Chapter 9
Gryffindor For The Cup
Two days passed before Harry and Hermione heard Ron thundering up the stairs from the tunnel. He arrived in the upstairs room red in the face and panting hard, he collapsed on the sofa and it was several minutes before he was able to gasp out his news.
"Luna's in the hospital wing, she's been out cold," he said, a rasping breath between each word.
"Whoa Ron, take your time and drink this," said Harry, handing him a goblet that had appeared out of thin air into Harry's hand. Ron gathered himself together and gratefully took the proffered drink, which he downed in three large gulps and almost immediately felt fully refreshed.
"Thanks Harry," said Ron wiping his mouth, then taking a deep breath launched into his story of the events of the last two days. "I don't know what made her collapse," he admitted after telling them of their leisurely stroll back to the castle and then Luna's strange behaviour in the trophy room. "It may have been something she saw in the cabinet or Umbridge and her cronies; they certainly made my blood run cold. She hasn't changed you know, Harry just as evil and vindictive as she always was."
Harry hadn't really expected there to be any difference in the ministry witch. "So what happened then?" he encouraged Ron to continue.
"Well, I picked Luna up and barged past them. They weren't happy and tried to hold me back, I'm afraid I may have been a bit rough," he said as if he was ashamed of his actions. "I ran straight to Madam Pomfrey, told her what had happened, and without a word she locked the main door to the hospital ward." Ron gave a little laugh, "You should have heard the racket Umbridge and the others, they're Abigail Pinkney and Mandeville Sulgrave by the way, found that out yesterday, banging on the door yelling and screaming to come in and Pomfrey ignores them."
"Well then she has a look at Luna." Ron stopped as the memory of the moment hit him, the pale, blonde haired girl lying so still on the bed.
Hermione saw the emotion in his face and sat down next to him on the sofa took his hand and gave him an encouraging smile. Ron gave her a sad little smile in return, and then clearing his throat, continued his tale.
"She couldn't find anything wrong with her; apart from the fact that she was unconscious, everything else was fine, and she used those stabilising vapours, the ones she's used on you a few times Harry," said Ron glancing into the concerned face of his best friend. "Then she looks at the door, they were still banging away on it, mutters something I wouldn't repeat in such company," he grinned giving Hermione's hand a squeeze, "rushes over to this picture she has on her desk and calls McGonagall."
"What?" chorused Harry and Hermione.
Ron explained that it appeared teachers were as unhappy with Umbridge's committee as all the students; probably more so, and they had developed a communication system in order to keep each of them up to date as to what the committee members were doing. Using linked pictures they could speak directly with each other, which neatly bypassed the usual method of running around all over the school, this way was much faster and left Umbridge and her minions one step behind.
So Poppy Pomfrey had called the Headmistress and she and Flitwick managed to disperse the 'ministry attack' on the hospital wing door. Once Umbridge had backed off Ron had been spirited out of the ward and returned to Gryffindor tower, with strict instructions to stay there until the coast was clear.
"McGonagall turned up the next morning and let me out, said Ron, "Umbridge only stays at the school for very short periods," Ron smiled again, "it appears that the Divination Professor has taken to dogging her movements and she doesn't like it."
"Can't imagine Umbridge worrying about Trelawney," said a disbelieving Hermione.
"Probably because it is Firenze," Ron chuckled, "it seems he just happens to be in the same corridor, or coming out of the very room Umbridge wants to enter, or sometimes it's only the eerie sound of his hoof beats apparently coming from nowhere. Umbridge probably thinks there are loads of centaurs in the school not just one; it makes her visits to the school very nervous occasions."
Ron went on to say that he had spent the rest of that day with Luna, Madam Pomfrey had assured him that she was sleeping now but should be allowed to wake on her own. That she had done yesterday evening but only for a few moments. "She opened her eyes, gave me a smile," said Ron with a happier smile of his own, "and said three words. Then she went back to sleep."
Hermione harrumphed, Harry smiled, he knew Ron would remember to tell them what she had said in a moment, Hermione was not as patient. "What did she say Ron," she asked surprisingly pleasantly.
"What, oh err, sorry, 'Go get Harry.'" said Ron sheepishly.
