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Harry Potter and the Prophecy Fulfilled | ||||||
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Category: Post-HBP Characters:Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape, Sirius Black Genres: Comedy, Fluff, Humor Warnings: Death, Sexual Situations, Violence Story is Complete Rating: R Reviews: 1717 Summary: This is my version of the 7th book of what i think should really happen. What happened when Harry broke up with Ginny? What happens when Harry realizes his mistake? What will he do? How does he decide to go after the horcruxes? Read on to see. Summary of the first chapter: It takes place on the train ride home from Hogwarts directly after 6th year. Harry decides that he needs to talk to Ginny and then he is faced with the dreaded return of going back to the Dursleys. Hitcount: Story Total: 324615; Chapter Total: 10915 Author's Notes: A/N: First off I do not claim the rights to the words to the Shania Twain and Brad Paisley songs. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter - I didn’t have too much homework and I went on a writing streak so please enjoy the chapter and review. newly edited |
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Chapter XXVI - Searching for Surprises Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione flooed to the Burrow early on New Year’s Eve; they planned to spend the day with the Weasleys, welcome in the New Year, and then head back to school. Harry was nervous … Ginny thought he was adorable for being nervous, and she said that her parents would be happy for them. Harry on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. He knew that Mr. Weasley had probably got the idea about how serious Harry was about Ginny, but it was Mrs. Weasley that worried him. He knew she was going to go crazy, mostly because Ginny was only sixteen. Harry sighed; he didn’t think that they were rushing anything. He loved her; in fact he was so in love with her that he couldn’t picture his life without her. When he closed his eyes and tried to see his future, no matter what he was doing Ginny was somehow in the picture. He grinned when her hand slid into his and he looked over at her. “Harry, stop worrying. It won’t be that bad. Even if Mum does flip out, she’ll get over it.” Ginny replied as she reached up to kiss him softly. Harry nodded. “I hope you’re right.” Ginny smiled. “I will be, now come on, let’s get this over with before Mum sees my ring and goes crazy.” Harry gulped as she led him into the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were talking to Ron and Hermione when they walked in. Ron turned and looked over at Harry and nodded, understanding what they were going to do. “Hermione, let’s go outside for a bit, I need to talk to you.” Hermione looked at Ron quizzically and then nodded in understanding. “Sure.” They left the room and Ginny led Harry forward as Harry’s stomach did back flips. Mr. Weasley smiled at them. “Hello you two, how was you’re Christmas?” Ginny grinned and Harry could tell that she was happy and excited enough to burst. “Oh, it was wonderful! Mum, Dad … please don’t freak out or anything, but Harry and I … well, Harry asked me to marry him, and I said yes.” The room was silent, dead silent. The only sound was the water hitting the pan in the sink. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were just staring at them. Harry gulped as he watched a tear fall from Mrs. Weasley’s eye, and then to everyone’s surprise, she rushed forward, pulling both Harry and Ginny into her arms for a huge hug. “Oh Ginny, oh Harry, this is wonderful! Oh Harry, I’ve always wanted you as a son, and now you will be.” She kissed them both, and then pulled back with a huge grin on her face. Harry was shocked; he didn’t care if his jaw was hanging open; that was the last thing he had expected Mrs. Weasley to do. “Thanks.” Ginny grinned and held out her hand. “Look Mum, Harry gave me his mum’s ring, isn’t it beautiful? He proposed to me on Christmas Eve.” Mrs. Weasley admired the ring with a huge smile on her face as tears continued to pour down from her eyes. Mr. Weasley looked over at Harry and nodded at him. “Harry, congratulations. We are both very happy for you.” He held out his hand for Harry to take and then he pulled him against him into a big hug. “You take care of my daughter now, and it’s good to have you in the family, son, for real this time.” Harry grinned. “Thank you, sir, and I promise to take good care of Ginny. I love her, and I plan to make her very happy. I know that I probably should have asked you for her hand first, but I just … Christmas Eve was the perfect time.” Mr. Weasley nodded. “I understand, Harry. I know how much you love my daughter. I suppose that you should call me Arthur now, after all you’re going to be my son-in-law. Of course, Dad would be good too.” Harry grinned. “Sure Arthur. I think I might have to ease into Dad.” Mr. Weasley