Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1600: Death's Door

Where had Ron gone?

No one could answer this question. He must have Disapparated out of the Burrow and never returned. The Weasleys and the Order of the Phoenix all assumed Ron was with Evan, Harry, Hermione, and Elaine, but the four of them, in turn, thought Ron was with the Order.

It wasn’t until Sirius arrived that anyone realized Ron was missing.

He might have been afraid to return to the Burrow, fearing it had been overrun by Voldemort and the Death Eaters, but he couldn’t find Evan, Harry and the others either.

After all, the plan Evan and Hermione had discussed earlier hadn’t been shared with Harry and Ron.

Mrs. Weasley was keeping a close eye on them, preventing them from even discussing it.

Ron was probably hiding somewhere, but the chances of him being caught were slim, as long as he didn’t foolishly present himself to the Death Eaters.

Sirius gave them a few more instructions, telling them not to leave Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, and then hurried off to alert the others to search for Ron.

“Where could Ron have gone?”

“Anywhere. He might have simply found a secluded place to hide. After all, the situation was extremely chaotic. With the Dark Lord appearing, escape was the only priority,” said Evan after thinking for a moment. “He probably has a rough idea of our plan, that we’re going to Gringotts to find the Cup. Maybe he went to Diagon Alley to wait for us there.”

“Diagon Alley!”

“Fred and George’s shop is there. He might be hiding out inside.”

Speaking of Fred and George’s shop, Evan recalled that the Ministry had placed a large order with them not long ago, but now that business was certainly ruined. Fred and George wouldn’t be supplying weapons and protective gear to the Ministry under Voldemort’s control, and it was unclear how they would deal with all the displaced house-elves they’d taken in.

“I really hope Ron’s okay. I should have been with him,” said Harry worriedly. His scar was getting more and more painful, making him feel sick. “I saw Elphias Doge sitting in a corner and couldn’t help but go over. I was so eager to know more about Dumbledore. I shouldn’t have left Ron behind —”

“He was so happy. Not long after you left, a girl I didn’t recognize came over, and they left the marquee together,” Elaine said suddenly.

“Who was that girl?”

“I don’t know. Never seen her before. She must be French.”

Evan thought, remembering the two French girls who had disappeared with Fred and George shortly after the chaos began. They were relatives of Fleur.

The girl who took Ron was probably similar. He couldn’t help but think, French girls really were rather forward.

“Harry, are you okay? You don’t look well?” Hermione asked suddenly.

“I’m fine!” Harry said palely.

But that wasn’t the truth. The pain in his scar was reaching a peak, burning as it had done in the garden of the Burrow.

He was worried about Ron and Ginny. Sirius had just said that Ginny was with the Weasleys, being watched by Death Eaters. He hoped she would be alright.

Faintly he heard Hermione say, “They’ll find Ron soon and bring him here. Go to sleep now — it’s late.”

Yes, sleep. Harry felt like he was about to faint!

He wanted to leave, but it was too late; a stabbing, bone-deep pain shot through his scar again.

Amidst the overwhelming pain, he felt a strange emotion taking over his soul.   

Not anger, but joy!

He was delighted by what was happening before him.

Blinking, Harry saw a dimly lit square room. The center of the floor before him gradually gave way, forming a vast stone pit about twenty feet deep. Stone steps circled the room, like stone benches, descending one step at a time, each one steep, like a lecture hall.

Harry had been here before, in his fifth year, on the night of the battle with Voldemort and the Death Eaters at the Ministry.

This was the Department of Mysteries!

Harry remembered it clearly: in the center of the room stood a strange archway.

He could hear voices from within.

He and Sirius had been here before, during the battle with the Death Eaters.

Sure enough, he looked up. Or rather, the version of him in the vision looked up; the memory unfolded again before his eyes.

In the center of the pit was a raised stone platform, and above it stood an archway that looked ancient and dilapidated.

Harry was surprised it hadn’t fallen down. There were no walls around the archway, and a tattered black curtain or drapery hung from it. Even though the air was cold and still, it swayed gently, as if someone had just touched it.

Harry stared at the massive stone door, then spoke in a high, cold, and emotionless voice.

“Are you sure this is the door?”

“Yes, my Dark Lord, they moved it here centuries ago, and it’s been there ever since,” said a strange, shrill voice, hidden from Harry’s view in the shadows behind him.

“Excellent, I finally hear some good news today. You are far more trustworthy than my stupid servants, Natalia. Now that you’ve confirmed this is the door, open it for us. I can’t wait to see the secret hidden behind it!”

“I can’t do it, my Dark Lord. To open it, we need even greater magical power, one I’m afraid you don’t even possess at your current level.”

“Are you doubting the great Lord Voldemort, or perhaps you wish to witness my magic and wrath?” A fierce rage gripped Harry’s soul.

“I am not doubting your magic, but to open this door — to enter the world of that Great Being — we need far greater power, unimaginable power. That’s not something any ordinary wizard can possess; the human body limits us. If you become immortal, you will have those powers. I am helping you achieve that,” the sharp voice replied. “I came here because I believe you will become my new master, and bring order back to this rotten world.”

Harry gave a heavy snort, clearly displeased, but he said nothing.

“To open it, we need the help of a magical item of great power. The wand you are looking for can help us. Besides that, we need an ancient incantation to unlock this door; they likely left it in its original place.”

“I will bring the wand. In the meantime, go find the spell. Do not try to test my patience again, Natalia!” said Voldemort in a cold voice, “and do not play tricks, otherwise you will feel Voldemort’s power, and I will open this door in my own way.”

Translating_Wizard

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