HARRY POTTER AND THE STONE OF DUMBLEDORE’S MANOR

CHAPTER SEVEN


A New Mission


McGonagall took Ron, Hermione and Harry in turn, and tapped them smartly on the head. A chill went down the length of their spine, as if cold water had been poured down them. Hermione shivered, and stepped away from the tip of McGonagall’s wand. Tonks had changed into a white cat, and sat purring near Harry.

“There, Mad-Eye, you next.” She said, holding out a hand to point to the now free spot. Moody growled at her.

“I’m fine! Worry about Potter and his friends. I’m old, they don’t want me.” Moody looked around at what used to be Potter, Weasley and Granger. Before him, there stood 3 very black cats.

“Very well, I tried. Now, Mr. Potter, if you’ll follow me. Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley will be in front of Mad-eye when we leave.” She said, being tailed by the cat-Harry, who still bore a lightning shaped scar on his hairy forehead.

Mad-Eye pointed to the two cats still left to follow McGonagall. Side-by-side, Hermione and Ron trotted on. Out through the front door, McGonagall made a sweep of the front of the house. Tonks, who was quiet up to this point, whispered to Hermione, “Do you think she’ll ever manage to figure out that she sticks out like a popcorn kernel on the sun?” She said, jamming her finger in McGonagall’s direction. Hermione and Ron purred a passable cat-giggle.

In the pitch black of night, the three cats and two humans silently made their way across the patchy grass. They made their way to the court yard that held nothing more than garbage. Here, McGonagall turned to them all, and said in a small voice, “Here. Each of you put a paw on this stone.” She said, pointing to stone that was shining as blue as the night sky’s stars. They each put the tiny paws they had onto each corner of the stone. With a rush of wind, they were hurdled into darkness. When the light shined through the slits in their closed eyes, they opened them.

“Where are we?” Hermione asked a cat next to her. She wasn’t sure who it was.

“I don’t know.” Ron’s voice came from the cat she asked. They were in front of a decrepit mansion. Paint was peeling, the gate had holes in it, and the front door leaned in.

“This way!” said Mad-eye, who came quietly behind them. He led them into one of the holes in the gate. The steps, Harry saw, had cracked and crumbled away, leaving a gaping hole up to the door.

When they all arrived at the top of the door, Harry saw the name on the doorplate, and let out a small purr of shock. He read it again:


DUMBLEDORE MANOR
EST. 1579
HIGH REGARDS TO SAFE KEEPERS

McGonagall temporarily messed his concentration. She had been taking out her wand, and dropped it with a clank onto the concrete stoop that the door rested on. She hurriedly picked it up, looking around her in alarm.

“Come, all of you.” She said, and they all stepped forward. All at once, she released the spell to make them human again. They coughed and sputtered at the cat hair in their throats.

“Where are we, Professor?” Ron asked. She simply shook her head, and pointed to the door. Hermione reached for the knob and slowly turned it, making the door squeak. They entered the mansion. The inside was worse then the outside. Holes bore into the walls and the carpet was so badly ripped, that Harry had a hard time getting into the hallway.

A sudden noise filled Harry’s ears as he made his way into the kitchen off the grand staircase that sat in the middle of the huge hallway.

“Oh, Your home!” Mrs. Weasley said, strangling Harry into a great big hug. Ron, he saw, was disengaging himself from the grasp of Mr. Weasley. Hermione looked as though she had recently been hugged by a bear two times her size.

Mrs. Weasley let Harry go, and looked at him with tired, red eyes. She tapped him lightly on the shoulder. As Harry gazed back into her eyes, he saw a single tear fall onto her housedress. She turned from Harry and told them to head into the kitchen. Heading in the direction of the kitchen, the three of them heard voices coming from it, but they were speaking so low, that they couldn’t hear them well enough to distinguish anything. They walked through the door, which was almost torn from the hinges, the odor from the kitchen turned Harry’s stomach with a lurch.

The three entered, Ron stooping down so he didn’t hit his head. They saw the people whose voices they heard belonged to. There, at the old, solid black table sat Shacklebolt, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley and Hermione’s Parents.

“Mum? Dad? What are you doing here?” Hermione squealed, running up and hugging her mother and father. Harry had no desire to follow her lead on his kin that sat before him.

