Harry immediately raised a mage-dome shield... The strongest magical shield spell known to mankind, around himself and several spells splashed harmlessly on it. As an added protection, Harry conjured a kaleidoscope of butterflies around him. The golden dome held under the onslaught of curses casted by the people who were trying to kill him. Harry immediately counted the number of people firing at him. Sixteen.
A few others... around a dozen people were firing at the crowd, keeping them busy but Dumbledore and the aurors were protecting the crowd with a few others. So, Harry decided to deal with the sixteen people firing at him. He also decided that he wasn't going to hold back. The mage-dome was already straining under the onslaught of spells. The assassins weren't playing around. They were firing spells which would all be labeled as extremely-dark by the British ministry. All spells were powerful and lethal. A few killing curses had already bypassed Harry's shield, but were intercepted by the butterflies.
Harry let go of his shield, creating a shockwave around him before his wand sprang into action. He casted a wide area Chopping curse followed by two advanced stunners at the death eaters... or whoever they were as the attackers weren't wearing the usual death eater regalia. The curse successfully chopped two of the assassins in half from waist down as they were still recovering from the shockwave. They screamed in pain as blood spewed from their stumps before their stunned bodies crumpled to the floor.
Next, Harry created a fire-whip which wrapped around one of the men who was still getting up after falling to the floor, while he simultaneously replenished the butterflies. The man screamed in pain before Harry let go of the whip and hit him with a guillotine curse, beheading him in one fluid motion.
The back of Harry's neck tingled and he moved. Harry suddenly felt a stinging sensation on his upper left arm. He had been clipped by a Lacero which had slipped through his butterfly shield. He erected an Aegis-maximus shield and return fired upon the attackers. His wand was a blur as spells flew from it. But, he was being out-numbered thirteen to one. The butterflies were swirling around him faster than ever, intercepting spells left right and center. He was simultaneously conjuring more butterflies wandlessly to replenish their numbers and even deflecting spells.
A piercing curse nearly hit him but Harry had ducked at the last moment before he too retaliated.
'Conlido, Reducto, Bombarda Maxima, Obstupefio, Protego Maxima, Piercio, Deprimo, Lacero, Avis, Oppungo, Abscido Maxima, Confringo, Expungo.'
None of his spells scored a hit as all were stopped by shields.
Harry, completely undeterred by the lack of success, waved his wand, transfiguring the dozens of dead butterflies into spikes and send them flying at the attackers. They all erected shields to stop them... all except one, who got a couple of spikes to his shoulder, one to his leg and three on his abdomen, one to his chest and he fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
A bludgeoner hit Harry's chest but, he stood there unfazed, still firing and deflecting spells. Thank Merlin that he had worn his Basilisk-vest underneath his robes. Harry next shot a dozen fire arrows at the attackers followed by Confringos and Reductos. All his spells were blocked expertly. These attackers were loads more skilled than the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup.
He was hit by an arrow point blank at his heart, but the vest protected him once again.
That was when nearly a dozen aurors flooded near the stage and half of Harry's attackers engaged the aurors. Out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw that half of the assassins attacking the crowd had been successfully taken down. He conjured a stone-wall to intercept a dozen spikes which had been shot at him and ducked under a killing curse before intercepting another with a butterfly.
'Piercio, Depulso, Uanescere, Deprimo, Confringo, Protego Aegis, Ensis Incido, Triplexi Explosus, Excaceo.' All these spells flashed from Harry's wand in less than one second. The result? Only the Ensis Incido spell... the swordsman spell, impacted a female attacker and she went down screaming, bleeding deeply. All the rest of his spells were blocked with shields or physical objects.
The attackers were working in Harmony to protect each other and attack Harry. It was as if they were trained specifically to work in teams.
As soon as the Lady went down, the rest five shouted 'Avada Kedavra' in harmony and five killing curses sped towards Harry. He intercepted the killing curses with another swarm of butterflies. Before the dead butterflies fell to the floor, Harry transfigured them to iron spikes and banished them at the attackers. An attacker Conjured a marble wall to block the spikes.
Time for Harry's favorite trick.
He transfigured the wall into a Leopard which pounced upon the man who had conjured the wall and attacked him. Another attacker aided him by beheading Harry's leopard, but, Harry's stunner impacted the man who was bleeding extensively due to the claw marks.
Harry hissed in pain as a bone-breaker impacted his elbow, breaking it before he had to duck under a killing curse and dodge several spells send his way.
Harry grunted in pain as a sledge-hammer curse, which his butterfly-shield was incapable of stopping, hit his abdomen. His vest saved him from certain death, but it was going to leave a nasty bruise.
'Protego scutum.' A shimmering blue barrier protected his body from the next several curses that had been shot at Harry. He immediately performed a quick healing spell on his elbow before he performed the Mjolnir spell... a spell the ancient Norse wizards had invented. It shot several lightning bolts at once which would hit the caster's opponents.
Four tendrils of lightning leapt from Harry's wand and hurled towards the attackers. All of the conjured an elemental shield but the spell broke through them and impacted three of the attackers. Now, only one attacker remained.
The remaining attacker looked around at her fallen companions. The people attacking the crowd had all been captured except for two who were hiding behind tables, still firing spells. She yelled something to them and before Harry could do anything, she pointed her wand to the heavens and yelled, "FIENDFYRE"
Hot, eldritch flames started pouring out of her wand and started taking the shape of a huge Dragon. Her remaining companions who were still standing followed her lead.
Screams filling the atrium increased in intensity. People were desperately trying to escape. The ones brave and skilled enough were casting spells, trying to help each other but, instead creating more chaos as people intercepted their way, trying to run away. But, they had a bigger fish to fry than people running around like headless chickens.
Three people casting Fiendfyre in an enclosed space with a crowd present was bad news, very-very bad news.
Harry immediately raised his wand and water emerged from his wand. The problem? The water was semi-sentient like Fiendfyre and needed conscious and continuous attention to be controlled. While not destructive as Fiendfyre, the spell had been known for flooding several small towns in the past and drowning houses when it went wrong.
The two dragons, made of fire and water respectively battled in a awe-inspiring display of magic. Soon, Harry's dragon started overpowering the Fiendfyre and Harry turned the his Dragon into a great wave of water and used it to encompass the Fiendfyre, creating a globe of water with the Fiendfyre in it. He wandlessly shot a Lacero at the attacker and she fell on the ground dead as blood spewed from her jugular.
Harry immediately subdued the Fiendfyre before it could grow and become haywire as its caster was no longer in control. He also subdued his own water spell from multiplying in quantity due to the ambient magic from the Fiendfyre. Flooding the atrium was a bad idea at the moment.
He dropped on one knee as soon as he successfully ended his own spell. The mage dome and subduing the fiendfyre had taken a lot out of Harry. He greedily breathed in several gulps of air. He looked around the atrium. Dumbledore was subduing the last of Fiendfyre that was casted. All the attackers were down. There was wide spread destruction around the atrium. Enchanted windows were broken, the tiles were cracked, several tables were chairs were in ashes or in pieces.
The once beautifully decorated ministry atrium now looked like a war zone. The residuary fumes of the Fiendfyre was making it hard to breathe.
