Chapter nine
'Did any of you know about his deal with the muggle Prime Minister?' Albus stared at the other five friends of Harry Potter.
Four shook their heads, 'I did, but he only just told me he had worked on a guarantee. He really was going to make sure he could not be prosecuted or even arrested, which I'm pleased he did. After everything you heard sir, surely you cannot blame Harry for wanting to get as far away from here and the magical world as he can. These ideas came to Harry after Fudge tried him in front of the full Wizengamot. It was luck that he got off, he's not going to risk his luck again.' Hermione said.
'Do you know if he will kill Tom if there is no other choice?'
'I know Harry said he plans to train, since he doesn't have any love for anyone, he is going to work on spells that will do a lot of damage. I know he has plans to live and work in the muggle world, but he's still going to learn magic,' Ron said.
'Harry said he should not have to give up part of who he is, his grandparent's were muggles, he likes that world more than he likes the magical world. He told me once that when he leaves he will never use a quill again, he'll use muggle pens,' Neville said, 'I don't blame him, this world expects people like Harry and Hermione or any raised in the muggle world to just give that up when they come to Hogwarts, that's wrong. None of us would want to give up things we were raised with.'
'I get why he feels like that, he explained some of the things the muggle world has, most sound fascinating. Hermione has offered to take us all to the movies during the holidays,' Ginny said.
'Even smart people want a break from reading, what else can students do if they don't feel like reading or they are not on the quidditch team,' Luna said.
'Dean plans to return to the muggle world, he misses playing soccer and cricket, Seamus said he likes rugby union. I might not know what those sports are but they have millions of fans and millions that play. People like Seamus and Dean miss that when they come here,' Ron said.
'That's what Harry meant about changes. If you look around at the students, less than half are purebloods, and many of those have just lost their parent's. Our numbers are going to drop if all the muggleborns and halfbloods leave,' Minerva said.
'I plan to leave, I plan to go to university. Harry asked me a question a few months ago, I decided to do some checking. He asked me if I knew how many muggleborns has ever been minister or head of department. None, there has not been one. I found out that a muggleborn is lucky to get a job as a secretary, and only in the lower departments. I strive to learn, and I know I can do more than just get my boss coffee. So once I have finished my magical education I plan to restart my muggle education, then go into either law or politics.'
'If these problems with the purebloods had been dealt with during the last war we would not be facing a magical world that is about to collapse,' Arthur said, 'Once everyone knows Harry is leaving more will leave, a lot more.'
'Apart from what Harry said about changing the ways we govern, part of is reasons is due to Sirius, is that true?'
'Yes, he said he blames four people for Sirius dying, he plans to deal with those four, in his own time. But I would like an answer Albus. When you informed the order that Harry and his friends went to the ministry, how long before that were you told?' Remus asked.
'I don't see what that has to do with anything Remus.'
'Please answer the question Professor, then we can explain,' Hermione said.
'Fifteen minutes, I spoke with Minerva first then went straight to my fireplace to alert the order. I spoke with Remus and few others that had been at Grimmauld place. Then I informed Kingsley and Tonks.'
'Then Snape is going to face a torturous death when Harry decides to deal with him, and I just might help,' Remus snarled, 'I notice he is not here at the meeting.'
'I wish to know why you just made that comment, Remus?'
'We,' Ron gestured to his friends and sister, 'took nearly forty five minutes to fly to London, Harry and Hermione were in the forbidden forest for over half an hour before that. Then we had to find our way to the hall of prophecy. After that, we began fighting death eaters, we got split up, until we got to the death chamber, which took at least another half an hour.'
'Severus did not relay the message straight away,' Minerva said.
'Did he hope the children would die?' Molly said but in a snarl that made many flinch.
'You must be wrong, Severus would not do that.'
'I resign from the order, you're faith in that man is blinding you to the truth. Ron just explained how long it took, you spoke to me within minutes of Snape informing you what Harry said in Umbridge's office. I will not sit here and wait until Snape decides to turn on me, or anyone,' Remus got up and left.
