Standard Anti-Litigation Charm: The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
Thank you to everyone who has read or reviewed.
Chapter Four:
Minerva paced in front of Dumbledore's portrait in the Headmaster's office. It was still asleep, unfortunately. 'How we need your counsel! Wake up, damn you!' As much as the dismissal of the Carrows relieved her, the other faculty, and the students, the Scotswoman was disturbed at the same time. 'I cannot understand it. Why would He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named dismiss his two henchmen? What does it mean? Why did Severus reinstate me? This can not bode well…'
The floo flared to life and the dark visage of Headmaster Snape stepped into the room. With a swirl of his cloak to remove any soot, he stalked across the office to sit behind the solid desk. He turned to study the same portrait McGonagall had been silently ranting at and glared.
"Please, have a seat, Minerva. Our company shall be joining us shortly."
"Company?" she asked, alarmed. "Are the governors meeting with us?" The older witch hoped that this merely had to do with the school.
"No, we are having other guests. Forgive me, but this is necessary for now," and with a wave of his wand, he summoned Minerva's wand and cast an Incarcerous, tying her to her chair. He caught the wand and set it on the desktop. "Just so you do not go 'all Gryffindor' without hearing anyone out or getting the facts."
"Snape! You devil! Release me at once!" she raved.
"In due time, never fear. You will not be harmed," Severus said smoothly. He pushed back the sleeve on his left arm and pressed his wand to his mark.
Minerva began to panic and tremble in her seat. The traitorous blackguard was calling upon more Death Eaters? Was this the start of a battle? What would happen to the students? Her fear escalated when the floo flared, and the two Malfoys stepped through. When the flames turned green again, she swallowed audibly and braced herself for the appearance of more of the Dark Lord's followers. The witch's eyes bulged and her mouth dropped open in shock when she saw not dark wizards, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione stumble into the room.
"Professor!" Hermione chirped as she ran to her former head-of-house's side. "Oh, it's so good to see you again!"
"Miss Granger? Mr. Weasley? Potter? Oh Merlin…when were you captured?" she gasped out, horror plain on her face.
"Several hours ago, but it's alright," Harry said.
Minerva opened her mouth to say something when the floo came to life once more. The man that stepped through was someone the Deputy Headmistress had not seen in years. Oh, she had laid eyes on the visage of Lord Voldemort during the first war, twenty years ago, but the face she looked upon now was one she had not seen since her own school days at Hogwarts. Her jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Hello, Minerva," Tom said mildly as he spelled the ash and soot from his robes. The older witch's eyes flitted between Harry and the Dark Lord in shock. "Oh, I have not touched a hair on your precious Golden Trio's heads, not to worry," he said with a smirk, "and I do not plan to if they promise to be good little children." Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes.
He looked around the office, taking in the portraits of all the former Headmasters and the odd instruments twirling and pinging about. He caught sight of the dozing Dumbledore and strode over to the portrait hanging behind Snape's desk.
In a fairly 'Muggle' and petulant way, he kicked the portrait's frame, sending it askew. "Wake up you bloody waste of pigment!" he barked. Numerous shouts and curses were heard from the other frames on the walls, except for a bark of laughter that came from Phineaus Nigellus Black.
The figure of Dumbledore was tossed out of the painted chair by the kick. The office's occupants heard a cough and a snort, and shortly afterward, they glimpsed an aged hand come into view, followed by the rest of AlbusPercival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
"Was that really necessary, Severus?"
"I think it was necessary, and you deserve far more. Unfortunately, it was not I who kicked your frame. That honor belongs to another," Snape replied with a smirk.
"Who…?" Dumbledore began, drifting off when he finally fixed his spectacles and peered out of his frame.
"Hello, Albus. Remember me?" Tom said, a menacing grin spreading on his face. Dumbledore's face grew dark. The painted sparkle vanished from his eyes, replaced by hatred and coldness. "You! But…but…this is impossible! How can this be?"
"Your spell faded, my horcruxes were purged, and I have been restored to my rightful self," Tom said, spreading his arms. "You have been very, very naughty, Professor…now we want to know why!"
The portrait began laughing. "As if I would tell you or help you in any way, Riddle!"
