Chapter the Eleventh
"Remember, don't smile, or chuckle, or giggle, or smirk, or laugh, or any of that, because if you do she's liable to get a second wind and just keep screeching at you." Sirius advised.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! Of all the stupid, inane, hare-brained, ridiculous, thick-witted..." the Potter matriarch yelled at the top of her lungs. "...foolish, irrational, careless, absurd...
"But, Mom..."
"Don't you but mom me, young man! Going after a full grown bloody basilisk! Have you taken complete leave of your senses?"
"But, Mom, there were two girls..."
"...and for Merlin's sake, don't talk back to her or contradict her. Just duck your head in shame, look frightened of her...if you think it'll help, start crying...that one worked for me...well, most of the time!" Sirius nodded sagely.
"I don't care if there were a busload of nuns and babies in that cavern!" she screamed in anger. "You had no business chasing that monster when there was a castle full of Aurors and Unspeakables!"
"...but Susan was with me..." he said, thinking that that would be enough to placate the ire of the raving witch.
It wasn't.
He knew he'd made a huge mistake, not only because he could feel Susan glaring at him, but also because his usually well-mannered young wife kicked him hard from the seat next to him. His words saw his mother become even more incensed. Her already red face changed into a color that was beyond red, a shade on the color spectrum that he thought couldn't possibly exist; he groaned at his verbal blunder, knowing that he'd have to contend with an upset Susan too after they'd finally finished in the pensieve. He hoped the sofa in his dad's office was as comfortable as it seemed, he might be sleeping there for the foreseeable future.
"...never, ever, try to correct her, even if you're certain that she's wrong! Just nod in agreement in all the right places...It's all about controlling the situation, Harry. Remember, Lily Potter is a scary witch, but she's also your mother and loves you more than life itself!"
"And that's another thing! Seriously, Susan Elizabeth Potter, what the hell were you thinking letting your fool of a husband go off like that? And to let him put you in danger too, are you kidding me? You should have stunned him! But nooooo! You went with him, didn't you? Did you both think it was going to be some sort of grand adventure or something? You both could've died! This has got to be the most stupidly moronic, absurdly ridiculous, preposterous, damned foolish..."
"You'll know that she's almost done if she starts repeating herself." Sirius added. "Now if, and I do mean if...if you've survived up to this point, be very grateful that she doesn't have a wand. I can't tell you the amount of time that woman has been mad enough at me to curse me something fierce...I remember there was this one time when me, Moony, and your dad got lost in muggle London and ended up in a gay bar and James...on second thought, you know what...let's skip that story. The point is I wasn't able to sit for a week she cursed me so bad! Like it was my fault that your dad got a tattoo on his ass?"
Harry stared at his mother in amazement, thinking that the woman had a lung capacity unlike any other mother in the world. Her thesaurus-like knowledge of vocabulary was a wonder to behold, too; words just kept coming from her mouth in an endless torrent. He wondered how many words for 'idiotic' there actually were in the English language.
"..moronic, stupid, inane, hare-brained...utterly ridiculous!" Harry's mother seemed to have run out of steam, he hoped, if her ragged breathing was any indication.
Her gaze softened somewhat, the look of pride she directed at her children confused them. "So amazingly heroic, so very brave, so gallant, and so wonderfully selfless thing you two did. Come here." she said holding out her arms. Sue and Harry ran to her and felt contented at being in her embrace, despite her anger towards them. "I'm still furious at you two for putting yourselves in danger like that. However, you did manage to save the lives of two of your classmates. Despite everything, I am very proud of you two."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Susan stood just outside the master bedroom on the large veranda that looked out over the lake, a look of serene contentment on her features. She was watching the horizon with a slight smile. She'd lost sight of her husband, but could still feel his joy as he flew. As busy as their days were becoming, it was only in the early morning before breakfast that Harry had a chance to fly his new Firebolt, which had been his birthday gift from her.
"Likes his new broom, doesn't he?"
Susan jumped in fright before proceeding to pound the poor man's arm. "Dammit, Sirius, don't scare me like that!"
"Oi! Enough already, I've just woken up, dammit! It's not my fault you're not paying attention! I've been calling your name for like ten minutes now! No need to get violent, missy! And careful with the coffee, it's hot and I don't want to burn myself!" he hollered, turning his body to protect his precious cup from the violence being perpetrated upon him.
She glared at Sirius for a long minute before taking in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She did love the man but he sure had a way of acting more a teenager than she ever had. Glancing at his attire, she broke out in a fit of giggles. The threadbare robe that could only be held together by magic, pajama bottoms that had seen much better days, a faded red t-shirt that read 'Gryffindor Forever!', and slippers that wouldn't have looked out of place if only they'd been worn by a child. "What are you wearing?"
"What, I love this robe? It was a gift from my Aunt Dorea, Harry's grandmother." he spluttered indignantly. "And these bottoms were a gift from your uncle James."
"I was actually referring to the slippers!" she laughed.
"My Paddy's?" he said, wiggling his foot to give her the whole, unobstructed, look. "I'll have you know that these are the height of fashion, young lady!"
"For a five-year-old, maybe!"
"Are you disparaging my slippers? How dare you! That's it, I'm grounding you!" he growled.
"Sirius, no self-respecting adult should be wearing doggie slippers, even if they do happen to resemble your other form." Susan laughed.
"Whatever! They're comfortable and I like 'em, so there." he said, sticking his tongue out at her. Sirius huffed indignantly and plopped himself down at the rather large table that served as their breakfast spot when it was summer and weather permitting. Given the view, it was certainly a perfect setting.
"Is Auntie up yet?" Susan asked.
Sirius nodded his head, "Yeah, but she left early to stop by the offices of the Daily Prophet with Teddy. After that she'll be busy at work trying to make sure everything is in order before we leave on our honeymoon. She's leaving Shack in charge, I think, and...what is it, Susie?"
"Do we really have to do this? I really don't know if I like the idea of the whole world being informed about Harry and me. The Family knowing is one thing, the rest of the world...I just don't know." Susan groaned. The news that Ted had brought them had not gone over too well with the young couple. The thought that she, had she not already been betrothed to Harry, could end up a Malfoy made her feel nauseous. That her Harry could find himself affianced to that awful Parkinson girl made her normally calm demeanor transform into a jealous beast.
"Look, Sue, it's in yours and Harry's best interest to make public that you are already betrothed to each other. Malfoy and Parkinson are merely the first in what will probably be a long line of purebloods that will make an offer to you both. Your families are way too influential, too well respected and wealthy on top of it all to allow those people a chance of acquiring the prestige that would come from a match with either of you to just slip away. I don't think it is too far out of the realm of possibility that some of those darker leaning families would use violence to force you into a betrothal despite your wishes. Let everyone know, Susan, it'd be a headache otherwise."
"I'd like to see them try to force me away from Harry!" she snarled.
Sirius laughed heartily, "Yeah, that's what I told Ami you'd say and I'm guessing Harry would say exactly the same thing, too. Look, she's just going to talk to one of the gossip page reporters. I hear she's a nasty piece of work, however, we may be able to get her on our side if we give her some crumbs for her future stories and invite her to the wedding."
"You should've let Uncle Xeno and the Quibbler have the story, you know?"
