The train ride back to Hogwarts was the best Harry had since his first.
Fine, it would have been even better if he and Daphne had managed to get some time in private, but still. Even though he knew he had missed them, he hadn't really realized just how badly he was missing his friends' company.
Of course, he couldn't be too open about his summer. For one thing, the Fidelius still held. For another, Blaise and Astoria weren't Death Eaters. He couldn't talk about his spying, not in front of them. They'd want to know why he was telling them all the Order's secrets, and that could only cause hassles.
' Although, didn't Daphne say they were gonna tell Tori at some point this year? God, that'll be funny'
The ride passed quickly, with the group talking and joking, playing exploding snap and chess.
No one mentioned the Death Eaters and the war that was currently wrecking Europe, other than Blaise's one reference to "of course, we didn't go to Italy this year. Mother thought it best if we just stayed put"
Draco had to leave for a bit in the middle of the ride to patrol the train, with his prefect's badge gleaming on his robes. When he came back, it was with the news that Pansy was the female fifth-year prefect.
By the time the train arrived at Hogsmeade, and they started piling into the Thestral-led carriages, Harry was in a better mood than he'd been in all summer.
' No surprise there. After all, I'm not surrounded by people who'd try to kill me if they only knew the truth'
In the Great Hall, he was surprised to see the decorations were basically the same as at the previous year's Leaving Feast.
The house emblems were still all next to one another and still were flanked by giant strips of black cloth. The only major difference was that the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang crests were no longer present.
' I thought the black cloth was to show mourning for that Weasley twat. Guess not'
As usual, by the end of the Sorting, the sound of many rumbling stomachs could be heard throughout the Hall.
And then the food appeared.
Harry reached over and started piling some roast chicken onto his plate.
"What'd you think of the Hat's song?"
He looked at Draco, smirking a little.
"I think it's gonna take Dumbledore a lot more than House unity to win this war, don't you?"
Draco grinned back. "Remind me later, got to tell you some stuff"
"Cool," Harry answered, just before Astoria started furiously whispering to Draco.
"You guys haven't told her yet, hey?" He asked Daphne quietly.
She followed his gaze to her sister, and a small frown creased her forehead. "Not really. But I think she's starting to put the pieces together. Father said we're going to talk to her over Christmas break, have a family meeting type thing"
"That should be fun. Astoria, dear" Harry said, doing his best to impersonate Mrs. Greengrass, "we thought it best to tell you that we're all Death Eaters. And so is your boyfriend. And Daphne's boyfriend. But no pressure, if you don't want to join"
"That's not how it would go at all!" Daphne said a bit louder than she meant.
Once the heads turned away from them, she hissed back to him. "Firstly, you really shouldn't talk about this type of thing in public. And secondly, neither of my parents are-are-you know! Not really, at least. They don't fight"
"I know" he sighed and put his hand over hers. "I'm sorry. To be honest though, no-ones busy trying to listen in"
"That's not the point!"
He squeezed her hand. "I know, I'm-"
A hush fell over the Hall as Dumbledore rose to the podium. He stretched his arms wide and muttering broke out.
"What happened to his hand?"
"Don't know. Looks like some type of curse though. Something serious, if he couldn't get it healed"
Dumbledore obviously noticed the attention his blackened and withered hand was getting, because he shook his sleeve over it.
"Welcome. First, I would like to Welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Augustus Shriner"
The man in question waved a hand lazily. Polite applause filled the room.
"What's he like?"
"Scary" Harry answered, not taking his eyes off of Dumbledore to look at Draco while he spoke."He really knows his stuff, and he's bloody quick"
The applause died down. Dumbledore took on a more serious look as he gazed around the room.
"As you all know, Voldemort is once more terrorizing our world. We are as committed as ever to your continued safety. As such, there will be teams of Aurors patrolling the school. I beg of you all, please, do not distract them from their purpose here"
Harry rolled his eyes.
"If you see anything suspicious, anything worrisome. Please, report it. Our safety relies on everyone doing their part. As I said at the end of last year, and as the Sorting Hat has been kind enough to remind us, we will only be victorious through unity"
' As if that'll help'
"And now," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together, "to bed!"