Several people were lying on the floor either bleeding or unmoving. It included both the attackers and normal public. The attackers who had been chopped from waist down by Harry lay in a pool of their own blood, dead. The woman whose abdomen had been slashed open... her guts were spilled on the floor. It was a horrifying sight.
Harry wasn't bothered about that though. He was searching for his family and friends. His eyes met Sirius's as he got up from where he had taken cover. He had a cut across his cheek, soot on his face and was massaging his shoulder. Amelia was hugging Susan tightly but they both looked alright. The Greengrass family, bar Lord Greengrass, was hidden behind a makeshift cover of Chairs and tables with many other people, including the minister. Lord Greengrass was lying on the floor near Sirius, breathing heavily and his leg was bent at an odd angle.
Harry gingerly got up. His magical reserves were running low and as a result, he was feeling fatigued. His robes were bloodied and his injuries were still healing. His ribs ached as he took a shuddering breath. Everyone dear to him was alright. There had been civilian casualties though.
"AVADA KEDAVRA" someone yelled. Harry turned to the source of the voice and saw the sickly greet light of the killing curse speeding towards him. Before he could even react, there was a burst of purple fire in front of him and Hedwig flamed in. She swallowed the killing curse and burst into flames.
"HEDWIG!" Harry yelled seeing his beloved familiar get hit by a killing curse. All sense left Harry. He turned his attention on the person who had shot the curse, fury written on his face and his eyes glowing with power. He roared and slashed his wand downwards.
"AVADA KE-" The guy tried again, but had to stop as a humongous bolt of lightning hit him square on the chest.
People in the atrium were temporarily blinded as they saw spots in their vison and their ears rang due to the sheer power of the bolt. The smell of ozone and charred flesh filled the atrium. When people successfully blinked out the spots from their eyes, many nearly vomited at the sight of the man's charred body.
Harry though, was paying little attention to the body of the attacker. He immediately kneeled besides Hedwig's ashes. "Hedwig." Harry muttered. A small chick poked her head out of the ash pile. Harry picked her up and warmly cradled her in his arms. He felt a person lay his hands on his shoulder. He nearly attacked but relaxed when he saw that it was Dumbledore.
"You need Medical attention Harry." Dumbledore said.
Sirius too hurried to his side. "Harry, the Headmaster's right. Come." Harry nodded and got back to his feet swaying slightly, baby Hedwig still in his arms.
Sirius and Dumbledore shared a look, silently conversing. Dumbledore finally spoke up. "Come, Harry. I am apparating you to Hogwarts."
Harry just nodded again, as he was unable to answer. Fatigue had gripped him as his adrenaline subsided.
He was suffering from magical exhaustion. The mage-dome shield was one of the most taxing and the most powerful shield spell in his arsenal. Holding it successfully while being bombarded by so many powerful spells would leave even the best wizards and witches with severe magical exhaustion. There was also the fact that the number of witches and wizards who could successfully cast the mage-dome shield were only a handful in the world, which made casting the spell itself a feat of magic.
Harry had also battled a dozen wizards and extinguished fiendfyre immediately after that. And that lightning spell had taken a lot out of him.
Dumbledore led him towards the apparation point with Sirius following behind them. Aurors were bustling around the atrium, giving emergency first aid and arresting the attackers.
They almost reached the Apparation point when Amelia intercepted their way. Susan was with her.
"I am sorry, but, won't it be better that Mr. Potter is led to St. Mungo's where he'll get better treatment? I will personally place a security detail for him if needed. And my aurors even need to take statements... but that can wait till Harry is healed." She sent an apologetic look to Harry.
Harry wasn't upset with Amelia though. She was only doing her duty as the head of DMLE. Harry needed to be accessible for the case and statements needed to be recorded as soon as possible.
But, Dumbledore was having none of it. "I am afraid Amelia, that St. Mungo's may not be safe enough for young Harry especially after today's assassination attempt. I am taking him to Hogwarts for treatment and I am sure that Madame Pomfrey is qualified enough to handle injuries at this level. And as for the statements, you and your trusted aurors can come to Hogwarts after lunch at 3PM in the evening to take the statements from Mr. Potter." He said with steel in his voice.
Dumbledore looked intimidating as hell as he looked down at the Head of DMLE, his eyes devoid of his legendary twinkle behind his half-moon spectacles. His soot covered face and beard just added to the intimidation factor.
Amelia quickly nodded and let them pass. Harry tried to give Susan a reassuring smile as he went towards the apparation point but it came out more like a grimace as he stumbled and Dumbledore grabbed his injured elbow to stabilize him.
Dumbledore led Harry to the apparation point and told Sirius to go home and get clothes and other essentials for Harry before he side-apparated Harry straight to the hospital wing. It was fortunately empty. Dumbledore waved his wand and a bell chime sounded from it.
Madame Pomfrey immediately emerged from her office and saw Harry's condition. He immediately knew that he was in for a long night.
1st January 1995
Hospital wing, Hogwarts
The next morning, Harry woke up with sunlight streaming on his face from an open window. He was completely healed and his magic almost had been replenished completely but, it was still settling. By dinner or by breakfast the next day at the latest, he would be in full health once again. Most severe magical exhaustion cases took a few days... almost a week to be completely cured. A severely depleted core needed atleast two to four days to be replenished completely and took a further couple of days for the core to settle down. So, healers recommended a week's rest to those who suffered from magical exhaustion.
He had only recovered so soon thanks to the ritual he had done on Winter Solstice almost a fortnight ago. It was a ritual that decreased the amount of time that he would need to replenish his magic drastically. It wouldn't help him in a duel but rather recovering after a taxing duel.
Harry got up from his bed and the matron came bustling in.
"Mr. Potter! You aren't recovered yet. You need—"
"I need to use the bathroom Madame Pomfrey. I assure you that I am not sneaking away." Harry said rolling his eyes. The healer seemed so overbearing that a few of her patients ran away after a few hours. Harry had done that too a couple of times. But, she was just doing her job. She had to ensure that each of her charges were in perfect health before they were discharged.
"Very well, Mr. Potter. But, if you run away, I will personally drag you back here. Am I understood?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good. Off you go then. I will have your breakfast ready by the time you come back." She informed. Harry just nodded and went to get ready for the day.
With breakfast, Harry was also delivered the Daily Prophet. The headlines were:
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE BOY-WHO-LIVED AT THE ANNUAL MINISTRY BALL
by Rita Skeeter
Harry read the article. It was highly factual especially considering the fact that it was an article written by Rita Skeeter. Of course, she had added conspiration theories and used her flowery words but, it was limited. According to the article there were a total of Thirty people who had attacked the ministry ball. Thirty. Out of whom only nine had survived. Apparently, many attackers who had been stunned by aurors had been killed when Fiendfyre was unleashed. But, Harry knew another thing. He had most definitely killed eight attackers. He didn't know about the condition of the rest two who he had taken down, neither the six who had engaged the aurors.
He knew he should feel remorse but, he didn't. There was only cold acceptance of the fact. It was either them or him and his loved ones.
But, there was one main piece of news. None of the attackers bore the dark mark. Neither were they identified. They had no records of being born or any legal documents. It was as if they had dropped from thin space. There was no record of them existing.
