her!"
Harry and Doge looked up to see Auntie Muriel standing there,
the plumes dancing on her hat, a goblet of champagne in her hand.
\She's written a book about Dumbledore, you know!"
\Hello, Muriel," said Doge. \Yes, we were just discussing|"
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The Wedding
\You there! Give me your chair, I'm a hundred a seven!"
Another redheaded Weasley cousin jumped o his seat, look-
ing alarmed, and Auntie Muriel swung around it with surpris-
ing strength and plopped herself down upon it between Doge and
Harry.
\Hello again, Barry, or whatever your name is," she said to
Harry. \Now, what were you saying about Rita Skeeter, Elphias?
You know, she's written a biography of Dumbledore? I can't wait
to read it, I must remember to place an order at Flourish and
Blotts!"
Doge looked sti and solemn at this, but Auntie Muriel drained
her goblet and clicked her bony ngers at a passing waiter for a
replacement. She took another large gulp of champagne, belched,
and then said, \There's no need to look like a pair of stu ed frogs!
Before he came so respected and respectable and all that tosh,
there were some mighty funny rumors about Albus!"
\Ill|informed sniping," said Doge, turning radish-colored
again.
\You would say that, Elphias," cackled Auntie Muriel. \I no-
ticed how you skated over the sticky patches in that obituary of
yours!"
\I'm sorry you think so," said Doge, more coldly still. \I assure
you I was writing from the heart."
\Oh, we all know you worshipped Dumbledore; I daresay you'll
still think he was a saint even if it does turn out that he did away
with his Squib sister!"
\Muriel!" exclaimed Doge.
A chill that had nothing to do with the iced champagne was
stealing through Harry's chest.
\What do you mean?" he asked Muriel. \Who said his sister
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Chapter 8
was a Squib? I thought she was ill?"
\Thought wrong, then, didn't you, Barry!" said Auntie Muriel,
looking delighted at the e ect she had produced. \Anyway, how
could you expect to know anything about it! It all happened years
and years before you were even thought of, my dear, and the truth
is that those of us who were alive then never knew what really
happened. That's why I can't wait to nd out what Skeeter's
unearthed! Dumbledore kept that sister of his quiet for a long
time!"
\Untrue!" wheezed Doge, \Absolutely untrue!"
\He never told me his sister was a Squib," said Harry, without
thinking, still cold inside.
\And why on earth would he tell you?" screeched Muriel, sway-
ing a little in her seat as she attempted to focus upon Harry.
\The reason Albus never spoke about Ariana," began Elphias
in a voice sti with emotion, \is, I should have thought, quite clear.
He was so devastated by her death|\
\Why did nobody ever see her, Elphias?" squawked Muriel,
\Why did half of us never even know she existed, until they carried
the co n out of the house and held a funeral for her? Where was
saintly Albus while Ariana was locked in the cellar? O being
brilliant at Hogwarts, and never mind what was going on in his
own house!"
\What d'you mean, locked in the cellar?" asked Harry. \What
is this?"
Doge looked wretched. Auntie Muriel cackled again and an-
swered Harry.
\Dumbledore's mother was a terrifying woman, simply terrify-
ing. Muggle-born, though I heard she pretended otherwise|\
\She never pretended anything of the sort! Kendra was a ne
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The Wedding
woman," whispered Doge miserably, but Auntie Muriel ignored
him.
\|proud and very domineering, the sort of witch who would
have been morti ed to produce a Squib|\
\Ariana was not a Squib!" wheezed Doge.
\So you say, Elphias, but explain, then, why she never attended
Hogwarts!" said Auntie Muriel. She turned back to Harry. \In our
day, Squibs were often hushed up, thought to take it to the extreme
of actually imprisoning a little girl in the house and pretending she
didn't exist|{\
\I tell you, that's not what happened!" said Doge, but Auntie
Muriel steamrollered on, still addressing Harry.
Squibs were usually shipped o to Muggle schools and encour-
aged to integrate into the Muggle community . . . much kinder than
trying to nd them a place in the Wizarding world, where they
must always be second class, but naturally Kendra Dumbledore
wouldn't have dreamed of letting her daughter go to a Muggle
school|{\
\Ariana was delicate!" said Doge desperately. \Her health was
always too poor to permit her|\
\|to permit her to leave the house?" cackled Muriel. \And
yet she was never taken to St. Mungo's and no Healer was ever
summoned to see her!" \Really, Muriel, how can you possibly know
whether|\
\For your information, Elphias, my cousin Lancelot was a
Healer at St. Mungo's at the time, and he told my family in
strictest con dence that Ariana had never been seen there. All
most suspicious, Lancelot thought!"
Doge looked to be on the verge of tears. Auntie Muriel, who
seemed to be enjoying herself hugely, snapped her ngers for more
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Chapter 8
champagne. Numbly Harry thought of how the Dursleys had once
shut him up, locked him away, kept him out of sight, all for the
crime of being a wizard. Had Dumbledore's sister su ered the same
fate in reverse: imprisoned for her lack of magic? Had Dumbledore
truly left her to her fate while he went o to Hogwarts to prove
himself brilliant and talented?
\Now, if Kendra hadn't died rst," Muriel resumed, \I'd have
said that it was she who nished o Ariana|\
\How can you, Muriel!" groaned Doge. \A mother kill her own
daughter? Think what you're saying!"
\If the mother in question was capable of imprisoning her
daughter for years on end, why not?" shrugged Auntie Muriel.
\But as I say, it doesn't t, because Kendra died before Ariana|
of what, nobody ever seemed sure|\
\Yes, Ariana might have made a desperate bid for freedom and
killed Kendra in the struggle," said Auntie Muriel thoughtfully.
\Shake your head all you like, Elphias. You were at Ariana's fu-
neral, were you not?"
\Yes I was," said Doge, through trembling lips, \and a
more desperately sad occasion I cannot remember. Albus was
heartbroken|\
\His heart wasn't the only thing. Didn't Aberforth break Albus'
nose halfway through the service?"
If Doge had looked horri ed before this, it was nothing to how
he looked now. Muriel might have stabbed him. She cackled loudly
and took another swig of champagne, which dribbled down her
chin.
\How do you|?" croaked Doge.
\My mother was friendly with old Bathilda Bagshot," said Aun-
tie Muriel happily. \Bathilda described the whole thing to mother
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The Wedding
while I was listening at the door. A co n-side brawl! The way
Bathilda told it, Aberforth shouted that it was all Albus' fault
that Ariana was dead and then punched him in the face. Accord-
ing to Bathilda, Albus did not even defend himself, and that's odd
enough in itself. Albus could have destroyed Aberforth in a duel
with both hands tied behind his back.
Muriel swigged yet more champagne. The recitation of those
old scandals seemed to elate her as much as they horri ed Doge.
Harry did not know what to think, what to believe. He wanted
the truth and yet all Doge did was sit there and bleat feebly that
Ariana had been ill. Harry could hardly believe that Dumbledore
would not have intervened if such cruelty was happening inside his
own house, and yet there was undoubtedly something odd about
the story.
\And I'll tell you something else," Muriel said, hiccuping
slightly as she lowered her goblet. \I think Bathilda has spilled
the beans to Rita Skeeter. All those hints in Skeeter's interview
about an important source close to the Dumbledores|goodness
knows she was there all through the Ariana business, and it would
t!"
\Bathilda, would never talk to Rita Skeeter!" whispered Doge.
\Bathilda Bagshot?" Harry said. \The author of A History of
Magic?"
The name was printed on the front of one of Harry's textbooks,
though admittedly not one of the ones he had read more attentively.
\Yes," said Doge, clutching at Harry's question like a drowning
man at a life heir. \A most gifted magical historian and an old
friend of Albus's."
\Quite gaga these days, I've heard," said Auntie Muriel cheer-
fully.
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Chapter 8
\If that is so, it is even more dishonorable for Skeeter to have
taken advantage of her," said Doge, \and no reliance can be placed
on anything Bathilda may have said!"
\Oh, there are ways of bringing back memories, and I'm sure
Rita Skeeter knows them all," said Auntie Muriel \But even if
Bathilda's completely cuckoo, I'm sure she'd still have old pho-
tographs, maybe even letters. She knew the Dumbledores for
years. . . . Well worth a trip to Godric's Hollow, I'd have thought."
Harry, who had been taking a sip of butterbeer, choked. Doge
banged him on the back as Harry coughed, looking at Auntie Muriel
through streaming eyes. Once he had control of his voice again, he
asked, \Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric's Hollow?"
\Oh yes, she's been there forever! The Dumbledores moved
there after Percival was imprisoned, and she was their neighbor."
\The Dumbledores lived in Godric's Hollow?"
\Yes, Barry, that's what I just said," said Auntie Muriel testily.
Harry felt drained, empty. Never once, in six years, had Dum-
bledore told Harry that they had both lived and lost loved ones
in Godric's Hollow. Why? Were Lily and James buried close to
Dumbledore's mother and sister? Had Dumbledore visited their
graves, perhaps walked past Lily's and James's to do so? And he
had never once told Harry . . . never bothered to say . . .
And why it was so important, Harry could not explain even to
himself, yet he felt it had been tantamount to a lie not to tell him
that they had this place and these experiences in common. He
stared ahead of him, barely noticing what was going on around
him, and did not realize that Hermione had appeared out of the
crowd until she drew up a chair beside him.
\I simply can't dance anymore," she panted, slipping of one of
her shoes and rubbing the sole of her foot. \Ron's gone looking to
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The Wedding
nd more butterbeers. It's a bit odd. I've just seen Viktor storming
away from Luna's father, it looked like they'd been arguing|" She
dropped her voice, staring at him. \Harry, are you okay?"
Harry did not know where to begin, but it did not matter,
at that moment, something large and silver came falling through
the canopy over the dance
oor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx
landed lightly in the middle of the astonished dancers. Heads
turned, as those nearest it froze absurdly in mid-dance. Then the
Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow
voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
\The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are com-
ing."
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Chapter 9
A Place to Hide
verything seemed fuzzy, slow. Harry and Hermione
jumped to their feet and drew their wands. Many peo-
ple were only just realizing that something strange had
Ehappened; heads were still turning toward the silver
cat as it vanished. Silence spread outward in cold ripples from the
place where the Patronus had landed. Then somebody screamed.
Harry and Hermione threw themselves into the panicking crowd.
Guests were sprinting in all directions; many were Disapparating;
the protective enchantments around the Burrow had broken.
\Ron!" Hermione cried. \Ron, where are you?"
As they pushed their way across the dance
oor, Harry saw
cloaked and masked gures appearing in the crowd; then he saw
Lupin and Tonks, their wands raised, and heard both of them
shout, \Protego!", a cry that was echoed on all sides|
\Ron! Ron!" Hermione called, half sobbing as she and Harry
were bu ered by terri ed guests: Harry seized her hand to make
sure they weren't separated as a streak of light whizzed over their
160
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A Place to Hide
heads, whether a protective charm or something more sinister he
did not know|
And then Ron was there. He caught hold of Hermione's free
arm, and Harry felt her turn on the spot; sight and sound were
extinguished as darkness pressed in upon him; all he could feel was
Hermione's hand as he was squeezed through space and time, away
from the Burrow, away from the descending Death Eaters, away,
perhaps, from Voldemort himself. . . .
\Where are we?" said Ron's voice.
Harry opened his eyes. For a moment he thought they had not
left the wedding after all: They still seemed to be surrounded by
people.
\Tottenham Court Road," panted Hermione. \Walk, just walk,
we need to nd somewhere for you to change."
Harry did as she asked. They half walked, half ran up the wide
dark street thronged with late-night revelers and lined with closed
shops, stars twinkling above them. A double-decker bus rumbled
by and a group of merry pub-goers ogled them as they passed;
Harry and Ron were still wearing dress robes.
\Hermione, we haven't got anything to change into," Ron told
her, as a young woman burst into raucous giggles at the sight of
him.
\Why didn't I make sure I had the Invisibility Cloak with me?"
said Harry, inwardly cursing his own stupidity. \All last year I
kept it on me and|\
\It's okay, I've got the Cloak, I've got clothes for both of you,"
said Hermione, \Just try and act naturally until|this will do."
She led them down a side street, then into the shelter of a shadowy
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Chapter 9
alleyway.
\When you say you've got the Cloak, and clothes . . . " said
Harry, frowning at Hermione, who was carrying nothing except
her small beaded handbag, in which she was now rummaging.
\Yes, they're here," said Hermione, and to Harry and Ron's
utter astonishment, she pulled out a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt,
some maroon socks, and nally the silvery Invisibility Cloak.
\How the ruddy hell|?"
\Undetectable Extension Charm," said Hermione. \Tricky, but
I think I've done it okay; anyway, I managed to t everything we
need in here." She gave the fragile-looking bag a little shake and
it echoed like a cargo hold as a number of heavy objects rolled
around inside it. \Oh, damn, that'll be the books," she said,
peering into it, \and I had them all stacked by subject. . . . Oh
well. . . . Harry, you'd better take the Invisibility Cloak. Ron, hurry
up and change. . . ."
\When did you do all this?" Harry asked as Ron stripped o
his robes.
\I told you at the Burrow, I've had the essentials packed for
days, you know, in case we needed to make a quick getaway. I
packed your rucksack this morning, Harry, after you changed, and
put it in here. . . . I just had a feeling. . . ."
\You're amazing, you are," said Ron, handing her his bundled-
up robes.
\Thank you," said Hermione, managing a small smile as she
pushed the robes into the bag. \Please, Harry, get that Cloak on!"
Harry threw his Invisibility Cloak around his shoulders and
pulled it up over his head, vanishing from sight. He was only
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A Place to Hide
just beginning to appreciate what had happened.
\The others|everybody at the wedding|\
\We can't worry about that now," whispered Hermione. \It's
you they're after, Harry, and we'll just put everyone in even more
danger by going back."
\She's right," said Ron, who seemed to know that Harry was
about to argue, even if he could not see his face. \Most of the
Order was there, they'll look after everyone." Harry nodded, then
remembered that they could not see him, and said, \Yeah." But
he thought of Ginny, and fear bubbled like acid in his stomach.
\Come on, I think we ought to keep moving," said Hermione.
They moved back up the side street and onto the main road
again, where a group of men on the opposite side was singing and
weaving across the pavement.
\Just as a matter of interest, why Tottenham Court Road?"
Ron asked Hermione.
\I've no idea, it just popped into my head, but I'm sure we're
safer out in the Muggle world, it's not where they'll expect us to
be."
\True," said Ron, looking around, \but don't you feel a bit|
exposed?"
\Where else is there?" asked Hermione, cringing as the men on
the other side of the road started wolf-whistling at her. \We can
hardly book rooms at the Leaky Cauldron, can we? And Grim-
mauld Place is out if Snape can get in there. . . . I suppose we could
try my parents' home, though I think there's a chance they might
check there. . . . Oh, I wish they'd shut up!"
\All right, darling?" the drunkest of the men on the other
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Chapter 9
pavement was yelling. \Fancy a drink? Ditch ginger and come and
have a pint!"
\Let's sit down somewhere," Hermione said hastily as Ron
opened his mouth to shout back across the road. \Look, this will
do, in here!"
It was a small and shabby all-night caf e. A light layer of grease
lay on all the Formica-topped tables, but it was at least empty.
Harry slipped into a booth rst and Ron sat next to him opposite
Hermione, who had her back to the entrance and did not like it:
She glanced over her shoulder so frequently she appeared to have a
twitch. Harry did not like being stationary; walking had given the
illusion that they had a goal. Beneath the Cloak he could feel the
last vestiges of Polyjuice leaving him, his hands returning to their
usual length and shape. He pulled his glasses out of his pocket and
put them on again.
After a minute or two, Ron said, \You know, we're not far from
the Leaky Cauldron here, it's only in Charing Cross|\
\Ron, we can't!" said Hermione at once.
\Not to stay there, but to nd out what's going on!"
\We know what's going on! Voldemort's taken over the Min-
istry, what else do we need to know?"
\Okay, okay, it was just an idea!"
They relapsed into a prickly silence. The gum-chewing waitress
shu ed over and Hermione ordered two cappuccinos: As Harry
was invisible, it would have looked odd to order him one. A pair of
burly workmen entered the caf e and squeezed into the next booth.
Hermione dropped her voice to a whisper.
\I say we nd a quiet place to Disapparate and head for the
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countryside. Once we're there, we could send a message to the
Order."
\Can you do that talking Patronus thing, then?" asked Ron.
\I've been practicing and I think so," said Hermione.
\Well, as long as it doesn't get them into trouble, though they
might've been arrested already. God, that's revolting," Ron added
after one sip of the foamy, grayish co ee. The waitress had heard;
she shot Ron a nasty look as she shu ed o to take the new cus-
tomers' orders. The larger of the two workmen, who was blond
and quite huge, now that Harry came to look at him, waved her
away. She stared, a ronted.
\Let's get going, then, I don't want to drink this muck," said
Ron. \Hermione, have you got Muggle money to pay for this?"
\Yes, I took out all my Building Society savings before I came
to the Burrow. I'll bet all the change is at the bottom," sighed
Hermione, reaching for her beaded bag.
The two workmen made identical movements, and Harry mir-
rored them without conscious thought: All three of them drew
their wands. Ron, a few seconds late in realizing what was go-
ing on, lunged across the table, pushing Hermione sideways onto
her bench. The force of the Death Eaters' spells shattered the
tiled wall where Ron's head had just been, as Harry, still invisible,
yelled, \Stupefy!"
The great blond Death Eater was hit in the face by a jet of
red light: He slumped sideways, unconscious. His companion, un-
able to see who had cast the spell, red another at Ron: Shining
black ropes
ew from his wand-tip and bound Ron head to foot|
the waitress screamed and ran for the door|Harry sent another
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Stunning Spell at the Death Eater with the twisted face who had
tied up Ron, but the spell missed, rebounded on the window, and
hit the waitress, who collapsed in front of the door.
\Expulso!" bellowed the Death Eater, and the table behind
which Harry was standing blew up: The force of the explosion
slammed him into the wall and he felt his wand leave his hand as
the Cloak slipped o him.
\Petri cus Totalus!" screamed Hermione from out of sight, and
the Death Eater fell forward like a statue to land with a crunch-
ing thud on the mess of broken china, table, and co ee. Hermione
crawled out from underneath the bench, shaking bits of glass ash-
tray out of her hair and trembling all over.
\D{di ndo," she said, pointing her wand at Ron, who roared
in pain as she slashed open the knee of his jeans, leaving a deep
cut. \Oh, I'm so sorry, Ron, my hand's shaking! Di ndo!"
The severed ropes fell away. Ron got to his feet, shaking his
arms to regain feeling in them. Harry picked up his wand and
climbed over all the debris to where the large blond Death Eater
was sprawled across the bench.
\I should've recognized him, he was there the night Dumble-
dore died," he said. He turned over the darker Death Eater with
his foot; the man's eyes moved rapidly between Harry, Ron and
Hermione.
\That's Dolohov," said Ron. \I recognize him from the old
wanted posters. I think the big one's Thor nn Rowle."
\Never mind what they're called!" said Hermione a little hys-
terically. \How did they nd us? What are we going to do?"
Somehow her panic seemed to clear Harry's head.
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A Place to Hide
\Lock the door," he told her, \and Ron, turn out the lights."
He looked down at the paralyzed Dolohov, thinking fast as the
lock clicked and Ron used the Deluminator to plunge the caf e into
darkness. Harry could hear the men who had jeered at Hermione
earlier, yelling at another girl in the distance.
\What are we going to do with them?" Ron whispered to Harry
through the dark; then, even more quietly, \Kill them? They'd kill
us. They had a good go just now."
Hermione shuddered and took a step backward. Harry shook
his head.
\We just need to wipe their memories," said Harry. \It's better
like that, it'll throw them o the scent. If we killed them it'd be
obvious we were here."
\You're the boss," said Ron, sounding profoundly relieved.
\But I've never down a Memory Charm."
\Nor have I," said Hermione, \but I know the theory."
She took a deep, calming breath, then pointed her wand at
Dolohov's forehead and said, \Obliviate."
At once, Dolohov's eyes became unfocused and dreamy.
\Brilliant!" said Harry, clapping her on the back. \Take care
of the other one and the waitress while Ron and I clear up."
\Clear up?" said Ron, looking around at the partly destroyed
caf e. \Why?"
\Don't you think they might wonder what's happened if they
wake up and nd themselves in a place that looks like it's just been
bombed?"
\Oh right, yeah . . . "
Ron struggled for a moment before managing to extract his
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wand from his pocket.
\It's no wonder I can't get it out, Hermione, you packed my old
jeans, they're tight."
\Oh, I'm so sorry," hissed Hermione, and as she dragged the
waitress out of sight of the windows, Harry heard her mutter a
suggestion as to where Ron could stick his wand instead.
Once the caf e was restored to its previous condition, they
heaved the Death Eaters back into their booth and propped them
up facing each other.
\But how did they nd us?" Hermione asked, looking from one
inert man to the other. \How did they know where we were?"
She turned to Harry.
\You|you don't think you've still got your Trace on you, do
you, Harry?"
\He can't have," said Ron. \The Trace breaks at seventeen,
that's Wizarding law, you can't put it on an adult."
\As far as you know," said Hermione. \What if the Death
Eaters have found a way to put it on a seventeen-year-old?"
\But Harry hasn't been near a Death Eater in the last twenty-
four hours. Who's supposed to have put a Trace back on him?"
Hermione did not reply. Harry felt contaminated, tainted: Was
that really how the Death Eaters had found them?
\If I can't use magic, and you can't use magic near me, without
us giving away our position|" he began.
\We're not splitting up!" said Hermione rmly.
\We need a safe place to hide," said Ron. \Give us time to
think things through."
\Grimmauld Place," said Harry.
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The other two gaped.
\Don't be silly, Harry, Snape can get in there!"
\Ron's dad said they've put up jinxes against him|and even
if they haven't worked," he pressed on as Hermione began to argue
\so what? I swear, I'd like nothing better than to meet Snape!"
\But|\
\Hermione, where else is there? It's the best chance we've got.
Snape's only one Death Eater. If I've still got the Trace on me,
we'll have whole crowds of them on us wherever else we go."
She could not argue, though she looked as if she would have liked
to. While she unlocked the caf e door, Ron clicked the Deluminator
to release the caf e's light. Then, on Harry's count of three, they
reversed the spells upon their three victims, and before the waitress
or either of the Death Eaters could do more than stir sleepily,
Harry, Ron and Hermione had turned on the spot and vanished
into the compressing darkness once more.
Seconds later Harry's lungs expanded gratefully and he opened
his eyes: They were now standing in the middle of a familiar small
and shabby square. Tall, dilapidated houses looked down on them
from every side. Number twelve was visible to them, for they had
been told of its existence by Dumbledore, its Secret-Keeper, and
they rushed toward it, checking every few yards that they were not
being followed or observed. They raced up the stone steps, and
Harry tapped the front door once with his wand. They heard a
series of metallic clicks and the clatter of a chain, then the door
swung open with a creak and they hurried over the threshold.
As Harry closed the door behind them, the old-fashioned gas
lamps sprang into life, casting
ickering light along the length of
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the hallway. It looked just as Harry remembered it: eerie, cob-
webbed, the outlines of the house-elf heads on the wall throwing
odd shadows up the staircase. Long dark curtains concealed the
portrait of Sirius's mother. The only thing that was out of place
was the troll's leg umbrella stand, which was lying on its side as if
Tonks had just knocked it over again.
\I think somebody's been in here," Hermione whispered, point-
ing toward it.
\That could've happened as the Order left," Ron murmured
back.
\So where are these jinxes they put up against Snape?" Harry
asked.
\Maybe they're only activated if he shows up?" suggested Ron.
Yet they remained close together on the doormat, backs against
the door, scared to move farther into the house.
\Well, we can't stay here forever," said Harry, and he took a
step forward.
\Severus Snape?"
Mad-Eye Moody's voice whispered out of the darkness, making
all three of them jump back in fright. \We're not Snape!" croaked
Harry, before something whooshed over him like cold air and his
tongue curled backward on itself, making it impossible to speak.
Before he had time to feel inside his mouth, however, his tongue
had unraveled again.
The other two seemed to have experienced the same unpleasant
sensation. Ron was making retching noises; Hermione stammered,
\That m{must have b{been the T{Tongue-Tying Curse Mad-Eye
set up for Snape!"
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Gingerly Harry took another step forward. Something shifted
in the shadows at the end of the hall, and before any of them
could say another word, a gure had risen up out of the carpet,
tall, dust-colored, and terrible; Hermione screamed and so did Mrs.
Black, her curtains
ying open; the gray gure was gliding toward
them, faster and faster, its waist-length hair and beard streaming
behind it, its face sunken,
eshless, with empty eye sockets: Hor-
ribly familiar, dreadfully altered, it raised a wasted arm, pointing
at Harry.
\No!" Harry shouted, and though he had raised his wand no
spell occurred to him. \No! It wasn't us! We didn't kill you|\
On the word kill, the gure exploded in a great cloud of dust:
Coughing, his eyes watering, Harry looked around to see Hermione
crouched on the
oor by the door with her arms over her head, and
Ron, who was shaking from head to foot, patting her clumsily on
the shoulder and saying, \It's all r{right. . . . It's g{gone. . . ." Dust
swirled around Harry like mist, catching the blue gaslight, as Mrs.
Black continued to scream.
\Mudbloods, lth, stains of dishonor, taint of shame on the
house of my fathers|\
\SHUT UP!" Harry bellowed, directing his wand at her, and
with a bang and a burst of red sparks, the curtains swung shut
again, silencing her.
\That . . . that was . . . " Hermione whimpered, as Ron helped
her to her feet.
\Yeah," said Harry, \but it wasn't really him, was it? Just
something to scare Snape."
Had it worked, Harry wondered, or had Snape already blasted
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Chapter 9
the horror- gure aside as casually as he had killed the real Dum-
bledore? Nerves still tingling, he led the other two up the hall,
half-expecting some new terror to reveal itself, but nothing moved
except for a mouse skittering along the skirting board.
\Before we go any farther, I think we'd better check," whispered
Hermione, and she raised her wand and said, \Homenum revelio."
Nothing happened.
\Well, you've just had a big shock," said Ron kindly. \What
was that supposed to do?"
\It did what I meant it to do!" said Hermione rather crossly.
\That was a spell to reveal human presence, and there's nobody
here except us!"
\And old Dusty," said Ron, glancing at the patch of carpet from
which the corpse- gure had risen.
\Let's go up," said Hermione with a frightened look at the same
spot, and she led the way up the creaking stairs to the drawing
room on the rst
oor. Hermione waved her wand to ignite the old
gas lamps, then, shivering slightly in the drafty room, she perched
on the sofa, her arms wrapped tightly around her. Ron crossed to
the window and moved the heavy velvet curtains aside an inch.
\Can't see anyone out there," he reported. \And you'd think,
if Harry still had a Trace on him, they'd have followed us here. I
know they can't get in the house, but|what's up, Harry?"
Harry had given a cry of pain: His scar had burned against as
something
ashed across his mind like a bright light on water. He
saw a large shadow and felt a fury that was not his own pound
through his body, violent and brief as an electric shock.
\What did you see?" Ron asked, advancing on Harry. \Did
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you see him at my place?"
\No, I just felt anger|he's really angry|\
\But that could be at the Burrow," said Ron loudly. \What
else? Didn't you see anything? Was he cursing someone?"
\No, I just felt anger|I couldn't tell|\
Harry felt badgered, confused, and Hermione did not help as
she said in a frightened voice, \Your scar, again? But what's going
on? I thought that connection had closed!"
\It did, for a while," muttered Harry; his scar was still painful,
which made it hard to concentrate. \I{I think it's started opening
again whenever he loses control, that's how it used to|\
\But then you've got to close your mind!" said Hermione shrilly.
\Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to use that connection, he
wanted you to shut it down, that's why you were supposed to use
Occlumency! Otherwise Voldemort can plant false images in your
mind, remember|\
\Yeah, I do remember, thanks," said Harry through gritted
teeth; he did not need Hermione to tell him that Voldemort had
once used this selfsame connection between them to lead him into
a trap, nor that it had resulted in Sirius's death. He wished that he
had not told them what he had seen and felt; it made Voldemort
more threatening, as though he were pressing against the window
of the room, and still the pain in his scar was building and he
fought it: It was like resisting the urge to be sick.
He turned his back on Ron and Hermione, pretending to ex-
amine the old tapestry of the Black family tree on the wall. Then
Hermione shrieked: Harry drew his wand again and spun around
to see a silver Patronus soar through the drawing room window
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Chapter 9
and land upon the
oor in front of them, where it solidi ed into
the weasel that spoke with the voice of Ron's father. \Family safe,
do not reply, we are being watched."
The Patronus dissolved into nothingness. Ron let out a noise
between a whimper and a groan and dropped onto the sofa: Her-
mione joined him, gripping his arm. \They're all right, they're all
right!" she whispered, and Ron half laughed and hugged her.
\Harry," he said over Hermione's shoulder, \I|\
\It's not a problem," said Harry, sickened by the pain in his
head. \It's your family, 'course you were worried. I'd feel the same
way." He thought of Ginny. \I do feel the same way."
The pain in his scar was reaching a peak, burning as it had
back in the garden of the Burrow. Faintly he heard Hermione say
\I don't want to be on my own. Could we use the sleeping bags
I've brought and camp in here tonight?"
He heard Ron agree. He could not ght the pain much longer.
He had to succumb.
\Bathroom," he muttered, and he left the room as fast as he
could without running. He barely made it: Bolting the door be-
hind him with trembling hands, he grasped his pounding head and
fell to the
oor, then in an explosion of agony, he felt the rage that
did not belong to him possess his soul, saw a long room lit only
by relight, and the giant blond Death Eater on the
oor, scream-
ing and writhing, and a slighter gure standing over him, wand
outstretched, while Harry spoke in a high, cold, merciless voice.
\More, Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini? Lord
Voldemort is not sure that he will forgive this time. . . . You called
me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter has escaped again?
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A Place to Hide
Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure. . . . Do it, or feel
my wrath yourself!"
A log fell in the re: Flames reared, their light darting across a
terri ed, pointed white face|with a sense of emerging from deep
water, Harry drew heaving breaths and opened his eyes.
He was spread-eagled on the cold black marble
oor, his nose
inches from one of the silver serpent tails that supported the large
bathtub. He sat up. Malfoy's gaunt, petri ed face seemed burned
on the inside of his eyes. Harry felt sickened by what he had seen,
by the use to which Draco was now being put by Voldemort.
There was a sharp rap on the door, and Harry jumped as Her-
mione's voice rang out.
\Harry, do you want your toothbrush? I've got it here."
\Yeah, great, thanks," he said, ghting to keep his voice casual
as he stood up to let her in.
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Kreacher's Tale
arry woke early next morning, wrapped in a sleeping
bag on the drawing room
oor. A chink of sky was
visible between the heavy curtains. It was the cool,
Hclear blue of watered ink, somewhere between night
and dawn, and everything was quiet except for Ron and Hermione's
slow, deep breathing. Harry glanced over at the dark shapes they
made on the
oor beside him. Ron had had a t of gallantry
and insisted that Hermione sleep on the cushions from the sofa, so
that her silhouette was raised above his. Her arm curved to the
oor, her ngers inches from Ron's. Harry wondered whether they
had fallen asleep holding hands. The idea made him feel strangely
lonely.
He looked up at the shadowy ceiling, the cobwebbed chandelier.
Less than twenty|four hours ago, he had been standing in the
sunlight at the entrance to the marquee, waiting to show in wedding
guests. It seemed a lifetime away. What was going to happen now?
He lay on the
oor and he thought of the Horcruxes, of the daunting
complex mission Dumbledore had left him. . . . Dumbledore . . .
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Kreacher's Tale
The grief that had possessed him since Dumbledore's death felt
di erent now. The accusations he had heard from Muriel at the
wedding seemed to have nested in his brain like diseased things,
infecting his memories of the wizard he had idolized. Could Dum-
bledore have let such things happen? Had he been like Dudley,
content to watch neglect and abuse as long as it did not a ect
him? Could he have turned his back on a sister who was being
imprisoned and hidden?
Harry thought of Godric's Hollow, of graves Dumbledore had
never mentioned there; he thought of mysterious objects left with-
out explanation in Dumbledore's will, and resentment swelled in
the darkness. Why hadn't Dumbledore told him? Why hadn't he
explained? Had Dumbledore actually cared about Harry at all?
Or had Harry been nothing more than a tool to be polished and
honed, but not trusted, never con ded in?
Harry could not stand lying there with nothing but bitter
thoughts for company. Desperate for something to do, for dis-
traction, he slipped out of his sleeping bad, picked up his wand,
and crept out of the room. On the landing he whispered, \Lumos,"
and started to climb the stairs by wandlight.
On the second landing was the bedroom in which he and Ron
had slept last time they had been here; he glanced into it. The
wardrobe doors stood open and the bedclothes had been ripped
back. Harry remembered the overturned troll leg downstairs.
Somebody had searched the house since the Order had left. Snape?
Or perhaps Mundungus, who had pilfered plenty from this house
both before and after Sirius died? Harry's gaze wandered to the
portrait that sometimes contained Phineas Nigellus Black, Sirius's
great-great-grandfather, but it was empty, showing nothing but a
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Chapter 10
stretch of muddy backdrop. Phineas Nigellus was evidently spend-
ing the night in the headmaster's study at Hogwarts.
Harry continued up the stairs until he reached the topmost land-
ing where there were only two doors. The one facing him bore a
nameplate reading Sirius. Harry had never entered his godfather's
bedroom before. He pushed open the door, holding his wand high
to cast light as widely as possible. The room was spacious and
must once have been handsome. There was a large bed with a
carved wooden headboard, a tall window obscured by long velvet
curtains and a chandelier thickly coated in dust with candle scrubs
still resting in its sockets, solid wax banging in frostlike drips. A
ne lm of dust covered the pictures on the walls and the bed's
headboard; a spiders web stretched between the chandelier and the
top of the large wooden wardrobe, and as Harry moved deeper into
the room, he head a scurrying of disturbed mice.
The teenage Sirius had plastered the walls with so many posters
and pictures that little of the walls silvery-gray silk was visible.
Harry could only assume that Sirius's parents had been unable to
remove the Permanent Sticking Charm that kept them on the wall
because he was sure they would not have appreciated their eldest
son's taste in decoration. Sirius seemed to have lone gone out of
his way to annoy his parents. There were several large Gry ndor
banners, faded scarlet and hold just to underline his di erence from
all the rest of the Slytherin family. There were many pictures of
Muggle motorcycles, and also (Harry had to admire Sirius's nerve)
several posters of bikini-clad Muggle girls. Harry could tell that
they were Muggles because they remained quite stationary within
their pictures, faded smiles and glazed eyes frozen on the paper.
This was in contrast the only Wizarding photograph on the walls
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Kreacher's Tale
which was a picture of four Hogwarts students standing arm in
arm, laughing at the camera.
With a leap of pleasure, Harry recognized his father, his untidy
black hair stuck up at the back like Harry's, and he too wore glasses.