When they got to bed, Harry finally found an opportunity to speak to Draco in private.
Everyone went to sleep almost as soon as they arrived in the room, and after a few minutes, Crabbe and Goyle's snores filled the room, and Theo's whistling intake of breath fell into a rhythm.
"Hey, Harry" Draco whispered
"Yeah? I'm up"
"Good. Come to the Common Room"
"Fine. Just give me a minute"
He slipped a robe on and followed Draco down the stairs.
They settled into a pair of armchairs, and Harry cast the privacy charms.
"So? What's up?"
"We went to Russia!" Draco blurted out excitedly, "father took me! Merlin, Harry. It's crazy"
Harry leaned forward, fatigue vanishing.
"What was going on there?"
"Still some fighting, but very little. We've got control of the whole place. It's mad, they've got the top people in the Muggle government under the Imperius, and a few of their generals too!"
"Really? That's-"
"Not all. They found out where the muggles keep their bombs. You know, those crazy ones-"
"Nukes?"
"Yeah, those things. So they've been working on deactivating them. Making them look like everything's normal, but they won't be dangerous at all"
Harry whistled softly.
"And the muggles are just acting like everything's normal. Apparently, that's what we're gonna do everywhere we conquer. Take away their weapons without them even noticing!"
"That's-amazing. The Dark Lord-He said something about that to me once. Said we'll only start taking real action against muggles once we've got control of the whole wizarding world"
Draco nodded. "Seems like that's what we're doing. It's just so crazy. We-I stayed under polyjuice, pretending to be one of the older Death Eaters, but the way they treated father. It was just so incredible. When He says we'll get honored, He's not joking or messing around"
"Does He ever?"
Draco chortled softly. Honestly, the mental image of the Dark Lord joking around or playing a prank was quite hilarious.
"What about the fighting there?"
"Very little still going on. Really just small groups of rebels, who're still loyal to the old ministry. The average witch or wizard, they don't really care. As long as they know that they'll be safe, that their family will be safe and that they'll still have food, they won't fight"
"Did you see any of it?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Well, kind of" Draco huffed. "I went with father when he went to see how they were taking down one of the last rebel strongholds, but he and I stayed far away from the actual fighting. Really just looked like flashes of light, and people screaming in Russian"
"Still. It must've been cool"
Draco shrugged, looking a bit uncomfortable. "I guess. Tell me about the Order"
So Harry regaled Draco with everything he had learned over the summer, everything the Order knew. At the end of it all, Draco laughed.
"Merlin. They haven't a chance in hell, do they?"
"I don't know" Harry shook his head. "I mean, with these foreigners, and those Dark Mark detectors"
"Still," Draco said, "in a fight-"
"I really don't know. I mean, this Shriner guy" he shivered. "He's scary. I'd hate to go up against him. I think-I think he'd give Snape and Barty together a run for their money. And some of the other Order people aren't so bad. Sirius and Kingsley dueled with me a bit, and they're both good"
"Maybe"
They lapsed into silence for a bit, until Harry broke it with a yawn.
"Bedtime. You've got to be all prefecty, and I wanna at least be awake in classes"
"What does it even matter?" Draco asked as they stood. "Points, test scores. None of it really matters. All that matters is how valuable you are to Him"
"I guess" Harry shrugged. "Still got to keep up appearances. Besides, won't be much value if we don't know how to use magic properly, right?"
"I don't know. I think I'd be better as some type of administrator, rather than a fighter. Something in government"
That gave Harry pause. He could see it, so clearly. Draco sitting behind a desk, ordering underlings around. Keeping the country running smoothly.
' And what will I be doing? Won't be much point in spying on the Order, not when we've won'
' I'll kill people. That's what I'll do'
He chuckled to himself.
' They do say, if you have a job you like, you'll never work a day in your life'
Classes were rather underwhelming.
On their first day back at classes, they had Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration.
In all three classes, the professors began by talking about the importance of their OWL year, how their results would affect the course of their lives, and a whole bunch of other bullshit.
Harry was forcibly reminded of Draco's words from the previous night.
' Points, test scores. None of it matters. Not really'
Even worse, Potions was the only class where they had started doing totally new stuff. Snape gave instructions for the Draught of Peace, and they spent the class trying to brew it correctly.