Rita Skeeter had gone on a questioning spree about this even going as far as to call the ministry's record officers corrupt and incompetent.
The saddest part of the article was that twelve civilians... well, eleven civilians and one auror had lost their lives, eight were in critical conditions and seventy-two were injured in some way or the other and were admitted in St. Mundo's for medical attention. All the names of the deceased had been mentioned in the article.
Harry folded the paper and kept it down and finished his bacon in silence. It was soon broken as Sirius arrived in the hospital wing to check on him. He had already brought Harry's things the previous night to Hogwarts and stayed in a guest room for the night at Hogwarts. They talked for a while and were interrupted by Madame Pomfrey bringing him two letters that had came from him.
They were from Daphne and Susan respectively. Both were inquiring about his health and if he was alright.
Daphne informed him that her father had been admitted at St. Mungo's but was discharged in two hours and advised a day's rest. Astoria was shaken but otherwise unharmed. Susan on the other hand was also alright and her aunt apparently was yet to arrive home since the previous night as she was dealing with the whole situation.
Harry spend the rest of the day reading, only sneaking out to talk with Helga and Salazar. He went to the Bathroom and apparated to the chamber.
They were predictably worried about him but, they too had no idea of who the attackers were but suspected it to be the work of military organizations that weren't registered with ICW. He conversed with them for an hour before using the time turner to go back in time. He had no wish to get an earful from an angry Madame Pomfrey.
Soon it was afternoon and exactly at 3:00PM, three aurors along with Amelia Bones entered the hospital wing. Harry recognized one as Kingsley Shacklebolt and another as John Dawlish. He didn't know who the second lady was.
Amelia looked... tired. She had bag under her eyes and her hair was a little unkempt. "Good afternoon Harry." She said. Harry could hear the tiredness in her voice.
"Good afternoon. Are you alright Amelia?"
"I should be the one asking you that." She said dryly.
"Oh, I am alright. It is just Madame Pomfrey unwilling to let me go."
"I will be the one to decide if you're alright Mr. Potter. Not you." Madame Pomfrey said entering the hospital wing from her office with a thin file. She turned to the aurors present. "Here is Mr. Potter's file. All his injuries that I treated yesterday are noted here. Also, he was suffering from magical exhaustion yesterday. His latest checkup was an hour ago and is also filed."
Dawlish accepted the file with a nod.
"Thank you healer Pomfrey. You may leave. We need to speak with Mr. Potter here and need to record his statement." Amelia told her and she went back to her office. Amelia turned back to Harry. "Mr. Potter, are you ready to give us your statement?"
Harry nodded and answered their questions. It took around twenty minutes for it to get over.
"Thank you Mr. Potter for your cooperation. Dicta quill off."
Amelia leaned back in her seat and rubbed her eyes.
"You look extremely tired Amelia. You should get some rest Amelia. Or a pepper-up potion atleast."
"I know. But, I can't. The assassination attempt on you has caused an uproar of epic proportions. The assassins or whoever the hell they were... there is literally no record of them. It is like they dropped from space. And I am already on my third potion."
"Yeah... I read about the records not existing." Harry replied. Poor Amelia.
"You... what?"
"It is in the Daily Prophet. First page." Harry said, handing her the newspaper lying on the table next to him. Amelia read the article and groaned.
"Dawlish!" She barked. "Find out how Skeeter got hold of this. It was a private DMLE investigation. Now."
"Yes ma'am. I will find out the leak." He saluted and hurried out of the room.
Harry had a huge suspicion on how Skeeter had exactly got hold of the information but, he was under a contract to not reveal that secret. Instead, he said, "Amelia, how is it possible? How can thirty people, with no previous record drop out of nowhere?"
Instead of Amelia, Carolee Smulders... the second female in the room and a member of the DMLE investigation branch answered, "We are still investigating it. I am afraid we can not tell you Mr. Potter."
"Have you found anything at all?"
"... No." She replied.
"Nothing at all? Well, I can give you a lead I believe. Check out the non-recognized, illegal military organizations."
"Non-recognized, illegal military organization?" Smulders asked slowly as if tasting the words.
"Hired assassins and mercenaries in layman terms." Harry replied
"You think they hired thirty people to kill you?"
"They even failed with thirty people, Ms. Smulders. What is your point?" Harry asked curtly.
"N-No. That is not what I meant. I meant like thirty assassins are going to be expensive... and that is actually insane."
"That is why I used the word Non-recognized, illegal military organization. They could be a group of mercenaries for all we know or an assassination group too. There are many of them who work in different ways. Research about them Miss Smulders. But, I am sure Madame Bones already knows a little about them." Amelia nodded in agreement.
"Why aren't you asking them? Give them Veritaserum. They don't exist according to the records... do they?" Harry asked after a few seconds of silence
"Yes... they don't Harry. But... there was a little problem. Keep this confidential. The first two people whom we interrogated... or precisely were about to interrogate, apparently had a fake tooth which contained poison. As soon as they realized that they had been captured, they both broke the tooth and committed suicide. So, we removed the tooth from the rest of them. The first two just died before we could even register what they were doing. We understood what the two did when the third prisoner shouted a word and died suddenly." Amelia said.
Harry put the pieces together. "An unbreakable vow. Likely one to never say the word... atleast not if they had been captured. Ingenious." Harry mused out loud.
Amelia nodded. "We are now contemplating what to do with the rest four. If they die as soon as they say a word... we don't know what other measures they may have in place to stop themselves from being interrogated. Oh, and under no circumstances should this information leak."
"Of course."
"Then thank you for your cooperation. We'll take our leave now. Take care."
"Thank you. And you all too. Amelia, you should get some sleep. Susan's worried about you."
"Yeah... I know." Amelia nodded stifling a yawn. Soon the aurors and Amelia left the hospital wing, leaving Harry alone just before Madame Pomfrey bustled in to check on him and insisted that he should have a nap.
1st January 1995
Riddle House, Little Hangleton
Tom Riddle POV
Lord Voldemort roared in rage but, it the sound came out more like a baby screaming for a cookie. He was currently propped up in a comfortable plush armchair which looked too big for his size in his current form. Pillows surrounded him to keep his small-baby body from falling over. This was what had become of one of the most feared dark lord to walk on earth.
The Daily Prophet in his hands burst into flames and was promptly banished. The body he was currently in may not be the best, but his magic was still great as ever.
"Crucio" Voldemort said pointing his wand at the already trembling servant at his feet. The wand wasn't as great as the yew wand he had, but, it mattered not. His original wand had been broken by Harry Potter when Pettigrew had been captured. Just another thing the boy would pay for. After taking the boy's blood and resurrecting himself to his former body, the boy would be shown his place. Crushed like the worm he was.
The servant of the dark lord writhed on the floor in pain, his screams filling the room. Voldemort let go of the curse nearly a minute later.
"Get up you blithering fool. Tell me, what were my orders."
"To-to gather a fo-force to ca-capture the Potter boy, m-my lord." The death eater stammered.
