[HP] Similar but different

As if to comfort Harry, the locket didn't light up blue even though it was Wednesday.Harry knew he shouldn't, but he was secretly relieved.Maybe he has to face it sooner or later, but later is always better—maybe in the later time, he discovers something?

In the next few days, Harry ran to the library every day.He could swear to Merlin that he had never been so careful with his homework.Unfortunately, little has been achieved.When he got bored with reading, he could only think of talking to Hagrid to relieve it; however, he went to the cabin twice, and each time he was greeted with the barking of Fang being locked in.

Fortunately, Lupine wrote back.He told Harry that Sirius was in good spirits, but was just tired of having to stay at home.Sirius also understood Harry's choice, although he was sullen about it.

Holding the short letter, Harry couldn't help but glance at the calendar on the desk.With the new moon on Christmas Day, Lupine could indeed spend the festive season with Sirius; as for understanding...

The wording is a bit subtle.Harry didn't really think that Sirius would accept his lame excuse.Someone must have persuaded Sirius to make his godfather think he had a valid, but hard to say, reason.

Harry couldn't think of anyone other than Dumbledore who would do it for him.Dumbledore knew that Voldemort's soul fell on him, so he avoided seeing him; but at the same time, Dumbledore also understood him and knew that he didn't want to bring danger to others.Sirius had persuaded him to learn Occlumency; a mere mention from Dumbledore would have easily convinced his godfather.

Would Dumbledore, then, have guessed that the immediate reason he did this was that Voldemort attacked Umbridge through his eyes?

Besides, Dumbledore didn't tell him the truth, didn't he tell anyone else?

Anyone else... Harry felt bitter.Would his classmates, friends, whoever they were, treat him the same way if they knew he had Voldemort's spirit in him?Or, kill him like you want to kill Voldemort?After all, killing him was equivalent to destroying a part of Voldemort?Or, in order to completely destroy Voldemort, he must be eliminated first?

That last thought sent Harry into an iceberg.No matter how cruel Voldemort was, at most he would kill him, he already knew; he did have some unknown fears, but in order to protect his loved ones, he felt he could do it.But if the friend he identified avoids him, or even turns against him, it is definitely worse than death.

That's why Voldemort said that he didn't expect him to come to him so soon... because he was too impatient to realize the seriousness of the matter.

So Dumbledore was very right not to tell him the truth.Because he couldn't bear it, not even imagine it.

Harry jumped up, got under the bed, and dragged the suitcase out.He had to see Sirius right away, or anyone else...

Fifteen minutes later, Harry slipped into Umbridge's office with the help of a gun given to him by Sirius.The officials of the Ministry of Magic hurriedly left Hogwarts before the holiday, as if they were following Dumbledore's whereabouts.And he, ventured a guess, that the fire in Umbridge's office was not being watched.

The fireplace was, of course, extinguished.Harry couldn't wait to say blazing flames, sprinkled Floo powder, knelt down on the cold stone floor, stuck his head into the flames—

"12 Grimmauld Place!"

He succeeded.Although he seemed to be wearing an overheated scarf around his neck, he found himself looking at the dining room of the Order of the Phoenix headquarters from an angle he had never seen before.And he's lucky--

Sirius and Lupine were sitting at the edge of the wooden table talking quietly.Hearing the sound, the two turned their heads together. "Harry!" Sirius exclaimed in surprise, getting up and striding over to the fireplace. "You are—why are you here?"

Harry was glad to see that his godfather was in good spirits, as Lupine's letter had said. "I just want to... see you, talk to you?"

"What's the matter, Harry?" Lupine also came over, squatting down, feeling a little uneasy. "What do you need our help with?"

A lot had happened lately, but Harry was adamant that the most important ones were about himself.He pushed back the soul issue, determined not to spread his fear to other people. "No," he denied, "it's just that Christmas wasn't with you..."

"It's okay, Harry." Sirius simply sat on the floor in front of the fireplace so he could look Harry's head straight. "You're doing well at Hogwarts. How was Christmas?"

Harry grinned. "It's good. Although not many people stayed at school, at least Snape wasn't there."

Sirius said nonchalantly, "Oh, he's gone to St. Mungo's." Then he added, pursing his lip, "Though I don't think he's any better than the apothecary at St. Mungo's." Seeing Lupine's disapproving gaze.

"Did Dumbledore go too?" Harry was aroused by his curiosity, and temporarily put his troubles behind him.

Sirius and Lupine exchanged a quick look, and then Lupine took up the conversation. "right."

"They're going to see Sturgis Podmore?" Harry asked immediately.

Lupine raised his eyebrows slightly. "You know about it? Hermione told you?"

Harry nodded and asked impatiently, "How's Sturgis? The paper says he's confused?"

"Oh, we think he was cast with a powerful confusion spell, but luckily it wasn't fatal." Sirius shook his head as he said, "Poor man, he has been lying in the ward for more than three months... Fortunately, he Getting better."

