Sorry for the long wait but I've been very busy, and also this is a really long chapter. I hope to post the new chapter sooner. The only thing I'm going to tell you about the next chapter is that is going to be filled with action and that it's going to be long.
I also want to say that I'm sorry for the confusion I made when I called Harry and Ginny lovers. The thing is that I was too lazy to look up in the dictionary. Anyway, that's it. Hope you like it although the end is kind of rushed because I got bored of writing this chapter and also because I didn't know what else to write.
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14. If I were you, I'd put that down.
The sun had risen and its rays played on Monica's face. Mumbling she covered her face with the pillow but unfortunately D'Artagnan had other plans for her. He started hitting her softly on the hand. She covered both her hands so she wouldn't feel D'Artagnan's touch but when doing this the pillow felt off her face and the light entered in her eyes. She mumbled tired:"Leave me alone!" and hided under the covers. Just then she heard the door from her room open and someone entering it. She kept her eyes closed hoping her grandfather would leave. The old man came to her bed and sat on it. He put his hand gently over the girl and whispered: "Wake up sleeping beauty."
"Oh, do I have to?" asked Monica reluctantly.
"I'm afraid you have. Our friends are coming today and we need to get ready."
"Oh right." Monica said totally unhappy. She got of bed and went to bathroom to clean herself.
"I'll be in the kitchen." Said Romendacil leaving.
Monica turned on the shower. She didn't know why, but she wasn't feeling too well. She was a bit dizzy and she felt like vomiting. "Just great, now that I have a lot of things to solve I have to get sick." She thought bitterly entering the shower.
After she finished she dressed into a pair of black jeans and a black crewneck sweater that once had been dark red, but she had changed the color after Radu and Madalina died. The reason was that in her country it was a custom to wear black clothes for a year after someone dear died, although not everybody did it. She used a bit of eye liner and mascaras (her daily make-up) and went into the kitchen. When she saw the pancakes her vomiting sensation got worse.
"Are you alright?" asked her grandfather worried when seeing her disgusted look.
"I feel like vomiting. I think I ate too much last night. Do you mind if I eat an orange?"
"No problem. Do you want anything else?"
"No." Monica said taking a sit and peeling off an orange.
"If you're not feeling well we can postpone your visit at Hogwarts." Said the man looking her in the eyes.
"No, I'm going today. I hope they'll want to come with me. I really don't feel like going there by myself." Said Monica thoughtfully.
"Yes, I also hope that." Added the old man.
After they finished breakfast they both took their wands and daggers and went to the new apparition site because in the place of the other one now was a road.
They apparated at The Burrow and found everyone waiting for them. After half an hour of saying good bye to a crying Mrs. Weasley they finally managed to apparate in the wood next to the manor.
"Now that we are here, I think it is time for me to tell you the two golden rules of the house." Said Romendacil very serious. His statement made Ron chock with his own saliva and he was coughing violently. Hermione started patting him on the back but because he was still coughing she started hitting him harder until he finally stopped. His face was red and said with a croaked voice: "Honestly Hermione, were you trying to kill me?"
"What?" asked Hermione confused.
"I'm a human not a sack of potatoes to hit it like that." Said Ron.
"Well, excuse me! Next time I'll let you chock to death." Said Hermione visibly offended.
Meanwhile Harry and Ginny were looking at Romendacil with surprised faces. Both the old man and Monica could hardly stop themselves from laughing.
"Rule number 1: Never call me Mr. Romendacil or anything like that. I'm Argeleb for you. Who ever calls me mister will have to wash the dishes for a whole week without magic. Rule number 2: as long as you live in this manor you won't have to contribute with money. I will pay for all the expenses." Said the old man very serious although he could hardly stop himself from laughing of the surprised faces the four teens had. Monica was giggling pretty hard. "What else did you think I was going to say?" asked Romendacil with an innocent look on his face. Both he and Monica went ahead of the shocked teens. They suddenly came to a halt. The four friends looked surprised at each other for they couldn't see any manor from there.
Monica and Romandacil took out their wands and daggers.