"What about me?" came a soft, yet determined voice. Harry walked between the others in the room to approach the portrait and stand in front of it. Conflicting emotions passed over the face of the Boy-Who-Lived as he stared at the image of the man he once loved as a father and believed in with his whole heart. "Would you help me? Or are you still set on sending me to my death?" he demanded as tears began to course down his cheeks.
"Oh…Harry, my boy…" began the portrait, his tones soft and raspy.
"Knock it off you Machiavellian worm!" snapped the current Headmaster. "Enough of your playacting and games…tell the boy the truth for once…that is, if you are even capable of spouting something other than lies and deceit!" Severus thundered.
"Snape! Albus!" came a woman's shout, followed by the loud scraping of a chair as Minerva scooted the chair she was stuck to around to see everyone's faces and the portrait of her old friend and leader. "What is going on here? Someone tell me; I demand answers!" The witch was red-faced with the effort of moving the chair, and the tall tartan hat she wore bobbed with every movement. Tom closed his eyes and clenched his jaw so he would not laugh, but snickers and snorts came from throughout the room.
Rolling his eyes and biting his cheek, Severus waved his wand and set Minerva free. She lunged out of the chair and ran over to stand next to Harry. Setting a hand on his shoulder, she pushed the boy behind her and away from the Dark Lord.
"Your beloved leader and Headmaster cast some terribly dark magic on my person when I was but a child, and then manipulated events, people…including your precious Potter, even the war in some grand scheme of his… and we would like to know why," came Tom's mild voice.
She looked around the room and was amazed to see everyone nodding in agreement, even her Gryffindors. "It's true, Professor," came Harry's voice from behind her. Spinning around, she saw Severus' grim visage and Dumbledore's infuriated one. "Albus?"
"It is all lies, Minerva. Tom is the Dark Lord! He has Imperiused the children!" he roared.
"Oh, do shut up!" hissed Tom. He then cast a Silencio on the portrait and turned back to Snape. "Severus, see if the elves can dig up some turpentine. If we are not going to get any answers from it, we may as well destroy it. Then go through this office, top to bottom, and see if you can find anything. I will have Draco assist you starting tomorrow," he commanded. The younger Malfoy bowed his acquiescence.
Minerva gasped as Snape nodded. "I demand to know what is going on…this instant!" McGonagall roared like the lioness she was.
Lucius summoned Feeny and requested that she bring the Penseive that still contained Snape's memories. It took some time, and a lot of barked questions, but eventually, the older witch's shoulders slumped with exhaustion and acceptance.
"I cannot believe it," the tired witch said, wiping her hand across her forehead. "The man I knew would never do such things!"
"The man you knew did not exist. His entire life was full of plots and lies," Severus said, nearly as tired as Minerva.
"Oh…Severus, I am so sorry," she said softly. "I am so sorry to have misjudged you…will you ever forgive me? Why did you not tell anyone?"
"What part of 'I was under a vow' is difficult to understand?" Severus asked the ceiling, rolling his eyes. "I could not reveal anything except to Potter. And of course you misjudged me…I was a spy, and a damned good one," he said with a grin.
"Pulled the wool over my eyes for twenty years," Tom said, settling into his chair. "Well, I think we are all about to nod off as we sit. Shall we reconvene here tomorrow? There is much to be discussed. I would suggest the dinner hour, as I have things to see to during the day." Severus and the Malfoys nodded.
"Discuss what, exactly?" Minerva asked.
"The end of this damned war, for one, or would you like it to go on indefinitely? No? That is what I thought," Voldemort said with a snort. "I need your ties with the Order. I will also need to start implementing the necessary changes here at the school. I have discussed the matter with Severus, and while he would not mind continuing to teach the NEWT level students, he wishes to have more time to devote to his own study and research; therefore, you are more than welcome to the position of Headmistress…that is if you want it."
"You do not have the authority to…" Minerva began.
"I am Lord Voldemort, of course I have the authority! Besides, Lucius can speak with some of the other school governors, and it will take no time to get them to agree to extend to you the position. Do not make any mistake…just because I am ending this war does not mean I am giving up the Ministry or any of my power. The Wizarding world needs me to take leadership! It is floundering… losing its way and sense of what it was and may be again. I have great things planned…changes that will benefit magic and every person and being tied to it….but, it is late, and we will all need to rest to continue this discussion. We will return tomorrow evening. Gentlemen?" he said, nodding to the Malfoys. "You three may stay here for the evening….do not do anything silly!" he said to the Golden Trio. In a swirl of green flames, the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters returned to Malfoy Manor.