"Crucio." The servant fell to the ground writhing in pain once again. After a few seconds, Voldemort ended the curse. "Then why am hearing that Potter was nearly ASSASSINATED? I want him CAPTURED! ALIVE! Not DEAD! He is of no use to me dead atleast for now!"
The servant shakily got to his knees. "I d-don't k-know m-my lord. I don't k-know wh-who did this."
"You weren't the one behind this?" Voldemort asked sharply.
"N-no master. I am still finding people for the t-task you gave m-me. I d-didn't order this attack on Potter." The servant stammered again, afraid of his lord's temper.
"You didn't?" Voldemort asked and sent a Legilimency probe at the stammering fool.
"No My Lord."
He was telling the truth.
Then who had tried to assassinate the boy? He would find out if he could... later. Now, was the time for a more concerning detail. Thirty attackers had been sent behind Potter to kill him. It had been foolish to attack him when he was surrounded by aurors, hit-wizards and even the old man himself. But nevertheless, they had failed.
The boy was dangerous.
Perhaps... he could convince him to join him. He would be an excellent addition to the death eater ranks... but, he knew that the boy wouldn't. He was too deep in the old fool's pocket to consider joining him.
He decided that he would give the boy an option after his resurrection. To join him or perish. But first, he needed to successfully capture the boy and take his blood
"Master?" His servant interrupted his train of thoughts.
"Crucio" Voldemort tortured the man again. "Tell me why haven't you finished the task I gave you yet?"
"I-I am still searching Master. Y-you said n-not to c-call the seniors yet. I-I am not finding e-enough volunteers to c-capture the b-boy. But, I will master! Give me some more time!"
"Crucio." Voldemort cast the torture curse the fourth time on the servant in a span of few minutes. "It seems you aren't capable of the job! I need someone better." Voldemort sneered.
"M-My Lord?"
"Yes... It is time to relieve one of my most loyal servants from his prison."
"Master?"
"You need to make a fake body and place it in his cell before breaking the man out. You talked to Pettigrew in Azkaban right? You need to get to Azkaban the same way and break one of my most useful death eaters out. He will help us a lot by contacting volunteers to capture Potter, with my ritual and the trap that we have to lay."
"W-who is it my lord?"
"Augustus Rookwood."
8th January 1995
Hogwarts
It was the fourth day back since the new term had started at Hogwarts. The teachers were already giving the fourth and the sixth year students loads of homework and pushing them to their limits. OWL and NEWT level students had formed study groups to learn and revise topics. The teachers were handing them mock tests every week to make sure that they were prepared. The library was always filled with students wishing to do their homework or study.
Harry was immune to all this tension. He had a bigger problem to worry about: Voldemort.
And, to be honest, school work didn't hold a candle to what he could do. He had surpassed school level studies long ago. Even in potions despite whatever Snivellus felt. McGonagall had loudly proclaimed in her Friday morning class that Harry was the only student currently capable of getting an O in transfiguration OWLS when he had transfigured a pig into a perfect coffee table with a wave of his wand. McGonagall had awarded him twenty points for a perfect transfiguration and ten more for doing it non-verbally.
When the students had returned, Harry's friends were understandably worried about him... despite of him already telling them that he was alright in his letters. Hermione had asked half-dozen questions before remembering to breathe. Susan had snogged him senseless, much to his enjoyment, in an empty train compartment. She needed reassurance that Harry was alright and Harry was more than happy to reassure her.
Daphne had done the same the following day.
Currently, Harry was walking down the corridor towards the headmaster's office. The reason? He wanted to have a long talk with the headmaster and requested him for an appointment. Dumbledore had cleared his Sunday evening schedule to accommodate him.
"Cockroach clusters" Harry said and the gargoyle sprang aside, giving Harry a way to the Headmaster's office.
"Come in Harry." Dumbledore's voice sounded just before Harry could knock the door. Harry pushed the door open and entered the office. The headmaster was sitting behind his desk, his eyes twinkling as several silver instruments whirled and made noises. Fawkes was sitting on his perch, preening himself. He trilled as Harry entered.
Harry smiled at the headmaster. "Good evening sir."
"Good evening Harry. Please take a seat. Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing to a bowl of Lemon drops on his desk as Harry took a seat in front of him.
"No thank you."
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" He asked.
"Many things professor. Let us take the most recent matter at hand first. The assassination attempt on me at the ministry. What do you know about it?"
Dumbledore sighed. "I am afraid that I don't know much myself Harry. I have been investigating but who ordered the assassination attempt on you still remains a mystery."
"But, you do know something that the normal public and DMLE doesn't." Harry said sharply.
"Yes. I do. The attackers, as reported in the Prophet have no records of existing. So, I tried to find out who they were and what connection did they have in common. I found that they belonged to a group known as the 'Shadow Assassins'."
Harry raised his eyebrows. He had read about the group in his Grandfather's journal. He had said that it was the most wide-spread mercenary group to exist and not much was known about them. Apparently the group had been contracted to kill Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black before a crucial Wizengamot session. The Mercenaries that had been hired had failed, but, that day several lords on the Wizengamot had died in the crossfire.
Salazar and Helga said that there were actually several smaller Mercenary groups in the past which had joined hands to form the group Shadow Assassins.
"You know about them?" Dumbledore asked with a piercing look.
"I have read about them. They had tried and failed to assassinate my grandfather and Arcturus Black in September 1941. It was written in my Grandfather's journals. But, he didn't know much about them."
"Ah, alright. Then let me enlighten you. The shadow assassins is actually not an assassin guild despite its name but rather a mercenary group which works everywhere in the world. It actually works both in the wizarding and the muggle world. In the past century and half, they have conducted several assassinations all over the world. Many famous assassinations, especially in the recent muggle world, have been done by them. An example would be the ex-president of United States, John F. Kennedy. Another would be Martin Luther King Junior. In the magical world too there have been famous assassination by this group of mercenaries."
That was interesting to know.
"And yet, we know so little about them?" Harry questioned.
"Yes. They make sure that their secrets are well protected. The ones caught last week when they attacked you... they are all already dead as you must have read in the prophet. I only know what I know about them through years of research since I joined the ICW as the representative of Britain... my first political position. And that was because my predecessor had been assassinated by this group."
Dumbledore was proving why he was one of the most knowledgeable and dangerous wizard in the world. Harry doubted any person alive in the world would have as much knowledge about mysterious things as Dumbledore did. The Shadow Assassins was just one of them. They sure protected their secrets well. Just before their trial, the four prisoners who were still alive had been assassinated. The prophet had reported that all nine were assassinated, but Harry knew the truth. Amelia had told Sirius what had happened on their latest date. The DMLE had literally found nothing. Not even the names of the attackers.
"Yes... what else do you know about them sir?"
"Their motto is success or death. It is drilled into their minds that they must never get caught or abort a mission. The fees they take for a task depends on the task itself, the location, the number of people needed and the difficulty of the task. The fees for your assassination, I believe was four million galleons."
"Four Million Galleons! That's insane!" Harry exclaimed. That was a big amount. A third of the Potter family fortune.
"Of course, they return half the amount back if the task fails, given that none of their men return alive." Dumbledore added nonchalantly.
"You know that they took four million galleons to assassinate me but, don't know who contracted them?" Harry asked incredulously.
