Chapter 4
The True Story Told
Amazed that the castle had been repaired so easily several students,teachers, residence of hogsmeade and family members were looking at Harry in surprise some if it were possible were looking at him with more respect and admiration then ever before. Was it possible that a seventeen year old young wizard who had just defeated Lord Voldemort the most dangerous dark wizard since the days of Gellert Grünewald's days of terror and who had just repaired the damage caused to Hogwarts castle with one simple spell could be an as great of a wizard if not greater then Albus Dumbledore. A moment later all of the Hogwarts Professors step forward with Mcgonagall at the front and raised their wands into the air as the students watched, a second later Professor Mcgonagall said "Periculum" a red spark shot from the end of her wand into the air and with a pop separated into a dozen sparks before slowly fading. One by one each Professor repeated the spell entertaining the students with a firework style display towards the end each professor cast the spell at the same time with effect of one big popping sound, to finish they all waved there wands in unison creating a fiery pattern in the air which formed the Hogwarts coat of arms with the large letter H in the middle. It hung over the castle shining brightly for several long minutes before fading away. Professor Mcgonagall then turned to the students and the rest of the party standing by the lake and said "If you could all please make your way back up to the castle and into the great hall lunch will be served shortly". As the partly begun to move it's way back up to the castle. Professor Mcgonagall made her way over to Harry Ron and Hermione.
"After lunch myself and Kingsley need to see you three in my office to discuss the mission that you have been on over the past year"
Harry knew that this moment was coming he thought "well the soon I get this done the better" He looked up and said "sure Professor" Ginny who was with the group had her head down thinking that she would once again be left behind but Harry noticed this and seemed to read her mind he added "Professor I would like to have some other people there" Mcgonagall looked at him in surprise as Harry begun to to name names "I would like to have the Weasleys there Arthur, Molly Bill, Charlie, Percy, George and Ginny" he gave Ginny's hand a little squeeze as he said her name before continuing "I would also like Andromeda Tonks, Neville and Luna to be there" Mcgonagall looked at Harry and started to say that she didn't think it was a good idea when Harry said "Professor both the Weasley's and Andromeda Tonks have lost loved ones they have a right to know why as for Neville and Luna they have been by my side for the past few years at the ministry and defending Hogwarts this year they've earned the right to hear the story as for Ginny I've had to keep her in the dark since Dumbledore's funeral"
Professor Mcgonagall looked at Harry, thinking for a moment she said "Very well I shall make the arrangements" she turned and then headed back up to the castle along with Ron and Hermione.
After they were out of sight Ginny flung her arms round Harry and hugged him "Thank You so much Harry" Harry smiled down at her and said "Your welcome Gin you of all people deserve to know where I've been and what I've done from know on you will now everything to do with me" Ginny smiled and Leaned into Harry who also leaned forward and they shared a long sweet but passionate kiss, after breaking away from each other they walked arm in arm back up to the castle.
Harry and Ginny walked into the great hall and made their way over to the Gryffindor were the rest of the Weasley family were sitting with Hermione. Despite the 4 long house tables being in there correct positions in the hall no one was sitting according to house Harry saw people going from table to table talking to friends an family they then noticed that not one Slytherin could be seen and that there table mostly had the family members round it, had the down fall of Voldemort also resulted in the down fall of Slytherin house Harry gave a small laugh at the thought, Ginny kissed Harry's cheek then went over to join her family as Harry studied the long table at the back of hall. The staff table had all of the teaches and Hogsmeade house an shop owners scattered here and there Harry realised that the despite looking thee same size ever table had been magically expanded to accommodated the extra number of people in the room Professor Mcgonagall was sitting in the middle of the table in the Golden Chair that had for so long belonged to Dumbledore and last year belonged to Snape. As Harry thought about Snape he realised he needed to clear his name with the he Order and Ministry. Harry may not have ever liked Snape but after seeing first hand the love he had for his mother and the sacrifice he had made and the danger that he had put himself in to take down Voldemort from the inside he could not let him be remembered as Dumbedore's killer and death eater. Harry sighed knowing he was in for a long explanation later he made his way to the end of the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ginny ready for lunch.
