Rosabella Black |Daughter Of Sirius Black| (Book 5)

The Second War Begins

Rosabella's Point of View:

HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED RETURNS
In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He - Who - Must - Not - Be - Named has returned to this country and is once more active.
    "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord--well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters.
    "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord - Thingy. We urge the magician population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defence which will be delivered free to all wizarding homes within the coming month."
The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was 'no truth whatsoever in these persistent rumours that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more.'
Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He Who Must Not Be Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening.
Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards and reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, has so far been unavailable for comment. He has insisted over the past year that You-Know-Who is not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but is recruiting followers once more for afresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile, the "Boy Who Lived"-

   "There you are, Harry. I knew they'd drag you into it somehow." I said after Hermione finished reading a page of the paper.
We were in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting on the end of Ron's bed and I was sitting on Hermione's. We were all listening to Hermione read the front page of the Sunday Prophet. Ginny, whose ankle had been mended in a trice by Madam Pomfrey, was curled up at the foot of Hermione's bed. Neville was in a chair between the two beds. Luna, who had dropped in to visit, clutching the latest edition of The Quibbler, was reading the magazine upside-down and apparently not taking in a word Hermione was saying. Jason and Jacob were sitting on the bed next to Ron's along with Michael and they only had a few bruises remaining from our journey to the Department of Mysteries.
    "He's the 'boy who lived' again now, though, isn't he? Not such a deluded show-off any more, eh?" Ron said darkly as he helped himself to a handful of Chocolate Frogs from the immense pile on his bedside cabinet. He threw a few to Harry, Ginny, Neville and I. He ripped off the wrapper of his own with his teeth. There were still deep welts on his forearms where the brain's tentacles had wrapped around him. According to Madam Pomfrey, thoughts could leave deeper scarring than almost anything else, though since she had started applying copious amounts of Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction there seemed to have been some improvement.
   "Yes, they're very complimentary about you now, Harry. 'A lone voice of truth . . . perceived as unbalanced, yet never wavered in his story . . . forced to bear ridicule and slander . . .'" Hermione said, scanning down the article.
    "I notice they don't seem to have mention the fact that it was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering in the Prophet . . ." Jason said, glaring down at his own copy of the Daily Prophet.
Hermione laughed once without humour and she winced slightly and put a hand to her ribs. The curse Dolohov had used on her, though less effective than it would have been had he been able to say the incantation aloud, had nevertheless caused, in Madam Pomfrey's words, 'quite enough damage to be going on with'. Hermione was having to take ten different types of potion every day andvwas improving greatly. She was already bored with the hospital wing.
   "You - Know - Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter, page nine . . ." Jacob said, looking at the Prophet he just took from Jason.
    "Well, it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago . . ." Michael said as Hermione threw the Daily Prophet aside.
   "Daddy sold it to them. He got a very good price for it, too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer to see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack." Luna said vaguely, turning a page of The Quibbler.
Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, then said, "That sounds lovely."
Ginny caught my eye and we looked away quickly, grinning and fighting laughter.
    "So, anyway, what's going on in school?" Hermione said, sitting up a little straighter and wincing again
    'Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp." Ginny said.
    "He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off-" I said, smirking.
    "Why?" Hermione said, looking startled.
   "Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic." Ginny said, shrugging.
    "I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George. They sent me all these, you know." Ron said, through a mouthful of chocolate and pointing at the small mountain of Frogs beside him.
   "Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?" Michael said.
Hermione looked rather disapproving. 
    "So has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore's back?" Hermione asked.
   "Yes, everything's settled right back to normal." Neville said.
    "I s'pose Filch is happy, is he?" Ron asked, propping a Chocolate Frog Card featuring Dumbledore against his water jug.
   "Not at all." Ginny said, grinning.
   "'He's really, really miserable, actually . . . he keeps saying Umbridge was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts . . ." Jacob said, lowering his voice to a whisper.
