Chapter 33
Return to Godric’s Hollow
As Harry slept that night he felt the presence return into his mind. It was much the same as the first time he had felt it, just before he had told Ginny about the prophecy: a tiny, almost imperceptible feeling that he wasn’t alone. This time, however, it was more clear and obvious.
He had been dreaming, again, of soaring through the air on his Firebolt, though this time he was accompanied by a familiar looking man with dark hair. They had been racing each other and laughing. His first instinct upon noticing the presence was to wake up, but a small part of his consciousness understood that he needed to remain asleep. He let the dream continue, deciding to observe what thoughts the intruder would attempt to bring to his mind.
Nothing happened at first. He was still on his Firebolt, flying over enormous, snowy mountains with his friend. Soon a small building came into view. As he flew closer he realized it was Hogwarts. Preparing to redirect his thoughts away from the prophecy (which he assumed was what Voldemort would be after), Harry was surprised when his thoughts were focused instead on a tall, thin tower jutting up from the south-eastern side of the castle. It was the Astronomy tower. He circled closer and closer, wondering why Voldemort was interested in it, when the hidden metal door that opened into the secret room came clearly into view.
His mind making the connection immediately, Harry found the image of the small room with wooden crossbeams and the empty bookcase the focus of his thoughts. It seemed strange that Voldemort would want to see this room, as it had nothing to do with the prophecy and didn’t hold anything that would interest him. He felt Voldemort’s guiding presence back off slightly once he was in the room, however, as though he were waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, Harry felt his focus shifting once again to the Department of Mysteries the year before. He was again in the death chamber helping Neville up the stairs, he gave a mighty heave that tore Neville’s robes and sent the prophecy smashing onto the stone stairs. The pale, ghostly form of Professor Trelawney appeared and opened her mouth to speak.
Harry could feel Voldemort’s excitement as she began to recite the prophecy. Knowing that since he knew the words to the prophecy Voldemort was likely to hear the entire thing through this memory if he didn’t change it quick, Harry focused instead on a scream in the background. It was a high-pitched, fanatical shriek. A woman’s shriek.
Knowing this was the last memory he wanted to relive, but that it would keep him from revealing the prophecy to Voldemort, Harry allowed himself to turn around and watch as his Godfather went sailing through the air, his back making a graceful arc, and fall into the crumbling archway.
There was another scream, though it came from Harry. He fought to chase the memory away, regaining consciousness as he did so.
The intruder was gone.
Knowing that he had diverted Voldemort again, Harry sat up and breathed deeply. The dormitory room was lit with the pale, white light of the moon. He took a few minutes to breath and clear his mind of emotion, then gradually went back to sleep. Soon he was soaring through the mountains again on his Firebolt, a black haired man who looked oddly familiar flying next to him and laughing.
When he woke up that morning he only vaguely remembered anything about the dream. By lunchtime, he had forgotten it entirely.
***
The rest of the week passed rather uneventfully (Death-Eater attacks and supposed Voldemort sightings having become rather commonplace by now), and Harry soon found himself in the common room with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. They were dragging their trunks behind them, talking excitedly over their plans for the Christmas holiday.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come for the entire holiday? Seems kind of boring, being there all alone, even if you do have your own Quidditch Pitch,” Ron said as they climbed out of the portrait hole.
“No, it will be all right. Besides, I won’t be alone.”
“Oh yes. Who did Dumbledore say would be there with you?” asked Ginny, grunting from the weight of her trunk.
“He didn’t,” Harry replied, bending over to give her a hand. “All he said was ‘an old friend.’”
They made their way down the moving staircases and out onto the grounds of the castle, dozens of other students around them. More people than ever before were had opted to stay in the castle over the holiday this year, but there were still a good number who were going home.
“You will write to us though, won’t you?” asked Hermione in a concerned, almost motherly tone. She had become much more protective ever since he had told them of the prophecy.
“Hermione, it’s only two weeks,” said Ginny, rolling her eyes. “You’re coming over on Christmas day too, right? You can make sure Harry’s been eating his vegetables and washing behind his ears then.”
As they neared Hogwarts station they said their goodbyes. Ron, Ginny and Hermione were taking the Hogwarts Express back to King’s Cross station, while Harry would meet with Dumbledore later that morning. Ginny and Hermione each hugged him in turn and they bid farewell.
Harry walked back towards the castle, saying hello to the students going to Hogsmeade station on his way. Just outside he met Dumbledore, who excused himself from a conversation with Filch and led Harry to a small clearing of evergreens.
Once they were out of view, the old headmaster lifted up what looked like a large, silver pinecone.
