Chapter 9: Insurance
Playroom; Dumbledore's estate
Toys were scattered all around the playfully-colour playroom. Girls and boys were separated in their own areas with their toy brooms and magic cards. Ginny and Ron rushed into the room with excitement and glee.
"Hey everyone! I went to the Order meeting today!" Ron shouted with glee as he puffed out his chest in pride. The boys and girls stopped playing with their own toys and books before they all ran to huddle around her brother and patted his back with pride. Ginny giggled as Ron talked about the meeting to the other children in the playroom.
After Ron spoke about the event, Joseph MacPhail, a bulky youth, then jeered, "Well you're lucky because Mrs. Weasley would never let you go on a raid anyways."
"You take that back, you pleb!" Ron yelled.
Ginny watched as Ron tried to ram Joseph into the floor and started hitting him. Both were getting bruises from punching each other. No one was "Ron! Stop!" Ginny yelled as she rushed in to break up the fight before anyone could get severely hurt. The boys and girls were cheering and whistling without a care. No one interested in trying to stop the fight. She knew that Ron was envious of their brothers for going on raids, but this wasn't the way to do things.
"Break it up, you two!" Ginny shouted as she used her mom's classic move of pulling Ron's ear away from the fight
After She pulled Ron out of the fight, Ron heaved for oxygen before complaining, "Why did you do that?! He was wrong!"
Ginny replied haughtily, "Mom would have grounded you just the same. You're lucky that the grown-ups aren't here to see this."
"Listen to your sister! She has more brains than you anyways." Joseph croaked out while rubbing his bruises. The other boys helped him up.
"Fuck off, you pleb!" Ron shouted before pushing Ginny away. "I don't need you, Ginny!"
Ginny stood still before whispering, "Fine. It's none of my business anyways if you're in trouble."
She pressed her hands to cover her now red face.
Ron stomps his feet against the wooden floor with vigour. "I'm going to my room."
Ron ran away desperately to their room.
Ginny took a moment to calm down and sigh before chasing after the teary-eyed boy to their room. Dumbledore was kind enough to let them stay at his estate since the Weasley family had fled their home country. Mom and Dad couldn't ask him more than four rooms for them to share since there were many refugees that came with them. She followed the silhouette of Ron's baggy robes down the narrow hallway.
When she had reached their room, Ron had slammed the door in front of her face.
"Come on, Ron." Ginny yelled against the door. She punched the door with exasperation before saying, "I'm sorry, Ron. I shouldn't have interfered. I thought you were going to get really hurt."
She hear quiet crying behind the door and a whisper of "I'm sorry". The faint click of the door lock unlocking echoed before her fiery red haired brother appeared.
No words were said as they hugged their issues out.
After a few minutes of silence, Ginny spoke, "You know Mom is worried about you."
"Tell me something I don't know already." Ron retorted cheekily. "Well, we're almost adults anyways. I'm already 17 and you're almost there as well. Why can't we help out?"
"After Bill got bitten by that insane werewolf, Fenrir, she's been mothering everyone. Dad wouldn't let us go on raids anyways. We're the youngest after all." Ginny replied with caution.
Ron dejectedly sighed before saying, ""It's not that simple, Ginny. You don't understand. I'm nothing compared to Bill, Charlie and the twins. They contributed so much and I haven't done anything."
His head dipped down with dejection.
Ginny patted his shoulder for comfort. She then said, "We can go on a raid. No one will notice that we'll be gone since everyone is too busy with the new plans."
"That'll show Joseph." Ron grinned with glee. "We can catch a ride with the portkey group since they're all in masks and cloaks. We'll blend in easily!"
Ginny touched her chin before answering hastily, "Let's do it! Let's go on a raid together!"
Morning rolls in with a vicious blanket of fog. As the black shadows of crows and owls flew to their separate destinations, one could barely see the tips of the astronomy tower above the smoky peaks. The rooster shrieks as the orange sun rises over the horizon. Haedus wakes with a sudden shudder. He blinks quickly before rubbing his eyes. His chest heavies with sweat from the nightmare. Brief flashbacks whizzed through his mind.
Hands tied.
Mouth shut.
The smell of fear.
Haedus' left hand desperately reaches the journal on his pseudo-sidetable or trunk. He opens Morgana Le Fey's journal to see the sly smirk on the black magician.
He relaxes as Morgana greets him, "My heir, Good Morning."