smiled. “That’s fine.” Mrs. Weasley smiled at them. “Oh this is wonderful! We need to have a double celebration tonight! We’ll celebrate New Year’s Eve and you’re engagement! Oh this is such happy news!” Then before either Harry or Ginny could escape, they were bombarded with party ideas and ways to celebrate their engagement later on that evening. ************ “Now don’t get me wrong, I think you’re alright, but that won’t keep me warm in the middle of the night. That don’t impress me much!” Ginny sang as she danced around the kitchen later on that evening as Harry walked in. He stood against the door jamb, grinning as he watched her. She was cooking in the kitchen at the Burrow as Mrs. Weasley had run out to the store to pick up a few things up for the party. He watched her wiggle her hips as she sang and his mouth dried instantly. He brought his attention back to the words, trying to ignore the subtle shake of her hips and her cute behind. “You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine. You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in. I can't believe you kiss your car good night. C'mon baby tell me, you must be jokin', right!” Harry laughed as she suddenly stopped and began to sing something else. This time she was swinging her hair around and Harry realized that she had obviously developed a serious interest in country music. “When a freight train jumps off a track and rolls down my road and its summer time in Texas and they're playing in the snow. When politicians everywhere stop telling lies and only state the facts, right then, that's when I'll take you back.” She did a little wiggle with her butt as she moved around chopping vegetables and things. She had the headphones on from the disc man she had borrowed. Harry thought she looked beautiful and wonderfully happy. She continued to sing cheerfully, completely unaware that anyone was watching her. “Let's say I get bucked off a bull and fall and hit my head and then I get amnesia and forget the things you said. I lose my better judgement and I take up smoking crack. Right then, that's when I'll take you back. Go on keep trying. Come on keep calling. You know I like it. When you come crawling. It’s like music to hear you bawling. Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa.” She gave her butt another wiggle and Harry just grinned, God he loved her. How could he not? Anyone that loved muggle country music enough to sing loudly and dance to it in the kitchen deserved his full attention. He tried not to pay too much attention to her bum as it she moved her hips, but he was finding it very difficult to do as his throat went dry. Her voice rose a bit as she sang. “When Donald Trump takes a part time job parking cars. When Clint Eastwood does ballet in a big pink leotard. And a donkey wins the Derby as he takes his victory lap. Right then, that's when I'll take you back. Go on keep trying. Come on keep calling. You know I like it. When you come crawling. It’s like music to hear you bawling. Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa.” She was adorable, he thought, absolutely adorable. He watched her do a little jig as she continued to sing loudly. She had a pretty decent voice, he wouldn’t say it was amazing, but she was pretty good. He was about to say something when he realized that she still had no idea that he was there. “The day that old morning sun rises in the west, and they pass a law in L.A., banning artificial breasts. When cars can run on water, gasoline and oil ain't worth jack. Right then, that's when I'll take you back. Go on keep trying. Come on keep calling. You know I like it. When you come crawling. It’s like music to hear you squalling. Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa. It’s like music to hear you bawling. Waa, waa, waa, waa, waa.” He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, causing her to stop singing and let out a little shriek. He leaned down to slip a head phone off and to whisper in her ear. “So, if I ever make a mistake, you’re not going to take me back?” Ginny laughed and turned in his arms to kiss him softly. “Good thing you were warned ahead of time. How long have you been standing there?” He grinned. “Oh, quite a while. You love, are a terrific dancer with a pretty little voice.” Ginny smiled. “I can live with that compliment, Mr. Potter. Kiss me again?” “Certainly.” He kissed her lips softly just as a whistle came from the doorway. They turned to see Fred and George standing there. “Harry, we heard that you didn’t appreciate our new merchandise?” George replied as he came into the kitchen. Harry grinned. “Hardly. Honestly, I don’t want you guys to sell stuff with my face on it, or my name for that matter. It makes me look like …” “A celebrity?” Ginny supplied. “Yeah, well I don’t want to be one. Just no more fan stuff, okay?” George shrugged. “Sure, we just thought it would be a good idea. But if you’re against it, we won’t. We mostly