"We thought about that, but even Xeno agreed that his readership is too small to reach everyone we would need to reach. Look, Sue, I don't like it anymore than you do, but it's just something we're going to have to live with. You and Harry are just going to have to get used to it, I'm afraid. I don't think there will ever be a time where you two won't feature on the front page of the Prophet at least once week." Susan's loud groan made Sirius laugh. "Chin up, little one, it'll all be alright." Sirius told her with a pat on the hand. He noticed something out of the corner of his eyes and squinted, looking toward the far end of the lake. "Is that Harry heading in?"
"Yeah," Susan said without even a glance. "Trixie!"
"Mistress Susan do be calling her Trixie?" the house-elf asked with a deep bow.
"Could Harry and I have some breakfast, please? Bacon and eggs should do, oh, and if could you add some extra bacon too, please."
"I be happy to, Mistress." Trixie said with a wide smile before popping away.
"What is it with you kids and the extra bacon anyways?"
"For Hedwig and Puck, of course." she answered, as if it was the stupidest question anyone had ever asked. Susan stood from her seat and moved to greet her rapidly incoming husband. She looked out across the lake and smiled. Harry was approaching at great speed and she could almost swear she heard him yell in joy. When he landed he very carefully placed the broom against the table and picked Susan up in a hug. She was giggling delightedly as Harry spun her around.
"Brilliant! Absolutely bloody brilliant! Amazing, and it's so fast! I can't wait 'til quidditch starts up again!"
"So I take it you like your gift?" a grinning Susan asked.
"You've no idea!" Harry replied with a huge smile. "Thank you, love! Best birthday present ever!"
"Sweetie, how come your face is all red?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, it's probably just windburn; I'll have to wear a scarf or something next time."
"Just how fast were you going, Harry James Potter?"
"Oh, oh, Harry's in trouble." Sirius sing-songed softly before sniggering when Harry glared at him.
"I have no idea." he replied, not having noticed the irritation building up in Susan. "No more than three of four hundred...I mean, thirty or forty miles an hour or so...give or take...I think."
Susan looked at him in disbelief, but decided not to scold him for something he found so much joy and freedom doing. "Fine, just be careful, sweetie. C'mon, Trixie should have breakfast here in a bit, you hungry?"
"Famished!" he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. While he helped Susan to her seat, Trixie had popped back with breakfast for the couple.
"Youse not be eating enough, Master Harry!" Trixie said crossly. "Youse must eat better!"
"Okay, okay, relax Trixie, I'll eat better! I promise!" Harry said with a grin. She glared at him for a moment, huffed indignantly, and then nodded her head in satisfaction when she saw him dig in to his meal with gusto. Susan couldn't help but laugh at the interaction.
"I'm going to be as big as my cousin if everyone keeps feeding me like this."
"Doubtful." Sirius said from behind the newspaper he had propped before him. "If you flew anywhere near as recklessly as you usually do, you would have worked up quite the appetite."
"'Mornin' guys!" a sleepy looking Hannah muttered, scratching her head and yawning as she slowly made her way to the table.
"What is that you're wearing, Hannah?" Susan asked pointing at her friend's feet.
"You like?" she said while she twirled around.
"Pink bunny slippers, Han, seriously?"
"Are you making fun of my slippers, Bones? I'll have you know that these are very stylish and trendy!
"That's what I said!" Sirius agreed. "Please forgive the young woman, Miss Abbott, she obviously has no fashion sense whatsoever!"
"Excuse me?" Susan huffed in indignation.
Hannah looked toward Sirius, "It's sad really. She's got no color coordination at all. I mean look at her in her those ugly flannel pajamas even my Granny wouldn't be caught dead wearing. It does nothing for her."
"She's right, my soon-to-be-niece, with that beautiful head of hair, you should be wearing green..." Sirius commented.
"Blue...I think she'd look good in navy blue."
"You know Hannah, dahling, I think you're right." Sirius said with a speculative look, appraising Susan like a side of beef. "Harry, my boy, I think we should take your lovely wife shopping soon."
"Already planned, Sirius, I take it you two are inviting yourselves along?"
"Harry!" Susan gasped angrily.
"Now, now, Susan, don't get angry at Harry just because you need help due to your lack of any style sense whatsoever." Hannah said with a big fat grin. "We'll get Nym to join us, too. She's pretty fashion savvy herself."
"It's a date!" Sirius exclaimed. "Harry, make sure you bring that card thingy that Griphook gave you. We'll be putting a dent on your vault."
"Mornin', y'all." Tonks said groggily. Hannah, Harry, and Sirius started laughing at the sight of her. "What?" Nym asked.
Susan peeked over the table and looked at the Aurors feet, which where bedecked in wolf slippers. With a loud groan, Susan sat back in her chair and crossed her arms in indignation, "You guys totally planned that!"
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
"Is he okay?" Sirius whispered to Remus with some concern in his voice.
"Hang on, let me check." the werewolf said as he stood and walked over to a stupefied looking Prongs, who stood there wide-eyed in shock, not having moved since the memory of Harry battling the basilisk had ended...almost ten minutes ago. Moony lifted his hand in front of James' face and waved it about. "I think that memory of Harry broke Prongs, Padfoot."
"Here, let me give it a try." Sirius walked over to James and without any fanfare, whatsoever, slapped him really hard.
"Ow, dammit Padfoot, what the bloody fuck was that for!" James yelled indignantly, rubbing his cheek vigorously to quell the pain.
"We were just making sure you were still with us, Prongsy." Sirius smirked.
"I'm fine, okay, just give me sec here...asshole." James closed his eyes, shook his head and rolled his shoulders, all in an effort to control himself. "Did I seriously just watch my Harry kill a freaking basilisk and a piece of Voldemort's soul?"
"Yup!" Sirius and Remus answered.
For a moment the two were watching James, hoping against hope that he didn't explode the way they'd envisioned he would. Neither of them wished a repeat of their first encounter.
"My son is AWESOME!" James yelled at the top of his lungs before prancing around foolishly and waving his arms about. "Voldemort is fucked! Harry is going to destroy that evil son of a bitch!
"Huh?" asked the now thoroughly confused Moony and Padfoot.
"Don't you see? Harry, the most awesome son that ever lived I'll have you know, just turned a basilisk into a leather workers wet dream! Tell me, please, that you commissioned some boots or something?"
"Well, yeah, that, and some armor, and some...wait; hang on a second, why aren't you pissed off at what he did?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"Did you toss him in with Lils? Then what's the point of getting upset about him being in a little danger? She'll have torn strips off him, and Susan too, I bet. She gets to play bad Auror; I get to play good Auror." James explained.
"A little danger, James? Are you kidding me? He nearly died, you half-wit, and so too did you daughter-in-law! The snake bit him! He got poisoned! By a basilisk! He should be dead!" Remus yelled. "And that's not adding the fact that fucking Voldemort was there!"
"You're right...you're right, I should be angry about his behavior." James said very seriously and trying to settle his face into a stern expression. Padfoot, however, saw the twinkle in Prongs' eye and he groaned. "But I'm not! That's my boy! Harry Potter, Son of Prongs, Basilisk Slayer...hey, you know what, I need a t-shirt that says that." James said with a look of concentration on his face. Next thing you know, he was wearing a white shirt with that very logo emblazoned boldly across his chest. With a hoot of joy, James Potter started dancing a jig.