"Good Morning to you, Lady Morgana. Are we going to practice spells again?" Haedus asked as he pretended to stifle a yawn with his hand. He was used to these night terrors and the lack of sleep that comes with.
"No, you should remember to focus on your schooling. My heir must not have the commoners' idiocy. We will practice on the 'morrow." Lady Le Fey tut-tutted .
"Of course, madam." Haedus replies with a sigh before he opens his study notes. He wouldn't be able to sleep again anyways.
I should better start reviewing his notes for Potions before Professor Slughorn ask me about all the bloody questions since I'm bloody James Potter's son. He cursed his father briefly.
"Be silent!" Headmaster Snape boomed with his hands clasped. As the previously chatty students fell quiet, Headmaster Snape had indicated to one of the staff to open a secret entrance to the school for special guests. A relatively tall brown-haired boy walked with pureblood grace to the head table.
All of the professors bowed deeply in respect while Headmaster Snape introduced the new student: "Introducing his highness, Prince Marvolo Tommen Slytherin – first of his name."
Many female and a few male students eyed the boy with interest. Haedus rolled his eyes at the idiots who thought they would be able to win the prince's heart and raise their family's class status. Don't tempt the sleeping dragon. The dark lord would test anyone who tempted his heir in such a manner. The prince would most likely end up as a political pawn for international relations, if the need arises.
Headmaster Snape then put the Sorting Hat on Prince Marvolo. The Sorting Hat quickly yelled, "Slytherin!"
Next to Haedus, Hermione muttered under her breath, "Not surprising at all."
Prince Marvolo then walked quickly towards the Slytherin table and sat next to Haedus. The emerald-eyed boy avoided grimacing at the notion of catering to the prince.
"Hello, my name is Marvolo. But you can call me Tom." The prince said nervously towards Haedus with his hand opened for a handshake – a intimate gesture for close ties between pureblood families. He heard that the muggles previously used this gesture in casual relations.
"Haedus Potter." Haedus stated before shaking his hand. He wouldn't be rude to the prince – just indifferent. His father is already in good favour with the Dark Lord, but it was better to be allies with future heirs to the throne.
Hermione quickly rushed to save Haedus from potential backlash, "Haedus is a bit shy towards outsiders."
Haedus glared at Hermione. She still needed to learn the subtle dance of pureblood etiquette. Sometimes she could be a little dense towards social customs.
"Haha! I am the same way. I just thought Haedus would be a nice friend since our fathers know each other." Tom said sheepishly. His gray orbs avert slightly as his face flushed with pink. "Mind if I tag along with you two?"
Haedus grimaced and nodded before he went back to finish his light breakfast.
Hermione took care of the newly formed trio's class schedule and passed both of their schedules from the bumbling Professor Slughorn. She quickly shooed off the greedy professor with lame excuses.
"Look! You two have the same class blocks. Just remember that your classes are all on the third floor." Hermione said blissfully. "I'll be sharing classes with the 7th years, but I'll be fine with Daphne and Pansy."
Haedus frowned and said, "Let's go, Tom. We don't want to be late for class."
"Okay!" Tom exclaimed with a puppy-like smile as he followed Haedus. Haedus' shadow enveloped the two ominously as they proceeded to class.
Hermione walks nervously to her first class, Pureblood Etiquette and decorum class with Professor Narcissa Malfoy. She knew Lady Malfoy was nice, but strict. However, she feared the other students in class.
She quickly took a seat at the front of the class to avoid chatty classmates.
"Outta the way, you lowlife." A large goliath hissed as he deliberately push her shoulder. Hermione took a good look at his dull and orge-like face. The goliath sneered, "You should respect your betters. Name's Albert Lestrange. I'll be running this show."
Hermione put her hands into fists in rage. She hated bullies.
She calmed down before mimicking Willow's words, "You lack respect. Let me teach it to you."
She then used her 12 inch vine wand with dragon- heartstring core to use a relatively mild dark spell, the Lancing curse. The spell was used in medieval magical asylums to purge magical poisons, but in this instant, it was used to purge idiocy.
The Lestrange boy shriek with horror as his arm pulsed with small burrowing holes. The other students giggled at the Lestrange boy's demise. Obviously, someone needed to take him down a peg or two.
Hearing the girlish screams, Lady Malfoy entered the room with a frown upon her brow. Noticing Lestrange's obvious cursed state, she then casted the reversal spell.