Minerva sat in shock for a moment, before shaking herself and turning to the former spy for the Order. "Do you honestly believe him, Severus? I understand how Albus' duplicity is factoring into things, but do you really believe that following You-Know-Who and having him take over is for the best? We have been fighting against him for twenty years!"
Snape heaved a sigh and settled into the chair tiredly. "Part of me wants to hate him still, Minerva...for everything that has gone on, but surely you must see, as I have, that most of what has happened has not been the Dark Lord's doing. The man was practically Imperiused since he was a student at this school! As to following him now...yes, I do, and yes...I fully believe it will be the best for the Wizarding world. Not only will we see an end to the war, but his vision for all of us will usher in a renaissance! I truly feel that Lord Voldemort will bring it about, and to see that come to pass...to be a part of it and help in the process...I feel honored."
"I hope you are right, Severus...otherwise it will be a hell on earth!" Minerva cried. She took a deep breath and turned to her former charges. "Oh…" she began, biting back a sob. She grabbed the three and drew them into a firm hug. "You have no idea how good it is to see you three…we had no idea if you were well for so long…" she said, weeping into a tartan handkerchief. "Are you sure you are alright?"
"Perhaps you should escort them to Gryffindor tower so they may get some rest, Miverva. I know this will be your office in a short time, but I doubt there needs to be tear and mucus stains on the furnishings," Snape said dryly.
"Oh, don't you start!" Minerva said sternly. "Well, come along, children…" she started, then drifted off when she looked at the young faces before her. "You are not children anymore, are you?" she asked, sorrow causing the lines in her face to deepen.
"I honestly don't think we've been for a while," Harry said, a small, tired smile on his face.
"You are still dunderheads, though…off to bed with you," Severus barked.
"Come. I know Miss Weasley will be very pleased to see the three of you," McGonagall said with a smile.
"And see if they can somehow track down Longbottom, will you? He is still mucking about, causing no end of trouble!"
"Oh! Yes, of course! I would not know where they would start, though! No one has been able to find him!"
"Neville?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Longbottom has been covertly sabotaging the Carrows for a while now. I think he has even enlisted Peeves on his actions; however, no one has been able to find him in the castle. He disappears down the seventh floor corridor."
Harry and Hermione turned to Minerva with a smile. "Could you take us there first?" Hermione asked.
"Certainly," McGonagall said with a curious look.
The Gryffindors went to the seventh floor and walked down the hall until they came to a tapestry. The group halted, then Harry closed his eyes and walked in front of a portion of wall three times. As Minerva opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, a door came into existence. "There we go," Harry chirped, and opened it.
The Trio plus one entered the room and found a huddled form on a bed, swathed in blankets.
Hermione crept over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Neville? Neville, wake up, it's us," she said softly, gently shaking the boy. "Neville…it's Hermione. Harry and Ron are here too, we've…urk!" she squeaked, her voice cut off by the wand digging into her neck. Neville had bolted upright and brandished his wand quickly.
"Who are you?" Longbottom growled. The friends could not believe their eyes. Gone was the shy, pudgy boy they had known; in his place was a lean man, bearing scars on his face and hands.
"Neville? Oh, Neville…what happened to you?" Hermione asked softly, tears starting to well in her eyes.
"Answer me! Who are you?"
"It's me, Nev… Hermione…and Harry and Ron…Professor McGonagall is here too," she said, raising her hands slowly.
Neville started laughing and digging his wand in harder. "Neville! You're hurting her!" Harry yelled.
"This is not Hermione…it's Polyjuice!"
"She Petrified you first year when you caught us sneaking out of the dorm! I caught your Rememberall when Malfoy threw it during our first flying class. You got a book on aquatic plants from the fake Moody and told me about gillyweed during the Triwizard Tournament…" Harry said frantically, hoping to get the panicked man to release the young witch. It worked.
"Harry?" Neville yelled, his eyes bulging out. "Merlin…Harry! Hermione!" He dropped his wand and wrapped his arms around the now-smiling witch. "Ron! What in Circe's name are you doing back here? Did the Carrows get you? Was it Snape?"