Of course, Harry was far more interested in learning new spells, and both Flitwick and McGonagall disappointed him.
They spent the whole double Charms period reviewing the Summoning Charm, and after a long lecture, began work on Vanishing Spells in Transfiguration.
Harry already knew both of those. In fact, he could cast them both non-verbally.
He almost burst out laughing when McGonagall informed the class that the Vanishing Spell was less difficult than Conjurations and that they would only be learning how to Conjure in NEWT classes.
' Honestly, I think I'm going to be bored to tears. Guess that's the downside to getting extra training'
Montague had been made Quidditch captain after Flint finished his seventh year. Harry discovered this fact, when he was grabbed by Montague after leaving lunch, and informed that try-outs would be held the following evening.
Harry just looked into his wide eyes and promised that yes, he would be there, and yes, he would be happy to take his position as Chaser again.
' Is there a rule or something, that whoever is Quidditch Captain has to be a fanatic as well?'
The next day, Harry received a note at breakfast. The Head Boy and former Triwizard Champion, Cedric Diggory, walked over and dropped it in front of Harry.
"From Dumbledore" He whispered, before walking away.
' Was that his attempt at being sneaky? I think the whole table saw!'
He untied the string bow around the curled scroll, and read it.
' So. Dumbledore wants to meet Friday night, hey. Should be interesting'
That day also saw the first Runes and Arithmancy classes of the year. Thankfully, they would be doing new stuff in those. In Runes, they would finally begin what Babbling referred to as 'Battle Runes', and in Arithmancy, they would at last start learning how the magical properties of numbers affected spellcrafting, something Harry was more than excited for.
Interestingly enough, Crabbe and Goyle were chosen as the new Beaters, with Warrington having been made the new Keeper.
' Four Death Eaters on our team. Crazy. Wonder what Dumbledore would do if he knew?'
Crabbe and Goyle were not part of that count. Not yet, at least. Harry honestly couldn't imagine either of them ever getting Marked, but he could definitely see them being some type of muscle. Just from the way they swung their Beater's bats around, definitely showed they would enjoy that.
' It is a bit unfortunate. That they've got clubs. Really makes them look like trolls'
"So, Harry. I trust your first week back has treated you well?"
Harry tore his eyes away from Dumbledore's blackened hand. He was quite sure the Dark Lord had once mentioned a curse that would do that.
"Uh, yes. It's been great, sir"
"I'm sure. I know it must have been difficult for you over the summer, being away from all your friends"
' Oh you know, do you?'
He just nodded.
"Well, hopefully in our meetings, we shall be able to come to some satisfactory conclusions. I do not exaggerate when I say, that these meetings we will be having will likely be the key to defeating Voldemort and winning the war"
Harry managed to barely hold back a snort.
"Sir, if I may ask-your hand? What-"
"Ah" Dumbledore interrupted, "a thrilling tale that is. And one with which I shall doubtless regale you. But not just yet. We have a memory to view"
With that, the old wizard gave a careless wave of his wand, and his Pensieve flew out of the cupboard behind him, coming to rest in the table.
"You have been in a Pensieve-Memory before, have you not?"
"Yeah. I went into one with Healer Deschain"
Dumbledore beamed. "Excellent. They can be quite disconcerting, on one's first trip. Now, this memory belongs to a former hit-wizard of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, by the name of Bob Ogden. Let us not leave Mr. Ogden's thoughts waiting too long"
At Dumbledore's gesture, Harry stuck a finger in, seeing the Headmaster do the same opposite him.
He dropped back into his seat, mind whirring with the memory he had seen.
Those people. They were monstrous. Caricatures of disgusting, inbred lunatics. But-but- but they were speaking Parseltongue. And they claimed descent from Slytherin. And that-that meant-
"Do you have an idea of who those people were, Harry?" Dumbledore asked gently.
He swallowed, forcing himself, as he always had to around Dumbledore, to say the name.
"Voldemort's family," he said quietly.
"Correct. Voldemort's mother, uncle, and grandfather. And though you heard his voice, I'm not sure if you caught a glimpse of his father…"
He looked up in shock.