"I gotta get me one of those." Sirius proclaimed.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Padfoot, not you too?" Remus said in exasperation.
"What, it looks...you know...cool. And I am Harry's godfather after all, and he is the coolest godson that ever lived. Sorry, Moony, but I think I'm with James on this. Harry and Susan both survived and I couldn't be more grateful or happy for that!" Sirius said with a smile before joining James in frolicking around.
Remus sat back into the sofa and moaned loudly before putting his head in his hands. "Idiots, my best friends are idiots!"
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
The Overlord of the goblin nation was not a being that was easily impressed, especially where wizards were concerned. That however, had changed almost as soon as the two Potter's had stepped from the floo and into his private office. The goblin ruler realized he should have listened to Griphook and Filius earlier, when they'd told him that the young couple would be nothing like he'd imagined.
The flames in his fireplace had changed to the telltale green that indicated an incoming client. He'd glanced at the antique clock on the wall and was surprised that the young couple appeared to be a few minutes early, something he very much appreciated as he was, after all, a rather busy goblin. He almost never gave his address where his personal floo was concerned, but Filius managed to change his mind. Reading between the lines, he began to see that his former pupil in the blade greatly admired the young couple. Now it was up to him to figure out why.
It was former Auror Tonks who'd been the first out of the floo. He chuckled quietly and turned his head away, allowing the ungraceful young woman time to brush her clothing of soot and shake off the effects of the floo that seemed to plague wizards the world over without causing her further embarrassment at being seen in such a state. Were he judging her gymnastic capabilities, he would have given her a 7...the summersault was rather well done but she'd botched the landing quite spectacularly. As she stood rather unsteadily, she faced him, and gave a respectful bow. "I am Tonks, Overlord, and bodyguard to Lord and Lady Potter."
He gave a short nod of his head and grinned toothily. "A pleasure, Miss Tonks. If it will ease your mind a bit, I offer my surety, on my honor, that your clients will be safe while within the walls of Gringotts."
"Forgive me, Overlord, but they're not my clients." Tonks uttered absentmindedly while brushing some of the residual floo-ash off her shoulder.
"Excuse me, Miss Tonks?" the goblin asked, a bit annoyed that she seemed to be talking back to him.
"They are not my clients, my lord, they are my family." Tonks replied evenly. "And I thank you for your assurances regarding their safety."
This was something the Overlord most certainly understood and wholeheartedly agreed with. Nothing meant more to a goblin than family, nothing. He gave her a curt nod of approval.
"May I draw my wand, my lord? I just need to inform Lord and Lady Potter that they can come through." With the Overlord's permission, Tonks flourished her wand and sent a bright beam of white light through the floo. "They'll be here momentarily, my lord."
The Lady Potter was next through the floo, stepping from the roaring flames most elegantly and with a dignified grace that should have been difficult for someone of her tender years to pull off. She did not seem to suffer the floo like others of her kind. He was most surprised to see the young witch displaying an aura that even that imbecile Dumbledore would be hard pressed to match. Held tightly in her arms was her Crup puppy, which she set down before glancing at Tonks with a wide grin. "Was it a summersault or a cartwheel this time?"
"Susan!" the purple-haired bodyguard hissed through clenched teeth and in exasperation. "Not in front of the Overlord!"
Given the acute hearing of his species, the goblin king of course heard the complaint of the mortified witch. The goblin Overlord laughed loudly, pounding his desk in approval. "It was a summersault, Lady Potter. Quite well done too, if I may be so bold."
"She may appear a bit awkward my lord, but I wouldn't wish to face her in a fight. Despite her tendency for acrobatic displays of clumsiness, she's an extremely skilled warrior." Susan said before curtsying deeply to the Overlord. "I am Susan Potter, Overlord, and am honored to be allowed into your presence." she said formally, a charming smile gracing her features.
"A pleasure, Lady Potter, and welcome to Gringotts." he said, extending a hand in the human fashion. "I didn't realize Crups' where allowed to students attending Hogwarts?"
"A special case, my lord, as he was a gift from my husband; he had to obtain special dispensation from the Department of Magical Creatures to allow me to have him while a student and since that particular department is under my aunt's purview..."
"An eminently justifiable use of authority!" the Overlord chuckled. "And his tails? Will one of them be removed?"
Puck yelped in fright and hid behind Susan's skirts, peeking from behind them to growl softly at the Overlord. "Really, Puck? We've been over this a hundred times! I am not going to cut off your tail, honestly!" she admonished the puppy in mock seriousness, scratching behind Puck's ear in an attempt to soothe him.
"Susan." Tonks whispered to the auburn haired witch, indicating the floo with a nod of her head. The Lady Potter stepped aside, giving Harry space to arrive.
The goblin king was rather surprised at the lad who stepped effortlessly through his floo and into his office. He'd been informed that the boy was rather small, on the skinny side, and had to wear eyeglasses to correct his vision. That was not the young man who walked out of his fireplace.
The youngster was tall, at least taller than he'd expected, and not at all that thin. He seemed rather fit too, and in his opinion, looked much older than his thirteen years. What impressed him though were the boy's eyes. They seemed to radiate restrained power.
Sitting majestically on his left shoulder was the single most beautiful owl that the goblin king had ever seen; the bird of prey was scrutinizing him very carefully with its keen eyes. He walked over to Susan and gave her a peck on the cheek. His devilish grin was then directed toward their bodyguard.
Tonks caught the look from Harry, "Don't even start, little man!"
Harry chuckled in amusement before turning to the Overlord. "Harry Potter, Overlord, and it is a great honor to meet you. Our Charms instructor, Professor Flitwick, admires you greatly. Oh, and you'll forgive me if I don't bow, my lord, as Hedwig here would take the disturbing of her perch as a personal insult and that is not something I'd ever willingly do." the owl bumped her head into his cheek. "You know that you would, Hed, don't even try to deny it." he said, gently smoothing the ruffled feathers on her chest.
The Overlord chuckled at the confidence of the young lord and the shared connection with his familiar. "An honor to meet you, Lord Potter; Filius has spoken fondly of you both as well. Won't you please take a seat so that we may discuss matters?"
Harry offered his hand to Susan, who took it with smile, and guided her to one of the large wing-backed chairs before the Overlord's desk. She frowned slightly, something the Overlord noticed and understood immediately. "Allow me." he said, and waved his long fingers in the direction of the seat, slowly changing it into a comfortable looking sofa.
"Thank you, my lord." she said with a genuine smile, allowing Harry to seat her before sitting himself and offering her his hand again. Tonks placed herself behind the couple, standing vigilant.
"My pleasure, Lady Potter." he said, inclining his head. "So, I understand that you two wish to visit our library? Filius has filled me in, of course, but I would very much like to hear the tale from you two."
"Harry and I have had a somewhat difficult time of late with our spellcasting, something that Professor Flitwick noticed right away. At the request of Lord Black, the professor began investigating how we use our magic, but found himself perplexed. It is my understanding that Professor Flitwick made the request through our Account Keeper to be allowed entrance into the library himself, hoping to find any information he could. Apparently he did, which is why we find ourselves before you today, hoping that you'll allow us access despite the fact that we are wizards." Susan explained in a very condensed version of events. She was almost certain that Professor Flitwick had given the Overlord a more complete version of events.