Harry was quiet during lunch thinking about what he was going to do later, Luna came over to their table and sat with them as Neville too came over. As Lunch went on Ginny Neville and Luna began to talk about the events that had taken place at Hogwarts how they had all been victim to the Cruciatus Curse by the Carrows for information on Harry how Ginny had been singled out for being Harry's girlfriend, they also spoke of breaking into the heads office. Harry felt awful he had tried to protect Ginny by breaking things off between them last year at the end of Dumbledore's funeral but had he really thought that Hogwarts would be safe, safer than his mission but the safe place it had been for so many years no he didn't. Half way though lunch Andromeda Tonks arrived after being contacted by Mcgonagall Teddy was being looked after by a neighbor. A few owls came into the hall with letters one flew over to Harry and dropped a copy of the daily prophet which one Harry looked at it he saw a picture of himself beneath the heading HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED DESTROYED WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BY WHO LIVED?
Harry read the article was short and for once that Harry could remember it was actually not bad, it read:
AT LONG LAST AFTER YEARS OF TERROR THE WIZARDING COMMUNITY IS ONCE AGAIN SAFE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED HAS FINALLY BEEN DEFEATED AFTER A LONG FINALLY BATTLE AT HOGWARTS HARRY POTTER THE BOY WHO LIVED WAS ABLE TO DEFEAT THE DARKEST WIZARD TO HAVE EVER. AFTER GOING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR MOST OF THE PAST YEAR AND A BREAK INTO THE WIZARDING BANK GRINGOTTS HARRY POTTER ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS RON WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER CAME TO HOGWARTS IN SEARCH OF THE FINALLY ITEM THAT IT WAS SAID THAT THE TRIO HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR. THE EXACT DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED ARE UNCLEAR ALL THAT IS KNOWN IS THAT HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED EMERGED FROM THE FOREST CLAIMING THAT HARRY WAS DEAD BUT AFTER A CONFRONTATION THE BATTLE BROKE OUT AGAIN LEADING INTO A FINAL BATTLE IN THE GREAT HALL OF HOGWARTS. MOST OF THE DEATH EATERS WERE CAUGHT AFTER THE FALL OF HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED SEVERAL MINISTRY OFFICIALS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN DEATH EATER ACTIVITY HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING AND SOME DEATH EATERS STILL REMAIN AT LARGE
HARRY POTTER HAS SO FAR BEEN UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
There was also another article on the second page with the heading
KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT NAMED AS PERMANENT MINISTER OF MAGIC
JUST HOURS AFTER THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS MINISTRY AUROR KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT WAS NAMED AS ACTING MINISTER OF MAGIC NOW JUST 2 DAYS AFTER THE FINALLY THE WIZENGAMOT DECIDED TO OFFER KINGSLEY THE THE JOB PERMANENTLY WHICH HE ACCEPTED EARLIER THIS MORNING. OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MINISTRY PRAISE THE APPOINTMENT FORMER MINSTER OF MAGIC CORNELIUS FUDGE WHO S IN LINE TO BECOME THE NEW SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY TO THE MINISTER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MAN BETTER FOR THE TOP JOB AT THE MINISTRY AND WISHES HIM ALL THE SUCCESS IN HIS KNEW POSITION.
THE MINISTRY WAS LEFT TO FALL INTO RUIN AFTER HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED AND HIS DEATH EATERS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF FORMER MINISTER RUFUS SCRIMGEOUR THE QUESTION KNOW IS CAN MINISTER SHACKLEBOLT REBUILD THE MINISTRY AND THE WHOLE WHOLE WIZARDING WORLD
After lunch Professor Mcgonagall stood up at the podium to address the hall Harry looked up and thought it was almost like watching Dumbledore up there again as the new Hogwarts headmistress began to speak.