"The Carrows have been gone near a week, Mr. Longbottom," Minerva stated.
"A week? No one told me, damn it!" he said, shaking his head.
"Voldemort got rid of them, and believe it or not, Snape is on our side, kind of…" Harry said, drifting off in confusion.
Neville's eyes narrowed. "No, Mr. Longbottom, they are not under Imperius. I would not believe until I saw and heard the proof for myself. Now, come with us. We are heading to the tower for the night. I think you are far due for a decent bed and some decent food. I'll have the elves bring something up from the kitchens. How have you been eating?"
"Usually I've been having the elves either bring me food here or I grab something from Hogsmeade. I found a tunnel from here to the Hog's Head," Neville said, grabbing his scant belongings. As he rose from his pallet, Hermione stood back and saw more changes the past year had wrought on her old friend. He was clearly several inches taller than he was, and his frame was wiry. The most-telling changes were in his eyes, however. Darker, determined, focused. Neville Longbottom had grown into a man and a warrior.
After grabbing his bag, he strode over and clapped the boys on their shoulders. The three gave each other nods and grim smiles. Turning, he reached out hesitant arms to Hermione. Giving a chuckle, she rushed at him and gave him a signature Hermione Bear Hug. "Ooof! For as skinny as you've gotten, you certainly haven't lost any strength!"
"Shush…want to talk about getting skinny! Look at you!"
"Well, being on the run has that benefit, at least," he said with a sheepish grin.
"At least you were getting Hogwarts and pub food; we were scraping from tins and eating mushrooms!" Ron said, aghast with remembered horror. Harry and Hermione just rolled their eyes.
"Let us be off then," McGonagall said, herding the younger wizards she still saw as her 'cubs' through the door. "Interesting room…however did you find it?"
"The elves here know about it; call it the 'come and go room'. Dobby told me about it in fifth year and the DA used it for training and practice. It becomes whatever you need; you just have to concentrate on that when you walk in front of the wall," Harry said as they walked toward Gryffindor Tower.
The walked the rest of the way in silence. Not for lack of anything to say, but for trying to save what little energy they had. Once they reached the tower's common room, they would be inundated with questions and greetings for a while until they could finally escape for some rest.
The reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, whose painted face expressed shock when she saw who was coming to the tower. McGonagall said "Flibbertigibbet" and waited for the door to open. When the elder witch saw that it remained closed, she rapped on the frame and barked "Open up, now!"
The Fat Lady shook her head and snapped her mouth shut, breaking out of her shock. The door to the Gryffindor common room opened and the five who entered heard the murmuring cease instantly. McGonagall led the way, followed by Neville. The Golden Trio held back for a second so that they could gather their strength.
"Neville!" came a few shouts. Harry stepped into the common room as he saw a blur with red hair throw its arms around Longbottom. "Are you alright, Nev? You didn't get caught by Snape, did you?" Ginny's muffled voice asked.
"No, everything is fine…I was caught by someone else," Neville said, chuckling and turning to look behind his shoulder. Several jaws dropped when Harry, Ron, and Hermione were finally noticed.
Ginny stood in shock as she saw her brother, the boy she fancied herself in love with, and her friend standing there. Tears streamed down her face as she let go of Neville and threw herself at the Golden Trio. Sobs wracked her body as she tried to grab all three of them in a bear hug.
"Wha…what hap…happened?" she choked out. "Why are you here? Did they find you?"
"It's a long story, Gin," Ron said, squeezing his little sister with all of his might. "We'd tell you but we're rather knackered right now…in the morning, though."
"But we are fine," Hermione said, reassuring the younger witch.
Ginny pulled out of her brother's arms and focused on Harry. "Hey, Ginny," he said, with a tired, shy smile. The red-haired girl collapsed against him. Harry gathered the slim girl in his arms and held her gently.
"Did the Carrows find you? Were you caught by Snape? When's the battle?" were shouted at the trio.
"The Carrows were sent to the trolls, Snape actually did catch us, but he's on our side…and I don't think there is going to be any battle. It's all over, hopefully," Harry said in response.
"What?" Ginny shouted, pulling back to look into Harry's face. "What do you mean that greasy git is on our side?"