"They protect the identity of their clients with unbreakable vows and contracts Harry. And only a selected few people interact with the clients. The assassins would have just been given the order to assassinate you. I do not know the identity of the attacker."
Harry blinked. It made sense. A top secret Mercenary organization keeping their secrets.
"If they are so secretive, how can you contact them sir?"
"That is an interesting thing I believe. You just write a letter addressed to the assassins."
"Just... like that? Then—"
"Of course," Dumbledore interrupted "the letter or the animal delivering the letter must not have any magic on it. If it does, the owl would just fly around and come back. Also, the person writing the letter must not intend to harm the organization in any way or form. Then only, the letter would reach them. And the letter never goes in a fixed direction as per whatever I know."
"This happens due to wards?" Harry asked and Dumbledore nodded.
"They must have seriously powerful intent based wards and mail wards to do that." Harry mused.
"Yes, they do. And, then the person who wrote the letter would get a reply to meet a person... their agent, in a location of their choosing. There, a deal would be struck and a contract would be signed. These Mercenaries will do anything for the right amount. Assassination, kidnapping, thievery, vandalization... you name it."
"And what of the identities of the attackers themselves? Where were they from? And why can't their records be found?"
"The Shadow Assassins recruit their members young... more like take them... Children— both muggle and magical are taken from various parts of the world and brainwashed and trained to be Mercenaries. They have no personal identity beyond their code-names. No relations. No family. Nothing. And I am afraid that no one knows where these children are trained. No one does. The ICW has been trying to end the organization since the last century. But, they haven't been successful yet. The ICW is actually trying to wipe all illegal military organizations out, but, have only been variedly successful so far. I suspect that the facilities of the Shadow Assassins, as they call themselves are under a variation of the Fidelius charm."
"Oh." Harry said softly. Young children being turned into ruthless killers... assassins... Mercenaries for hire was horrible. Inhumane.
"It is a sad thing Harry that there is nothing we can do." Dumbledore said with a sigh. "There are Mercenaries and illegal Militant organizations in the world... both muggle and magical. Let the ICW deal with them."
"Alright..." Harry said after a few moments of silence. "Next question. Did you find who put my name in the Goblet of Fire?"
"No. Nothing. Alastor is still investigating it. The only thing I can tell for sure is that the Goblet's enchantments was confounded into believing that there is a fourth school and you were entered as the sole participant."
Harry nodded. "Do you have any idea who it may be sir?"
"You have many enemies Harry... all the loyal death eaters and several pureblood supremist, who supported Voldemort's cause consider you their enemy. Anyone could have done it. But, my suspect is Lord Voldemort himself. Both for the assassination attempt and putting your name in the Goblet."
"He is gaining power. Isn't he?" Harry asked "The dark mark on the Death eaters' forearm is darkening since the Quidditch World cup."
"Yes it is." Dumbledore said in a grave tone. "How did you know?"
"Lord Greengrass recently invited me for dinner. He told me this. He wanted protection of House Potter in case Voldemort rose again. He even showed me the Daily Prophet in which your statement for the events of the night of Halloween 1981 was published. You never said Voldemort was killed. You said vanquished."
Dumbledore nodded. "I always suspected that he would have done something to ensure that in case he was killed, he would still not be gone from this world forever and one day make his return. Tom Riddle has dwelled into magics so obscure that even I don't know about. I don't consider Voldemort a great threat for no reason."
"Who is more dangerous according to you? Voldemort or Grindelwald?"
"That... is an interesting question. Gellert Grindelwald is an exceptional wizard and very powerful and skilled too. So, is Tom. Gellert Grindelwald was more dangerous as a dark lord than Voldemort. But, as a wizard, Voldemort is more dangerous on the battlefield." Dumbledore replied.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"To simply put it, Gellert rallied many more people under his cause than Lord Voldemort ever could. He had taken over the whole of Germany, Italy and even parts of France. He had plunged whole Europe and several other parts of the world into a civil war. Lord Voldemort's actions were vastly limited to Great Britain. He hadn't crossed the boundaries but, was planning to do so before his abrupt fall at the hands of your family Harry." Dumbledore explained.
"But, in a one on one duel, Voldemort was much more dangerous. He has dwelled into magics which give him inhumane endurance and healing abilities. Gellert had done nothing of such sort." He said in a grave tone and gave a shudder. "There is another great difference between the two. Gellert was more like a revolutionary. He at least had an agenda to go with his desire to rule the world. Tom on the other hand just wants to rule. He will raze anything and anyone who stands on his way. He has no agenda. The pureblood supremacy is just a guise. He himself is technically a half blood and the son of a muggle."
Harry nodded in agreement. That was true.
"Now, the question I asked you in the first year sir. Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?"
Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Are you sure you wish to know?"
"Yes sir. I have waited for three years for this answer." Harry stated in a firm tone.
Dumbledore nodded weakly looking every bit of the aged wizard he was. "Very well. You see Harry, a couple of months before your birth, a prophecy was given. It spoke about a child who would vanquish the dark lord. A child who would be born as the seventh month dies to parents who have thrice defied the dark lord. At that time, two children fulfilled the prophecy. You and Neville Longbottom."
Harry leaned back in his chair.
Neville Longbottom, a boy who had been labelled as a near-squib boy could have been the boy-who-lived.
"The dark lord only received this part of the prophecy. Do you wish to know the exact words?"
Harry nodded.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
Harry just nodded again completely unfazed by the fact that he would have to face Voldemort in a duel to death. He had been preparing for that very thing since the end of the previous academic year.
"You aren't worried Harry?"
"He was going to come after me anyways sir. I foiled his first rise to power and two attempts to return to a corporeal body. I also put eleven of his death eaters in Azkaban. He will try to kill me, prophecy or not. This just tells me that I have to be the one to kill him which is exactly what I want to do. He took my family from me. He will fall to my wand only."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"I must say, you handled it loads more maturely than I anticipated."
Harry just shrugged in response. The prophecy that he had received was loads more concerning. It said that Voldemort was going to rise worse and terrible than ever before.
Harry changed the topic.
"Sir, did you find how he survived? And what that diary was?"
Dumbledore just fixed him with a piercing look, contemplating whether to tell Harry or not. He had first internally sighed in relief that the boy didn't ask how Voldemort got the Prophecy. He needed Severus to spy on Tom when he rose.
"Yes." He replied to Harry's question in a grave tone. "Yes, I do."
"You found it?" Harry asked leaning forward.
"Yes. I did. Recently infact. Infact the answer to both your questions is the same."
"What was it sir?"
Dumbledore sighed. "I am afraid I am not telling you that Harry till you learn a vital skill."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"You need to learn to protect your mind Harry. Lord Voldemort can read minds to put it simply. If you know how Voldemort survived and if he reads—"
"I am a level six Occlumens professor." Harry interrupted Dumbledore. He felt no reason to lie to the headmaster's face. If Dumbledore used Legilimency on him, he would know it in seconds that Harry was atleast a level five Occlumens even if he Harry broke eye contact in an instant.
Dumbledore blinked.
"Pardon?"
"I am a level six Occlumens professor." Harry repeated slowly. "I will be a master Occlumens by the end of the academic year." He added helpfully.