just did it to see what you’re reaction would be.” Harry laughed. “Thanks.” Fred grinned and winked at his twin. “So Harry, what’s this we hear from Ron that we’re getting a new brother?” Harry smiled. “Yeah, well brother-in-law anyway, Ginny and I are engaged.” Fred laughed. “Sure you want to do that, mate? Ginny can be real crazy when she’s in a temper. We fear for you’re safety.” “And sanity.” George added. Ginny glared at them. “Haha, very funny, you two.” Harry grinned. “Really? Is she that bad? I mean, she did punch me in the gut for defending her honour.” Fred hooted with laughter. “Did she really? I tried to warn you, mate, you’re asking for trouble with that one.” Harry tossed a sideways glance at Ginny, and noticed that she wasn’t amused. He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Oh well, I love her too much to walk away, I guess I’ll just have to make sure that I don’t incite her temper.” Ginny playfully smacked him in the arm. “Hey!” Then she kissed him softly and walked over to her brothers to show off her ring. Harry just grinned, he figured over all the celebration should be interesting. ************* Ron sat in the living room of his childhood home and watched as his parents and friends fussed over and congratulated Harry and Ginny. He knew that both of his parents were happy for them, but at the same time they were sad. He had heard his mum crying after Harry and Ginny had left the room, saying how she loved them both so much but they were so young. His dad had reassured her, saying that they weren’t getting married now, they were just engaged. But his mum was still worried. He knew that she was worried about a lot of things and she was basically clinging to any happiness that she could find, even the news that her youngest child was happily in love, and engaged at sixteen. Lupin and Tonks had joined in the celebration as well. Ron couldn’t help but notice how much closer they had gotten, and it made him smile to see them both so happy. But at the same time, he couldn’t help but think about what a weird pairing they made. He grinned as Hermione came to sit next to him on the couch. He slipped an arm around her and when she snuggled closer, he smiled. Marriage, it seemed like such a grown-up thing, but at the same time, he had found himself thinking about it as well. He looked down at Hermione and wondered how she would feel about the topic running through his mind. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for marriage yet, after all he was only seventeen, but then again so was Harry. He looked over at his friend, grinning at his obvious happiness and sighed. Harry was more than ready for marriage as long as it was with Ginny. He had known it the moment Harry had told him that he wanted a future with her. Once Ron had allowed himself to get over the idea of his baby sister having sex, his mind was able to focus on the more important tasks at hand. He trusted Harry with his life, his family, his sister, and he knew that no matter what happened in the end, Harry would do anything to protect Ginny from harm. He smiled as he felt Hermione give him a soft kiss on the cheek. “Sickle for your thoughts?” Ron grinned and kissed her softly, letting the feel of her soft warm lips fill him up with love. “I was just thinking about the future, you know, what’s going to happen with us and Harry and Ginny getting married.” Hermione smiled. “Yeah, it’s so wonderful. I’m very happy for them. Have you been thinking about marriage?” Ron nodded. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m ready. I love you, Hermione, I love you so much, but I just … I don’t feel as grown up as Harry and Ginny do.” Hermione nodded. “I feel the same way. Both Harry and Ginny have suffered through terrible things with Voldemort. Harry on more than one occasion, and Ginny with that terrible experience in her first year; to them it’s exactly the right moment. Because to them, they grew up a long time ago.” Ron grinned and kissed her softly. “I’m glad that you understand. I want to get married, just not yet.” “Do you want to marry me?” Hermione asked. Ron nodded. “Who else could keep me under control? I need you in my life, Mione; I can’t imagine life without you.” He gave her a quick kiss and then pulled her to her feet. “Come on, let’s sneak upstairs and neck, no one will even notice we’re missing.” Hermione smiled. “Alright.” And as the party continued on downstairs, Ron led Hermione upstairs into his room and showed her exactly how much he needed her. *************** When classes started again, rumours flew around the school about Harry being engaged. Everyone wanted to see Ginny’s ring and tell her how lucky she was. Fan girls followed Harry even more than before trying to get him to dump Ginny. Harry stuck close to her, especially after one girl threatened Ginny’s life if she didn’t leave Harry. The teachers couldn’t do anything about the fans but sympathize with Harry; after all, he