Well it's been a while but here's the new chapter. I'm definitly going to be writing more now that it's the summer and the exams are over. Thanks to Mordac for the Beta work, it probably would have been another week without him.

Diadem Chapter six


“Three kings.” Hagrid announced.

“Oh dear, it seems you've beaten me again, you're a very skilled cards player Hagrid.”

The half giant beamed proudly and swept the pile of gold in the middle of the table into a large pouch. “I've gotten mighty good at readin' fellers over the years. Don' feel too bad.”

“Obviously”, the black cloaked figure drawled. “Hagrid, I hear you're somewhat of a zoologist. If that's true I might have something to persuade you to join in another hand.”


“A what?” Hagrid asked.


“An animal lover.”


“Oh aye, I love all sorts of beasts, I've even got a signed copy-,” the black clad figure interrupted him smoothly; “Very nice, how about one last hand? All that gold for this egg.” with that, he placed a large black egg in the center of the table.

Voldemort smiled as he watched the oaf's eyes light up in wonder as he recognised the egg. This was almost too easy.


Hagrid gulped and placed the bag of gold on the table beside the egg. “I'm in.”


With that, the cards were dealt and Voldemort found himself looking at quite a nice hand.


“It seems you win again, Hagrid, I fold. Take care of the egg.”

The half breed looked like Christmas had come early. “I will, you're a good gent, sir, a good gent.” He reached across the table to shake hands. Reluctantly, he shook the drunken half breed's hand and hurriedly made his excuses.


Lord Voldemort exited the old pub and walked briskly down the empty street. It irked him to realize just how far he had fallen. As a leader, he was never afraid to get his hands dirty, but neither did he socialize with half breed giants; even if it was for the sole purpose of ruining said oaf.

He had always hated the village of Hogsmeade; it brought back memories of being forced to stay behind in the school while his peers wasted their time trying to obtain alcohol and prank supplies. He made a mental note to burn this backwards village and replace it with something more befitting of the area's grandeur.

D

“I cannot express how disappointed I am at this turn in events, Albus. Pass the mercury would you? I trusted you with an item of unimaginable power. Your decision to hand it to the goblins was dubious at best; we both know those creatures can't be trusted.”


“My friend, nobody has ever successfully broken into Gringotts and lived to tell the tale. I intended it as a gesture of good will and trust to the Goblin nation. We will need their support if Tom succeeds in restoring his body,” Dumbledore said as he handed the small vial to the alchemist.


Nicholas Flamel was one of the greatest alchemists ever to have lived, nimble with a wand of course, but nothing spectacular. No, Flamel's power was his ability to work wonders with the basic elements that made up the earth. Only two people in Albus Dumbledore's life had ever had the power to put him in a position where he felt well and truly scolded. One was locked away forever and the other was hunched over a cauldron, busy bathing a golden nugget in a mixture of dragon's blood and mercury.

“Ripple this for me would you?” Flamel asked, as he strode to an elegant bookshelf. Dumbledore did as he was asked and started to chant slowly over the simmering cauldron, causing the dull red liquid to ripple repeatedly.


“Nicholas, this formula is dead. I've tried it countless times and have never succeeded.”


“On the contrary, child. This formula is the key to many doors.” Flamel walked back towards the now bubbling liquid and produced a handful of fine silver dust.


“Unicorn horn? Tell me, what makes you think that it won't cause the dragon blood to react violently?” Dumbledore asked sceptically.


Flamel ignored his former apprentice and threw the handful of dust into the cauldron. Dumbledore sprang back and hastily erected a shield between the cauldron and the two wizards, while Flamel merely raised an eyebrow. Looking at the cauldron, Dumbledore saw that the elixir had turned a milky white.


“I knew that the two compounds would not react violently, because of the conditions in which the horn was prepared. You are still a child, Albus. Your assumption that you have anywhere near my knowledge of the art of alchemy is just as flawed as your assumption that somewhere out there, there is a goblin who can be trusted. If I want someone to conjure me a new piano, I'll contact you. Until then, when it comes to an object like the stone, you defer to me. Your motives were worthy of praise, but deep down you know that goblins are vermin and cannot be trusted.”