Dumbledore removed his wand. "May I?"
Harry braced his shields and nodded.
"Legilimens."
Harry felt a powerful probe on his shields and repelled it instantly. A lesser practitioner of the mind arts would have been defeated by it easily.
"Impressive." Dumbledore commented. "Very impressive. Where did you learn it?"
"The first book on the mind arts was written by a Black, Headmaster. The Black family has been known for its Metamorphmagi, mind arts and practice of questionable branches of magic since centuries." Harry commented.
It was the truth but, he technically hadn't answered Dumbledore's question.
"True." Dumbledore nodded. "Should I assume you also know its counterpart, Legilimency too?"
Harry fired a Legilimency probe with a message at the Headmaster.
'Obviously sir. It came easier to me once I had learnt Occlumency.' Harry told Dumbledore mentally. The man looked shocked for a moment before he smiled and his twinkle returned in full force.
'You have mastered Mental communication already? You never cease to impress me my boy.' Dumbledore sent a mental message back at Harry.
"I aim to please professor." Harry said out loud and Dumbledore chuckled.
"Now, I hope you can tell me sir." Harry said hopefully.
"True. Tell me Harry what do you know about Horcruxes?"
"Horcruxes? Hmm... I haven't heard of them and I can't derive anything from that word itself."
"I would have been worried if you had heard of them. Here take a look at this book."
Dumbledore summoned a book and Harry read its title.
MAGICK MOST EVILE
"Magick most Evile?" Harry questioned. Now, that was one dangerous, rare, forbidden and banned book. "Not a book I would have expected in your collection sir." Harry added.
"You know of it?" Dumbledore asked.
"I am the heir to the Black Family sir. We have two copies of that book in our library. I haven't read it beyond the preface and the index page though." He replied almost truthfully. He had read a few topics from it that were relevant to what he was studying- blood magic, wards, rituals and the likes from the book.
"Oh thank Merlin." Dumbledore muttered before looking at Harry. "Turn to page 96."
Harry turned and read what was written.
"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction"
Harry looked at Dumbledore with an incredulous expression. "Is this a joke Professor?" He asked.
"I assure you Harry that this is no joke."
"Then, pray tell what am I supposed to derive from this single sentence?"
"The type of magic that Tom used is so abominable that even a book infamous for recording the worst possible uses of magic writes that it wouldn't speak nor, give direction."
"It is nothing I would expect from him sir. Now, can you tell me what exactly is this Horcrux?"
Dumbledore nodded gravely, dreading the information he was going to give out.
"First, I want you to swear a magical vow that you will never make a horcrux for your own self."
Harry blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Sir, can you first atleast tell me what a Horcrux is? Like the basic definition before you ask me to swear a vow."
Dumbledore nodded. "A Horcrux is an object in which a Wizard or Witch stores a fragment of his or her own soul to tie it to the mortal plane as long as the object exists."
"You mean you can tear your soul?" Harry asked flabbergasted. He hadn't studied more than the absolute basics of soul magic but, he knew one thing: The soul was the essence of a person. To damage or alter ones own soul willingly was an absolutely abominable act. And to actually tear a part of it and store it in an object was perhaps the worse thing a person could ever do.
The worst possible use of magic indeed.
"Harry, in the realm of magic, anything and everything is possible." Dumbledore said serenely. "Now, your vow. If you don't give it to me, I am afraid that I'll have to obliviate you of this information and believe me that I can do it in a way that you'll never detect it despite your prowess in the mind arts." He said with a piercing look, already palming his wand.
Harry had no doubt that Dumbledore would follow up his threat and be successful despite all of Harry's prowess in Occlumency and magic. Dumbledore wasn't regarded as one of the greatest wizard to walk on Earth for no reason. And, he was a level seven Legilimens with decades of experience in the field of mind arts.
"Very well sir. I, Harry James Potter, swear that I will never create my own Horcrux. Ut Magicae Tenere Me Iuramento (may magic hold me to my oath)."
Dumbledore put his wand back and nodded at Harry.
"Thank you for easing my concerns Harry and sorry for threatening you my boy."
"It is alright professor. Such sensitive magical knowledge should only be given after taking necessary measures. I would have done the same had I been in your place sir. Now, can you tell me more about what Voldemort has done? And more about a Horcrux."
"All right. The Horcrux was first made by Herpo-the-Foul. It has its roots in Soul magic, Necromancy and Sacrificial magic. The process of making one was itself is abominable. It involves the sacrifice of a soul— A cold blooded murder for the sole purpose of conducting a ritual which would tear an individual's soul in half and tether the torn half to an object while the other half stayed in the body itself."
Harry chocked on his own spit.
Dumbledore continued. "Then, even if the creator's body is attacked or destroyed, he or she cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged. That is how Voldemort survived."
"Means Voldemort would be essentially immortal till we destroy his horcrux."
"Horcruxes."
"Hor— wait. You mean he made more than one?"
"Yes. He most definitely made more than one." Dumbledore replied.
"How can you be sure."
"Because he is still alive despite you destroying his Horcrux in your second year."
"The diary was a Horcrux." Harry said in realization. "What else can an Horcrux do sir? Because this Horcrux possessed Ginny for a year in such a way that she might as well have been under the Imperious curse."
"As long as the vessel exists, the fragment of a person's soul within a Horcrux was capable of thinking for itself and possibly have certain magical abilities, including the ability to influence those in their vicinity and affect them mentally like it did to young Ms. Weasley. A Horcrux, for a person like Lord Voldemort, has many advantages. One of them is that the object made into an Horcrux is neigh indestructible. There are actually a selected few things capable of destroying a Horcrux. Can you guess one?"
"Basilisk venom, I destroyed the diary with it. And maybe Fiendfyre. It is an all-consuming fire after all."
"Correct. The only two known substances capable of destroying a Horcrux are Basilisk Venom and Fiendfyre. It was theorized that even Drakon stomach acid would be capable of destroying it, but it hasn't been proved."
Drakon stomach acid. Was he serious? That thing was some thousand times rarer Basilisk venom, perhaps even rarer considering the fact that Drakons were extinct centuries ago.
Basilisk venom, for the normal public was also as rare as Drakon stomach-acid but, considering Harry owned a hell lot of the substance...
"So, how many has he made."
"I do not know but, I intend to find out. But, I have a suspicion of the number."
"Seven?" Harry guessed. Seven was the most arithmetically powerful number.
"Yes. Seven. The most powerful magical number. But, only six horcruxes. I suspect he must have gone to spit his soul in seven parts. Thus, six Horcruxes and the one which is lingering... the master soul, if you may."
Harry leaned back in his chair as he sucked in a sharp breath. Splitting your soul once was already an abominable thing... but, to do it seven times?
"Of course, I could be overthinking and it may only be two horcruxes, but, that is wishful thinking on my part."
"If three, why not thirteen?"
"The soul is not an infinite thing Harry. It has limitations. According to me, the most one would be able to split a soul would be seven parts before it becomes unstable. I concluded this from the research of Ancient Indian wizards who believed in the theory of the seven chakras. These seven chakras were theorized to be seven energy centers of the soul itself. They said that each of these must be open, or balanced, for a human in order to function optimally. If one of them is damaged in anyway or form, one would suffer emotional and physical symptoms that the chakra holds."