"Long story short, the entire thing with Dumbledore was a set-up. Dumbledore had asked Snape to be the one to kill him, he was already dying and he didn't want Malfoy to be the one to cast the curse, so he made Snape do it. Snape's been a spy for the Order the whole time." Hermione said as she flopped down on a couch. Now that the witch wasn't running around and dealing with Death Eaters or their leader, her exhaustion was catching up with her. "I think they should just write up a pamphlet so all of us don't have to keep repeating the story," Hemione said with a weak chuckle.
"Dumbledore had Snape kill him?" was heard through the room. Neville sat down next to Hermione with shock on his face.
"It kind of fits…." he said, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"Well, even though he was being his normal, wonderful self whilst he has been Headmaster, he also tried to keep the Carrows off of our backs."
"Tha's bollocks, that is!" yelled Seamus.
"Think about it, mate! More often than not he would take over detentions from them and make us do things like help Hagrid, instead of being whipped or used for cursing practice. Sure, we still had to deal with the Carrows at some point, if Snape had to protect his cover!" Neville shouted back.
"Why are you defending Snape, all of a sudden? You hate the git!" one of the girls asked.
"Exactly. I cannot stand Snape, so why am I sticking up for him? Because it all makes sense; that is why."
"Enough of the yelling…my head's gonna explode…" Ron grunted out as he through an arm over his eyes.
"Hear hear, mate…I'm knackered," Harry said, rubbing his eyes.
"You three…up to bed with you! And the rest…your questions will keep 'til morning. Up to bed now, all of you!" McGonagall ordered, clapping her hands.
"Oh gods… a shower…a real, hot shower…" Hermione mumbled as she dragged her body up the stairs to the girls' dorm.
"Sandwiches…then sleep," came from Ron.
Harry just stood in the common room for a bit longer; looking around at all the tired and gaunt faces. "I don't have all the answers just yet, but I'll tell you what I know tomorrow…sorry, but I'm dead on my feet…"
In the morning, the Golden Trio stumbled into the common room in borrowed clothes; the Hogwarts house elves had whisked the clothes they were wearing away for laundering, as well as all the other clothes Hermione had stored in her bag. Ginny had altered some of her clothes for her friend, and Harry and Ron borrowed some from the other boys.
"Breakfast in the Great Hall," Ron said with a dreamy smile. "I can smell it from here…"
Hermione and Harry just rolled their eyes and followed their friends and housemates down to breakfast. "It was really weird waking up in my old bed…I never thought I'd see the place again," Harry said softly.
"Neither did I," Hermione said, wrapping her arm around her friend's shoulders. "But I certainly didn't miss Lavender and Padma's wailing in the morning over misplaced lip gloss."
"Much better to listen to Ron mumble about shepherd's pie and spiders in his sleep."
"Or you moaning about Ginny…" Hermione whispered, a grin on her face when she saw Harry blush madly.
"Well.. not fair that we didn't get any blackmail material against you. No talking in your sleep…not one embarrassing tidbit."
"Unlike me who not only heard you both mumble every night, but I also know the color of all of your boxer shorts. Green with snitches, Harry? Really?"
"What about Ron's blue ones with lions on them that look like short-eared bunnies!" Harry snickered.
"Very, very true…" the witch responded dryly. "I hope to Merlin that I never have to do boys' washing ever again!"
"What about when you marry Ron? Think he'll do his own laundry, or will he run back to the Burrow?"
"Wipe that cheeky grin off of your face, Harry. If I ever marry, I doubt it will be for quite a while, so whoever it turns out to be, will have plenty of time to learn how to do their own washing."
"Make sure you tell him and Molly that, then. I think she picked out your wedding colors two years ago."
"Molly is a dear, but she can be a bit...overzealous, about some things."
"If Voldie wants to refit the Ministry, he should draft that woman. Even when things are utter chaos, she somehow manages to have everything still work!"
"I wouldn't think that any department would be worse than trying to deal with Fred and George on a bad day," Hermione said, giggling.
Harry nodded, then picked up his pace when he saw Ron waving at them from further down the hall. "Did he sprint to the Great Hall?"
"There's food involved, what do you think?"
"I can sympathize with him this once."
"So can I," Hermione said. "I didn't want to leave bed this morning, I thought I was dreaming of a real mattress."