Flamel bottled some of the elixir and handed it to Dumbledore. “Your error of judgment with the stone has forced my hand. Take this elixir and go; Perenelle has foresaw your need of it in the future. In the meantime, I will recreate the stone, the original is of limited use to Riddle while he remains without a body.”


“Thank you Nicholas, I fear your aid will be needed in the future.”


“As do I, Albus. The next time you visit, leave your arrogance at Hogwarts; it is ill befitting of one with your past.”

D

As the Ravenclaw common room slowly emptied, Padma let out a frustrated sigh and snapped her book shut.


“I don't understand Harry. What has Riddle got to do with this? He was a model student, he helped close the bloody chamber of secrets!”


“I don't know, maybe he knew my parents.”


“It doesn't fit. Not with what we've found out about Black.”


Padma chose her words carefully, ever since they found an old copy of the Daily Prophet which detailed Black's role in the Potter's death, Harry had been quiet.


“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked quietly.


“Not really much to talk about. He was their friend and he delivered them to Voldemort. I'm glad he's in Azkaban.”

“The whole point of this project is to come up with a new theory, Harry. Maybe it isn't that simple.”

“Maybe, maybe not, anyway, something Quirrell said got to me. I think we need to find out more about Voldemort.”

“There's plenty of books in the library, but I'm guessing you aren't thinking Ministry approved?”

“No, we need an unbiased source.”

For a moment, Padma looked pensive; finally she said, “I suppose I could ask my Dad, he's pretty anti-Ministry, but I've never heard him mention Voldemort before.”

“Not many people do as far as I can tell. I'm going to check the student rosters in the library.”

“Harry, wait. We've been at this for weeks, it's interesting, and I can see it's important to you, but how about we take a break for a while? When was the last time we just messed around with Lisa and Kevin?”

“Besides,” she chided “The library's been closed for two hours.”


Harry looked at the floating dials on the common room wall: the library had indeed been closed for some time. 'I'm getting obsessed with this.' He thought, half shocked.

“Okay,” he said, in a much cheerier tone, “How about we go see some more of the castle?”

“It's ten o'clock, pillock, don't you think that's a bit...Gryfindorish?”

Harry shot her an incredulous look. “I'm an eleven year old kid in a magical castle; this place is too cool for me to be worrying about whether or not I'm evil, smart, brave or loyal. The whole thing's a bit ridiculous, anyway.”

“You realize that this system has been the cornerstone of every British wizard's childhood for the last thousand years?” said Padma with a smirk.

“Still dumb.”

“Think of it this way: it keeps the purebloods away from the mudbloods. Everyone wins.”

“My, aren't you vulgar tonight? Besides, that Granger girl is muggle-born and you're friends with her. Feeling a bit hypocritical these days?”


“You know what I meant.” Padma replied with a frown. “Besides, Hermione's a decent witch, not like . He's one of the reasons purebloods think muggleborns should be separated.”


“In a couple of years Fletchley might become a great wizard.” Replied Harry as they left the common room.

“Some people just have it and others don't. Do you seriously think he'll amount to anything more than a store clerk? Hermione has the potential to be whatever she wants.”

“Actually, I think he's considered pretty well off in the muggle world.”

“That doesn't count for much here Harry.”

As they exited the common room the darkness of the hallway seemed to surround them. Never having been out of the common room so late they were understandably scared. Together they walked in silence, down the long corridor and descended a large staircase to the floor below. The castle was eerily quiet, with only the occasional harsh squeak,, coming from what Harry was sure were the suits of armour. Even the portraits were deathly quiet.

“This isn't as cool as I thought it would be.” Padma said, feigning nonchalance. “We should probably go back.”

“Scared?” Harry asked in a quiet, teasing manner.