"Now, this might shock you but unfortunately it is inevitable if you want to be able to go in and out of this place whenever you want." At this the man put a paralyzing spell over his left hand and with the dagger he made a cut in his left palm, blood dripping over the ground. Monica did the same thing and then went to Hermione and took her hand and put a paralyzing spell over her hand, but just when she was about to cut it, Hermione withdrawal her hand. At the same time, Crookshanks hissed from his cage.
Monica smiled adding: "I swear this doesn't hurt." And before Hermione could object Monica had taken her hand and made a cut. After this she put her bloody hand over Hermione's. After a few seconds she withdrawal her hand and put a healing spell over the girl's hand. "Did it hurt?" Monica asked. Hermione nodded. "I didn't feel anything."
"I told you." Monica added smiling.
"What's the point of all this?" asked Harry.
"You'll find out soon enough." Said the old man with a mysterious smile over his face as he took Harry's hand and did the same thing as Monica. After they did the same thing to Ginny and Ron, Romendacil spoke once again:
"Without what we just did, you would have never been able to come here without me and Monica. This place is surrounded by very powerful magic that no one can break. Now, I would very much appreciate if you would learn by heart the following things I'm going to say: Panta i' ando, Tel' tura naa sinome." And the man started waking ahead, followed by Monica. The four friends followed them quickly with their levitated luggage hitting each other.
"Wow." Whispered Hermione when seeing the manor.
"This is bloody wonderful." Added Ron.
Harry and Ginny remained silent both holding each other hand. They quickly let go of their hands as Romendacil turned around to look at their faces.
"You can hold your hands in my presence, you know. I won't bite you." Said the man smiling. "Monica can assure you of that, after all I did catch her and Radu kissing once." At this he stopped abruptly. It had been very stupid of him to mention that. He looked worried at Monica expecting her to burst or something. Instead Monica smiled.
"It's true, you didn't bite him but you did menace him that if he would ever hurt me you'd hex him so bad that no one would be able to recognize him"
"I was joking!" said the man in his defense.
"Yeah, well poor Radu panicked. It was the second time he was threatened because of me."
"Indeed Andrea is someone to fear." Said the old man thoughtfully. And they both started to laugh while walking to the house.
"Who's Andrea?" asked Ginny curious.
"She's my best friend. We know each other since I was one year old and she was two. We practically grow up together. She's not the kind the person you'd want to annoy, I mean, she did break a boy's nose twice. She had been classmate with Radu for eight years, and although she did know him well, she still menaced him to beat him if he broke my heart. Every time I see pissed off I'm glad she's not a witch." Answered Monica. By now they had arrived at the house. They all entered into the hall. The four friends gasped when seeing how beautiful the house was. Monica and her grandfather waited for their new friends to regain themselves. Romendacil was the first one to speak.
"Before Monica shows you your rooms, there is something that I want to ask you."
"Yes, sir." Said Harry politely.
The old man changed his attention from Harry to a fly and didn't say the question. Harry looked confused at the man. Monica moved her lips motioning Argeleb.
"Eh, yes Ar…Argeleb." Said Harry.
"That's much better." Said the man smiling. His smile faded quickly as he became once again serious. "I know that you are very anxious to start the search for the Horcruxes, but unfortunately there still are some things that Monica and I need to solve before anything else. That is why I would very much appreciate if you would go with Monica today to Hogwarts. There is no point in worrying about what Minerva might say about you for I have a letter for her in which I explain her why you quitted school. The explanation is the same one I have given to your parents."
"I don't think there's any problem." Said Harry looking at his friends to see if they had any objections. No one said anything.
"Wonderful. I'll talk right now with Minerva. Meanwhile you go and settle your luggage." Said the man as he went through the right door.
"Follow me." Said Monica climbing up the stairs. They went at the first floor and to the right. They were greeted but a lot of murmurs from the paintings. Monica pretended not to hear them and talk.
