HPNSA - BOOK ONE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DRACO\'S PENSIEVE


TIMELINE: JANUARY 12 - 16, 1998


Ron ran up the winding staircase of the Southern Tower with great speed. The study room still had the gaping hole and Harry’s room still had the large part of it missing. Ron’s eyes fell on his trunk that had not been moved from its place. He opened it and searched frantically for the Book of the Gatekeepers.

“Where the fucking shit is it?” He shouted as he emptied out the trunk of all its content. “WHERE IS IT?” He cried.

“What are you doing?”

“Hermione,” Ron said as he turned around. “I’m looking for the book of the Gatekeepers,”

“So Professor Dumbledore knows we have the books,” Hermione said.

Ron stopped. “I guess he’s always known.”

“Then it was useless to call Viktor. I should have just told Professor Lupin I knew what the rituals were.” Hermione said.

“Well, he might not know, Hermione. I mean there are things that Dumbledore keeps to himself.” Ron said. He stood and went to Harry’s trunk.

“Maybe I should just tell them,” Hermione said. Ron had stopped moving and Hermione went nearer to see what he was looking at. “Ron?”

Ron was looking at a pair of woolen booties. Hermione gave these to Harry for Christmas and when he saw them he felt the sadness and sense of loss wrapping his heart like a glove. Ron sighed greatly studying them. “You’re getting better with your knitting.” He said trying hard not to let his melancholy take over. He placed the small item on the bed and searched again for the book. But the trunk was filled with Harry’s smell and Ron found it difficult not to be reminded of him. He stopped again and held his head with his hand clinging onto the edge of the trunk with the other as sobs shook him.

“Ron,” Hermione said placing her arms around his shoulders.

“I’m so scared, Hermione!” Ron said his voice cracking with the intensity of his grief. “I’m afraid of what they’ll do to him!”

Usually Hermione would say something sensible to him, something that will make him believe that things were going to be better. This time there was no smart comment, no piece of wisdom she could impart because Ron knew that there was none. Ron knew that Harry’s chances of coming out of this with nothing more than bad memories were remote. He never really read the book, but Hermione’s silence was enough for him.

Amidst his tears he continued with his search and when he found the book he took it and left the tower.
Outside, Ron saw that Rio and the Knights have finished with a whole night of searching and as was yesterday came up empty handed once more. Forlorn and exhausted they now headed with bowed heads towards the castle to fill their empty stomachs and rest their aching muscles. Rio shook his head and Ron knew his turn that morning was going to prove just as fruitless. But Ron could not bring himself to give up. Holding the book of the Gatekeepers in his arms he went out and made his way through the courtyard.

“Ron!” Cried a voice. It was Neville and the rest of the DA who were still able to walk. “We want to help.” He said as he came nearer to Ron. “We’ll help you search.”

Ron looked at them and smiled in his heart; how they all have grown he thought. These were not the same children that went to Hogwarts with wide-eyed innocence rather he saw them as wizards – lethal and powerful. They have proven themselves beyond measure battling an enemy none of them were prepared to meet. Before, he always saw them as nothing more than students waiting for their time to come and grow up but suddenly the past three days have pushed them further than what three years could have done. They were now men and women – WIZARDS – beyond their chronology and capacity, grim and steadfast. Ron knew he was lucky to have them beside him.

They now searched the lake again; the ice on the lake was chopped up by searching knights and here and there items from its depths found their way to the shore. They all had to drink warming potions and anti-freezing draughts before wading into it. Ron picked up one item after another in hopes that one of them would turn out to be a Portkey.

“Beans?” Neville said shaking the unopened can of American brand beans then threw it on the ground.

“Rubbish!” Dean said.

“Did we really pollute the lake this much?” Michael said.

“No some of these are from Hogsmeade.” Seamus said.

“What are you holding in your hand Ron?” Colin said noticing the book of the Gatekeepers.

“It’s a book, Colin.” Ron said.

“What is it about?” Colin asked.

Ron was about to answer but then he remembered that Colin had lost Dennis during the attack. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Colin that Dennis could have been saved because that was cruel – telling someone who lost someone they love that you had the power to stop them from dying but didn’t use it was the ultimate cruelty. Even though Dumbledore told him there was hope in the book, Ron could not see it still because he has never seen the book in use before and had no idea of the power it holds if it has any.

“It’s dark magic, Colin.” Ron said. Colin looked at him and Ron could see that there was no longer any sense of dread from his eyes about Dark Magic.