"I was a bit confused as well, Overlord. Being muggle raised, I'd never even heard of the goblin library, something that my lovely wife corrected." he said, making Susan flush at the look of pride he directed towards her. "I am honored to even be considered for that privilege."
The Overlord was left wondering if the couple before him were actually the age they said they were. He found them to be very well spoken for children, for that is what they were, and wondered where this self-confidence they both displayed had come from. That's when he remembered Griphook's comment about the bond. He chided himself for having forgotten such an important piece of information. As legendary as the notion of a soul bond was, seeing it before him was rather moving. The young Lord Potter may have radiated a vast amount of power on his own, as did the Lady Potter if to a lesser degree, but when they'd taken hold of each other's hands it was as if magic gathered and swirled around them, coloring the very air with their combined auras.
"Has Filius given you any idea about the library itself?" asked the Overlord, knowing that Filius wouldn't have because he'd requested to be the one to tell the tale. He wanted a measure of the two before disclosing information that was tantamount to a state secret. "What then do you know of the history of my people?" he asked after they'd answered, as he knew they would, that they had little information regarding their library.
Both Potter's shook their heads, "Not much at all, my Lord." was the reply from Harry.
"The professor that teaches history at Hogwarts is always going on about goblin rebellions..." Susan added.
"Forget what that ridiculous phantom has taught you, for that which he teaches is a heavily watered down version of my people's story, a retelling of history that glosses over the truth to put wizards in the best possible light." the Overlord took in a deep breath and began his tale. "A very long time ago, we goblins were a very tribal and clannish society, divided by petty differences. It didn't help that we are, or rather were, very warlike as well. We, as a people, were separated by mistrust of one another. No two clans ever intermingled, unless it was to draw blood. Seeing the separation of his people as something to be corrected, my many times great-grandfather, King Granok, took up arms almost twenty-three hundred years ago with but one goal in mind: uniting our tribes into a single, unified, nation. It was often a very bloody conflict but Granok was able to, in the end, accomplish his goal. Many tribes were eradicated, unfortunately, entire families being put to the sword. What was left of my people was but half of what it had started with before the Great Conflict. It was not a good time to be a goblin." he continued, grateful for the attentiveness to his tale that the Potter's were displaying, both sitting before him in rapt attention.
"Granok befriended a young wizard during this time, a scholarly Egyptian named Maat, who'd made his way to early Britannia to study the ways of the ancient druids of this land. That a friendship developed between the two was in itself amazing, as even back then, goblins and wizards did not become friends. The two were thick as thieves if the legends are to be believed, great friends that together did much to help both of their societies; between them they came up with the idea of beginning what become known, to my people anyway, as the Great Collection. Maat, in his later years and in his own homeland, was one of the proponents of a library in a little village that later on in history was called Alexandria. Perhaps you've heard of it?" he said with a smirk.
"Our sister is visiting there with her parents!" Harry said excitedly. "She should actually be back sometime today; I can't wait to hear all about it."
"She's a very academically inclined girl, our Hermione, and will likely be very envious that we may be able to visit your library." Susan added.
"And I'm sure she'll have a fantastic tale to tell you both about her voyage, and perhaps in the future we can discuss adding her to the guest list. Now, where I was...oh yes...it was a thousand or so years ago that another wizard befriended our king. I assume you've heard of Merlin?" the king asked with a toothy grin. "It was he that discovered the way to retrieve and store memories, and because of that, the storing of memories became something that we added to the Collection. You are both familiar with pensieves?" the Overlord inquired.
"We are, my Lord." replied Susan.
"That magical device is the creation of goblin runemasters, in cooperation with Merlin and his magics," the Overlord stated, to the astonishment of the three wizards before him, "and not, as the Ministry or wizarding historians would have you believe, some nameless pureblood wizard who lived at the same point in time."
"After the death of friend Merlin, much changed, and not for the better. Where wizards and goblins had come to a tentative understanding, thanks in large part to that famous wizard, conflicts began to arise anew. It was war, pure and simple. Wizards died by the blade, goblins died by the wand. Heinous acts were perpetrated by both sides. But then, a few centuries ago, my people became dispirited; we tired of the continuous battle and never-ending bloodshed with wizards and so we put aside our blades and armor, signed treaties that in retrospect we shouldn't have, and focused our rather aggressive nature into that of the financial world."
Susan's eyebrow quirked questioningly, "Well, we've not put aside our weaponry completely, I suppose." he chuckled, his hand patting the gorgeous handle of the dragon-tooth blade at his side. "It was during that particular moment in history that Gringotts was established as banking institution. In time, as we learned our new craft, our battles became fiscal in nature; rather than spilling blood on the field of battle, we did so in the in the world of finance...metaphorically speaking, of course. The struggle still continues, though. We find ourselves in these modern times relegated to a role that is just a step up from being house elves, not something we goblins take kindly to; we are after all a very proud race. Most wizards look down upon us as nothing more than menial servants that are here to fawn and grovel before them. It is a continuous and often daily struggle for my people to put up with the contempt we are shown, even within the walls of Gringotts."
"My Lord, if I may interrupt...?" Harry asked, getting a nod from the Overlord. "Perhaps you've not encountered...perhaps you've not met many normal people? I mean just regular everyday people? We all don't feel that way about your nation. I certainly don't, nor does Susan...or Tonks here. Actually, I can't think of any of my friends or family that would have a problem with your people."
"Muggle-born and muggle-raised people do seem to be more open than...others. As most of my dealings with your kind have been solely with those who see themselves as the elite of your society..."
"Purebloods, you mean?" Susan inferred. Being one herself, she could certainly understand where the Overlord was coming from, having seen firsthand the narrow-mindedness of those people. Auntie had raised her to be an open-minded person, not something that most of the rest of the purebloods taught their children. People who thought like Draco Malfoy were the norm in their insular society, not the exception. "I am a pureblood, my Lord, and I can assure you that we are all not all like that."
"I suppose that is something I will have to look into further. But, here then is where most of the problems begin. Your society, if I may, is controlled by a handful of people that are so small minded and bigoted as to be ridiculous. This needs to change or those goblin rebellions of the past that your history professor so likes to go on and on about will eventually become a reality of the present. My people tire of the way we've been relegated to third or fourth class citizens by the pureblood faction of your world. Ancient goblin blades that haven't seen the light of day in centuries are being drawn from their scabbards and sharpened. Our children are once again learning battle tactics and combat and not, as I would much prefer to see, studying accounting, or business, or economics. I do not want to see the blood of my children spilled!" he said heatedly. His angered demeanor changed abruptly, his piercing gaze softened and all that remained was a look of pleading.
"I am giving you both approval to enter the Collection and the Hall of Memories any time you so desire, but I ask, no, I beg of you both, please help my people." the Overlord appealed.
"Sir?" Harry asked, befuddled.
"I do not wish to see my brethren embroiled in a conflict with wizards that will most assuredly cost the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of both goblin and wizard alike. The possibility of an upcoming clash between our peoples grows by the day. If the Dark Lord should return, as many of those purebloods say he will, war would be unavoidable."
"We're just kids, Overlord, how could we possibly be of any help?" Susan asked, also confused at the insistent nature of the request from the warrior king.