"Today is a day of mixed feelings we have lot family and friends and have sacrificed so much" Mcgonagall stopped talking for a moment as there was a steady run of sniffs from people in the hall holding in tears as they remembered the lost
"In 2 days time there will be a memorial service held here at Hogwarts" again another slight pause
"On a different yet equally important subject due to these events the school will be closed for the rest of the term the ministry will be organising OWL and NEWT exams for those of you who wise to sit them otherwise students will be able to resit these exams next year when the school reopens on September 1st" there was a huge applause at this statement
"Also as many of you may have been able to tell there are no Slytherin students in the hall" more loud applause "However this does not that Slytherin house is being disbanded this school was founded with 4 houses and despite everything hat has happened we will continue to respect that" just then Kingsley stood up and move over to the podium holding a few small boxes
"I would now like to hand you over to the new Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt" there was applause across the hall but it was loudest of all from the Gryffindor table were all the serving members of the Order of the Phoenix sat along with Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and the rest of the house
Professor Mcgonagall stepped down from the podium and Kingsley stepped up holding 6 small boxes in his hand. He spoke in his loud deep voice
"Today I would like to wish my deepest condolence's to the friends and family of those who lost their lives at the battle that took place here a few days ago" a moment silence fell
"We will honour there memories at the memorial service but know I would like to honour 6 individuals who have displayed courage far be hound there years" a mummer of interest break through the hall
"For standing up for the rights of all young Wizards and Witches and defending Hogwarts from the control of Lord Voldemort and the death eaters would like to award the Order of Merlin second class to Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley" applause broke out as Luna Neville and Ginny stood and walked up to to the podium. They were award a scroll of parchment and a box with a silver medal inside with the words ORDER OF MERLIN SECOND CLASS on them
"Second for showing extreme bravery and courage over the past year whilst hunting down and ultimately defeating Lord Voldemort I have great pleasure in awarding the Order of Merlin First class to Ron Weasley Hermione Granger and Harry Potter" the hall nearly exploded as everyone was one their feet for the golden trio even the teachers stood and applauded. like the others Ron Hermione and Harry were awarded with a scroll of parchment and a medal except there's was gold with the words ORDER OF MERLIN FIRST CLASS
10 minutes later everyone was dismissed from the hall the residence of Hogsmeade went back to the village whilst the rest of the castle went to there houses expect everyone who was heading up to the seventh floor and Mcgonagall's new headmistress office. Harry stayed slightly behind the rest of them with Ginny he wanted a word with her before the meeting.
"Ginny I know that I promised that you could come to the meeting and hear everything bu... Harry was interrupted by Ginny who had a fierce look on her face
"DON'T YOU DARE DO THIS TO ME HARRY NOT KNOW"
"Do what"
"DON'T YOU DARE CHANGE YOUR MIND DON'T PUSH ME AWAY AGAIN I WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND AGAIN" Harry suddenly realised what she was thinking and he quickly corrected her
"Oh no Ginny that is not what I was going to say" Harry quickly put his arm round her to reassure her that he was not going leave her behind "I want you to know but I feel like I should warn you some of this may be slightly difficult for you to hear so just be ready"
"Harry i'm a strong minded person I think I can manage this I know that it may be bad but for us to have a relationship I need to know these things about you"
"I know you are Ginny and you will I love you" they sheared a sweet kiss and Ginny said "I love you too. They made there way up the hall and came up to the stone gargoyle that held the entrance to the office where everyone was waiting.
Professor Mcgonagall stepped forward and said the password "Harry Potter" Harry looked at hear in surprise Mcgonagall was so proud of him she had used his name as the password to her office. The stone gargoyle jumped aside and one by one they moved up the moving staircase behind the wall Harry and Ginny came to the door together hand in hand Harry took a deep breath and lead the way into the office ready to tell the story of the past several years not just little bits here and there but the full and true story.
Once everyone was gathered in the office Mcgonagall waved her wand and a large part of the office was transformed into a living area with a coffee table and sofas and comfortable arm chairs round it. She waved her wand again and a tray appeared on the coffee table with a selection of hot and cold drinks on it Tea,Coffee Hot Chocolate butterbeer and a large jug of pumpkin juice. Finally after a third a final wave of the wand another tray appeared with various snacks sandwiches pumpkin pasties biscuits chocolate frogs and brownies.
"I realise we may be here for a while sit down and let's begin"
everyone moved to the newly created area sat down and helped themselves to a drink and snack. Kingsley and Mcgonagall remained standing for a while and spoke "Harry we would like to know exactly what you have been doing with Ron and Hermione over the past year. Mcgonagall said as she sat in the golden chair
Harry felt a knot in his stomach seeing someone else other than Dumbledore sit in the chair.
"We will need to give another statement to the press in the coming days" Kingsley said as he took his seat. Harry nodded his agreement of this statement he knew that he would not be able to avoid he press forever but there were elements of the story that he did not want out in the public which he spoke.