Beside him was Sirius, carelessly handsome, his slightly arrogant
face so much younger and happier than Harry had ever seen it
alive. To Sirius's right stood Pettigrew, more than a head shorter,
plump and watery-eyed,
ushed with pleasure at his inclusion in
this coolest of gangs, with the much-admired rebels that James
and Sirius had been. On James's left was Lupin, even then a little
shabby-looking, but he had the same air of delighted surprise at
nding himself liked and included or was it simply because Harry
knew how it had been, that he saw these things in the picture? He
tried to take it from the wall; it was his now, after all, Sirius had
left him everything, but it would not budge. Sirius had taken no
chances in preventing his parents from redecorating his room.
Harry looked around at the
oor. The sky outside was grow-
ing brighter: A shaft of light revealed bits of paper, books, and
small objects scattered over the carpet. Evidently Sirius's bed-
room had been searched too, although its contents seemed to have
been judged mostly, if not entirely, worthless. A few of the books
had been shaken roughly enough to part company with the covers
and sundry pages littered the
oor.
Harry bent down, picked up a few of the pieces of paper, and
examined them. He recognized one as a part of an old edition of A
History of Magic, by Barhilda Bagshot, and another as belonging
to a motorcycle maintenance manual. The third was handwritten
and crumpled. He smoothed it out.
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Chapter 10
Dear Padfoot, Thank you, thank you, for Harry's birthday
present! It was his favorite by far. One year old and
already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so
pleased with himself. I'm enclosing a picture so you can
see. You know it only rises about two feet o the ground
but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase
Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there). Of
course James thought it was so funny, says he's going to be
a great Quidditch player, but we've had to pack away all
the ornaments and make sure we don't take our eyes o
him when he gets going.
We had a very quiet birthday tea, just us and old Bathilda
who has always been sweet to us and who dotes on Harry.
We were so sorry you couldn't come, but the Order's got to
come rst, and Harry's not old enough to know it's his
birthday anyway! James is getting a bit frustrated shut up
here, he tries not to show it but I can tell|also
Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance
of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him
up so much. Wormy was here last weekend. I thought he
seemed down, but that was probably the next about the
McKinnons; I cried all evening when I heard.
Bathilda drops in most days, she's a fascinating old thing
with the most amazing stories about Dumbledore. I'm not
sure he'd be pleased if he knew! I don't know how much to
believe, actually because it seems incredible that
Dumbledore
Harry's extremities seemed to have gone numb. He stood quite
still, holding the miraculous paper in his nerveless ngers while
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Kreacher's Tale
inside him a kind of quiet eruptions sent joy and grief thundering
its equal measure through his veins. Lurching to the bed, he sat
down.
He read the letter again, but could not take in any more mean-
ing than he had done the rst time, and was reduced to staring
at the handwriting itself. She had made her \g"s the same way
he did. He searched through the letter for every one of them, and
each felt like a friendly little wave glimpsed from behind a veil.
The letter was an incredible treasure, proof that Lily Potter had
lived, really lived, that her warm hand had once moved across this
parchment, tracing ink into these letters, these words, words about
him, Harry, her son. Impatiently brushing away the wetness in his
eyes, he reread the letter, this time concentrating on the meaning.
It was like listening to a half-remembered voice.
They had a cat . . . perhaps it had perished, like his parents
at Godric's Hollow . . . or else
ed when there was nobody left to
feed it . . . Sirius had bought him his rst broomstick . . . His par-
ents had known Bathilda Bagshot; had Dumbledore introduced
them? Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak . . . there was
something funny there . . . Harry paused, pondering his mother's
words. Why had Dumbledore taken James's Invisibility Cloak?
Harry distinctly remembered his headmaster telling him years be-
fore, \I don't need a cloak to become invisible" Perhaps some less
gifted Order member had needed its assistance, and Dumbledore
had acted as a carrier? Harry passed on. . . .
Wormy was here . . . Pettigrew, the traitor, had seemed \down"
had he? Was he aware that he was seeing James and Lily alive for
the last time?
And nally Bathilda again, who told incredible stories about
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Chapter 10
Dumbledore. It seems incredible that Dumbledore |
That Dumbledore what? But there were any number of things
that would seem incredible about Dumbledore; that he had once
received bottom marks in a Trans guration test, for instance or
had taken up goat charming like Aberforth. . . .
Harry got to his feet and scanned the
oor: Perhaps the rest of
the letter was here somewhere. He seized papers, treating them in
his eagerness, with as little consideration as the original searcher,
he pulled open drawers, shook out books, stood on a chair to run
his hand over the top of the wardrobe, and crawled under the bed
and armchair.
At last, lying facedown on the
oor, he spotted what looked
like a torn piece of paper under the chest of drawers. When he
pulled it out, it proved to be most of the photograph that Lily had
described in her letter. A black-haired baby was zooming in and
out of the picture on a tiny broom, roaring with laughter, and a
pair of legs that must have belonged to James was chasing after
him. Harry tucked the photograph into his pocket with Lily's letter
and continued to look for the second sheet.
After another quarter of an hour, however he was forced to
conclude that the rest of his mother's letter was gone. Had it
simply been lost in the sixteen years that had elapsed since it had
been written, or had it been taken by whoever had searched the
room? Harry read the rst sheet again, this time looking for clues
as to what might have made the second sheet valuable. His toy
broomstick could hardly be considered interesting to the Death
Eaters . . . The only potentially useful thing he could see her was
possible information on Dumbledore. It seems incredible that Dum-
bledore |what?
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\Harry? Harry? Harry!"
\I'm here!" he called, \What's happened?"
There was a clatter of footsteps outside the door, and Hermione
burst inside.
\We woke up and didn't know where you were!" she said breath-
lessly. She turned and shouted over her shoulder, \Ron! I've found
him"
Ron's annoyed voice echoed distantly from several
oors below.
\Good! Tell him from me he's a git!"
\Harry don't just disappear, please, we were terri ed! Why did
you come up here anyway?" She gazed around the ransacked room.
\What have you been doing?"
\Look what I've just found"
He held out his mother's letter. Hermione took it out and read
it while Harry watched her. When she reached the end of the page
she looked up at him.
\Oh Harry . . . "
\And there's this too."
He handed her the torn photograph, and Hermione smiled at
the baby zooming in and out of sight on the toy broom.
\I've been looking for the rest of the letter," Harry said, \but
it's not here"
Hermione glanced around.
\Did you make all this mess, or was some of it done when you
got here?"
\Someone had searched before me," said Harry.
\I thought so. Every room I looked into on the way up had
been disturbed. What were they after, do you think?"
\Information on the Order, if it was Snape"
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\But you'd think he'd already have all he needed. I mean was
in the Order, wasn't he?"
\Well then," said Harry, keen to discuss his theory, \what about
information on Dumbledore? The second page of the letter, for
instance. You know this Bathilda my mum mentions, you know
who she is?"
\Who?"
\Bathilda Bagshot, the author of|\
\A History of Magic," said Hermione, looking interested. \So
your parents knew her? She was an incredible magic historian."
\And she's still alive," said Harry, \and she lives in Godric's
Hollow. Ron's Auntie Muriel was talking about her at the wedding.
She knew Dumbledore's family too. Be pretty interesting to talk
to, wouldn't she?"
There was a little too much understanding in the smile Her-
mione gave him for Harry's liking. He took back the letter and the
photograph and tucked them inside the pouch around his neck, so
as not to have to look at her and give himself away.
\I understand why you'd love to talk to her about, and Dumble-
dore too," said Hermione. \But that wouldn't really help us in our
search for the Horcruxes, would it?" Harry did not answer, and she
rushed on, \Harry, I know you really want to go to Godric's Hollow,
but I'm scared. I'm scared at how easily those Death Eaters found
us yesterday. It just makes me feel more than ever that we ought
to avoid the place where your parents are buried, I'm sure they'd
be expecting you to visit it."
\It's not just that," Harry said, still avoiding looking at her,
\Muriel said stu about Dumbledore at the wedding. I want to
know the truth. . . ."
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He told Hermione everything that Muriel had told him. When
he had nished, Hermione said, \Of course, I can see why that's
upset you, Harry|\
\I'm not upset," he lied, \I'd just like to know whether or not
it's true or|\
\Harry do you really think you'll get the truth from a malicious
old woman like Muriel, or from Rita Skeeter? How can you believe
them? You knew Dumbledore!"
\I thought I did," he muttered.
\But you know how much truth there was in everything Rita
wrote about you! Doge is right, how can you let these people
tarnish your memories of Dumbledore?"
He looked away, trying not to betray the resentment he felt.
There it was again: Choose what to believe. He wanted the truth.
Why was everybody so determined that he should not get it?
\Shall we go down to the kitchen?" Hermione suggested after
a little pause. \Find something for breakfast?"
He agreed, but grudgingly, and followed her out onto the landing
and past the second door that led o it. There were deep scratch
marks in the paintwork below a small sign that he had not noticed
in the dark. He passed at the top of the stairs to read it. It was a
porapous little sign, neatly lettered by hand the sort of thing that
Percy Weasley might have stuck on his bedroom door.
Do Not Enter
Without the Express Permission of
Regulus Arcturus Black
Excitement trickled through Harry, but he was not immediately
sure why. He read the sign again. Hermione was already a
ight
of stairs below him.
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\Hermione," he said, and he was surprised that his voice was
so calm. \Come back up here."
\What's the matter?"
\R.A.B. I think I've found him."
There was a gasp, and then Hermione ran back up the stairs.
\In your mum's letter? But I didn't see|\
Harry shook his head, pointing at Regulus's sign. She read it,
then clutched Harry's arm so tightly that he winced.
\Sirius's brother?" she whispered.
\He was a Death Eater," said Harry. \Sirius told me about
him, he joined up when he was really young and then got cold feet
and tried to leave|so they killed him."
\That ts!" gasped Hermione. \If he was a Death Eater he
had access to Voldemort, and if he became disenchanted, then he
would have wanted to bring Voldemort down!"
She released Harry, leaned over the banister, and screamed,
\Ron! RON! Get up here, quick!"
Ron appeared, panting, a minute later, his wand ready in his
hand.
\What's up? If it's massive spiders again I want breakfast be-
fore I|\
He frowned at the sign on Regulus's door, in which Hermione
was silently pointing.
\What?That was Sirius's brother, wasn't it?Regulus
Arcturus . . . Regulus . . . R.A.B.! The locket|you don't reckon|
?"
\Let's nd out," said Harry. He pushed the door: It was locked.
Hermione pointed her wand at the handle and said, \Alohamora."
There was a click, and the door swung open.
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Kreacher's Tale
They moved over the threshold together, gazing around. Reg-
ulus's bedroom was slightly smaller than Sirius's, though it had
the same sense of former grandeur. Whereas Sirius had sought to
advertise his di dence from the rest of the family, Regulus had
striven to emphasize the opposite. The Slytherin colors of emerald
and silver were everywhere, draping the bead, the walls, and the
windows. The Black family crest was painstakingly painted over
the bed, along with its motto, Toujours Pur. Beneath this was a
collection of yellow newspaper cuttings, all stuck together to make
a ragged collage. Hermione crossed the room to examine them.
\They're all about Voldemort," she said. \Regulus seems
to have been a fan for a few years before he joined the Death
Eaters . . . "
A little pu of dust rose from the bedcovers as she sat down
to read the clippings. Harry, meanwhile, had noticed another pho-
tograph: a Hogwarts Quidditch team was smiling and waving out
of the frame. He moved closer and saw the snakes emblazoned
on their chests: Slytherins. Regulus was instantly recognizable as
the boy sitting in the middle of the front row: He had the same
dark hair and slightly haughty look of his brother, though he was
smaller, slighter, and rather less handsome than Sirius had been.
\He played Seeker," said Harry.
\What?" said Hermione vaguely; she was still immersed in
Voldemort's press clippings.
\He's sitting in the middle of the front row, that's where the
Seeker . . . Never mind," said Harry, realizing that nobody was lis-
tening. Ron was on his hands and knees, searching under the
wardrobe. Harry looked around the room for likely hiding places
and approached the desk. Yet again, somebody had searched be-
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fore them. The drawers' contents had been turned over recently,
the dust disturbed, but there was nothing of value there: old quills,
out-of-date textbooks that bore evidence of being roughly handled,
a recently smashed ink bottle, its sticky residue covering the con-
tents of the drawer.
\There's an easier way," said Hermione, as Harry wiped his inky
ngers on his jeans. She raised her wand and said, \Accio Locket!"
Nothing happened. Ron, who had been searching the folds of
the faded curtains, looked disappointed.
\Is that it, then? It's not here?"
\Oh, it could still be here, but under counter-enchantments,"
said Hermione. \Charms to prevent it from being summoned mag-
ically, you know."
\Like Voldemort put on the stone basin in the cave," said Harry,
remembering how he had been unable to Summon the fake locket.
\How are we supposed to nd it then?" asked Ron.
\We search manually," said Hermione.
\That's a good idea," said Ron, rolling his eyes, and he resumed
his examination of the curtains.
They combed every inch of the room for more than an hour,
but were forced, nally, to conclude that the locket was not there.
The sun had risen now; its light dazzled them even through the
grimy landing windows.
\It could be somewhere else in the house, though," said Her-
mione in a rallying tone as they walked back downstairs. As Harry
and Ron had become more discouraged, she seemed to have become
more determined. \Whether he'd manage to destroy it or not, he'd
want to keep it hidden from Voldemort, wouldn't he? Remember
all those awful things we had to get rid of when we were here last
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time? That clock that shot bolts at everyone and those old robes
that tried to strangle Ron; Regulus might have put them there to
protect the locket's hiding place, even though we didn't realize it
at . . . at . . . \
Harry and Ron looked at her. She was standing with one foot
in midair, with the dumbstruck look of one who had just been
Obliviated: her eyes had even drifted out of focus.
\ . . . at the time," she nished in a whisper.
\Something wrong?" asked Ron.
\There was a locket."
\What?" said Harry and Ron together.
\In the cabinet in the drawing room. Nobody could open it.
And we . . . we . . . \
Harry felt as though a brick had slid down through his chest
into his stomach. He remembered. He had even handled the thing
as they passed it around, each trying in turn to pry it open. It
had been tossed into a sack of rubbish, along with the snu box
of Wartcap powder and the music box that had made everyone
sleepy . . . "
\Kreacher nicked loads of things back from us," said Harry. It
was the only chance, the only slender hope left to them, and he
was going to cling to it until forced to let go. \He had a whole
stash of stu in his cupboard in the kitchen. C'mon."
He ran down the stairs taking two steps at a time, the other
two thundering along in his wake. They made so much noise that
they woke the portrait of Sirius's mother as they passed through
the hall.
\Filth! Mudbloods! Scum!" she screamed after them as they
dashed down into the basement kitchen and slammed the door
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Chapter 10
behind them. Harry ran the length of the room, skidded to a halt
at the door of Kreacher's cupboard, and wrenched it open. There
was the nest of dirty old blankets in which the house-elf had once
slept, but they were not longer glittering with the trinkets Kreacher
had salvaged. The only thing there was an old copy of Nature's
Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. Refusing to believe his eyes,
Harry snatched up the blankets and shook them. A dead mouse
fell out and rolled dismally across the
oor. Ron groaned as he
threw himself into a kitchen chair; Hermione closed her eyes.
\It's not over yet," said Harry, and he raised his voice and
called, \Kreacher!"
There was a loud crack and the house elf that Harry had so
reluctantly inherited from Sirius appeared out of nowhere in front
of the cold and empty replace: tiny, half human-sized, his pale
skin hanging o him in folds, white hair sprouting copiously from
his batlike ears. He was still wearing the lthy rag in which they
had rst met him, and the contemptuous look he bent upon Harry
showed that his attitude to his change of ownership had altered no
more than his out t.
\Master," croaked Kreacher in his bullfrog's voice, and he
bowed low; muttering to his knees, \back in my Mistress's old
house with the blood-traitor Weasley and the Mudblood|\
\I forbid you to call anyone 'blood traitor' or 'Mudblood,'"
growled Harry. He would have found Kreacher, with his snoutlike
nose and bloodshot eyes, a distinctively unlovable object even if
the elf had not betrayed Sirius to Voldemort.
\I've got a question for you," said Harry, his heart beating
rather fast as he looked down at the elf, \and I order you to answer
it truthfully. Understand?"
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Kreacher's Tale
\Yes, Master," said Kreacher, bowing low again. Harry saw his
lips moving soundlessly, undoubtedly framing the insults he was
now forbidden to utter.
\Two years ago," said Harry, his heart now hammering against
his ribs, \there was a big gold locket in the drawing room upstairs.
We threw it out. Did you steal it back?"
There was a moment's silence, during which Kreacher straight-
ened up to look Harry full in the face. Then he said, \Yes."
\Where is it now?" asked Harry jubilantly as Ron and Her-
mione looked gleeful. Kreacher closed his eyes as though he could
not bear to see their reactions to his next word.
\Gone."
\Gone?" echoed Harry, elation
oating out of him, \What do
you mean, it's gone?"
The elf shivered. He swayed.
\Kreacher," said Harry ercely, \I order you|\
\Mundungus Fletcher," croaked the elf, his eyes still tight shut.
\Mundungus Fletcher stole it all; Miss Bella's and Miss Cissy's
pictures, my Mistress's gloves, the Order of Merlin, First Class,
the goblets with the family crest, and|and|\
Kreacher was gulping for air: His hollow chest was rising and
falling rapidly, then his eyes
ew open and he uttered a bloodcur-
dling scream.
\|and the locket, Master Regulus's locket. Kreacher did wrong,
Kreacher failed in his orders!"
Harry reacted instinctively: As Kreacher lunged for the poker
standing in the grate, he launched himself upon the elf,
attening
him. Hermione's scream mingled with Kreacher's but Harry bel-
lowed louder than both of them: \Kreacher, I order you to stay
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Chapter 10
still!"
He felt the elf freeze and released him. Kreacher lay
at on the
cold stone
oor, tears gushing from his sagging eyes.
\Harry, let him up!" Hermione whispered.
\So he can beat himself up with the poker?" snorted Harry,
kneeling beside the elf. \I don't think so. Right. Kreacher, I
want the truth: How do you know Mundungus Fletcher stole the
locket?"
\Kreacher saw him!" gasped the elf as tears poured over his
snout and into his mouth full of graying teeth. \Kreacher saw him
coming out of Kreacher's cupboard with his hands full of Kreacher's
treasures. Kreacher told the sneak thief to stop, but Mundungus
Fletcher laughed and r-ran. . . . \
\You called the locket 'Master Regulus's,'" said Harry. \Why?
Where did it come from? What did Regulus have to do with it?
Kreacher, sit up and tell me everything you know about that locket,
and everything Regulus had to do with it!"
The elf sat up, curled into a ball, placed his wet face between
his knees, and began to rock backward and forward. When he
spoke, his voice was mu ed but quite distinct in the silent, echoing
kitchen.
\Master Sirius ran away, good riddance, for he was a bad boy
and broke my Mistress's heart with his lawless ways. But Master
Regulus had proper order; he knew what was due to the name of
Black and the dignity of his pure blood. For years he talked of
the Dark Lord, who was going to bring the wizards out of hiding
to rule the Muggles and the Muggle-borns . . . and when he was
sixteen years old, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord. So proud,
so proud, so happy to serve . . .
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Kreacher's Tale
And one day, a year after he joined, Master Regulus came
down to the kitchen to see Kreacher. Master Regulus always liked
Kreacher. And Master Regulus said . . . he said . . . "
The old elf rocked faster than ever.
\ . . . he said that the Dark Lord required an elf."
\Voldemort needed an elf?" Harry repeated, looking around at
Ron and Hermione, who looked just as puzzled as he did.
\Oh yes," moaned Kreacher. \And Master Regulus had vol-
unteered Kreacher. It was an honor, said Master Regulus, an
honor for him and for Kreacher, who must be sure to do whatever
the Dark Lord ordered him to do . . . and then to c{come home."
Kreacher rocked still faster, his breath coming in sobs.
\So Kreacher went to the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord did not
tell Kreacher what they were to do, but took Kreacher with him
to a cave beside the sea. And beyond the cave was a cavern, and
in the cavern was a great black lake . . . \
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood up. Kreacher's
croaking voice seemed to come to him from across the dark wa-
ter. He saw what had happened as clearly as though he had been
present.
\ . . . There was a boat . . . "
Of course there had been a boat; Harry knew the boat, ghostly
green and tiny, bewitched so as to carry one wizard and one victim
toward the island in the center. This, then, was how Voldemort
had tested the defenses surrounding the Horcrux, by borrowing a
disposable creature, a house-elf . . .
\There was a b-basin full of potion on the island. The D{Dark
Lord made Kreacher drink it. . . ."
The elf quaked from head to foot.
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Chapter 10
\Kreacher drank, and as he drank he saw terrible
things . . . Kreacher's insides burned . . . Kreacher cried for Mas-
ter Regulus to save him, he cried for his Mistress Black, but
the Dark Lord only laughed . . . He made Kreacher drink all the
potion . . . He dropped a locket into the empty basin . . . He lled
it with more potion."
\And then the Dark Lord sailed away, leaving Kreacher on the
island . . . \
Harry could see it happening. He watched Voldemort's white,
snakelike face vanishing into darkness, those red eyes xed piti-
lessly on the thrashing elf whose death would occur within minutes,
whenever he succumbed to the desperate thirst that the burning
poison caused its victim . . . But here, Harry's imagination could
go no further, for he could not see how Kreacher had escaped.
\Kreacher needed water, he crawled to the island's edge and he
drank from the black lake . . . and hands, dead hands, came out of
the water and dragged Kreacher under the surface . . . \
\How did you get away?" Harry asked, and he was not surprised
to hear himself whispering.
Kreacher raised his ugly head and looked Harry with his great,
bloodshot eyes. \Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back," he
said.
\I know|but how did you escape the Inferi?"
Kreacher did not seem to understand.
\Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back," he repeated.
\I know, but|\
\Well, it's obvious, isn't it, Harry?" said Ron. \He Disappa-
rated!"
\But . . . you couldn't Apparate in and out of that cave," said
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Kreacher's Tale
Harry, \otherwise Dumbledore|\
\Elf magic isn't like wizard's magic, is it?" said Ron, \I mean,
they can Apparate and Disapparate in and out of Hogwarts when
we can't."
There was a silence as Harry digested this. How could Volde-
mort have made such a mistake? But even as he thought this,
Hermione spoke, and her voice was icy.
\Of course, Voldemort would have considered the ways of house-
elves far beneath his notice . . . It would never have occurred to him
that they might have magic that he didn't."
\The house-elf's highest law is his Master's bidding," intoned
Kreacher. \Kreacher was told to come home, so Kreacher came
home. . . . \
\Well, then, you did what you were told, didn't you?" said
Hermione kindly. \You didn't disobey orders at all!"
Kreacher shook his head, rocking as fast as ever.
\So what happened when you got back?" Harry asked. \What
did Regulus say when you told him what happened?"
\Master Regulus was very worried, very worried," croaked
Kreacher. \Master Regulus told Kreacher to stay hidden and not
to leave the house. And then . . . it was a little while later . . . Mas-
ter Regulus came to nd Kreacher in his cupboard one night, and
Master Regulus was strange, not as he usually was, disturbed in
his mind, Kreacher could tell . . . and he asked Kreacher to take
him to the cave, the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark
Lord. . . . \
And so they had set o . Harry could visualize them quite
clearly, the frightened old elf and the thin, dark Seeker who had
so resembled Sirius. . . . Kreacher knew how to open the concealed
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Chapter 10
entrance to the underground cavern, knew how to raise the tiny
boat; this time it was his beloved Regulus who sailed with him to
the island with its basin of poison. . . .
\And he made you drink the poison?" said Harry, disgusted.
But Kreacher shook his head and wept. Hermione's hands leapt
to her mouth: She seemed to have understood something.
\M|Master Regulus took from his pocket a locket like the one
the Dark Lord had," said Kreacher, tears pouring down either side
of his snoutlike nose. \And he told Kreacher to take it and, when
the basin was empty, to switch the lockets . . . "
Kreacher's sobs came in great rasps now; Harry had to concen-
trate hard to understand him.
\And he order|Kreacher to leave|without him. And he told
Kreacher|to go home|and never to tell my Mistress|what he
had done|but to destroy|the rst locket. And he drank|all the
potion|and Kreacher swapped the lockets|and watched . . . as
Master Regulus . . . was dragged beneath the water . . . and . . . \
\Oh, Kreacher!" wailed Hermione, who was crying. She
dropped to her knees beside the elf and tried to hug him. At
once he was on his feet, cringing away from her, quite obviously
repulsed.
\The Mudblood touched Kreacher, he will not allow it, what
would his Mistress say?"
\I told you not to call her 'Mudblood'!" snarled Harry, but
the elf was already punishing himself. He fell to the ground and
banged his forehead on the
oor
\Stop him|stop him!" Hermione cried. \Oh, don't you see
now how sick it is, the way they've got to obey?"
\Kreacher|stop, stop!" shouted Harry.
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Kreacher's Tale
The elf lay on the
oor, panting and shivering, green mucus
glistening around his snot, a bruise already blooming on his pallid
forehead where he had struck himself, his eyes swollen and blood-
shot and swimming in tears. Harry had never seen anything so
pitiful.
\So you brought the locket home," he said relentlessly, for he
was determined to know the full story. \And you tried to destroy
it?"
\Nothing Kreacher did made any mark upon it," moaned the
elf. \Kreacher tried everything, everything he knew, but nothing,
nothing would work. . . . So many powerful spells upon the casing,
Kreacher was sure the way to destroy it was to get inside it, but it
would not open . . . Kreacher punished himself, he tried again, he
punished himself, he tried again. Kreacher failed to obey orders,
Kreacher could not destroy the locket! And his mistress was mad
with grief, because Master Regulus had disappeared and Kreacher
could not tell her what had happened, no, because Master Regulus
had f{f{forbidden him to tell any of the f{f{family what happened
in the c-cave . . . "
Kreacher began to sob so hard that there were no more coher-
ent words. Tears
owed down Hermione's cheeks as she watched
Kreacher, but she did not dare touch him again. Even Ron, who
was no fan of Kreacher's, looked troubled. Harry sat back on his
heels and shook his head, trying to clear it.
\I don't understand you, Kreacher," he said nally. \Voldemort
tried to kill you, Regulus died to bring Voldemort down, but you
were still happy to betray Sirius to Voldemort? You were happy to
go to Narcissa and Bellatrix, and pass information to Voldemort
through them . . . \
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Chapter 10
\Harry, Kreacher doesn't think like that," said Hermione, wip-
ing her eyes on the back of her hand. \He's a slave; house-elves
are used to bad, even brutal treatment; what Voldemort did to
Kreacher wasn't that far out of the common way. What do wizard
wars mean to an elf like Kreacher? He's loyal to people who are
kind to him, and Mrs. Black must have been, and Regulus cer-
tainly was, so he served them willingly and parroted their beliefs.
I know what you're going to say," she went on as Harry began to
protest, \that Regulus changed his mind . . . but he doesn't seem
to have explained that to Kreacher, does he?" And I think I know
why. Kreacher and Regulus's family were all safest if they kept to
the old pure-blood line. Regulus was trying to protect them all."
\Sirius|\
\Sirius was horrible to Kreacher, Harry, and it's no good looking
like that, you know it's true. Kreacher had been alone for such
a long time when Sirius came to live here, and he was probably
starving for a bit of a ection. I'm sure `Miss Cissy' and `Miss
Bella' were perfectly lovely to Kreacher when he turned up, so he
did them a favor and told them everything they wanted to know.
I've said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat house-
elves. Well, Voldemort did . . . and so did Sirius."
Harry had no retort. As he watched Kreacher sobbing on the
oor, he remembered what Dumbledore had said to him, mere
hours after Sirius's death: I do not think Sirius ever saw Kreacher
as a being with feelings as acute as a human's. . . .
\Kreacher," said Harry after a while, \when you feel up to it,
er. . . . please sit up."
It was several minutes before Kreacher hiccuped himself into
silence. Then he pushed himself into a sitting position again, rub-
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Kreacher's Tale
bing his knuckles into his eyes like a small child.
\Kreacher, I am going to ask you to do something," said Harry.
He glanced at Hermione for assistance. He wanted to give the order
kindly, but at the same time, he could not pretend that it was not
an order. However, the change in his tone seemed to have gained
her approval: She smiled encouragingly.
\Kreacher, I want you, please, to go and nd Mundungus
Fletcher. We need to nd out where the locket|where Master
Regulus's locket is. It's really important. We want to nish the
work Master Regulus started, we want to|er|ensure that he
didn't die in vain."
Kreacher dropped his sts and looked up at Harry.
\Find Mundungus Fletcher?" he croaked.
\And bring him here, to Grimmauld Place," said Harry. \Do
you think you could do that for us?"
As Kreacher nodded and got to his feet, Harry had a sudden
inspiration. He pulled out Hagrid's purse and took out the fake
Horcrux, the substitute locket in which Regulus had placed the
note to Voldemort.
\Kreacher, I'd, er, like you to have this," he said, pressing the
locket into the elf's hand. \This belonged to Regulus and I'm sure
he'd want you to have it as a token of gratitude for what you|\
\Overkill, mate," said Ron as the elf took one look at the locket,
let out a howl of shock and misery, and threw himself back onto
the ground.
It took them nearly half an hour to calm down Kreacher, who
was so overcome to be presented with a Black family heirloom for
his very own that he was too weak at the knees to stand properly.
When nally he was able to totter a few steps they all accompanied
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Chapter 10
him to his cupboard, watched him tuck up the locket safely in his
dirty blankets, and assured him that they would make its protec-
tion their rst priority while he was away. He then made two low
bows to Harry and Ron, and even gave a funny little spasm in Her-
mione's direction that might have been an attempt at a respectful
salute, before Disapparating with the usual loud crack.
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Chapter 11
The Bribe
f Kreacher could escape a lake full of Inferi, Harry was con -
dent that the capture of Mundungus would take a few hours
at most, and he prowled the house all morning in a state
Iof high anticipation. However, Kreacher did not return that
morning or even that afternoon. By nightfall, Harry felt discour-
aged and anxious, and a supper composed largely of moldy bread,
upon which Hermione had tried a variety of unsuccessful Trans g-
urations, did nothing to help.
Kreacher did not return the following day, nor the day after
that. However, two cloaked men had appeared in the square out-
side number twelve, and they remained there into the night, gazing
in the direction of the house that they cannot see.
\Death Eaters, for sure," said Ron, as he, Harry, and Hermione
watched from the drawing room windows. \Reckon they know
we're in here?"
\I don't think so," said Hermione, though she looked frightened,
\or they'd have sent Snape in after us, wouldn't they?"
\D'you reckon he's been in here and had his tongue tied by
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Moody's curse?" asked Ron.
\Yes," said Hermione, \otherwise he'd have been able to tell
that lot how to get in, wouldn't he? But they're probably watching
to see whether we turn up. They know that Harry owns the house,
after all."
\How do they|?" began Harry.
\Wizarding wills are examined by the Ministry, remember?
They'll know Sirius left you the place."
The presence of the Death Eaters outside increased the ominous
mood inside number twelves. They had not heard a word from
anyone beyond Grimmauld Place since Mr. Weasley's Patronus,
and the strain was starting to tell. Restless and irritable, Ron had
developed an annoying habit of playing with the Deluminator in
his pocket. This particularly infuriated Hermione, who was whiling
away the wait for Kreacher by studying The Tales of Beedle the
Bard and did not appreciate the way the lights kept
ashing on
and o .
\Will you stop it!" she cried out on the third evening of
Kreacher's absence, as all light was sucked from the drawing room
yet again.
\Sorry, sorry!" said Ron, clicking the Deluminator and restor-
ing the lights. \I don't know I'm doing it!"
\Well, can't you nd something useful to occupy yourself?"
\What, like reading kids' stories?"
\Dumbledore left me this book, Ron|"
\|and he left me the Deluminator, maybe I'm supposed to use
it!"
Unable to stand the bickering, Harry slipped out of the room
unnoticed by either of them. He headed downstairs toward the
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kitchen, which he kept visiting because he was sure that was where
Kreacher was most likely to reappear. Halfway down the
ight of
stairs into the hall, however, he heard a tap on the front door, then
metallic clicks and the grinding of the chain.
Every nerve in his body seemed to tauten: He pulled out his
wand, moved into the shadows beside the decapitated elf heads,
and waited. The door opened: He saw a glimpse of the lamplit
square outside, and a cloaked gure edged into the hall and closed
the door behind it. The intruder took a step forward, and Moody's
voice asked, \Severus Snape?" Then the dust gure rose from the
end of the hall, and rushed him, raising its dead hand.
\It was not I who killed you, Albus," said a quiet voice.
The jinx broke: The dust- gure exploded again, and it was
impossible to make out the newcomer through the dense gray cloud
it left behind.
Harry pointed his wand into the middle of it.
\Don't move!"
He had forgotten the portrait of Mrs. Black. At the sound of
his yell, the curtains hiding her
ew open and she began to scream,
\Mudbloods and lth dishonoring my house|"
Ron and Hermione came crashing down the stairs behind Harry,
wands pointing, like his, at the unknown man now standing with
his arms raised in the hill below.
\Hold your re, it's me, Remus!"
\Oh, thank goodness," said Hermione weakly, pointing her
wand at Mrs. Black instead; with a bang, the curtains swished
shut again and silence fell. Ron too lowered his wand, but Harry
did not.
\Show yourself!" he called back.
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Chapter 11
Lupin moved forward into the lamplight, hands still held high
in a gesture of surrender.
\I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as
Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married
to Nymphadora, usually known as Tonks, and I taught you how to
produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."
\Oh, all right." said Harry, lowering his wand, \but I had to
check, didn't I?"
\Speaking as your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I
quite agree that you had to check. Ron, Hermione, you shouldn't
be quite so quick to lower your defenses."
They ran down the stairs toward him. Wrapped I a thick black
traveling cloak, he looked exhausted, but pleased to see them.
\No sign of Severus then?" he asked.
\No," said Harry, \What's going on? Is everyone okay?"
\Yes," said Lupin, \but we're all being watched. There are a
couple of Death Eaters in the square outside|"
\We know|"
\I had to Apparate very precisely onto the top step outside the
front door to be sure that they would not see me. They can't
know you're in here or I'm sure they'd have more people out there;
they're staking out everywhere that's got any connection with you,
Harry. Let's go downstairs, there's a lot to tell you, and I want to
know what's happened after you left the Burrow."
They descended into the kitchen, where Hermione pointed her
wand at the gate. A re sprang up instantly. It gave the illusion of
coziness to the stark stone walls and glistened o the long wooden
table. Lupin pulled a few butterbeers from beneath his traveling
cloak and they sat down.
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\I'd have been here three days ago but I needed to shake o the
Death Eater tailing me," said Lupin. \So, you came straight here
after the wedding?"
\No," said Harry, \only after we ran into a couple of Death
Eaters in a caf e on Tottenham Court Road."
Lupin slopped most of his butterbeer down his front.
\What?"
They explained what had happened; when they had nished,
Lupin looked aghast.
\But how did they nd you so quickly? It's impossible to track
anyone who Apparates, unless you grab hold of them as they dis-
appear."
\And it doesn't seem likely they were just strolling down Tot-
tenham Court Road at the time, does it?" said Harry.
\We wondered," said Hermione tentatively, \whether Harry
could still have the Trace on him?"
\Impossible," said Lupin. Ron looked smug, and Harry felt
hugely relieved. \Apart from anything else, they'd know for sure
Harry was here if he still had the Trace on him, wouldn't they?