Colin just nodded his head and went about the search in silence. Ron realized that he and the rest of the school was going to change after this – no matter what the outcome would be. Hogwarts will change and he couldn’t see if it was for the better. These are dark times, he thought, and it calls for desperate and dark magic to get over them.

***

Candice woke up with a start. The train had stopped already and outside was a bright morning though the fog had not let up entirely. The baby was sleeping soundly in her arms and she kissed his head.

“London!” Cried the porter and suddenly the whole train was in a hubbub with everyone leaving the cars. Candice took all her things and slung the bags on her shoulder then slowly went out of the car and joined the throng that now inched their way out of the train.

“Hello? May I speak to Martha, please?” Candice said. The baby was now fully awake and looking up at her. “Martha, it’s Candice! What do you mean Candice who, Candice you’re sister. Listen, I need you to come to Kings Cross and pick me up. Nothing just thought of visiting you that’s all. What do you mean what’s my reason, does a sister need a reason? Are you picking me up or what? Alright, come quickly I have company.” Then she winked at the baby.

An hour later a beautiful woman with dark brown curling hair that cascaded down to her waist and wearing a nurse’ uniform underneath a warm trench coat was sprinting towards Candice and the Baby. When she was a few feet away Candice stood and smiled at her though she smiled back after seeing what Candice had in her arms the woman frowned.

“Who’s that?” Martha said.

“Well, it’s nice seeing you too, Martha.” Candice said.

“Who is that? Whose boy is that?” Martha insisted.

“It’s mine!” Candice said.

“YOURS?”

“Yes! Mine!”

“YOURS?”

“Mine!”

“You’re barely ovulating, how can that be yours?” Martha said.

“Well, someone left him at my doorstep.” Candice said. And that ended their debate. For a while Martha stood a few feet away from them but slowly the idea sank in and she found it hard to resist the urge of cuddling the little bundle.

“What’s his name?” She said as she took the baby in her arms.

“Um…Archer.” Candice said.

“Archer? Where’d you get that?”

“You and your twenty questions! I’m hungry, he’s cold, and we’re both tired. Are you taking us home or would we need to hail a cab and stay in a hotel.” Candice said.

Martha stuck out a tongue at Candice then looking at Archer she smiled then said, “Can I keep him?”

“What d’you think of him, a dog?” Candice said.

“I’m keeping him.” Martha said. Candice smiled and relieved that she was not alone anymore they slowly walked back to Martha’s car and were in her flat a few minutes later.

“I’m buying you a crib, Archie.” Martha said. “As soon as I…”

Candice heard a thud and ran to the room and found Martha gapping at a baby bottle floating in mid-air towards the baby. Candice immediately took the bottle and handed it to the child then looked at her sister who was now paler than the moon.

“Look, Martha, it’s not what you think.”

“What the bloody hell was that about?”

“Martha,”

“Who is this child, Candice?”

“He’s the son of a wizard.”

Martha covered her mouth and went out of the room. Candice followed her carrying the child in her arms. Martha was in the kitchen drinking a glass of what looked like bourbon.

“I’m sorry.” Candice said.

“No! You’re not. You know how much I loathe these people.” Martha said.

“He’s not like the others. He’s different, he’s, he’s…”

“He’s just like the ones that killed mum and dad, Candice! Or have you forgotten?” Martha said

“No, of course I haven’t forgotten! But like us they too have good and bad, and this one comes from the good.” Candice said.

“How do you know that? How can you even be sure about them?” Martha said.

“Because I saw the one who gave birth to him. He was the one mum and dad spoke of. The one prophesized to end the reign of him we do not name!” Candice said.

“Oh you mean that Voldemort!” Martha said. The baby cried at the mention of the name. Candice took the baby back inside the room. Martha shook her head and slowly went to them. “Candice I know you loved Arthur so much, but he was a married man and he told you that, didn’t he?”

“I know what you want to say,” Candice said.

“He was a good man, but you have got to stop thinking about him.” Martha said. “This baby won’t bring you closer to him, you know that.”

“He just looks so much like him.” Candice said fiddling with the lock of red hair curling around Archer’s head. “Except for his eyes, these beautiful sea-green eyes,”

“Candice, we’re not magical. Even though mum and dad were, we’re not. And I want to keep it that way. They made us orphans long before they died so that we won’t have to suffer the way those without magic suffered in their world.” Martha said. “We don’t belong with them. This baby does though. He can’t stay with us, we have to bring him back.”


