Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and story affiliations mentioned in this fan fiction all belong to JK Rowling and legal associations. I own nothing of it nor am I profiting from it now and planning too in the future in any way. The only exception of profit is to my self for literary improvement.
Author to Reader Note: This is a short chapter simply to bring forth the next part of the main plot and nemesis.
Revised 5/13/03
Harry Potter and the Turmoil Within
Chapter 5
The Theft
Ron sat in the living room wondering what to do. Since Dobby had arrived, every possible chore was being done the elf; it refused to let anyone do virtually anything. Ron so bored and worried that he even considered weeding the garden but had easily finished that much to everyone's surprised. Ron could hear his mother in the kitchen having a fit at how Dobby was running her kitchen. Ron chuckled silently at the incident with the ghoul earlier that day.
Harry had woken for only a moment and went right back out with a little water from Hermione. Sooner or later he was going to find out what she was doing.
"You know you could do some homework," suggested Hermione quietly.
Ron glared at her, "Well if you must know, Ms. Know-It-All by the way, I did finish my holiday homework a week ago except for the essay on talismans and we all know how that turned out."
"Well don't bite my head off about it."
There was a sound of a door being slammed and a person gasping. Ron turned to look at saw his father leaning against the front door winded.
"Those damn reporters will be the death of me if I have to go out there again," snapped Mr. Weasley.
The two exchanged greetings with Mr. Weasley as he passed by them to the kitchen.
"Molly," he called to his wife.
Mrs. Weasley appeared from the kitchen at being called.
"There's going to be a meeting here tonight with some representatives. They want to look in on things… Don't give me that look they promised that they weren't going to look in on Harry. Mostly, just to talk about some things outside the ministry away from so many ears and interruptions," explained Mr. Weasley.
"Why here," inquired Mrs. Weasley?
Mr. Weasley shrugged and answered, "Dumbledore insisted it and everyone agreed."
"Odd? Oh well he probably just wants a peek at Harry and won't admit it," responded Mrs. Weasley, "I'm not sure Dobby will be delighted but considering Dumbledore will be here."
Hermione and Ron looked back at each other after the exchange and silent agreement was already made.
"Think there may be another reason why Dumbledore wants to meet here?" asked Ron.
"I have a theory about that but it's not important, let's plan how we'll attend," answered Hermione.
They set off to Ginny's room to plan and waited until after supper to begin.
During supper they had a preplanned argument to make it appear as if they wouldn't do anything together for a while and bid goodnight to everyone separately. Ron had 'borrowed' Harry's invisibility cloak and met Hermione at Ginny's door. She let him into the room. Their plan was to eavesdrop from the kitchen window after they floated down from the bedroom window. She lowered herself down first and much to her surprise, Ron landed on the ground from jumping.
"Ron we were three stories up, how'd you do that?"
"You want to chat or eaves drop?"
Hermione stopped inquiring and draped the cloak around them. They headed quickly for kitchen window as the representatives had already arrived. Ron had already made sure the window would be open with the help of the unknowing Dobby.
They stole a quick glance into the room. They easily saw Cornelius Fudge, Albus Dumbledore, and Mr. Weasley. There was a man from the Museum they had seen before and another wizard in the corner hidden by shadows of the kitchen.
"Thank you all for coming and especially thanks to Author for letting us use his home," said the voice of Cornelius Fudge.
Dumbledore's voice replied, "Quite so."
A new voice followed apparently from the wizard in the shadowed corner,"Is it the correct understanding that we are here to avoid prying ears?"
They saw the outline of the shadowed wizard glance in their direction. He knew they were there even with the cloak. Ron and Hermione froze, not sure of what to do next.
Dumbledore answered, "That was the idea, why?"
"Just curious, not that I mind, just seemed a little odd is all. Let us continue now that everyone 'invited' is present," spoke the shadowed wizard.
"Well we're to talk of stolen talismans and Malleck," began Fudge.
"Yes," said the Museum wizard.
The shadowed wizard then asked,"What were these talismans?"
The museum wizard removed a parchment from his robes and answered, "The list is Colossus Orb, Geraus Ring, Hetan Stone, Niomia Necklace, Keock Jewel and finally… the Venarus Blade."
"THE VENARUS BLADE!" shouted the shadowed wizard, "I should have been told sooner!"
"We discovered it missing only today as the finally cataloging had been finished with the clearing of the rubble," answered the museum wizard.
"Dumbledore you realize what this means don't you?" asked the shadowed wizard.
Dumbledore sighed and answered, "That I do."
"They are all dangerous items, even the orb used by young Potter was never recovered," Fudge.
"A broken marble sphere has been found but not verified yet to be the orb since there was no detectable magic in it," mentioned the museum wizard, "Until a verification is made it must be considered as still missing."
"Dumbledore, do you think Harry may still have it," asked Fudge.
"The sphere, I would say no."
"So we are to assume Malleck acquired these items," stated Fudge.
"He would want those particular ones, not even Voldemort would go for the Venarus Blade. He may be insanely evil but not stupid. That thing would destroy him before he could use it," said the shadowed one.
"After all these years what would he want," asked Mr. Weasley speaking for the first time.
"Harry Potter" stated the shadowed wizard.
"Why, Harry wasn't even alive in his time," asked Mr. Weasley.
"A power struggle," answered the shadowed wizard, "The only one to defeat Malleck was Voldemort and the one who defeated Voldemort is Harry... For Malleck to rise to the level of top Dark Wizard he must defeat the strongest opposition, the victor of his greatest enemy… Don't forget he's also a loon, he may be doing it because like students with black hair and green eyes… But the note was written and signed the same. Even with all the extra security he still got the talismans just as written."
"We'll have to watch Hogwarts closely, what do you think Dumbledore," asked Fudge?
"I think that all we can do… is wait… and meet the challenges Malleck has whether it be him or not... Harry will most likely choose to face him, it may be his weakness to stand against evil that threatens those he cares for and we know Malleck is fond of attacking a person through others. I will stand with him during this and aid to the best of my ability. I know others will join but what I know is Malleck is going to attack regardless of where Harry is and Hogwarts has a better chance of supporting Harry than anywhere," stated Dumbledore.
"I have been asked to help but I will see Potter in form before I decide, " added the shadowed wizard.
"Thank you all for coming," said Fudge and the group began to disperse.
Ron and Hermione headed back to the window with plans to talk.
Hermione had one thing to say on the way, "Malleck better be ready for a fight if wants to take on Harry."
"You and me both Hermione," agreed Ron.
Dumbledore had indeed wanted to see Harry.
As goodbyes were said among the meeting group, he stole away to Ron's room.
Standing in the doorway, he observed, as Dobby lay asleep in a chair against the bed with Harry.
"So Malleck wishes to begin with," Dumbledore whispered to no one, "the Theft."
Next Chapter:
Recovery