"That's all?" Harry asked.
Ron counted out the words on his fingers. "Yep that's it. McGonagall wouldn't let me come until now and she said you should…."
"We'll go over tonight after curfew," said Harry not letting Ron finish.
"….go tonight after curfew. Ohh, you just said that. Sorry bad couple of days." and with that Ron stretched himself out on the sofa, and after Hermione extricated her lap from under his head and replaced it with a cushion, he fell fast asleep.
* * *
Harry despatched Ron back to the castle later that afternoon with instructions to meet them by the main door at ten o'clock that night. It turned out to be a rather wet evening and Harry and Hermione were glad of their dragon hide coats to keep out the weather. They followed their usual path close to Hagrid's hut and then cut across the lawns keeping low and using the scattered bushes for cover. Although there was a steady drizzle falling, over to the west the cloud thinned enough for the moon to peep through. Its large round face lit up the grounds with a light made unnatural by the way it was diffused by the rain, and it also reminded the pair why Remus and Tonks had not made an appearance today. The stone steps leading to the large main doors were slick with water and they glistened in the unearthly light, then just as quickly as it had appeared, the clouds thickened again, and the moon was once more hidden from view, plunging the castle into darkness.
At Harry's quiet tap the door slowly opened enough to show Ron's face peering out, he puffed his cheeks out in relief.
"Oh boy, I'm glad it's you," he whispered.
"You were expecting someone else?" retorted Hermione quietly.
"Err… no," Ron replied missing the point. "Luna's awake but she won't say anything until she's seen Harry," Ron continued both happy that his girl was OK and slightly miffed that she wouldn't confide in him.
"Ministry?" Harry said succinctly, looking all around him to ascertain that they were alone.
"Professor McGonagall has both of them and Filtch at the other end of the castle, Umbridge isn't here," said Ron thankfully.
Only once in the trip to the hospital wing did Harry and Hermione dive under the invisibility cloak, that Harry had brought, just in case. At the sound of footsteps echoing round a bend in the corridor Harry flipped out the cloak, to cover himself and Hermione, but it was only a sixth year prefect doing his rounds, and at a word from Ron he went off to do them somewhere else. They reached the doors to the hospital wing five minutes later and entering the ward saw Luna sitting up in bed surrounded by a glow of golden light from the candles by her bedside. Madam Pomfrey rose from the chair she was occupying near the door, and watched quietly as the three walked in and stopped by her. The nurse ran a critical eye over Harry and Hermione, and seemed satisfied by what she saw.
"I'll be in my office if you need me," she smiled and headed to the small well lit room at the end of the ward, pausing only to straighten Luna's bed sheet and puff up her pillows.
"Hi," said Luna with only the slightest touch of tiredness to her voice.
"Hi yourself," Harry responded, "I understand you wanted to see me?" he continued more seriously.
Hermione had grabbed a couple of chairs and offered one to Harry, Ron perched himself on the edge of Luna's bed undoing all Madam Pomfrey's straightening efforts. Harry and Hermione exchanged a quick glance as Ron gathered up Luna's hand and held it tightly.
"Sorry to make it so melodramatic, but with a mind like mine that's how it comes out sometimes." She looked down at Ron's hand in hers and then up at him, lost for a moment in some other thought.
"So what did you need to tell me about?" Harry encouraged her gently, "something that you saw in the trophy cabinet?"
"Yes but that's not all of it," all trace of loony Luna was instantly gone. "There is definitely something in that case, which shouldn't be there, Riddles award, it's not right."
"I said exactly the same thing," Ron interjected, "can't see why Dumbledore didn't chuck it out."
"Quiet Ron," said Hermione sharply, "Let Luna finish, I don't think that is what she meant, is it?" she directed at the blonde girl.
"No, it's very hard to put into words, but it was almost as if his cup was alive, "she searched for another way of explaining it, but there was none. She shook her head.
"That's it; it felt alive and very unfriendly."
"How unfriendly?" asked Hermione fearing the worst.
"Evil," Luna said giving a little shiver.
"OK," said Harry, "we better go and have a look at it." But Luna laid a restraining hand on his arm.
