AN
As always comments are welcome.
Enjoy the chapter
Paterdave2
END AN
Chapter 21 Revelations
September went and October came. Days flew by for Harry and his friends.
Harry had been really busy with his teaching, his own lessons and his homework. He was glad every week when it was weekend and he had some time of his own. He sat in the commenroom in a cosy armchair near the fireplace when Ginny jumped on his lap and woke him from his thoughts.
Harry looked at the girl he loved more than life itself and kissed her.
"Hey", came a cry from Ron, "could you keep your lips from my sister please?"
Harry and Ginny looked at Ron and back at each other. Ron who could see what the two were thinking said to Hermione.
"Hermione please some help here."
"What is it Ron?" She asked him.
Hermione looked up from her books and got on what was happening.
"You need help?" She asked, "okay I will help."
Hermione stood up walked around the table and kissed Ron full on the lips. Harry and Ginny fell to the floor in laughter.
"Hey," shouted Ginny, "please keep your lips of my brother!!"
Hermione let go of Ron looked at Ginny and Harry on the floor and the trio laughed at Ron who was as red in the face as his hair was.
"That wasn't the type of help I was looking for but I must say I liked it." He said in a low voice to Hermione.
She smacked him on his arm. Ron took this to his advantage because he grabbed her arm and pulled Hermione closer to him so he could kiss her again.
The four friends left the warm commenroom and went to visit Hagrid.
"So you finally found some time to visit me." Hagrid said as he saw the four outside his door.
He turned around and Harry could have sworn he heard him say. "Thought they were friends."
"Hagrid we are your friends." Harry said to him. "You have seen my first few weeks, you know I have been busy as for the others they also had to do their homework etc. But if we are not welcome we will go."
He turned around and started walking towards the castle.
"What do you mean your not welcome?" Said an angry Hagrid. "You bloody know your always welcome here Harry."
Harry turned around and walked over to the half giant. "Than why the long face?" He said as he hugged him.
"Well I hoped you would come sooner that's all." Hagrid replied to Harry's question. "I know you are all very busy with your newt exams coming up but well a man can hope can he not?"
Hagrid stepped inside his cabin and Harry was waiting for fang to jump him.
The big dog ran out of the cabin and knocked Harry and Ginny over and started licking their faces.
"Were also glad to see you Fang." Ginny laughed at the dog as she pushed his head away from her.
They all went in and had some tea with normal cookies because Harry insisted on asking Kreacher.
They had a pleasant afternoon and when the five of them left the cabin to go to diner, just at the moment Hagrid clossed the door a strange feeling came over Harry.
"Kreacher." He called and the elf appeared beside him.
"Yes master." The elf bowed.
"Can you take all five of us directly to the castle, or is 5 to much?" Harry asked him.
"Kreacher can do master please big teacher on one side and masters and friend on other."
"Harry what's going on?" Asked Hagrid.
"Just do it Hagrid." Was all Harry said.
The others who had seen Harry this way took out their wands and started scanning the area.
Harry took Kreacher's hand and grabbed Ginny's arm the others grabbed on and Hagrid took the other side.
"Now Kreacher." Said Harry and they were gone.
They arrived with a bang in the entrance hall and Kreacher almost collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. "Thank you Kreacher you go and rest now." Said Harry.
"Professor Potter what is the meaning of this? Using a house elf to get inside the castle." Coming down the stairs was Minerva McGonagall.
"Good," said Harry, "you are already here, now I don't have to go and find you. We have a problem and a breach in the safety wards."
"What is this nonsense your blabbering." Said McGonagall
"I know what I felt I know what I am saying." Said Harry,
"You into the great hall now." He said to some second years who were looking at the discussion, they were standing behind him so they didn't know how fast they should started to move.
"How does he do it?" He heard them talking when they entered the great hall.
"Minerva please believe me do you really think I would use Kreacher this way? You saw how tired he was from that small trip do you really think I would do that to him just for fun?" He asked her blunt and direct.
Than Harry felt uneasy again and took out his wand, Ginny, Ron and Hermione followed his example.
"Mam sorry to say but Harry's feeling is mostly correct so I would get your wand out too if I were you. Said Hermione to McGonagall
"Follow me," Said Harry, "lets surprise them. Hagrid you keep everybody inside the great hall. Nobody leaves you hear." Harry said to the soft giant.They walked up the stairs to the first floor and ducked behind the stone railing Hagrid went inside the great hall to keep everybody inside and warm the other teachers, after the door closed behind Hagrid, Harry could hear a click as it was locked.
The oak doors opened and in walked mr. Nott,
"I have an idea," said McGonagall, "cover me." She went inside the corridor and raised herself, than she walked out in to the entrance hall and acted surprised.