But I can't see how they could have tracked you to Tottenham
Court Road, that's worrying, really worrying."
He looked disturbed, but as far as Harry was concerned, that
question could wait.
\Tell us what happened after we left, we haven't heard a thing
since Ron's dad told us the family were safe."
\Well, Kingsley saved us," said Lupin. \Thanks to his warning
most of the wedding guests were able to Disapparate before they
arrived."
\Were they Death Eaters or Ministry people?" interjected Her-
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Chapter 11
mione.
\A mixture; but to all intents and purposes they're the same
thing now," said Lupin. \There were about a dozen of them, but
they didn't know you were there, Harry. Arthur heard a rumor that
they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Scrimgeour before
they killed him; if it's true, he didn't give you away."
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione; their expressions re
ected
the mingled shock and gratitude he felt. He had never liked Scrim-
geour much, but if what Lupin said was true, the man's nal act
had been to try to protect Harry.
\The Death Eaters searched the Burrow from top to bottom,"
Lupin went on. \They found the ghoul, but didn't want to get to
close|and then they interrogated those of us who remained for
hours. They were trying to get information on you, Harry, but
of course nobody apart from the Order knew that you had been
there.
\At the same time that they were smashing up the wed-
ding, more Death Eaters were forcing their way into every Order-
connected house in the country. No deaths," he added quickly,
forstalling the question, \but they were rough. They burned down
Dedalus Diggle's house, but as you know he wasn't there, and they
used the Cruciatus Curse on Tonks's family. Again, trying to nd
out where you went after you visited them. They're all right|
shaken, obviously, but otherwise okay."
\The Death Eaters got through all those protective charms?"
Harry asked, remembering how e ective those had been on the
night he had crashed in Tonks's parents' garden.
\What you've got to realize, Harry, is that the Death Eaters
have got the full might of the Ministry on their side now," said
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The Bribe
Lupin. \They've got the power to perform brutal spells without
fear of identi cation or arrest. They managed to penetrate every
defensive spell we'd cast against them, and once inside, they were
completely open about why they'd come."
\And are they bothering an excuse for torturing Harry's where-
abouts out of people?" asked Hermione, an edge to her voice.
\Well," said Lupin. He hesitated, then pulled out a folded copy
of the Daily Prophet.
\Here," he said, pushing it across the table to Harry, \you'll
know sooner or later anyway. That's their pretext for going after
you."
Harry smoothed out the paper. A huge photograph of his own
face lled the front page. He read the headline over it:
WANTED FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT
THE DEATH OF ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Ron and Hermione gave roars of outrage, but Harry said noth-
ing. He pushed the newspaper away; he did not want to read any
more: He knew what it would say. Nobody but those who had
been on top of the tower when Dumbledore died knew who had re-
ally killed him and, as Rita Skeeter had already told the wizarding
world, Harry had been seen running from the place moments after
Dumbledore had fallen.
\I'm sorry, Harry," Lupin said.
\So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too?"
asked Hermione furiously.
Lupin nodded.
\But surely people realize what's going on?"
\The coup has been smooth and virtually silent," said Lupin.
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Chapter 11
\The o cial version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned;
he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius
Curse."
\Why didn't Voldemort declare himself Minister of Magic?"
asked Ron.
Lupin laughed.
\He doesn't need to, Ron. E ectively he is the Minister, but
why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet,
Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort
free to extend his power beyond the ministry.
\Naturally many people have deduced what has happened:
There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the
last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be
behind it. However, that is not the point: They whisper. They
daren't con de in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they
are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their
families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game.
Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion: Remaining
masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear."
\And this dramatic change in Ministry policy," said Harry, \in-
volves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Volde-
mort?"
\That's certainly part of it," said Lupin, \and it is a master-
stroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you|the Boy Who Lived|
were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance
to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old
hero's death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head,
but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended
you.
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\Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggle-
borns."
Lupin pointed at the Daily Prophet.
\Look at page two."
Hermione turned the pages with much the same expression of
distaste she had worn when handling Secrets of the Darkest Art.
\`Muggle-born Register,'" she read aloud, \`The Ministry of
Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called \Muggle-borns," the bet-
ter to understand how they came to possess magical secrets.
\`Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries
reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when
Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists,
therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained mag-
ical power by theft or force.
\`The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magi-
cal power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called
Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly ap-
pointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.'"
\People won't let this happen," said Ron.
\It is happening, Ron,'; said Lupin. \Muggle-borns are being
rounded up as we speak."
\But how are they supposed to have `stolen' magic?" said Ron.
\It's mental, if you could steal magic there wouldn't be any Squibs,
would there?"
\I know," said Lupin. \Nevertheless, unless you can prove that
you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed
to have obtained your magical power illegally and must su er the
punishment."
Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, \What if purebloods and
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Chapter 11
half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell
everyone Hermione's my cousin|"
Hermione covered Ron's hand with hers and squeezed it.
\Thank you, Ron, but I couldn't let you|"
\You won't have a choice," said Ron ercely, gripping her hand
back. \I'll teach you my family tree so you can answer questions
on it."
Hermione gave a shaky laugh.
\Ron, as we're on the run with Harry Potter, the most wanted
person in the country, I don't think it matters. If I was going back
to school it would be di erent. What's Voldemort planning for
Hogwarts?" she asked Lupin.
\Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wiz-
ard," he replied. \That was announced yesterday. It's a change,
because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every
witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but
their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them
abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole
Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. And it's
also another way of weeding out Muggle-borns, because students
must be given Blood Status|meaning that they have proven to
the ministry that they are of wizard descent|before they are al-
lowed to attend."
Harry felt sickened and angry: At this moment, excited eleven-
year-olds would be poring over stacks of newly purchased spell-
books, unaware that they would never see Hogwarts, perhaps never
see their families again either.
\It's . . . it's . . . " he muttered, struggling to nd words that did
justice to the horror of his thoughts, but Lupin said quietly,
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The Bribe
\I know."
Lupin hesitated.
\I'll understand if you can't con rm this, Harry, but the Order
is under the impression that Dumbledore left you a mission."
\He did," Harry replied, \and Ron and Hermione are in on it
and they're coming with me."
\Can you con de in me what the mission is?"
Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick
but graying hair, and wished that he could return a di erent an-
swer.
\I can't, Remus, I'm sorry. If Dumbledore didn't tell you I
don't think I can."
\I thought you'd say that," said Lupin, looking disappointed.
\But I ought still be of some use to you. You know what I am and
what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There
would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to."
Harry hesitated. It was a very tempting o er, though how they
would be able to keep their mission secret from Lupin if he were
with them all the time he could not imagine.
Hermione, however, looked puzzled.
\But what about Tonks?" she asked.
\What about her?" said Lupin.
\Well," said Hermione, frowning, \you're married: How does
she feel about you going away with us?"
\Tonks will be perfectly safe." said Lupin. \She'll be at her
parents' house."
There was something strange in Lupin's tone; it was almost
cold. There was also something odd in the idea of Tonks remaining
hidden at her parents house; she was, after all, a member of the
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Chapter 11
Order and, as far as Harry knew, was likely to want to be in the
thick of the action.
\Remus," said Hermione tentatively, \is everything all
right . . . you know . . . between you and|"
\Everything is ne, thank you," said Lupin pointedly.
Hermione turned pink. There was another pause, an awkward
and embarrassed one, and then Lupin said, with an air of forcing
himself to admit something unpleasant. \Tonks is going to have a
baby."
\Oh, how wonderful!" squealed Hermione.
\Excellent!" said Ron enthusiastically.
\Congratulations," said Harry.
Lupin gave an arti cial smile that was more like a grimace, then
said, \So . . . do you accept my o er? Will three become four? I
cannot believe that Dumbledore would have disapproved, he ap-
pointed me your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all.
And I must tell you that I believe that we are facing magic many
of us have never encountered or imagined."
Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry.
\Just|just to be clear," he said. \You want to leave Tonks at
her parents' house and come away with us?"
\She'll be perfectly safe there, they'll look after her," said
Lupin. He spoke with a nality bordering on indi erence. \Harry,
I'm sure James would have wanted me to stick with you."
\Well," said Harry slowly, \I'm not. I'm pretty sure my father
would have wanted to know why you aren't sticking with your own
kid, actually."
Lupin's face drained of color. The temperature in the kitchen
might have dropped ten degrees. Ron stared around the room as
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though he had been bidden to memorize it, while Hermione's eyes
swiveled backward and forward from Harry to Lupin.
\You don't understand," said Lupin at last.
\Explain, then," said Harry.
Lupin swallowed.
\I{I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against
my better judgment and I have regretted it very much ever since."
\I see," said Harry, \so you're just going to dump her and the
kid and run o with us?"
Lupin sprang to his feet: His chair toppled backward, and he
glared at them so ercely that Harry saw, for the rst time ever,
the shadow of the wolf upon his human face.
\Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and my un-
born child? I should never have married her, I've made her an
outcast!"
Lupin kicked aside the chair he had overturned.
\You have only seen me amongst the Order, or under Dum-
bledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of
the Wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of
my a iction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've
done? Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage, when
parents want their only daughter to marry a werewolf? And the
child|the child|"
Lupin actually seized handfuls of his own hair; he looked quite
deranged.
\My kind don't usually breed! It will be like me, I am convinced
of it|how can I forgive myself when I knowingly risked passing on
my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle,
it is not like me, then it will be better o , a hundred times so,
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Chapter 11
without a father of whom it must always be ashamed!"
\Remus!" whispered Hermione, tears in her eyes. \Don't say
that|how could any child be ashamed of you?"
\Oh, I don't know, Hermione," said Harry. \I'd be pretty
ashamed of him."
Harry did not know where his rage was coming from, but it had
propelled him to his feet too. Lupin looked as though Harry had
hit him.
\If the new regime thinks Muggle-borns are bad," Harry said,
\what will they do to a half-werewolf whose father's in the Order?
My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you reckon
he'd tell you to abandon your kid to go on an adventure with us?"
\How|how dare you?" said Lupin. \This is not about a desire
for|for danger of personal glory|how dare you suggest such a|
"
\I think you're feeling a bit of a daredevil." Harry said, \You
fancy stepping into Sirius's shoe|"
\Harry, no!" Hermione begged him, but he continued to glare
into Lupin's livid face.
\I'd never have believed this," Harry said. \The man who
taught me to ght dementors|a coward."
Lupin drew his wand so fast that Harry had barely reached for
his own; there was a loud bang and he felt himself
ying backward
as if punched; as he slammed into the kitchen wall and slid to the
oor, he glimpsed the tail of Lupin's cloak disappearing around the
door.
\Remus, Remus, come back!" Hermione cried, but Lupin did
not respond. A moment later they heard the front door slam.
\Harry!" wailed Hermione. \How could you?"
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\It was easy," said Harry. He stood up; he could feel a lump
swelling where his head had hit the wall. He was still so full of
anger he was shaking.
\Don't look at me like that!" he snapped at Hermione.
\Don't you start on her!" snarked Ron.
\No|no|we mustn't ght!" said Hermione, launching herself
between them.
\You shouldn't have said that stu to Lupin," Ron told Harry.
\He had it coming to him," said Harry. Broken images were
racing each other through his mind: Sirius falling through the veil;
Dumbledore suspended, broken, in midair; a
ash of green light
and his mother's voice, begging for mercy . . .
\Parents," said Harry, \shouldn't leave their kids unless|un-
less they've got to."
\Harry|" said Hermione, stretching out a consoling hand, but
he shrugged it o and walked away, his eyes on the re Hermione
had conjured. He had once spoken to Lupin out of that replace,
seeking reassurance about James, and Lupin had consoled him.
Now Lupin's tortured white face seemed to swim in the air before
him. He felt a sickening surge of remorse. Neither Ron nor Her-
mione spoke, but Harry felt sure that they were looking at each
other behind his back, communicating silently.
He turned around and caught them turning hurriedly away from
each other.
\I know I shouldn't have called him a coward."
\No, you shouldn't," said Ron at once.
\But he's acting like one."
\All the same . . . " said Hermione.
\I know," said Harry. \but if it makes him go back to Tonks,
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Chapter 11
it'll be worth it, won't it?"
He could not keep the plea out of his voice. Hermione looked
sympathetic, Ron uncertain. Harry looked down at his feet, think-
ing of his father. Would James have backed Harry in what he had
said to Lupin, or would he have been angry at how his son had
treated his old friend?
The silent kitchen seemed to hum with the shock of the re-
cent scene and with Ron and Hermione's unspoken reproaches.
The Daily Prophet Lupin had brought was still lying on the table,
Harry's own face staring up at the ceiling from the front page. He
walked over to it and sat down, opened the paper at random, and
pretended to read. He could not take in the words, his mind was
still full of the encounter with Lupin. He was sure that Ron and
Hermione had resumed their silent communications on the other
side of the Prophet. He turned a page loudly, and Dumbledore's
name leapt out at him. It was a moment or two before he took
in the meaning of the photograph, which showed a family group.
Beneath the photograph were the words: The Dumbledore family,
left to right: Albus; Percival, holding newborn Ariana; Kendra;
and Aberforth.
His attention caught, Harry examined the picture more care-
fully. Dumbledore's father, Percival, was a good-looking man with
eyes that seemed to twinkle even in this faded old photograph.
The baby, Ariana, was little longer than a loaf of bread and no
more distinctive-looking. The mother, Kendra, had jet black hair
pulled into a high bun. Her face had a carved quality about it.
Harry thought of photos of Native Americans he'd see as he stud-
ied her dark eyes, high cheekbones, and straight nose, formally
composed above a high-necked silk gown. Albus and Aberforth
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The Bribe
wore matching lacy collared jackets and had identical, shoulder-
length hairstyles. Albus looked several years older, but otherwise
the two boys looked very alike, for this was before Albus's nose
had been broken and before he started wearing glasses.
Thinking that it could hardly make him feel any worse than he
already did, Harry began to read:
Proud and haughty, Kendra Dumbledore could not
bear to remain in Mould-on-the-Wold after her hus-
band Percival's well-publicized arrest and impris-
onment in Azkaban. She therefore decided to up-
root the family and relocate to Godric's Hollow,
the village that was later to gain fame as the scene
of Harry Potter's strange escape from You-Know-
Who.
Like Mould-on-the-Wold, Godric's Hollow was
home to a number of Wizarding families, but as
Kendra knew none of them, she would be spared the
curiosity about her husband's crime she had faced
in her former village. By repeatedly rebu ng the
friendly advances of her new Wizarding neighbors,
she soon ensured that her family was left well alone.
\Slammed the door in my face when I went
around to welcome her with a batch of homemade
Cauldron Cakes," says Bathilda Bagshot. \The rst
year they were there I only ever saw the two boys.
Wouldn't have known there was a daughter if I
hadn't been picking Plangentines by moonlight the
winter after they moved in, and saw Kendra leading
Ariana out into the back garden. Walked her round
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Chapter 11
the lawn once, keeping a rm grip on her, then took
her back inside. Didn't know what to make of it."
It seems that Kendra thought the move to Go-
dric's Hollow was the perfect opportunity to hide
Ariana once and for all, something she had prob-
ably been planning for years. The timing was sig-
ni cant. Ariana was barely seven years old when
she vanished from sight, and seven is the age by
which most experts agree that magic will have re-
vealed itself, if present. Nobody now alive remem-
bers Ariana ever demonstrating even the slightest
sign of magical ability. It seems clear, therefore,
that Kendra made a decision to hide her daugh-
ter's existence rather than su er the shame of ad-
mitting that she had produced a Squib. Moving
away from the friends and neighbors who knew Ar-
iana would, of course, make imprisoning her all the
easier. The tiny number of people who henceforth
knew of Ariana's existence could be counted upon
to keep the secret, including her two brothers, who
de
ected awkward questions with the answer their
mother had taught them: \My sister is too frail for
school."
Next week: Albus Dumbledore at Hogwarts|the
Prizes and the Pretense.
Harry had been wrong: What he had read had indeed made him
worse. He looked back at the photograph of the apparently happy
family. Was it true? How could he nd out? He wanted to go to
Godric's Hollow, even if Bathilda was in no t state to talk to him;
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The Bribe
he wanted to visit the place where he and Dumbledore had both
lost loved ones. He was in the process of lowering the newspaper, to
ask Ron's and Hermione's opinions, when a deafening crack echoed
around the kitchen.
For the rst time in three days Harry had forgotten all about
Kreacher. His immediate thought was that Lupin had burst back
into the room, and for a split second, he did not take in the mass
of struggling limbs that had appeared out of thin air right beside
his chair. He hurried to his feat as Kreacher disentangled himself
and, bowing low to Harry, croaked, \Kreacher has returned with
the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Master."
Mundungus scrambled up and pulled out his wand; Hermione,
however, was too quick for him.
\Expelliarmus!"
Mundungus's wand soared into the air, and Hermione caught
it. Wild-eyed, Mundungus dived for the stairs: Ron rugby{tackled
him, and Mundungus hit the stone
oor with a mu ed crunch.
\What?" he bellowed, writhing in his attempts to free himself
from Ron's grip. \Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'ouse-elf on
me, what are you playing at, wha've I done, lemme go, lemme go,
or|"
\You're not in much of a position to make threats," said Harry.
He threw aside the newspaper, crossed the kitchen in a few strides,
and dropped to his knees beside Mundungus, who stopped strug-
gling and looked terri ed. Ron got up, panting, and watched
as Harry pointed his wand deliberately at Mundungus's nose.
Mundungus stank of stale sweat and tobacco smoke. His hair was
matted and his robes stained.
\Kreacher apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Mas-
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Chapter 11
ter," croaked the elf. \Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has
many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cor-
nered the thief in the end."
\You've done really well, Kreacher," said Harry, and the elf
bowed low.
\Right, we've got a few questions for you," Harry told Mundun-
gus, who shouted at once.
\I panicked, okay? I never wanted to come along, no o ense,
mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin'
You-Know-Who come
ying at me, anyone woulda got outta there,
I said all along I didn't wanna do it|"
\For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated,"
said Hermione.
\Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I
never pretended I was up for killing myself|"
\We're not interested in why you ran out on Mad-eye," said
Harry, moving his wand a little closer to Mundungus's baggy,
bloodshot eyes. \We already knew you were an unreliable bit of
scum."
\Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-elves?
Or is this about them goblet again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or
you could 'ave 'em|"
\It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting
warmer," said Harry. \Shut up and listen."
It felt wonderful to have something to do, someone of whom he
could demand some small portion of truth. Harry's wand was now
so close to the bridge of Mundungus's nose that Mundungus had
gone cross-eyed trying to keep it in view.
\When you cleaned out his house of anything valuable," Harry
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The Bribe
began, but Mundungus interrupted him again.
\Sirius never cared about any of the junk|"
There was the sound of pattering feet, a blaze of shining copper,
an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony; Kreacher had taken a run
at Mundungus and hit him over the head with a saucepan.
\Call 'im o , call 'im o , 'e should be locked up!" screamed
Mundungus, cowering as Kreacher raised the heavy-bottomed pan
again.
\Kreacher, no!" shouted Harry.
Kreacher's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still
held aloft.
\Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?"
Ron laughed.
\We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading,
you can do the honors," said Harry.
\Thank you very much, Master," said Kreacher with a bow,
and he retreated a short distance, his great pale eyes still xed
upon Mundungus with loathing.
\When you stripped this house of all the valuables you could
nd," Harry began again, \you took a bunch of stu from the
kitchen cupboard. There was a locket there." Harry's mouth was
suddenly dry. He could sense Ron and Hermione's tensions and
excitement too. \What did you do with it?"
\Why?" asked Mundungus, \Is it valuable?"
\You've still got it!" cried Hermione.
\No, he hasn't," said Ron shrewdly. \He's wondering whether
he should have asked more money for it."
\More?" said Mundungus, \that wouldn't have been e ng
di cult . . . bleedin' gave it away, di'n' I? No choice."
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Chapter 11
\What do you mean?"
\I was selling in Diagon Alley, and she come up to me and asks
if I've got a license for trading in magical artifacts. Bleedin' snoop.
She was gonna ne me, but she took a fancy to the locket an' told
me she'd take it and let me o this time, and to nk meself lucky."
\Who was this woman?" asked Harry.
\I dunno, some Ministry hag."
Mundungus considered for a moment, brow wrinkled.
\Little woman. Bow on top of her head."
He frowned, then added, \Looked like a toad."
Harry dropped his wand: It hit Mundungus on the nose and
shot red sparks into his eyebrows, which ignited.
\Aguamenti!" screamed Hermione, and a jet of water streamed
from her wand, engul ng a spluttering and choking Mundungus.
Harry looked up and saw his own shock re
ected in Ron's and
Hermione's faces. The scars on the back of his right hand seemed
to be tingling again.
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Chapter 12
Magic is Might
s August wore on, the square of unkempt grass in the
middle of Grimmauld Place shriveled in the sun until
it was brittle and brown. The inhabitants of number
Atwelves were never seen by anybody in the surround-
ing houses, and nor was the number twelve itself. The Muggles
who lived in Grimmauld Place had long since accepted the amus-
ing mistake in the numbering that had caused number eleven to
sit beside number thirteen.
And yet the square was now attracting a trickle of visitors who
seemed to nd the anomaly most intriguing. Barely a day passed
without one or two people arriving in Grimmauld Place with no
other purpose, or so it seemed, than to lean against the railing
facing numbers eleven and thirteen, watching the join between the
two houses. The lurkers were never the same two days running,
although they all seemed to share a dislike for normal clothing.
Most of the Londoners who passed them were used to eccentric
dressers and took little notice, though occasionally one of them
might glance back, wondering why anyone would wear such long
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Chapter 12
cloaks in the heat.
The watchers seemed to be gleaning little satisfaction from their
vigil. Occasionally one of them started forward excitedly, as if they
had seen something interesting at last, only to fall back looking
disappointed.
On the rst day of September there were more people lurking in
the square than ever before. Half a dozen men in long cloaks stood
silent and watchful, gazing as ever at houses eleven and thirteen,
but the thing for which they were waiting still appeared elusive. As
evening drew in, bringing with it an unexpected gust of chilly rain,
for the rst time in weeks, there occurred one of those inexplicable
moments when they appeared to have seen something interesting.
The man with the twisted face pointed and his closest companion,
a podgy pallid man, started forward, but a moment later they had
relaxed into their previous state of inactivity, looking frustrated
and disappointed.
Meanwhile, inside number twelve, Harry had just entered the
hall. He had nearly lost his balance as he Apparated onto the
top step just outside the front door, and thought that the Death
Eaters might have caught a glimpse of his momentarily exposed
elbow. Shutting the front door carefully behind him, he pulled o
the Invisibility Cloak, draped it over his arm, and hurried along
the gloomy hallway toward the door that led to the basement, a
stolen copy of the Daily Prophet clutched in his hand.
The usual low whisper of \Severus Snape" greeted him, the chill
wind swept him, and his tongue rolled up for a moment.
\I didn't kill you," he said, once it had unrolled, then held his
breath as the dusty jinx- gure exploded. He waited until he was
halfway down the stairs into the kitchen, out of earshot of Mrs.
Black and clear of the dust cloud, before calling, \I've got news,
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Magic is Might
and you won't like it."
The kitchen was almost unrecognizable. Every surface now
shone; copper pots and pans had been burnished to a rosy glow;
the wooden tabletop gleamed; the goblets and plates already laid
for dinner glinted in the light from a merrily blazing re, on which
a cauldron was simmering. Nothing in the room, however, was
more dramatically di erent than the house-elf who now came hur-
rying toward Harry, dressed in a snowy-white towel, his ear hair as
clean and
u y as cotton wool, Regulus's locket bouncing on his
thin chest.
\Shoes o , if you please, Master Harry, and hands washed be-
fore dinner," croaked Kreacher, seizing the Invisibility Cloak and
slouching o to hang it on a hook on the wall, beside a number of
old-fashioned robes that had been freshly laundered.
\What's happened?" Ron asked apprehensively. He and Her-
mione had been poring over a sheaf of scribbled notes and hand,
drawn maps that littered the end of the long kitchen table, but now
they watched Harry as he strode toward them and threw down the
newspaper on top of their scattered parchment.
A large picture of a familiar, hook-nosed, black-haired man
stared up at them all, beneath a headline that read:
SEVERUS SNAPE CONFIRMED
AS HOGWARTS HEADMASTER
\No!" said Ron and Hermione loudly.
Hermione was quickest; she snatched up the newspaper and
began to read the accompanying story out loud.
\`Severus Snape, long-standing Potions master at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was today appointed head-
master in the most important of several sta ng changes at the
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Chapter 12
ancient school. Following the resignation of the previous Muggle
Studies teacher, Alecto Carrows will will take over the post while
her brother, Amycus, lls the position of Defense Against the Dark
Arts professor.
\`I welcome the opportunity to uphold our nest Wizarding tra-
ditions and values|' Like committing murder and cutting o peo-
ple's ears, I suppose! Snape, headmaster! Snape in Dumbledore's
study|Merlin's pants!" she shrieked, making both Harry and
Ron jump. She leapt up from the table and hurtled from the room
shouting as she went, \I'll be back in a minute!"
\`Merlin's pants'?" repeated Ron, looking amused. \She must
be upset." He pulled the newspaper toward him and perused the
article about Snape.
\The other teachers won't stand for this. McGonagall and
Flitwick and Sprout all know the truth, they know how Dumble-
dore died. They won't accept Snape as headmaster. And who are
these Carrows?"
\Death Eaters," said Harry. \There are pictures of them inside.
They were at the top o the tower when Snape killed Dumbledore,
so it's all friends together. And," Harry went on bitterly, drawing
up a chair, \I can't see that the other teachers have got any choice
but to stay. If the Ministry and Voldemort are behind Snape it'll
be a choice between staying and teaching, or a nice few years in
Azkaban|and that's if they're lucky. I reckon they'll stay to try
and protect the students."
Kreacher came bustling to the table with a large tureen in his
hands, and ladled out soup into pristine bowls, whistling between
his teeth as he did so.
\Thanks, Kreacher," said Harry,
ipping over the Prophet so
as not to have to look at Snape's face. \Well, at least we know
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Magic is Might
exactly where Snape is now."
He began to spoon soup into his mouth. The quality of
Kreacher's cooking had improved dramatically ever since he had
been given Regulus's locket: Today's French onion was as good as
Harry had ever tasted.
\There are still a load of Death Eaters watching the house,"
he told Ron as he ate, \more than usual. It's like they're hoping
we'll march out carrying our school trunks and head o for the
Hogwarts Express."
Ron glanced at his watch.
\I've been thinking about that all day. It left nearly six hours
ago. Weird, not being on it, isn't it?"
In his mind's eye Harry seemed to see the scarlet steam engine
as he and Ron had once followed it by air, shimmering between
elds and hills, a rippling scarlet caterpillar. He was sure Ginny,
Neville, and Luna were sitting together at this moment, perhaps
wondering where he, Ron, and Hermione were, or debating how
best to undermine Snape's new regime.
\They nearly saw me coming back in just now," Harry said. \I
landed badly on the top step, and the Cloak slipped."
\I do that every time. Oh, here she is," Ron added, cran-
ing around in his seat to watch Hermione reentering the kitchen.
\And what in the name of Merlin's most baggy Y Fronts was that
about?"
\I remembered this," Hermione panted.
She was carrying a large, framed picture, which she now lowered
to the
oor before seizing her small, beaded bag from the kitchen
sideboard. Opening it, she proceeded to force the painting inside,
and despite the fact that it was patently too large to t inside the
tiny bag, within a few seconds it had vanished, like so much else,
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Chapter 12
into the bag's capricious depths.
\Phineas Nigellus," Hermione explained as she threw the bag
onto the kitchen table with the usual sonorous, clanking crash.
\Sorry?" said Ron, but Harry understood. The painted image
of Phineas Nigellus Black was able to
it between his portrait in
Grimmauld Place and the one that hung in the headmaster's of-
ce at Hogwarts: the circular tower-top room where Snape was no
doubt sitting right now, in triumphant possession of Dumbledore's
collection of delicate, silver magical instruments, the stone Pen-
sieve, the Sorting Hat and, unless it had been moved elsewhere,
the sword of Gry ndor.
\Snape could send Phineas Nigellus to look inside this house for
him," Hermione explained to Ron as he resumed her seat. \But let
him try now, all Phineas Nigellus will be able to see is the inside
of my handbag."
\Good thinking!" said Ron, looking impressed.
\Thank you," smiled Hermione, pulling her soup toward her.
\So, Harry, what else happened today?"
\Nothing," said Harry. \Watched the Ministry entrance for
seven house. No sign of her. Saw you dad, though, Ron. He looks
ne."
Ron nodded his appreciation of this news. They had agreed that
it was far too dangerous to try and communicate with Mr. Weasley
while he walked in and out of the Ministry, because he was always
surrounded by other Ministry workers. It was, however, reassuring
to catch these glimpses of him, even if he did look very strained
and anxious.
\Dad always told us most Ministry people use the Floo Network
to get to work," Ron said. \That's why we haven't seen Umbridge,
she'd never walk, she'd think she's too important."
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Magic is Might
\And what about that funny old witch and that little wizard
in the navy robes?" Hermione asked.
\Oh yeah, the bloke from Magical Maintenance," said Ron.
\How do you know he works for Magical Maintenance?" Her-
mione asked, her soup spoon suspended in midair.
\Dad said everyone from Magical Maintenance wears navy blue
robes."
\But you never told us that!"
Hermione dropped her spoon and pulled toward her the sheaf
of notes and maps that she and Ron had been examining when
Harry had entered the kitchen.
\There's nothing in here about navy blue robes, nothing!" she
said,
ipping feverishly through the pages.
\Well, does it really matter?"
\Ron, it all matters! If we're going to get into the Ministry and
not give ourselves away when they're bound to be on the lookout
for intruders, every little detail matters! We've been over and over
this, I mean, what's the point of all these reconnaissance trips if
you aren't even bothering to tell us|"
\Blimey, Hermione, I forget one little thing|"
\You do realize, don't you, that there's probably no more dan-
gerous place in the whole world for us to be right now than the
Ministry of|"
\I think we should do it tomorrow," said Harry.
Hermione stopped dead, her jaw hanging; Ron choked a little
over his soup.
\Tomorrow?" repeated Hermione. \You aren't serious, Harry?'
\I am," said Harry. \I don't think we're going to be much better
prepared than we are now even if we skulk around the Ministry
entrance for another month. The longer we put it o , the farther
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Chapter 12
away that locket could be. There's already a good chance Umbridge
has chucked it away; the thing doesn't open."
\Unless," said Ron, \she's found a way of opening it and she's
now possessed,"
\Wouldn't make any di erence to her, sh e was so evil in the
rst place," Harry shrugged.
Hermione was biting her lip, deep in thought.
\We know everything important," Harry went on, addressing
Hermione. \We know they've stopped Apparition in and out of
the Ministry. We know only the most senior Ministry members are
allowed to connect their homes to the Floo Network now, because
Ron heard those two Unspeakables complaining about it. And
we know roughly where Umbridge's o ce is, because of what you
heard that bearded bloke saying to his mate|"
\`I'll be up on level one, Dolores wants to see me,'" Hermione
recited immediately.
\Exactly," said Harry. \And we know you get in using those
funny coins, or tokens, or whatever they are because I saw that
witch borrowing one from her friend|"
\But we haven't got any!"
\If the plan works, we will have," Harry continued calmly.
\I don't know, Harry, I don't know. . . . There are an awful lot
of things that could go wrong, so much relies on chance. . . ."
\That'll be true even if we spend another three months prepar-
ing," said Harry. \It's time to act."
He could tell from Ron's and Hermione's faces that they were
scared, he was not particularly con dent himself, and yet he was
sure the time had come to put their plan into operation.
They had spent the previous four weeks taking it in turns to
don the Invisibility Cloak and spy on the o cial entrance to the
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Magic is Might
Ministry, which Ron, thanks to Mr. Weasley, had known since
childhood. They had tailed Ministry workers on their way in,
eavesdropped on their conversations, and learned by careful ob-
servation which of them could be relied on upon to appear, alone,
at the same time every day. Occasionally there had been a chance
to sneak a Daily Prophet out of somebody's briefcase. Slowly they
had built up the sketchy maps and notes now stacked in front of
Hermione.
\All right," said Ron slowly, \let's say we go for it tomor-
row. . . . I think it should just be me and Harry."
\Oh, don't start that again!" sighed Hermione. \I thought we'd
settled this."
\It's one thing hanging around the entrances under the Cloak,
but this is di erent, Hermione." Ron jabbed a nger at a copy of
the Daily Prophet dared ten days previously. \You're on the list
of Muggle-borns who didn't present themselves for interrogation!"
\And you're supposed to be dying of spattergroit at the Burrow!
If anyone shouldn't go, it's Harry, he's got a ten-thousand-Galleon
price on his head|"
\Fine, I'll stay here," said Harry. \Let me know if you ever
defeat Voldemort, won't you?"
As Ron and Hermione laughed, pain shot through the scar on
Harry's forehead. His hand jumped to it: He saw Hermione's eyes
narrow; and he tried to pass o the movement by brushing his hair
out of his eyes.
\Well, if all three of us go we'll have to Disapparate separately,"
Ron was saying. \We can't all t under the Cloak anymore."
Harry's scar was becoming more and more painful. He stood
up. At once, Kreacher hurried forward.
\Master has not nished his soup, would Master prefer the sa-
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Chapter 12
vory stew, or else the treacle tart to which Master is so partial?"
\Thanks, Kreacher, but I'll be back in a minute|er|bath-
room."
Aware that Hermione was watching him suspiciously, Harry
hurried up the stairs to the hall and then to the rst landing,
where he dashed into the bathroom and bolted the door again.
Grunting with pain, he slumped over the black basin with its taps
in the form of open-mouthed serpents and closed his eyes. . . .
He was gliding along a twilit street. The buildings on either
side of him had high, timbered gables; they looked like gingerbread
houses.
He approached one of them, then saw the whiteness of his own
long- ngered hand against the door. He felt a mounting excite-
ment. . . .
The door opened: A laughing woman stood there. Her face fell
as she looked into Harry's face, humor gone, terror replacing it. . . .
\Gregorovitch?" said a high, cold voice.
She shook her head: She was trying to close the door. A white
hand held it steady, prevented her shutting him out. . . .
\I want Gregorovitch."
\Er wohnt hier nicht mehr!" she cried, shaking her head. \He
no live here! He no live here! I know him not!"
Abandoning the attempt to close the door, she began to back
away down the dark hall, and Harry followed gliding toward her,
and his long- ngered hand had drawn his wand.
\Where is he?"
\Das welfs ich nicht! He move! I know not, I know not!"
He raised the wand. She screamed. Two young children came
running into the hall. She tried to shield them with her arms.
There was a
ash of green light|
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Magic is Might
\Harry! HARRY!"
He opened his eyes; he had sunk to the
oor. Hermione was
pounding on the door again.
\Harry, open up!"
He had shouted out, he knew it. He got up and unbolted the
door; Hermione toppled inside at once, regained her balance, and
looked around suspiciously. Ron was right behind her, looking
unnerved as he pointed his wand into the corners of the chilly
bathroom.
\What were you doing?" asked Hermione sternly.
\What d'you think I was doing?" asked Harry with feeble
bravado.