"No, that's only part of it," she insisted. "That man with Umbridge."
"What, Mandeville Sulgrave?" said Ron.
"Dark hair, beard, looks more dead than alive?" Luna's description fitted the man well.
"Yeh, that's the one," Ron confirmed.
"He's a Death Eater." Her statement was greeted with silence, as the other three absorbed the significance of her words.
"But he can't be, he's Ministry, and has full access to all parts of the school," said Ron, not wanting to disbelieve Luna but finding the information difficult to accept.
"I don't care who he claims to be," Luna replied, "I have no doubts, he is a Death Eater.
Hermione had no doubts now either, whatever she had thought of this strange girl, there was no questioning the fact that she was most definitely on their side.
Harry had doubts, but not about Luna or her information, it all made perfect sense. It was an easy way for Voldemort to get someone into the castle, and Umbridge was so thick she would never notice. She would probably applaud some of Sulgrave's more death eater like tendencies. It complicated matters but they would have to work around him. Harry's doubts concerned the Riddle trophy, what was it, and what were they going to do about it, but he had to put all these to one side as the growing noise of shouting could be heard through the hospital wing door. Hermione gave a little shriek as a ghostly form suddenly appeared through the wall by her side.
"Terribly sorry," said the mournful voice of Nearly Headless Nick, "but the Headmistress sent me on ahead. A head, oh the irony of that," he moaned, "quite unbearable."
"What did McGonagall ask you to do Nick?" said Harry firmly trying to bring the ghost out of his fug.
"Oh, you must run," he said without enthusiasm, "that man Sulgrave is coming to talk to Miss Lovegood."
Harry turned to Luna with a concerned look. "Don't worry about me," she said, "now I am prepared I will be fine, just go."
But at that moment, shouting reached the outside of the door, there was no more time. Hermione's wand was in her hand in an instant, "Colloportus" and the door sealed itself, they were safe but they were trapped.
Mandeville Sulgrave banged impotently on the hospital door for the second time in as many days, but this time he would not be denied, he rounded on Minerva McGonagall who was glowing with anger, but unable to restrain the council member. "I will blow it in if that woman does not unlock it," he shouted.
Inside the ward Harry was considering his options, fight, hide, all were possible but what he really needed was to get out. 'Damn if only we could apparate to Hagrid's garage,' he thought. Then suddenly everything went black and he could smell oil and polish, somehow he had managed it. Seconds later he was back in the hospital and was grabbed by an immensely relieved Hermione.
"Harry what happened, where did you go?" she asked frantically.
"No questions," Harry ordered, "try and apparate to the garage," he told her, "you too Ron." He watched as both his friends vanished silently. "Sure you'll be OK Luna?"
"Fine Harry, just go." she urged him.
Harry took a deep breath concentrated and Luna saw him disappear as silently as the others. Then she raised her wand and with a quiet "Alohomora" unlocked the door. Mandeville Sulgrave, who had just applied his shoulder to the same door in a final attempt to gain access without resorting to magic, flew into the ward as the unresisting door swung open, and ended up sprawled at the foot of Luna's bed. She leaned over to stare at his rather dishevelled appearance, smiled sweetly at him and asked, "Can I help you?" In the background she saw the Headmistress beaming at her.
"You know what we did was impossible," said Hermione when Harry joined them in the Shack.
"Yes I know," said Harry thoughtfully, "but we did it, didn't we?"
"Some one must have removed the anti-apparation shield, like that time in the Great Hall when we were learning how to do it," chipped in Ron. "Bit of luck really, we could have been in a bit of a mess there." Harry watched as Ron slipped through the mirror back to the garage.
"Ron's right Hermione, but who could have done it?"
"McGonagall, I suppose," she suggested.
"Well who ever it was, said Ron his ginger head emerging from the glass again, "it was only temporary. I've tried to get back to Gryffindor tower and nothing happens." he grinned openly at his two friends. "Looks like I'm stuck here for the night. Who am I sharing with?"
"The sofa," said Harry and Hermione as one.