was a celebrity and everyone wanted to know him. Love potions were flying around the school even faster than ever. Harry now had to be extremely careful with what he ate or drink no matter where he was, because girls were constantly slipping it into his food or drink. It got to the point where Ginny would actually sit there and feed Harry food off of her plate, or they would get dinners separately from the house elves just so he wouldn’t be infected with a love spell. His lessons took on a whole new level. Harry had perfected all of his animagus transformations as well as the magical qualities of them. He had also perfected the disguising of his animals. He was able to not only change his eye colour while he was an animal but also the fur. McGonagall told him that he had made a great achievement and that he no longer had to have lessons with her, leaving his Monday nights free for more homework and N.E.W.T. studying … or as he usually used them for, time with Ginny. His lessons with Kingsley had become more intense. Harry had mastered Legilimency quickly, but he ran into problems when he tried to use both Occulmency and Legilimency at the same time, as he found that the walls he had built in his mind were blocking out his ability to read other minds. The training in that became harder as Harry struggled to master Legilimency completely. The wandless magic had also been perfected. Once he had gotten the advice from his parents, Harry had discovered that as long as he focused, he could do any spell wandless. This new found power allowed him to get things done a lot faster and he enjoyed it immensely. Harry had also finally stopped taking lessons with Joe. He has been visiting the portrait in Potter Manor on the last night of every month, but he had discovered that the visits were pointless and Joe had told him that he had learned everything he could be taught by him so he no longer had to go back. With only the training sessions left with Kingsley and school work, Harry felt much better and stronger for the final battle. With more time free in his day, Harry began to concentrate more and more on finding the last horcruxes. He made a list in study hall one afternoon as people worked around him. He tied in known facts and theories and when he was done found out that he was simply left with many more unanswered questions. When he was dismissed from study hall, he took his notes and headed upstairs to McGonagall’s office. She grinned at him when he came in. “Good afternoon, Potter, need to talk to Dumbledore again?” Harry nodded. “Yes, if you don’t mind.” McGonagall nodded. “No, not at all. I hear congratulations are in order for you and Miss Weasley.” “Yes ma’am. We’re engaged.” McGonagall smiled. “I know, I hope everything turns out wonderfully, and Potter, I want an invitation to the wedding.” Harry laughed. “Of course.” McGonagall smiled. “Excellent. Alright, well, I have class to teach, so you can be alone. See you later.” She left the office and Harry turned around to look at Dumbledore who was looking at him with that knowing twinkle in his eyes. “Good afternoon, Harry.” Harry smiled. “Hello, sir.” “So you wanted to talk to me? I take you have been doing more research on the horcruxes?” Harry nodded. “Yes, sir, and I have some questions. First of all, we know that Hufflepuff’s cup, Marvolo’s ring, and Riddle’s diary have been destroyed. But I was wondering are we sure that Voldemort didn’t use a horcrux already?” Dumbledore looked curious. “What do you mean, Harry?” “Well, when he tried to kill me when I was baby and the spell backfired and he well, sort of died, did he use a horcrux?” Dumbledore shook his head sadly. “No Harry, he couldn’t have, otherwise he would have been back in his body much sooner. He would have needed someone to help him obtain and to carry out the spell and instead he managed to invent a new spell, using your blood to bring himself back into his body. By doing so he did not use a horcrux but instead used you to bring himself back to power.” Harry gulped. “Am I a horcrux, sir?” “No! My dear boy, you are most certainly not! He would never have placed a piece of his soul inside a living human being! He couldn’t possibly trust anyone enough to do so. He did so to Ginny Weasley when he made her open the Chamber of Secrets, however, when he came out of the diary by taking the life from her, he was also taking his soul back, so before you ask, no, Ginny is not a horcrux either. We only have the locket of Slytherin, which Remus and Tonks are still working on finding out who R.A.B. is, something of Ravenclaw’s I assume, though it is possible for it to be Gryffindor’s, and of course Nagini, and Voldemort himself.” Dumbledore explained. Harry nodded. “Alright … I’m trying to figure out where the next one can possibly be. At first I thought the Chamber of Secrets, but the diary was connected to that and he wouldn’t put two horcruxes in the same place, would he?” Dumbledore shook