"You are both are merely children now, yes, but that will not always be the case, will it? You both take up your seats in the Wizengamot in a few weeks time, do you not? Both the Potter and Bones' families have in the past been well regarded within that body, something I have no doubt you two will accomplish as well in the near future. All I ask is that you do what you can to help me and mine. We could be great allies, our peoples. Just thinking of my great-grandfather and his Egyptian friend fills me with hope, they accomplished so much together, despite their great differences. The same with Merlin; he was a friend unlike any other we've seen since. He taught our children the ways of wizarding magic and we taught him our ways, which is sadly not something that could happen today given the state of things. But I'd like to see that happen again. My wish is to see you both take Maat's place, Merlin's place, to become friends with me and mine, to explore that friendship to the betterment of both our societies. We are not so different, after all, your people and mine. We both want the same things; peace, good jobs, a family, friends..."
Their meeting was interrupted by a polite knock on the door. Griphook opened the door and peeked in, "Begging your pardon, my Lord, you wished to be informed the moment my cousin had arrived."
"Of course Griphook, and thank you. Please come in and invite Filius to join us as well." Griphook bowed and backed away. It was only moments later that a nervous Professor Flitwick stepped in and bowed deeply to the Overlord.
"Excuse the interruption, my Lord, but it is time. Come on, you two, it's time to go." he said to the Potter's, who stood and bowed to the Overlord.
"I hope we will in the near future have the time to finish our conversation, my Lord, my Lady?"
"Harry, please Overlord, and Susan." Harry and Susan both smiled and bowed. "And thank you for allowing us to take up some of your valuable time."
"Think nothing of it, Harry. And it's Ragnok, to both of you. " Ragnok turned to professor, "Very well, Filius, please escort your students to Garrick. Miss Tonks, I know you are duty bound to accompany your charges, but unfortunately no witch or wizard may yet go into the Collection, excepting for these two young ones, but please rest assured that they'll be safe." Tonks gave a curt nod. She was not best pleased with that arrangement, one that would see her parted from Sue and Harry, but she was certain her kids would be looked after by the Charms Master.
"I'll be waiting for you guys when you get back, okay?" Nym whispered into their ears when she took them into a hug.
"We'll be fine, sis." Susan assured the ex-Auror, she then gave Tonks a wink. "Besides, I'll be with Harry, what could possibly go wrong?"
"She's right you know, I'll be there too...hey, now! I should be insulted! I am insulted! I'll have you know, Mrs. Potter, that I am more than capable..." Harry's voice faded as he and Susan followed Griphook and Flitwick out the door.
"Don't be too worried, Miss Tonks, they'll be fine." the Overlord assured the worried looking witch.
"I'm sure they will, Overlord. But, I will still worry while they're away." Noting the concern, the Overlord reached on his desk and pressed a button. Some harsh words were spoken by him, orders she assumed, before he turned his attention once more to her. "I've dispatched two of my personal bodyguards to accompany them, Miss Tonks."
"Thank you sir, that does put my mind a bit more at ease."
"Won't you sit, Miss Tonks?"
"I don't wish to intrude; I could always wait in the lobby, sir."
"Nonsense, you'd be bored to tears out there. Sit, relax...and tell me about the basilisk." Tonks was shocked at the question, she wasn't aware that many people knew about the situation that had occurred at the school. The school board and the Ministry had been doing their utmost to keep the story as quiet as they could. "We may deal with the economic issues of our shared world, but that does not mean that we are uninformed about what happens outside our walls."
"Of course, forgive me; your question just took me by surprise is all." she took in a deep breath, "What would you like to know?"
"I assume that what Filius showed me is correct, that young Lord Potter did indeed slay the beast?" Tonks nodded at the question. "I see. And is it also true that he used a goblin blade to do so."
"Yes, sir, he did."
"Call me Ragnok, Miss Tonks; I have the feeling that you, I, and the Potter's of course, will be seeing a lot of each other over the coming years. There is no need to stand on ceremony when we are alone. Now, as to the blade, has anyone who is aware of the incident been able to determine where Harry got it from?"
"No, my lord...forgive me, Ragnok...I'm Tonks, yes, just Tonks...he really didn't say much about it. The memory we saw just showed Dumbledore's phoenix delivering the weapon to him hidden inside the sorting hat of the school."
"Have you any idea what the blade was, or more to the point, whose blade it was?" Tonks frowned and shook her head. "That weapon, an artifact of unparalleled beauty, is the legendary sword of Godric Gryffindor."
"But hasn't that sword has been lost for centuries?" Tonks gasped.
"And yet, Lord Potter used it to slay the basilisk. I too have seen the memory of the event, a most astonishing battle, one in which Harry acquitted himself very well." he replied with a hint of admiration. "I believe you are now wondering why that sword has made an appearance now."
"I am, sir." a confused Tonks replied.
"The sword is unique in that it only shows itself in times of great need, when times are perilous, when Darkness shows itself. That Lord Potter was able to not only retrieve the blade it but also wield it is a sure sign that dark times will soon be upon us, I fear."
"Oh, sweet Merlin..." Tonks groaned. "I take it you mean Voldemort and his Death Eaters?"
"Without a doubt." Ragnok said quietly.
"Miss Tonks, do you in any way realize the significance of having a bonded couple in our midst could do for our world?" he asked. "There are not many records kept about bonded couples, as they are such a rare thing. There is of course some few tales, mind you, but there are some historical accounts about that uncommon occurrence that do exist. Information that we've uncovered during our research seem to indicate that bonded couples are instigators for tremendous change in society. The last known bonded couple that we are certain of, Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, were in many ways responsible for bringing about what in the muggle world was referred to as the Renaissance. However, it was not only the muggles that benefitted from their influence, so too did the magical world. It was a time of great progress in magic as well; a step forward such as hadn't been seen since the time of Merlin. The bonded couple before the Flamel's were Godric and Rowena, and you know what those two accomplished for wizarding world!"
"So on top of dealing with Voldemort, you want them to what, change the world?" Tonks gasped. "It's too much, Ragnok!"
Ragnok shook his head, "I disagree, Tonks. Yes, they have quite the heavy burden to shoulder, but I have no doubt that they are up to the task. Young they may be, but I was impressed with their conduct. They comport themselves as adults; also, they are both very powerful, something they may have not demonstrated yet, as they are but just now coming in to their magic."
"Yeah, I guess I can see that. The powerful bit, as well. I think they're both afraid at what they could do, by accident, should their emotions get away from them. And you're right; they do not act anywhere near like I did at their age, that's for dang sure." Tonks chuckled, remembering her own teenaged years. "In all seriousness, though, you should really be talking to Madam Bones and Lord Black."
"And I will in the near future. I did however want to want to get the conversation started, as they say. I know that you'll explain things to the guardians of Susan and Harry, as you should." Ragnok stood from behind his desk and walked over to the door. "Come with me, Tonks, I think it is time that someone show you what our people are really like. Would you allow me to give you a tour?"
"Of the bank?" she asked with a frown.
"No, Miss Tonks, I would show you our home." Ragnok said with a smile.
"Hell, yeah!" Tonks squealed, jumping from the couch, eager to go where very few wizards had ever been before. She froze momentarily and blushed, "Forgive me, my Lord, what I meant to say is I'd be thrilled to see your home."