"Do you know who attacked him?" Harry asked again.

"We have a guess that is very close to the answer," Sirius frowned, a little gloomy, "Although he is not clear enough to tell us this for the time being, Dumbledore suspects that even if Sturgis is awake, he will not be able to tell us. Be a witness."

Harry's eyes widened. "Why?" Then he realized the most likely answer himself, "...because Sturgis didn't see his attacker either?"

Lupine gave a dry laugh. "That's right. You know, not everyone's Confusion Curse can make people stay in the hospital for three months. It should be said that almost no one, except Dumbledore and Voldemort. Dumbledore would not do this, but Fudge doesn't believe it... ..."

"Fudge is a pompous fool," Sirius interjected, looking disgusted, "and he thinks Sturgis is Dumbledore's confidant and is working for Dumbledore. Worst of all, we really can't explain why Sturgis Dorje will be at the Ministry at that point in time."

"So..." Harry felt his tongue go dry, his guess confirmed. "Sturgis was guarding the gates of the Order of the Phoenix, and Voldemort attacked him?"

Sirius seemed to want to answer, but Lupine spoke before he did. "In contrast, I want to know more, are you still having those dreams?"

If he hadn't asked that question, Harry would have forgotten his summer dreams long ago. "No... not even after school started."

The two adults breathed a sigh of relief together.Out of caution, Lupine asked again: "Have you learned your Occlumency?"

Harry struggled to think of the best answer. "Oh," he said vaguely, "I don't think Voldemort has forgotten Occlumency. The scar hasn't moved either."

"Although...but this is very good," Sirius slightly relieved, "you have to remember it yourself."

Even though Harry had been trying to avoid lying himself, hearing Sirius say that still made him feel uneasy.Snape's name reminded him of those painful memories in the Pensieve, and today would have been a good opportunity to verify; but he could foresee that if he asked this, he would have to explain Snape's reaction.It might not be difficult to hide where he was going on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, but if he continued the Occlumency course, what he was doing would definitely be exposed.

Voldemort had got everything he wanted, due to his negligence... and the threats, he couldn't let other people die because of him, not hurt...

"...Harry? Harry?" Sirius called out several times worriedly. "What’s wrong with you?"

Harry regained his composure and forced a smile. "It's okay...I just think it's a bit difficult to completely close the brain."

Lupine nodded slightly, looking at Harry at the same time. "I know you don't like Snape, but he's a superb Occlumency master. Learn from him," his brown eyes were full of encouragement, "Calm down and clear your mind...you can do it, ha profit."

Harry nodded heavily.He didn't want to dwell on this matter anymore, so he tried to bring the topic back. "You said Dumbledore went to St. Mungo's, but he's still not at school?"

Sirius and Lupine exchanged another look. "Yes," said Lupine, with that uneasy look on his face again. "He should be farther away now."

"Further away?" Harry repeated, feeling familiar. "That's what you seemed to say about Voldemort last time, Sirius?"

"Although Dumbledore didn't say where he went, the two events are indeed connected." Sirius replied matter-of-factly, "Voldemort returned shortly before Christmas."

"Has he made any new moves?" Harry asked quickly. "Like a Death Eater convention or something?"

Lupine shook his head. "Not yet. But the sign of his return is very obvious - the Dark Demon Mark." He frowned deeply, "The color of that thing is stronger than ever before, indicating that his power is stronger than ever."

Somehow, Harry suddenly remembered Voldemort's new wand.Did it make Voldemort stronger?Was it because of the Dark Lord that he disappeared for so long?

"Honestly, it's not Voldemort's style," said Sirius, thoughtfully. "How could he suppress his ambitions and desires? He's grown stronger after all?"

You and I must restrain ourselves until the problem is truly resolved...

The feeling of knowing the answer but not being able to say it was too uncomfortable, and Harry blushed from holding back.Fortunately, the red was indistinguishable from the flames of the fireplace. "Sturgis..." He tried to change the subject again, "No, I mean that door, was it opened by Voldemort?"

"You're getting to the point," said Sirius, more dourly. "There's a crack in the door, and Fudge insists that's the result of Sturgis' attack. But in fact..."

"Might Voldemort have gone in and out before the Aurors arrived?" Harry speculated quickly.He saw that the other two thought the same as he did, and asked again: "What kind of weapon is there in the door that is worth Voldemort's risk? And, if something is missing, how will Fudge explain it?"

"Because nothing was lost." Sirius resentfully said.

Harry was completely confused.Judging from what he knew, Voldemort did get the weapon he had always wanted; but if Voldemort succeeded, how could the Ministry of Magic not lose things?Unless... that weapon is not a weapon in the general sense?

The author has something to say:

Hmm... When the answer to the weapon is revealed - abuse, don't say I didn't warn you