his head, no. “No, I don’t believe he would have, Harry. He wouldn’t want them in the same place. I’ve been trying to come up with a place that I think he would have used, and I believe that I have overlooked one location that might be very profitable. I think that he might have put one in another place that signifies his childhood, other than the cave.” “The orphanage?” Harry asked. “I thought about that, but where would he have put it? I mean the place would be swarming with muggles and muggle children. How could he hide something like that?” Dumbledore smiled. “There would be ways, but that’s not what I was thinking. I was thinking of the Gaunt house.” “The Gaunt house?” Harry asked, taken back. “But that wasn’t part of his childhood. He never grew up there.” “No, he did not, but he would have if his mother hadn’t died.” “Do you really think that Merope would have gone back there?” “I do. And I think that knowing that everything in that house belonged to the heirs of Salazar Slytherin would have appealed to him greatly. Of course, I couldn’t tell you precisely where it would be hidden but I imagine it would be somewhere close by. After all, Little Hangleton was the town where Slytherin himself lived, and he lived on that very land that the Gaunts lived on.” Dumbledore explained. “And as we have already determined, Slytherin was very good at making secret passages.” Harry nodded. “I see where you’re going with it, but, sir, the Gaunt house is a shack? Do you really think there would be a secret passage in a shack? And did Slytherin live in a shack?” Dumbledore shrugged. “The house wasn’t always a shack, Harry; it has obviously been run down over the years. But they would never have kept the original structure so long if there wasn’t something there, don’t you think? I don’t know where it would be, Harry, but it is always better to check these things out.” He replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Harry nodded. “Yes sir. Do you think I should check it out?” Dumbledore nodded. “Yes, Harry, I think you should head that way immediately and remember to bring Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger.” Harry nodded. “Yes, sir, I’ll see you after.” Dumbledore smiled. “Yes, you will. Good luck, Harry.” Harry nodded. “Yeah, I’ll need all the luck I can get.” *************** Harry left McGonagall’s office lost in thought. Dumbledore believed a horcrux was in the Gaunt house. Harry sighed; he knew deep down that he was right. He looked down at the watch that he got from Ginny and realized that it was just a bit passed dinner time. He was ready to get this one, and he hoped that it wasn’t too difficult to cross the barriers getting to it. He hurried up to the Gryffindor common room, stopping at the kitchens to get some food from the elves so he could guarantee it wasn’t going to be poisoned. He ate quickly as he headed to Gryffindor Tower. When he stepped inside, he found it pretty much empty. Harry went up to his room to change out of his school robes into some jeans and a sweater. He grabbed his wand and the communication mirror before he headed downstairs, hoping that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny would be done with dinner soon. He wanted to get this over with. He waited half an hour before they came through the portrait hole. Ginny wandered over to give him a kiss. “Hey, did you grab dinner from the kitchen?” Harry nodded. “Yeah. I need to talk to you guys.” Ginny nodded and ushered to Ron and Hermione, which took a while as they were snogging in a chair near the fire. But finally she managed to get the four of them locked and silenced into the Head Boy’s room. “You know,” Ron said. “Good thing I became Head Boy because this room has sure been useful when it comes to private conversations. So what’s up, Ginny?” Ginny shrugged. “Not me, Harry needs to talk to us.” Ron nodded and turned to Harry. “What’s up, Harry?” Harry nodded at his friends. “After study hall this afternoon I went upstairs to talk to Dumbledore about the horcruxes. I had some questions and theories and all that and we just discussed them. Then he told me that he had been thinking about them as well and he believes that the next one is in the Gaunt house.” “Isn’t that the home of Voldemort’s mother’s family?” Hermione asked. “Yes. He doesn’t know where, but he’s pretty sure it is in that area. I guess the land used to belong to Slytherin himself, and he thinks that might have appealed greatly to Voldemort.” Harry explained. “I’m ready to go, are you guys coming with me?” Ron stood up and stretched. “Of course, mate.” Ginny looked over at Harry. “You want me to stay here again.” Harry took her hands in his and kissed her fingers. “Yes. I love you, and I need you here. Do you have the mirror?” Ginny nodded. “It’s in my trunk.” “Go get it.” She hurried out of the room and Harry turned to his friends. “Alright, let’s go get it.” *********** Harry, Ron and Hermione appeared quietly