Chapter 858: Black's Concerns
Chapter 858: Black's Concerns
Dumbledore gazed at the Dark Mark reflected in the Pensieve, pacing restlessly in his office. He felt that something was amiss, a nagging sensation that he had overlooked something crucial.
Just then, one of the portraits on the wall spoke up, "Dumbledore, Sirius Black wishes to visit you this evening. He has some concerns regarding Harry that he wishes to discuss."
"Very well, send Mr. Black in when he arrives," Dumbledore nodded in assent.
"Now, if you have the time," the portrait added without hesitation.
"Then, now it is."
Soon after the portrait finished speaking, green flames erupted in the office's fireplace, and Sirius Black stepped out of it.
"Good evening, Headmaster. Apologies for the sudden intrusion," Black said, getting straight to the point, "But I felt it necessary to come regarding Harry's safety."
"Please, take a seat. Can I offer you some tea?"
"Yes, tea would be lovely." Sirius sat down and gathered his thoughts. "Peter did not die in Azkaban, though I know not how he escaped. And Harry had a nightmare recently, about Peter and Voldemort. They seemed to be plotting something sinister. I believe I mentioned this in my letter to you."
"A dream?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, recalling the letter he had indeed received from Sirius, mentioning this very matter.
"Yes, after we saw the reports of Peter's death in Azkaban, we suspected he might have faked it. Then, Harry dreamed about Peter during the Quidditch World Cup, and we thought it might be a prophetic dream. So, we consulted Mr. Anderson, you know, the expert in prophecies."
"And what did he say?" Dumbledore's interest in the matter piqued.
"He said it was unlikely a prophetic dream, but rather a consequence of the night Voldemort failed to kill Harry," Sirius explained, taking a sip from his tea. "He believes there may be a connection between Harry and Voldemort, something left over from that night. But he didn't elaborate, suggesting we speak with you about it." Sirius's eyes lowered as he asked, "Is there truly a connection between Harry and Voldemort?"
"Yes, the failed curse may have created a link between them," Dumbledore sighed. "That scar is not ordinary."
"So, the visions Harry saw are likely real?" Sirius couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath, despite steeling himself for this possibility.
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore nodded.
"I fear Harry may be in danger," Sirius murmured, his eyes filled with concern.
"Danger?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Yes, let me explain my recent findings, including the matter of consulting Albert to predict Peter's location," Sirius began, recounting his recent investigations.
"So, the prophecy indicates that Peter is in the Albanian Forest?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, that's what Albert said. And then, during another divination, a desolate mansion, a vaguely familiar person, and a graveyard appeared," Sirius continued.
"May I see that memory?" Dumbledore suddenly requested.
"Of course... not at all." Sirius withdrew his wand, tapped it against his temple, and extracted the memory, placing it into the Pensieve that Dumbledore had moved between them.
The two men entered the memory, witnessing Harry jolting awake from his nightmare and the subsequent conversation they had. Soon, the surroundings shifted, and they relived the moment they consulted Albert. When the figure of a man appeared in the crystal ball before Dumbledore, the aged headmaster immediately recognized him.
"Bartemius Crouch Jr.," Dumbledore stated.
"Bartemius Crouch Jr.?" Sirius racked his brain, trying to place the name. "I thought he was dead?"
"Yes, he died a long time ago," Dumbledore confirmed.
The memory ended abruptly after Albert handed Sirius some Felix Felicis, and the two men found themselves back in the headmaster's office.
"What else did Anderson say?" Dumbledore inquired, sensing that Sirius's urgency in seeking him out stemmed from more than what he had shared thus far.
"Yes, I just received a letter from Harry, which is why I rushed to see you," Sirius said, pulling out the letter Harry had sent him not long ago. It mentioned Harry's conversation with Albert on the train and the two small conclusions Albert had shared.
"Do you believe what Albert said?" Dumbledore asked after quickly scanning the letter.
"As absurd as it sounds, I must admit that Albert's reasoning is sound," Sirius said, having witnessed Albert's capabilities firsthand. He knew that Albert wouldn't make such claims without good reason.
"If Harry is indeed drawn into the Triwizard Tournament, does that imply that it's part of Voldemort's scheme?"
"Do you suspect Voldemort's influence has infiltrated Hogwarts?" Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "And that Moody might be involved?"
"Yes, I know it sounds far-fetched, but we can't deny that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position has been cursed. Especially since Harry started school—in first year, Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort, in second year, Lockhart was a fraud, in third year, Lupin was a werewolf and friends with this fugitive," Sirius gestured to himself, "so is it possible that in fourth year, Moody is an imposter?" Sirius voiced his bold speculation, one of the reasons for his urgency in seeking out Dumbledore. He lowered his voice and added, "Moody encountered trouble on his way to Hogwarts, claiming he was attacked. It even made the front page of the Daily Prophet."
Dumbledore fell silent, considering this possibility.
"I've known Alastor for over half a century, and I believe I know him well. But I haven't noticed anything suspicious about him," Dumbledore said quietly. "At the very least, he doesn't exhibit any signs of being under the Imperius Curse, and with Alastor's resistance to the curse, I'm confident I would've noticed something amiss. And if they were that foolish, it would be a blessing."
While Dumbledore found Albert's insights intriguing, he trusted his own judgment more.
"What about the Polyjuice Potion?" Sirius asked tentatively, feeling the need to raise Dumbledore's alertness, especially regarding Moody.
Dumbledore fell silent for a moment, recalling the opening feast, where he remembered Alastor carrying a hip flask and only drinking from it once.
That night, Alastor had eaten the food but hadn't touched the drink in his goblet, opting instead for a single sip from his flask. At the time, Dumbledore had attributed it to Alastor's cautious nature... at least, he couldn't remember if the flask had contained Polyjuice Potion or not.
"I'll keep an eye on him. If Alastor is an imposter, he will slip up eventually. No one can perfectly impersonate another person indefinitely," Dumbledore said calmly.
"I entrust Harry to your care, and I suggest you keep a close eye on the Goblet of Fire," Sirius said as he stood to leave. "If Harry truly becomes that blasted champion, I believe we should heed Albert's words."
(End of Chapter)
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