* * *
"It's a Horcrux Hermione, I'm sure of it," they were looking at a series of drawings purporting to be of Hufflepuff's golden cup, and also at Hermione's much read volume of Hogwarts a History. "Dumbledore showed me some memories in his pensive last year," said Harry. "One was of Riddle at the house of the old witch that owned the cup, two days later she was dead and the cup gone."
"You think Riddle killed her and then stole it?" asked Hermione.
"Well it would be right up his street." Hermione nodded in silent agreement. "Then some time later," Harry continued, "he comes to Hogwarts asking for a job he knows Dumbledore won't give him."
"So he had another reason, to be in the school, like switching a transformed Hufflepuff cup, which was now a Horcrux with his original award?" Hermione suggested.
"Exactly," said Harry.
"But why would he do that?"
"Can you think of anywhere safer than Hogwarts," said Harry, "Remember Voldemort wants these things to remain hidden."
"But wouldn't Dumbledore have noticed it," Hermione was trying all the possibilities.
"No I don't think so, Horcruxes go out of their way to remain hidden, and Dumbledore only started looking last year. He wasn't on his best form by then, was he?" said Harry sadly, hunching his shoulders with the hated memories of the last term.
Hermione reached out to give him comfort and looked into his sad but determined face. "OK, so we have a Horcrux," said Hermione, deciding to give up trying to disprove the idea, "what do we do about it?"
"I think we need to see our wise men again," said Harry.
Although neither Ollivander nor Fortescue expressed any surprise at Harry's conclusion that the trophy was a Horcrux they had no better idea of how to deal with it than he did, but they did have some suggestions.
"Your wand is your greatest ally," Ollivander told him, "If you give it free rein there is no telling what it may do."
"And you must be prepared to destroy the cup, or try to kill the fragment of Voldemort's soul directly," Fortescue added, "but beware; bereft of its home the soul fragment will try to find a temporary host, like the young Riddle did to Ginny Weasley. You could find yourself with a very difficult decision if one of your companions is taken over."
Hermione sat quietly and listened to the two old men as they passed their ideas on to Harry, they were all going to be in a certain amount of danger, that was very clear, and they were going to need time to destroy the Horcrux. That either meant they had to make an attempt at night, when the castle was asleep, or they would have to pick a time when the castle was as empty as possible. The idea of waiting until the Christmas holidays was too awful to contemplate, so that left a Hogsmead weekend, or possibly a Quidditch match. Well it wasn't much to go on but at least it was a start, then an idea occurred to her and using a spare piece of parchment, she scribbled out a note to Fred and George.
It turned out that there was no point in waiting for a Hogsmead weekend. McGonagall, when asked, had told them that if there was one it would not be until November and she was not sure that even then it would go ahead. Harry had vetoed the idea of using a Quidditch match, "Too many people stay in school," he told Hermione, "You know not everybody likes the game," he gave her a sly smile. "The main thing is we have no idea how Voldemort's soul will react. I just wouldn't want to take the risk, imagine what could happen if it got loose in the crowd at the match."
"Umm, I see your point, so we do it at night," said Hermione, "when?"
"Ron has his first Quidditch match in ten days, we'll do it the night before," said Harry making the decision.
"Won't that be difficult for Ron?" asked Hermione, "I mean the night before his first game as Captain."
Harry smiled, "It's probably the only night I can guarantee that Ron will be awake. Besides it will take his mind off it, it'll be fine."
* * *
"Oh bugger!" said Ron, when Harry told him at an evening gathering at Hagrid's hut, "Well I suppose it will be OK, are we telling anyone what we are doing?"
"No" said Harry, although he was under no illusion that McGonagall wouldn't eventually guess what they were up to, but not when. "This needs to be a tight group, I don't want Luna there either." he gave Ron an apologetic look, "With her mind the way it is, and Voldemort about, even a small bit of him, there is no telling what could happen. We get this first one done between the three of us, and then we'll see."
Before Ron left he handed Hermione a small package, "From Fred and George," he said, "I don't know how they get these things into the school, and I am afraid to ask, but they said that everything is there."
"Thanks Ron," Harry gave her a quizzical look, but Hermione said no more.