and silently next to an old tree on the Gaunt property. The property had a For Sale sign on it and the shack was falling apart. They walked towards the house and quietly slipped inside. The three of them lit their wands, and then Harry turned to them. “Okay, so far both places have had a crack to show that the horcrux is there. I don’t know if that’s a pattern to follow but I think we should probably look for one. Also, Dumbledore mentioned something about there maybe being a secret passage, since the property originally belonged to Salazar Slytherin himself.” Harry explained. “So let’s look around.” The three of them began to wander around the small shack looking for any sign of something to do with hiding spot. After two hours, Harry was ready to give up, thinking that Dumbledore had obviously made a mistake. He slumped back against the wall in the small bedroom and gasped when it pushed inwards. He yelled for Ron and Hermione, who rushed into the room as Harry stood staring at the wall, that had moved back an inch. “What happened?” Ron asked. Harry pointed to the wall. “The wall moved back.” Harry pointed his lit wand into the crack and searched in the place where the wall had moved. There was nothing there. He pushed on the wall a bit to see if it would move back any farther but it wouldn’t. The crack wasn’t big enough for anyone to fit through. Harry looked upwards and that’s when he saw it. A small stone snake symbol dangling from the ceiling in the open crack at the top of the doorway. He stared at it, willing it to look real and hissed out in Parseltongue: open up. The wall began to slide into the floor, twirling and zigzagging, leaving a huge circular stone pipe in the floor in front of them. Ron gulped. “It’s like the Chamber of Secrets all over again.” Harry nodded. “Yeah, alright, I’ll go first.” He slipped into the pipe and fell for what seemed like forever until he finally landed on a hard surface. The room around him was lit with torches and the floor was covered in dust. He looked up at the hole that he had just fallen through. “I’m alright, you guys can come down.” A few seconds later he heard Hermione screaming as she fell. She landed on top of Ron who let out an ‘oof’ before he grabbed her. “Geez Hermione.” Hermione stood up. “Oh, Ron, I’m sorry.” Ron shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.” He looked around and then glanced at Harry. “We must be miles under ground.” Harry nodded. “Yeah, come on, let’s follow this tunnel.” Ron and Hermione nodded as they followed him through the tunnel, which was lit with torches. The torches made an eerie light on the walls as they followed the path. Harry led the way, his confidence soaring as they walked farther and soon they found themselves in a large chamber, the walls all made of stone. Unlike the first two rooms, this one did not have lakes of water or lava. It did however have an upside down staircase hanging from the ceiling with what looked like a door. “Well, that’s interesting,” Harry replied as he pointed upwards. “How the hell do we get up there?” Hermione smiled. “That would be the test, wouldn’t it? You have to fly up there and get into the room.” Harry nodded. “Yeah, but how do I fly? My broom is at Hogwarts.” “Harry! Are you an animagus or not? How many flying animals can you become?” Hermione demanded. Harry grinned. “Oh, yeah.” He transformed into an eagle and flew upwards. He studied the doorway as a bird and grinned when he saw the engraving on it. He transformed back into himself and grabbed a hold of the bar above the door as he dangled above the cave. He spoke in Parseltongue as he recited the inscription, demanding for the staircase to be put to normal. As he finished reading the inscription the chamber began to shake and tremble. The staircase above him rattled and grew in size, extending itself down to the bottom of the cave and turning around so that people could walk on it. Harry stepped onto it and grinned down at his friends. “All set.” Ron laughed as he and Hermione rushed up the steps. “Good one, Harry.” Harry waited for them to stand beside him before he opened the door which swung inwards into a dark corridor. Harry lit his wand and stepped inside, he had only taken two steps when he landed on a slide of some sort and he went flying down into a brightly lit chamber filled with fog. He felt Ron and Hermione land beside him. In the middle of the chamber was a platform which held something surrounded by an eerie blue light and Harry felt a jolt. They had found another horcrux. There was no lake this time, only the heavy fog that blinded them from view. “Why fog?” Harry asked as he pointed his wand, trying to increase his visibility with more light. Hermione looked excited. “Harry, do you realize what Voldemort has done? He has used the natural elements as his weapons! When you went into the cave with Dumbledore you found yourself with water that you had to cross, the water along with some