Chapter 13: Discoveries
"And that leaves the cup?" Ron asked. "And that could be anywhere!"
"No…" Harry murmured. "Not anywhere."
"Where then?" Ron asked. "At the orphanage where he grew up?"
"No, he hated that place," Harry pointed out. Just like I hated the Dursley's, he added.
"To him, Hogwarts would be the place he considered home." Just like I did.
"Dumbledore would have searched the castle, Harry," Hermione pointed out.
"He couldn't search every place," Harry said, standing up. He smiled, for what seemed like the first time in days.
"Where then?" Hermione asked.
"The Chamber of Secrets."
***
It was the morning after Harry's revelation regarding the last Horcrux and the trio was sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, exhaustion clearly written across each of their faces. They had spent the entire night scouring the library and all of Hermione's numerous editions of Hogwarts, A History for information about the Chamber of Secrets; yet even after countless hours of researching and planning, they were still no closer to their final destination.
Harry aimlessly stirred his coffee with a spoon, his eyes bloodshot and glazed over. He stifled a yawn as he glanced across the table at Ron, who was fast asleep, and then next to him, towards Hermione, who was smoothing out the Daily Prophet that had just arrived by owl.
Harry had actually felt a sense of relief the previous night when Hermione had announced they were going to research and plan for their trip to Hogwarts all night. With the upcoming battle so close, especially with the knowledge of the location of the final Horcrux, Harry had spent many a restless night tossing and turning. Nightmares plagued his dreams on those rare occasions that he could, in fact, fall asleep, leaving him even more anxious and apprehensive.
Suddenly Hermione let out a yelp, causing Harry to jump in surprise and startling Ron awake so fast that he fell out of his chair and landed clumsily on the floor.
"What?" asked Harry and Ron together.
Hermione didn't say a word. Instead, she pushed the newspaper towards Harry and pointed to the headline that covered the front page.
HOGWARTS CLOSED
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY
"Closed?!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing the paper from the table. "But they can't!"
"Well they did," Hermione snapped, rolling her eyes at him. "Just read the article!"
The Ministry of Magic announced last evening that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has officially and indefinitely been closed.
Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, told reporters that he had little to say about the matter, except to point out how dangerous these times have become, with You-Know-Who and his followers at such a rise.
"It is getting to be much too dangerous to allow the young witches and wizards of our society to stay away from their families during such treacherous times," Scrimgeour said last night. "We at the Ministry of Magic believe that students will it will be much safer, in light of recent events and activities, if the school was closed. Though we were doing everything in our power to protect our students at Hogwarts, as we are dealing with You-Know-Who, we do not wish to take any chances regarding the safety and protection of the young witches and witches at the school and wish only to preserve the wellbeing of all students and families."
This proves to be the first time in history that Hogwarts has been closed indefinitely and no statements have been made acknowledging how long the school will be closed.
"I don't believe this," Harry snarled, crumbling up the newspaper and tossing it on the table. "Don't they realize that Hogwarts is the safest place for students right now?" he asked in frustration.
"What I don't understand," Hermione said, her voice calm and steady, "is that the school opened for the fall term, showing that the Ministry of Magic felt the school safe enough to open."
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Why close it now?"
Well it's certainly not for the `wellbeing of all students'," Harry said, sarcastically. "I don't believe this rubbish," he said, gesturing towards the crumbled paper on the table.
"But what's the point then?" Ron asked. "Why would they close Hogwarts?"
"Money? Resources? Energy?" Harry offered. "Take your pick. The Ministry of Magic just doesn't want to have to put forth the effort required to keep the school fully protected."
"It's absolutely ridiculous, if you ask me," Hermione said angrily.
"Dumbledore always said that educating young witches and wizards was the most important thing," Ron added.
"Well Dumbledore isn't around anymore, is he Ron?" Harry asked harshly, feeling a pang shoot through his stomach at the thought of the late headmaster.
"Well, no…he isn't," Ron said dejectedly.
Neither of them said a word after that.
"Perhaps we should start thinking about the next Horcrux," Hermione said, trying to fill the silence. "Closed or not, we still must go to Hogwarts to go into the Chamber of Secrets."
"Maybe we should write to Professor McGonagall?" she suggested. "Even if Hogwarts is closed, she is still the headmistress and could help us."
***
The following morning, a letter arrived for the trio from Professor McGonagall in response.
Dear Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley,
It was delightful to hear from you again; Hogwarts is not the same without the three of you, though I am pleased to hear that you are making progress on the mission Dumbledore left behind. Regarding your wishes to return to Hogwarts to continue your quest, I am sure that can be arranged. Surely you have read the Daily Prophet and have heard the recent, devastating news, though such a setback will most definitely not be permanent. I would like to make it clear that I, as headmistress at Hogwarts, had no influence in the matter, and it was, and will forever be, my opinion that Hogwarts should remain open for any young witch or wizard who wishes to attend. I will meet you at the castle gates at 11 o'clock sharp tomorrow morning to let you into the school grounds. I will allow you to have complete reign of the castle, though, please, be careful. The Ministry is no longer protecting the school, and it is unwise not to be prepared for anything during these dark times. On this matter, I would like to address my concern towards your secrecy and confidentiality. Though it is admirable, Mr. Potter, to uphold Dumbledore's wishes regarding the mission's concealment, I do not feel it to be wise in such dangerous times. I will not push the subject any more than simply to offer my guidance and assistance, simply to ensure your utmost safety and, of course, success.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Take care,
Professor M. McGonagall
***
Harry, Hermione, and Ron found themselves the following morning outside the gates of Hogwarts at 11 o'clock sharp. And just like she said in her letter, Professor McGonagall was there waiting for their arrival.