“No, this just doesn't seem to be a great idea. We could get caught and get in a lot of trouble; or worse, we could easily trip and break our necks.” She said in a whisper.

Harry had to admit she was right. Grudgingly he said, “Alright, let's go back up, you we-” Harry was cut off by the sound of a loud hiss. He looked down to see a bedraggled looking cat staring up at him menacingly. He turned to look at Padma but she was already kneeling down to pet it. The cat let out a furious hiss and lashed out at her. Claws met flesh and Padma jumped back with a shout of surprise and pain.

“Students out of bed! I'll get you now you whelps.” The gleeful shout echoed down the long passageway and Harry felt a cold terror creep down his spine. He should have realized that it was Mrs. Norris, the old caretaker's cat. He froze in place, convinced that they were going to be caught and expelled. Padma grabbed his arm and hauled him around, causing him to regain his senses.

Together they sprinted away from the scene with Mrs. Norris in hot pursuit. She cursed and aimed her wand behind her, casting a leg locking jinx. The air rippled around her wand and with a horrible screech the cat toppled forward on it's face. 

They turned right and ran up a small, dusty staircase that wound into the ceiling. Behind them they heard a cry of anger. “You've assaulted my cat; I'll have you strung from the ceilings!”

They kept running, the cold night air tearing at the back of their throats, until they emerged from a small alcove on the floor above. A long, plain hallway, without even a suit of armour, greeted them. The only decoration was a tapestry of a wizard being savagely clubbed by a troll in a tutu.

They looked around in a panic. “Where are we?” panted Padma.

“I don't know.” Harry replied. Behind they heard the old caretaker wheezing his way up the staircase; they looked around desperately for somewhere to hide. “What are we going to do?” she asked.

Out of the corner of his eye Harry thought he saw a flicker of movement, and suddenly, there was a door. Recognizing their best chance, he seized Padma's hand and hauled her towards it. They entered a small cramped place that was devoid of light that smelled strongly of... urine. Padma hit him on the arm roughly as they both gagged.

They froze with tension as they heard muttering from beyond the door. This was it. Harry had chosen to hide them in the only room in a long deserted corridor, a room that Harry was now sure the old caretaker would catch them in. Through a small gap in the wood, he saw Filch pause. Sweat formed on his forehead as he felt Padma tense beside him.

“Buggering fuck.” came Filch's voice. “Why do I keep losin' 'em here, missus? There can't be a passage I don't know of.”

A single irritated meow responded. “They'll pay for that, missus. I'll get you fixed up in no time and those Weasleys will pay dearly. The Headmaster won't let them away with it now; oh no, not after they've attacked you, my dear.” The whispered rant was followed by a series of nauseating smooching and nuzzling noises. Beside him, Harry felt Padma shake with silent giggles. He couldn't blame her, he was fighting to hold in his own laughter.

After the footsteps faded away, the dark haired girl beside him proved unable to restrain herself and burst out in laughter. Harry gave in immediately and joined her.

“That was... that was the most pathetic thing I've ever heard in my life.” She said, trying to catch her breath. “He even thinks we're the Weasleys.”


“Who else would be stupid enough to jinx Filch's cat?” Replied Harry, looking pointedly at her. A gesture that was futile in the darkness.

“I just wish this place didn't smell of pee.”

Immediately the room's air freshened and the stale smell of urine disappeared. Their laughter trickled off. “I'd like some light too?” She offered tentatively. Light flooded the cramped space and they were greeted with the sight of an ornate chamberpot.

“I've never seen a lavatory like this before.” Padma said quietly.

“This sort of thing isn't normal?” Harry asked.

“A room that does what you want without the use of a wand? No, I doubt it's too common.”

“I don't remember seeing this room at all when we first got to the corridor. I just kept wishing we had somewhere he wouldn't look in to hide. And wouldn't this room be an obvious place to check? Why didn't he?”

