Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling
Chapter Twelve: Marauders Revisited
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sat in his office and did something that he very seldom did. He sat and brooded. In fact, so foul was his mood that even his loyal phoenix, Fawkes, wanted nothing to do with him. It was thus that Professor McGonagall found him, an uncharacteristic scowl creasing his face.
"Albus, whatever is the matter? It's very unlike you to do this. If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were sulking." She stood there with her hands on her hips, her green tartan robes shimmering ever so slightly in the flickering candlelight.
"Ah, Minerva, not sulking, brooding. The difference is slight, but significant."
"You've done it then?" It wasn't really a question, more like a statement of fact. "You went ahead with your plans, even though you knew what it meant? Albus, how could you?"
"I am an old man, Minerva. Old and very tired. I truly live for only one thing, and you know that. I live to see Tom Riddle stopped, at all costs. I live for the future of our world. It was to that end that I have carried out my plans. It was not by accident that on the very night that Harry's parents were killed, Molly Weasley was giving birth to the first female Weasley in many generations. I have been at this for a long time. I cannot stop now, just because I don't care for the moral implications of my actions. If Harry and Ginny, as well as the rest of them are to have any chance at happiness; Tom Riddle must be defeated. The only one who can do that is Harry Potter, and the only way he can do that is to be bound to Ginny Weasley."
"So you have…"
"Bound them together, yes, through their training. Even Harry, with his vast storehouse of power and ability, has no idea that through prodigious planning it is psychologically and physiologically impossible for him to compatible with anyone but Ginny Weasley. This has been thought out long and hard. There was no other way, Minerva."
"But at what cost, Albus, what cost?" Concern was etched across Professor McGonagall's face.
"When this is over, my part is through. I fully intend to step down as Headmaster. You of course, should take my place. Harry and his friends shall take over as guardians of this world. Only then might they know peace. Only then may they find true happiness and contentment."
"Oh, Albus…"
*0*0*
Harry and his friends had gathered in the common room where they had appeared, that fateful first day. He had also asked Remus Lupin to be there, as well as Fred and George. This was to concern them as well. He looked around at them. Fred, George, and Ginny were animatedly discussing the newest line of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. It seemed that they had invested their portion of Sirius's will wisely. Hermione had enchanted both Trevor, Neville's toad, and Crookshanks, her cat, sending them flying around the room, much to Ron's delight and Neville's dismay. Neville and Luna were lounging on a couch, Luna with her head in a book, Notions of Potions. Ron was standing next to Lupin, chatting about Ron's favorite Quidditch team: the Chudley Cannons.
"All right, all right. Guys, lets focus on what we are here for, OK?" Harry said in a loud voice.
"But that's just it Harry, you never told us why you wanted us here," said George.
"Er, right. Well, you see, I had an idea after talking to Ron yesterday. He was telling me that he and Hermione had been puzzling over how to gain intelligence as to what Voldemort was doing and planning. Remus's visit here last week combined with that talk got me to thinking. I thought that we might re-form the Marauders."
This brought everyone up straight. "What?" eight voices rang out at once. Pandemonium reigned for a moment until Harry motioned them into silence.
"Please, please, hear me out. I know that we need ways of gaining intelligence. Think about the original Marauders," he waved over towards Lupin, "they were all shape shifters. Remus here is a werewolf, but the rest were all unregistered animagi. What better way to gather intelligence than to be able to take a form that the Death Eaters won't recognize. My Dad and his friends taught themselves to be animagi, so can we. It will be a lot of work, but it can be done."
"Harry, do you realize how dangerous this can be?" Remus had come over and laid his hand on Harry's shoulder. "We were young and foolish when we did this, Harry. I would advise you to think this through."
"But Harry, Ron and I are prefects. We couldn't do something like this," Hermione said.
"Harry," said Fred and George together, "What do you need us for?"
"Wicked." Said Ron and Ginny. Neville just looked worried. Luna seemed oddly amused.
"Listen, all of you. We would have help. Professor Dumbledore said that He and Professor McGonagall were at our call. Remus, I need you around as our advisor. A counselor as it were. I trust you and your judgment. Hermione, Remus was a prefect too. Don't worry, we'll cover our tracks. Speaking of which, that is where you two come in. In order to allay suspicion, I figure that we should keep your memory alive and well at Hogwarts. Therefore, we will garner a reputation as jokers and troublemakers. If we are found out then we can always claim that Hermione and Ron were trying to stop us. So to this end, I need to place an open order for as much of your supplies as we can get. I think that we can arrange for a fair price to make sure that you stay well in business."