"This is just a theory though."
"Yes. But, it certainly explains the glaring differences between the boy who was once Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort. Of course, it could also have been the side-effects of the numerous obscure rituals he did in order to improve his body and magic but, I can't be sure about that because there are a selected few rituals that have side-effects and they are usually minor in nature."
Harry nodded in agreement. The worst lingering side-effects of rituals... atleast the ones he had done and read about, were body pain, tiredness and mood-swings that usually lasted a few days. No ritual he knew about could change a person so drastically as Tom Riddle had. Tom Riddle was once a handsome man but as Voldemort, according to the pictures Harry had seen, he was a bald, nose-less, serpent faced, hideous bastard.
"Sir, what are you going to do about this? For all we know, Tom could've made a pebble his horcrux and chucked it in the ocean."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Harry, I can assure you that Lord Voldemort wouldn't have put his Horcrux under the ocean because he would need the horcruxes accessible incase he wanted to do something with them. And, as for the pebble theory, as far as I know Tom, he wouldn't choose something that was so ordinary as a pebble. He would choose things of value atleast to him or the history. Since he was a young boy, he liked to collect things that he deemed were of value. If he saw something and desired to possess it, he resorted to even stealing them if necessary. And I am talking about a ten-year-old Tom Riddle whom I gave his Hogwarts Acceptance Letter to."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "So, you are telling Voldemort has hidden six horcruxes, which can be anywhere in Britain or even outside the British isles."
"Yes."
"Fantastic. Any ideas?"
"No. But, I am going to go on what I am calling a Tom Riddle knowledge collecting spree once this Triwizard tournament ends. I will be collecting every memory of Tom Riddle and analyzing them in order to get clues where he could have hidden his Horcruxes. I also intend to confirm the number of Horcruxes Tom may have made with an old friend of mine. And in the meantime, find out everything I can about the topic itself."
"Excellent, how can I help sir?"
"I actually planned on having this conversation with you at the end of the year, once you were through with the Triwizard Tournament. I wished to ask you to accompany me whenever I go Horcrux hunting. Two minds are better than one. I am going to find about possible locations where he might've hidden his Horcruxes and then, we will go there together."
"Then I will accompany you sir. Also, I will check the Black and Potter family libraries for any information on Horcruxes." Harry said. But, before that, he was going straight to Salazar and Helga.
"Thank you Harry. Your help is greatly appreciated. In case you find anything, send Hedwig to me."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"Sir," He said after a few seconds. "Voldemort is rising. What do you plan to do? Are you going to reassemble The Order of the Phoenix?"
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise "Oh, you already know about the order?"
"Obviously sir. My parents were a part of it. So were Sirius and Remus. I am asking this because Lord Greengrass has asked me for protection incase if Voldemort arises again. If Voldemort is going to rise again, he will come after me and you both. And he will do his best to kill us. So, it will obviously be wise to join forces."
"True. I will support you in everyway I can in the fight against Voldemort Harry. Infact, let me start right now." Dumbledore waved his wand and summoned a journal. "This is my personal journal in which I recorded spells, runes, magical theories, potion recipes etc. from my third year at Hogwarts till I gave my NEWTs. I admit, a good part of it are things taught in school but, I have also recorded things that I found in books that I read and it also contains spells and techniques that I have invented myself."
Harry just accepted the book. The spells and techniques Dumbledore had invented himself would definitely be useful.
"And," Dumbledore continued, "Once you finish with this book, I will give you the next one which covers the magics I recorded after leaving Hogwarts and the five-year apprenticeship under Nicholas Flamel. It also has several things that Perenell herself taught me, especially wards."
At that Harry's eyes went wide. Dumbledore was giving him a priceless treasure. Sure, he had Salazar and Helga, but, they didn't know every spell invented. They only knew about a new spell if it had been published in some book.
They weren't privy to anything in family books, personal spells and spells that had been passed by mouth in some families.
"Thank you sir. I do not know what to say."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "You do not need to say anything my boy. Just become the best wizard you can. That is all I ask of you."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"I will sir. I promise. But, you still haven't answered my question."
Dumbledore blinked. "Forgive me my boy. Can you repeat your question? Despite all my mastery in the mind arts, I still forget a few things which I tend to miss these days. Perils of being old, I reckon."
"I had asked, what do you plan to do in case Voldemort rises? Are you going to reassemble your Order of the Phoenix?"
"Ah, yes. I am afraid that there is a little I can do till Lord Voldemort actually rises. I cannot reassemble the order till Lord Voldemort actually rises. I can not act on suspicions my boy. And I am afraid that it will just cause needless panic than being beneficial."
"Let us assume that Lord Voldemort is successful and rises in say... a year. What will you do?" Harry questioned. Harry hadn't liked Dumbledore's answer but, whatever he had said was the truth. Most people were sheep and went with whatever they felt was easy.
"The first thing I will do is to inform the public of his return and the ministry. I am afraid though that this step won't work as I hope unless Voldemort makes a public return though. But, I will do it regardless of the fact that I am believed or not. But yes, I will reassemble the order immediately with those who would believe me and start preparing for the war to come."
Harry frowned. "Why do you believe this sir?"
Dumbledore sighed "Harry, you must understand. The era when Lord Voldemort was active was the darkest period for magical Britain. People were deadly afraid of him. The fear carries over till date. Why do you think that it was said that only the bravest or the most foolish called Voldemort by name? You may not know this Harry but, celebrations of Lord Voldemort's supposed death carried in for a whole fortnight after his fall." He replied.
"If I proclaim that Lord Voldemort has returned from the dead without him making a public appearance, the first thing the majority of the wizarding population would do is panic and the next step, would be sticking their heads in the sand as the muggles say. They will refuse to believe that the terror of Britain has returned. They may even go as far as to proclaim that I am delusional and have gone senile. And, I fear that they will be lead by none other than Cornelius Fudge himself. Fear makes people do stupid things Harry."
"You seem to have given this a lot of thought sir."
Dumbledore smiled weakly. "All this comes with experience Harry. By now, I can predict what people would do. I am no seer but, I can predict several things in a fairly accurate manner. I am about eighty percent sure that Lord Voldemort will not want the news of his return to leak publicly until he gathers his death eaters and is powerful enough to lead a civil war. Lord Voldemort may have many negative qualities—"
Harry snorted at the understatement.
"—But, being a fool and a weak wizard is not one of them. He will only attack when he is powerful enough. As for Cornelius, the man is a coward. He may be a fairly good peacetime minister but, he can't lead during a war. He will not choose to believe me... atleast just at my word without concrete proof. So, I am afraid that even I would have to secretly gather my forces and work in the shadows before working to draw Voldemort out."
Harry nodded. Whatever Dumbledore said was completely logical and to-the-point. Unless people didn't see Voldemort alive and attacking, they wouldn't believe that he had returned regardless of whoever, be it himself or Dumbledore, proclaimed his return. Despite all of his and Dumbledore's fame, people wouldn't believe such an improbable proclamation of the worst dark lord of Britain, who is believed to be dead, returning to life.