The following day Harry found Hermione in the kitchen surrounded by steam and a rather nasty smell, which he thought was rather familiar, she was obviously brewing a potion, though Harry could see no ingredients in view. She impatiently waved him away when he asked if he could help, so he took the hint and stomped up the stairs to bury himself in Gryffindors private papers. All of the founders had left some record of their work and most of it was tediously boring, but occasionally a little flash of light would strike through and some gem of information appear. This was not one of those occasions, so when he heard footsteps on the stairs he looked up expecting to see Hermione, but instead it was Ginny Weasley who was advancing across the room toward him.
"Hi Gin," said Harry lightly, "Hermione's in the kitchen."
"I know," said Ginny in a voice that was laced with suggestion that the kitchen was where she wanted her to stay.
Harry was startled by her behaviour to say the least and gave the girl a more searching examination. There was a smouldering look in her eyes that Harry hadn't seen before, not even when they had been going out together. Her blouse was partly undone, or at least was too big for her, Harry couldn't tell which, but he hastily drew his eyes away. Ginny continued to close the gap between them, her intent becoming clearer the closer she got. Harry would have backed away but he was stuck on the sofa, and his wand was on the work table, what on earth could he do, there was no way he could stop her.
"Err… Gin what's all this about?" Harry stammered out.
"I have you on my own at last," the words dripped seductively from Ginny's lips, and she appeared about to pounce, but then her resolve seemed to falter, and Harry through his mild panic, noticed there was something wrong with the Ginny Weasley in front of him, there was no scent of Dream Flowers. Although both Ginny and Hermione used it, Ginny used it all the time, and as Hermione was trying to eek out her supplies, she used it only sparingly. What he could smell was that scented soap Tonks had given Hermione for her birthday, and then he remembered the smell of the potion Hermione had been brewing downstairs.
Harry got up and walked up to Ginny and placed his arms on her shoulders, she appeared even less sure of herself now and resisted as he embraced her. Harry shut his eyes to block out the sight of his best friends little sister and concentrated on the scent of the soap and the knowledge of the real identity of the girl in his arms. Then she stiffened ever so slightly, and Harry felt the first signs of her wanting to pull back, but he was not about to let her go. He kissed her gently on her neck and moved his lips up to her ear and whispered to her.
"Oh, I'm so glad it's you," he murmured, "I wouldn't have wanted it to be anyone else but my little Fizzy."
The girl froze and only then did Harry dare to open his eyes, Ginny Weasley's face was staring at him in shock, "What, how, when did you find out?" Ginny said.
"What, that despite what you look like, you aren't Ginny at all," said Harry matter of factly, "or did you want to know when I discovered your nickname, Hermione."
The girl began to blush and as her face reddened the colour in her hair began to fade and in the space of a minute or so Harry saw the features of Ginny be replaced by those of Hermione, who once back to normal still had the grace to look embarrassed.
"God that was a stupid thing to do." said Hermione crossly, talking to herself, "I'm sorry Harry, it was a spur of the moment thing, it was unfair to you, please forgive me," she pleaded.
Harry considered his options, he tried to be cross, but found it difficult, for he knew he would never have succumbed to Ginny or a Ginny look-a-like, not now, he loved the girl he held in his arms to distraction, but he did think he deserved an explanation. He made his face as grim as possible and felt Hermione quail under his stern gaze, and at the same time her eyes began to mist over. That was all it took, and Harry was totally lost. He gathered her into a tight hug and kissed her properly, tasting the salt of tears on her cheek.
"Forgiven," he said quietly, "but do you mind telling me what that was all about?"
So Hermione told him of her idea. She had thought to poison the cup using concentrated aconite elixir, just as he had poisoned Riddles diary with the basilisk fang, but the aconite was far too dangerous to brew anywhere but in a proper potions room. So she had asked the twins to send her some ready-made Polyjuice potion, in order that she could disguise herself and use rooms at Hogwarts. The Polyjuice just need the final ingredient added, she thought of turning into Ron but decided trying to be a boy might cause her some problems, so she picked Ginny, and then this very silly idea came to her. She was ashamed, contrite and downright disgusted with herself for even thinking of tempting Harry.
"Well, I am glad there was some method in your madness," said Harry, "It's nice to know that even my Fizzy can make a mistake."