"The first two rooms are mine and grandpa's. You can have any room you want except the last one." They chose their rooms as following: Ron took the room next to Monica, then Harry, Ginny and Hermione. They were all surprised about the rooms. They were really big and beautiful. After they put the luggage they went towards the staircase. Monica had to stop telling her friends that they could arrange their rooms however they liked it, because someone suddenly shouted:
"WHO ARE THEY!"
Monica turned around and smiled innocently at a very angry man from a painting: "Did you say something?" she said with a false polite voice.
"We asked you who they are!" asked the same man still angry.
"You'd like to know that, don't you? Well first learn to answer my questions." Said Monica turning her back at the paintings and leading the group to the ground floor. From behind, they could hear the angry protests of the paintings.
"What was that all about?" asked Harry.
"Just a bunch of stupid paintings." Said Monica disgusted.
"How can you call them like that? They are relatives, aren't day? Shouldn't you show more respect towards them?" said Hermione in her know-it-all characteristic way.
"Hmphh. Respect! I'll show them respect when they'll start to show it to me."
"Judging by all the noise, I guess you got into another argument with the paintings?" Said Romendacil with a note of amusement in his voice.
"What else?" said the girl simply.
"What was it this time?"
"They asked me who are our guests and I told them that I will only answer their question when they'll start to answer mines."
"Good. You'll see that soon they'll start to respect you."
"I sure hope so for their own good or else I'll forget that we are relatives and set them on fire." Said Monica with a dark tone.
"Anyway, I talked to Minerva and she will be meeting you in forty-five minutes at the front gates." Said Romendacil.
"In that case I'll go and change." Said Monica going towards the stairs.
"Why?" asked Ron confused.
"Because today is a big day." Said the girl in a mysterious way. And she disappeared from their sight. The others went into the dinning room.Fifteen minutes later, Monica made her appearance. She was dressed very strange even for a witch. She had a pair of black elegant trousers. She was also wearing a pitch black long coat. The sleeves of the coat were quite large and in had silver buttons and borders. Only the upper half of her hair was caught into a ponytail, the rest falling freely over her shoulders. She also had and elegant leader purse. She looked eerie, like she wasn't from this world.
"Are you ready?" asked the girl at the bewildered faces of the people in the room.
"Yeah." Said Hermione standing up. The rest followed her and after 5 minutes they were all at the apparition point.
"This is the letter I want you to give Minerva." He said giving Monica the letter. "Are you sure you took all the papers?"
The girl opened her purse and checked if she had everything. "Yap, it's all here."
"Good, now go and good luck."
"Thanks. Bye!" She said and disapparated. The others also disapparted, Harry helping Ginny.
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They were close to the gates and could see a lonely silhouette waiting for them. They quickened their paces. Their arrival in Hogsmead didn't pass unnoticed. For the first time that Harry could remember, he was not in the center of attention but Monica was. Everyone looked at her with great curiosity. Harry had to admit that they indeed had a reason to look at her like that. It was like she had changed completely. Her once boyish moves were now full of grace. She walked like she was floating and had an aura of mystery.
"Good day." Said Monica politely to McGonagall
"Good day professor." Said the others in a chorus.
"Good day to you too." Answered the professor. She looked much older. "Who are you may I ask?"
"I am Monica Popescu ."
The professor looked surprised. "You are the girl from Romania!."
"Yes. I'm sure that there are a lot of questions that you want to put me, but I think we should go somewhere private." Said the girl politely.
At this the professor nodded and walked to the school in a perfect silence. When they came to the floor where the headmistress' office was, they came across Peeves. He started throwing water balloons into them from behind.
"Peeves go away!" Shouted the professor.
"Make me!" shouted the poltergeist. The professor turned around, and so did the others. She raised he wand and yelled Stuppefy but missed the poltergeist.
"Poor old Minerva, can't Stuppefy even a poltergeist." Said Peeves ruddely.
"She told you to stop." Said Monica angrily.
"And who are…" Peeves stopped dead. "I'm so sorry young mistress." Said the poltergeist suddenly as he started to bow. " I did not know that you are here. I am most sorry. I am your most humble servant…"
"Oh, shout up! You wouldn't talk to me like that if you didn't fear me."