"It appears that Mr. Reek here has a fond sense of fooling himself in front of his betters." Lady Malfoy stated harshly.
"My name is Lestrange!" The dunce uttered.
"You will not speak to your professor like that. One hour of detention with Mistress Carrow." Lady Malfoy reprimanded. "I do hope you avoid embarrassing yourself as this class will teach you to do so. My brother-in-law has not told me about any illegitimate spawn he produced. Please refrain from using your better's surname."
"And five points to Slytherin for the excellent demonstration of the lancing curse, Hermione." Lady Malfoy smirked at the now blushing Hermione. She hated half-bloods with a passion and didn't hesitate to pull down the filth into their proper place.
"Now everyone, please sort yourselves according to blood status. It will be easier to teach. Vassals to the left, Purebloods to the right and half-bloods in the center."
The purebloods and some of the vassals walked with hubris. As the class separated, Hermione heard booing and jeering at the half-bloods. Now, everyone knew who the outsiders were. The small group shuffled awkwardly towards the center. Hermione pitied most of them. But they were born lucky already. Most would have been sent to the mines or become labourers. Instead, they had a chance to become middle-class citizens – better than their own kind. However, they would be treated the same in school as they would be if they were in society.
"Vassals and purebloods, please introduce yourselves. You will be marked on your posture, hand gestures and speaking abilities. The half-bloods will partaking in economic and basic lessons to help their future lords."
A mildly chubby boy came up to greet Hermione with a kiss on her hand, "Neville Longbottom of the house, Hufflepuff and Longbottom."
"A pleasure, my name is Hermione." The timid brunette said while curtsying.
"I'm surprised that you haven't picked a surname yet. Vassals are allowed to be a minor house since you are serving as named servants of an ancient and noble house. Crabbe and Goyle earned their keep by becoming the Malfoy bodyguards."
The other purebloods sneered as he explained their secrets. Pansy rushed to talk to Hermione and steered her away from Longbottom.
"You can't just talk to Longbottom!" The raven haired heiress whispered fiercely. "Lady Lestrange will have your head. He's the ward of the Lestranges. Longbottoms were known traitors to the dark kingdom."
"But he seems so nice…" Hermione murmured dejectedly. She could see why it was frowned upon to talk to families who forsaken the light cause. Some families even would out light spies to look apart of the dark community. She cast a glance to the now solemn boy and thought, Maybe she should think twice about befriending the friendly boy…
It was their third class block of the day, Transfiguration.
"Welcome to First year transfiguration!" Professor Regulus Black said boldly. He was a tall dashing man with a respectable reputation. He married Agatha Meres, a wealthy middle-class French pureblood, and houses his wayward older brother, Lord Sirus Black in the Black ancestral home. Haedus had visited Uncle Regulus' home often because his grandmother was a Black. Although Lord Black hated his father, Uncle Regulus cherished the bond between the Potter and Black household. And so next to Headboy Malfoy, he was considered one of the Black Heirs since the elder Black was Lord black in only name and Uncle Regulus was interested in his blood studies than producing a heir (A/N: bloodborne reference).
Uncle Regulus gave a sly wink towards the Potter heir while giving the brief introduction to the class, "And so to demonstrate, I'll turn this table in – An octopus!"
Instantly, he had turned his desk into a slimy sea creature. Haedus almost forgot that his uncle was almost as good as a prankster similar to what he had heard of Lord Black. However, Lord Black was more demure nowadays.
"Hey Haedus." A soft tenor voice spoken into his ear.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder and flinched involuntarily. He jerked his head just to face his new friend, Prince Marvolo or as the prince calls himself, "Tom". Their faces seemed to mirror each other as both were startled by his reaction.
"I'm so sorry." Prince Marvolo whispered. He looked so out of place with ordinary school robes. To think someone like him saw a light in a hateful person like myself… Haedus pondered.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to frighten you." The prince said earnestly. "I'm not used to large crowds. Father doesn't let me out often."
"It didn't seem like that. You seems fine in the great hall." Haedus retorted doubtfully. He knew that Headboy Malfoy and the other older students saw him as a way to get his father's approval.
"It is okay if you don't trust me." Marvolo spoke softly before returning to his classwork.
The students stopped and turned their heads like fawns as they heard a strange noise outside. The demure classroom shook violently for several seconds. And then the magical sirens from the wards went off.
"Get down!" Tom yelled quickly as he pulled Haedus down under their desks.