He watched to see her reaction to his use of her father's nickname for her, but she didn't erupt or even show any surprise, but she did snuggle closer to him, and he heard her say,
"Am I really your Fizzy?"
"Yes," and Harry kissed her on the top of her head.
"Umm…" she thought for a moment, "I think I like that." she said with obvious pleasure.
Harry sighed, shook his head and smiled, there was definitely something wrong in the world of love. After all this and using the only wild card he held against her, he still didn't win any points, it just wasn't fair.
* * *
Hermione's plan actually worked very well. The potion she produced was so strong that she handled it like it might explode if she jiggled it too much; she made sure it was double wrapped before putting it in her pocket. The job done she returned the jar of aconite powder to the supply cupboard, and slipped out of the potions room, no one the wiser that she had been there.
The only fault in her plan was in her choice of disguise. She had forgotten how popular Ginny was, and had to fight off four attempts to ask her out on the next Hogsmead weekend, if there was one. Four times she politely turned them down, and all the way back to the Shack she worried and hoped she hadn't ruined anything for Ginny.
The Friday night before the Quidditch match arrived and Harry and Hermione met with Ron in Hagrid's hut. Harry led them through what they were going to try and do. Ron was to remove Riddle's award from the cabinet, they knew this bit was relatively safe as Ron had handled the cup before without any harm. Harry would use his wand to release the spell on the Horcrux and if and when Voldemort appeared Hermione would fill the empty Horcrux with the aconite.
"Then what?" asked Ron.
"Not sure," said Harry, "we might have to play it by ear. Just keep whatever comes out of that cup away from you. Use anything that comes to mind."
"Right," said Ron, "OK, no problem…. Can I go home now?"
Hermione gave a nervous giggle, "Come on." said Harry, "Let's get on with it before I have second thoughts as well."
They kept to their usual route up the steps of the castle, their dark coats hiding them well in the blackness, reaching the top step they kept close to the door in the shadows and waited. After maybe five minutes the door opened and the dim light from the entrance hall spilled onto the steps and then was almost blocked out again by the large form of Hagrid as he left the castle to return to his hut. He turned to close the door again but hesitated for long enough for three dark shapes to slip through and disappear into the shadows of the hall.
Harry hadn't told him what they were up to but Hagrid silently wished them luck none the less.
Ron opened up the Marauders Map and whispered "I solemnly promise I am up to no good," and touched his wand to the map. As before the spider like lines appeared all over the parchment as the magic of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs worked its wonders yet again. Filtch was in the small room behind his office, and Mrs Norris was with him, so at least that was one problem easily solved. Their way to the trophy room passed by the door to the caretaker's office, and as Hermione crept past following Harry and Ron, a very quiet "Colloportus" was all that was needed to seal them in.
The map showed the rest of the school corridors to be almost clear, only on the highest level could be seen a tiny Terry Boot and Hannah Abbot as the head boy and girl did their final rounds. The trio waited until these two had gained their respective common rooms and then continued on to the trophy room, which in the quiet and darkness seemed even bigger that they knew it was. There was a momentary scare as a silvery, ghostly form appeared through the far wall and slowly drifted across the room to disappear in the way it had come. The ghost showed no evidence that it had seen them, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief before urging Ron toward the case holding Riddle's award. For its part, the ghost floated up to the topmost room in Gryffindor tower, and made its report, then continued on its wanderings.
Hermione had found a small table, which she carried to the centre of the room. Harry relit two of the nearest torches to give them some light to work by, and Ron retrieved the small golden cup. He carried it like it was a live snake and put it down on Hermione's table.
The three of them stood there staring at the innocent looking cup, the small plaque on the wooden plinth proclaimed Tom Riddle, for Special Services to the School.