Internally, she was amazed at the honor she would be soon shown. In her lifetime, she'd never heard of anyone, witch or wizard, who'd gone behind the main lobby of the bank. Sure, she knew the goblins had to live somewhere, but she'd never given it a second thought. She idly wondered how the kids were faring, but smiled remembering where they were headed. Her face turned serious, thinking that she may be shirking her duties by accompanying the Overlord.
"Worry not, Tonks, after our tour I'll show you to your charges. They should be wrapping things up by the time we reach them."
"Thank you, Ragnok," she blushed for being so obvious. "My family is going to freak out when I tell them about this!"
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
The portkey that took the Granger family back to their home was brilliant, in Hermione's humble opinion. Sure, she'd used them before when travelling to the Glen, on occasion, but had never used one for travelling internationally. To be able to travel such distances in the blink of an eye was something that she rather enjoyed, as sitting on a plane for an interminable amount of hours cut into her 'exploring the library' time. She couldn't wait to hug the life out of her brother for the thoughtful gift.
As all her friends were doing things at the moment, what with Harry and Susan at Gringotts, Luna and her father in Sweden, and Neville and Hannah visiting his parents at St Mungo's with Gran, and the Weasley's spending time at the Burrow, the Glen seemed rather empty to her. Sirius and Aunt Ami were the only ones in at the moment, in Harry's dad's office as was their norm, where they were very noisily discussing their upcoming nuptials. She put as much distance as she could between herself and the arguing couple. Why they just hadn't eloped was something that she'd never understand, who cared what color the napkins were anyways?
She'd wanted to take a book and sit outside in Harry and Susan's gazebo, but the windy and rainy weather had put a damper on that pretty quickly. So she amused herself by wandering the corridors of this large manor that had become like her second home. Hermione had been amazed the first time she'd visited, wondering how a Harry and Susan would cope with a house this large. But it had worked out in the end, as all the extra rooms had definitely been needed once everyone had started visiting with more frequency. The elegant home was full of friends and family most of the time, especially when they were out of school for the holidays.
The small army of elves that seemed to appear almost overnight to take care of everyone had surprised her. The happy little beings seemed delighted in their work. She'd had a rather loud 'conversation' with Luna regarding the elves. It had taken her petite friend the better part of an afternoon to enlighten her to the fact that they were not slaves, as she believed, but willing servants who needed wizards to survive. Luna was very angered at her for believing that Harry or Susan would ever own slaves, something that she was now very embarrassed about. Having Michael chastise her as well, in his very formal manner, did much to change her mind on the subject.
Wandering aimlessly, she found herself in front of a door she'd not noticed before. It was just down from Gran's office, which was the one place in the whole house where she'd never dare set foot unless invited, Hermione found a room that she'd not explored. She checked to make sure it wasn't locked before knocking a couple of times, not wanting to invade anyone's privacy, but she took the non-response and the unlocked state of the door as an invitation. The room she stepped into was very fascinating to her and much too tempting for a witch with her level of curiosity, something her mother would more than likely call snooping and not curiosity as she herself would.
It was large and bright, the walls lined with chalkboards that held a wide variety of arithmetical equations. Her eyes scanned her surroundings and she squealed in delight at her discovery, thinking that this was almost better than the first time she'd been inside the Potter library. She wondered if Harry would allow her to study the room and maybe work on some of the interesting looking and half-finished magical projects that seemed to litter every available surface.
Her attention was drawn to the glowing pensieve, wherein a large, silvery tendril of memory swirled suspended as if in vapor. She remembered that just a few short weeks ago, her extended family had used this magical receptacle to view a memory that still filled her with dread. Seeing Harry battle, and win, against that gigantic snake had been an ordeal that still gave her nightmares, and all she'd done is view the memory! But, the brother of her heart had not only faced the danger head on, he had triumphed, and rescued two of her former housemates as well. Susan had been amazing as well, standing by Harry even though she'd been scared beyond belief. Her eyes welled with unshed tears when she remembered Susan pounding on the large metal door until her hands were bloody, all in an effort to reach her husband. She shook herself, turning her attention again toward the large bowl.
Her innate inquisitiveness won out over her need to not be nosy, and so she reached toward the bowl, her hand hesitating momentarily before plunging it into the pensieve. The room she found herself standing in was odd, she thought, as she landed gently into the memory. There before her was large and empty room, except for the chalkboard with runes and equations that was lit from above by an unseen light source. But it wasn't just that that caught her attention, rather it was also the somehow familiar looking redheaded woman that was, with chalk in hand, scribbling furiously all the while talking to herself.
"This should work, right? No, it won't, that damned Ogham rune isn't powerful enough to sustain...! Hmmm, maybe use Futhark instead...no...Etruscan...no, can't be that one, if I use Etruscan it will invalidate this whole side of the equation..." said the woman, who with a wave of her hand erased a section of her work.
Hermione watched entranced as the woman had an argument with herself. She couldn't tell exactly what she was working on based on the runework; she'd only recently started learning about them, after all. What she'd thought had been Arithmantic equations seemed to her, upon a closer examination, to be advanced muggle mathematics.
"Well...are you going to introduce yourself or just stand there like some storefront mannequin?" the woman asked without turning, even though Hermione had barely moved or made a sound. Hermione blushed at having been discovered until she realized something: this shouldn't be happening!
The redhead turned her head and gazed inquisitively at her. "So?"
"Hermione...Hermione Granger." she stuttered.
"Of course, Harry and Susie's adopted sister, I should've known! A pleasure to meet you, young lady, I'm Lily Potter."
Hermione's eyes opened wide in shock when the beautiful redhead took her into a hug. "But...but...!"
"Yeah, that's been pretty much what everyone says the first time!" Lily laughed. "It's funny you know, Harry and Susie have a bet going about when you'd show up."
Hermione's eyes narrowed, feeling affronted that her siblings would do such a thing. "Oh, do they really...?"
"Susan seemed to think you'd figure it out eventually but that you would wait until invited to step in here. My son, on the other hand, was sure that you would stumble in here eventually, too curious to let anything as mundane as permission prevent you from sating that curiosity of yours."
Hermione blushed hard, "Seems Harry knows me better than I know myself."
"And is that such a bad thing?" Lily asked.
"No, not really, I suppose." she said with a sigh of resignation. "Care to explain to me how your memory is talking back to me, when it shouldn't, or how you are able to touch me when you shouldn't be able to or how...?"
"Easy, Hermione, take it easy." Lily teased. "Do you want the long scientific explanation or the shorter, more easily understood one?"
"Let's start with the easy one, ma'am. My brain isn't functioning properly at the moment." Hermione said, still reeling from her present situation.
"Lily...and please don't ever call me ma'am again, child." Mrs. Potter reproved. "I don't think I'm quite old enough to be a ma'am yet."
"Of course...Lily." she said shyly. "And don't call me child, especially when you're sitting there looking all of maybe five or six years older than me!"
Lily laughed and gave a nod, "Since you asked so kindly, of course...Hermione."
"Is Mr. Potter here as well?" Hermione asked, swiveling her head around.
"In another memory, but you'll have to ask Harry or Susan to introduce you."
"Why is he not in here with you?"
"One of the problems with pensieves." Lily sighed. "If the memories are small enough, you can put many in one. If the memory is too large, though..."