"Well Mr. Nott what a surprise what can I do for you?" She asked.
"What is she doing?" Said Ron in a low voice, "Does she want to get herself killed?"
"Oh hello professor," said Nott, "well I was in the neighborhood and wanted to ask if you have a job opening for me. The job I have now is not really what I like to do."
"I am sorry," said professor McGonagall, "but no, all openings we had have been taken. What was the subject you would like too teach, so when a opening comes I can always owl you?"
"Well I was thinking about defense against the dark arts or potions." Said Nott. Harry, who had been looking at Nott the whole time had seen him grab his wand, pointed his wand and whispered the disarming spell and the spell hit Nott who's wand flew out his hand and fell to the floor.
"You need to get your cloak checked mr. Nott your wand just fell out of it." Said McGonagall as if nothing had happened.
Nott got his wand from the floor and looked around to see if he could find another person in the hall.
When he turned to walk back to the door Harry felt the same feeling he felt at Hagrid's cabin.
He raised himself wand drawn and walked to the stairs.
He could see Nott turn and point his wand to McGonagall "Drop!" He yelled and she did it straight away. "Avada kadavra." She heard Nott say and she could see the killing curse fly over her and hit the wall.
Nott stunned that he missed was hit by Harry's stunning spell full in the chest and hit the door. What happened than Harry could not believe.
The door opened and 3 hooded figures with masks on entered the school. Death eaters who had escaped capture. He raised his wand and stood in front of Minerva.
He binded Nott and looked at the newcomers.
"Okay who is next." He said. "Your old master is gone forever, killing me won't bring him back but you make it so much easier to come to me instead of me needing to go out and find you."
The death eaters looked frightened to see Nott down, this is not what they had expected.
They had not seen the teens up the stairs yet and the trio looked at each other and without a word spoken they knew what to do.
They raised themselves and all picked the target who was the most clear for them.
With one voice they yelled "Stupefy" and Harry felt the three spells pass him and he could see them hit their targets spot on.
The three death eaters were all binded and taken away. Harry insisted to be by the questioning of Nott so he was revived at the castle.
"Okay Nott why did you want to kill professor McGonagall?" asked Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"I did not," Said Nott, "and untie me or I will...." "Answer the question that is asked of you or I will get some vertiserum." Harry interrupted Nott.
"You!!!" Said Nott
"Me." Said Harry, "Now answer the question. Why did you want to kill Minerva McGonagall ? How did you get past the safety wards? How many are there still out there?"
"I won't tell you anything." Said Nott.
"You will answer his questions or we will use vertiserum, just like Harry said." Came the cold voice of Kingsley.
They could see Nott struggle with this and in the end he could see no other way out than to answer.
"The first question is easy. I didn't want to kill her. I dropped my wand when I wanted to Imperious her. She saw my wand and knew I was armed. I could not see an other way out than to kill her as well. We wanted to kill Potter so our master could return and well she was in the way.
Second answer is not that tough either. The wards are not that good protected and when I had transformed them just enough we could get in undetected.
I don't know how you want to keep this school safe if you can't even make a good safety ward.
As for your third question I don't know.
I met the other three when I ran from the ministry after I was caught in the three broomsticks. We planned on killing Potter but when we read he was teaching here we wanted to get him where nobody would expect it.
Our plan was made and we started working on it. We were close to getting our master back just like he ordered. I only hope he knows that and won't punish us to much when he returns."
"Nott." said Harry, "Tom Riddle is dead. He can never return again."
"LIES." yelled Nott. "The dark lord will return. He did it once and he will do it again. He promised us."
"He told it in my dreams. Kill Potter so I can return, you left him there Potter small and helpless but when we kill you he will return."
"What is he talking about?" Asked Kingsley to Harry.
"I have a thought," Said Harry who was looking very pale. "keep him here I need to talk to Dumbledore." And Harry was gone.
He ran all the way to the headmistresses office and when he came running the statue just leaped aside to let him enter the staircase.
Harry yelled his thanks as the ran past the statue and he just waited upstairs so he could catch his breath.
He knocked and waited for McGonagall to let him enter, as he entered she asked him.
"Did Mr. Nott tell you what his reason was to kill me?"
"Yes he did and it was me who made him do it, but can I talk to Albus please?" Harry replied.
"You made him do it? Now explain that to me please." She said with he strict voice.
"I will," Harry said, "but not now. I need to talk to Albus in private please."
"You will not send me out of this office, and you will tell me now what you mean."
"Minerva," Said the painting of Dumbledore, "please leave Harry and me alone for a few minutes. Yes you will want you explanation but you won't get it now. He added. I think young Mr. Potter has some burning questions that need addressing first before he is able to answer any of your questions."