"I understand that I will not be able to avoid the press Kingsley but there are elements that I don't want out in the public" Ron and Hermione nodded there agreement to what Harry had said
"Understandable Harry after this meeting I will decide what too realise to the press and send you an owl for your approval before I do" Kingsley stated
"So let's begin"
Harry took a deep breath and a swig of his Ice cold pumpkin juice before starting to speak this was going to take a few hours
"I suppose in order for of this to make sense I need to go back 2 years to the battle in he department of mysterious I know that you were all guarding a prophecy made about me and Voldemort. After I got back I heard what it said and it sealed my destiny" Harry took out his wand and put the tip on his temple withdrawing the memory of what the prophecy Harry then waved his wand the so that the wording of the memory could be heard by everyone in the room
"This is what it said" Harry waved his wand again and they all heard the voice of Professor Sybill Trelawney speak
"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES... BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES... AND THE DARK LORD WILL MAKE HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT... AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES... THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES..."
The memory faded away and Harry continued "So I found out that would have to be the one to finish him" Ginny gasped she had never known the full story of there adventure in the department of mysterious.
Harry then moved on to talk about when Dumbledore had picked him up from the Dudley's the summer before his sixth year and that just before leaving him he had requested that Harry have private lessons wit him that year. As everyone except Ron and Hermione looked surprised and amazed Harry glanced up at the portrait of Dumbledore he was wake in his frame as were the other former heads and gave Harry an encouraging nodded and smile before he continued to speak.
"The purpose of my lessons with Dumbledore were to look at the life of Tom Riddle and see how he grew up to become Voldemort through the memories of people that knew him. Dumbledore was doing this to show me how he took great interest in certain places and objects with great magical meaning" Kingsley and Mcgonagall looked confused then said
"but why would Dumbledore need to show you all of this"
"Well you see one of the memories was from Professor Slughorn during sixth yea here due to the events following the night of the memory Slughorn had tried to modify his own memory before I was able to get my hands on the true memory" Mcgonagall and Kingsley along with the rest of the room looked interested
"The memory showed Tom ask Slughorn what horcrux's were and Slughorn telling him about them" Mcgonagall clapped her hand over her mouth as Kingsley's eyes widened. Being an auror for a number of years Kingsley would know what they were and Mcgonagall had looked into all areas of magic
After several moments of silence were it seemed that nothing was going to be explained a few people in the room asked "sorry but what is a Horcrux" Kingsley turned to the room at large to answer the question
"A Horcrux is the darkest form of all magic only a truly dark wizard would dare create one I assume Voldemort created one then Harry"
"actually he made 7" Kingsley's eyes went if possible even wider" then getting a little frustrated Ginny asked " but what are they
"A Horcrux is when a person has split there soul and stored it inside an object and whilst it exists that person can not be killed it explain's why Voldemort wasn't killed all those yeas ago"
There was a loud gasp and a moment silence before everyone start to listen again. Harry went on to explain that Dumbledore had been tracking them down or attempting to for most of that year he talked about how the injury to his hand and come from destroying. Ron and Hermione joined in as they moved on to talk about Dumbledore's will and going to Grimmauld Place.
They talked about the fake Horcrux finding out were the real one was and there break in to the ministry of magic which Kingsley made a mental note of to fix. After they had talked about getting there hands on the Horcrux they talked about not being able to destroy it and how frustrations begun to grow. At this point Harry without thinking talked about his argument with Ron and how he had walked out on him and Hermione.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN RON WALKED OUT ON YOU" Ginny suddenly yelled. Harry realised his mistake and tried to fix it but before he or anyone else could do anything there was a flash of yellow light and for the second time in a couple of hours Ron was thrown across the room by one of Ginny's more powerful bat bogey hexes
"MISS WEASLEY CONTROL YOURSELF WHILST IN MY OFFICE OR I WILL HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE" Mcgonagall shouted. Ginny still had her wand out and the rest of the Weasley children were looking nervous having been on the receiving end of that hex at least once.
"Enough of this Ginny calm down and lower your wand" Mr Weasley said, Ginny lowered her wand and sat again next to Harry. Mr Weasley waved his wand and the bats round Ron vanished and he came back to the others Kingsley laughed and said "You need to be careful round this one Harry" there was a small laugh round the room Harry smiled and Ron gave a disgusted look.