The four of them walked in silence as they made their way across the school's grounds-which, in Harry's opinion, seemed unsettlingly quiet-and as they entered the castle. Harry was sure both Hermione and Ron were just as eager to ask their professor about the school's closing as he was, yet none of them spoke a word.
"Now, if you two would please excuse us," McGonagall said as they entered the castle, causing Harry to jump after such a long period of silence. "I must speak with Harry alone." She nodded at Hermione and Ron before turning to Harry. "Come, Mr. Potter. To my office," she said, in such a formidable voice that made Harry feel as if he was back in class.
"We'll be in the library, Harry," Hermione said as she watched the two of them leave, a look of puzzlement written across her face. It was clear that she couldn't fathom what the professor could want to talk to only Harry about. "Find us when you are finished," she called after him.
Harry followed the professor through the halls, and was surprised when he realized where he and his professor were headed. He had expected them to go to Dumbledore's office, where he thought, as the new headmistress, McGonagall would surely have moved to. "But Professor," he said nervously, "aren't we going to the Head office?"
McGonagall was silent for several moments, and it wasn't until they reached the door of her old office that she turned towards Harry. "In light of the circumstances, Mr. Potter," she said austerely, though her eyes were light with compassion, "I felt as if my office would be more suitable. Simply, to take over Albus Dumbledore's office after such events would have been an intrusion on the old man's memory."
"Of course, Professor," Harry said quickly. "I understand. I completely understand." And he did; he remembered the assortment of moving silver objects, the bowl of Lemon Drop candies, Fawkes's golden perch, and he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing nothing had changed.
"Sit down, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, waving her hand towards the chair opposite her. Harry promptly obeyed; as much as he had gotten to know his professor over the years, he was still not as comfortable in her presence as he would have liked and, frankly, he did not want to get on the wrong side of her. Feeling a bit uncomfortable and awkward, Harry looked nervously down at his hands.
"Before Professor Dumbledore left with you on that fateful night last June, he spoke to me regarding the possibility of his untimely death," McGonagall began, causing Harry's head to snap up in attention. He hadn't realized any sort of conversation had taken place. Had Dumbledore known, or, perhaps, presumed such events would occur?
"He asked me, if anything ever happened to him, to be in charge of giving you some things that he thought might be useful to you in the upcoming months."
"You may be wondering why I have not given these objects to you before this point in time," McGonagall continued, to which Harry nodded in response, "though I wish to understand my position in this matter.
"I did not, in the least, expect anything to happen to Albus that night. Quite certainly, I was in denial of what was at stake when he left with you. And once he did, in fact, meet his untimely end, I could not bring myself to accept such a dreadful fate and to give you the objects before you left for the summer."
"When I learned you would not be attending Hogwarts in September," she continued, "I thought you to be foolish, to be irrational. I was angry with Albus for making you believe that it was your duty to continue his mission when there were much older, more qualified, witches and wizards available. Pardon me when I say this, but I thought you too young to hold such a burden."
"You and everyone else," Harry muttered to himself angrily.
McGonagall, ignoring Harry's comment, continued. "I firmly believed that you, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley would realize your foolishness in due time, and return to Hogwarts and forget about the mission. And I realize now, that I was wrong; wrong about many things."
"Yes," Harry said resolutely, his jaw firmly set. "You were wrong."
"So I hope you can forgive my mistake, and accept my apology," McGonagall said sincerely.
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yes, Professor." At this point, with the end so near, it seemed silly to hold a grudge over something so trivial.
"And," McGonagall continued, as she stood up and pulled a crate out of the cabinet, "I believe these objects belong to you."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said as he took the box from her.
He turned to leave the office, but he had yet to even reach the door, when McGonagall called his attention.
"Harry," she said, her voice filled with an edge of apprehension, something Harry had never heard before in his professor. "I was wondering if you had changed your mind regarding the secrecy of your mission."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Harry said, shaking his head. "I stand by my former decision."
McGonagall nodded, as if expecting such an answer. "I understand, Mr. Potter. I simply thought it my responsibility to offer."
"And now, I believe you should return to Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley," she said, with what appeared to be a small hint of a smile. "They have been waiting for your return for quite some time."
Harry nodded, and after a quick goodbye, he left the professor's office and hurried as fast as he could with the heavy box, to the library, where they were anxiously waiting.
***
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed as Harry set the box down on the table in the library. "What is all this stuff?"
"It's from Dumbledore," Harry said as he pawed through the box. He pulled out a bag of Lemon Drop candies and smiled. But his smile quickly faded as his jaw dropped in surprise.
"It's Gryffindor's sword," he said in amazement as he pulled it out of the box. Hermione and Ron, who had never seen it before, inspected it closely with awe and incredulity.
After pulling out the stone Pensieve and a pair of socks-"One can never have enough socks" Harry remembered Dumbledore once saying-Harry came across a thick envelope addressed to him, written in the narrow, loopy handwriting he had come to recognize so well.
Open only after you have triumphed over Tom Riddle in the final battle, was written right below his name. Harry quickly shoved the letter in his pocket, his heart filled with appreciation at his old mentor's gesture. With such a simple message, Dumbledore had been able to portray both his confidence and faith in Harry, something that gave Harry more hope than he had felt in a very long time.
"So what now?" Ron asked, once they had looked at everything in the box.
"Now," Harry said firmly, his eyes filled with determination and purpose, as he fastened the sword to his belt, "we go down into the Chamber of Secrets."
Author's Note: I know nothing really happened in this chapter, but just stick with me. It was more just a transition to the next chapter. And yes, the end of this story is very near
-->