And more strange noises continued the train of destruction. Rocks fell down from the ceiling and large planks of wood gave way to the ground. The planks crushed some students like bugs and trapped them to the unfolding turmoil.
When the noises finally stopped, Tom and Haedus looked up. Professor Black was safe and started to help the trapped students.
"Everyone remain calm." Professor Black bellowed seriously. "Follow me into dungeons. This is an evacuation."
He beckoned the class to move. But it was too late. A huge blast was heard from a distance and another even closer towards the schools boomed.
Whoosh!
A black object struck the window. Fiery orange flames and large debris sprung from the fallen wall as Professor Black and some of the nearby students were caught in the explosion.
The soot covered the air like a decaying fog.
Haedus coughed loudly and inhaled the smell of burnt flesh and charred bones. He knew that most of the students were dead by the blast. He peeked at his surroundings from the half charred desk. A large part of the classroom was exposed to the cold sky. He paled as he glimpsed white cloaked wizards on brooms heading towards the school from a distance.
"Keep moving! Hogwarts still stands!" Tom whispered and crawled against the ground towards the classroom door. Haedus nodded and started crawling with Tom as the brown-haired boy covered him with his arm.
"It's okay." Tom reassured. "We're make it to the dungeons. I know a shortcut."
For first time, Haedus found himself trusting another with his life. After making sure that the pathway to the door was clear, they crawled quickly towards safety.
They stopped when they saw the staircase to the lower levels were charred to the core. No one would be entering or leaving this floor.
"We'll have to go to the Room of Requirements." Tom said hoarsely as he clutched Haedus' hand which pulled the two into a dash for the room in question.
Black smoke billowed against the cold September wind. The old castle had caved in by muggle bombs. The ministry was prepared for magical raids but not of the muggle sort. With this swift and efficient strategy, the rebels had started their first raid against the dark republic. The ward sirens blared with an unending shriek as scurrying footsteps hurried down the bare stairs.
Tap tap tap!
The black shoes clapped quickly down the stairs. They heard windows shatter thunderously as the attackers entered Hogwarts.
Waah! Some of the students started crying loudly. Their friends signaled them to be quiet and hugged the crying ones close in fear.
The prefects led the students down unfamiliar hallways that twist and turned into darkness.
Mysteriously, Hogwarts quickly led the students down from the 2nd to the dungeons with little effort.
Young children were crying for their mothers while the prefects tried to usher all into the dungeons.
At the front of the evacuation was Head Boy, Draco Malfoy.
We practice this... Draco Malfoy reminded himself in an earnest attempt to calm himself. Shit! He mentally reprimanded himself when he saw Hadeus' companion, Hermione, leading the halfbloods class into the refuge area.
"Where are the others?" Draco asked with urgency as he rushed to Hermione and other prefects that started to file in.
"The first years are still unaccounted for." Prefect Witherwind replied with caution.
"Imbecile! You're supposed to lead the third floor not the first floor. Did you not listen to the prefects meeting?"
Witherwind hung her head down in shame. She knew this was the last chance she got with her prefect position.
"I'll go." Hermione stated. "Haedus and Prince Marvolo is there still. We must protect them."
"I'll go with her." Draco said with distaste. "The head girl is in charge now. Prefects stay with your year."
He couldn't let her go alone.
Meanwhile the red-heads had entered an old disused classroom through a portkey. Ron and Ginny wore white masks with an overly-large black cloak like the others.
They heard wizards apparating to Hogwarts. Ron cursed, "Slimy dark wizards! Stealing Hogwarts from us! We'll show them!"
He flashed his wand to some aurors and sent tickling charms and harmless hexes at them.
"Ron!" Ginny pulled at his sleeve. "We have to stay with the group or we'll get lost."
"Tsk Tsk Tsk… Look what we have here. Two lost weasels on their way home." A wicked feminine voice taunted.
The two turned to face the fearsome captain of the guards, Bellatrix Lestrange. She sent cutting curses to their legs before binding them with spells.
"The dark lord will be pleased to hear that the Weasleys are still alive. Pity, your mother won't see her little babies anymore." The wild woman teased.
"Kill anyone that is not a child or woman." Lady Lestrange barked to her soldiers. "Leave the children and women to the dungeons. We'll give them a place here."
Her laughter sounded like a hyena as she clicked her heels to join the rest of the aurors to aid Hogwarts. Ginny whimpered as she smelt her brother's bowels release in fear.