"...there's no room for you to share!" Hermione concluded, having worked out what Harry's mother had explained. "But that's so wrong! You and he should be together."
"That is something I've been working on for quite some time." Lily sighed sadly.
"Is that what all this is?" Hermione asked, indicating the chalkboard.
"No this is something else entirely. Call it a brain teaser, of sorts." Lily laughed in amusement.
Hermione pointed at the chalkboard and frowned, "Advanced Newtonian calculus is a something you use to distract yourself? For fun?"
"The fact that you know that's Newtonian calculus tells me you probably do the same thing, Hermione. Not with math probably, but maybe with..." Lily narrowed her eyes in thought, staring at her, "...maybe trying to challenge some of Gamp's Laws on Elemental Transfiguration?"
"Yes," a blushing Hermione asked, "how did you know?"
"I hadn't learned that mathematics on the board until I was a couple of years older than you are now. So, I dabbled at trying to challenge some of the laws that govern Magic."
"Any luck?"
"No," Lily smiled, "You?"
"Nah, but it is fun though, and I've also got plenty of time for that. So what are you working on?"
"You, know I loved Hogwarts. Truly I did, despite the hardship that I suffered as a muggle-born witch in a time of civil war; I really enjoyed my time there." Hermione frowned, wondering if Lily was not answering her question on purpose or for some other reason.
"I know what you mean." the younger witch agreed. "About loving the castle, I mean, not the civil war part. You know, until I met Harry, my life at Hogwarts was beyond hellish."
"How did you meet, by the way? All he or Suzie would tell me is that he helped you after you'd been attacked. They are both not much for storytelling."
"It's a bit embarrassing, but well...I'd just got the crap beat out of me by one of my Gryffindor year-mates. I was hiding behind a tapestry...scared, hurt, and alone." Lily was looking at her with compassion. "That's when your son rescued me."
"Really?" Lily asked.
"I was so scared of him to start with, you know, thinking that this boy that had somehow found my hiding place was going to hurt me even more. But you know what he did? He put down his wand and kicked it away so that I would know he meant me no harm. Then he just sat by me, but not too close because he somehow how knew I'd be scared. I think I may have even pointed my wand at him at one point." she chuckled.
"But he just sat there and waited until I was ready to talk. After a while we did talk for a bit and he finally convinced me to go to the infirmary and that's when I passed out from the pain...Madam Pomfrey told me that Harry carried me all the way there in his arms." she smiled. "You have no idea how grateful I was to him."
"A few weeks later, the same bastard attacked me again, in the Gryffindor common room of all places. Four people in the entire house tried to help me. Four! The rest of them just looked on; some laughed, some looked horrified, but not a one of them did anything to help me. I thought I was going to die, you know? But there was brief moment during the ordeal, just before I was beginning to lose all hope, that I remembered something Harry had told me: he'd always be there to protect me. And he did. He showed up like some white knight rescuing the damsel in distress. Susan, Neville, and Hannah stood right next to him while he dispatched the bastards that had hurt me. And you know what? He was more concerned with the fact that they'd actually laid a finger on me before he could help! He couldn't understand why I wasn't mad at him for not getting to me on time or because I was sporting a couple of bruises. Can you believe that?"
"You know, I kind of feel bad about yelling at him the other day." Lily said with a guilty look.
"About going after the basilisk like some bloody idiot?" Hermione asked. "Don't feel too bad, Mrs. Potter. We all had a go at him. Hannah nearly lost her voice she yelled at him so much. Neville just glared at him, although I think he was more upset that he'd not gone with Harry than that he'd put himself in mortal danger. Even the ever good-natured Luna ranted at him."
"Luna Lovegood, right? Strange, her mother wasn't one to ever lose her cool."
"Yup, she's our baby sister." Hermione laughed. "And odd is a pretty good way of describing her. As for losing her cool, she didn't just lose her cool, she went totally mental. I thought at one point that she was going to hex Harry something fierce, and Susan too for going with him. It really frightened her that they'd been in such danger. When she started crying, Harry just hugged her and whispered in her ear, reassuring her that everything was fine, that he and Susan were okay. Finally, when she broke the embrace, she looked up at him, smiled, and then punched him!"
"He didn't tell me that!" Lily laughed. "Good on her."
"So...?" Hermione prodded.
"So...what?" a perplexed Lily asked.
"Are you going to tell me what that is or not?" Hermione waved at the chalkboard.
"Ah, of course...forgive me! To begin, is there anything you hate about the castle with regards to your studying?"
"It's too dark! I can't study by candle-light. Honestly! It's almost the twenty-first century, you'd think wizards would try something different or come up with something new!" she said indignantly. "I'd kill for a light bulb!"
"And that is what this is." Lily said with a wave to the chalkboard. "I'm trying to find a way to create a new light source; one that doesn't need a match to work!"
"That would be wonderful!" Hermione agreed.
"Want to give me a hand?"
"Really?" the teenage witch said hopefully.
"Really, Hermione," Lily chastised, "We 'greatest witches of our generation' need to stick together, don't we? So, how are your Runes and Arithmancy coming along, because you'll need a solid understanding..."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
"I don't know what you two should expect," Filius explained honestly to the perplexed couple before him, "I was just instructed to send you, without your wands, to meet with your new tutor."
"Who is he, what's his name, how will me know him?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh, no...nope...not gonna tell you." Filius grinned. "That's something you will both have to figure out on your own. It would ruin the surprise otherwise. Go on now, you two, I promised Lord Black I'd have you both back home in time for dinner."
Susan squeezed Harry's hand, drawing his attention, and jerked her head toward the pensieve with a raised eyebrow. A nod from Harry and she was soon dragging him along toward the magical vessel. With but a moment's hesitation, Harry and Susan dunked their heads into the cloudy whirlpool.
The professor watched his two pupils as they entered the memory and sighed, hoping that the ornery Master could help them. Turning on his heels, he ambled over to a stone bench and plopped himself down, trying to get comfortable for what he was certain would be long morning and afternoon.
"They'll be okay, Filius." the gentle voice of Garrick said when he sat beside him.
"I know...it's just that I wish..."
"That it could've been you that taught them?"
"Yes, but I have a much better understanding of their need now. There is obviously no one alive that could instruct them."
"The young man glows with power and his young lady is almost his equal." Garrick stated plainly. "I found the two of them to be quite remarkable."
"I certainly think so." Filius replied thoughtfully.
"You know, that has got to be the most peculiar thing I've ever witnessed." Garrick said, pointing at the pensieve. Filius looked at him curiously. The old librarian rolled his eyes, "Their familiars, Filius."
"They are really close, I've noticed." mused Flitwick. "I think Hedwig, the owl, was a gift to Harry from Hagrid. It was Harry that gifted Puck to Susan."
"Look at them." the old goblin indicated the familiars. Puck was sitting on his haunches, staring intently at the pair of adults. Hedwig, who'd alighted herself on the edge of the pensieve, watched the pair of men suspiciously. "They know that their masters are indisposed and are guarding them, don't you think?"
"Hadn't really looked at it that way...makes sense though." Filius said, but elaborated when he saw the questioning look on his tutors face. "Familiars are common amongst wizards and witches; I suppose it's only natural for those two to be watching out for them."