'Sack him right now or I'm resigning from the order and Hogwarts,' Minerva said.
'You cannot be serious, we need Severus.'
'Let's go home Arthur, we will not be returning. Ron, Ginny, pack your things, you can finish off your education away from murderers,' Molly said as she stood with her husband and older sons.
'You did wrong by Harry and you have done wrong by every child in this school, but you did wrong by us,' Arthur said, he made his sons, daughter, wife, Hermione and Neville leave before him.
'You just lost half the order Albus all because you wish to keep that man. Well, I'm leaving as well, I will contact Amelia, see if she requires help,' Minerva got up and left the office, many others did as well. Only two people remained with Albus, Mad-eye Moody and Alphias Dodge, two of his oldest friends. They did not agree with Albus, but they would not desert him.
Minerva informed the other members of staff that she was leaving, but she planned to work beside Amelia Bones. She explained why and what took place up in the headmaster's office, how Remus asked the question which caused him to leave, also the Weasley's left, then others. Filius said he would stay but only to protect the children, the other members of staff said the same thing. Minerva did tell them that Harry planned to deal with Snape, so it might be wise to keep an eye on both of them. Minerva also informed Filius that Voldemort only had two supporters left, so there might not be any danger, not anymore. But she couldn't stay working alongside Albus and Severus, not when he was going to allow children to die.
When Ron and Neville returned to the boy's dorm room he noticed Harry's trunk was gone and the wardrobe empty.
'I had a feeling he had plans to sneak away, I don't blame him. I asked your dad if he would take me home as well. Hermione is leaving now, she won't stay in this place now she knows that Snape left us all to die. We have no idea if he might try something else on any of us,' Neville said.
'Once it's known we're gone, others will leave as well. I might write a note for Dean and Seamus, I will tell them about the secret passageway out of the castle. I might even get them to speak with the Creevy boys,' Ron quickly grabbed parchment, ink and a quill. He told them they could owl him for more details but it might be wise to leave as soon as they could since one of their teachers is a murderer that the headmaster wants to keep at Hogwarts.
Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie and the twins watched as Ron, Neville, Hermione, and Ginny levitated their trunks, but they did not see Harry.
'He's already gone, hasn't he?' Bill asked.
'Yes, he must have left the moment he returned to Gryffindor tower,' Ron said.
'He had plans, he didn't tell me but I knew he would leave before the end of the term. He was really concerned that the ministry might arrest him, or Dumbledore keeping him locked up here or at headquarters. He's still really angry about being kept isolated at Privet drive,' Hermione said.
'We'll talk more at home,' Arthur shrunk all their trunks before he turned to Hermione, 'Maybe it would be wise to work on having your home warded,' Arthur said.
'I could if you want Hermione, I'm licensed to ward homes, even muggle homes if there is a witch or wizard living there,' Bill said.
'Thank you Bill, I would like that.'
'Let's go,' Arthur and his oldest sons made sure the younger years ones were between them and all of them had their wands out. With many students inside Hogwarts who had recently lost their parents who had tried to get the bounty, those students could go after Harry and his friends. Yet again Albus did not do anything to protect the innocent children inside Hogwarts. They met up with Luna who had her trunk with her, Arthur nodded and made sure she was also between the adults.
The moment they got through the gates Arthur turned to his wife, 'Molly, take Luna and Ginny with you, Bill take Hermione. Charlie take Neville home since he does not have his apparition license yet,' Arthur, Ron and the twins waited until the others left before Arthur nodded to is sons, when they disappeared, he disapparated. It was time to make plans to protect their family and friends, something Albus Dumbledore has not done, nor has he ever done anything to protect the children. But they only just found out that the old man had put their children's lives in more danger than anyone knew, all to keep Severus Snape. Voldemort might not be a problem anymore, now he had no supporters, but Arthur would never see his children return to Hogwarts until Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape were gone. But he felt like Harry, Severus Snape needed to die before other children were put in danger. Arthur used to respect Albus Dumbledore, not anymore, not now he knew the truth.