All ten of us looked around. Professor Umbridge was lying in a bed opposite them, gazing up at the ceiling. Dumbledore had strode alone into the Forest to rescue her from the centaurs. How he had done it - how he had emerged from the trees supporting Professor Umbridge without so much as a scratch on him - nobody knew, and Umbridge was certainly not telling. Since she had returned to the castle she had not, as far as any of them knew, uttered a single word. Nobody really knew what was wrong with her, either. Her usually neat mousy hair was very untidy and there were still bits of twigs and leaves in it, but otherwise she seemed to be quite unscathed.
   "Madam Pomfrey says she's just in shock." Hermione whispered.
   "Sulking, more like." Ginny said and I chuckled.
   "Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this." Ron said, and with his tongue he made soft clip - clopping noises. Umbridge sat bolt upright, looking around wildly.
    "Anything wrong, Professor?" Madam Pomfrey called, poking her head around her office door.
    "No . . . no . . . No, I must have been dreaming . . ." Umbridge said, sinking back into her pillows.
Hermione, Ginny and I muffled our laughter in the bedclothes.
  "Speaking of centaurs, who's Divination teacher now? Is Firenze staying?" Hermione asked.
   "He's got to. The other centaurs won't take him back, will they?" Harry said.
    "No, they wouldn't. They'd kill him." I said, frowning.
   "It looks like he and Trelawney are both going to teach." Ginny said.
   "Bet Dumbledore wishes he could've got rid of Trelawney for good. Mind you, the whole subject's useless if you ask me, Firenze isn't a lot better . . ." Ron said, now munching on his fourteenth Frog
   "How can you say that? After we've just found out that there are real prophecies?" Hermione demanded.
I looked at Harry. He had not told Ron, Hermione or anyone else what the prophecy had contained. Neville had told them it had smashed while Harry and Michael were pulling him up the steps in the Death Room and Harry had not yet corrected this impression. I didn't say anything because it was clear Harry didn't want other people to know  yet and it was his decision to make as the prophecy was about him.
   "It is a pity it broke." Hermione said quietly, shaking her head.
    "Yeah, it is, Still, at least You - Know - Who never found out what was in it either - where are you going?' Ron added, looking both surprised and disappointed as Harry stood up.
   "Er - Hagrid's. You know, he just got back and I promised I'd go down and see him and tell him how you two are." Harry said but I was sure he was lieing.
I stood up to and so did Winter, who had been lying down on the floor next to the bed.
    "Oh, all right then. Wish we could come." Ron said grumpily, looking out of the dormitory window at the patch of bright blue sky beyond.
    "Say hello to him for us! And ask him what's happening about . . . about his little friend!" Hermione called, as Harry and I proceeded down the ward.
Harry gave a wave of his hand to show he had heard and understood as he left the dormitory.
The castle seemed very quiet even for a Sunday. Everybody was clearly out in the sunny grounds, enjoying the end of their exams and the prospect of a last few days of term unhampered by revision or homework. Harry and I held hands as we walked slowly along the deserted corridor.
I didn't know whether we were going to Hagrids or not but I just followed Harry as Winter walked by my side. It felt nice and comforting to have her back at my side.
Harry and I had just descended the last marble step into the Entrance Hall when Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle emerged from a door on the right that I knew led down to the Slytherin common room. Harry and I stopped dead, so did Malfoy and the others. The only sounds were the shouts, laughter and splashes drifting into the Hall from the grounds through the open front doors.
Malfoy glanced around- I knew he was checking for signs of teachers - then he looked back at Harry.
   "You're dead, Potter." Malfoy said in a low voice.
Harry raised his eyebrows as I used my free hand to reach into my pocket to grab my wand. I clutched my wand in my pocket, ready to use it at a moments notice.
   "Funny, you'd think I'd have stopped walking around . . ." Harry said.
Malfoy looked angrier than I had ever seen him. His pale, pointed face was contorted with rage.
   "You're going to pay. I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to my father . . ." Malfoy said, in a voice barely louder than a whisper
   "Well, I'm terrified now." Harry said sarcastically and I laughed.