"Why, young mistress, that thought is far from. I can assure you…" started Peeves to talk quickly, visibly afraid of the girl.
"I can assure you that even if I look like a naïve person, I'm not. You are afraid of me because you know that I can send you on the other world. I would advise you to start listening to Mrs. McGonagall, that if you don't want me to put a tiny little spell on you that I'm certain you won't like." Monica told this to Peeves in a very calm way. She even smiled at him, a smile that made him tremble.
"I am so sorry; never did I intend to anger your majesty."
At this Monica laughed. "This is the first time someone calls me majesty. I feel most flattered, but I have to tell you that I'm not even a princess. Anyway, go and find something better to do with your time." Without waiting to be told twice, Peeves disappeared.
"You can send him on the other world!" asked Ron incredulously.
"Theoretically speaking, I can, practically, no, because I don't know the spell."
"But you told him that you could!" said Harry surprise.
"Actually I advised him to leave if he didn't want me to put a spell on him, I never mentioned what spell." Said Monica winking.
The professor was once again surprised. "But the only ones who can do that are…"
"Please Mrs. McGonagall, I'd rather discuss this in your office." The professor nodded and proceeded to the statue of a griffin.
"Bumbling baboon." Said the professor to the statue of a griffin which moved aside revealing a moving stair. The rest followed the professor.
Monica remained shocked when seeing the large circular room, but soon she was horrified when seeing the large number of moving paintings. She cursed in her mind.
"Eh, professor…"she said going next to the old lady and whispering her last words "could we go into a free of paintings room?"
"My dear Monica, I can assure you that my friends can be trusted." Said an amused male voice. Monica looked around surprised and then saw the painting of Dumbledore sitting on the table.
"Oh, good day Mr. Dumbledore. I'm sorry but I didn't see you." Said Monica sheepishly.
"Yes, I can see that by myself." The man's voice became serious. "How are you feeling?"
Monica shrugged. "As anyone would feel if he would see his best friend and his love die." Answered Monica sadly. Her statement was followed by an awkward silence.
"I know you'll hate me for this, by why did Voldemort attack you and your family." Said the old man serious.
"I don't hate you for putting this question. The answer is quite easy. Since you first saw me you knew that there was more about me than Mr. Romendacil was telling you. Indeed I am, as you have always suspected, Ancalime's and Keanu's daughter."
At this McGonagall gasped and looked incredulously at Monica then at Dumbledore and back at Monica.
"You mean you…but that…I saw the body and…" The professor had lost her words. Finally she managed to regain herself and speak even if it was a small proposition. "I thought you were dead."
"Everyone thought that. The only ones who knew that I was alive were grandpa and my adopting parents."
"Indeed that makes a lot of sense now that I think about it." Said Dumbledore thoughtfully.
"Yes it does." Whispered Monica to herself. She noticed everybody looking at her curiously. She could read on everyone's face the question What did you mean by that?
"I have a letter for you." She said taking out the letter from her purse and giving it to McGonagall. Hopefully that would help her change the subject.
The old lady took the letter and started to read it. Her eyes narrowed. After she finished she put down the letter suspiciously asked. "Albus, is this true?"
"If you don't tell me what you want to know, then I won't be able to answer you question." Answered the man politely. At this Monica's heart froze. Shit, this was not in the plan. Thought Monica desperately.
"Is it true that you asked Argeleb to teach Ms. Granger, Ms. Lovegood, Mr. and Ms. Weasley, Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom after your death?" asked McGonagall with a harsh voice. The man didn't look surprised about the news or if he was surprised, he was an excellent actor because he didn't let anyone see that he didn't know about the arrangement. "Yes indeed I have asked Argeleb to do that." Said the painting eyeing Monica. "I haven't told you that before because I wasn't sure if this was the reason our young students had quitted school."
"There is a favor my grandpa and I would like to ask you, Mrs. McGonagall." Continued Monica.
"And what would that be?"
"We would like to know when the next meeting of the order will take place."
"And why would you want to know that?" asked the professor curiously.