***

It was now the fourth day – Ron and the DA searched during the mornings and the Knights searched at night – but still no trace of Harry, the Death Eaters or the Portkey could be seen anywhere. Hogwarts was almost fully reconstructed but even though traces of the attack were slowly disappearing from it’s surroundings the students found it hard to go back to their normal lives. For one thing, since the attack all classes were placed on hold. Howlers relentlessly arrived in Dumbledore’s office from angry parents demanding their children to be returned to them the soonest time possible. Of the staff members only Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey, Madam Hooch and Hagrid were not immobilized. The rest were bedridden, especially Professor McGonagall who had to be taken to Saint Mungos yesterday – the second time she’s had this kind of attack on her. Professor Dumbledore slaved on her morning and night reviving her and only yesterday did she showed signs of recovery.

Ron was now beginning to feel desperate and found it even more unnerving when Hermione got an owl that Krum was arriving at Hogsmeade the next morning. They were now going to talk about the rituals and Ron didn’t want to be reminded of them. He didn’t want to pretend that he didn’t know anything about the rituals – though his knowledge was scanty, he had more than what was needed of Krum. He didn’t want Hermione to get into trouble for it, or Krum, but sooner or later he figured they would have to tell someone. Secrets, he thought, were a really bad thing.

The next morning they’ve discovered that Draco was missing as well, and Ginny was able to tell them of the last thing he did. Ron thought that the possibility that either he or Harry would show up was uncertain, but when Professor Snape came running in during dinner and announced that Draco has been found, a rush of optimism filled his mind. Though they had to wait for him to be revived from whatever he had to endure for them to get anything solid out of him.
***
“Legilemens!” Severus cried; he was trying to read Draco’s mind as the boy stared blankly into space. Remus and Moody were with him as well as Professor Dumbledore and Tonks. They could see him growing paler and large drops of sweat erupted on his brow. Then he stopped and fell on his knees.

“Severus!” Remus went to him and held him as he shook.

Severus held his head and wiped the droplets of water that dripped down to the tip of his nose. He was shaking from what he saw. “The Dark Lord,”

“What is it?” Tonks said.

Professor Snape stood and pointed the wand in his head and poured its content in a basin with swimming silver inside. He continued doing so until he found he could breath again.

Then he sat, spent and weary from what seemed like a long days’ toil. Remus looked at Moody and Tonks and said, “I will view the Pensieve and map out the location of their lair.” He gave Severus another worried look before heading towards the basin. Then he vanished in the thoughts.

***
In the Gryffindor common room Hermione and Krum got into an argument about the banned books that he gave her. Ron entered the common room and was surprised to see them both engaged in a screaming battle.

“This is not the time to be righteous, Viktor!” Hermione growled.

“Tell them!” Viktor cried.

“This is not Durmstrang! I will not risk my status in this school just because of those books!” Hermione said.

“What is going on?” Ron said. The two of them looked at him and Viktor turned away shaking his head. “Why are you fighting?”

“He wants me to tell the Order about the books!” Hermione cried.

“Maybe we should,” Ron said.

“I can’t believe you just said that!” Hermione said.

“Well, Dumbledore knows about it, there’s no sense keeping it to ourselves.” Ron said.

“See vat I mean?” Viktor said.

“NO!” Hermione yelled. “You will show them and it will all point to me! I will get expelled!”

“We don’t even know if there will still be a Hogwarts next year, so why are you even afraid of that?” Ron said. “I’m pretty sure whatever we do at this time won’t be given much gravity. I’m a Knight Hermione, and just before Harry was taken I used a dark spell. You think anyone gives a damn?”

Hermione fell silent. Then she went to the table and took the book and showed it to Ron. “I know you want to see it.”

Ron looked at the familiar skin covering that he and Harry fought over a year ago. Curse of the Iranna, it said on the title. Ron took the book but said, “I won’t look inside. It’s not going to do me any good. We might as well show this to the Order.” Then he turned and went to Dumbledore’s Office.

When Ron found that it was empty he headed down to the great hall and went inside the side chamber but it too was empty. He then remembered that Draco’s memories were being extracted tonight and figured they probably were in Snape’s office. He went to the dungeon.

***

“Remus!” Cried Tonks as Remus collapsed on the floor.

“They’ve done the ritual! Headmaster, I think we’re too late!” Remus cried.

Just then Ron came in. “Professor Lupin!”

“You shouldn’t be here, Ron!” Tonks said.

“I came here to bring you this,” He said showing them the book. “It contains the rituals that,” Remus didn’t wait for Ron to finish and he took the book and paged through it.

“This is it!” Remus said looking grim and horrified at finding the image that he saw in Draco’s pensieve. “Today was the second day,”

Dumbledore closed his eyes.

“Albus,” Remus said a tear ran down his face. “They’ve used Priori Mortem.”