\You were yelling your head o ?" said Ron.
\Oh yeah . . . I must've dozed o or|"
\Harry, please don't insult our intelligence," said Hermione,
taking deep breaths. \We know your scar hurt downstairs, and
you're white as a sheet."
Harry sat down on the edge of the bath.
\Fine, I've just seen Voldemort murdering a woman. By now
he's probably killed her whole family. And he didn't need to. It
was Cedric all over again, they were just there. . . ."
\Harry, you aren't supposed to let this happen anymore!" Her-
mione cried, her voice echoing through the bathroom. \Dumble-
dore wanted you to use Occlumency! He thought the connection
was dangerous|Voldemort can use it, Harry! What good is it to
watch him kill and torture, how can it help?"
\Because it means I know what he's doing," said Harry.
\So you're not even going to try to shut him out?"
\Hermione, I can't. You know I'm lousy at Occlumency, I never
got the hang of it."
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Chapter 12
\You never really tried!" she said hotly. \I don't get it, Harry|
do you like having this special connection or relationship or what|
whatever|"
She faltered under the look he gave her as he stood up.
\Like it?" he said quietly. \Would you like it?"
\I|no|I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean|"
\I hate it, I hate the fact that he can get inside me, that I have
to watch him when he's most dangerous. But I'm going to use it."
\Dumbledore|"
\Forget Dumbledore. This is my choice, nobody else's. I want
to know why he's after Gregorovitch."
\Who?"
\He's a foreign wandmaker," said Harry. \He made Krum's
wand and Krum reckons he's brilliant."
\But according to you," said Ron, \Voldemort's got Ollivander
locked up somewhere. If he's already got a wandmaker, what does
he need another one for?"
\Maybe he agrees with Krum, maybe he thinks Gregorovitch
is better . . . or else he thinks Gregorovitch will be able to explain
what my wand did when he was chasing me, because Ollivander
didn't know."
Harry glanced into the cracked, dusty mirror and saw Ron and
Hermione exchanging skeptical looks behind his back.
\Harry, you keep talking about what your wand did," said Her-
mione, \but you made it happen! Why are you so determined not
to take responsibility for your own power?"
\Because I know it wasn't me! And so does Voldemort, Her-
mione! We both know what really happened!"
They glared at each other; Harry knew that he had not con-
vinced Hermione and that she was marshaling counterarguments,
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Magic is Might
against both his theory on his wand and the fact that he was per-
mitting himself to see into Voldemort's mind. To his relief, Ron
intervened.
\Drop it," he advised her. \It's up to him. And if we're going
to the ministry tomorrow, don't you reckon we should go over the
plan?"
Reluctantly, as the other two could tell, Hermione let the matter
rest, though Harry was quite sure she would attack again at the
rst opportunity. In the meantime, they returned to the basement
kitchen, where Kreacher served them all stew and treacle tart.
They did not get to bed until late that night, after spending
hours going over and over their plan until they could recite it, word
perfect, to each other. Harry, who was now sleeping in Sirius's
room, lay in bed with his wandlight trained on the old photograph
of his father, Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew, and muttered the plan
to himself for another ten minutes. As he extinguished his wand,
however, he was thinking not of Polyjuice Potion, Puking Pastilles,
or the navy blue robes of Magical Maintenance; he thought of Gre-
gorovitch the wandmaker, and how long he could hope to remain
hidden while Voldemort sought him so determinedly.
Dawn seemed to follow midnight with indecent haste.
\You look terrible," was Ron's greeting as he entered the room
to wake Harry.
\Not for long," said Harry, yawning.
They found Hermione downstairs in the kitchen. She was being
served co ee and hot rolls by Kreacher and wearing the slightly
manic expression that Harry associated with exam review.
\Robes," she said under her breath, acknowledging her pres-
ence with a nervous nod and continuing to poke around in
her beaded bag, \Polyjuice potion . . . Invisibility Cloak . . . Decoy
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Chapter 12
Detonators . . . You should each take a couple just in case. . . . Puk-
ing Pastilles, Nosebleed Nougat, Extendable Ears . . . "
They gulped down their breakfast, then set o upstairs,
Kreacher bowing them out and promising to have a steak-and-
kidney pie ready for them when they returned.
\Bless him," said Ron fondly, \and when you think I used to
fantasize about cutting o his head and sticking it on the wall."
They made their way onto the front step with immense caution.
They could see a couple of pu y-eyed Death Eaters watching the
house from across the misty square.
Hermione disapparated with Ron rst, then came back for
Harry.
After the usual brief spell of darkness and near su ocation,
Harry found himself in the tiny alleyway where the rst phase of
their plan was scheduled to take place. It was as yet deserted,
except for a couple of large bins; the rst ministry workers did not
usually appear here until at least eight o'clock.
\Right then," said Hermione, checking her watch. \She ought
to be here in about ve minutes. When I've Stunned her|"
\Hermione, we know," said Ron sternly. \And I thought we
were supposed to open the door before she got here?"
Hermione squealed.
\I nearly forgot! Stand back|"
She pointed her wand at the padlocked and heavily gra tied
re door beside them, which burst open with a crash. The dark
corridor behind it led, as they knew from their careful scouting
trips, into an empty theater. Hermione pulled the door back toward
her, to make it look as though it was still closed.
\And now," she said, turning back to face the other two in the
alley way, \we put on the Cloak again|"
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Magic is Might
\|and we wait," Ron nished, throwing it over Hermione's
head like a blanket over a birdcage and rolling his eyes at Harry.
Little more than a minute later, there was a tiny pop and a
little Ministry witch with
yaway gray hair Apparated feet from
them, blinking a little in the sudden brightness: the sun had just
come out from behind a cloud. She barely had time to enjoy the
unexpected warmth, however, before Hermione's silent Stunning
Spell hit her in the chest and she toppled over.
\Nicely done, Hermione," said Ron, emerging from behind a bin
beside the theater door as Harry took o the Invisibility Cloak.
Together they carried the little witch into the dark passageway
that led backstage. Hermione plucked a few hairs from the witch's
head and added them to a
ask of muddy Polyjuice Potion she had
taken from the beaded bag. Ron was rummaging through the little
witch's handbag.
\She's Mafalda Hopkirk," he said, reading a small card that
identi ed their victim as an assistant in the Improper Use of Magic
O ce. \You'd better take this, Hermione, and here are the to-
kens,"
He passed her several small golden coins, all embossed with the
letters M.O.M., which he had taken from the witch's purse.
Hermione drank the Polyjuice Potion, which was now a pleasant
heliotrope color, and within seconds stood before them, the double
of Mafalda Hopkirk. As she removed Mafalda's spectacles and put
them on, Harry checked his watch.
\Were running late, Mr. Magical Maintenance will be here any
second."
They hurried to close the door on the real Mafalda; Harry and
Ron threw the Invisibility Cloak over themselves but Hermione
remained in view, waiting. Seconds later there was another pop,
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Chapter 12
and a small, ferrety-looking wizard appeared before them.
\Oh, hello, Mafalda."
\Hello!" said Hermione in a quavery voice. \How are you to-
day?"
\Not so good, actually," replied the little wizard, who looked
thoroughly downcast.
As Hermione and the wizard headed for the main road, Harry
and Ron crept along behind them.
\I'm sorry to hear you're under the heather," said Hermione,
talking rmly over the little wizard as he tried to expound upon
his problems; it was essential to stop him from reaching the street.
\Here, have a sweet."
\Eh? Oh, no thanks|"
\I insist!" said Hermione aggressively, shaking the bag of
pastilles I his face. Looking rather alarmed, the little wizard took
one.
The e ect was instantaneous. The moment the pastille touched
his tongue, the little wizard started vomiting so hard that he did
not even notice as Hermione yanked a handful of hairs from the
top of his head.
\Oh dear!" she said, as he splattered the alley with sick. \Per-
haps you'd better take the day o !"
\No|no!" He choked and retched, trying to continue on his
way despite being unable to walk straight. \I must|today|must
go|"
\But that's just silly!" said Hermione, alarmed. \You can't go
to work in this state|I think you ought to go to St. Mungo's and
get them to sort you out!"
The wizard had collapsed, heaving, onto all fours, still trying
to crawl toward the main street.
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Magic is Might
\You simply can't go to work like this!" cried Hermione.
At last he seemed to accept the truth of her words. Using a
repulsed Hermione to claw his away back into a standing positions,
he turned on the spot and vanished, leaving nothing behind but the
bag Ron had snatched from his hand as he went and some
ying
chunks of vomit.
\Urgh," said Hermione, holding up the skirts of her robe to
avoid the puddles of sick. \It would have made much less mess to
Stun him too."
\Yeah," said Ron, emerging from under the cloak holding the
wizard's bag, \but I still think a whole pile of unconscious bodies
would have drawn more attention. Keen on his job, though, isn't
he? Chuck us the hair and the potion, then."
Within two minutes, Ron stood before them, as small and fer-
rety as the sick wizard, and wearing the navy blue robes that had
been folded in his bag.
\Weird he wasn't wearing them today, wasn't it, seeing how
much he wanted to go? Anyway, I'm Reg Cattermole, according
to the label in the back."
\Now wait here," Hermione told Harry, who was still under the
Invisibility Cloak, \and we'll be back with some hairs for you."
He had to wait ten minutes, but it seemed much longer to Harry,
skulking alone in the sick-splattered alleyway beside the door con-
cealing the Stunned Mafalda. Finally Ron and Hermione reap-
peared.
\We don't know who he is," Hermione said, passing Harry sev-
eral curly black hairs, \but he's gone home with a dreadful nose-
bleed! Here, he's pretty tall, you'll need bigger robes. . . ."
She pulled out a set of the old robes Kreacher had laundered
for them, and Harry retired to take the potion and change.
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Chapter 12
Once the painful transformation was complete he was more than
six feet tall, and from what he could tell from his well-muscled
arms, powerfully built. He also had a beard. Stowing the Invisi-
bility Cloak and his glasses inside his new robes, he rejoined the
other two.
\Blimey, that's scary," said Ron, looking up at Harry, who now
towered over them.
\Take one of Mafalda's tokens," Hermione told Harry, \and let's
go, it's nearly nine."
They stepped out of the alleyway together. Fifty yards along
the crowded pavement there were spiked black railings
anking two
ights of steps, one labeled Gentlemen, the other Ladies.
\See you in a moment, then," said Hermione nervously, and
she tottered o down the steps to Ladies. Harry and Ron joined
a number of oddly dressed men descending into what appeared to
be an ordinary underground public toilet, tiled in grimy black and
white.
\Morning, Reg!" called another wizard in navy blue robes as
he let himself into a cubicle by inserting his golden token into a
slot in the door. \Blooming pain in the bum, this, eh? Forcing us
all to get to work this way! Who are they expecting to turn up,
Harry Potter?"
The wizard roared with laughter at his own wit. Ron gave a
forced chuckle.
\Yeah," he said, \stupid, isn't it?"
And he and Harry let themselves into adjoining cubicles.
To Harry's left and right came the sound of
ushing. He
crouched down and peered through the gap at the bottom of the
cubicle, just in time to see a pair of booted feet climbing into the
toilet next door. He looked left and saw Ron blinking at him.
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Magic is Might
\We have to
ush ourselves in?" he whispered.
\Looks like it," Harry whispered back; he voice came out deep
and gravelly.
They both stood up. Feeling exceptionally foolish, Harry clam-
bered into the toilet.
He knew at once that he had done the right thing; though
he appeared to be standing in water, his shoes, feet, and robes
remained quite dry. He reached up, pulled the chain, and next
moment had zoomed down a short chute, emerging out a replace
into the Ministry of Magic.
He got up clumsily; there was a lot more of his body than he
was accustomed to. The great Atrium seemed darker than Harry
remembered it. Previously a golden fountain had lled the center of
the hall, casting shimmering spots of light over the polished wooden
oor and walls. Now a gigantic statue of black stone dominated the
scene. It was rather frightening, this was sculpture of a witch and
a wizard sitting on ornately carved thrones, looking down at the
Ministry workers toppling out of replaces below them. Engraved
in foot-high letters at the base of the statue were the words magic
is might.
Harry received a heavy blow on the back of the legs: Another
wizard had just
own out of the replace behind him.
\Out of the way, can't y|oh, sorry, Runcorn!"
Clearly frightened, the balding wizard hurried away. Appar-
ently the man whom Harry was impersonating, Runcorn, was in-
timidating.
\Psst!" said a voice, and he looked around to see a wispy little
witch and the ferrety wizard from Magical Maintenance gesturing
to him from over beside the statue. Harry hastened to join them.
\You got in all right, then?" Hermione whispered to Harry.
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Chapter 12
\No, he's still stuck in the bog," said Ron.
\Oh, very funny . . . It's horrible, isn't it?" she said to Harry,
who was staring up at the statue. \Have you seen what they're
sitting on?"
Harry looked more closely and realized that what he had though
were decoratively carved thrones were actually mounds of carved
human: hundreds and hundreds of naked bodies, men, women, and
children, all with rather stupid, ugly faces, twisted and pressed
together to support the weight of the handsomely robed wizards.
\Muggles," whispered Hermione. \In their rightful place. Come
on, let's get going."
They joined the stream of witches and wizards moving toward
the golden gates at the end of the hall looking around as surrepti-
tiously as possible, but there was no sign of the distinctive gure
of Dolores Umbridge. They passed through the gates and into a
smaller hall, where queues were forming in front of twenty golden
grilles housing as many lifts. They had barely joined the nearest
one when a voice said, \Cattermole!"
They looked around: Harry's stomach turned over. One of the
Death Eaters who had witnessed Dumbledore's death was striding
toward them. The Ministry workers beside them fell silent, their
eyes downcast. Harry could feel fear rippling through them. The
man's scowling, slightly brutish face was somehow at odds with his
magni cent, sweeping robes, which were embroidered with much
gold thread. Someone in the crowd around the lifts called syco-
phantically, \Morning, Yaxley!" Yaxley ignored them.
\I requested somebody from Magical Maintenance to sort out
my o ce, Cattermole. It's still raining in there."
Ron looked around as though hoping somebody else would in-
tervene, but nobody spoke.
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Magic is Might
\Raining . . . in your o ce? That's|that's not good, is it?"
Ron gave a nervous laugh. Yaxley's eyes widened.
\You think it's funny, Cattermole, do you?"
A pair of witches broke away from the queue for the list and
bustled o .
\No," said Ron, \no, of course|"
\You realize that I am on my way downstairs to interrogate
your wife, Cattermole. In fact, I'm quite surprised you're not down
there holding her hand while she waits. Already given her up as a
bad job, have you? Probably wise. Be sure and marry a pureblood
next time."
Hermione had let out a little squeak of horror. Yaxley looked
at her. She coughed feebly and turned away.
\I|I|" stammered Ron.
\But if my wife were accused of being a Mudblood," said Yax-
ley, \|not that any woman I married would ever be mistaken
for such lth|and the Head of the Department of Magical Law
Enforcement needed a job doing, I would make it my priority to
do that job, Cattermole. Do you understand me?"
\Yes," whispered Ron.
\Then attend to it, Cattermole, and if my o ce is not com-
pletely dry within an hour, you wife's Blood Status will be in even
graver doubt than it is now."
The golden grille before them clattered open. With a nod an un-
pleasant smile to Harry, who was evidently expected to appreciate
this treatment of Cattermole, Yaxley swept away toward another
lift. Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered theirs, but nobody fol-
lowed them: It was as if they were infectious. The grilles shut with
a clang and the lift began to move upward.
\What am I going to do?" Ron asked the other two at once;
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Chapter 12
he looked stricken. \If I don't turn up, my wife . . . I mean, Cat-
termole's wife|"
\We'll come with you, we should stick together|" began Harry,
but Ron shook his head feverishly.
\That's mental, we haven't got much time. You two nd Um-
bridge, I'll go and sort out Yaxley's o ce|but how do I stop it
raining?"
\Try Finite Incantatem," said Hermione at once, \that should
stop the rain if it's a hex or curse; if it doesn't, something's
gone wrong with an Atmospheric Charm, which will be more dif-
cult to x, so as an interim measure try Impervius to protect his
belongings|"
\Say it again, slowly|" said Ron, searching his pockets des-
perately for a quill, but at that moment the lift juddered to a halt.
A disembodied female voice said, \Level four, Department for the
Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast,
Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liason O ce, and Pest Advi-
sory Bureau," and the grilles slid open again, admitting a couple
of wizards and several pale violet paper airplanes that
uttered
around the lamp in the ceiling of the lift.
\Morning, Albert," said a bushily whiskered man, smiling at
Harry. He glanced over at Ron and Hermione as the lift creaked up-
ward once more: Hermione was now whispering frantic instructions
to Ron. The wizard leaned toward Harry, leering, and muttered,
\Dirk Cresswell, eh? From Goblin Liaison? Nice one, Albert, I'm
pretty con dent I'll get his job now!"
He winked. Harry smiled back, hoping that this would su ce.
The lift stopped; the grilles opened once more.
\Level two, Department of Magical law enforcement, including
the Improper Use of Magic O ce, Auror Headquarters, and Wiz-
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Magic is Might
engamot Administration Services," said the disembodied witch's
voice.
Harry saw Hermione give Ron a little push and he hurried out
of the lift, followed by the other wizards, leaving Harry and Her-
mione alone. The moment the golden door had closed Hermione
said, very fast, \Actually, Harry, I think I'd better go after him,
I don't think he knows what he's doing and if he gets caught the
whole thing|"
\Level one, Minister of Magic and Support Sta ."
The golden grilles slid apart again and Hermione gasped. Four
people stood before them, two of them in deep conversation: a
long-haired wizard wearing magni cent robes of black and gold,
and a squat, toad-like witch wearing a velvet bow in her short hair
and clutching a clipboard to her chest.
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Chapter 13
The Muggle-born
Registration Commission
h, Mafalda!"said Umbridge, looking at Hermione.
\Travers sent you, did he?"
\Y|yes," squeaked Hermione.
A\Good, you'll do perfectly well." Umbridge spoke to
the wizard in black and gold. \That's that problem solved, Min-
ister, if Mafalda can be spared for record-keeping we shall be able
to start straightaway." She consulted her clipboard. \Ten peo-
ple today and one of them the wife of a Ministry employee!! Tut,
tut . . . even here, in the heart of the Ministry!" She stepped into
the lift beside Hermione, as did the two wizards who had been
listening to Umbridge's conversation with the Minister. \We'll go
straight down, Mafalda, and you'll nd everything you need in the
courtroom.
\Good morning, Albert, aren't you getting out?"
\Yes, of course," said Harry in Runcorn's deep voice.
Harry stepped out of the lift. The golden grilles clanged shut
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, Harry saw Hermione's
anxious face sinking back out of sight, a tall wizard on either side
of her, Umbridge's velvet hair-bow level with her shoulder.
\What brings you up here, Runcorn?" asked the new Minister
of Magic. His long black hair and beard were streaked with sil-
ver, and a great overhanging forehead shadowed his glinting eyes,
putting Harry in mind of a crab looking out from beneath a rock.
\Needed a quick word with," Harry hesitated for a fraction of
a second, \Arthur Weasley. Someone said he was up on level one."
\Ah," said Pius Thickness. \Has he been caught having contact
with an Undesirable?"
\No," said Harry, his throat dry. \No, nothing like that."
\Ah, well. It's only a matter of time," said Thicknesse. \If you
ask me, the blood traitors are as bad as the Mudbloods. Good day,
Runcorn."
\Good day, Minister."
Harry watched Thicknesse march away along the thickly car-
peted corridor. The moment the Minister had passed out of sight,
Harry tugged the Invisibility Cloak out from under his heavy black
cloak, threw it over himself, and set o along the corridor in the
opposite direction. Runcorn was so tall that Harry was forced to
stoop to make sure his big feet were hidden.
Panic pulsed in the pit of his stomach. As he passed gleaming
wooden door after gleaming wooden door, each bearing a small
plaque with the owner's name and occupation upon it, the might
of the Ministry, its complexity, its impenetrability, seemed to force
itself upon him so that the plan he had been carefully concocting
with Ron and Hermione over the past four weeks seemed laughably
childish. They had concentrated all their e orts on getting inside
without being detected. They had not given a moment's thought
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Chapter 13
to what they would do if they were forced to separate. Now Her-
mione was stuck in court proceedings, which would undoubtedly
last hours; Ron was struggling to do magic that Harry was sure was
beyond him, a woman's liberty possibly depending on the outcome;
and he, Harry, was wandering around on the top
oor when he
knew perfectly well that has quarry had just gone down in the lift.
He stopped walking, leaned against a wall, and tried to decide
what to do. The silence pressed upon him: There was no bustling
or talk or swift footsteps here; the purple-carpeted corridors were
as hushed as though the Mu iato charm had been cast over the
place.
Her o ce must be up here, Harry thought.
It seemed most unlikely that Umbridge would keep her jewelry
in her o ce, but on the other hand it seemed foolish not to search it
to make sure. He therefore set o along the corridor again, passing
nobody but a frowning wizard who was murmuring instructions to
a quill that
oated in front of him, scribbling on a trail of parch-
ment.
Now paying attention to the names on the doors, Harry turned
a corner. Halfway along the next corridor he emerged into a wide
open space where a dozen witches and wizards sat in rows at small
desks not unlike school desks, though much more highly polished
and free from gra ti. Harry paused to watch them, for the e ect
was quite mesmerizing. They were all waving and twiddling their
wands in unison, and squares of colored paper were
ying in every
direction like little pink kites. After a few seconds, Harry realized
that there was a rhythm to the proceedings, that the papers all
formed the same pattern, and after a few more seconds he realized
that what he was watching was the creation of pamphlets|that
the paper squares were pages, which, when assembled, folded, and
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
magicked into place, fell into neat stacks beside each witch or wiz-
ard.
Harry crept closer, although the workers were so intent on what
they were doing that he doubted they would notice a carpet-mu ed
footstep, and he slid a completed pamphlet from the pile beside a
young witch. He examined it beneath the Invisibility Cloak. Its
pink cover was emblazoned with a golden title:
MUDBLOODS
and the Dangers They Pose to
a Peaceful Pure-Blood Society
Beneath the title was a picture of a red rose with a simpering
face in the middle of its petals, being strangled by a green weed
with fangs and a scowl. There was no author's name upon the
pamphlet, but again, the scars on the back of his right hand seemed
to tingle as he examined it. Then the young witch beside him
con rmed his suspicion as she said, still waving and twirling her
wand, \Will the old hag be interrogating Mudbloods all day, does
anyone know?"
\Careful," said the wizard beside her, glancing around ner-
vously; one of his pages slipped and fell to the
oor.
\What, has she got magic ears as well as an eye, now?"
The witch glanced toward the shining mahogany door facing the
space full of pamphlet-makers; Harry looked too, and rage reared
in him like a snake. Where there might have been a peephole on
a Muggle front door, a large, round eye with a bright blue iris had
been set into the wood|an eye that was shockingly familiar to
anybody who had known Alastor Moody.
For a split second Harry forgot where he was and what he
was doing there: He even forgot that he was invisible. He strode
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Chapter 13
straight over to the door to examine the eye. It was not moving:
It gazed blindly upward, frozen. The plaque beneath it read:
Dolores Umbridge
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister
Below that, a slightly shinier new plaque read:
Head of the Muggle-born
Registration Commission
Harry looked back at the dozen pamphlet-makers: Though they
were intent upon their work, he could hardly suppose that they
would not notice if the door of an empty o ce opened in front
of them. He therefore withdrew from an inner pocket an odd ob-
ject with little waving legs and a rubber-bulbed horn for a body.
Crouching down beneath the cloak, he placed the Decoy Detonator
on the ground.
It scuttled away at once through the legs of the witches and
wizards in front of him. A few moments later, during which Harry
waited with his hand upon the doorknob, there came a long band
and a great deal of acrid black smoke billowed from a corner. The
young witch in the front row shrieked: Pink pages
ew everywhere
as she and her fellows jumped up, looking around for the source
of the commotion. Harry turned the doorknob, stepped into Um-
bridge's o ce, and closed the door behind him.
He felt he had stepped back in time. The room was exactly like
Umbridge's o ce at Hogwarts: Lace draperies, doilies, and dried
owers covered every available surface. The walls bore the same
ornamental plates, each featuring a highly colored, beribboned kit-
ten, gamboling and frisking with a sickening cuteness. The desk
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
was covered with a
ouncy,
owered cloth. Behind Mad-Eye's eye,
a telescopic attachment enabled Umbridge to spy on the workers
on the other side of the door. Harry took a look through it and
saw that they were all still gathered around the Decoy Detona-
tor. He wrenched the telescope out of the door, leaving a hole
behind, pulled the magical eyeball out of it, and placed it in his
pocket. Then he turned to face the room again, raised his wand,
and murmured, \Accio Locket."
Nothing happened, but he had not expected it to; no doubt
Umbridge knew all about protective charms and spells. He there-
fore hurried behind her desk and began pulling open drawers. He
saw quills and notebooks and Spellotape; enchanted paper clips
that coiled snakelike from their drawer and had to be beaten back;
a sloppy little lace box full of spare hair bows and clips; but no
sign of a locket.
There was a ling cabinet behind the desk: Harry set to search-
ing it. Like Filch's ling cabinets at Hogwarts, it was full of folders,
each labeled with a name. It was not until Harry reached the bot-
tommost drawer that he saw something to distract him from his
search: Mr. Weasley's le.
He pulled it out and opened it.
Arthur Weasley
Blood StatusPureblood, but with unacceptable pro-
Muggle leanings. Known member of the
Order of the Phoenix
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Chapter 13
Family:Wife (pureblood), seven children, two
youngest at Hogwarts. NB: Youngest son
currently at home, seriously ill, Ministry
inspectors have con rmed.
Security Status:TRACKED. All movements are being
monitored. Strong likelihood Undesirable
No. 1 will contact (has stayed with
Weasley family previously)
\Undesirable Number One," Harry muttered under his breath
as he replaced Mr. Weasley's folder and shut the drawer. He had
an idea he knew who that was, and sure enough, as he straightened
up and glanced around the o ce for fresh hiding places, he saw a
poster of himself on the wall, with the words Undesirable No.
1 emblazoned across his chest. A little pink note was stuck to it
with a picture of a kitten in the corner. Harry moved across to
read it and saw that Umbridge had written, \To be punished."
Angrier than ever, he proceeded to grope in the bottoms of the
vases and baskets of dried
owers, but was not at all surprised that
the locket was not there. He gave the o ce one last sweeping look
and his heart skipped a beat. Dumbledore was staring at him from
a small rectangular mirror, propped up on a bookcase beside the
desk.
Harry crossed the room and snatched it up, but realized the
moment he touched it that it was not am mirror at all. Dumble-
dore was smiling wistfully out of the front cover of a glossy book,
Harry had not immediately noticed the curly green writing across
his hat|The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore |nor the slightly
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
smaller writing across his chest: \by Rita skeeter, bestselling au-
thor of Armando Dippet: Master or Moron?"
Harry opened the book at random and saw a full-page photo-
graph of two teenage boys, both laughing immoderately with their
arms around each other's shoulders. Dumbledore, now with elbow-
length hair, had grown a tiny wispy beard that recalled the one
on Krum's chin that had so annoyed Ron. The boy who roared
in silent amusement beside Dumbledore had a gleeful, wild look
about him. His golden hair fell in curls to his shoulders. Harry
wondered whether it was a young doge, but before he could check
the caption, the door of the o ce opened.
If Thicknesse had not been looking over his shoulder as he en-
tered, Harry would not have had time to pull the Invisibility cloak
over himself. As it was, he thought Thicknesse might have caught
a glimpse of movement because for a moment or two he remained
quite still, staring curiously at the place where Harry had just
vanished. Perhaps deciding that all he had seen was Dumbledore
scratching his nose on the front of the book, for Harry had hastily
replaced it upon the shelf. Thicknesse nally walked to the desk
and pointed his wand at the quill standing ready in the ink pot. It
sprang out and begun scribbling a note to Umbridge. Very slowly,
hardly daring to breathe, Harry backed out of the o ce into the
open area beyond.
The pamphlet-makers were still clustered around the remains of
the Decoy Detonator, which continued to hoot feebly as it smoked.
Harry hurried o up the corridor as the young witch said, \I bet
it sneaked up here from Experimental Charms, they're so careless,
remember that poisonous duck?"
Speeding back toward the lifts, Harry reviewed his options. It
had never been likely that the locket was here at the Ministry, and
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Chapter 13
there was no hope of bewitching its whereabouts out of Umbridge
while she was sitting in a crowded court. Their priority now had to
be to leave the Ministry before they were exposed, and try again
another day. The rst thing to do was to nd Ron, and then they
could work out a way of extracting Hermione from the courtroom.
The lift was empty when it arrived. Harry jumped in a pulled
o the Invisibility Cloak as it started its descent. To his enormous
relief, when it rattle to a halt at level two, a soaking-wet and wild-
eyed Ron got in.
\M-morning," he stammered to Harry as the lift set o again.
\Ron, it's me, Harry!"
\Harry! Blimey, I forgot what you looked like|why isn't Her-
mione with you?"
\She had to go down to the courtrooms with Umbridge, she
couldn't refuse, and|"
But before Harry could nish the lift had stopped again. The
doors opened and Mr. Weasley walked inside, talking to an elderly
witch whose blonde hair was teased so high that it resembled an
anthill.
\ . . . I quite understand what you're saying, Wakanda, but I'm
afraid I cannot be part to|"
Mr. Weasley broke o ; he had noticed Harry. It was very
strange to have Mr. Weasley glare at him with that much dislike.
The lift doors closed and the four of them trundled downward once
more.
\Oh, hello, Reg," said Mr. Weasley, looking around at the
sound of steady dripping from Ron's robes. \Isn't your wife in for
questioning today? Er|what's happened to you? Why are you
so wet?"
\Yaxley's o ce is raining," said Ron. He addressed Mr.
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
Weasley's shoulder, and Harry felt sure he was scared that his
father might recognize him if they looked directly into each other's
eyes. \I couldn't stop it, so they've sent me to get Bernie|
Pillsworth, I think they said|"
\Yes, a lot of o ces have been raining lately," said Mr. Weasley.
\Did you try Meterolojinx Recanto? It worked for Bletchley."
\Meterolojinx Recanto?" whispered Ron. \No, I didn't.
Thanks, D|I mean, thanks, Arthur."
The lift doors opened; the old witch with the anthill hair left,
and Ron darted past her out of sight. Harry made to follow him,
but found his path blocked as Percy Weasley strode into the lift,
his nose buried in some papers he was reading.
Not until the doors had clanged shut again did Percy realize
he was in a lift with his father. He glanced up, saw Mr. Weasley,
turned radish red, and left the lift the moment the doors opened
again. For the second time, Harry tried to get out, but this time
found his way blocked by Mr. Weasley's arm.
\One moment, Runcorn."
The lift doors closed and as they clanked down another
oor,
Mr. Weasley said, \I hear you laid information about Dirk Cress-
well."
Harry had the impression that Mr. Weasley's anger was no less
because of the brush with Percy. He decided his best chance was
to act stupid.
\Sorry?" he said.
\Don't pretend, Runcorn," said Mr. Weasley ercely. \You
down the wizard who faked his family tree, didn't you?"
\I|so what if I did?" said Harry.
\So Dirk Cresswell is ten times the wizard you are," said Mr.
Weasley quietly, as the lift sank ever lower. \And if he survives
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Chapter 13
Azkaban, you'll have to answer to him, not to mention his wife, his
sons, and his friends|"
\Arthur," Harry interrupted, \you know you're being tracked,
don't you?"
\Is that a threat, Runcorn?" said Mr. Weasley loudly.
\No," said Harry, \it's a fact! They're watching your every
move|"
The lift doors opened. They had reached the Atrium. Mr.
Weasley gave Harry a scathing look and swept from the lift. Harry
stood there, shaken. He wished he was impersonating somebody
other than Runcorn. . . . the lift doors clanged shut.
Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak and put it back on. He
would try to extricate Hermione on his own while Ron was dealing
with the raining o ce. When the doors opened, he stepped out
into a torch-lit stone passageway quite di erent from the wood-
paneled and carpeted corridors above. As the lift rattled away
again, Harry shivered slightly, looking toward the distant black
door that marked the entrance to the Department of Mysteries.
He set o , his destination not the black door, but the doorway
he remembered on the left-hand side, which opened onto the
ight
of stairs down to the court chambers. His mind grappled with
possibilities as he crept down them: He still had a couple of Decoy
Detonators, but perhaps it would be better to simply knock on
the courtroom door, enter as Runcorn, and ask for a quick word
with Mafalda? Of course, he did not know whether Runcorn was
su ciently important to get away with this, and even if he managed
it, Hermione's non-reappearance might trigger a search before they
were clear of the Ministry. . . .
Lost in thought, he did not immediately register the unnatural
chill that was creeping over him, as if he were descending into fog.
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It was becoming colder and colder with every step he took: a cold
that reached right down into his throat and tore at his lungs. And
then he felt that stealing sense of despair, of hopelessness, lling
him, expanding inside him. . . .
Dementors, he thought.
As he reached the foot of the stairs and turned to his right he
saw a dreadful scene. The dark passage outside the courtrooms
was packed with tall, black-hooded gures, their faces completely
hidden, their ragged breathing the only sound in the place. The
petri ed Muggle-borns brought in for questioning sat huddled and
shivering on hard wooden benches. Most of them were hiding their
faces in their hands, perhaps in an instinctive attempt to shield
themselves from the dementors' greedy mouths. Some were accom-
panied by families, others sat alone. The dementors were gliding
up an down in front of them, and the cold, and the hopelessness,
and the despair of the place laid themselves upon Harry like a
curse. . . .
Fight it, he told himself, but he knew that he could not conjure
a Patronus here without revealing himself instantly. So he moved
forward as silently as he could, and with every step he took numb-
ness seemed to steal over his brain, but he forced himself to think
of Hermione and of Ron, who needed him.
Moving through the towering black gures was terrifying: The
eyeless faces hidden beneath their hoods turned as he passed, and
he felt sure that they sense him, sensed, perhaps, a human presence
that still had some hope, some resilience. . . .
And then, abruptly and shockingly amid the frozen silence, one
of the dungeon doors on the left of the corridor was
ung open and
screams echoed out of it.
\No, no, I'm a half-blood, I'm a half-blood, I tell you! My
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Chapter 13
father was a wizard, he was, look him up, Arkie Alderton, he's a
well-known broomstick designer, look him up, I tell you|get your
hands o me, get your hands o |"
\This is your nal warning," said Umbridge's soft voice, magi-
cally magni ed so that it sounded clearly over the man's desperate
screams. \If you struggle, you will be subjected to the Dementor's
Kiss."
The man's screams subsided, but dry sobs echoed through the
corridor.
\Take him away," said Umbridge.
Two dementors appeared in the doorway of the courtroom, their
rotting, scabbed hands clutching the upper arms of a wizard who
appeared to be fainting. They glided away down the corridor with
him, and the darkness they trailed behind them swallowed him
from sight.
\Next|Mary Cattermole," called Umbridge.
A small woman stood up; she was trembling from head to foot.
Her dark hair was smoothed back into a bun and she wore long,
plain robes. Her face was completely bloodless. As she passed the
dementors, Harry saw her shudder.