The Boy-Who-Lived smiled, and hoped that everything that had happened in the past day was not a dream, or a nightmare waiting to happen. As much as he still hated and distrusted Riddle, if the Dark Lord was being genuine...if everything, including the murder of his parents was part of Dumbledore's plotting...then perhaps ending the war and seeing where this "new" Riddle will lead things will be the best thing for the Wizarding world. 'Anything so not one more person will have to die for all of this'.
In the Great Hall, the students at the other tables were curious about the boisterous activity of the Gryffindors. After nearly an entire year of prison-like solemnity, the noise, chatter, and laughter was confusing and unsettling. Furtive glances were sent to the faculty table, to see what their strict and dour Headmaster would do to the Gryffindors. More surprise followed when they noticed that Headmaster Snape was ignoring the commotion and was instead speaking intently with McGonagall.
Just then, the doors opened and the room went still and quiet. Three young, ragged-looking people came into the hall and made their way to the Gryffindor table. Students' jaws dropped, eyes widened, and several rose from their seats to get a better look.
"Oi! What are you lot doing here?" came a demand from the Slytherin table.
"Getting some eggs and rashers before you eat them all, Goyle!" Ron shouted back. The gangly ginger sat down and immediately began heaping food onto a plate. After grabbing a goblet of pumpkin juice, he dug in.
"Merlin! I forgot how good this is...I will definitely have seconds...and thirds...hit the kitchens later..." he mumbled between bites.
"Slow down, Ronald...you'll make yourself ill!" Hermione hissed, as she filled a plate of much smaller portions for herself.
"Pass the tomatoes...thanks," Harry said, his mouth watering at the thought of the juicy, fried fruit.
"It's Harry Potter!" came a scream from the Hufflepuff table.
It was the noise that sparked the avalanche. Within seconds, the trio was surrounded by students of all houses aside from Slytherin. Harry and Hermione stopped eating as they were buffeted and slapped by the students. Ron was undisturbed and kept shoveling food into his mouth between handshakes.
"Enough!" came a commanding voice from the head table. "Everyone will sit at their own tables and finish their meals. Yes, Potter and his sidekicks are currently guests at the school... so you will all have the opportunity to fawn over them at some point. Now, quiet!"
Ron snorted and shot a glare at Snape. Harry just gave the head table a sheepish look and went back to eating. Hermione was already thinking of what sections of the library may hold any information on everything that had been revealed to them. She had a feeling that little would be there, unfortunately. She would have to see if she'd be able to get into the Headmaster's office library or the one back at Grimmauld place. Chewing her lip, she turned to Harry.
"Do you know if your parents had a library?"
"I wouldn't have a clue, 'Mione. I have no memories of their house," he said sadly. "Why do you ask?"
"Just a feeling I have... that you and You-Know-Who may have something in common. Not only did Dumbledore set up Riddle...but he did the same thing to you and your family. There has to be something about the both of you. Most old families have libraries and records...things like that. Look at the Malfoy's...I would bet that your father had something similar, as the Potters are an old family. It would be worth checking out if its still there."
"I doubt it would still be there. Remember what the house looked like? It was a gutted ruin."
"Most old books are warded heavily to protect them from damage. They still could be there."
"I guess we could check...if we're allowed to, that is," Harry muttered, shooting a look at Snape.
"I'll ask him if I can go through the Restricted Section whilst we're here...and see if there's anywhere else I can get access to. I think Dumbledore may have had something in his office, or if it was about old magic, perhaps there's something at Grimmauld Place too."
"You're already getting into 'research mode', aren't you?" Harry asked with a fond smile.
"I feel odd about doing anything that will help him, but it involves you too…so it's something I have to do," she said with determination.
Harry was struck by the loyalty the girl sitting next to him had always shown. It humbled him, and saddened him, because he realized that he rarely did anything to return the favor. "You really are wonderful…you know that?"
"What?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Seriously…you are the truest friend someone could have. I just…I can't thank you enough for always sticking by me…and now you're going head-first into all of this, for me. "
"Well, not just for you, so watch the ego," Hermione said, laughing.
"I know…I know…throwing a puzzle in front of you is like putting gold before a niffler," Harry said with a smile.
"Or food before Ron!" Turning, both friends watched as the ginger started in on his second plate. Laughing and shaking their heads, they returned to their breakfasts, anxious for the night ahead.