"Ready?" said Harry, and glanced up at the others who both looked a little pale, but they nodded and stepped back to give him room. Clearing his mind, Harry lifted his wand and concentrated on an image of the wonderful bird that had provided the magical core that resided within it. Taking a deep breath, Harry touched his hand to his scar and the tip of the wand to the edge of the bowl of the cup. There was a deep ringing note and Harry thought he caught the faintest sound of phoenix song. The cup began to vibrate and a hissing sound like escaping gas came from the object now bouncing on the table top, then as suddenly as it started, the noise and movement stopped. Bubbling up from some unknown place grey smoke flowed out and over the rim of the cup and down onto the table. Across the table top and down to the floor it spilled, but it didn't spread out, it gathered in one spot and drew in the seemingly endless stream that was now boiling from the cup.
The smoke seemed to take on substance as it gathered and piled itself into a column about six feet high. Hermione was watching the cup intently as the now diminishing flow of smoke cleared and the cup was empty once more. She un-stoppered the small bottle she held in a gloved hand and leaned forward to empty the elixir into the cup. The thick liquid poured slowly and Hermione didn't want to take any chances with this deadly brew, she was so involved with her task she didn't see what Harry and Ron were witnessing. The column of smoke was taking shape and solidifying into a vaguely human form. Harry was staring at where the face would form, and from the writhing smoke the haughty features he so well remembered from his second year came into focus.
Riddle was older than he had been in the diary but it could be none other than he. The reconstituted wizard was as still as if he had been petrified, and Harry's hopes rose, if Riddle couldn't move then things might be easier for them. Then like the lightening strike of a snake Riddle's hand shot out to grasp Hermione's wrist as she was pouring the last few drops of aconite elixir into the cup.
Hermione cried out in pain and dropped the bottle which bounced once on the table then fell to the hard stone floor where it smashed into a thousand pieces. This was no fragment of the sixteen year old boy that Harry remembered from the Chamber of Secrets, this was a man, and a wizard at the start of his rise to notoriety, full of the cunning and callousness that marked him out as Lord Voldemort.
"Away girl," Voldemort hissed, and Hermione was thrown backwards from the table to crash to the floor and slide almost into the far wall. The wizard glanced once into the cup and moved to strike it to the floor, then he stopped as he caught sight of Harry looking with concern at Hermione's still form.
"YOU!" he cried out, not in recognition, but in accusation, "You did this to me," he reached out to grab the front of Harry's coat but missed as Harry stepped smartly back from him.
There was a sibilant hiss from the young Voldemort and this time he held out his hand and beckoned Harry to him. Harry could feel the compulsion to move forward, Quirrell had almost beaten him with the same trick but this was a different Harry and he slashed out with his wand and Voldemort was flung to one side, but he didn't fall, he regained his balance and faced Harry once again.
Then Harry was exposed to the cunning face of his arch enemy as he assumed an expression of surprise and concern. "We should not be fighting, I can tell, you and I are very much the same," his voice contained more than words, Harry felt the compulsion again, but this time it hit harder. "You have it in you to be as great as I know I will become," then Voldemort looked puzzled, "in fact I see something in you, something I recognise…Who are you?"
Harry stared the wizard down, "I am Harry Potter," he said defiantly, "and I am the wizard who is going to defeat you."
Voldemort laughed, "A Potter, well, well, your family was never very good at magic, I guess that you are no better." it was a convincing lie, but Harry refused to let the words trick him.
Harry quickly looked around, Ron was helping Hermione to her feet, and he was relieved to see that she seemed OK. Voldemort was talking again but Harry was trying to see around the words the dark wizard was speaking, because he knew Voldemort was stalling for time, Harry wondered what he could be up to now, when his scar exploded in pain. The agony forced him to his knees and he heard both Ron and Hermione shout out a warning as Voldemort advanced on him again.
Then the door from the lower corridor was flung open and Voldemort stopped and turned as a figure threw itself to the floor and cried out "Master, I am here to do your bidding."
Voldemort stood there, exaltation on his handsome but cruel face, he gripped his left sleeve and pulled it up revealing the original dark mark, it appeared to twist and writhe in front of Harry's eyes. In response Mandeville Sulgrave dragged off his coat and there blackened and burnt into his arm was its twin, the mark of a Death Eater.
"Kill them," was Voldemort's simple but deadly command, and Sulgrave's wand flashed in his hand and two bright red beams seared their way across the room toward Ron and Hermione. The pair stood their ground and Harry saw the almost negligent flicks of the wands held by his best friends and the Death Eater's curses were deflected from their course, one to strike the trophy case that held Harry's unwanted Triwizard cup and the other to shatter the stained glass window with a crash which must have been heard all over the castle.
