.⊹⁀➷ CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX!
↳ ❛everything changes❜

AFTER THE NEWS of Voldemorts return had spread through the wizarding world everyone was living in fear. The Death Eaters were back and acted in Voldemorts name, bringing destruction and tyranny.

Annabeth and Harry were back in Little Whining that summer, their only information about the wizarding world being the Daily Prophet and the letters from their friends.

Annabeth was sitting in a cafe by the train station, on the opposite of her brother, sipping on her coffee when the nice waitress they always had walked over to them, a frown on her face while she examined the Daily Prophet.

"Who's Harry Potter?"

"Oh- uh, no one." Harry answered her immediately while he placed the paper down on the table. He gave her a small smile, "Bit of a tosser, really."

The girl chuckled before she pointed at the Daily Prophet, "Funny, that paper of yours. Couple nights ago, I could've sworn I saw a picture move."

Annabeth raised her eyebrows at her, "Really?" The girl still smiled while she nodded at the brunette, "Thought I was going around the twist."

The girl gave Harry one last smile before she went on to the next customer.

Harry quickly spun in his seat, "Hey- I was wondering -" But she already knew what he was gonna ask her, so she cut him off, a large smile on her face, "Eleven. That's when I get off. You can tell me all about that tossed Harry Potter."

Harry smiled to himself while Annabeth just shook her head in silence and took another sip of her coffee, knowing that he was wasting his time when everyone knew that he had a thing for Ginny.

Her eyes wandered around the train station until they landed on a flickering light that was supposed to light up the platform on their opposite.

The brunette girl slowly placed her cup down on the table and got up from her seat. Walking over to the with raindrops covered window, she continued to watch the lights flicker.

Suddenly a train went by, cutting of her visual on the platform and when it had passed, Dumbledore stood on the other side of the platform, looking straight at her.

Annabeth couldn't help but smile to herself before she quickly grabbed Harry by his arm and dragged him outside. At frost Harry didn't want to go with her just her he spotted Dumbledore the two hurried over to their Headmaster.

When they came to a stand besides him the wizard was staring at the advertisement poster about perfume while he spoke, "You two have been reckless this summer."

"I like riding around in trains. It takes my mind off things." Harry simply answered him while Annabeth eyed the man. Her eyes grew big and filled with concern when she saw that the flesh on Dumbledores right hand had turned black.

The man had immediately felt the change in her demeanor and raised his hand for them to look at, "Rather unpleasant to behold, isn't it? The tale is thrilling, if I say so myself. But now is not the time to tell it."

He then suddenly held out his arm to them, "Take my arm."

Annabeth and Harry exchanged a look before they both slowly grabbed Dumbledores arm and Annabeth felt the uncomfortable feeling of apparation.

Annabeth felt like her stomach was turned upsidedown and she could hear Harry inhale deeply, "We just apparated, didn't we?"

Dumbledore was rather calm while he nodded, "Indeed, quiet successfully too, I might add. Most people vomit the first time."

"Can't imagine why." Annabeth stated sarcastically while she took a deep breath, still trying not to throw up.

Dumbledore spun around on his heels and made his way through the street.
"Welcome to the charming village of Burleigh Babberton."

The two teenager followed after him while the man spoke, "I assume, right about now, you're wondering why I brought you here. Am I right?" His eyebrows were raised while they came to a stand infront of a little house.

"Actually sir, after all these years, I just sort of go with it", Harry answered him honestly, which made Annabeth smile a little.

Dumbledore gave them a warning look, "Wands out!" They did as he said and slowly followed the man inside the house.

Their wands were spending them light while they made their way through the different rooms. Each one was completely destroyed, there were scratches over the walls and all the furniture was flipped or in pieces.

Dumbledore whispered a name Annabeth couldn't quite understand until his eyes fell onto an armchair. The man slowly approached the furniture and carefully poked it.

Annabeth flinched back in surprise when a head emerged from the armchair.

The head belonged to a man, who was now standing up and changed into his human form, "Merlin's beard! No need to disfigure me, Albus!"

Dumbledore smiled at the man, "Well, I must say you made a very convincing armchair, Horace."

"It's all in the upholstery. I come by the stuffing naturally. What gave me away?", the man gave him a questioning look.

Dumbledore pointed at the blood that had been dripping from the ceiling, "Dragon's blood."

"Oh." The man pressed his lips together.

After a moment he raised his eyebrows at Annabeth and Harry, which made Dumbledore speak up once more, "Oh, yes, introductions- Harry- Annabeth, I'd like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine - Horace Slughorn."

"Horace- well, you know who these two are." The man nodded his head while he looked at them, "Harry and Annabeth Potter." He chuckled.

"What's with all the theatrics, Horace? You weren't by any chance waiting for someone else?", Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at his old friend.

"Someone else? I'm sure I don't know what you mean", Slughorn muttered but when he saw the look Dumbledore gave him he exhaled. "All right, the Death Eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year. Do you know what's that like? You can only say no to these people so many times. So I never stay anywhere longer than a week. The muggles who own this place are in the Canary Islands."

"I think we should put it back in order for them, don't you?" Dumbledore flinched his wand and everything started flying around them to find it's usual place.