He did it instinctively, without any sort of plan, because he
hated the sight of her walking alone into the dungeon: As the door
began to swing closed, he slipped into the courtroom behind her.
It was not the same room in which he had once been inter-
rogated for improper use of magic. This one was much smaller,
though the ceiling was quite as high; it gave the claustrophobic
sense of being stuck at the bottom of a deep well.
There were more dementors in here, casting their freezing aura
over the place; they stood like faceless sentinels in the corners
farthest from the high raised platform. Here, behind a balustrade,
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
sat Umbridge, with Yaxley on one side of her, and Hermione, quite
as white-faced as Mrs. Cattermole, on the other. At the foot of the
platform, a bright-silver, long-haired cat prowled up and down, up
and down, up and down, and Harry realized that it was there to
protect the prosecutors from the despair that emanated from the
dementors: That was for the accused to feel, not the accusers.
\Sit down," said Umbridge in her soft, silky voice.
Mrs. Cattermole stumbled to the single seat in the middle of
the
oor beneath the raised platform. The moment she had sat
down, chains clinked out of the arms of the chair and bound her
there.
\You are Mary Elizabeth Cattermole?" asked Umbridge.
Mrs. Cattermole gave a single, shaky nod.
\Married to Reginald Cattermole of the Magical Maintenance
Department?"
Mrs. Cattermole burst into tears.
\I don't know where he is, he was supposed to meet me here!"
Umbridge ignored her.
\Mother to Maisie, Ellie, and Alfred Cattermole?"
Mrs. Cattermole sobbed harder than ever.
\They're frightened, they think I might not come home|"
\Spare us," spat Yaxley. \The brats of Mudbloods do not stir
our sympathies."
Mrs. Cattermole's sobs masked Harry's footsteps as he made
his way carefully toward the steps that led up to the raised plat-
form. The moment he had passed the place where the Patronus
cat patrolled, he felt the change in temperature: It was warm and
comfortable here. The Patronus, he was sure, was Umbridge's, and
it glowed brightly because she was so happy here, in her element,
upholding the twisted laws she had helped to write. Slowly, and
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Chapter 13
very carefully, he edged his way along the platform behind Um-
bridge, Yaxley, and Hermione, taking a seat behind the latter. He
was worried about making Hermione jump. He thought of casting
the Mu iato charm upon Umbridge and Yaxley, but even mur-
muring the word might cause Hermione alarm. Then Umbridge
raised her voice to address Mrs. Cattermole, and Harry seized his
chance.
\I'm behind you," he whispered into Hermione's ear.
As he had expected, she jumped so violently she nearly over-
turned the bottle of ink with which she was supposed to be record-
ing the interview, but both Umbridge and Yaxley were concentrat-
ing upon Mrs. Cattermole, and this went unnoticed.
\A wand was taken from you upon your arrival at the Ministry
today, Mrs. Cattermole," Umbridge was saying, \Eight-and-three-
quarter inches, cherry, unicorn-hair core. Do you recognize that
description?"
Mrs. Cattermole nodded, mopping her eyes on her sleeve.
\Could you please tell us from which witch or wizard you took
that wand?"
\T|took?" sobbed Mrs. Cattermole. \I didn't t-take it from
anybody. I b-bought it when I was eleven years old. It|it|it|
chose me."
She cried harder than ever.
Umbridge laughed a soft girlish laugh that made Harry want
to attack her. She leaned forward over the barrier, the better to
observe her victim, and something gold swung forward too, and
dangled over the void: the locket.
Hermione had seen it; she let out a little squeak, but Umbridge
and Yaxley, still intent upon their prey, were deaf to everything
else.
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
\No," said Umbridge, \no, I don't think so, Mrs. Cattermole.
Wands only choose witches or wizards. You are not a witch. I have
your responses to the questionnaire that was sent to you here|
Mafalda, pass them to me."
Umbridge held out a small hand: She looked so toadlike at that
moment that Harry was quite surprised not to see webs between
the stubby ngers. Hermione's hands were shaking with shock. She
fumbled in a pile of documents balanced on the chair beside her,
nally withdrawing a sheaf of parchment with Mrs. Cattermole's
name o nit.
\That's|that's pretty, Dolores," she said, pointing at the pen-
dant gleaming in the ru ed folds of Umbridge's blouse.
\What?" snapped Umbridge, glancing down. \Oh yes|an old
family heirloom," she said, patting the locket lying on her large
bosom. \The S stands for Selwyn. . . . I am related to the Sel-
wyns. . . . Indeed, there are few pure blood families to whom I am
not related. . . . A pity," she continued in a louder voice,
icking
through Mrs. Cattermole's questionnaire, \that the same cannot
be said for you. `Parents professions: greengrocers.'"
Yaxley laughed jeeringly. Below, the
u y silver cat patrolled
up and down, and the dementors stood waiting in the corners.
It was Umbridge's lie that brought the blood surging into
Harry's brain and obliterated his sense of caution|that the locket
she had taken as a bribe from a petty criminal was being used to
holster her own pure-blood credentials. He raised his wand, not
even troubling to keep it concealed beneath the Invisibility Cloak,
and said, \Stupefy!"
There was a
ash of red light; Umbridge crumpled and her
forehead hit the edge of the balustrade: Mrs. Cattermole's papers
slid o her lap onto the
oor and, down below, the prowling silver
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Chapter 13
cat vanished. Ice-cold air hit them like an oncoming wind: Yax-
ley, confused, looked around for the source of the trouble and saw
Harry's disembodied hand and wand pointing at him. He tried to
draw his own wand, but too late: \Stupefy!"
Yaxley slid to the ground to lie curled on the
ood.
\Harry!"
\Hermione, if you think I was going to sit here and let her
pretend|"
\Harry, Mrs. Cattermole!"
Harry whirled around, throwing o the Invisibility Cloak: down
below, the dementors had moved out of their corners: they were
gliding toward the woman chained to the chair: Whether because
the Patronus had vanished or because they sensed that their mas-
ters were no longer in control, they seemed to have abandoned
restraint. Mrs. Cattermole let out a terrible scream of fear as a
slimy, scabbed hand grasped her chin and forced her face back.
\EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The silver stag soared from the tip of Harry's wand and leaped
toward the dementors, which fell back and melted into the dark
shadows again. The stag's light, more powerful and more warming
than the cat's protection, led the whole dungeon as it cantered
around and around the room.
\Get the Horcrux," Harry told Hermione.
He ran back down the steps, stu ng the Invisibility Cloak back
into his bag, and approached Mrs. Cattermole.
\You?" she whispered, gazing into his face. \But|but Reg
said you were the one who submitted my name for questioning!"
\Did I?" muttered Harry, tugging at the chains binding her
arms.
\Well, I've had a change of heart. Di ndo!" Nothing hap-
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
pened. \Hermione, how do I get rid of these chains?"
\Wait, I'm trying something up here|"
\Hermione, we're surrounded by dementors!"
\I know that, Harry, but if she wakes up and the locket's
gone|I need to replicate it|Geminio! There . . . That should
fool her. . . ."
Hermione came running downstairs.
\Let's see. . . . Relashio!"
The chains clinked and withdrew into the arms of the chair.
Mrs. Cattermole looked just as frightened as before.
\I don't understand," she whispered.
\You're going to leave here with us," said Harry, pulling her to
her feet. \Go home, grab your children, and get out, get out of the
country if you've got to. Disguise yourselves and run. You've seen
how it is, you won't get anything like a fair hearing here."
\Harry," said Hermione, \how are we going to get out of here
with all those dementors outside the door?"
\Patronuses," said Harry, pointing his wand at his own: The
stag slowed and walked, still gleaming brightly, toward the door.
\As many as we can muster; do yours, Hermione."
\Expec|Expecto patronum," said Hermione. Nothing hap-
pened.
\It's the only spell she ever has trouble with," Harry told
a completely bemused Mrs.Cattermole.\Bit unfortunate,
really . . . Come on, Hermione. . . ."
\Expecto patronum!"
A silver otter burst from the end of Hermione's wand and swam
gracefully through the air to join the stag.
\C'mon," said Harry, and he led Hermione and Mrs. Catter-
mole to the door.
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Chapter 13
When the Patronuses glided out of the dungeon there were cries
of shock from the people waiting outside. Harry looked around: the
dementors were falling back on both sides of them, melding into
the darkness, scattering before the silver creatures.
\It's been decided that you should all go home and go into
hiding with your families." Harry told the waiting Muggle-borns,
who were dazzled by the light of the Patronuses and still cowering
slightly. \Go abroad if you can. Just get well away from the
Ministry. That's the|er|new o cial position. Now, if you'll just
follow the Patronuses, you'll be able to leave from the Atrium."
They managed to get up the stone steps without being inter-
cepted, but as they approached the lifts Harry started to have
misgivings. If they emerged into the Atrium with a silver stag, an
otter soaring alongside it, and twenty or so people, half of them
accused Muggleborns, he could not help feeling that they would
attract unwanted attention. He had just reached this unwelcome
conclusion when the lift clanged to a halt in front of them.
\Reg!" screamed Mrs. Cattermole, and she threw herself into
Ron's arms. \Runcorn let me out, he attacked Umbridge and Yax-
ley, and he's told all of us to leave the country, I think we'd better
do it, Reg, I really do, let's hurry home and fetch the children
and|why are you so wet?"
\Water," muttered Ron, disengaging himself. \Harry, they
know there are intruders inside the Ministry, something about a
hole in Umbridge's o ce door. I reckon we've got ve minutes of
that|"
Hermione's Patronus vanished with a pop as she turned a horror
struck face to Harry.
\Harry, if we're trapped here|!"
\We won't be if we move fast," said Harry. He addressed the
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
silent group behind them, who were all gawping at him.
\Who's got wands?"
About half of them raised their hands.
\Okay, all of you who haven't got wands need to attach yourself
to someone who has. We'll need to be fast before they stop us.
Come on."
They managed to cram themselves into two lifts. Harry's Pa-
tronus stood sentinel before the golden grilles as they shut and the
lifts began to rise.
\Level eight," said the cool witch's voice, \Atrium."
Harry knew at once that they were in trouble. The Atrium was
full of people moving from replace to replace, sealing them o .
\Harry!" squeaked Hermione. \What are we going to|?"
\STOP!" Harry thundered, and the powerful voice of Runcorn
echoed through the Atrium: The wizards sealing the replaces
froze. \Follow me," he whispered to the group of terri ed Mug-
gleborns, who moved forward in a huddle, shepherded by Ron and
Hermione.
\What's up, Albert?" said the same balding wizard who had
followed Harry out of the replace earlier. He looked nervous.
\This lot need to leave before you seal the exits," said Harry
with all the authority he could muster.
The group of wizard sin front of him looked at one another.
\We've been told to seal all exits and not let anyone|"
\Are you contradicting me?" Harry blustered. \Would you like
me to have you family tree examined, like I had Dirk Cresswell's?"
\Sorry!" gasped the balding wizard, backing away. \I didn't
mean nothing, Albert, but I thought . . . I thought they were in for
questioning and . . . "
\Their blood is pure," said Harry, and his deep voice echoed
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Chapter 13
impressively through the hall. \Purer than many of yours. I dare-
say. O you go," he boomed to the Muggle-borns, who scurried
forward into the replaces and began to vanish in pairs. The Min-
istry wizards hung back, some looking confused, others scared and
resentful. Then:
\Mary!"
Mrs. Cattermole looked over her shoulder. The real Reg Catter-
mole, no longer vomiting but pale and wan, and just come running
out of a lift.
\R{Reg?"
She looked from her husband to Ron, who swore loudly.
The balding wizard gaped, his head turning ludicrously from
one Reg Cattermole to the other.
\Hey|what's going on? What is this?"
\Seal the exit! SEAL IT!"
Yaxley had burst out of another lift and was running toward
the group beside the replaces into which all of the Muggle-borns
but Mrs. Cattermole had now vanished. As the balding wizard
lifted his wand, Harry raised an enormous st and punched him,
sending him
ying through the air.
\He's been helping Muggle-borns escape, Yaxley!"Harry
shouted.
The balding wizard's colleagues set up an uproar, under cover of
which Ron grabbed Mrs. Cattermole, pulled her into the still-open
replace, and disappeared. Confused, Yaxley looked from Harry
to the punched wizard, while the real Reg Cattermole screamed,
\My Wife! Who was that with my wife? What's going on?"
Harry saw Yaxley's head turn, saw an inkling of truth dawn in
that brutish face.
\Come on!" Harry shouted at Hermione; he seized her hand
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The Muggle-born Registration Commission
and they jumped into the replace together as Yaxley's curse sailed
over Harry's head. They spun for a few seconds before shooting
up out of a toilet into a cubicle. Harry
ung open the door: Ron
was standing there beside the sinks, still wrestling with Mrs. Cat-
termole.
\Reg, I don't understand|"
\Let go, I'm not your husband, you've got to go home!"
There was a noise in the cubicle behind them; Harry looked
around: Yaxley had just appeared.
\LET'S GO!" Harry yelled. He seized Hermione by the hand
and Ron by the arm and turned on the spot.
Darkness engulfed them, along with the sensation of compress-
ing hands, but something was wrong. . . . Hermione's hand seemed
to be sliding out of his grip. . . .
He wondered whether he was going to su ocate; he could not
breathe or see and the only solid things in the world were Ron's
arm and Hermione's ngers, which were slowly slipping away. . . .
And then he saw the door of number twelve, Grimmauld Place,
with its serpent door knocker, but before he could draw breath,
there was a scream and a
ash of purple light. Hermione's hand
was suddenly vicelike upon his hand and everything went dark
again.
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Chapter 14
The Thief
arry opened his eyes and was dazzled by gold and
green: he had no idea what had happened, he only
knew that he was lying on what seemed to be leaves
Hand twigs. Struggling to draw breath into lungs that
felt
attened, he blinked and realized that the gaudy glare was
sunlight streaming though a canopy of leaves far above him. Then
an object twitched close to his face. He pushed himself onto his
hands and knees, ready to face some small, erce creature, but saw
that the object was Ron's foot. Looking around, Harry saw that
they and Hermione were lying on a forest
oor, apparently alone.
Harry's rst thought was of the Forbidden Forrest, and for a
moment, even though eh knew how foolish and dangerous it would
be for them to appear in the grounds of Hogwarts, his heart leaped
at the thought of sneaking through the trees to Hagrid's hut. How-
ever, in the few moments it took for Ron to give a low groan and
Harry to start crawling toward him, he realized that this was not
the Forbidden Forest: The trees looked younger, they were more
widely spaced, the ground clearer.
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The Thief
He met Hermione, also on her hands and knees, at Ron's head.
The moment his eyes fell upon Ron, all other concerns
ed Harry's
mind, for blood drenched the whole of Ron's left side and his
face stood out, grayish-white, against the leaf-strewn earth. The
Polyjuice Potion was wearing o now: Ron was halfway between
Cattermole and himself in appearance, his hair turning redder and
redder as his face drained of the little color it had left.
\What's happened to him?"
\Splinched," said Hermione, her ngers already busy at Ron's
sleeve, where the blood was wettest and darkest.
Harry watched, horri ed, as she tore open Ron's shirt. He had
always thought of Splinching as something comical, but this . . . His
insides crawled unpleasantly as Hermione laid bare Ron's upper
arm, where a great chunk of
esh was missing, scooped cleanly
away as though by a knife.
\Harry, quickly, in my bag, there's a small bottle labeled
`Essence of Dittany'|"
\Bag|right|'
Harry sped tot he place where Hermione had landed, seized
the tiny beaded bag, and thrust his hand inside it. At once, object
after object began presenting itself to his touch: He felt the leather
spines of books, woolly sleeves of jumpers, heels of shoes|
\Quickly!"
\He grabbed his wand from the ground and pointed it into the
depths of the magical bag.
\Accio Dittany!"
A small brown bottle zoomed out of the bag; he caught it and
hastened back to Hermione and Ron, whose eyes were now half-
closed, strips of white eyeball all that were visible between his lids.
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Chapter 14
\He's fainted," said Hermione who was also rather pale; she no
longer looked like Mafalda, though her hair was still gray in places.
\Unstopper it for me, Harry, my hands are shaking."
Harry wrenched the stopper o the little bottle, Hermione took
it and poured three drops of the potion onto the bleeding wound.
Greenish smoke billowed upward and when it had cleared, Harry
saw that the bleeding had stopped. The wound now looked several
days old; new skin stretched over what had just been open
esh.
\Wow," said Harry.
\It's all I feel safe doing," said Hermione shakily. \There are
spells that would put him completely right, but I daren't try in
case I do them wrong and cause more damage. . . . He's lost too
much blood already. . . ."
\How did he get hurt? I mean"|Harry shook his head, trying
to clear it, to make sense of whatever had just taken place|\why
are we here? I thought were were going back to Grimmauld Place?"
Hermione took a deep breath. She looked close to tears.
\Harry, I don't think we're going to be able to go back there."
\What d'you|?"
\As we Disapparated, Yaxley caught hold of me and I couldn't
get rid of him, he was too strong, and he was still holding on when
we arrived at Grimmauld Place, and then|well, I think he must
have seen the door, and thought we were stopping there, so he
slackened his grip and I managed to shake him o and I brought
us here instead!"
\But then, where's he? Hang on. . . . You don't mean he's at
Grimmauld Place? He can't get in there?"
Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she nodded.
\Harry, I think he can. I|I forced him to let go with a Revul-
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The Thief
sion Jinx, but I'd already taken him inside the Fidelius Charm's
protection. Since Dumbledore died, we're Secret-Keepers, so I've
given him the secret, haven't I?"
There was no pretending; Harry was sure she was right. It was
a serious blow. If Yaxley could now get inside the house, there was
no way that they could return. Even now, he could be bringing
other Death Eaters in there by Apparition. Gloomy and oppressive
though the house was, it had been their one safe refuge: even, now
that Kreacher was so much happier and friendlier, a kind of home.
With a twinge of regret that had nothing to do with food, Harry
imagined the house-elf busying himself over the steak-and-kidney
pie that Harry, Ron, and Hermione would never eat.
\Harry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
\Don't be stupid, it wasn't your fault! If anything, it was
mine. . . ."
Harry put his hand in his pocket and drew out Mad-Eye's eye.
Hermione recoiled, looking horri ed.
\Umbridge had stuck it to her o ce door, to spy on people.
I couldn't leave it there . . . but that's how they knew there were
intruders."
Before Hermione could answer, Ron groaned and opened his
eyes. He was still gray and his face glistened with sweat.
\How d'you feel?" Hermione whispered.
\Lousy," croaked Ron, wincing as he felt his injured arm.
`Where are we?"
\In the woods where they held the Quidditch World Cup," said
Hermione. \I wanted somewhere enclosed, undercover, and this
was|"
\|the rst place you thought of," Harry nished for her, glanc-
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Chapter 14
ing around at the apparently deserted glade. He could not help re-
membering what had happened the last time they had Apparated
to the rst place Hermione had thought of|how Death Eaters
had found them within minutes. Had it been Legilimency? Did
Voldemort or his henchmen know, even now, where Hermione had
taken them?
\D'you reckon we should move on?" Ron asked Harry, and
Harry could tell by the look on Ron's face that he was thinking the
same.
\I dunno."
Ron still looked pale and clammy. He had made no attempt
to sit up and it looked as though he was too weak to do so. The
prospect of moving him was daunting.
\Let's stay here for now," Harry said..
Looking relieved, Hermione sprang to her feet.
\Where are we going?' asked Ron.
\If we're staying, we should put some protective enchantments
around the place," she replied, and raising her wand, she began to
walk in a wide circle around Harry and Ron, murmuring incanta-
tions as she went. Harry saw little disturbances in the surrounding
air: It was as if Hermione had cast a heat haze upon their clearing.
\Salvio Hexia . . . Protego Totalum . . . Repello Muggle-
tum . . . Mu liato . . . You could get out the tent, Harry . . . "
\Tent?"
\In the bag!"
\In the . . . of course," said Harry.
He did no bother to grope inside it this time, but used another
Summoning Charm. The tent emerged in a lumpy mass of canvas,
rope, and poles. Harry recognized it, partly because of the smell
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The Thief
of cats, as the same tent in which they had slept on the night of
the Quidditch World Cup.
\I thought this belonged to that bloke Perkins at the Ministry?"
he asked, starting to disentangle the tent pegs.
\Apparently he didn't want it back, his lumbago's so bad," said
Hermione, now performing complicated gure-of-eight movements
with her wand, \so Ron's dad said I could borrow it. Erecto!" she
added, pointing her wand at the misshapen canvas, which in one
uid motion rose into the air and settled, fully constructed, onto
the ground before Harry, out of whose started hands a tent peg
soared, to land with a nal thud at the end of a guy rope.
\Cave Imunicium," Hermione nished with a skyward
ourish.
\That's as much as I can do. At the very least, we should know
they're coming. I can't guarantee it will keep our Vol|"
\Don't say the name!" Ron cut across her, his voice harsh.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
\I'm sorry," Ron said, moaning a little as he raised himself to
look at them, \but it feels like a|a jinx or something. Can't we
call him You-Know-Who|please?"
\Dumbledore said fear of a name|" began Harry.
\In case you hadn't noticed, mate, calling You-Know-Who by
his name didn't do Dumbledore much good in the end," Ron
snapped back. \Just|just show You-Know-Who some respect,
will you?"
\Respect?" Harry repeated, but Hermione shot him a warning
look; apparently he was not to argue with Ron while the latter was
in such a weakened condition.
Harry and Hermione half carried, half dragged Ron through the
entrance of the tent. The interior was exactly as Harry remembered
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Chapter 14
it: a small
at, complete with bathroom and tiny kitchen. He
shoved aside an old armchair and lowered Ron carefully onto the
lower berth of a bunk bed. Even this very short journey had turned
Ron whiter still, and once they had settled him on the mattress he
closed his eyes again and did not speak for a while.
\I'll make some tea," said Hermione breathlessly, pulling ket-
tle and mugs from the depths of her bag and heading toward the
kitchen.
Harry found the hot drink as welcome as the rewhisky had
been on the night that Mad-Eye had died; it seemed to burn away
a little of the fear
uttering in his chest. After a minute or two,
Ron broke the silence.
\What d'you reckon happened to the Cattermoles?"
\With any luck, they'll have got away," said Hermione, clutch-
ing her hot mug for comfort. \As long as Mr. Cattermole had his
wits about him, he'll have transported Mrs. Cattermole by Side-
Along-Apparition and they'll be
eeing the country right now with
their children. That's what Harry told her to do."
\Blimey, I hope they escaped," said Ron, leaning back on his
pillows. The tea seemed to be doing him good; a little of his color
had returned. \I didn't get the feeling Reg Cattermole was all that
quick-witted, though, the way everyone was talking to me when I
was him. God, I hope they made it. . . . If they both end up in
Azkaban because of us . . . "
Harry looked over at Hermione and the question he had wanted
to ask|about whether Mrs. Cattermole's lack of a wand would
prevent her Apparating alongside her husband|died in his throat.
Hermione was watching Ron fret over the fate of the Cattermoles,
and there was such tenderness in her expression that Harry felt as
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The Thief
if he had surprised her in the act of kissing him.
\So, have you got it?" Harry asked her, partly to remind her
that he was there.
\Got|got what?" she said with a little start.
\What did we just go through all that for? The locket! Where's
the locket?"
\You got it?" shouted Ron, raising himself a little higher on
his pillow. \No one tells me anything! Blimey, you could have
mentioned it!"
\Well, we were running for our lives from the Death Eaters,
weren't we?" said Hermione. \Here."
And she pulled the locket out of the pocket of her robes and
handed it to Ron.
It was as large as a chicken's egg. An ornate letter S, inlaid
with many small green stones, glinted dully in the di used light
shining through the tent's canvas roof.
\There isn't any chance someone's destroyed it since Kreacher
had it?" asked Ron hopefully. \I mean, are we sure it's still a
Horcrux?"
\I think so," said Hermione, taking it back from him and looking
at it closely. \There'd be some sign of damage if it had been
magically destroyed."
She passed it to Harry, who turned it over in his ngers. The
thing looked perfect, pristine. He remembered the mangled re-
mains of the diary, and how the stone in the Horcrux ring had
been cracked open when Dumbledore destroyed it.
\I reckon Kreacher's right," said Harry. \We're going to have
to work out how to open this thing before we can destroy it."
Sudden awareness of what he was holding, of what lived behind
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Chapter 14
the little golden doors, hit Harry as he spoke. Even after all their
e orts to nd it, he felt a violent urge to
ing the locket from him.
Mastering himself again, he tried to prise the locket apart with
his ngers, then attempted the charm Hermione had used to open
Regulus's bedroom door. Neither worked. He handed the locket
back to Ron and Hermione, each of whom did their best, but were
no more successful at opening it than he had been.
\Can you feel it, though?" Ron asked in a hushed voice, as he
held it tight in his clenched st.
\What d'you mean?"
Ron passed the Horcrux to Harry. After a moment or two,
Harry thought he knew what Ron meant. Was it his own blood
pulsing through his veins that he could feel, or was it something
beating inside the locket, like a tiny metal heart?
\What are we going to do with it?" Hermione asked.
\Keep it safe till we work out how to destroy it." Harry replied,
and, little though he wanted to, he hung the chain around his own
neck, dropping the locket out of sight beneath his robes, where it
rested against his chest beside the pouch Hagrid had given him.
\I think we should take it in turns to keep watch outside the
tent," he added to Hermione, standing up and stretching. \And
we'll need to think about some food as well. You stay there," he
added sharply, as Ron attempted to sit up and turned a nasty
shade of green.
With the Sneakoscope Hermione had given Harry for his birth-
day set carefully upon the table in the tent, Harry and Hermione
spent the rest of the day sharing the role of lookout. However,
the Sneakoscope remained silent and still upon its point all day,
and whether because of the protective enchantments and Muggle-
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The Thief
repelling charms Hermione had spread around them, or because
people rarely ventured this way, their patch of wood remained de-
serted, apart from occasional birds and squirrels. Evening brought
no change; Harry lit his wand as he swapped places with Hermione
at ten o'clock, and looked out upon a deserted scene, noting the
bats
uttering high above him across the single patch of starry sky
visible from their protected clearing.
He felt hungry now, and a little light-headed. Hermione had
not packed any food in her magical bag, as she had assumed that
they would be returning to Grimmauld Place that night, so they
had had nothing to eat except some wild mushrooms that Her-
mione had collected from amongst the nearest trees and stewed in
a billycan. After a couple of mouthfuls Ron had pushed his portion
away, looking queasy: Harry had only persevered so as not to hurt
Hermione's feelings.
The surrounding silence was broken by odd rustlings and what
sounded like crackings of twigs: Harry thought that they were
caused by animals rather than people, yet he kept his wand held
tight at the ready. His insides, already uncomfortable due to their
inadequate helping of rubbery mushrooms, tingled with unease.
He had thought that he would feel elated if they managed to
steal back the Horcrux, but somehow he did not; all he felt as he
sat looking out at the darkness, of which his wand lit only a tiny
part, was worry about what would happen next. It was as though
he had been hurtling toward this point for weeks, months, maybe
even years, but now he had come to an abrupt half, run out of
road.
There were other Horcruxes out there somewhere, but he did
not have the faintest idea where they could be. He did not even
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Chapter 14
know what all of them were. Meanwhile he was at a loss to know
how to destroy the only one that they had found, the Horcrux that
currently lay against the bare
esh of his chest. Curiously, it had
not taken heat from his body, but lay so cold against his skin it
might just have emerged from icy water. From time to time Harry
thought, or perhaps imagined, that he could feel the tiny heartbeat
ticking irregularly alongside his own.
Nameless forebodings crept upon him as he sat there in the
dark. He tried to resist them, push them away, yet they came at
him, relentlessly, Neither can live while the other survives. Ron and
Hermione, now talking softly behind him in the tent, could walk
away if they wanted to: He could not. And it seemed to Harry
as he sat there trying to master his own fear and exhaustion, that
the Horcrux against his chest was ticking away the time he had
left. . . . Stupid idea, he told himself, don't think that. . . .
His scar was starting to prickle again. He was afraid he was
making it happen by having these thoughts, and tried to direct
them into another channel. He thought of poor Kreacher, who had
expected them home and had received Yaxley instead. Would the
elf keep silent or would he tell the Death Eater everything he knew?
Harry wanted to believe that Kreacher had changed toward him in
the past month, that he would be loyal now, but who knew what
would happen? What if the Death Eaters tortured the elf? Sick
images swarmed into Harry's head and he tried to push these away
too, for these was nothing he could do for Kreacher. He and Her-
mione had already decided against trying to summon him; what
if someone from the Ministry came too? They could not count on
el sh Apparition from being free of the same
aw that had taken
Yaxley to Grimmauld Place on the hem of Hermione's sleeve.
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The Thief
Harry's scar was burning now. He thought that there was
so much they did not know: Lupin had been right about magic
they had never encountered or imagined. Why hadn't Dumble-
dore explained more? Had he thought that there would be time;
that he would live for years, for centuries, perhaps, like his friend
Nicolas Flamel? If so, he had been wrong. . . . Snape had seen to
that. . . . Snape, the sleeping snake, who had struck at the top of
the tower . . .
And Dumbledore had fallen . . . fallen . . .
\Give it to me, Gregorovitch."
Harry's voice was high, clear, and cold, his wand held in front
of him by a long- ngered white hand. The man at whom he was
pointing was suspended upside down in midair, though there were
no ropes holding him; he swung there, invisibly and eerily bound,
his limbs wrapped about him, his terri ed face, on a level with
Harry's, ruddy due to the blood that had rushed to his head. He
had pure-white hair and a thick, bushy beard: a trussed-up Father
Christmas.
\I have it not, I have it no more! It was, many years ago, stolen
from me!"
\Do not lie to Lord Voldemort, Gregorovitch. He knows. . . . He
always knows."
The hanging man's pupils were wide, dilated with fear, and they
seemed to swell, bigger and bigger until their blackness swallowed
Harry whole|
And now Harry was hurrying along a dark corridor in stout
little Gregorovitch's wake as he held a lantern aloft: Gregorovitch
burst into the room at the end of the passage and his lantern
illuminated what looked like a workshop; wood shavings and gold
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Chapter 14
gleamed in the swinging pool of light, and there on the window
ledge sat perched, like a giant bird, a young man with golden hair.
In the split second that the lantern's light illuminated him, Harry
saw the delight upon his handsome face, then the intruder shot a
Stunning Spell from his wand and jumped neatly backwards out
of the window with a crow of laughter.
And Harry was hurtling back out of those wide, tunnel-like
pupils and Gregorovitch's face was stricken with terror.
\Who was the thief, Gregorovitch?" said the high cold voice.
\I do not know, I never know, a young man|no|please|
PLEASE!"
A scream that went on and on and then a burst of green light|
\Harry!"
He opened his eyes, panting, his forehead throbbing. He had
passed out against the side of the tent, had slid sideways down
the canvas, and was sprawled on the ground. He looked up at
Hermione, whose bushy hair obscured the tiny patch of sky visible
through the dark branches high above them.
\Dream," he said, sitting up quickly and attempting to meet
Hermione's glower with a look of innocence. \Must've dozed o ,
sorry."
\I know it was your scar! I can tell by the look on your face!
You were looking into Vol|"
\Don't say his name!" came Ron's angry voice from the depths
of the tent.
\Fine," retorted Hermione. \You-Know-Who's mind, then!"
\I didn't mean it to happen!" Harry said. \It was a dream!
Can you control what you dream about, Hermione?"
\If you just learned to apply Occlumency.
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The Thief
But Harry was not interested in being told o ; he wanted to
discuss what he had just seen.
\He's found Gregorovitch, Hermione, and I think he's killed
him, but before he killed him he read Gregorovitch's mind and I
saw|"
\I think I'd better take over the watch if you're so tired you're
falling asleep," said Hermione coldly.
\I can nish the watch!"
\No, you're obviously exhausted. Go and lie down."
She dropped down in the mouth of the tent, looking stubborn.
Angry, but wishing to avoid a row, Harry ducked back inside.
Ron's still-pale face was poking out from the lower bunk; Harry
climbed into the one above him, lay down, and looked up at the
dark canvas ceiling. After several minutes, Ron spoke in a voice so
low that it would not carry to Hermione, huddled in the entrance.
\What's You-Know-Who doing?"
Harry screwed up his eyes in the e ort to remember every detail,
then whispered into the darkness.
\He found Gregorovitch. He had him tied up, he was torturing
him."
\How's Gregorovitch supposed to make him a new wand if he's
tied up?"
\I dunno. . . . It's weird, isn't it?"
Harry closed his eyes, thinking of all he had seen and heard.
The more he recalled, the less sense it made. . . . Voldemort had said
nothing about Harry's wand, nothing about the twin cores, nothing
about Gregorovitch making a new and more powerful wand to beat
Harry's. . . .
\He wanted something from Gregorovitch," Harry said, eyes
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Chapter 14
still closed tight. \He asked him to hand it over, but Gregorovitch
said it had been stolen from him . . . and then . . . then . . . "
He remembered how he, as Voldemort, had seemed to hustle
through Gregorovitch's eyes, into his memories. . . .
\He read Gregorovitch's mind, and I saw this young bloke
perched on a windowsill, and he red a curse at Gregorovitch and
jumped out of sight. He stole it, he stole whatever You-Know-
Who's after. And I . . . I think I've seen him somewhere. . . ."
Harry wished he could have another glimpse of the laughing
boy's face. The theft had happened many years ago, according to
Gregorovitch. Why did the young thief look so familiar?
The noises of the surrounding woods were mu ed inside the
tent; all Harry could hear was Ron's breathing. After a while, Ron
whispered, \Couldn't you see what the thief was holding?"
\No . . . it must've been something small."
\Harry?"
The wooden slats of Ron's bunk creaked as he repositioned him-
self in bed.
\Harry, you don't reckon You-Know-Who's after something else
to turn into a Horcrux?"
\I don't know," said Harry slowly, \Maybe. But wouldn't it be
dangerous for him to make another one? Didn't Hermione say he
had pushed his soul to the limit already?"
\Yeah, but maybe he doesn't know that."
\Yeah . . . maybe," said Harry.
He had been sure that Voldemort had been looking for a way
around the problem of the twin cores, sure that Voldemort sought
a solution from the old wandmaker . . . and yet he had killed him,
apparently without asking him a single question about wandlore.
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The Thief
What was Voldemort trying to nd? Why, with the Ministry of
Magic and the Wizarding world at his feet, was he far away, intent
on the pursuit of an object that Gregorovitch had once owned, and
which had been stolen by the unknown thief?
Harry could still see the blond-haired youth's face; it was merry,
it was wild; there was a Fred and George-ish air of triumphant
trickery about him. He had soared from the windowsill like a bird,
and Harry had seen him before, but he could not think where. . . .
With Gregorovitch dead, it was the merry-faced thief who was
in danger now, and it was on him that Harry's thoughts dwelled,
as Ron's snores began to rumble from the lower bunk and as he
himself drifted slowly into sleep once more.
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Chapter 15
The Goblin's Revenge
arly next morning, before the other two were awake,
Harry left the tent to search the woods around them
for the oldest, most gnarled, and resilient|looking tree
Ehe could nd. There in its shadow he buried Mad-Eye
Moody's eye and marked the spot by gouging a small cross in the
bark with his wand. It was not much, but Harry felt that Mad-
Eye would have much preferred this to being stuck on Dolores
Umbridge's door. Then he returned to the tent to wait for the
others to wake, and discuss what they were going to do next.