Harry remembered what Gilderoy Lockhart's of all people had said to him once: Fame is a fickle friend Harry.
"Do you have anymore questions Harry?" Dumbledore asked, breaking Harry out of his thoughts.
"Uh... um, no sir. I think that is all. Thank you for answering my questions and taking time our for me."
Dumbledore shook his head. "My door is always open to you Harry. Whenever you want, you can come here or send me a message."
"Thank you sir."
12th January 1995
Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts
"Harry, I think you should work on the egg clue today." Helga said as Harry finished taking down a dozen Hit-Wizard-Level dummies.
"Hmm... That thing makes an horrid noise when I open it. I have only opened it once and shut it off in a few seconds." Harry said as he healed the cut on his leg.
"You have opened it already? And you didn't tell us?" Salazar said.
Harry raised his eyebrow. "I assumed you already knew. I opened it during the party after the first task in the Gryffindor common room."
"Oh, we did know... atleast I did. Salazar must've missed it."
"Poor Salazar is getting old." Harry remarked.
"I was kidding." Salazar replied. "I wanted to make you feel all guilty. Have it on you."
Harry rolled his eyes and Helga commented that Salazar should've learnt the art of pranking from Godric.
"You suck at pranks Salazar." Harry said as the portrait was about to retort to Helga's jab.
"Whatever." Salazar grumbled.
"Dobby." Harry called and the said elf popped in. "Please bring me the golden egg in my trunk."
"Yes Master Harry." He disappeared with a pop before reappearing a few seconds later with the egg.
"Thank you Dobby." Harry said.
He turned to Salazar and Helga. "I am going to shut my ears and open this egg. I will close it once you give me thumbs up. And listen to whatever you've to say."
Harry wandlessly put a silencing field around himself and opened the egg. He saw Helga and Salazar cup their ears. About four seconds later, Helga shot him a thumbs up. and Harry shut the egg.
"What did you decode?"
"The clue is in Mermish, the language of mermen."
"So, I have got to listen it underwater?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I will go to the prefect's bath and listen to it... preferably with Susan or Daphne." Harry said.
"If you go with them, I don't think that you'll be doing any work on the egg." Salazar said dryly.
Harry ignored the comment.
"So, what is the new thing you're going to teach me today? Or is it the same old?"
"What are your thoughts about flying without a broom Harry?"
"..."
"..."
"Teach me NOW!" Harry said excitedly and the two founders grinned at his enthusiasm.
29th January 1995
Hogwarts Hallways
Harry was walking down an Hallway with Susan on his arm, making his way towards the Hufflepuff dorms. Their appearance was perfectly normal, giving no clue of their previous activities along with Daphne. Harry had straightened their clothes and rearranged their disheveled hair... well, Susan's and Daphne's hair since his hair was untamable as ever, before leaving the room of requirement. The three of them had arranged a dinner date which resulted in their activities.
It was nearing curfew time. Thankfully, Daphne had left a few minutes before Susan and Harry and had reached the Slytherin Dorms before Harry saw her being cornered by her best friend Tracey Davies on the Marauders map. Tracey, despite being Daphne's best friend, had no clue about hers and Harry's relationship. Why? The girl was pretty terrible with keeping potential gossip as secret unless absolutely needed.
That was when they saw Luna Lovegood, Ron's date to the Yule Ball skipping down the hallway from the opposite end. Ron had taken a liking to the girl and was planning on asking her to a date on the next Hogwarts weekend which was on the first Saturday of February.
The most peculiar thing was that she was wearing no shoes. Harry frowned at that. While there was no longer snowfall, it wasn't ideal weather to roam barefooted either.
"Hello Harry Potter. Hello Susan Bones." She said as she neared them.
"Hey Luna." Harry said.
"I am sad I couldn't get to meet Daphne. I expected your girlfriend to be with you." She said with a whimsical smile as Harry and Susan sputtered
"H-how do you know that?" Susan demanded.
"The nargles told me." She replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Harry immediately send a Legilimency probe at her.
Her mind was messed up. Completely fucked up. There was no semblance of a proper mind and thought process. Her thoughts were scattered and... new things kept popping in? What the actual fuck? Harry latched onto a thought-thread and immediately saw a scene playing out.
It was himself dueling someone fiercely in what appeared to be a graveyard. He wasn't holding back at all. He was weaving through curses and spells and retaliating with expert ease as his Battle-robes and butterfly-shield protected him. That was when the thread just ended.
He latched onto another thread.
He saw himself, Susan and Daphne lying naked in a bed with sweat glistening off their bodies as they panted. Daphne lying on his chest caressing his naked chest and Susan was on the bed on his left panting. Her naked boobs rose and fell in a hypnotic motion. The most surprising thing was that there was another nude woman lying to Harry's right. Harry could make out that she was tall and had fair skin but failed to see her face before the thread ended.
It wasn't a memory. It wasn't a fabrication even. It... was like a glimpse from the future.
Realization dawned upon Harry.
Luna Lovegood was a seer. A seer who could see glimpses of the future.
There were three types of seers. One who gave prophecies like the oracle of Delphi in the Greek myths. They were known as prophetic seers. Sybil Trelawney was an example of a Prophetic seer. Another was the one who could see glimpses of the future. Not complete things. Just Glimpses. Luna Lovegood was perhaps such a seer.
The third type was the one who possessed both the ability to give Prophecies and see the glimpses of the future. Cassandra, the famous seer was an example of this. Of course, the potential of the ability varied from person to person. The divination that was usually taught... like reading cards and seeing crystal balls. was actually possible for anyone to perform, but, it wasn't accurate by any means. Though, people with seer abilities got much better results with them than a normal person.
It seemed that Luna was a very potent seer though and continuously have glimpses of the future. Due to that, her mind had been damaged though. It was the reason why people called her Loony Lovegood.
"What happened Harry Potter? What did you find?" Luna asked breaking Harry out of his thoughts.
"Where are your shoes Luna?"
"The wrackspurts love to steal my shoes Harry Potter." She replied.
She had created her own fantasy world to cope with all of the pressure of getting glimpses. In it, she referred to bullies as Wrackspurts and her glimpses as Nargles.
But, the fact remained. She was being bullied. And, Harry hated bullies.
"Are you missing your shoes since the morning?" He asked gently, suppressing his anger.
"Yes Harry Potter. How did you know?"
"The Nargles told me." He replied with a smile.
Her shoes had been stolen from the Ravenclaw dorms. The bullies were her housemates.
"Come with me Luna."
"Why do you want to come to our common room Harry?" She asked, probably having a future-glimpse.
"I am going to take your things back from the Wrackspurts and return it to you." He said without missing a beat.
"Harry... what?" Susan asked.
"Susan. Go to Flitwick and tell him that I am going to take care of a few problems in Ravenclaw. Oh, and don't tell anyone that I can apparate. Come Luna."
"Harry you can not apparate in Hog—" She stopped in mid-sentence as Harry grabbed Luna's shoulder and disappeared silently.
Susan stared at the space which Harry and the Lovegood girl had just occupied.
"FUCKING HOW!"