Hermione was the first to reply and her "REDUCTO" blasted across the room and caught Sulgrave on his arm which flew outward as he spun around to finish hanging loosely by his side, the bone smashed to pieces. The man screamed in pain and tried to respond but a second spell, this time from Ron, laid his thigh open and the blood ran freely down his leg and onto the floor.
As Harry struggled to his feet, his scar still throbbing and his vision blurred, Voldemort's exultation turned into contempt for the battered and bleeding Death Eater, he marched over to the weakening man and grasped the sides of his head in a powerful grip.
"You useless fool, GIVE ME YOUR POWER," Voldemort roared, his eyes burned red and the man screamed again.
Harry could almost see Voldemort growing as he drew Sulgrave's power from his body, and watched in horror as he ripped the Death Eater's wand from nerveless fingers and turned to point it afresh at Hermione. Harry did the only thing he could do, his wand lay on the floor too far away for him to summon it in time, so he swept his arm in a great arc, picked up the cup, and flung its contents straight into the face of Voldemort and the Death Eater who stood at his side. There wasn't time for Voldemort to duck and Sulgrave didn't have the strength or reason to avoid the aconite elixir. It splashed into their eyes and probably that would have been enough, but Voldemort's mouth was open as he started to speak the curse that would take Hermione's life and some of the elixir caught him there as well. Sulgrave, screaming in pain, received a mouthful; he instantly stiffened and fell backwards dead before he touched the floor.
Voldemort's eyes were bulging from his head, his hands flew to his throat, both wand and killing curse forgotten, and then the substance that made up his body began to come apart. As Professor McGonagall and four other teachers piled into the trophy room, their wands at the ready, Voldemort stretched out one hand toward Harry, and with a gurgling cry of "NEVER," his body burst apart into an expanding ball of grey smoke and vanished.
There was silence for only a moment as the Headmistress surveyed the scene. Minerva McGonagall was very quick, and she turned to Professor Vector.
"Angela please go and head off Abigail Pinkney," she asked the Arithmancy teacher, "I saw her coming down the stairs, we must tidy up and get Harry and Hermione out of here before she sees them."
She looked down at Mandeville Sulgrave, the dark mark boldly etched on his forearm, and then she examined her three errant students for damage. Harry was pale, sweating a little and was holding his hand to his head, he seemed to have a headache. Hermione was limping slightly as she crossed the room to Harry and threw her arms around him hugging him tightly. Ron she thought thankfully looked unmarked, and for today, as far as she was concerned, he was the important one, for in a few hours he was leading her Quidditch team out to play against Slytherin.
"I don't really want to know what you have been up to Harry, but Mr. Weasley, bed, and no arguments." she said sternly, "I want you fresh as a daisy for the match."
"But…" Ron started to complain, but the look he received from the Headmistress made him decide to go.
"Luck for tomorrow, Ron," Harry said wearily.
"Yes Ron, luck," Hermione endorsed.
"Thanks guys, but I might have to rely on skill," he joked with a big grin on his face, "I think I used all my luck quotient tonight." and with a wave he disappeared off to Gryffindor tower closely followed by Professor Flitwick.
"Right you two off to the Hospital wing," said McGonagall, "You can stay there tonight." There were no complaints as Harry and Hermione followed her out.
The following morning was bright and clear, perfect conditions for Quidditch, and although it was a bit of a risk, as both Umbridge and the Minister for magic were at the game, Harry and Hermione thought it was worth it. Hidden under the invisibility cloak and high in the stands they watched as Gryffindor slaughtered Slytherin, and Ron became the King again. They chanted along with the rest "Gryffindor for the Cup… Gryffindor for the Cup," as the victorious team did their lap of honour.
Up in the highest room of Gryffindor tower the watcher smiled as the mirror on the desk showed a picture of an ecstatic Harry and Hermione clapping and cheering as if the material of the invisibility cloak didn't exist.
"Well it's a start," the watcher thought, "one down and three to go."
* * *