Harry and Hermione felt that it was best not to stay anywhere
too long, and Ron agreed, with the sole proviso that their next
move took them within reach of a bacon sandwich. Hermione
therefore removed the enchantments she had placed around the
clearing, while Harry and Ron obliterated all the marks and im-
pressions on the ground that might show that they had camped
there. Then they Disapparated to the outskirts of a small market
town.
Once they had pitched the tent in the shelter of a small copse of
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The Goblin's Revenge
trees and surrounded it with freshly cast defensive enchantments,
Harry ventured out under the Invisibility Cloak to nd sustenance.
This, however, did not go as planned. He had barely entered the
town when an unnatural chill, a descending mist, and a sudden
darkening of the skies made him freeze where he stood.
\But you can make a brilliant Patronus!" protested Ron, when
Harry arrived back at the tent empty-handed, out of breath, and
mouthing the single word, dementors.
\I couldn't . . . make one," he panted, clutching the stitch in his
side. \Wouldn't come."
Their expressions of consternation and disappointment made
Harry feel ashamed. It had been a nightmarish experience, seeing
the dementors gliding out of the mist in the distance and realizing,
as the paralyzing cold choked his lungs and a distant screaming
lled his ears, that he was not going to be able to protect himself.
It had taken all Harry's will power to uproot himself from the
spot and run, leaving the eyeless dementors to glide amongst the
Muggles who might not be able to see them, but would assuredly
feel the despair they cast wherever they went.
\So we still haven't got any food."
\Shut up, Ron," snapped Hermione. \Harry, what happened?
Why do you think you couldn't make your Patronus? You managed
perfectly yesterday "
\I don't know."
He sat low in one of Perkins's old armchairs, feeling more hu-
miliated by the moment. He was afraid that something had gone
wrong inside him. Yesterday seemed a long time ago. Today he
might have been thirteen years old again, the only one who col-
lapsed on the Hogwarts Express.
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Chapter 15
Ron kicked a chair leg.
\What?" he snarled at Hermione. \I'm starving! All I've had
since I bled half to death is a couple of toadstools!"
\You go and ght your way through the dementors, then," said
Harry, stung.
\I would, but my arm's in a sling, in case you hadn't noticed!"
\That's convenient."
\And what's that supposed to|?"
\Of course!" cried Hermione, clapping a hand to her forehead
and startling both of them into silence. \Harry, give me the locket!
Come on," she said impatiently, clicking her ngers at him, when
he did not react, \the Horcrux, Harry, you're still wearing it!"
She held out her hands, and Harry lifted the golden chain over
his head. The moment it parted contact with Harry's skin he felt
free and oddly light. He had not even realized that he was clammy
or that there was a heavy weight pressing on his stomach until
both sensations lifted.
\Better?" asked Hermione.
\Yeah, loads better!"
\Harry," she said, crouching down in front of him and using the
kind of voice he associated with visiting the very sick, \you don't
think you've been possessed, do you?"
\What? No!" he said defensively. \I remember everything
we've done while I've been wearing it. I wouldn't know what I'd
done if I'd been possessed, would I? Ginny told me there were times
when she couldn't remember anything.'
\Hmm," said Hermione, looking down at the heavy gold locket.
\Well, maybe we ought not to wear it. We can just keep it at
the tent."
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The Goblin's Revenge
\We are not leaving that Horcrux lying around," Harry stated
rmly. \If we lose it, if it gets stolen|"
\Oh, all right, all right," said Hermione, and she placed it
around her own neck and tucked it out of sight down the front
of her shirt. \But we'll take turns wearing it, so nobody keeps it
on for too long."
\Great," said Ron irritably, \and now we've sorted that out,
can we please get some food?"
\Fine, but we'll go somewhere else to nd it," said Hermione
with half a glance at Harry. \There's no point staying where we
know dementors are swooping around."
In the end they settled down for the night in a far
ung eld
belonging to a lonely farm, from which they had managed to obtain
eggs and bread.
\It's not stealing, is it?" asked Hermione in a troubled voice, as
they devoured scrambled eggs on toast. \Not if I left some money
under the chicken coop?"
Ron rolled his eyes and said, with his cheeks bulging, \'Er|
my|nee, 'oo worry 'oo much. `Elax!"
And, indeed, it was much easier to relax when they were com-
fortably well fed. The argument about the dementors was forgotten
in the laughter that night, and Harry felt cheerful, even hopeful as
he took the rst of the three night watches.
This was their rst encounter with the fact that a full stomach
meant good spirits; an empty one, bickering and gloom. Harry
was least surprised by this, because he had su ered periods of near
starvation at the Dursleys. Hermione bore up reasonably well on
those nights when they managed to scavenge nothing but berries
or stale biscuits, her temper perhaps a little shorter than usual
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Chapter 15
and her silences rather dour. Ron, however, had always been used
to three delicious meals a day, courtesy of his mother or of the
Hogwarts house-elves, and hunger made him both unreasonable
and irascible. Whenever lack of food coincided with Ron's turn to
wear the Horcrux, he became downright unpleasant.
\So where next?" was his constant refrain. He did not seem
to have any ideas himself, but expected Harry and Hermione to
come up with plans while he sat and brooded over the low food
supplies. Accordingly Harry and Hermione spent fruitless hours
trying to decide where they might nd the other Horcruxes, and
how to destroy the one they had already got, their conversations
becoming increasingly repetitive as they had no new information.
As Dumbledore had told Harry that he believed Voldemort had
hidden the Horcruxes in places important to him, they kept tech-
ing, in a sort of dreary litany, those locations they knew that Volde-
mort had lived or visited. The orphanage where he had been born
and raised; Hogwarts, where he had been educated; Borgin and
Burkes, where he had worked after completing school; then Alba-
nia, where he had spent his years of exile: These formed the basis
of their speculations.
\Yeah, let's go to Albania. Shouldn't take more than an after-
noon to search an entire country," said Ron sarcastically.
\There can't be anything there. He'd already made ve of his
Horcruxes before he went into exile, and Dumbledore was certain
the snake is the sixth," said Hermione. \We know the snake's not
in Albania, it's usually with Vol|"
\Didn't I ask you to stop saying that?"
\Fine! The snake is usually with You-Know-Who |happy?"
\Not particularly."
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The Goblin's Revenge
\I can't see him hiding anything at Borgin and Burkes," said
Harry, who made this point many times before, but said it again
simply to break the nasty silence. \Borgin and Burke were experts
at Dark objects, they would've recognized a Horcrux straightaway."
Ron yawned pointedly. Repressing a strong urge to throw some-
thing at him, Harry plowed on, \I still reckon he might have hidden
something at Hogwarts."
Hermione sighed.
\But Dumbledore would have found it, Harry!"
Harry repeated the argument he kept bringing out in favor of
this theory.
\Dumbledore said in front of me that he never assumed he knew
all of Hogwarts's secrets. I'm telling you, if there was one place
Vol|"
\Oi!"
\YOU-KNOW-WHO, then!" Harry shouted, goaded past en-
durance. \If there was one place that was really important to
You-Know-Who, it was Hogwarts!"
\Oh, come on," sco ed Ron. \His school?"
\Yeah, his school! It was his rst real home, the place that
meant he was special: it meant everything to him, and even after
he left|" inquired Ron. He was tugging at the chain of the Hor-
crux around his neck: Harry was visited by a desire to seize it and
throttle him.
\You told us that You-Know-Who asked Dumbledore to give
him a job after he left," said Hermione.
\That's right," said Harry.
\And Dumbledore thought he only wanted to come back to try
and nd something, probably another founder's object, to make
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Chapter 15
into another Horcrux?"
\Yeah," said Harry.
\But he didn't get the job, did he?" said Hermione. \So he
never got the chance to nd a founder's object there and hide it in
the school!"
\Okay, then," said Harry, defeated. \Forget Hogwarts."
Without any other leads, they traveled into London and, hidden
beneath the Invisibility Cloak, searched for the orphanage in which
Voldemort had been raised. Hermione stole into a library and
discovered from their records that the place had been demolished
many years before. They visited its site and found a tower block
of o ces.
\We could try digging in the foundations?" Hermione suggested
halfheartedly.
\He wouldn't have hidden a Horcrux here," Harry said. He had
known all along: The orphanage had been the place Voldemort had
been determined to escape; he would never have hidden a part of his
soul there. Dumbledore had shown Harry that Voldemort sought
grandeur or mystique in his hiding places; this dismal gray corner
of London was as far removed as you could imagine from Hogwarts
or the Ministry or a building like Gringotts, the Wizarding bank,
with its golden doors and marble
oors.
Even without any new ideas, they continued to move through
the countryside, pitching the tent in a di erent place each night
for security. Every morning they made sure that they had re-
moved all clues to their presence, then set o to nd another lonely
and secluded spot, traveling by Apparition to more woods, to the
shadowy crevices of cli s, to purple moors, gorse-covered moun-
tainsides, and once a sheltered a pebbly cove. Every twelve hours
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The Goblin's Revenge
or so they passed the Horcrux between them as though they were
playing some perverse, slow-motion game of pass-the-parcel, where
they dreaded the music stopping because the reward was twelve
hours of increased fear and anxiety.
Harry's scar kept prickling. It happened most often, he noticed,
when he was wearing the Hocrux. Sometimes he could not stop
himself reacting to the pain.
\What? What did you see?" demanded Ron, whenever he
noticed Harry wince.
\A face," muttered Harry, every time. \The same face. The
thief who stole from Gregorovitch."
And Ron would turn away, making no e ort to hide his dis-
appointment. Harry knew that Ron was hoping to hear news of
his family or of the rest of the Order of the Phoenix, but after
all, he, Harry, was not a television aerial; he could only see what
Voldemort was thinking at the time, not tune in to whatever took
his fancy. Apparently Voldemort was dwelling endlessly on the un-
known youth with the gleeful face, whose name and whereabouts,
Harry felt sure, Voldemort knew no better than he did. As Harry's
scar continued to burn and the merry, blond-haired by swam tan-
talizingly in his memory, he learned to suppress any sign of pain
or discomfort, for the other two showed nothing but impatience at
the mention of the thief. He could not entirely blame them, when
they were so desperate for a lead on the Horcruxes.
As the days stretched into weeks, Harry began to suspect that
Ron and Hermione were having conversations without, and about,
him. Several times they stopped talking abruptly when Harry en-
tered the tent, and twice he came accidentally upon them, huddled
a little distance away, heads together and talking fast; both times
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Chapter 15
they fell silent when they realized he was approaching them and
hastened to appear busy collecting wood or water.
Harry could not help wondering whether they had only agreed
to come on what now felt like a pointless and rambling journey
because they thought he had some secret plan that they would learn
in due course. Ron was making no e ort to hide his bad mood,
and Harry was starting to fear that Hermione too was disappointed
by his poor leadership. In desperation he tried to think of further
Horcrux locations, but the only one that continued to occur to him
was Hogwarts, and as neither of the other thought this at all likely,
he stopped suggesting it.
Autumn rolled over the countryside as they moved through it.
They were now pitching the tent on mulches of fallen leaves. Natu-
ral mists joined those cast by the dementors: wind and rain added
to their troubles. The fact that Hermione was getting better at
identifying edible fungi could not altogether compensate for their
continuing isolation, the lack of other people's company, or their
total ignorance of what was going on in the war against Voldemort.
\My mother," said Ron one night, as they sat in the tent on a
riverbank in Wales, \can make good fear appear out of thin air."
He prodded moodily at the lumps of charred gray sh on his
plate. Harry glanced automatically at Ron's neck and saw, as
he had expected, the golden chain of the Horcrux glinting there.
He managed to ght down the impulse to swear at Ron, whose
attitude, he knew, improve slightly when the time came to take o
the locket.
\Your mother can't produce food out of thin air," said Her-
mione. \No one can. Food is one of the rst of ve Principal
Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Trans gur|'
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The Goblin's Revenge
\Oh, speak English, can't you?" Ron said, prising a sh bone
out from between his teeth.
\It's impossible to make good food out of nothing! You can
Summon it if you know where it is, you can transform it, you can
increase the quantity if you've already got some|"
\Well, don't bother increasing this, it's disgusting," said Ron.
\Harry caught the sh and I did my best with it! I notice I'm
always the one who ends up sorting out the food, because I'm a
girl, I suppose!"
\No, it's because you're supposed to be the best at magic!" shot
back Ron.
Hermione jumped up and bits of roast pike slid o her tin plate
onto the
oor.
\You can do the cooking tomorrow, Ron, you can nd the ingre-
dients and try and charm them into something worth eating, and
I'll sit here and pull faces and moan and you can see how you|"
\Shut up!" said Harry, leaping to his feet and holding up both
hands. \Shut up now!"
Hermione looked outraged.
\How can you side with him, he hardly ever does the cook|"
\Hermione, be quiet, I can hear someone!"
He was listening hard, his hands still raised, warning them not
to talk. Then, over the rush and gush of the dark river beside them,
he heard voices again. He looked around at the Sneakoscope. It
was not moving.
\You cast the Mu iato charm over us, right?" he whispered to
Hermione.
\I did everything," she whispered back, \Mu iato, Muggle-
Repelling and Disillusionment Charms, all of it. They shouldn't
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be able to hear or see us, whoever they are."
Heavy scu ing and scraping noises, plus the sound of dislodged
stones and twigs told them that several people were clambering
down the steep, wooded slope that descended to the narrow bank
where they had pitched the tent. They drew their wands, waiting.
The enchantments they had cast around themselves ought to be
su cient, ion the near total darkness, to shield them from the
notice of Muggles and normal witches and wizards. If these were
Death Eaters, then perhaps their defenses were about to be tested
by Dark Magic for the rst time.
The voices became louder but no more intelligible as the group
of men reached the bank. Harry estimated that their owners were
fewer than twenty feet away, but the cascading river made it im-
possible to tell for sure. Hermione snatched up the beaded bag
and started to rummage; after a moment she drew out three Ex-
tendable Ears and threw one each to Harry and Ron, who hastily
inserted the ends of the
esh-colored strings into their ears and fed
the other ends out of the tent entrance.
Within second Harry heard a weary male voice.
\There ought to be a few salmon in here, or d'you reckon it's
too early in the season? Accio Salmon!"
There were several distinct splashes and then the slapping
sounds of sh against
esh. Somebody grunted appreciatively,
Harry pressed the Extendable Ear deeper into his own: Over the
murmur of the river he could make out more voices, bu they were
not speaking English or any human language he had ever heard. It
was a rough and unmelodious tongue, a string of rattling, guttural
noises, and there seemed to be two speakers, one with a slightly
lower, slower voice than the other.
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A re danced into life on the other side of the canvas; large
shadows passed between tent and
ames. The delicious smell of
baking salmon wafted tantalizingly in their direction. Then came
the clinking of cutlery on plates, and the rst man spoke again.
\Here, Griphook, Gornuk."
Goblins! Hermione mouthed at Harry, who nodded.
\Thank you," said the goblins together in English.
\So, you three been on the run how long?" asked a new, mellow,
and pleasant voice; it was vaguely familiar to Harry, who pictured
a round-bellied, cheerful-faced man.
\Six weeks . . . seven . . . I forget," said the tired man. \Met up
with Griphook in the rst couple of days and joined forces with
Gornuk not long after. Nice to have a bit of company." There
was a pause, while knives scraped plates and tin mugs were picked
up and replaced on the ground. \What made you leave, Ted?"
continued the man.
\Knew they were coming for me," replied mellow-voiced Ted,
and Harry suddenly knew who he was: Tonks's father. \Heard
Death Eaters were in the area last week and decided I'd better run
for it. Refused to register as a Muggle-born on principle, see, so I
knew it was a matter of time, knew I'd have to leave in the end.
My wife should be okay, she's pure-blood. And then I meant Dean
where, what, a few days ago, son?"
\Yeah," said another voice, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione
stared at each other, silent but beside themselves with excite-
ment, sure they recognized the voice of Dean Thomas, their fellow
Gry ndor.
\Muggle-born, eh?" asked the rst man.
\Not sure," said Dean. \My dad left my mum when I was a
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kid. I've got no proof he was a wizard, though."
There was silence for a while, except for the sounds of munching;
then Ted spoke again.
I've got to say, Dirk, I'm surprised to run into you. Pleased,
but surprised. Word was you'd been caught."
\I was," said Dirk. \I was halfway to Azkaban when I made a
break for it. Stunned Dawlish, and nicked his broom. It was easier
than you'd think; I don't think he's quite at the moment. Might
be Confunded. If so, I'd like to shake the hand of the witch or
wizard who did it, probably saved my life."
There was another pause in which the re crackled and the river
rushed on. Then Ted said, \And where do you two t in? I, er,
had the impression the goblins were for You-Know-Who, on the
whole."
\You had a false impression," said the higher voiced of the gob-
lins. \We take no sides. This is a wizards' war."
\How come you're in hiding, then?"
`I deemed it prudent," said the deeper-voiced goblin. \Having
refused what I considered an impertinent request, I could see that
my personal safety was in jeopardy."
\What did they ask you to do?" asked Ted.
\Duties ill-be tting the dignity of my race," replied the gob-
lin, his voice rougher and less human as he said it. \I am not a
house-elf."
\What about you, Griphook?"
\Similar reasons," said the higher voiced goblin. \Gringotts
is no longer under the sole control of my race. I recognize no
Wizarding master."
He added something under his breath in Gobbledegook, and
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Gornuk laughed.
\What's the joke?" asked Dean.
\He said," replied Dirk, \that there are things wizards don't
recognize, either."
There was a short pause.
\I don't get it," said Dean.
\I had my small revenge before I left," said Griphook in English.
\Good man|goblin, I should say," amended Ted hastily.
\Didn't manage to lock a Death Eater up in one of the old high-
security vaults, I suppose?"
\If I had, the sword would not have helped him break out,"
replied Griphook. Gornuk laughed again and even Dirk gave a dry
chuckle.
\Dean and I are still missing something here," said Ted.
\So is Severus Snape, though he does not know it," said Grip-
hook, and the two goblins roared with malicious laughter. Inside
the tent Harry's breathing was shallow with excitement: He and
Hermione stared at each other, listening as hard as they could.
\Didn't you hear about that, Ted?" asked Dirk. \About the
kid who tried to steal Gry ndor's sword out of Snape's o ce at
Hogwarts?"
And electric current seemed to curse through Harry, jangling
his every nerve as he stood rooted to the spot.
\Never heard a word," said Ted. \Not in the Prophet, was it?"
\Hardly," chortled dirk. \Griphook here told me, he heard
about it from Bill Weasley who works for the bank. One of the
kids who tried to take the sword was Bill's younger sister."
Harry glanced toward Hermione and Ron, both of whom were
clutching the Extendable Ears as tightly as lifelines.
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\She and a couple of friends got into Snape's o ce and smashed
open the glass case where he was apparently keeping the sword.
Snape caught them as they were trying to smuggle it down the
staircase."
\Ah, God bless 'em," said Ted. \What did they think, that
they'd be able to use the sword on You-Know-Who? Or on Snape
himself?"
\Well, whatever they thought they were going to do with it,
Snape decided the sword wasn't safe where it was," said Dirk.
\Couple of days later, once he'd got the say-so from You-Know-
Who, I imagine, he sent it down to London to be kept in Gringotts
instead."
The goblins started to laugh again.
\I'm still not seeing the joke," said Ted.
\It's a fake," rasped Griphook.
\The sword of Gry ndor!"
\Oh yes. It is a copy|an excellent copy, it is true-but it was
Wizard-made. The original was forged centuries ago by goblins and
had certain properties only goblin-made armor possesses. Wher-
ever the genuine sword of Gry ndor is, it is not in a vault at
Gringotts bank."
\I see," said Ted. \And I take it you didn't bother telling the
Death Eaters this?"
\I saw no reason to trouble them with the information," said
Griphook smugly, and now Ted and Dean joined in Gornuk and
Dirk's laughter.
Inside the tent, Harry closed his eyes, willing someone to ask
the question he needed answered, and after a minute that seemed
ten, Dean obliged: he was (Harry remembered with a jolt) an ex-
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boyfriend of Ginny's too.
\What happened to Ginny and the others? The ones who tried
to steal it?"
\Oh, they were punished, and cruelly," said Griphook indi er-
ently.
\They're okay, though?" asked Ted quickly. \I mean, the
Weasley don't need any more of their kids injured, do they?"
\They su ered no serious injury, as far as I am aware," said
Griphook.
\Lucky for them," said Ted. \With Snape's track record I sup-
pose we should just be glad they're still alive."
\You believe that story, then, do you, Ted?" asked Dirk. \You
believe Snape killed Dumbledore?"
\Course I do," said Ted. \You're not going to sit there and tell
me you think Potter had anything to do with it?"
\Hard to know what to believe these days," muttered Dirk.
\I know Harry Potter," said Dean. \And I reckon he's the real
thing|The Chosen One, or whatever you want to call it."
\Yeah, there's a lot would like to believe he's that, son," said
Dirk, me included. But where is he? Run for it, by the looks of
things. You'd think if he knew anything we don't, or had anything
special going for him, he'd be out there now ghting, rallying re-
sistance, instead of hiding. And you know, the Prophet made a
pretty good case against him|"
\The Prophet?" sco ed Ted. \You deserved to be lied to if
you're still reading that muck, Dirk. You want the facts, try the
Quibbler."
There was a sudden explosion of choking and retching, plus a
good deal of thumping; by the sound of it, Dirk had swallowed a
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sh bone. At last he spluttered, \The Quibbler? That lunatic rag
of Xeno Lovegood's?"
\It's not so lunatic these days," said Ted. \You want to give it
a look. Xeno is printing all the stu the Prophet's ignoring, not
a single mention of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks in the last issue.
How long they'll let you get away with it, mind, I don't know.
But Xeno says, front page of every issue, that any wizard who's
against You-Know-Who ought to make helping Harry Potter their
number-one priority."
\Hard to help a boy who's vanished o the face of the earth,"
said Dirk.
\Listen, the fact that they haven't caught him yet's one hell
of an achievement," said Ted. \I'd take tip from him gladly; It's
what we're trying to do, stay free, isn't it?"
\Yeah, well, you've got a point there," said Dirk heavily. \With
the whole of the Ministry and all their informers looking for him I'd
have expected him to be caught by now. Mind, who's to say they
haven't already caught and killed him without publicizing it?"
\Ah, don't say that, Dirk," murmured Ted.
There was a long pause lled with more clattering of knives and
forks. When they spoke again it was to discuss whether they ought
to sleep on the bank or retreat back up the wooded slope. Deciding
the trees would give better cover, they extinguished their re, then
clambered back up the incline, their voices fading away.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione reeled in the Extendable Ears.
Harry, who had found the need to remain silent increasingly dif-
cult the longer they eavesdropped, now found himself unable to
say more than, \Ginny|the sword|"
\I know!" said Hermione.
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She lunged for the tiny beaded bag, this time sinking her arm
in it right up to the armpit.
\Here . . . we . . . are . . . " she said between gritted teeth, and
she pulled at something that was evidently in the depths of the bag.
Slowly the edge of an ornate picture frame came into sight. Harry
hurried to help her. As they lifted the empty portrait of Phineas
Nigellus free of Hermione's bag, she kept her wand pointing at it,
ready to cast a spell at any moment.
\If somebody swapped the real sword for the fake while it was
in Dumbledore's o ce," she panted, as they propped the painting
against the side of the tent, \Phineas Nigellus would have seen it
happen, he hangs right beside the case!"
\Unless he was asleep," said Harry, but he still held his breath
as Hermione knelt down in the front of the empty canvas, her wand
directed at its center, cleared her throat, then said:
\Er|Phineas? Phineas Nigellus?"
Nothing happened.
\Phineas Nigellus?" said Hermione again. \Professor Black?
Please could we talk to you? Please?"
\`Please' always helps," said a cold, snide voice, and Phineas
Nigellus slid into his portrait. At once, Hermione cried:
\Obscura!"
A black blindfold appeared over Phineas Nigellus's clever, dark
eyes, causing him to bump into the frame and shriek with pain.
\What|how dare|what are you|?"
\I'm very sorry, Professor Black," said Hermione, \but it's a
necessary precaution!"
\Remove this foul addition at once! Remove it, I say! You are
ruining a great work of art! Where am I? What is going on?"
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\Never mind where we are," said Harry, and Phineas Nigellus
froze, abandoning his attempts to peel o the painted blindfold.
\Can that possibly be the voice of the elusive Mr. Potter?"
\Maybe," said Harry, knowing that this would keep Phineas
Nigellus's interest. \We've got a couple of questions to ask you|
about the sword of Gry ndor."
\Ah," said Phineas Nigellus, now turning his head this way and
that in an e ort to catch sight of Harry, \yes. That silly girl acted
most unwisely there|"
\Shut up about my sister," said Ron roughly. Phineas Nigellus
raised supercilious eyebrows.
\Who else is here?" he asked, turning his head from side to side.
\Your tone displeases me! The girl and her friends were foolhardy
in the extreme. Thieving from the headmaster."
\They weren't thieving," said Harry.\That sword isn't
Snape's."
\It belongs to Professor Snape's school," said Phineas Nigel-
lus. \Exactly what claim did the Weasley girl have upon it? She
deserved his punishment, as did the idiot Longbottom and the
Lovegood oddity!"
\Neville is not an idiot and Luna is not an oddity!" said Her-
mione.
\Where am I?" repeated Phineas Nigellus, starting to wrestle
with the blindfold again. \Where have you brought me? Why have
you removed me from the house of my forebears?"
\Never mind that! How did Snape punish Ginny, Neville, and
Luna?" asked Harry urgently.
\Professor Snape sent them into the Forbidden Forest, to do
some work for the oaf, Hagrid."
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\Hagrid's not an oaf!" said Hermione shrilly.
\And Snape might've thought that was a punishment," said
Harry, \but Ginny, Neville, and Luna probably had a good laugh
with Hagrid. The Forbidden Forest . . . they've faced plenty worse
than the Forbidden Forest, big deal!"
He felt relieved: he had been imagining horrors, the Cruciatus
Curse at the very least.
\What we really wanted to know, Professor Black, is whether
anyone else has, um, taken out the sword at all? Maybe it's been
taken away for cleaning or|or something?"
Phineas Nigellus paused again in his struggles to free his eyes
and sniggered.
\Muggle-borns," he said. \Goblin-made armor does not require
cleaning, simple girl. Goblins' silver repels mundane dirt, imbibing
only that which strengthens it."
\Don't call Hermione simple," said Harry.
\I grow weary of contradiction," said Phineas Nigellus. \Per-
haps it is time for me to return to the headmaster's o ce?"
Still blindfolded, eh began groping the side of his frame, trying
to feel a way out of his picture and back into the one at Hogwarts.
Harry had a sudden inspiration.
\Dumbledore! Can't you bring us Dumbledore?"
\I beg you pardon?" asked Phineas Nigellus.
\Professor Dumbledore's portrait|couldn't you bring him
along, here, into yours?"
Phineas Nigellus turned his face in the direction of Harry's
voice.
\Evidently it is not only Muggle-borns who are ignorant, Potter.
The portraits of Hogwarts may commune with each other, but
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Chapter 15
they cannot ravel outside the castle except to visit a painting of
themselves hanging elsewhere. Dumbledore cannot come here with
me, and after the treatment I have received at your hands, I can
assure you that I shall not be making a return visit!"
Slightly crestfallen, Harry watched Phineas redouble his at-
tempts to leave his frame.
\Professor Black," said Hermione, \couldn't you just tell us,
please, when was the last time the sword was taken out of its case?
Before Ginny took it out, I mean?"
Phineas snorted impatiently.
\I believe the last time I saw the sword of Gry ndor leave its
case was when Professor Dumbledore used it to break open a ring."
Hermione whipped around to look at Harry. Neither of them
dared say more in front of Phineas Nigellus, who had at last man-
aged to locate the exit.
\Well, good night to you," he said a little waspishly, and he
began to move out of sight again. Only the edge of his hat brim
remained in view when Harry gave a sudden shout.
\Wait! Have you told Snape you saw this?"
Phineas Nigellus stuck his blindfolded head back into the pic-
ture.
\Professor Snape has more important things on his mind than
the many eccentricities of Albus Dumbledore. Good-bye, Potter!"
And with that, he vanished completely, leaving behind him
nothing but his murky backdrop.
\Harry!" Hermione cried.
\I know!" Harry shouted. Unable to contain himself, he
punched the air: it was more than he had dared to hope for. He
strode up and down the tent, feeling that he could have run a
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mile: he did not even feel hungry anymore. Hermione was squash-
ing Phineas Nigellus's portrait back into the beaded bag, when
she had fastened their clasp she threw the bag aside and raised a
shining face to Harry.
\The sword can destroy Horcruxes! Goblin-made blades im-
bibe only that which can strengthen them|Harry, that sword's
impregnated with basilisk venom!"
\And Dumbledore didn't give it to me because he still needed
it, he wanted to use it on the locket|"
\|and he must have realized they wouldn't let you have it if
he put in his will|"
\|so he made a copy|"
\|and put a fake in the glass case|"
\|and he left the real one|where?"
They gazed at each other: Harry felt the answer was dangling
invisibly in the air above them, tantalizingly close. Why hadn't
Dumbledore told him? Or had he, in fact, told Harry, but Harry
had not realized it at the time?
\Think!" whispered Hermione. \Think! Where would he have
left it?"
\Not at Hogwarts," said Harry, resuming his pacing.
\Somewhere in Hogsmeade?" suggested Hermione.
\The Shrieking Shack?" said Harry. \Nobody ever goes in
there."
But Snape knows how to get in, wouldn't that be a bit risky?"
Dumbledore trusted Snape," Harry reminded her.
Not enough to tell him that he had swapped the words," said
Hermione.
\Yeah, you're right!" said Harry, and he felt even more cheered
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Chapter 15
at the thought that Dumbledore had some reservations, however
faint, about Snape's trustworthiness. \So, would he have hidden
the sword well away from Hogsmeade then? What d'you reckon,
Ron? Ron?"
Harry looked around. For one bewildered moment he thought
that Ron had left the tent, then realized that Ron was lying in the
shadow of a lower bunk, looking stony.
\Oh, remembered me, have you?" he said.
\What?"
Ron snorted as he started up at the underside of the upper
bunk.
\You two carry on. Don't let me spoil your fun."
Perplexed, Harry looked to Hermione for help, but she shook
her head, apparently as nonplussed as he was.
\What's the problem?" asked Harry.
\Problem? There's no problem," said Ron, still refusing to look
at Harry. \Not according to you, anyway."
There were several plunks on the canvas over their heads. It
had started to rain.
\Well, you've obviously got a problem," said Harry. \Spit it
out, will you?"
Ron swung his long legs o the bed and sat up. He looked
mean, unlike himself.
\All right, I'll spit it out. Don't expect me to skip up and down
the tent because there's some other damn thing we've got to nd.
Just add it to the list of stu you don't know."
\I don't know?" repeated Harry. \I don't know?"
Plunk, plunk, plunk. The rain was falling harder and heavier; it
pattered on the leaf-strewn bank all around them and into the river
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chattering through the dark. Dread doused Harry's jubilation. Ron
was saying exactly what he had suspected and feared him to be
thinking.
\It's not like I'm not having the time of my life here," said Ron,
\you know, with my arm mangled and nothing to eat and freezing
my backside o every night. I just hoped, you know, after we'd
been running round a few weeks, we'd have achieved something."
\Ron," Hermione said, but in such a quiet voice that Ron could
pretend not to have heard it over the loud tattoo the rain was now
beating on the tent.
\I thought you knew what you'd signed up for," said Harry.
\Yeah, I thought I did too."
\So what part of it isn't living up to expectations?" asked
Harry. Anger was coming to his defense now. \Did you think we'd
be staying in ve-star hotels? Finding a Horcrux every other day?
Did you think you'd be back to Mummy by Christmas?"
\We thought you knew what you were doing!" shouted Ron,
standing up, and his words pierced Harry like scalding knives. \We
thought Dumbledore had told you what to do, we thought you had
a real plan!"
\Ron!" said Hermione, this time clearly audible over the rain
thundering on the tent roof, but again, he ignored her.
\Well, sorry to let you down," said Harry, his voice quite calm
even though he felt hollow, inadequate. \I've been straight with
you from the start, I told you everything Dumbledore told me.
And in case you haven't noticed, we've found on Horcrux|"
\Yeah, and we're about as near getting rid of it as we are to
nding the rest of them|nowhere e ng near in other words?"
\Take o the locket, Ron," Hermione said, her voice unusually
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Chapter 15
high. \Please take it o . You wouldn't be talking like this if you
hadn't been wearing it all day."
\Yeah, he would," said Harry, who did not want excuses made
for Ron. \D'you think I haven't noticed the two of you whispering
behind my back? D'you think I didn't guess you were thinking this
stu ?"
\Harry we weren't|"
\Don't lie!" Ron hurled at her. \You said it too, you said you
were disappointed, you said you'd thought he had a bit more to go
on than|"
\I didn't say it like that|Harry, I didn't!" she cried.
The rain was pounding the tent, tears were pouring down Her-
mione's face, and the excitement of a few minutes before had van-
ished as if it had never been, a short-lived rework that had
ared
and died, leaving everything dark, wet, and cold. The sword of
Gry ndor was hidden they knew not where, and they were three
teenagers in a tent whose only achievement was not, yet, to be
dead.
\So why are you still here?" Harry asked Ron.
\Search me," said Ron.
\Go home then," said Harry.
\Yeah, maybe I will!" shouted Ron, and he took several steps
toward Harry, who did not back away. \Didn't you hear what they
said about my sister? But you don't give a rat's fart, do you, it's
only the Forbidden Forest, Harry I've-Faced-Worse Potter doesn't
care what happens to her in there|well, I do, all right, giant spider
and mental stu |"
\I was only saying|she was with the others, they were with
Hagrid|"
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\Yeah, I get it, you don't care! And what about the rest of my
family, the Weasleys don't need another kid injured, did you hear
that?"
\Yeah, I|"
\Not bothered what it meant, though?"
\Ron!" said Hermione, forcing her way between them. \I don't
think it means anything new has happened, anything we don't
know about: think, Ron, Bill's already scarred; plenty of people
must have seen that George has lost an ear by now, and you're
supposed to be on your deathbed with spattergroit, I'm sure that's
all he meant|"
\Oh, you're sure, are you? Right then, well, I won't bother
myself about them. It's all right for you two, isn't it, with your
parents safely out of the way|"
\My parents are dead!" Harry bellowed.
\And mine could be going the same way!" yelled Ron.
\Then GO!" roared Harry. \Go back to them, pretend you've
got over your spattergroit and Mummy'll be able to feed you up
and|"
Ron made a sudden movement: Harry reacted, but before either
wand was clear of its owner's pocket, Hermione had raised her own.
\Protego!" she cried, and an invisible shield expanded between
her and Harry on the one side and Ron on the other; all of them
were forced backward a few steps by the strength of the spell, and
Harry and Ron glared from either side of the transparent barrier
as though they were seeing each other clearly for the rst time.
Harry felt a corrosive hatred toward Ron: Something had broken
between them.
\Leave the Horcrux," Harry said.
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Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and cast the locket
into a nearby chair. He turned to Hermione.