“Isn’t that you family, mate?” Ron whispered, nudging his head at Dudley, who sat eating a crumb pudding,. Harry sighed. He thought he had gotten rid of the fat lump, but here he was, sitting in the same room as him.

“Harry, Hermione. You must be wondering why your family is sitting here before you?” Shacklebolt said, a grin playing on his face.

“Not really.” Harry returned. Hermione poked his ribs with her elbow. “Yeah, alright,” Harry said, rubbing them.

Shacklebolt made a gesture for them to sit at the vacant chairs at the end of the table. “Your families are here because they are no longer safe where they were. After your, shall we say….run in with the Malfoy’s, they are sure to be targets.” He said, looking from Harry to Hermione.

“So you brought them here? What is this place anyway?” Ron asked, looking around at the kitchen with great loathing.

“This place is Dumbledore Manor. Albus, before he even set foot in Hogwarts, told us we could use his residence if need be. It would only be open to us if the need so shall arise.” He said, looking at Ron and smiling.

“So, then this place really is Professor Dumbledore’s?” Harry asked, his eyes raising in an arc as he spoke. He looked at Ron and Hermione and back at Shacklebolt.

“It is, Harry. It’s not on the upkeep, but Albus found no use for keeping it tidy seeing as he had no real family, Other than you three of course.” Shacklebolt added, noting the coolness in Harry’s look.

“But why would he come back here? I mean, if he was Headmaster, why come back here? Couldn’t he have stayed at Hogwarts?” Hermione asked, as Harry remained silent.

“Albus, once he became headmaster, had no reason to return here. He had people to guard it, but he had no real desire to return here and resume his affairs away from Hogwarts.” He replied gruffly. Hermione looked ashamed for asking, but he gave her a smile and a wink.

“Now, if you don’t mind me resuming my explanation that sits before us.” He said, pointing at the Dursleys and at Hermione’s mum and dad. “They must remain here for the time that the dark lord is out there. Albus has put a protection ward around this place and it is not visible to Muggles that were not alerted to its existence.” He said. Dudley looked across at Harry and scoffed. Vernon and Petunia just sat there, looking scared and worn. Hermione looked relieved at the new safety for her parents.

Mrs. Weasley came in and interrupted before Harry had a chance to reply to anything that was just said.

“Alright, your rooms are ready. If you’ll follow me, I will show you them.” She said. Vernon, Petunia and Dudley, followed by Hermione’s mum and dad followed her. They could here them thumping up the stairs.

“Potter, you need to listen to me. There is something in this house that Albus has hidden for the person who was destined to stop the dark lord. You must find it, and stop the dark lord.” Shacklebolt said, as soon as she was upstairs, away from the listening distance. Harry looked surprised.

“But…” He started. Ron and Hermione looked on in helplessness.

“You must! Its here in this house! You must find it!” He said. A clambering from the stairs made him stop completely.

When they were safely away from ears forty-five minutes later in the room that was set up for Ron and Harry, Harry tried to reason with his two friends about what Shacklebolt had told them in the kitchen.

“It has to be here! I mean, he wouldn’t lie to me about this!” Harry said, sitting on his bed and hitting his pillow in frustration.

“How do we know he isn’t trying to get you in a trap? Look at Riddle. He set you up, mate. He bated you into the chamber.” Ron said, sitting next to Hermione (which made Harry’s insides constrict with jealousy).


“There is a way to check.” Hermione said. “Do you know where a mirror is?” She said, reaching across Ron to retrieve her wand from the bedside table.

“Over here.” Harry said, jabbing a finger in that direction. An oval mirror sat on the dresser. Ron, Hermione and Harry crowded around it. Hermione took her wand and tapped the glass.

“Reflecto Revelatio!” She said, her wand tip illuminating a deep yellow. The glass rippled for a moment, and then the face of Albus Dumbledore reflected back into the shocked faces of Ron and Harry.

“It worked!” Hermione said happily. Harry simply looked at her as she spoke to the mirror Dumbledore.

“Is there something hidden in this house that Harry is to find?” She asked. The mirror Dumbledore nodded his head and stared at her for another question. “Where is it?”

