CHAPTER 11

Five Friends and a Funeral

They had decided to each take a day to think things over. A decision on what to do with the knowledge and the evidence would be made. The consensus would rule.

After lunch on the following day, they all walked out to a peaceful spot near the Weasley's pond to talk where they would not be bothered. Once they had gotten comfortable, Hermione was the first to speak. "Who would like to share their opinion on what we should do with this first?" she asked.

They all looked at each other. Finally, Luna said, "I'll start. My father would already be running it, if he had it. He would find it very interesting. And even though he loves Hogwarts, and would not want to harm it, he despises the Ministry much of the time. I think he would run it because of that. My mother…she would want it published to quiet the people who think she is nutty for believing things like this. So a big part of me wants to see this published. But another part doesn't. I can't see where it will help my mother, now. It won't help Hogwarts, either. So I am leaning toward not publishing it."

"Thanks, Luna," said Hermione. "Anyone want to go next?

"You know what I thought of this when it started," said Ron, finding his voice. "I scoffed at you, but then I saw how hard you were working and how it much it meant to you as you progressed. I kinda got into it by the end. I don't want to see all of your work just go in the tosspot, unless you want it to. I'll go with whatever you want, Mione."

"Okay, Ron. Ginny or Harry?"

"I have journalism in my blood," said Ginny, the aspiring writer. "It is hard for me to ever say we should let a story, especially a huge story like this die. But, I think I have to vote to let it die. I can see a lot of harm, but I just can't find the value it publishing it."

"Thanks, Ginny. That's one to kill it, one to probably kill it and one undecided. Have you got anything, Harry?"

Harry paused, gathering his word before standing up. After a moment he said, "When we got to the end. When we defeated Voldemort. I could have had it all. I could have been the possessor of the Hallows. I could have been the Master of Death. It was all right there. But I tossed the Resurrection Stone away in the forest. I fixed my old wand and got rid of the Elder Wand. Okay, I kept my cloak, but it was my dad's. It's the only real thing I have of him. Anyway, this is like that. Some things are too big, too dangerous, or too wrong. I can't find the good in publishing this. It will do a lot of hurt. It might settle an old score or two. It might clear the name of a person no one remembers. But I can't see it being good in the long run. I think we should not try to publish it."

Thanks, Harry. I am so glad we all agree not to publish it, or at least none of us want to publish it. I decided I don't want it published. I have the satisfaction of knowing the truth, of solving a mystery. I'll always have that. No one can take that from me. So we have a decision. We will not try to publish it. Now we have to decide what to do with the books and papers."

"Can't we just burn them?" asked Ron.

"I suppose so," answered Hermione. "Any other ideas?"

"We could put them back in the box and under the stone in the Ravenclaw common room," suggested Luna.

"Yes, but what if someone was to find them sometime in the future?" asked Hermione. "They could publish them. I don't think we want that."

"How about the Forbidden Section of the library," asked Ginny. The Room of Requirement is kind of out of business."

"Yes. I kind of like that," agreed Harry.

"I think that is a good idea, too," said Hermione. "But I promised to give the papers back to Melody. Is that okay with everyone? Everything else will go to the Forbidden Section?"

An agreed was found. The papers would go back to Melody and they would take the rest of them to Hogwarts to have Professor McGonagall place them in the vault.

The next morning saw them assemble around the bucket portkey. They made it up to Hogsmeade and into Hogwarts in time to find Professor McGonagall finishing breakfast in the great hall. Hermione approached and asked if she might speak to her on a very important and private matter. The professor agreed and they left to go to her office.

Once up in her office, Professor McGonagall asked Hermione about the nature of her request.

"Do you remember that book we talked about last time I was here?"

Well, yes," said the professor in a somewhat disturbed tone. "Are you still on about that? I thought we agreed that it was best for you to forget about it and the story you read in it."

"That's just it, professor. I was thinking it should just go in that Forbidden Section with the other one. Then I will be rid of it."

"Okay, I suppose that is best. Let me have it and I will put it there for you."

"Well, there is a bit more. I have some other books, as well," she said. "They should go along with it."

"Where are these other books?

"I have them here," she said, opening her bag and removing them."

"Well, let me have them all. I will take care of them."

"Would it be okay if I went with you and saw you put them away?"

Just then, Hermione saw the portrait of Dumbledore. He was smiling at her and winked like he knew what she was thinking.

"I can't just show you where it is and how to get in it. That would be highly improper."

"It's okay. I already saw you and Madam Pince go there before."

McGonagall's face winced and she shook her head. "It's seems nothing is secret around here. Oh, very well."

They walked out of the office and traveled down the spiraling stairs. Hermione smiled at the others as she headed to the library with the professor. The three of them walked to the back of the library where Madam Pince opened the bookshelves.

"I suppose you know the spell, as well," said the professor as she looked at Hermione.

"Actually, I don't."

"Then it is best you still don't" she said with a wave of her wand. A pair of Super Silent Earmuffs sealed her ears. The professor signaled her with her finger to turn around.

When the professor turned her back, she saw the books sitting inside the vault with the other books. The professor waved her wand and the vault resealed itself. Madam Pince closed the shelves and the started back out of the library. As they walked, Hermione quietly cast a confundus charm on them to make them forget every seeing or placing the books in there. A few seconds later the Forbidden Section cast a similar spell over all of them.

The following day Hermione visited Melodious. She carefully placed the papers back in their place. After some nice tea and biscuits, and treats for the kitties, she gave Melodious her thanks and a nice hug. She walked out the door and brought the second story of the end of the fifth house to an end.