The man smiled, "That was fun- do you mind if I use the loo?"

"No, of course." Slughorn said and Dumbledore started walking away. But before he had left the room Slughorn started speaking again, his voice a bit louder while he called after the Headmaster, "Don't think I don't know why you're here, Albus. The answer is still no. Absolutely and unequivocally, no!"

He gave them a small smile when Dumbledore had disappeared. "Your very like your father. Except the eyes of course - You have your-"

"Our mother's eyes- Yeah." Harry finished for him.

"Lily- lovely Lily. She was exceedingly bright, your mother. Even more impressive when one considers she was Muggle-born."

Annabeth gave the man a pointed look, her lips pressed into a thin line, "One of my friends is Muggle-born and she's the best in our year."

"Oh, please don't think I'm prejudice. No, no. Your mother was one of my absolute favorites. Look, there she is!", the man stated while he walked them over to a shelf and pointed at one of the pictures in the front.

The siblings slowly approached the shelf and spotted their mother, when she was exactly at their age, in one of the pictures.

Annabeth felt the warmth spread inside of her when she saw her mother. She was beautiful, her hair was long and she was wearing a dress while holding a glass in her hand, smiling at the camera.

Slughorn pointed at two photos, "You recognize Barnabas Cuffe, editor of the Daily Prophet. Always takes my owl, should I wish to register an opinion on the news of the day. Gwenog Jones, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies. Free tickets whenever I want them. Of course, I haven't been to matches in some time."

Harry grabbed one of the pictures and eyed it closer which caught Slughorns attention, "Ah yes, Regulus Black."

It was a picture of him and his Quidditch team when he was the Head of house Slytherin.

Slughorn sighed deeply, "You no doubt know of his older brother Sirius. Died a few weeks ago. I taught the whole Black family, except Sirius. It's a shame- talented boy. I got Regulus when he came along, of course, but I'd have liked the set."

Annabeth had to suppress a angry comment slipping through but before anything could escalate Dumbledore appeared again. He was holding a magazine in his hand, "Horace? Do you mind if I take this? I do love knitting patterns!"

"Yes, of course. But you're not leaving, are you?", Horace questioned them, a little bit of fear in his voice.

"Oh, I think I know a lost cause when I see one", Dumbledore answered him. "- Regrettable. I would have considered it a personal triumph had you consent to return to Hogwarts. But, oh well, you're like my friend Mr. Potter here, one of a kind."

The two men exchanged a look before Dumbledore nodded, "Well, bye-bye, Horace."

Harry and Annabeth said their Goodbye as well before they followed Dumbledore out of the house.

The three had just reached the street when the door flew open and Slughorn came running out, "All right- I'll do it! But I want Professor Merrythought's old office, not the water closet I had before! And I expect a raise! These are made times we live in! Mad!"

The man then spun around on his heels and went back inside while Dumbledore looked at the siblings. "They are indeed."

Harry gave the man a questioning look, "Sir, exactly what was all that about?"

The white haired man gave him a small smile, "You are talented, famous and powerful. Everything Horace values. Professor Slughorn is gonna try to collect you two. You two will be his crowning jewel. That's why he's returning to Hogwarts. And it's crucial he should return."

Annabeth didn't quite understand why it was crucial but she figured that the man would tell them when the time was right, like he always did.

The three came to a stand and Dumbledore apologized, "I fear I may have stolen a wondrous night from you, Harry. She was, truthfully, very pretty, the girl."

Annabeth rolled with her eyes while Harry answered him "It's all right, sir. I'll go back tomorrow, make up some excuse."

The man besides them shook his head slightly, "Oh, you'll not be returning to Little Whining tonight, Harry."

The boy raised his eyebrows at him, "But Sir, what about Hedwig and my trunk?"

The Headmaster had already expected him to ask that,"Both are waiting for you." He slowly held out his arm for them to take and Annabeth sighed deeply before she made contact with his arm, knowing that he would apparate again.

A second later the siblings were standing near the Burrow, knee deep in water. Annabeth let out a deep grunt while she walked through the field in annoyance, followed by her brother.

As soon as the two had reached the Burrow they were greeted by Hermione and Ginny, who both pulled them into huggs. Followed by Ron and Mrs. Weasley. "What a lovely surprise! Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

"I didn't know- Dumbledore." Was all what Harry said and Mrs. Weasley understood immediately. "Oh, that man! But then what would we do without him?"

Annabeth gave Ron and Hermione a questioning look when she saw how Ron attempted to whipe the toothpaste off of Hermiones cheek.

They all gave him confused looks while the boy stumbled over his words, "You've got a bit of toothpaste -" he pointed to her cheek.

Hermione only laughed in amusement and they all went on, grabbing the trunks and bringing them upstairs.

LATER THAT NIGHT the friends were sitting in Ron's room in a circle, in their middle was the Daily Prophet, squashed into a ball and set on fire, slowly burning.

"So when do you get here?", Harry questioned Hermione, his eyes not leaving the levatating paper in their middle.

"A few days ago- though for a while, I wasn't sure I was coming." She exchanged a look with Ron.