"But Albus they wanted to kill me." McGonagall said to the painting. "You can't be serious in telling me that any question Harry has can't wait just a few more minutes so he can tell me."
"Alas my dear Minerva that is what I am saying. Please leave us for a few minutes and the sooner you leave the sooner you get your answers." Dumbledore said to his old friend.
McGonagall wanted to get up when Harry thought of something.
"Sir," he asked the painting of Dumbledore, "am I correct in believing that you told nothing about what Ron Hermione and I did last year, or does she know?"
"No Harry I did not tell her for the same reasons you at first didn't tell Ginny." Was Albus's reply. "Okay sir, thank you, than I would like you to leave Minerva. I am really sorry." He said.
McGonagall looked hurt at Harry and left the room.
When she had closed the door it automatically locked itself.
"We can now talk freely," Said Dumbledore, "what is it that has you so spooked my boy."
"Sir," Harry began, "can Voldemort come back again?"
"No Harry, when you killed him he was truly dead, why do you ask?"
"Well sir, that part of him that lived in me and I left in limbo, that part is talking to Nott in his sleep."Harry said with worry in his voice. "He told them that he needed me dead so he can return."
Harry now could also see the worry on Dumbledore's face .
"What is it you haven't told me sir?" He asked. "You know something I can see the worry in your eyes."
"There is only one way he could have done this, but than you are the one who is keeping him alive Harry and you would never do that willingly."Albus said.
"What!!! keep him alive after he killed my parents and tried to kill me for 7 years straight??? You must be mad to say that." Harry said in disbelief.
"No hear this you will not talk to him that way Mr. Potter." Came the voice of Snape. "Apologize right now!!!"
"No Severus Harry does need to do that. It is I who needs to apologize to Harry." Albus said before Harry could reply to Snape
"What No Albus, you can not have that boy talk to you like that. Teacher or no teacher he needs to show respect to all who were headmaster of Hogwarts." Sneep concluded his ranting.
"And by becoming angry at me Harry is showing me that respect." Said Dumbledore.
"You see he has every right to be angry at me because when I told him in limbo that all was well I have forgotten to mention that when he leaves Limbo he needs to close it himself so all that are stuck there can't stay behind. You see that is where Voldemort is now he is still in limbo and can contact his followers in their dreams so he must be getting stronger."
"Okay so how do I stop him," said Harry. "And please don't tell me I need to die again. Surviving a killing curse two times is more than enough thank you very much."
Dumbledore chuckled at Harry's statement and told him he didn't need to die.
"No, my boy you just need to get in a very deep sleep, there when you are free of all that matters around you, you will be able to enter limbo again and stop Voldemort, again I must add."
"Okay," said Harry, "what is the catch, because I never get it easy."
"I don't know of his strength now but you have a chance you need to battle him again and when you loose he can take over your body and you will be stuck in limbo." Dumbledore told Harry.
"He could never stay in my body and he never will stay in my body." Said Harry. "There is to much love inside it so he can't take that chance. I will do it tonight here with you all around me. Thank you Albus, I need to get back to Nott now and talk to Minerva in a bit but thank you."
Harry left the office and the door keeping Minerva locked in her room unlocked itself. When she entered she looked around and ask in the air.
"Was it really necessary to lock me in my room?" She asked but n on of the paintings answered.
"Now where is Harry I need a word with him."
"He will be back here shortly," said Dumbledore, "but in the meantime can you get Poppy for me please I need to ask her something."
Harry went back to where they were holding Nott and when he entered he could see the hatred in the boys eyes.
"Tell me Nott," he asked him, "Why do you hate me so much? I never did anything to you?"
"Because of you my father is spending his life in Azkaban." Nott spat at him.
"You say you never did anything to me, you took away my father, and I will get you for that."
"Nott I am sorry for what happened to your dad I really am." Said Harry.
"It is not my fault he choose to follow Voldemort. He made his choice and you have done the same by joining a ghost, and trying to kill me for him. Think about this when you are in Azkaban. Your fathers master is dead and will stay dead. Nothing you will do can change that. What I do hope is that you one day can understand that your father made a bad decision when he joined Voldemort. It is not your fault nor mine, but his. He made a choice and it landed him in Azkaban. Now if you excuse me I have friends to get to."
He turned around and left Nott started crying as he now understood what Harry meant.
He was blinded by the hatred that had been filled into him as a child and now after all these years he finally realized that his father had been wrong.
Nott was taken away to the ministry and would be charged with attempted murder.
Harry had a nice talk with McGonagall and explained her what had happened. He also told a bit of his quest but not the part of the horcruxes or that he had been one.
After that little talk he went back to the commenroom to find his friends. He needed to get ready to fight. Fight for his life again