After the tension returned back to normal Ron remained quiet for a while as Harry and Hermione talked about there trip to Godric's Hallow. Ron joined back in and described how he had been able to use the deluminator to find them and that he had seen Harry walking round the forest of dean. Harry and Ron talked about finding the sword of Gryffindor and how Ron had used it to destroy he Horcrux. Hermione joined back in to talk about there visit to the Lovegood's and the deathly hallows. From there they talked about there capture along with the torture that followed at Malfoy Manor. Harry struggled again talking about how Doddy had come to there rescue and died afterwards. they mentioned how Belatrix was panicked when see thought they had been inside her vault at Gringotts and how they had thought there might be a Horcrux in there and talked about breaking in there and escape. They finished with a brief summary of how they had ended up back at Hogwarts and gotten into the castle with a little help from Aberforth Dumbledore.
Mcgonagall said weakly "you three have done more then we could have ever have expected of you I don't think that I have ever been more proud of any sett of students who have walk though this castle along with the order of merlin's that you have received today you thee along with Miss Weasley Mr Longbottom and Miss Lovegood will receive special awards for survives to the school"
"Rightfully deserved commented Kingsley I must be going soon but before I do the last thing I would like to know is what were the Horcrux's
Harry named each one and where they were hidden
"1 was the diary used to open the Chamber Of Secrets" Ginny went pale " You mean the diary Malfoy's father put in my Cauldron before my first year" Harry put an arm round her as she begun to shudder "It's OK Gin I destroyed it when I saved you" Ginny calmed and relaxed into Harry's arm
"2 was a ring that belonged to his grandfather it was also the Resurrection Stone it was hidden in his Grandfathers old house"Dumbledore destroyed that's how he injured his hand"
"3 was a locked that belonged to Salazar Slytherin it was hidden in a cave he tortured some people from his orphanage this is the one that we were gong after the night Dumbledore died Ron destroyed it like I said earlier"
"4 was a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff this one was hidden in Gringotts Hermione destroyed that one"
"5 was the lost diadem of Ravenclaw that he hid here after trying to get a job I destroyed it during the battle"
"6 was me the night he tried to kill me par of his soul latched itself onto me Voldemort himself destroyed this one when I went into the forest that's why I had to pretend to be dead"
"7 was his pet snake which he always kept close by Neville destroyed this one as you know by killing the snake"
Everyone was silent for a moment before Kingsley spoke "Well i'll be off unless there is anything else" Harry who knew this his chance spoke
"Actually there is more thing it's about Snape he was not a Death Eater he was undercover and he didn't kill Dumbledore it was arranged"
"Can you prove any of this Harry"
"Yes" Harry waved his wand and the pensive came towards them he felt in his pocket for the flask of Snape's memories and showed them to the group.
Several minutes later they were back in the office Mcgonagall looked at the portrait behind her desk and ask "Is this all true Albus"
the portrait nodded and said "yes Minerva"
"well it seems that we have all misjudged Severus"
"Indeed Kingsley agreed well I must be off Percy would you join me" Percy got up and went over to join Kingsley they used the floo network to go back to the ministry together
Mcgonagall stood up and waved her wand clearing all the sofa's chairs tables and snacks "The rest of you are dismissed" "everyone started to file out and as Harry walked out he heard Mcgonagall say "Andromeda could I have a word"
Hours later in the Gryffindor common room Harry and Ginny wee along Harry sitting on a couch in front of the fire Ginny lying down on the same couch resting her head on Harry's knee Harry was running his fingers through Ginny's hair as they spoke to each other
"I can't believe that you had to go though all of that Ginny said why didn't you tell me
"I couldn't Gin I couldn't bring myself to put you in that situation" There was a moment silence between the two
"I'm sorry Ginny" Harry said all of a sudden. Ginny looked confused for a moment I thought I could protect you by breaking up last year but nowhere was safe"
"Harry I knew the risks of what could possibly happen by getting involved with you but I did it anyway I can't live without you Harry it was you even during my time with my Michael and Dean it was always you"
Harry took a deep breath then said "Why did it take me so long to realise my feelings for you" Ginny giggled as Harry learned down and kissed the top of her head she then turned her head and pressed her lips against Harry's. Harry had no idea what his future would hold but he knew that he wanted Ginny to be his shining light in it. After talking for a few more minutes they went up to there dorms both having the best sleep they'd had all year dreaming about nothing but each other.
A/N Please review this Chapter and the story as a whole so far