"My grandfather would like me to become a member of your Order of Phoenix."
"What! But you're too young!" said the professor surprised. Monica could feel the paintings staring at her. She tried her best to ignore them. "Albus, this really can't be possible!"
"I'm afraid, my dear Minerva, that Monica is right. It's almost an year since she became a member." Responded the painting of Dumbledore in a very calm way.
"You can't be serious! She's only a child. She can't possibly have enough knowledge to fight against the Death Eaters." Said the professor ignoring the girl. At this remark Monica clenched her fist and talked as calm as she could. She hated when people treated her like she was a child.
"I can assure you, that even if I'm not even eighteen yet, I have enough knowledge to fight against a Death Eater. Both Madalina and I have worked for the order as spies since we were only fifteen. I know very well that this is not a game. And another thing, Madalina and I were not the only ones of our age, although we were the only ones accepted in the order. The tasks we had to pass for that, make the final exams of the Auror training seem a child's play." Surprisingly even to her, she had said all this like she was talking about the weather. McGonagall looked at her in shock and then she changed her gaze at Dumbledore.
"Professor, are you OK?" asked Hermione cautiously.
"Yes Ms. Granger, I'm fine. Just a little surprised that's it."
"How did Voldemort find out about you?" asked Dumbledore.
"We don't know. The only ones who knew about my true identity were my parents, Radu, Madalina and I think Feanor." Answered Monica simply.
"How did the last three found out?" asked Dumbledore alarmed.
"Madalina was with me when I found out. After one of ours first missions, we went to grandpa to tell him what we had found out. When we wanted to open the door we heard grandpa arguing with someone. We believed that the second man was Feanor who we hadn't seen in a year. Although we were very excited about seeing him we waited. That's when I heard Feanor saying something like: Monica needs to know. This caught both mines and Madalina's attention. Grandpa replied angrily that he didn't need anyone to tell him what to do about his granddaughter. That's when I forgot about manners and knocked at the door, opening it before I got my answer. When we got in, the other man had disappeared. Grandpa had no other choice but to answer my questions. Radu knew this from me, because after all he was my boyfriend." Monica finished her story sadly. She could feel the eyes sting because of the tears but managed to control herself.
"Are you sure they didn't tell anyone about this." Dumbledore asked.
"Very sure." Was Monica's answer.
Suddenly the voice of two men arguing could be heard outside the doors of the office. Everybody turned his head toward the doors. Just then the doors opened letting in a very short man who was talking very fast and another tall one who reminded Monica of a lion. The tall man looked like he couldn't even hear the other one.
"McGonagall, I heard you have some interesting guests." said the man in a false polite voice.
"Scrimgeour, what are you doing here?" Said McGonagall standing up and visibly unhappy about it.
"Minerva, I'm sorry, I tried to tell him that you are busy." Said the short man apologetically.
"It's alright Filius. You may leave us." Said McGonagall to the short man without taking her eyes of the Minister. She looked like she was going to kill the man in front of her.
"I don't recall inviting you here." Said the professor putting a strong accent on her every word.
"I don't need your permeation to come here. After all I am the Minister." Responded the man forcefully.
"I will not have you put your nose into my business!" Said the professor, her voice more hysterical.
"What you do here is my business!" countered the man.
"The Old Rules said that no one outside the school can get involved in the way the school is run. When the founders made that that rule were right. Last time the Ministry tried to intervene, the result was a total chaos." This time it was Hermione the one who spoke. The professor looked proudly at her all-time favorite student. Scrimgeour gave the girl a dirty look but then he smiled pleasantly.
"I've heard about you. You must be Ms. Granger, am I right?"
"Yes." Answered the girl surprised.
The man didn't pay attention to the girl. He turned his head towards the two redheads.
"You must be Arthur's younger children. I hope you will take after your parents and always stick to your believes." said the man smiling, but once again, he didn't wait for their answer.
"Ah, Harry. Long time, no see. I trust you have considered my offer over the summer."
"Actually I didn't. My answer is still no. I will never become the Ministry puppet."