\What are you doing?"
\What do you mean?"
\Are you staying or what?"
\I . . . " She looked anguished. \Yes|yes, I'm staying, Ron, we
said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help|"
\I get it. You choose him."
\Ron, no|please|come back, come back!"
She was impeded by her own Shield charm; by the time she had
removed it he had already stormed into the night. Harry stood
quite still and silent, listening to her sobbing and calling Ron's
name amongst the trees.
After a few minutes she returned, her sopping hair plastered to
her face.
\He's g{g{gone! Disapparated!"
She threw herself into a chair, curled up, and started to cry.
Harry felt dazed. He stooped, picked up the Horcrux, and
placed it around his own neck. He dragged blankets o Ron's
bunk and threw them over Hermione. Then he climbed onto his
own bed and stared up at the dark canvas roof, listening to the
pounding of the rain.
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Chapter 16
Godric's Hollow
hen Harry woke the following day it was several
seconds before he remembered what had hap-
pened. Then he hoped, childishly, that it had been
Wa dream, that Ron was still there and never left. Yet
by turning his head on his pillow he could see Ron's deserted bunk.
It was like a dead body in the way it seemed to draw his eyes.
Harry jumped down from his own bed, keeping his eyes averted
from Ron's. Hermione, who was already busy in the kitchen, did
not wish Harry good morning, but turned her face away quickly as
he went by.
He's gone. Harry told himself. He's gone. He had to keep
thinking it as he washed and dressed, as though repetition would
dull the shock of it. He's gone and he's not coming back. And that
was the simple truth of it. Harry knew, because their protective
enchantments meant that it would be impossible, once they vacated
this spot, for Ron to nd them again.
He and Hermione ate breakfast in silence. Hermione's eyes were
pu y and red; she looked as if she had not slept. They packed up
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Chapter 16
their things, Hermione dawdling. Harry knew why she wanted to
spin out their time on the riverbank; several times he saw her look
up eagerly and he was sure she had deluded herself into thinking
that she heard footsteps through the heavy rain, but no red-haired
gure appeared between the trees. Every time Harry imitated her,
looked around (for he could not help hoping a little, himself) and
saw nothing but rain-swept woods, another little parcel of fury
exploded inside him. He could hear Ron saying, \We thought you
knew what you were doing!", and he resumed packing with a hard
knot in the pit of his stomach.
The muddy river beside them was rising rapidly and would soon
spill over onto their bank. They had lingered a good hour after
they would usually have departed their campsite. Finally having
entirely repacked the beaded bag three times. Hermione seemed
unable to nd any more reasons to delay: She and Harry grasped
hands and Disapparated, reappearing on a windswept heather-
covered hillside.
The instant they arrived, Hermione dropped Harry's hand and
walked away from him, nally sitting down on a large rock; her face
on her knees, shaking with what he knew were sobs. He watched
her, supposing that he ought to go and comfort her, but something
kept him rooted to the spot. Everything inside him felt cold and
tight: Again he saw the contemptuous expression on Ron's face.
Harry strode o through the heather, walking in a large circle with
the distraught Hermione at its center, casting the spells she usually
performed to ensure their protection.
They did not discuss Ron at all over the next few days. Harry
was determined never to mention his name again, and Hermione
seemed to know that it was no use forcing the issue, although some-
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Godric's Hollow
times at night when she thought he was sleeping, he would hear her
crying. Meanwhile Harry had started bringing out the Marauder's
Map and examining it by wandlight. He was waiting for the mo-
ment when Ron's labeled dot would reappear in the corridors of
Hogwarts, proving that he had returned to the comfortable castle,
protected by his status of pureblood. However, Ron did not appear
on the map, and after a while Harry found himself taking it out
simply to stare at Ginny's name in the girls' dormitory, wondering
whether the intensity with which he gazed at it might break into
her sleep, that she would somehow know he was thinking about
her, hoping that she was all right.
By day, they devoted themselves to trying to determine the
possible locations of Gry ndor's sword, but the more they talked
about the places in which Dumbledore might have hidden it, the
more desperate and far-fetched their speculation became. Cudgel
his brains though he might, Harry could not remember Dumbledore
ever mentioning a place in which he might hide something. There
were moments when he did not know whether he was angrier with
Ron or with Dumbledore. We thought you knew what you were
doing. . . . We thought Dumbledore had told you what to do. . . . We
thought you had a real plan!
He could not hide it from himself: Ron had been right. Dum-
bledore had left him virtually nothing. They had discovered one
Horcrux, but they had no means of destroying it: The others were
as unattainable as they had ever been. Hopelessness threatened to
engulf him. He was staggered now to think of his own presumption
in accepting his friends' o ers to accompany him on this meander-
ing, pointless journey. He knew nothing, he had no ideas, and he
was constantly painfully on the alert for any indication that Her-
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Chapter 16
mione too was about to tell him that she had had enough, that she
was leaving.
They were spending many evenings in near silence, and Her-
mione took to bringing out Phineas Nigellus's portrait and prop-
ping it up in a chair, as though he might ll part of the gaping
hole left by Ron's departure. Despite his previous assertion that
he would never visit them again, Phineas Nigellus did not seem
able to resist the chance to nd out more about what Harry was
up to, and consented to reappear, blindfolded, every few days or so.
Harry was even glad to see him, because he was company, albeit
of a snide and taunting kind. They relished any news about what
was happening in Hogwarts, though Phineas Nigellus was not an
ideal informer. He venerated Snape, the rst Slytherin headmas-
ter since he himself had controlled the school, and they had to be
careful not to criticize or ask impertinent questions about Snape,
or Phineas Nigellus would instantly leave his painting.
However, he did let drop certain snippets. Snape seemed to be
facing a constant, low level of mutiny from a hard core of students.
Ginny had been banned from going into Hogsmeade. Snape had
reinstated Umbridge's old decree forbidding gatherings of three or
more students or any uno cial student societies.
From all of these things, Harry deduced that Ginny, and prob-
ably Neville and Luna along with her, had been doing their best to
continue Dumbledore's Army. This scant news made Harry want
to see Ginny so badly it felt like a stomachache; but it also made
him think of Ron again, and of Dumbledore, and of Hogwarts it-
self, which he missed nearly as much as his ex-girlfriend. Indeed
as Phineas Nigellus talked about Snape's crackdown, Harry expe-
rienced a split second of madness when he imagined simply going
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Godric's Hollow
back to school to join the destabilization of Snape's regime. Be-
ing fed, and having a soft bed, and other people being in charge,
seemed the most wonderful prospect in the world at that moment.
But then he remembered that he was Undesirable Number One,
that there was a ten-thousand-Galleon price on his head, and that
to walk into Hogwarts these days was just as dangerous as walking
into the Ministry of Magic. Indeed, Phineas Nigellus inadvertently
emphasized this fact by slipping in leading questions about Harry
and Hermione's whereabouts. Hermione shoved him back inside
the beaded bag every time he did this, and Phineas Nigellus invari-
ably refused to reappear for several days after these unceremonious
good-byes.
The weather grew colder and colder. They did not dare remain
in any one area too long, so rather than staying in the south of
England, where a hard ground frost was the worst of their worries,
they continued to meander up and down the country, braving a
mountainside, where sleet pounded the tent; a wide,
at marsh,
where the tent was
ooded with chill water: and a tiny island in
the middle of a Scottish loch, where snow buried the tent in the
night.
They already spotted Christmas trees twinkling from several
sitting room windows before there came an evening when Harry
resolved to suggest, again, what seemed to him the only unexplored
avenue left to them. They had just eaten an unusually good meal:
Hermione had been to a supermarket under the Invisibility Cloak
(scrupulously dropping the money into an open till as she left),
and Harry thought she might be more persuadable than usual on
a stomach full of spaghetti Bolognese and tinned pears. He had
also had the foresight to suggest that they take a few hours' break
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Chapter 16
from wearing the Horcrux, which was hanging over the end of the
bank beside him.
\Hermione?"
\Hmm?" She was curled up in one of the sagging armchairs
with The Tales of Beedle the Bard. He could not imagine how
much more she could get out of the book, which was not, after
all, very long, but evidently she was still deciphering something in
it, because Spellman's Syllabary lay open on the arm of the chair.
Harry cleared his throat. He felt exactly as he had done on the
occasion, several years previously, when he had asked Professor
McGonagall whether he could go into Hogsmeade, despite the fact
that he had not persuaded the Dursleys to sign his permission slip.
\Hermione, I've been thinking, and|\
\Harry, could you help me with something?"
Apparently she had not been listening to him. She leaned for-
ward and held out The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
\Look at the symbol." She said, pointing to the top of a page.
Above what Harry assumed was the title of the story (being unable
to read runes, he could not be sure), there was a picture of what
looked like a triangular eye, its pupil crossed with a vertical line.
\I never took Ancient Runes, Hermione"
\I know that, but it isn't a rune and it's not in the syllabary,
either. All along I thought it was a picture of an eye, but I don't
think it is! It's been inked in, look, somebody's drawn it there, it
isn't really part of the book. Think, have you ever seen it before?"
\No . . . No, wait a moment." Harry looked closer. \Isn't it the
same symbol Luna's dad was wearing around his neck?"
\Well, that's what I thought too!"
\Then it's Grindelwald's mark"
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Godric's Hollow
She stared at him, open mouthed.
\What?"
\Krum told me . . . \
He recounted the story that Viktor Krum had told him at the
wedding. Hermione looked astonished,
\Grindelwald's mark?"
She looked from Harry to the weird symbol and back again.
\I've never heard that Grindelwald had a mark. There's no men-
tion of it in anything I've read about him."
\Well, like I say, Krum reckoned that symbol was carved on a
wall at Durmstrang, and Grindelwald put it there."
She fell back into the old armchair, frowning.
\That's very odd. If it's a symbol of Dark Magic, what's it
doing in a book of children's stories?"
\Yeah it is weird." Said Harry. \And you'd think Scrimgeour
would have recognized it. He was Minister, he ought to have been
expert on Dark stu "
\I know . . . Perhaps he thought it was an eye, just like I did.
All the other stories have little pictures over the titles."
She did not speak, but continued to pore over the strange mark.
Harry tried again.
\Hermione?"
\Hmm?"
\I've been thinking. I|I want to go to Godric's Hollow."
She looked up at him, but her eyes were unfocused, and he was
sure she was still thinking about the mysterious mark on the book.
\Yes." She said. \Yes, I've been wondering that too. I really
think we'll have to."
\Did you hear me right?" he asked.
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Chapter 16
\Of course I did. You want to go to Godric's Hollow. I agree, I
think we should. I mean, I can't think of anywhere else it could be
either. It'll be dangerous, but the more I think about it, the more
likely it seems it's there."
\Er|what's there?" asked Harry.
At that, she looked just as bewildered as he felt.
\Well, the sword, Harry! Dumbledore must have known you'd
want to go back there, and I mean, Godric's Hollow is Godric
Gry ndor's birthplace|\
\Really? Gry ndor came from Godric's Hollow?"
\Harry, did you ever even open A History of Magic?"
\Erm," he said, smiling for what felt like the rst time in
months. The muscles in his face felt oddly sti . \I might've opened
you know, when I bought it . . . just the once . . . \
\Well as the village is named after him I'd have thought you
might have made the connection." Said Hermione. She sounded
much more like her old self that she had done of late; Harry half
expected her to announce that she was o to the library. \There's
a bit about the village in A History of Magic, wait . . . \
She opened the beaded bag and rummaged for a while, nally
extracting her copy of the old school textbook. A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot, which she thumbed through until nding the
page she wanted.
\Upon the signature of the International Statute of Secrecy in
1689, wizards went into hiding for good. It was natural, perhaps,
that they formed their own small communities within a commu-
nity. Many small villages and hamlets attracted several magical
families, who banded together for mutual support and protection.
The villages of Tinworthin Cornwald, Upper Flagley in Yorkshire,
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Godric's Hollow
and Ottery St. Catchpole on the south coast of England were no-
table homes to knots of Wizarding families who lived alongside
tolerant and sometimes Confunded Muggles. Most celebrated of
these half-magical dwelling places is, perhaps, Godric's Hollow, the
West Country village where the great wizard Godric Gry ndor was
born, and where Bowman Wright, Wizarding smith, forged the rst
Golden Snitch. The graveyard is full of the names of ancient magi-
cal families, and this accounts, no doubt for the stories of hauntings
that have dogged the little church beside it for many centuries."
\You and your parents aren't mentioned." Hermione said, clos-
ing the book, \because Professor Bagshot doesn't cover anything
later than the end of the nineteenth century. But you see? Go-
dric's Hollow, Godric Gry ndor. Gry ndor's sword: don't you
think Dumbledore would have expected you to make the connec-
tion?"
\Oh yeah . . . \
Harry did not want to admit that he had not been thinking
about the sword at all when he suggested they go to Godric's Hol-
low. For him, the lure of the village lay as his parents' graves, the
house where he had narrowly escaped death, and in the person of
Bathilda Bagshot.
\Remember what Muriel said?" he asked eventually.
\Who?"
\You know" he hesitated. He did not want to say Ron's name.
\Ginny's great-aunt. At the wedding. The one who said you had
skinny ankles."
\Oh." Said Hermione. It was a sticky moment: Harry knew
that she had sensed Ron's name in the o ng. He rushed on:
\She said Bathilda Bagshot still lives in Godric's Hollow."
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Chapter 16
\Bathilda Bagshot," murmured Hermione, running her index
nger over Bathilda's embossed name on the front cover of A His-
tory of Magic. \Well, I suppose|\
She gasped so dramatically that Harry's insides turned over, he
drew his wand, looking around at the entrance, half expecting to
see a hand forcing it sway through the entrance
ap, but there was
nothing there.
\What?" he said, half angry, half relieved. \What did you do
that for? Thought you'd seen a Death Eater unzipping the tent,
at least|\
\Harry, what if Bathilda's got the sword? What if Dumbledore
entrusted it to her?"
Harry considered this possibility. Bathilda would be an ex-
tremely old woman by now, and according to Muriel, she was
\gaga." Was it likely that Dumbledore would have hidden the
sword of Gry ndor with her? If so, Harry felt that Dumbledore
had left a great deal to chance: Dumbledore had never revealed
that he had replaced the sword with a fake, nor had he so much
mentioned a friendship with Bathilda. Now, however, was not the
moment to cast doubt on Hermione's theory, not when she was so
surprisingly willing to fall in with Harry's dearest wish.
\Yeah, he might have done! So, are we going to go to Godric's
Hollow?"
\Yes, but we'll have to think in through carefully, Harry." She
was sitting up now, and Harry could tell that the prospect of having
a plan again had lifted her mood as much as his. \We'll need to
practice Disapparating together under the Invisibility Cloak for a
start, and perhaps Disillusionment Charms would be sensible too,
unless you think we should go the whole hog and use Polyjuice
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Godric's Hollow
Potion? In that case we'll need to collect hair from somebody. I
actually think we'd better do that, Harry, the thicker our disguises
the better . . . \
Harry let her talk, nodding and agreeing whenever there was a
pause, but his mind had left the conversation. For the rst time
since he had discovered that the sword in Gringotts was a fake, he
felt excited.
He was about to go home, about to return to the place where
he had had a family. It was in Godric's Hollow that, but for Volde-
mort, he would have grown up and spent every school holiday.
He could have invited friends to his house. . . . He might even have
had brothers and sisters. . . . It would have been his mother who
had made his seventeenth birthday cake. The life he had lost had
hardly ever seemed so real to him as at this moment, when he knew
he was about to see the place were it had been taken from him. Af-
ter Hermione had gone to bed that night, Harry quietly extracted
his rucksack from Hermione's beaded bag, and from inside it, the
photograph album Hagrid had given him so long ago. For the rst
time in months, he pursued the old pictures of his parents, smiling
and waving up at him from the images, which were all he had left
of them now.
Harry would gladly have set out for Godric's Hollow the fol-
lowing day, but Hermione had other ideas. Convinced as she was
that Voldemort would expect Harry to return to the scene of his
parents' deaths, she was determined that they would set o only
after they had ensured that they had the best disguises possible. It
was therefore a full week later|once they had surreptitiously ob-
tained hairs from innocent Muggles who were Christmas shopping,
and had practiced Apparating and Disapparating while underneath
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Chapter 16
the Invisibility Cloak together|that Hermione agreed to make the
journey.
They were to Apparate to the village under cover of darkness,
so it was late afternoon when they nally swallowed Polyjuice Po-
tion, Harry transforming into a balding, middle-aged Muggle man,
Hermione into his small and rather mousy wife. The beaded bag
containing all of their possessions (apart from the Horcrux, which
Harry was wearing around his neck) was tucked into an inside
pocket of Hermione's buttoned-up coat. Harry lowered the In-
visibility Cloak over them, then they turned into the su ocating
darkness once again.
Heart beating in his throat, Harry opened his eyes. They were
standing hand in hand in a snowy lane under a dark blue sky in
which the night's rst stars were already glimmering feebly. Cot-
tages stood on either side of the narrow road, Christmas decora-
tions twinkling in their windows. A short way ahead of them, a
glow of golden streetlights indicated the centre of the village.
\All this snow!" Hermione whispered beneath the cloak. \Why
didn't we think of snow? After all our precautions, we'll leave
prints! We'll just have to get rid of them|you go in front, I'll do
it|"
Harry did not want to enter the village like a pantomime horse,
trying to keep themselves concealed while magically covering their
traces.
\Let's take o the Cloak." said Harry, and when she looked
frightened, \Oh, come on, we don't look like us and there's no one
around."
He stowed the Cloak under his jacket and they made their way
forward unhampered, the icy air stinging their faces as they passed
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Godric's Hollow
more cottages. Anyone of them might have been the one in which
James and Lily had once lived or where Bathilda lived now. Harry
gazed at the front doors, their snow-burdened roofs, and their frost
porches, wondering whether he remembered any of them, knowing
deep inside that it was impossible, that he had been little more
than a year old when he had left this place forever. He was not
even sure whether he would be able to see the cottage at all; he did
not know what happened when the subjects of a Fidelius Charm
died. Then the little lane along which they were walking curved to
the left and the heart of the village, a small square, was revealed
to them.
Strung all around with colored lights, there was what looked
like a war memorial in the mile, partly obscured by a windblown
Christmas tree. There were several shops, a post o ce, a pub and a
little church whose stained-glass windows were glowing jewel-bright
across the square.
The snow here had become impacted, It was hard and slippery
where people had trodden on it all day. Villagers were crisscrossing
in front of them, their gures brie
y illuminated by streetlamps.
They heard a snatch of laughter and pop music as the pub door
opened and closed; then they heard a carol start up inside the little
church.
\Harry, I think it's Christmas Eve!" said Hermione.
\Is it?"
He had lost track of the date; they had not seen a newspaper
for weeks.
\I'm sure it is." Said Hermione, her eyes upon the church.
\They . . . they'll be in there, won't they? Your mum and dad? I
can see the graveyard behind it."
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Chapter 16
Harry felt a thrill of something that was beyond excitement,
more like fear. Now that he was so near, he wondered whether
he wanted to see after all. Perhaps Hermione knew how he was
feeling, because she reached for his hand and took the lead for
the rst time, pulling him forward. Halfway across the square,
however, she stopped dead.
\Harry, look!"
She was pointing at the war memorial. As they had passed it,
it had transformed. Instead of an obelisk covered in names, there
was a statue of three people: a man with untidy hair and glasses,
a woman with long hair and a kind, pretty face, and a baby boy
sitting in his mother's arms. Snow lay upon all their heads, like
u y white caps.
Harry drew closer, gazing up into his parents' faces. He had
never imagined that there would be a statue. . . . How strange it
was to see himself represented in stone, a happy baby without a
scar on his forehead. . . .
\C'mon," said Harry, when he had looked his ll they turned
again toward the church. As they crossed the road, he glanced over
his shoulder; the statue had turned back into the war memorial.
The singing grew louder as they approached the church. It
made Harry's throat constrict. It reminded him so forcefully of
Hogwarts, of Peeves bellowing rude versions of carols from inside
suits of armor, of the Great Hall's twelve Christmas trees, of Dum-
bledore wearing a bonnet he had won in a cracker, of Ron in a
hand-knitted sweater . . .
There was a kissing gate at the entrance to the graveyard. Her-
mione pushed it open as quietly as possible and they edged through
it. On either side of the slippery path to the church doors, the snow
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Godric's Hollow
lay deep and untouched. They moved o through the snow, carving
deep trenches behind them as they walked around the building,
keeping to the shadows beneath the brilliant windows.
Behind the church row upon row of snowy tombstones pro-
truded from a blanket of pale blue that was
ecked with dazzling
red, gold, and green wherever the re
ections from the stained glass
hit the snow. Keeping his hand closed tightly on the wand in his
jacket pocket. Harry moved toward the nearest grave.
\Look at this, it's an Abbott, could be some long-lost relation
of Hannah's!"
\Keep your voice down." Hermione begged him.
They waded deeper and deeper into the graveyard, gouging dark
tracks into the snow behind them, stooping to peer at the words on
old headstones, every now and then squinting into the surrounding
darkness to make absolutely sure that they were unaccompanied.
\Harry, here!"
Hermione was two rows of tombstones away: he had to wade
back to her, his heart positively banging in his chest.
\Is it|?"
\No, but look!"
She pointed to the dark stone. Harry stooped down and saw,
upon the frozen lichen-spotted granite, the words Kendra Dum-
bledore and, a short way below her dates of birth and death, and
Her Daughter Ariana. There was also a quotation:
Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So Rita Skeeter and Muriel had got some of their facts right.
The Dumbledore family had indeed lived here, and part of it had
died here.
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Chapter 16
Seeing the grave was worse than hearing about it. Harry could
not help thinking that he and Dumbledore both had deep roots in
this graveyard, and that Dumbledore ought to have told him so, yet
he had never thought to share the connection. They could have vis-
ited the place together; for a moment Harry imagined coming here
with Dumbledore, of what a bond that would been, of how much
it would have meant to him. But it seemed that to Dumbledore,
the fact that their families lay side by side in the same graveyard
had been an unimportant coincidence, irrelevant, perhaps, to the
job he wanted Harry to do.
Hermione was looking at Harry, and he was glad that his face
was hidden in shadow. He read the words on the tombstone again.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. He did not
understand what these words meant. Surely Dumbledore had cho-
sen them, as the eldest member of the family once his mother had
died.
\Are you sure he never mentioned|?" Hermione began.
\No," said Harry curtly, then, \let's keep looking," and he
turned away, wishing he had not seen the stone. He did not want
his excited trepidation tainted with resentment.
\Here!" cried Hermione again a few moments later from out of
the darkness. \Oh no, sorry! I thought it said Potter." She was
rubbing at a crumpling, mossy stone, gazing down at it, a little
frown on her face.
\Harry, come back a moment."
He did not want to be sidetracked again, and only grudgingly
made his way back through the snow toward her.
\What?"
\Look at this!"
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Godric's Hollow
The grave was extremely old, weathered so that Harry could
hardly make out the name. Hermione showed him the symbol
beneath it.
\Harry, that's the mark in the book!"
He peered at the place she indicated: The stone was so worn
that it was hard to make out what was engraved there, though
there did seem to be a triangular mark beneath the nearly illegible
name.
\Yeah . . . it could be . . . "
Hermione lit her wand and pointed it at the name on the head-
stone.
\It says Ig|Ignotus, I think . . . "
\I'm going to keep looking for my parents, all right?" Harry
told her, a slight edge to his voice, and he set o again, leaving her
crouched beside the old grave.
Every now and then he recognized a surname that, like Abbott,
he had met at Hogwarts. Sometimes there were several genera-
tions of the same Wizarding family represented in the graveyard.
Harry could tell from the dates that it had either died out, or the
current members had moved away from Godric's Hollow. Deeper
and deeper amongst the graves he went, and every time he reached
a new headstone he felt a little lurch of apprehension and antici-
pation.
The darkness and the silence seemed to become, all of a sudden,
much deeper. Harry looked around, worried, thinking of demen-
tors, then realized that the carols had nished, that the chatter
and
urry of churchgoers were fading away as they made their way
back into the square. Somebody inside the church had just turned
o the lights.
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Chapter 16
Then Hermione's voice came out of the blackness for the third
time, sharp and clear from a few yards away.
\Harry, they're here . . . right here."
And he knew by her tone that it was his mother and his father
this time. He moved toward her, feeling as if something heavy
were pressing on his chest, the same sensation he had had right
after Dumbledore had died, a grief that had actually weighed on
his heart and lungs.
The headstone was only two rows behind Kendra and Ariana's.
It was made of white marble, just like Dumbledore's tomb, and
this made it easy to read, as it seemed to shine in the dark. Harry
did not need to kneel or even approach very close to it to make out
the words engraved upon it.
James PotterLily Potter
Born 27 March 1960Born 30 January 1960
Died 31 October 1981Died 31 October 1981
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Harry read the words slowly, as though he would have only one
chance to take in their meaning, and he read the last of them aloud.
\`The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death' . . . " A hor-
rible thought came to him, and with it a kind of panic. \Isn't that
a Death Eater idea? Why is that here?"
\It doesn't mean defeating death in the way the Death Eaters
mean it, Harry," said Hermione, her voice gentle. \It means . . . you
know . . . living beyond death. Living after death."
But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The
empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents' moldering
remains lay beneath snow and stone, indi erent, unknowing. And
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Godric's Hollow
tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly
freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them o or
pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking
down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the
last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing
or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating,
alive because of their sacri ce and close to wishing, at this moment,
that he was sleeping under the snow with them.
Hermione had taken his hand again and was gripping it tightly.
He could not look at her, but returned the pressure, now taking
deep, sharp gulps of the night air, trying to steady himself, trying to
regain control. He should have brought something to give to them,
and he had not thought of it, and every plant in the graveyard was
lea
ess and frozen. But Hermione raised her wand, moved it in a
circle through the air and a wreath of Christmas roses blossomed
before them. Harry caught it and laid it on his parents' grave.
As soon as he stood up he wanted to leave. He did not think
he could stand another moment there. He put his arm around
Hermione's shoulders, and she put hers around his waist, and they
turned in silence and walked away through the snow, past Dum-
bledore's mother and sister, back toward the dark church and the
out-of-sight kissing gate.
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Bathilda's Secret
arry, stop."
\What's wrong?"
They had only just reached the grave of the unknown
HAbbott.
\There's someone there. Someone's watching us. I can tell. There:
over by the bushes."
They stood quite still, holding on to each other, gazing at the
dense black boundary of the graveyard. Harry could not see any-
thing.
\Are you sure?"
\I saw something move, I could have sworn I did . . . "
She broke from him to free her wand arm.
\We look like Muggles," Harry pointed out.
\Muggles who've just been laying
owers on your parents' grave!
Harry, I'm sure there's someone over there!"
Harry thought of A History of Magic, the graveyard was sup-
posed to be haunted, what if|? But then he heard a rustle and
saw a little eddy of dislodged snow in the bush to which Hermione
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had pointed. Ghosts could not move snow.
\It's a cat," said Harry, after a second or two, \or a bird. If it
was a Death Eater we'd be dead by now. But let's get out of here,
and we can put the Cloak back on."
They glanced back repeatedly as they made their way out of
the graveyard. Harry, who did not feel as sanguine as he had
pretended when reassuring Hermione, was glad to reach the gate
and the slippery pavement. They pulled the Invisibility Cloak back
over themselves. The pub was fuller than before: Many voices
inside it were now singing the carol that they had heard as they
approached the church. For a moment Harry considered suggesting
they take refuge inside it, but before he could say anything Her-
mione murmured, \Lets go this way," and pulled him down the
dark street leading out of the village in the opposite direction from
which they had entered. Harry could make out the point where the
cottages ended and the lane turned into open country again. They
walked as quickly as they dared, past more windows sparkling with
multicolored light, the outlines of Christmas trees dark through the
curtains.
\How are we going to nd Bathilda's house?" asked Hermione,
who was shivering a little and kept glancing back over her shoulder.
\Harry? What do you think? Harry?"
She tugged at his arm, but Harry was not paying attention. He
was looking toward the dark mass that stood at the very end of this
row of houses. Next moment he had sped up, dragging Hermione
along with him; she slipped a little on the ice.
\Harry|"
\Look . . . Look at it Hermione . . . "
\I don't . . . oh!"
He could see it; the Fidelius Charm must have died with James
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Chapter 17
and Lily. The hedge had grown wild in the sixteen years since
Hagrid had taken Harry from the rubble that lay scattered amongst
the waist-high grass. Most of the cottage was still standing, though
entirely covered in dark ivy and snow, but the right side of the top
oor had been blown apart; that, Harry was sure, was where the
curse had back red. He and Hermione stood at the gate, gazing
at the wreck of what must once have been a cottage just like those
that
anked it.
\I wonder why nobody's ever rebuilt it?" whispered Hermione.
\Maybe you can't rebuild it?" Harry replied, \Maybe it's like
the injuries from Dark Magic and you can't repair the damage?"
He slipped a hand from beneath the Cloak and grasped the
snowy and thickly rusted gate, not wishing to open it, but simply
to hold some part of the house.
\You're not going to go inside? It looks unsafe, it might|oh,
Harry, look!"
His touch on the gate seemed to have done it. A sign had
risen out of the ground in front of them, up through the tangles
of nettles and weeds, like some bizarre, fast-growing
ower, and in
golden letters upon the wood it said:
On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981,
Lily and James Potter lost their lives.
Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard
ever to have survived the Killing Curse.
This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left
in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters
and as a reminder of the violence
that tore apart their family.
And all around these neatly lettered words, scribbles had been
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Bathilda's Secret
added by other witches and wizards who had come to see the place
where the Boy Who Lived had escaped. Some had merely signed
their names in Everlasting Ink; others had carved their initials into
the wood, still others had left messages. The most recent of these,
shining brightly over sixteen years' worth of magical gra ti, all
said similar things.
Good luck, Harry wherever you are.
If you read this, Harry, we're all behind you!
Long live Harry Potter.
\They shouldn't have written on the sign!" said Hermione,
indignant.
But Harry beamed at her.
\It's brilliant. I'm glad they did. I . . . "
He broke o . A heavily mu ed gure was hobbling up the lane
toward them, silhouetted by the bright lights in the distant square.
Harry thought, though it was hard to judge, that the gure was
a woman. She was moving slowly, possibly frightened of slipping
on the snowy ground. Her stoop, her stoutness, her shu ing gait
all gave an impression of extreme age. They watched in silence as
she drew nearer. Harry was waiting to see whether she would turn
into any of the cottages she was passing, but he knew instinctively
that she would not. At last she came to a half a few yards from
the and simply stood there in the middle of the frozen road, facing
them.
He did not need Hermione's pinch to his arm. There was next
to no chance this woman was a Muggle: She was standing there
gazing at a house that ought to have been completely invisible to
her, if she was not a witch. Even assuming that she was a witch,
however, it was odd behavior to come out on a night this cold,
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Chapter 17
simply to look at an old ruin. By all the rules of normal magic,
meanwhile, she ought not to be able to see Hermione and him at all.
Nevertheless, Harry had the strangest feeling that she knew that
they were there, and also who they were. Just as he had reached
this uneasy conclusion, she raised a gloved hand and beckoned.
Hermione moved closer to him under the Cloak, her arm pressed
against his.
\How does she know?"
He shook his head. The woman beckoned again, more vigor-
ously. Harry could think of many reasons not to obey the summons,
and yet his suspicions about her identity were growing stronger
every moment that they stood facing each other in the deserted
street.
Was it possible that she had been waiting for them all these
long months? That Dumbledore had told her to wait, and that
Harry would come in the end? Was it not likely that it was she
who had moved in the shadows in the graveyard and had followed
them to this spot? Even her ability to sense them suggested some
Dumbledore-ish power that he had never encountered before.
Finally Harry spoke, causing Hermione to gasp and jump.
\Are you Bathilda?"
The mu ed gure nodded and beckoned again.
Beneath the Cloak Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
Harry raised his eyebrows; Hermione gave a tiny, nervous nod.
They stepped toward the woman and, at once, she turned and
hobbled o back the way they had come. Leading them past several
houses, she turned in at a gate. They followed her up the front
path through a garden nearly as overgrown as the one they had
just left. She fumbled for a moment with a key at the front door,
then opened it and stepped back to let them pass.
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She smelled bad, or perhaps it was her house. Harry wrinkled
his nose as they sidled past her and pulled o the Cloak. Now
that he was beside her, he realized how tiny she was; bowed down
with age she came barely level with his chest. She closed the door
behind them, her knuckles blue and mottled against the peeling
paint, then turned and peered into Harry's face. Her eyes were
thick with cataracts and sunken in folds of transparent skin, and
her whole face was dotted with broken veins and liver spots. He
wondered whether she could make him out at all; even if she could,
it was the balding Muggle whose identity he had stolen that she
would see.
The odor of old age, of dust, of unwashed clothes and stale food
intensi ed as she unwound a moth-eaten black shawl, revealing a
head of scant white hair through which the scalp showed clearly.
\Bathilda?" Harry repeated.
She nodded again. Harry became aware of the locket against his
skin; the thing inside it that sometimes ticked or beat had woken;
he could feel it pulsing through the cold gold. Did it know, could
it sense, that the thing that would destroy it was near?
Bathilda shu ed past them, pushing Hermione aside as though
she had not seen her, and vanished into what seemed to be a sitting
room.
\Harry, I'm not sure about this," breathed Hermione.
\Look at the size of her, I think we could overpower her if we
had to," said Harry, \Listen, I should have told you, I knew she
wasn't all there. Muriel called her `gaga.'"
\Come!" called Bathilda from the next room.
Hermione jumped and clutched Harry's arm.
\It's okay," said Harry reassuringly, and he led the way into the
sitting room.
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Bathilda was tottering around the place lighting candle, but
it was still very dark, not to mention extremely dirty. Thick dust
crunched beneath their feet, and Harry's nose detected, underneath
the dank and mildewed smell, something worse, like meat gone bad.
He wondered when was the last time anyone had been inside Bat-
hilda's house to check whether she was coping. She seemed to have
forgotten that she could do magic too, for she lit the candles clum-
sily by hand, her trailing lace cu in constant danger of catching
re.
\Let me do that," o ered Harry and he took the matches from
her. She stood watching him as he nished lighting the candle
stubs that stood on saucers around the room, perched precariously
on stack of book and on side tables crammed with cracked and
moldy cups.
The last surface on which Harry spotted a candle was a bow-
fronted chest of drawers on which there stood a large number of
photographs. When the
ame danced into life, its re
ection wa-
vered on their dusty glass and silver. He saw a few tiny movements
from the pictures. As Bathilda fumbled with logs for the re, he
muttered \Tergeo"; the dust vanished from the photographs, and
he was at once that half a down were missing from the largest and
most ornate frames.
He wondered whether Bathilda or somebody else had removed
them. Then the sight of a photograph near the back of the collec-
tion caught his eye, and he snatched it up.
It was the golden-haired, merry-faced thief, the young man who
had perched on Gregorovitch's windowsill, smiling lazily up at
Harry out of the silver frame. And it came to Harry instantly
where he had seen the boy before: in The Life and Lies of Albus
Dumbledore, arm in arm with teenage Dumbledore, and that must
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be where all the missing photographs were in Rita's book.
\Mrs.|Miss|Bagshot?" he said, and his voice shook slightly.