obstacles to get to your destination. Next you crossed fire, which was again leading to another horcrux. This fog represents air.” “Then where’s earth, Hermione?” Harry asked. “If there is indeed a horcrux up there that leaves us with the missing locket, Nagini, and Voldemort himself. I don’t see the fourth element.” Hermione smiled. “I do. It’s Nagini … earth, living creatures, a snake. Harry, snakes symbolize life, whether it is birth, death, or rebirth, they symbolize a part of the life cycle. It is also seen as evil, and a sign of temptation. I remember writing a paper once on dreams and symbols in dreams when I was in school, Muggle School that is, and the snake can also represent a sexual temptation or the male orgasm. Everything centres around life, Harry, life is on earth. Nagini represents the fourth element.” “Hermione, how do you remember these things?” Ron asked as he stared at his girlfriend in shock. Hermione shrugged. “My mum says that I have a photographic memory. Well, Harry, what do you think?” Harry looked around at the thick fog. Her explanation made sense and as he squinted into the fog, he wondered what was hiding in it. “I think that makes sense. Come on, who knows what’s hiding in this fog.” He led them through the fog, his wand lighting the way. The deeper they wandered the thicker the fog became. After they had been walking for over an hour and had yet to reach the platform, Harry began to get suspicious. He looked back at his friends and noticed that they too, were wondering why they had been walking straight but had yet to reach their destination. Harry pointed his wand and whispered the compass spell that Hermione had taught him in fourth year before he had entered the maze. This seemed to work, as within minutes they had reached the platform and had walked up to the top. As soon as Harry stepped onto the top of the platform the fog vanished and it began to rain. Thunder and lightning rolled around the chamber as the storm hit. “That was too easy, mate. We may have gotten lost, but that was too easy.” Ron said, his face showing how uneasy he felt at the idea. Harry nodded. “I agree, and what’s with the sudden thunderstorm?” “Air.” Hermione replied. “Weather is in the air.” As if it was agreeing with what she was saying a sudden gust of strong wind flew into the chamber, strong enough to knock them off the platform. Harry grabbed onto the pedestal in the middle where a silver statue of an eagle sat, the symbol of Ravenclaw. He reached his hand towards it and as soon as his fingers brushed the eerie blue light a dozen black crows came flying out, pecking and biting and attacking Harry from all sides. Without even thinking he transformed into a hawk and he attacked the birds himself. As he hit the final one, it collapsed and he transformed back into himself. Ron and Hermione were watching the storm as it progressively became more and more violent. The rain was pounding so hard that the chamber was beginning to flood and the wind was only getting stronger. Harry reached for the eagle again, this time he managed to get a hold of it. As he removed it from the pedestal the wind increased and he was picked up and thrown into the water below. He clutched the eagle tightly in his hand as he saw Ron and Hermione fly into the water as well. As soon as they hit the surface, the wind increased. The chamber turned into a nightmare. The water increased drastically and the waves began to rise up, slapping each other as Harry tried to reach Ron and Hermione. He struggled to hold onto the eagle as he tried to swim, when Ron and Hermione ended up beside him, he grinned. Together the three of them tried to swim through the storm, which had turned into a hurricane. The winds kept knocking them back into the enormous waves. Hermione pulled out her wand and made an invisible wall in front of the large wave, blocking the water from them. “That should hold for a minute. Come on, we’ve got to get to that door.” She swam vigorously as Ron and Harry followed, just as they reached the doorway the wave struck. They managed to get inside, but the water followed. As they fell out of corridor, Harry muttered the spell from before and everything turned back upside down. The water however, was now pouring in from the door in the ceiling. They ran through the door and Disapparated upstairs into the Gaunt House. They stood in front of the secret door, panting and soaking wet. Harry clutched the eagle tightly in his hands, and in Parseltongue told the passage to seal itself. As it closed, Ron spoke. “I still think that was too easy. I mean, it was just weather, how is that supposed to stop us?” “Oh,” said a familiar drawl from the doorway. “The Dark Lord never expected anyone to actually look for his treasures, and he never fully finished booby trapping that particular room. Don’t worry, Weasel; we’ll make it tough for you to get out with that eagle.” |
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