“This is your port-key Harry. It will take you to the clearing in the trees next to Godric’s Hollow, the same place you and I met during the summer. Do you remember how to find Potter’s Cove from there?”
Harry thought quickly. All he remembered was walking down a slight hill and turning just before reaching the village. After that, however, he wasn’t sure…
“Er…not really,” he admitted.
Dumbledore smiled. “Perfectly understandable. Allow me to show you. You’ll need to allow me entry into your mind, of course.” As he looked into Harry’s eyes Harry immediately felt the headmaster’s presence in his mind. Only then did he remember about Voldemort’s latest intrusion into his dreams. The difference between the two presences was definitely noticeable. Voldemort’s was an uncomfortable, nagging sort of feeling, while Dumbledore’s was calm and…strangely enough…musical.
All the same, Harry had to suppress the reflex to shut Dumbledore out, realizing he was about to show him how to get to Potter’s Cove. He took a deep breathe and forced himself to relax.
Almost immediately the forest around at Godric’s Hollow appeared clearly in his mind, as if he had just been there yesterday. The headmaster guided him down the path through the trees, past the village, and up over the hills. In a few moments he had seen the entire route to Potter’s Cove.
“Now, the only person in Godric’s Hollow that knows you are coming is the person I’ve asked to watch over you, so you should be completely safe,” Dumbledore said as he broke eye contact. Immediately the image in his head disappeared. “Nevertheless, I wouldn’t recommend venturing into the village, as we don’t want to attract any unnecessary attention. Understood?”
Harry nodded. The headmaster looked back at him with his clear, light blue eyes.
“Also, at the end of the holiday I will stop by personally to pick you up. We will then return to Hogwarts together. Understood?”
Harry nodded, though he didn’t want the headmaster to go out of his way.
“That’s not really necessary, sir. I could just take the port-key back. I mean, you’re busy enough as it is…”
“No, no, I don’t mind at all. Besides,” here the headmaster gave a mysterious smile, “there’s something in Godric’s Hollow I want to show you.”
Harry looked searchingly at him, trying to guess what he was talking about, but Dumbledore simply smiled his pleasant little smile and said nothing more on the matter. He then reached into his robes and withdrew his curious, twelve-handed watch.
“Splendid. Well Harry, I daresay Argus will have found something new to complain about since I’ve been gone, so I must be off. Good luck, Merry Christmas, and,” he placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder, “try to have a relaxing holiday, won’t you?”
Before he could respond Dumbledore put the pinecone in his hand, Harry felt the now familiar tug just behind his navel, and the world around him disappeared into a swirl of green, blue, and white.
He felt himself soaring through the air, then, just as soon as it started, the rush of color slowed down and the clearing in Godric’s Hollow came into view. Determined to make this the first trip by port-key that didn’t end with him in a crumpled heap on the ground, Harry waited until he had almost completely stopped, carefully gauged the moment of impact, and took a step forward. Unfortunately it was a split second too late and he found himself face first in cold, foot high snow.
Brushing himself off and looking around, Harry immediately recognized the clearing from when he had been there in the summer. It was much harder to make out where the trail began and where he was in the clearing, as the trees were now bare and everything was covered with snow, but eventually he was able to find the narrow, winding path that led to the village.
Trudging through the snow, he soon found the left hand turn that led away from the village and up a slow, gentle slope. Walking through the fresh, almost knee-deep snow wasn’t easy, and he had to stop to catch his breath several times. His toes quickly became cold and numb, but he traveled on. Soon he found himself overlooking the central part of the village, which looked cozy and rustic with its houses buried in the snow and smoke coming through the chimneys, like miniature ginger bread houses. Taking a couple more turns that lead to the left-hand pathway that led along the outskirts of the village, Harry continued his trek through the snow. By the time he saw the wooden, two storied outline of Potter’s Cove peeking through the trees, his feet were soaked, he was out of breath, and the bottom of his robes were frozen stiff. Smoke was coming from the chimney as well, evidence of a warm, comfortable fire within.
Thankful to have finally made it, Harry stepped up to the doorway, stomped his feet to get the snow off, and pushed the front door open.
“Ah, Harry. Here at last,” said a warm, tired voice that Harry recognized immediately.
Professor Lupin.
Harry Potter and the Legacy of the Founders by VoldemortsPatronus
Chapter Notes: A short chapter, I know, but some important stuff happens here. I also had to set things up for the next chappy, which will be a doozy.
Also, cheers to the hardworking MNFF mods who have cut the wait time down significantly for new chapters. You guys are awesome.