   "I s'pose Lord Voldemort's just a warm-up act compared to you three." I said also sarcastic.
   "What's the matter?" Harry asked in mock concern for Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had all looked stricken at the sound of the name.
   "He's a mate of your dad, isn't he? Not scared of him, are you?" Harry said.
   "You think you're such a big man, Potter. You wait. I'll have you. You can't land my father in prison-" Malfoy said, advancing now with Crabbe and Goyle flanking him.
   "I thought I just had." Harry said.
   "The dementors have left Azkaban. Dad and the others'll be out in no time . . ." Malfoy said quietly.
   "Yeah, I expect they will. Still, at least everyone knows what scumbags they are now-" Harry said.
Malfoy's hand flew towards his wand, but Harry and I were too quick for him. We had drawn our own wands before Malfoy's fingers had even entered the pocket of his robes.
    "Potter! Black!"
The voice rang across the Entrance Hall. Snape had emerged from the staircase leading down to his office.
   "What are you doing, Potter? Black?" Snape said, as coldly as ever, as he strode over to the five of us.
   "I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir." Harry said fiercely.
Snape stared at him.
   "Put your wands away at once. Ten points each from Gryff-" Snape said curtly, thenlooked towards the giant hour-glasses on the walls and gave a sneering smile.
   "Ah. I see there are no longer any points left in the Gryffindor hour-glass to take away. In that case, Potter, we will simply have to-"
   "Add some more?"
Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone steps into the castle. She was carrying a tartan carpetbag in one hand and leaning heavily on a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked quite well.
   "Professor McGonagall! Are you alright?" I asked, concerned.
   "It will take more then a few Stunning Spells to get rid of me." McGonagall said.
   "Professor McGonagall! Out of St. Mungo's, I see!" Snape said, striding forwards.
    "Yes, Professor Snape,' said Professor McGonagall. shrugging off her travelling cloak, 'I'm quite as good as new. You two - Crabbe - Goyle -" Professor McGonagall said, shrugging off her travelling cloak and she beckoned them forwards imperiously and they came, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward.
    "Here, take these up to my office for me." Professor McGonagall said, thrusting her carpetbag into Crabbe's chest and her cloak into Goyle's.
They turned and stumped away up the marble staircase.
   "Right then. Well, I think Potter and his friends ought to have fifty points apiece for alerting the world to the return of You - Know - Who! What say you, Professor Snape?" Professor McGonagall said, looking up at the hourglasses on the wall.
   "What?" Snape snapped, though I  knew he had heard perfectly well.  
   "Oh - well - I suppose . . ." Snape said reluctantly.
   "So that's fifty each for Potter, fifty for Miss Black, the two Weasleys, Longbottom and Miss Granger, three for Miss Black's brothers." Professor McGonagall said, and a shower of rubies fell down into the bottom bulb of Gryffindor s hour-glass as she spoke.   
    "Oh - and fifty for Miss Lovegood, I suppose." McGonagall added, and a number of sapphires fell into Ravenclaw's glass.
   "Now, you wanted to take ten each from Mr. Potter and Miss Black, I think, Professor Snape - so there we are . . ." McGonagall said and a few rubies retreated into the upper bulb, leaving a respectable amount below nevertheless.
   "Well, Black, Potter, Malfoy, I think you ought to be outside on a glorious day like this." Professor McGonagall continued briskly.
Harry and I did not need telling twice. We thrusted our wands back inside our robes, Harry grabbed my hand and we headed straight for the front doors without another glance at Snape and Malfoy.
The hot sun hit us with a blast as we walked across the lawns towards Hagrid's cabin. Students lying around on the grass sunbathing, talking, reading the Sunday Prophet and eating sweets, looked up at Harry as he passed. Some called out to him, or else waved, clearly eager to show that they, like the Prophet, had decided he was something of a hero. Harry said nothing to any of them. Harry had so far avoided being questioned and, knowing Harry, he probably preferred to keep it that way.