"The muggle on the horse?"
Dumbledore nodded gravely.
"What a scandal it was in the town of Little Hangleton when the Squire's son ran off with the daughter of the town tramp. He returned, less than a year later, complaining about how he had been tricked and ensnared. I'm sure none of the townspeople knew what to make of that. Those of us who know the capabilities of magic, however, can see past the utter blandness of his words. How do you think she could have tricked him?"
"The Imperius? Or love potion, I guess. But she seemed like-like a-"
"A squib?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
Harry nodded, still shaking with the information he'd received.
' I can never tell anyone' he realized. ' He-He'd kill them for knowing. And He'd kill me for telling'
"I believe," Dumbledore said with a sigh, "that Merope's magical ability, or indeed, lack thereof, stemmed from her mental and emotional state. Living with a family like the one she had-it must have been terrible for her"
"I'll bet" Harry muttered.
"Now. I believe a powerful love potion to have been more her modus operandi. It would have seemed more romantic for her. However, when she fell pregnant, she must have stopped dosing him. And it was then that he left her, alone and penniless in London"
"London?"
"Indeed. And here we see proof"
Dumbledore tapped the swirling mass within the Pensieve with his wand, and a misty figure arose from it.
"Yes, we acquired it in curious circumstances. It was brought in by a young witch just before Christmas, oh, many years ago now. She said she needed the gold badly, well, that much was obvious. Covered in rags and pretty far along… going to have a baby, see. She said the locket had been Slytherin's. Well, we hear that sort of story all the time, 'Oh, this was Merlin's, this was, his favorite teapot,' but when I looked at it, it had his mark all right, and a few simple spells were enough to tell me the truth. Of course, that made it near enough priceless. She didn't seem to have any idea how much it was worth. Happy to get ten Galleons for it. Best bargain we ever made!"
"Ten Galleons?!"
"Indeed. Caractacus Burke was never known for his generosity. So here we have it. Merope Gaunt, youngest descendant of Salazar Slytherin, in London selling her heirloom Locket. The very Locket that Marvolo was so proud of"
"Couldn't she just-use magic? She could get food, even if she couldn't Conjure it, and-"
Dumbledore was slowly shaking his head.
"I believe, that her heartbreak over being abandoned by the man she was so besotted with, left her in a very similar situation with regards to her magic as she had been her whole life. I believe she was unable to make use of it"
' And her son is the most powerful wizard in the world. Holy shit'
Dumbledore pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it for a moment.
"As always, time makes fools of us. We will meet again in a few weeks. Hopefully, I will have more information to impart then. But I would like you to think of the locket and of the ring"
Dumbledore reached into his pocket, and pulled a cracked and broken ring out, placing it on the table.
Eyes widening, Harry spluttered "that's-that's the ring! Why-"
"All in good time" Dumbledore answered serenely, a smile stretching across his face. "In the meanwhile, ponder the locket. Remember it"
The Dark Lord hadn't said a word as Harry told him everything Dumbledore said. He had simply stared, with unnerving intensity.
" $When is the next Hogsmeade weekend?$" He finally asked.
" $I think it's in three weeks time, my lord. I'm sorry, but I wasn't-"
" $Not soon enough. Will you be missed if you are not around for an hour or so tomorrow afternoon?$"
" $I don't think so$"
" $Contact me at 2 P.M. I have a mission for you to perform, within the castle$"
" $I will-$"
" $The ring. You are certain it was cracked?$"
" $I am, my lord$"
The Dark Lord hissed unintelligibly.
" $Have you made plans for the training of your fellows?$"
"$We've figured out a time that none of us will be missed but are still searching for a location where-$"
" $What I show you tomorrow will aid with that. Does Dumbledore still seem suspicious of you?$"
" $No more than he ever has been$"
" $We will be removing his suspicions. Not yet, but soon. It will involve you leaving Hogwarts for a few hours one evening. Severus will help with that$"
" $What will we do?$" Harry hurried to add, "$if I may ask, my lord$"
The Dark Lord bared his teeth in a terrifying grin. A shudder ran through Harry at the sight.
" $We're going to enjoy ourselves$" he snarled viciously.