Megan Potter - A Saga of the Heart - Book 6 - Dark Temptation-

Chapter 18 - The Tale of Gaunt

Like the first time, Megan herself toppling down through darkness. Then, suddenly, she felt solid ground and blinked, blinded by sunlight. One blink, and Dumbledore was beside her. She looked around and saw they were in a sunny country lane. Nearby she saw a stout man wearing thick glasses. He was, it seemed, reading a wooden signpost. He had to be Ogden. There was no one else around, and he was wearing a cloak. He suddenly turned around, however and began to walk off. Dumbledore made to follow but stumbled slightly. Megan caught his arm to hold him upright.

"... Should I go alone?" she offered tentatively.

"No. I am fine. Just not as young as I was, I suppose," he said evenly. "Come along."

They marched along the road until they found a small house hidden between a stash of trees and bushes. In the distance, Megan saw a large manor. They watched as Ogden knocked on the door. But the voice came from behind him.

"You are not welcome. Leave."

Ogden looked round as a figure jumped down a tree, dressed in rags. He was a rather horrific sight. His hair was clamped and dirty, so you couldn't make out its colour. He was missing a few teeth and had small, black eyes. Megan shuddered slightly, and didn't blame Ogden for stepping back.

"Oh, er... hello, I'm Ogden from the Ministry..."

"You are not welcome."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Megan raised an eyebrow. The strange ragged person sounded clear to her...

"I'm sure you know what he's saying?" Dumbledore said.

"... Yes, why can'..."

Her eyes widened.

"He's speaking Parsletongue!" she gasped.

"Very good." he said smiling.

The stranger was marching on Ogden, wand and a bloody knife in hand.

Megan's first impulse was run forwards but Dumbledore's hand on her shoulder and a sharp shout stopped her.

"Morfin!"

Megan looked up at the front door. An elderly man came hurrying down the steps.

"Ministry, you say?" The old man said sharply.

"Yes." Ogden answered. "You will be Mr Gaunt?"

"S'right."

"Might I ask why this man was threatening me?" Ogden asked glancing at the man with the knife.

"Ah, should have made your presence known." Gaunt said. "My son don't much like intruders."

He turned to his son.

"Inside. Now. Don't argue."

Megan could hear the hiss in his last words. Morfin seemed about to argue but finally marched away and into the house.

"It is your son I'm here to see, Mr Gaunt. That was Morfin, was it?"

"Ar. Are you pure-blood?" Gaunt asked.

"That, sir, is neither here nor there."

Megan felt her respect for Ogden rise.

"Might we continue inside?"

"Inside?" Gaunt demanded.

"Yes," Ogden said. "I am here about a serious breach in wizarding law that occurred in the early hours of the morning..."