Harry and I started to think at first when we knocked on Hagrid's cabin door that he was out, but then Fang came charging around the corner and almost bowled Harry over with the enthusiasm of his welcome. Hagrid, it transpired, was picking runner beans in his back garden. Winter and Fang chased each other round, delighted to see each other.
   "All righ', Harry, Ro! Come in, come in, we'll have a cup o' dandelion juice . . ." Hagrid said, beaming, when Harry and I approached the fence.
   "How's things? Yeh--er--feelin' all righ', are yeh?" Hagrid asked us, as we settled down at his wooden table with a glass apiece of iced juice.
I knew from the look of concern on Hagrid's face that he was not referring to physical well-being.
   "I'm fine. So, where've you been?" Harry said quickly.
   "Bin hidin' out in the mountains. Up in a cave, like Sirius did when he-" Hagrid said and then broke off.
He cleared his throat gruffly, looked at Harry and I, and took a long draught of juice.
   "Anyway, back now." Hagrid said feebly.
   "You - you look better." I said, trying to both Harry and me the favour of keeping the topic off of my Dad.
   "Wha? Oh - oh yeah. Well, Grawpy's loads better behaved now, loads. Seemed right pleased ter see me when I got back, ter tell yeh the truth. He's a good lad, really . . . I've bin thinkin abou tryin ter find him a lady friend, actually . . ." Hagrid said, raising a massive hand and feeling his face.
My mouth dropped open, horrified.
Normally we would of tried to persuade Hagrid out of this idea at once. The prospect of a second giant taking up residence in the Forest, possibly even wilder and more brutal than Grawp, was positively alarming. Especially the idea that they could have kids and there'd be a whole family of giants in the Forbidden Forest. But both Harry and I could not muster the energy necessary to argue the point.
    "Ev'ryone knows yeh've bin tellin' the truth now, Harry. Tha's gotta be better, hasn' it?'l" Hagrid said softly and unexpectedly.
He was watching Harry closely.
Harry shrugged.
   "Look . . . I knew Sirius longer 'n both of yeh combined did . . . he died in battle, an tha's the way he'd've wanted ter go-" Hagrid saud as he leaned towards us across the table.
   "He didn't want to go at all!" Harry and I said angrily.
Hagrid bowed his great shaggy head.
   "Nah, I don' reckon he did. But still, Harry, Ro . . . he was never one ter sit aroun' at home an' let other people do the fightin'. He couldn've lived with himself if he hadn' gone ter help-" Hagrid said quietly.
Harry leapt up.
   "I've got to go and visit Ron and Hermione in the hospital wing." Harry said mechanically.
   "Oh . . . all righ' then, Harry . . . take care o' yerself then, an' drop back in if yeh've got a mo . . ." Hagrid said, looking rather upset.
   "Yeah . . . right . . ." Harry said and he
crossed to the door as fast as he could and pulled it open.
He was out in the sunshine again before Hagrid had finished saying goodbye, and walking away across the lawn.
I sighed tiredly, before I stood up myself.
    "Don't take it personally, Hagrid . . . he has a lot on his mind." I said sadly.    
   "As long as he still tells yeh ev'rything. . . does he?" Hagrid asked.
I nodded my head.
    "Look af'er him, will yeh?" Hagrid said, concerned.
     "Always do." I said, reassuringly.
I whistled for Winter and we both ran to catch up with Harry.
Once again, people called out to Harry as he passed. He closed his eyes for a few moments. I held his hand and kissed the back of his hand reassuringly. Harry looked at me and I gave him a small sad smile. Harry wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we continued to walk.
We walked a short way around the lake, sat down on its bank, sheltered from the gaze of passers-by behind a tangle of shrubs. Harry stared out over the gleaming water, thinking as I lay down and rested my head on his lap. Harry absent mindedly played with the end of my hair. Winter lay down by me and I stroked her soft fur. 
It was only when the sun had set that we got up and returned to the castle.