“I don't know, all I want to know is how we're going to get back to the common room without getting caught. I don't fancy Filch figuring out that I jinxed his precious.”

Before she had even finished speaking the ornate chamberpot dismantled itself and sank backwards into the wall. The room grew around them, more torch brackets springing from the expanding stone walls. A large open space now lay before them, the only decoration was a portrait of a small man who bore an uncanny resemblance to a bullfrog. The figure in the portrait started but before it could gather it's wits, the frame swung forwards revealing a long passage.

Harry looked at Padma, astonished. “Do you think...?”

“Why not? Tonight can't get any weirder.” She said diplomatically.

Coming to an agreement, they set off down the long corridor. After what seemed like an age of stumbling through the darkness, they came to a solid stone wall.

“Dead end. What do we do now?” She asked wearily.

“I don't know.” Harry replied. He walked forward and tapped the wall with his wand hopefully. To his surprise the area around the wand's tip glowed softly and some of the stones began to shift and separate. Before long, there was a gap in the wall large enough for both of them to exit the passage. They moved forward and emerged in a small alcove behind a marble statue: in the Ravenclaw common room. They looked at each other, astonished.

“That is brilliant. Padma we need to find that room again.”

“What room?” Padma and Harry turned around to see the confused face of Penelope Clearwater. “Why are you two out of bed so late? I didn't see you come down here.”

“We... were researching a project and thought this would be a good place to clear our heads.” Harry answered awkwardly.

“In a dark annex of the common room?”

“Yes, it's cooler here, there's a nice draft.” said Padma.

“A draft? Right you two are too young for this sort of thing. I'm scheduling a meeting with Professor Flitwick for you tomorrow. And just because you're famous Harry, don't think that you can just woo any girl you want. I thought you at least had more sense Padma.”

“What?” The girl beside him half screamed.

“No arguing. Now go to bed and don't let me catch you at this again.” With that the fifth year prefect spun on her heel and marched up the staircase.

Padma turned to Harry, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I am never doing something that stupid with you again.”

Harry watched feebly as she followed in Penelope's footsteps, leaving him confused and without a clue as to what had just happened.

D

The next morning Harry made his way to the great hall for breakfast, exhausted from the previous night's excursions. He sat down beside Kevin and filled his plate with food.

“What had you up so late last night?” Asked Kevin. Harry looked up to see the smaller boy peering curiously at him.

“Just reading. I didn't notice the time.” He replied evasively.

“Oh, ok. The next time you're out sneaking around can I come?”

Harry choked on a piece of bacon and stared at Kevin. “What?”

“Padma just left. She was in a really bad mood and muttering about you being an idiot. If you were reading all night why would she be mad at you? She knows you like reading and you're her friend. Either you two were out or you offended her in someway.”

“Uh, ok, next time you can come. I don't know why she's in a bad mood though, we didn't really get ca -,” Harry was cut off by the sound of loud protests coming from the other side of the hall.

Professor McGonagall was standing at the Gryffindor table having a heated discussion with the Weasley twins, while Filch stroked his cat with a smug smile on his face.

“It wasn't us!” One of them said.

“Believe me we'd bloody well like to but we're innocent this time.”

Harry grabbed some bacon and toast and whispered to Kevin, “Come on, we have to go.” Kevin caught the panicked look on Harry's face and complied. The two of them exited the hall without being noticed and headed for the stairs.

“What was that about?”

“The caretaker's cat was jinxed last night. I don't think he's handling it well.”

“The Weasley twins didn't do it did they?” Kevin asked nonchalantly.

“No, but they probably would have eventually.” Harry replied diplomatically. “And besides, once they get over the punishment it'll do their reputation good.”

“Ok, but I'm definitely coming next time.”

Harry looked at his friend whose face was set in determination. “Ok, we found something cool and I don't think Padma's up for another jaunt anyway.”

Harry walked away from the great hall with the protests of the Weasley twins fresh in his mind and a strange sense of anticipation.