"You got it, mate. It's always a pleasure doing business with you." The twins proceeded to put their heads together, obviously coming up with an inventory list to present to Harry.
"Anyway, that's the idea. Is everyone in? We can only do this if we are all in agreement." Slowly everyone started to nod.
"Harry, as much as I may not like the idea, I have to admit that it is probably the best idea we have."
"Thanks Hermione, now, the six of us need to get down to the room of requirements to have our next session.
*0*0*
Ron was sitting with Hermione and his family anxiously awaiting the end of the Triwizard Tournament. There seemed to be a lot of confusion down there, people were running back and forth looking for something. He just knew that something had gone wrong. It was then that Harry suddenly appeared in the middle of the pitch, carrying a limp body and holding the Triwizard cup. He slowly collapsed to his knees. Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge ran up to him, followed by Professor Moody.
That was when the screeching cry came. "He's Dead! He's Dead! Cedric Diggory is dead. Ron's heart leapt into his throat. If Diggory was dead, what had happened to Harry? He watched as Moody took a shaken looking Harry towards the castle.
"Mum, we've got to get to Harry, he needs us now!"
"Of course, Ron. We're the closest thing he has to a family. Come on Bill, boys, Ginny, lets get going. Ron, Hermione, lead us to the infirmary please."
They had reached the infirmary only to be stopped by Madame Pomfrey. "But, Harry's in there and he needs us!" screamed Ron at her. We're his only family. You have to let us in. If anything has happened to him, and you don't let us in, I swear…" by this point his parents had joined in, followed quickly by the rest in a little gang surrounding Madame Pomfrey.
That was when the door opened revealing Professor Dumbledore, with Harry behind him and a large black dog. It had to be Sirius. Thank the maker. Mum let out a kind of muffled scream.
"Harry! Oh Harry!" She started to hurry toward him, but Dumbledore moved between them.
"Molly," he said, holding up a hand, "please listen to me for a moment. Harry has been through a terrible ordeal tonight. He has just had to relive it for me. What he needs now is sleep, and peace, and quiet. If he would like you all to stay with him," he added, looking around at Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Bill too, "you may do so. But I do not want you questioning him until he is ready to answer, and certainly not this evening."
Mum looked very pale as she nodded. She rounded on Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Bill and hissed, "Did you hear? He needs quiet!"
"Headmaster," said Madame Pomfrey, staring at Sirius's dog form, "may I ask what…"
"This dog will be remaining with Harry for a while," said Dumbledore. "I assure you, he is extremely well trained. Harry, I will wait while you get into bed."
After Harry did so, he said "I will be back to see you as soon as I have met with Fudge, Harry. I would like you to remain here tomorrow until I have spoken to the school." With that he turned around and left.
After Harry had gone to sleep all hell broke loose. The Minister for Magic started an argument with Mum and Professor Dumbledore, waking Harry in the mean time. Ron wanted so badly to just get up and punch Fudge in the nose. He was blaming Harry for making up stories. How could he ignore what Harry and Dumbledore were telling him.
It all ended up with everyone being kicked out of the infirmary, and the kids being sent back to their dormitory, after Ron persuaded Mum that Sirius was really looking out for Harry's best interests.
Back at the dormitory Ron turned to look at Hermione and Ginny. "I'm going back."
"Ron, how are you going to do that? You'll just get caught and in trouble."
"No Hermione, I won't. I'll be using Harry's invisibility cloak. I think you should go with me."
"Your not going anywhere without me, Ron!" yelled Ginny wheeling on him, her eyes blazing.
"Alright, we'll all go. Let me go get the cloak."
When they had gotten back to the infirmary and made sure that Madame Pomfrey was nowhere to be found, they settled in at Harry's bedside to begin the long vigil through the night till their best friend awoke.
Once again the experience was personally draining for both participants. Harry was yawning and trying to stretch. Ron was sitting there gasping for air, waiting for feeling to come back to him. He was smiling though. Harry asked him what he was smiling about.
"Well, Harry, I just realized. We go back to school in less than a week." Grabbing Hermione he slowly made his way out of the room and off to bed.
Author's Note: I know that Ginny's birthday is on August 12th, but at the time that I wrote this it wasn't revealed yet. It came out shortly thereafter. I am keeping it as it fits the storyline. Have no fear, I address that fact later in the story... The chapter reccomendation is "Aspirations" by Potteraholic. Great H/G fic.