"To bad, you lose." Said the man ignoring Harry's last comment. "I don't think I know you." He said the finally looking at Monica. The way the Minister had behaved annoyed her greatly so she decided to make a little fun of him. She stood up and stretched her hand towards the man. "My name is Morwen Silverwhite. Friends call me Monica, but you can call me Ms. Silverwhite." Everyone, accept Monica and Scrimgeour, giggled at her answer. The man looked at her like he had just seen a ghost. Monica continued to hold her right hand in front of the man until he finally managed to regain himself from the shock and kissed her hand. At this she withdrawal her hand and continued. "You might know me as Monica Popescu, the girl who had been attacked in Romania."
The man's eyes glittered when hearing the name. Monica could almost see how his mind was working in developing a plan. In the end he said: "May I have a word with you in private?"
"I'm afraid not. You see, my parents taught me that it is very rude to whisper things in front of other people or in this case to go into another room and discus. I'm sure that whatever you want to discuss with me, can be said here." Monica said this in an innocent voice. The minister wasn't happy at all about this.
"Please miss, it won't take long."
"No, I'm sorry but good manners are very important to me." Said Monica kindly. This only annoyed more the man.
"Yes, well if you insist. I know that you want to become an Auror. I want to offer you that job." Said the man pleasantly. This only made Monica more suspicious.
"But I haven't even started my Auror training." Said the girl cautiously.
"I know that but I'm sure you don't need it. After all you're Romendacil's granddaughter, I'm sure he trained you well. With this war we need as much help as we can get."
"A correct translation of what you just said is that you need a front puppet. Someone to use as a mascot." Said the girl seriously.
"Where did you get this idea from?" asked the man with a false innocent voice.
"Stop pretending that you don't know what I'm talking about. You hate my grandfather's guts. You only want to use me. I warn you, you're not the first one. Many others have tried to do this and no one succeed. The ones who thought they did it were just a bunch of fools, because I let them intentionally to take advantage of me." Monica said this in a very dangerous voice.
"You'll regret talking to me like that!" yelled the man angrily. "I'll send you back to that stupid country of yours. As far as I'm concerned, Ludovic can wipe his ass with you." This made Monica angrier, but she managed to keep her cool. She knew that if she behaved like she didn't care about what he had just said, he would only make a worst fool of himself.
"As much as you'd like to do that I'm afraid you can't send me back." She took some papers from her purse. "As you see, I have a muggle passport, a wizard passport and most important, I have a paper signed by you in which you make me an England's citizen."
"What!" he asked surprised. He couldn't have possibly signed that paper recently. He took the said paper and looked at it. His heart stopped. It was dated ten month ago. Romendacil had outsmarted him again.
"Grandpa was right. You are a very good auror but when it comes to politics you have, like my father would say, the grace of an elephant in a china shop." Monica had said this with a mocking voice.
"Why you little…" said the man angry taking out his wand and pointing it at Monica. The girl didn't even blink. She gave the man a look that would freeze ones blood. She looked very much like her father and Harry wasn't the only one who noticed that. Dumbledore and Ginny also did.
"If I were you, I'd put that down." Said the girl as she took out a small rectangular black box with many buttons. She pushed one of the buttons and then another one and a strange sound could be heard. Then she pushed another one and the voice of Scrimgeour could be heard:…of yours. As far as I'm concerned, Ludovic can wipe his ass with you. Monica pushed another button and the voice stopped. "This is a muggle recorder. Grandpa bewitched it so it would work here. I'm sure that the Romanian Minister of Magic will be more than glad to here what you think about him and about his protégé. Imagine what a scandal it would make. Although I'm sure the newspapers would be gladder to hear it. This would permanently damage your already suffering public image. One year and only two innocent people caught so far. I don't know how you can show your face in the public."
"Incendio!" yelled the man at the recorder but the flames never hit it.
"Do you think I'd be that stupid and not put a shield over the recorder?"
Srimgeour was red in the face. Monica realized that she had crossed the line and that she was waking on thin ice but it was too late. She had lost her calm. It was one thing when people talked bad about her and another when they talked like that about people she respected.