"That goes beyond natural, Filius. A witch or wizard being close to their pets is, of course, natural. That over there, however, is not just being close. When have you ever heard of an owl standing guard in such a fashion? When have you seen a crup being so determined to watch over its mistress that it ignores its natural inclination, which would be to run around exploring the cavern? No, there's more to those two than meets the eye."
"Kind of like their master and mistress, I suppose."
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Hannah lounged on one of the park benches dotted Neville's greenhouse, feeling overcome with emotion since their return from St. Mungo's. Gran had disappeared into her study almost as soon as they'd arrived back at the Glen. She felt for the elderly witch.
She sighed sadly, seeing the wounded look that her boyfriend wore. Hannah understood that an hour or two in this, his favorite place, tending to his beloved plants would soon see him right. Once he was done grieving over his absent parents she'd take him in her arms, hold him tight, and he would cry like the heartbroken child he was.
Idly held in her hands was a book that one of the healers at St. Mungo's had very kindly copied for her. 'Unforgivables: A Study in Pain, Control, and Death', read the title. She'd flipped through the pages and was again disappointed at how little information the tome held. Sighing heavily, she wondered if she would ever be able to help her boyfriend and his parents. She wasn't one to give up hope, though, as she still had five years at Hogwarts and a number of years training to be a Healer before she could possibly be ready to help in any meaningful fashion.
The loud and boisterous conversation brought her out of her reverie, wondering who was making such a racket. She shouldn't have at all been surprised to see three Weasleys making their way towards her.
"Hey, Han!" Ginny called out, running towards her friend and giving her a quick hug.
"What are you guys doing here? I didn't think you'd show up until just before the wedding next week!" Hannah said with a big smile, giving hugs to the twins.
"Mom and Dad are having a talk with Sirius." Fred told the curious witch. "If what I think is happening is actually happening, then we'll probably end up staying here for the week."
Hannah frowned in confusion. "Huh?"
"They have to go to Romania." George added.
"It's that damnable Ron!" Ginny huffed angrily.
"What has that boy done now?" an inquisitive Hermione asked, walking into the greenhouse and sauntering up to the trio of Weasley's and giving them each a hug in greeting.
"When did you get back?" Hannah asked in surprise, not realizing that Hermione had been at the Glen.
"A few hours ago...I kind of got distracted..." she blushed slightly.
"Find another library, did you?" George asked.
"Something like that." she answered coyly, "So, what's your brother done now?"
Fred and George both looked angered and worried at the same time. Ginny looked furious.
"He ran away!" the tiny redhead yelled in disgust. "I can't believe he'd do that to my parents!"
"Oh no," Hermione gasped, "Your poor mom and dad must be so worried!"
"That's the reason they're talking to Sirius, making sure that it's okay for us to stay here for a few extra days."
"As if Sirius, Harry, or Susan would have a problem having you here, really, guys?" Hannah chuckled.
"Where is the dynamic duo, anyway?" Ginny asked.
"They're at Gringotts for the day, something to do with Professor Flitwick and getting some extra magical training for the two." Hermione said with a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"At Gringotts?" Fred asked with a raised eyebrow. "What, you don't think that's true?"
"No, I'm sure it's true, I'm just not sure if it's the whole truth." she replied a bit irritably.
"Hermione, you know they'll tell us what they can, when they can." Hannah rebuked the bushy-haired witch.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come off as whiny; I just worry about those two and have even more so since the Chamber..."
"Yeah, we know!" the twins teased.
"How's Nev?" a concerned looking George asked, having caught sight of the sad looking boy at the far end of the greenhouse with a blank look on his face as he mechanically tended to some exotic looking plant.
Hannah cast a glance at her love and sighed. "He'll be alright, guys. It'll just take him some time to come back to us. Seeing his parents...well, it's not good. He puts on such a brave face, but I can tell it's eating him up having to watch them suffer like that. But he still has hope."
"And he has you." Hermione reminded her. Hannah smiled at her bushy-haired friend and nodded.
"So you guys going to tell us what's going on with your brother?" Hannah inquired, shaking herself from her depressing thoughts.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
"Sirius, I'd like you to meet my eldest son, William." Mr. Weasley introduced.
"A pleasure it is to meet another Weasley, William, please call me Sirius." Sirius extended a hand.
"Bill, please, Sirius."
"Alright then, Bill it is. No Molly this time, Arthur?"
"One of the reasons I've come by to see you," a worried looking Arthur said, "our youngest son..."
"The one you sent to Romania, Ron, right?" Sirius interrupted.
"Yes," the older Weasley replied, "It seems that he's become unhappy with his current situation and ran away."
"Oh, Arthur, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I was hoping you'd take my three again, if it's not too much of an inconvenience?"
"Why would you even feel the need to ask? Rest easy, my friend, we'll make sure your lot is well taken care of. With the wedding in a few days, there will be lots to do and a lot to keep them entertained."
"Congratulations, by the way." Bill offered.
Sirius gave him a nod, "Can't hardly wait, it's a dream come true. So, is there anything I can do to help with your search?"
"Not at the moment, Sirius. Bill here, along with my other sons Charlie and Percy, have taken a few days off to see if they can help us track Ron down and bring him home. Molly and I just wanted to make sure that the twins and Ginny would be okay to stay here. We'll be off to Romania as soon as we get back to the Burrow."
"Have you any idea where he might have gone?"
"Last confirmed sighting of him was near a large forest on the border between Yugoslavia and Albania." a resigned Bill answered. "I'm a bit frightened for him; there are lots of stories about how dark magic abounds there. I'd hate to see him get caught up in something he can't handle.
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Ronald Weasley surveyed the forest before him with a slight frisson of fear. But he suppressed the emotion almost as soon as it had sprung up. What mattered most was that his destiny lay within the great expanse of woodlands. He'd become powerful and have his revenge on those that had kept him oppressed his whole life. He knew the moment he'd arrived in Romania that he'd eventually have to escape.
Working with creatures was beneath him. Attending to the needs of the dragon wranglers was beneath him. His family was beneath him.
His brother Charlie had been mortified at the unpleasant and obnoxious boy that was his younger brother. He was shocked to learn that he'd hurt his baby sister and felt not an iota of remorse. His father and mother had been at wits end in trying to find a solution to the problem that was Ron. Hoping that the hard life he led would be an eye-opener to his brother had not gone as he'd hoped. He'd been surly from the get go. Lazy, ill-mannered, bigoted, what the hell had made Ron like this? Where was all this anger coming from? If ever there was such a thing as a black sheep in the Weasley family, Ron had that position all sewn up. Despite his efforts, Charlie had given up at trying to reach him. He wasn't at all surprised to find that his brother had done a runner. But he had, despite his own personal feelings, called Bill immediately to help him search for the errant Weasley.
Until he'd heard the tale from his father, Bill was certain that everything he'd been told about Ron was some sort of mistake. Weasley's did not hurt one of their own, and yet the fading scar on Ginny's forehead told a different story. Weasley's did not take up with the pureblood dogma, and yet Ron had been spouting off about mudbloods and half-bloods like a true believer. Despite their father's meager earnings, the Burrow had been a place of untold love. How did love turn in to hate?
"Are you ready, Ronald?"
Ron turned his head and gave the man a curt nod. "I'm ready, Scabs."