Chapter 24: The Truth

As Harry opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a cold, marble floor. Ron’s broomstick lay a few feet away, thankfully not broken: it was more important than his wand, at the moment. He got up and looked around. He gasped: he was in the main Atrium for the Ministry of Magic. It was not possible: a few moments ago, he was flying. How could he have gotten here? Was this a dream?

As Harry got accustomed to the light, he saw someone standing at the far end of the Atrium. It was a statue of a warrior. As he walked towards the statue, it turned around so quickly that Harry almost fell backwards in shock.

When Harry regained his balance, the gap, supposedly the warrior's mouth, opened and said, in a deep mouth, “Why are you here, comrade?”

“Um… I think… because of… of the Green Snitch,” stuttered Harry.

Just as he finished his sentence, there was a loud clunk. The statue raised his spear and revolved it around Harry. Then, there was a click and a card came out of a small slit in the warriors hand. He gave it to Harry, who examined it:

Mr. Harry James Potter, the 31578th Chosen Seeker, please proceed to Level 9: Department of Mysteries. We cannot provide you with further assistance. Follow your dreams. Thank you!

P.S: Read this message backwards to reach the destination.

Harry read the message backwards with little difficulty. When he finished, he looked up. He was standing right in front of the same plain black door that he faced just three years ago.

But when he moved forwards, Draco ran in his way.

“Hey!” cried Harry, surprised, “How did you get here?”

Draco shook his head and said, “We don't have much time. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but you ought to know that I brought you here on Jeremy's orders. He told me to bring you here but not tell you anything. We made an Unbreakable Vow because I promised to make it if he'd help my father get out of Azkaban.”

Harry gasped, “But why--,”

But Draco interrupted, “No time. Now listen, when we were leaving the school and you guys had entered the train, I was a little late. I had just met Jeremy. He was looking for the Malfoys. Luckily for him, he met the right person. He wanted to know all about the Green Snitch.”

Harry frowned, while Draco continued, “Because when you-know-who was in control, he used to challenge a lot of wizards. But they were too scared to take the Challenge, so they died. After a while, you-know-who gave up on the idea of the Green Snitch. But Snape and my father were his head Death Eaters in those days: they were the only ones who knew about the Green Snitch. That’s why Jeremy came to us.”

“I know how dangerous the Green Snitch can be, so I had to do this. You have to face the Challenge: you have no choice,” said Harry, staring at Draco.

Malfoy understood, saying, “And the letters you received from Aunt Petunia and Percy were written by me.”