The ginger haired boy sighed, "Mum sort of lost it last week. Said Ginny and I had no business going back to Hogwarts. That's it too dangerous."

Harry scoffed loudly, "Oh, come on!"

Hermione immediately defended Mrs. Weasley, "She's not alone. Even my parents, and they're Muggles, know something bad's happening."

Ron made eye contact with Harry, "Anyway, Dad stepped in, told her she was being barmy and it took a few days but she came around."

The brunette boy frowned at them, not understanding why the parent's were concerned, "But this is Hogwarts we're taking about. It's Dumbledore - what could be safer?"

Annabeth could see that Hermion felt uncomfortable saying the next part, "There's been a lot of talk recently that- Dumbledore's got a bit old."

Harry frowned at her while he exclaimed, "Rubbish! Well, he's only - what is he?" He looked at the other's in question and Ron raised his eyebrows, "Hundered and fifty? Give or take a few years."

They all exchanged shocked looks and started laughing, for a moment forgetting all the worries they had only a moment before.

But Annabeth still felt this uneasy feeling inside of her when she went to bed that night. And that feeling remained until the next day when they visited Diagon Ally, wanting to purchase their school stuff and visit Fred and George's joke shop.

As Annabeth had expected, Fred and George's shop was truly breathtaking. In every corner was something happening, someone was testing the products, fireworks were flying over their heads and the people were laughing.

Annabeth could hear the twins loud voices booming through the shop while she was standing with Hermione and Ginny by the love potions. "Step up! Step up! We've got Fainting Fancies! Nosebleed nougats! And just in time for school- Puking Pastilles!"

Suddenly the two boys appeared besides them, a smug smile on each of their faces. "Hello, ladies!"

Fred gave them a smirk when he realized what they were eyeing, "Love potions, eh?"

The girls gave him a look and the boy nodded, "Yeah, they really do work." In that moment George jumped in, his eyes on his little sister, "Then again, the way we hear it, sis, you're doing just fine on your own."

Ginny raised her eyebrows at them, "Meaning?" Annabeth could tell that she was annoyed by her brothers.

George raised his eyebrows at her, "Are you not currently dating Dean Thomas?" The girl immediately shot them an annoyed look, "It's none of your business."

The twins exchanged a knowing look while Ginny walked away.

Annabeth knew that Ginny hadn't meant to speak so angry with them, so she decided to stir the conversation in another direction, "It's really a great shop, boys."

The two boys winked at her in union, "Thanks." The suddenly Ron appeared besides them holding some kind of box in his hand, "How much for this?"

The twins didn't waste a second before answering in union, "Five galleons."

Ron gave them an annoyed look, "How much for me?" They exchanged a look and repeated themselves, "Five Galleons."

The boy's face expression fell, "I'm your brother." The twins then smirked at him, "Ten galleons."

Ron scoffed loudly while he faced his friends, "Come on, let's go."

Annabeth smirked to herself while she followed them out of the shop.

It was horrible, Fred and George's shop was the only thing in the Ally that was radiating a bit of warmth. The rest of the Ally was cold and abandoned.

Hermione was the first to break the silence while they walked through the dark ally, "How are Fred and George doing it? Half the Alley's closed down."

"Fred reckons people need a laugh these days", Ron answered her and Harry nodded his head. "I reckon he's right."

They came to a stand infornt of Ollivander's and Annabeth felt her modd only drop even more, "Oh no, everyone got their wands from Ollivander's."

Harry slowly stepped forward and opened the door. Making the other's follow him into the ruins of the store.
Everything was destroyed, boxes and glass splinters were covering the floor.

Annabeth let her gaze wander around when Ron's voice caught her attention, "Harry- is it me, or do Draco and Mummy look like two people who don't want to be followed?"

The brunette joined the other's by the window and her heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell onto Draco and his mother.

He was wearing a black suit and his platinum blond hair was perfectly styled. But his teint seemed paler than usual and his demeanor was if possible even colder.

The two Malfoys' looked around suspiciously before they entered an Allay.

The four friends exchanged looks and started following them through the small Ally's.

There were very curious things happening in those Alley's but they managed to keep track of the Malfoys' until they reached a shop called "Borgin and Burke".

Annabeth peeked around the corner of the stone wall when she saw how Draco stood infront of the entrance. His mother had already gone inside the shop and he was taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

The light from the shop fell onto his face and only now could Annabeth see the deep dark circles that were under his eyes and how thin his face had gotten over the holidays.

The brunette felt her heart ache but her friends were motioning for her to follow after them when Draco entered the shop. They climbed onto the roof of the building beside the shop and had a fantastic view inside.

Annabeth frowned when she saw how many people were standing around, watching a large wooden cabinet in the middle of the store. Draco was moving his hand along the handles, like he was making himself familiar with the wooden device.

The four friends flinched back and hid behind the roof when one of the Death Eaters suddenly appeared in their line of sight and when they peaked back over the stones the curtains were closed.

Annabeth felt like she knew what had happened right then and there. But the brunette tried to deny it, because she believed that she had to throw up when she thought about the fact that Draco Malfoy was now probably a Death Eater.