\Who is this?"
Bathilda was standing in the middle of the room watching Her-
mione light the re for her.
\Miss Bagshot?" Harry repeated, and he advanced with the
picture in his hands as the
ames burst into life in the replace.
Bathilda looked up at his voice, and the Horcrux heat faster upon
his chest.
\Who is this person?" Harry asked her, pushing the picture
forward.
She peered at it solemnly, then up at Harry.
\Do you know who this is?" he repeated in a much slower and
louder voice than usual. \This man? Do you know him? What's
he called?"
Bathilda merely looked vague. Harry felt an awful frustration.
How had Rita Skeeter unlocked Bathilda's memories?
\Who is this man?" he repeated loudly.
\Harry, what are you doing?" asked Hermione.
\This picture, Hermione, it's the thief, the thief who stole from
Gregorovitch! Please!" he said to Bathilda. \Who is this?"
But she only stared at him.
\Why did you ask us to come with you, Mrs.|Miss|
Bagshot?" asked Hermione, raising her own voice. \Was there
something you wanted to tell us?"
Giving no sign that she had heard Hermione, Bathilda now
shu ed a few steps closer to Harry. With a little jerk of her head
she looked back into the hall.
\You want us to leave?" he asked.
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Chapter 17
She repeated the gesture, this time pointing rstly at him, then
at herself, then at the ceiling.
\Oh, right . . . Hermione, I think she wants me to go upstairs
with her."
\All right," said Hermione, \let's go."
But when Hermione moved, Bathilda shook her head with sur-
prising vigor, once more pointing rst at Harry, then to herself.
\She wants me to go with her, alone."
\Why?" asked Hermione, and her voice rang out sharp and
clear in the candlelit room; the old lady shook her head a little at
the loud noise.
\Maybe Dumbledore told her to give the sword to me, and only
me?"
\Do you really think she knows who you are?"
\Yes," said Harry, looking down into the milky eyes xed upon
his own, \I think she does."
\Well, okay then, but be quick, Harry."
\Lead the way," Harry told Bathilda.
She seemed to understand, because she shu ed around him
toward the door. Harry glanced back at Hermione with a reassuring
smile, but he was not sure she had seen it; she stood hugging herself
in the midst of the candlelit squalor, looking toward the bookcase.
As Harry walked out of the room, unseen by both Hermione and
Bathilda, he slipped the silver-framed photograph of the unknown
thief inside his jacket.
The stairs were steep and narrow; Harry was half tempted to
place his hands on stout Bathilda's backside to ensure that she
did not topple over backward on top of him, which seemed only
too likely. Slowly, wheezing a little, she climbed to the upper
landing, turned immediately right, and led him into a low-ceilinged
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Bathilda's Secret
bedroom.
It was pitch-black and smelled horrible. Harry had just made
out a chamber pot protruding from under the bed before Bathilda
closed the door and even that was swallowed by the darkness.
\Lumos," said Harry, and his wand ignited. He gave a start;
Bathilda had moved close to him in those few seconds of darkness,
and he had not heard her approach.
\You are Potter?" she whispered.
\Yes, I am."
She nodded slowly, solemnly. Harry felt the Horcrux beating
fast, faster than his own heart. It was an unpleasant, agitating
sensation.
\Have you got anything for me?" Harry asked, but she seemed
distracted by his lit wand-tip.
\Have you got anything for me?" he repeated.
Then she closed her eyes and several things happened at once:
Harry's scar prickled painfully; the Horcrux twitched so that the
front of his sweater actually moved; the dark, fetid room dissolved
momentarily. He felt a leap of joy and spoke in a high, cold voice:
Hold him!
Harry swayed where he stood: The dark, foul-smelling room
seemed to close around him again; he did not know what had just
happened.
\Have you got anything for me?" he asked for a third time,
much louder.
\Over here," she whispered, pointing to the corner. Harry
raised his wand and saw the outline of a cluttered dressing table
beneath the curtained window.
This time she did not lead him. Harry edged between her and
the unmade bed, his wand raised. He did not want to look away
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from her.
\What is it?" he asked as he reached the dressing table, which
was heaped high with what looked and smelled like dirty laundry.
\There," she said, pointing at the shapeless mass.
And in the instant that he looked away, his eyes raking the
tangled mess for a sword hilt, a ruby, she moved weirdly: He was
it out of the corner of his eye; panic made him turn and horror
paralyzed him and he saw the old body collapsing and the great
snake pouring from the place where he neck had been.
The snake struck as he raised his wand. The force of the bite to
his forearm sent the wand spinning up toward the ceiling; its light
swung dizzyingly around the room and was extinguished. Then a
powerful blow from the tail to his midri knocked the breath out
of him. He fell backward onto the dressing table, into the mound
of lthy clothing|
He rolled sideways, narrowly avoiding the snake's tail, which
thrashed down upon the table where he had been a second earlier.
Fragments of the glass surface rained upon him as he hit the
oor.
From below he heard Hermione call, \Harry?"
He could not get enough breath into his lungs to call back. Then
a heavy smooth mass smashed him into the
oor and he felt it slide
over him, powerful, muscular.
\No!" he gasped, pinned to the
oor.
\Yes," whispered the voice.\Yesss . . . hold you . . . hold
you . . . "
\Accio . . . Accio Wand . . . "
But nothing happened and he needed his hands to try to force
the snake from him as it coiled itself around his torso, squeezing the
air from him, pressing the Horcrux hard into his chest, a circle of ice
that throbbed with life, inches from his own frantic heart, and his
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Bathilda's Secret
brain was
ooding with cold, white light, all thought obliterated,
his own breath drowned, distant footsteps, everything going . . .
A metal heart was banging outside his chest, and now he was
ying,
ying with triumph in his heart, without need of broomstick
or thestral. . . .
He was abruptly awake in the sour-smelling darkness; Nagini
had released him. He scrambled up and saw the snake outlined
against the landing light. It struck, and Hermione dived aside
with a shriek; her de
ected curse hit the curtained window, which
shattered. Frozen air lled the room as Harry ducked to avoid
another shower of broken glass and his foot slipped on a pencil-like
something|his wand|
He bent and snatched it up, but now the room was full of the
snake, its tail thrashing; Hermione was nowhere to be seen and for
a moment Harry thought the worst, but then there was a loud bang
and a
ash of red light, and the snake
ew into the air, smacking
Harry hard in the face as it went, coil after heavy coil rising up to
the ceiling. Harry raised his wand, but as he did so his scar seared
more painfully, more powerfully than it had done in years.
\He's coming! Hermione, he's coming!"
As he yelled the snake fell, hissing wildly. Everything was chaos;
It smashed shelves from the wall, and splintered china
ew every-
where as Harry jumped over the bed and seized the dark shape he
knew to be Hermione.
She shrieked with pain as he pulled her back across the bed. The
snake reared again, but Harry knew that worse than the snake was
coming, was perhaps already at the gate, his head was going to
split open with pain from his scar.
The snake lunged as he took a running leap, dragging Hermione
with him; as it struck, Hermione scream, \Confringo!" and her
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Chapter 17
spell
ew around the room, exploding the wardrobe mirror and
ricocheting back at them, bouncing from
oor to ceiling; Harry
felt the heat of it sear the back of his hand. Glass cut his cheek
as, pulling Hermione one with him, he leapt from bed to broken
dressing table and then straight out of the smashed window into
nothingness, her scream reverberating through the night as they
twisted in midair.
And then his scar burst open and he was Voldemort and he was
running across the fetid bedroom, his long white hands clutching
at the windowsill as he glimpsed the bald man and the little woman
twist and vanish, and he screamed with rage, a scream that mingled
with the girl's, that echoed across the dark gardens over the church
bells ringing in Christmas Day.
And his scream was Harry's scream, his pain was Harry
pain . . . that it could happen here, where it had happened
before . . . here, within sight of that house where he had come so
close to knowing what it was to die . . . to die. . . . The pain was so
terrible . . . ripped from his body. . . . But if he had no body, why
did his head hurt so badly; if he was dead, how could he feel so
unbearably, didn't pain cease with death, didn't it go|
The night wet and windy, two children dressed as pumpkins wad-
dling across the square, and the shop window covered in paper spi-
ders, all the tawdry Muggle trapping of a world in which they did
not believe. . . . And he was gliding along, that sense of purpose and
power and rightness in him that he always knew on these occa-
sions. . . . Not anger. . . . that was for weaker souls than he . . . but
triumph, yes. . . . He had waited for this, he had hoped for it. . . .
\Nice costume, mister!"
He saw the small boy's smile falter as he ran near enough to see
beneath the hood of the cloak, saw the fear cloud his painted face.
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Then the child turned and ran away. . . . Beneath the robe be ngered
the hand of his wand . . . One simple movement and the child would
never reach his mother . . . but unnecessary, quite unnecessary. . . .
And along a new and darker street he moved, and now his des-
tination was in sight at last, the Fidelius Charm broken, though
they did not know it yet. . . . And he made less noise than the dead
leaves slithering along the pavement as he drew level with the dark
hedge, and peered over it. . . .
They had not drawn the curtains; he saw them quite clearly in
their little sitting room, the tall black-haired man in his glasses,
making pu s of colored smoke erupt from his wand for the amuse-
ment of the small black-haired boy in his blue pajamas. The child
was laughing and trying to catch the smoke, to grab it in his small
st. . . .
A door opened and the mother entered, saying words he could
not hear, her long dark-red hair falling over her face. Now the
father scooped up the son and handed him to the mother. He threw
his wand down upon the sofa and stretched, yawning. . . .
The gate creaked a little as he pushed it open, but James Potter
did no hear. His white hand pulled out the wand beneath his cloak
and pointed it at the door, which burst open.
He was over the threshold as James came sprinting into the hall.
It was easy, too easy, he had not even picked up his wand . . .
\Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him
o !"
Hold him o , without a wand in his hand?. . . . He laughed before
casting the curse. . . .
\Avada Kedavra!"
The green light lled the cramped hallway, it lit the pram pushed
against the wall, it made the banisters glare like lightning rods, and
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James Potter fell like a marionette whose strings were cut. . . .
He could hear her screaming from the upper
oor, trapped, but
as long as she was sensible, she, at least, had nothing to fear. . . . He
climbed the steps, listening with faint amusement to her attempts to
barricade herself in. . . . She had no wand either. . . . How stupid they
were, and how trusting, thinking that their safety lay in friends,
that weapons could be discarded even for moments. . . .
He forced the door open, cast aside the chair and boxes hastily
piled against it with one lazy wave of his wand . . . and there she
stood, the child in her arms. At the last sight of him, she dropped
her son into the crib behind her and threw her arms wide, as if this
would help, as if in shielding him from sight she hoped to be chosen
instead. . . .
\Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
\Stand aside, you silly girl . . . stand aside now."
\Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead|"
\This is my last warning|"
\Not Harry!Please . . . have mercy . . . have mercy. . . . Not
Harry! Not Harry! Please|I'll do anything|"
\Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"
He could have forced her away from the crib, but it seemed more
prudent to nish them all. . . .
The green light
ashed around the room and she dropped like
her husband. The child had not cried all this time. He could stand,
clutching the bars of his crib and he looked up into the intruder's
face with a kind of bright interest, perhaps thinking that it was his
father who hid beneath the cloak, making more pretty light, and his
mother would pop up any moment, laughing|
He pointed the wand very carefully into the boy's face. He
wanted to see it happen, the destruction of this one, inexplicable
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Bathilda's Secret
danger. The child began to cry. It had seen that he was not James.
He did not like it crying, he had never been able to stomach the
small ones whining in the orphanage|
\Avada Kedavra!"
And then he broke; He was nothing, nothing but pain and terror,
and he must hide himself, not here in the rubble of the ruined house,
where the child was trapped and screaming, but far away . . . far
away . . .
\No," he moaned.
The snake rustled on the lthy, cluttered
oor, and he had killed
the boy, and yet he was the boy . . .
\No . . . "
And now he stood at the broken window of Bathilda's house,
immersed in memories of his greatest loss, and at his feet the great
snake slithered over broken china and glass . . . He looked down and
saw something . . . something incredible . . .
\No . . . "
\Harry, it's all right, you're all right."
He stooped down and picked up the smashed photograph. There
he was, the unknown thief he was seeking. . . .
\No . . . I dropped it . . . I dropped it . . . "
\Harry, it's okay, wake up, wake up!"
He was Harry . . . Harry, not Voldemort . . . and the thing that
was rustling was not a snake . . . He opened his eyes.
\Harry," Hermione whispered. \Do you feel all|all right?"
\Yes," he lied.
He was in the tent, lying on one of the lower bunks beneath a
heap of blankets. He could tell that it was almost dawn by the
stillness and the quality of the cold,
at light beyond the canvas
ceiling. He was drenched in sweat; he could feel it on the sheets
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Chapter 17
and blankets.
\We got away."
\Yes," said Hermione, \I had to use a Hover Charm to get
you into your bunk, I couldn't lift you. You've been . . . Well, you
haven't been quite . . . "
There were purple shadows under her brown eyes and he noticed
a small sponge in her hand. She had been wiping his face.
\You've been ill," she nished, \Quite ill."
\How long ago did we leave?"
\Hours ago. It's nearly morning."
\And I've been . . . what, unconscious?"
\Not exactly," said Hermione uncomfortable, \You've been
shouting and moaning and . . . things," she added in a tone that
made Harry feel uneasy. What had he done? Screamed curses like
Voldemort, cried like the baby in the crib?
\I couldn't get the Horcrux o you," Hermione said, and he
knew she wanted to change the subject. \It was stuck, stuck to
your chest. You've got a mark; I'm sorry, I had to use a Severing
Charm to get it away. The snake bit you too, but I've cleaned the
wound and put some dittany on it."
He pulled the sweaty T-shirt he was wearing away from himself
and looked down. There was a scarlet oval over his heart where the
locket had burned him. He could also see the half-healed puncture
marks to his forearm.
\Where've you put the Horcrux?"
\In my bag. I think we should keep it o for a while."
He lay back on his pillow and looked into her pinched gray face.
\We shouldn't have gone to Godric's Hollow. It's my fault, it's
all my fault, Hermione, I'm sorry."
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\It's not your fault, I wanted to go too, I really thought Dum-
bledore might have left the sword there for you."
\Yeah, well. . . . we got that wrong, didn't we?"
\What happened, Harry? What happened when she took you
upstairs? Was the snake hiding somewhere? Did it just come out
and kill her and attack you?"
\No," he said. \She was the snake . . . or the snake was
her . . . all along."
\W|what?"
He closed his eyes. He could still smell Bathilda's house on him.
It made the whole thing horribly vivid.
\Bathilda must've been dead a while. The snake was . . . was
inside her. You-Know-Who put it there in Godric's Hollow, to
wait. You were right. He knew I'd go back."
\The snake was inside her?"
He opened his eyes again. Hermione looked revolted, nause-
ated. \Lupin said there would be magic we'd never imagined,"
Harry said, \She didn't want to talk in front of you, because it was
Parseltongue, all Parseltongue, and I didn't realize, but of course I
could understand her. One we were up in the room, the snake sent
a message to You-Know-Who. I heard it happen inside my head,
I felt him get excited, he said to keep me there . . . and then. . . ."
He remembered the snake coming out of Bathilda's neck; Her-
mione did not need to know the details.
\ . . . she changed, changed into the snake, and attacked."
He looked down at the puncture marks.
\It wasn't supposed to kill me, just keep me there till You-
Know-Who came."
If he had only managed to kill the snake, it would have been
worth it, all of it . . . Sick at heart, he sat up threw back the covers.
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Chapter 17
\Harry, no, I'm sure you ought to rest!"
\You're the one who needs sleep. No o ense, but you look
terrible. I'm ne. I'll keep watch for a while. Where's my wand?"
She did not answer, she merely looked at him.
\Where's my wand, Hermione?"
She was biting her lip, and tears swam in her eyes.
\Harry . . . "
\Where's my wand?"
She reached down beside the bed and held it out to him.
The holly and phoenix wand was nearly severed in two. One
fragile strand of phoenix feather kept both pieces hanging together.
The wood had splintered apart completely. Harry took it into his
hands as though it was a living thing that had su ered a terrible
injury. He could not think properly. Everything was a blur of panic
and fear. Then he held out the wand to Hermione.
\Mend it. Please."
\Harry, I don't think, when its broken like this|"
\Please, Hermione, try!"
\R-Reparo."
The handling half of the wand resealed itself. Harry held it up.
\Lumos!"
The wand sparked feebly, then went out. Harry pointed it at
Hermione.
\Expelliarmus!"
Hermione's wand gave a little jerk, but did not leave her hand.
The feeble attempt at magic was too much for Harry's wand, which
split into two again. He stared at it, aghast, unable to take in what
he was seeing . . . the wand that had survived so much . . .
\Harry," Hermione whispered so quietly he could hardly hear
her. \I'm so, so sorry. I think it was me. As we were leaving,
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Bathilda's Secret
you know, the snake was coming for us, and so I cast a Blasting
Curse, and it rebounded everywhere, and it must have|must have
hit|"
\It was an accident," said Harry mechanically. He felt empty,
stunned. \We'll|we'll nd a way to repair it."
\Harry, I don't think we're going to be able to," said Hermione,
the tears trickling down her face. \Remember . . . remember Ron?
When he broke his want, crashing the car? It was never the same
again, he had to get a new one."
Harry thought of Ollivander, kidnapped and held hostage by
Voldemort; of Gregorovitch, who was dead. How was he supposed
to nd himself a new wand?
\Well," he said, in a falsely matter-of-fact voice, \well, I'll just
borrow yours for now, then. While I keep watch."
Her face glazed with tears, Hermione handed over her wand,
and he left her sitting beside his bed, desiring nothing more than
to get away from her.
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Chapter 18
The Life and Lies of
Albus Dumbledore
he sun was coming up: The pure, colorless vastness
of the sky stretched over him, indi erent to him and
his su ering. Harry sat down in the tent entrance and
Ttook a deep breath of clean air. Simply to be alive to
watch the sun rise over the sparkling snowy hillside ought to have
been the greatest treasure on earth, yet he could not appreciate
it: His senses had been spiked by the calamity of losing his wand.
He looked out over a valley blanketed in snow, distant church bells
chiming through the glittering silence.
Without realizing it, he was digging his ngers into his arms as
if he were trying to resist physical pain. He had spilled his own
blood more times than he could count; he had lost all the bones
in his right arm once; this journey had already given him scars
to his chest and forearm to join those on his hand and forehead,
but never, until this moment, had he felt himself to be fatally
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
weakened, vulnerable, and naked, as though the best part of his
magical power had been torn from him. He knew exactly what
Hermione would say if he expressed any of this: The wand is only
as good as the wizard. But she was wrong, his case was di erent.
She had not felt the wand spin like the needle of a compass and
shoot golden
ames at his enemy. He had lost the protection of
the twin cores, and only now that it was gone did he realize how
much he had been counting upon it.
He pulled the pieces of the broken wand out of his pocket and,
without looking at them, tucked them away in Hagrid's pouch
around his neck. The pouch was now too full of broken and useless
objects to take any more. Harry's hand brushed the old Snitch
through the moleskin and for a moment he had to ght the temp-
tation to pull it out and throw it away. Impenetrable, unhelpful,
useless, like everything else Dumbledore had left behind|
And his fury at Dumbledore broke over him now like lava,
scorching him inside, wiping out every other feeling. Out of sheer
desperation they had talked themselves into believing that Go-
dric's Hollow held answers, convinced themselves that they were
supposed to go back, that it was all part of some secret path laid out
for them by Dumbledore; but there was no map, no plan. Dum-
bledore had left them to grope in the darkness, to wrestle with
unknown and undreamed-of terrors, alone and unaided. Nothing
was explained, nothing was given freely, they had no sword, and
now, Harry had no wand. And he had dropped the photograph of
the thief, and it would surely be easy now for Voldemort to nd
out who he was. . . . Voldemort had all the information now. . . .
\Harry?"
Hermione looked frightened that he might curse her with her
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Chapter 18
own wand. Her face streaked with tears, she crouched down beside
him, two cups of tea trembling in her hands and something bulky
under her arm.
\Thanks," he said, taking one of the cups.
\Do you mind if I talk to you?"
\No," he said because he did not want to hurt her feelings.
\Harry, you wanted to know who that man in the picture was.
Well . . . I've got the book."
Timidly she pushed it onto his lap, a pristine copy of The Life
and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.
\Where|how|?"
\It was in Bathilda's sitting room, just lying there. . . . This note
was sticking out of the top of it."
Hermione read the few lines of spiky, acid-green writing aloud,
\Dear Batty, Thanks for the help. Here's a copy of the book,
hope you like it. You said everything, even if you don't remember
it, Rita. I think it must have arrived while the real Bathilda was
alive, but perhaps she wasn't in any t state to read it?"
\No, she probably wasn't."
Harry looked down upon Dumbledore's face and experienced a
surge of savage pleasure: Now he would know all the things that
Dumbledore had never thought it was worth telling him, whether
Dumbledore wanted him to or not.
\You're still really angry at me, aren't you?" said Hermione;
he looked up to see fresh tears leaking out of her eyes, and knew
that his anger must have shown in his face.
\No," he said quietly. \No, Hermione, I know it was an acci-
dent. You were trying to get us out of there, and you were incred-
ible. I'd be dead if you hadn't been there to help me."
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
He tried to return her watery smile, then turned his attention
to the book. Its spine was sti ; it had clearly never been opened
before. He ri ed through the pages, looking for photographs. He
came across the one he sought almost at once, the young Dumble-
dore and his handsome companion, roaring with laughter at some
long-forgotten joke. Harry dropped his eyes to the caption:
Albus Dumbledore, shortly after his mother's death
with his friend Gellert Grindelwald.
Harry gasped at the last word for several long moments. Grin-
delwald. His friend Grindelwald. He looked sideways at Hermione,
who was still contemplating the name as though she could not
believe her eyes. Slowly she looked up at Harry.
\Grindelwald?"
Ignoring the remainder of the photographs, Harry searched the
pages around them for a recurrence of that fatal name. He soon
discovered it and read greedily, but became lost: It was necessary
to go farther back to make sense of it all, and eventually he found
himself at the start of a chapter entitled \The Greater Good."
Together, he and Hermione started to read:
Now approaching his eighteenth birthday, Dumbledore left
Hogwarts in a blaze of glory|Head Boy, Prefect, Win-
ner of the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-
Casting, British Youth Representative to the Wizengamot,
Gold Medal-Winner for Ground-Breaking Contribution to the
International Alchemical Conference in Cairo. Dumbledore in-
tended, next, to take a Grand Tour with Elphias \Dogbreath"
Doge, the dim-witted but devoted sidekick he had picked up
at school.
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Chapter 18
The two young men were staying at the Leaky Cauldron in
London, preparing to depart for Greece the following morning,
when an owl arrived bearing news of Dumbledore's mother's
death. \Dogbreath" Doge, who refused to be interviewed for
this book, has given the public his own sentimental version of
what happened next. He represents Kendra's death as a tragic
blow, and Dumbledore's decision to give up his expedition as
an act of noble self-sacri ce.
Certainly Dumbledore returned to Godric's Hollow at
once, supposedly to \care" for his younger brother and sis-
ter. But how much care did he actually give them?
\He were a head case, that Aberforth," said Enid Smeek,
whose family lived on the outskirts of Godric's Hollow at that
time. \Ran wild. 'Course, with his mum and dad gone you'd
have felt sorry for him, only he kept chucking goat dung at
my head. I don't think Albus was fussed about him, I never
saw them together, anyway."
So what was Albus doing, if not comforting his wild young
brother? The answer, it seems, is ensuring the continued im-
prisonment of his sister. For, though her rst jailer had died,
there was no change in the pitiful condition of Ariana Dumble-
dore. Her very existence continued to be known only to those
few outsiders who, like \Dogbreath" Doge could be counted
upon to believe in the story of her \ill health."
Another such easily satis ed friend of the family was Bat-
hilda Bagshot, the celebrated magical historian who has lived
in Godric's Hollow for many years. Kendra, of course, had
rebu ed Bathilda when she rst attempted to welcome the
family to the village. Several years later, however, the author
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
sent an owl to Albus at Hogwarts, having been favorably im-
pressed by his paper on trans-species transformation in Trans-
guration Today. This initial contact led to acquaintance with
the entire Dumbledore family. At the time of Kendra's death,
Bathilda was the only person in Godric's Hollow who was on
speaking terms with Dumbledore's mother.
Unfortunately, the brilliance that Bathilda exhibited ear-
lier in her life has now dimmed. \The re's lit, but the
cauldron's empty," as Ivor Dillonsby put it to me, or, in
Enid Smeek's slightly earthier phrase, \She's nutty as squirrel
poo." Nevertheless, a combination of tried-and-tested report-
ing techniques enabled me to extract enough nuggets of hard
fact to string together the whole scandalous story.
Like the rest of the Wizarding world, Bathilda puts
Kendra's premature death down to a back ring charm, a story
repeated by Albus and Aberforth in later years. Bathilda also
parrots the family line on Ariana, calling her \frail" and \del-
icate." On one subject, however, Bathilda is well worth the
e ort I put in procuring Veritaserum, for she, and she alone,
knows the full story of the best-kept story of Albus Dumble-
dore's life. Now revealed for the rst time, it calls into ques-
tion everything that his admirers believed of of Dumbledore:
his supposed hatred of the Dark Arts, his opposition to the
oppression of Muggles, even his devotion to his own family.
The very same summer that Dumbledore went home to Go-
dric's Hollow, now an orphan and head of the family, Bathilda
Bagshot agreed to accept into her home her great-nephew,
Gellert Grindelwald.
The name of Grindelwald is justly famous: In a list of Most
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Chapter 18
Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, he would miss out on
the top spot only because You-Know-Who arrived, a genera-
tion later, to steal his crown. As Grindelwald never extended
his campaign of terror to Britain, however, the details of his
rise to power are not widely known here.
Educated at Durmstrang, a school famous even then for its
unfortunate tolerance of the Dark Arts, Grindelwald showed
himself quite as precociously brilliant as Dumbledore. Rather
than channel his abilities into the attainment of awards and
prizes, however, Gellert Grindelwald devoted himself to other
pursuits. At sixteen years old, even Durmstrang felt it could
no longer turn a blind eye to the twisted experiments of Gellert
Grindelwald, and he was expelled.
Hitherto, all that has been known of Grindelwald's next
movements is that he \traveled abroad for some months." It
can now be revealed that Grindelwald chose to visit his great-
aunt in Godric's Hollow, and that there, intensely shocking
though it will be for many to hear it, he struck up a close
friendship with none other than Albus Dumbledore.
\He seemed a charming boy to me," babbles Bathilda,
\whatever he became later. Naturally I introduced him to
poor Albus, who was missing the company of lads his own
age. The boys took to each other at once."
They certainly did. Bathilda shows me a letter, kept by
her, that Albus Dumbledore send Gellert Grindelwald in the
dead of night.
\Yes, even after they'd spent all day in discussion|both
such brilliant young boys, they got on like a cauldron on re|
I'd sometimes hear an owl tapping at Gellert's bedroom win-
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
dow, delivering a letter from Albus! An idea would have struck
him, and then he had to let Gellert know immediately!"
And what ideas they were. Profoundly shocking though
Albus Dumbledore's fans will nd it, here are the thoughts of
their seventeen-year-old hero, as relayed to his new best friend.
(A copy of the original letter may be seen on page 463.)
Gellert|
Your point about Wizard dominance being FOR
THE MUGGLES' OWN GOOD|this, I think is
the crucial point. Yes, we have been given power
and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it
also gives us responsibilities over the ruled. We must
stress this point, it will be the foundation stone upon
which we build. Where we are opposed, as we surely
will be, this must be the basis of all our counterar-
guments. We seize control FOR THE GREATER
GOOD. And from this it follows that where we meet
resistance, we must use only the force that is neces-
sary and no more. (This was your mistake at Durm-
strang! But I do not complain, because if you had
not been expelled, we would never have met.)
Albus
Astonished and appalled though his many admirers will
be, this letter constitutes proof that Albus Dumbledore once
dreamed of overthrowing the Statute of Secrecy and estab-
lishing Wizard rule over Muggles. What a blow for those
who have always portrayed Dumbledore as the Muggle-borns'
greatest champion! How hollow those speeches promoting
Muggle rights seem in the light of this damning new evidence!
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Chapter 18
How despicable does Albus Dumbledore appear, busy plot-
ting his rise to power when he should have been mourning his
mother and caring for his sister!
No doubt those determined to keep Dumbledore on his
crumbling pedestal will bleat that he did not, after all, put
his plans into action, that he must have su ered a change of
heart, that he came to his senses. However, the truth seems
altogether more shocking.
Barely two months into their great new friendship. Dum-
bledore and Grindelwald parted, never to see each other again
until they met for their legendary dual (for more, see chapter
22). What caused this abrupt rupture? Had Dumbledore
come to his senses? Had he told Grindelwald he wanted no
more part in his plans? Alas, no.
\It was poor little Ariana dying, I think, that did it," says
Bathilda. \It came as an awful shock. Gellert was there in
the house when it happened, and he came back to my house
all of a dither, told me he wanted to go home the next day.
Terribly distressed, you know. So I arranged a Portkey and
that was the last I saw of him.
\Albus was beside himself at Ariana's death. It was so
dreadful for those two brothers. They had lost everybody ex-
cept each other. No wonder tempers ran a little high. Aber-
forth blamed Albus, you know, as people will under these
dreadful circumstances. But Aberforth always talked a lit-
tle madly, poor boy. All the same, breaking Albus's nose at
the funeral was not decent. It would have destroyed Kendra
to see her sons ghting like that, across her daughter's body.
A shame Gellert could not have stayed for the funeral. . . . He
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
would have been a comfort to Albus, at least. . . ."
This dreadful co n-side brawl, known only to those few
who attended Ariana Dumbledore's funeral, raises several
questions. Why exactly did Aberforth Dumbledore blame Al-
bus for his sister's death? Was it, as \Batty" pretends, a mere
e usion of grief? Or could there have been some more concrete
reason for his fury? Grindelwald, expelled from Durmstrang
for near-fatal attacks upon fellow students,
ed the country
hours after the girl's death, and Albus (out of shame or fear?)
never saw him again, not until forced to do so by the pleas of
the Wizarding world.
Neither Dumbledore nor Grindelwald ever seem to have
referred to this brief boyhood friendship in later life. However,
there can be no doubt that Dumbledore delayed, for some
ve years of turmoil, fatalities, and disappearances, his attack
upon Grindelwald. Was it a lingering a ection for the man or
fear of exposure as his once best friend that caused Dumble-
dore to hesitate? Was it only reluctantly that Dumbledore set
out to capture the man he was once so delighted he had met?
And how did the mysterious Ariana die? Was she the
inadvertent victim of some Dark rite? Did she stumble across
something she ought not to have done, as the two young men
sat practicing for their attempt at glory and domination? Is
it possible that Ariana Dumbledore was the rst person to die
\for the greater good"?
The chapter ended here and Harry looked up. Hermione had
reached the bottom of the page before him. She tugged the book
out of Harry's hands, looking a little alarmed by his expression,
and closed it without looking at it, as though hiding something
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Chapter 18
indecent.
\Harry|"
But he shook his head. Some inner certainty had crashed down
inside him; it was exactly as he had felt after Ron left. He had
trusted Dumbledore, believed him the embodiment of goodness
and wisdom. All was ashes: How much more could he lose? Ron,
Dumbledore, the phoenix wand . . . \Harry." She seemed to have
heard his thoughts. \Listen to me. It|it doesn't make very nice
reading|"
\Yeah, you could say that|"
\|but don't forget, Harry this is Rita Skeeter writing."
\You did read that letter to Grindelwald, didn't you?"
\Yes, I|I did." She hesitated, looking upset, cradling her tea
in her cold hands. \I think that's the worst bit. I know Bathilda
thought it was all just talk, bur `For the Greater Good' became
Grindelwald's slogan, his justi cation for all the atrocities he com-
mitted later. And . . . from that . . . it looks like Dumbledore gave
him the idea. They say `For the Greater Good' was even carved
over the entrance to Nurmengard."
\What's Nurmengard?"
\The prison Grindelwald had built to hold his opponents. He
ended up in there himself, once Dumbledore had caught him. Any-
way, it's|it's an awful thought that Dumbledore's ideas helped
Grindelwald rise to power. But on the other hand, even Rita can't
pretend that they knew each other for more than a few months one
summer when they were both really young, and|"
\I thought you'd say that," said Harry. He did not want to let
his anger spill out at her, but it was hard to keep his voice steady.
\I thought you'd say `They were young.' They were the same age
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The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
as we are now. And here we are, risking our lives to ght the
Dark Arts, and there he was, in a huddle with his new best friend,
plotting their rise to power over the Muggles."
His temper would not remain in check much longer: He stood
up and walked around, trying to work some of it o .
\I'm not trying to defend what Dumbledore wrote," said Her-
mione. \All that `right to rule' rubbish, it's `Magic Is Might' all
over again. But Harry, his mother had just died, he was stuck
alone in the house|"
\Alone? He wasn't alone! He had his brother and sister for
company, his Squib sister he was keeping locked up|"
\I don't believe it," said Hermione. She stood up too. \What-
ever was wrong with that girl, I don't think she was a Squib. The
Dumbledore we know would never, ever have allowed|"
\The Dumbledore we thought we knew didn't want to conquer
Muggles by force!" Harry shouted, his voice echoing across the
empty hilltop, and several blackbirds rose into the air, squawking
and spiraling against the pearly sky.
\He changed, Harry, he changed! It's as simple as that! Maybe
he did believe those things when he was seventeen, but the whole
of the rest of his life was devoted to ghting the Dark Arts! Dum-
bledore was the one who stopped Grindelwald, the one who always
voted for Muggle protection and Muggle born rights, who fought
You-Know-Who from the start, and who died trying to bring him
down!"
Rita's book lay on the ground between them, so that the face
of Albus Dumbledore smiled dolefully at both.
\Harry, I'm sorry, but I think the real reason you're so angry is
that Dumbledore never told you any of this himself."
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Chapter 18
\Maybe I am!" Harry bellowed, and he
ung his arms over his
head, hardly knowing whether he was trying to hold in his anger or
protect himself from the weight of his own disillusionment. \Look
what he asked from me, Hermione! Risk your life, Harry! And
again! And again! And don't expect me to explain everything,
just trust me blindly, trust that I know what I'm doing, trust me
even though I don't trust you! Never the whole truth! Never!"
His voice cracked with the strain, and they stood looking at
each other in the whiteness and the emptiness, and Harry felt they
were as insigni cant as insects beneath that wide sky.
\He loved you," Hermione whispered. \I know he loved you."
Harry dropped his arms.
\I don't know who he loved, Hermione, but it was never me.
This isn't love, the mess he's left me in. He shared a damn sight
more of what he was really thinking with Gellert Grindelwald than
he ever shared with me."
Harry picked up Hermione's wand, which he dropped in the
snow, and sat back down in the entrance to the tent.
\Thanks for the tea. I'll nish the watch. You get back in the
warm."
She hesitated, but recognized the dismissal. She picked up the
book and then walked back past him into the tent, but as she did
so, she brushed the top of his head lightly with her hand. He closed
his eyes at her touch, and hated himself for wishing that what she
said was true: that Dumbledore had really cared.
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