“We do not tell what our master does not wish to be revealed. The manor holds many secrets and contains your secret within its walls.” The Dumbledore said. With a pop, he disappeared from the glass.

Harry looked at her. When she didn’t reply, he grabbed her wrist (again his stomach did a flutter). She looked at him, then Ron and released herself from his grip.
“What was that?” Harry said simply. He looked at the mirror again, but it was gone.

“His trace memory from when he was living here. His memory is contained in the mirrors of this house. It knows all his secrets, well, the ones he wants you to know. It’s like a Pensieve, only in mirrors, not swimming in a pool of thoughts.” Hermione said, looking at Ron and then Harry.

“You know, you’re too smart sometimes.” Ron said, smiling at her. She smiled back at him. Harry looked at Hermione and thought about kissing her right in front of Ron, that would wipe the smile off his face. Harry regained his thoughts and pushed them far into the corner of his brain.

“Where are we going to find this thing Dumbledore hid? How can we possibly know where to start?” Harry said. Hermione scoffed.

“Have you ever paid attention in charms? For heaven sake!” She rolled her eyes.

“Why don’t you just show us? You know we never paid attention in charms.” Ron said, rolling his eyes back at her and smiling. You smug bastard….Harry thought. He quickly turned away from them and looked at the dirty window shades that covered the windows.

“We will look tomorrow. I’ll show you the spell you guys didn’t pay attention to.” Hermione smiled. She walked to the door and pulled it open. “Night boys.” She said, shutting it behind her. Ron walked over and got his pajamas from the drawer.

“I’ll be back. I need to brush my teeth.” Harry said. He hurried out of the door. Heading to the hallway, he made a beeline to Hermione’s room. He knocked lightly. She opened the door. Harry barged in, grabbed her face and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss, and then broke free of his hands on her face.

“Harry! Not here!” She said, as he looked at her with desperate heat. He did not answer her; instead, he stepped forward and placed his hand on her thigh. He slowly kissed her neck and reached her lips. She did not hesitate to answer the kiss.

“Harry.” She said, the raspy way she said his name made him crazy. He moved his hands up her nightgown, rubbing her inner thigh and then up to her stomach. She moaned softly as he caressed her belly. He led her to her bed and laid her down. His hand slid from her belly to her heat between her legs. Her back arched as she moaned slightly. Kissing her neck, caressing her lips with his tongue, He pulled her nightgown over her head, exposing her supple mounds. He gently pulled her underwear down and stood up to take his shirt off. She sat up and reached for his belt. Her hands managed to get his belt off and he slid his pants off and kicked them to the side. Hermione pulled off his boxers and pulled him down to her on the bed. He smiled as he kissed her lips.

“I’ve been wanting to finish this.” He said kissing her lips. She smiled and put her fingers into his hair. “Me too.” She said simply.

Not wanting to wait anymore, he entered her and released all the passion he withheld. She scratched his back as she buckled with pleasure. He gently squeezed her tender chest as he climaxed. Hot and sweaty, he kissed her lips once more before rolling off her and holding her into his arms.

“I’m in love with you Hermione. He said, playing with her hair as she snuggled with him. Ron had fallen asleep an hour ago and Harry knew he hadn’t even realized his Tooth-brushing was taking a long time.

Hermione said nothing. She rubbed his chest and remained silent in the darkness of her room. Harry took this silence as a sign she felt the same. But in Hermione’s mind, her thoughts were anything but.

How could I have done this? I love Ron, and yet I’ve slept with Harry. I don’t feel the same way as I do about Ron. What if Ron finds out? He will never want to be with me. I’ve slept with Harry. What am I going to do?

She sat up in the bed and looked at Harry, who was looking at her with concern on his face.

“What’s a matter, Hermione?” Harry asked, his bare chest heaving up and down with each word.

“You better go, Harry. If someone sees you…” She said, stepping out of the bed and getting her nightgown on. She looked at Harry, who slowly rose from the bed. “Alright, I’ll go.” He said, reaching down for his boxers that were on the floor. Dressing quickly, he was at Hermione’s bedroom door in a short time.
Pressing his hands to her waist, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips, smiled at her and disappeared through the doorway. He heard it click shut as he descended down the hallway and into his own room.
Hermione laid on her bed, hugged her pillow, and started to cry silently. What had she done? How could she let her passion go and not realize Ron is who she really wanted? She was torn, and after tomorrow, she would really understand how she felt…..

THE NEXT MORNING

“Come on.” Ron said, prodding Harry. The three of them were all gathered in the basement of the mansion (which took them over an hour to find). They followed Hermione down into the dank basement and were now huddled against the side of the stone façade that jutted out from the wall.

“Why here, Hermione?” Harry asked, looking around and scratching his head from the cobwebs that had attached to his hair.

“Where else would we have started? Where would you hide something like that?” She said, turning away from him and looking at the façade up close. Harry shrugged, then looked at Ron, who was trying to cower away from a huge spider that had appeared on a ceiling beam.

“Okay. Let me see if I can do this. This wall isn’t very perdurable like Hogwarts.” Hermione said. She took her wand and tapped a pattern on the stone, leaving an imprint of red light where she tapped. She stood back and looked at the lights. She sighed deeply, then shrugged.

“Well, nothing here. Come on, let’s search around so more.” She said, walking to the door and disappearing through the small doorway. They spent the next five hours searching all the walls they could get to without getting detected, and still hadn’t found the thing Dumbledore wanted them to find.

“It’s got to be here. Where haven’t we searched?” Ron asked, his eyes focused on Hermione, who had closed hers. “Maybe we missed something…” Ron started.

“Wait! There is a place we haven’t checked yet!” Harry said, getting to his feet and heading to the door at a run. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, but followed him nonetheless.

Harry ran to the front door and retched it open. He immediately bent on his knee and looked at the plaque that Harry had read earlier. He pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the plaques rusty screws that held in on.

“Diffindo!” Harry said. The plaque sparked, and then fell off. Harry had to shield his eyes from the dark purple light that reflected out of it. When the light faded, Harry opened his eyes and put his hand into the slot that the plaque had hidden. He felt a velvet fabric. He grabbed it and pulled his hand out.

“What is it?” Ron asked. He seemed to be entranced by the bag, for his eyes were watery and red.

“Open it, Harry.” Hermione said, her face upturned to look at his face. He placed the bag on the concrete slab and unwrapped the bag. A stone, made of the purest of marble, stood looking back at them. A red symbol in the middle caught Harry’s eye. It was in the shape of a castle turret, and the word below read:

THE GREATEST OF WIZARDS HAVE TRAVELED HERE, ONLY ONE HAS THE POWER TO SEEK WHAT IS RIGHT. HE SHALL FIGURE ALL LIFE.


Harry looked at the other two. They were just a clueless as he was. He got to his feet and walked inside with the stone he had just found. He did not stop to answer Mrs. Weasley when she said it was time for dinner. He just kept walking until he got to his room. Hermione and Ron came in and sat at the end of his bed, as he sat at the desk.

“What the hell does this mean?” He said after a moment’s silence.

“I don’t know, Harry. Maybe Hermione knows.” Ron said, looking over at her. She sat silenced looking at the floor.

“I think I know what it means, Harry.” She said, looking up into his eyes now. “I think it means, what you need to find isn’t that stone, its not even here.” She said, her voice quivering slightly.

“Come on, Hermione. Then where is it?” Harry said, standing up. His voice was more forceful than he meant, as she blinked back a flow of tears.

“I…I….I think it’s at Hogwarts, Harry.” She said, wringing her hands. Harry looked at Ron for a minute then laughed.

“Hogwarts? But Shacklebolt said it was in his house somewhere!” Harry said, shaking his head and laughing again.

“Yes, Harry. But I think he meant his other house. Hogwarts.” She said, moving a bit closer to Ron, who seemed to have no objection to that at all.

“She may be right, Harry. Dumbledore considered it a second home…It’s possible he left something there.” Ron said, shrugging. Harry thought on it, then he made his thoughts clear to the other two.

“Well, then, we need to go to Hogwarts and find it!” He said, smiling to them both.

“Harry! Are you crazy! Voldemort is out there looking for you! You can’t just go!” Hermione protested.

“I have to go. And you two can come if you want. I’ll go alone if I need to….I need to stop this!” He said, sitting back down and staring out the window…….