"You'll pay for this!" the man said spinning around and walking to door. With a quick move the girl locked the doors and spoke with a totally inhuman voice: "Stay in my way and you will pay for it." With another quick move she unlocked the doors. Scrimgeour stormed out of the room. The room remained quite. Only Monica's breath could be heard, as she was trying to calm down. After a couple of seconds Monica spoke again in her normal way: "Sorry about that. I exaggerated it badly. It's just that I hate when people talk bad the persons I respect."
"Yes, I understand that. You remind me of your father. " Said the man eyeing the girl. He knows. Wonderful. I hated having to lie to him. Thought Monica.
"But at the same time I'm very different to him." Said the girl. Everyone looked at them not understanding what they were talking about.
"Monica, you know, you really shouldn't have annoyed him like that. You may have a lot of troubles because of him." Said Ron wisely.
"I don't care. He can't touch me without starting an international scandal. It's true that I exaggerated but, at least I'll have the front page in tomorrow's Daily Prophet." Monica said with a satisfied look.
"And why would you want that?" asked Ginny.
"Because this way I'm sure that Voldemort will know that I'm here and he'll concentrate all his efforts in finding me thus leaving my family alone." Said Monica like this was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I believe that you and Argeleb do realize that you're playing with the fire." said the old man warningly.
At this Monica smiled: "That's what we've been doing for the past three years and I wouldn't change that. Now about our initial discussion, can you please tell me when the next order meting will take place? Asked the girl looking at McGonagall.
"The day after tomorrow at eight o'clock." She took a two pieces of paper and scribed something on them. When she finished she sealed them. "Harry and the others will take you at the place of the meting. When you get there just read what I've written." The girl took the piece of paper.
"Thank you very much for trusting me. You don't know how much it means to me." Monica said this very politely and stood up. "I think it is time for us to leave. I'm sure that there are a lot of important things you need to solve."
"You can't leave so soon. I insist that you stay here for lunch. I'm sure that there are many persons who would like to meet you not to mention that many of my colleges will be more then glad to see their ex-students." At this Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron blushed very bad.
"What do you think?" Monica asked them. They all nodded their heads slowly.
"Wonderful!" Said the professor. "Let's go."
"Wait." Said Monica as she opened the recorder taking out the tape and throwing it in the fire.
"Why did you throw it?" asked Ginny surprised.
"Because I can't risk Mr. Ionenscu or Ludovic if you prefer, to find out about this. Scrimgeour has enough enemies within the other foreign ministers and this would totally ruin him."
"Why? Is it because you're his protégé?" asked Ginny.
"Yes."
"But how come." Asked Ron.
"Because he's a very good friend of grandpa." Answered the girl simply.
They got out of the office and passed through so many corridors and doors that Monica soon lost track of the place. Finally they got to the marble stair and climbed it down. That's when Monica heard a strange voice call her in elfish. She looked around and saw a pair of bright blue eyes looking at her from behind a door.
"I'm sorry, but can you tell me were the bathroom is. I really need to go there." Asked Monica.
"It's right there." Said the professor pointing her index towards one of the doors.
"You go ahead. I'll come after you." Said Monica pretending to go to the bathroom. After everybody disappeared behind the doors of the Great Hall she went to the door where she had seen those blue eyes. She opened the door slowly. She couldn't help but gasp when seeing how the room was decorated. It perfectly imitated a forest. She saw a centaur with blond hair staying with his back at the door and looking at the smoke of a small fire.
"Good day." Said Monica cautiously.
"Good day to you too, Morwen. Come in, I've been expecting you."
"You have?" she said before she could stop herself.
"Yes, all the signs indicated that the heir of the Dark Lord is alive." Said the centaur with an uncharacteristic concern.
"What do you mean?" asked the girl very concerned going next to the centaur. The centaur didn't answer her question but kept staring at the smoke. Monica looked at the fire. Her heart stopped. The silhouette of a bold man had formed. It reminded her very much of Voldemort and next to him it was…her. Monica closed and opened her eyes a couple of times to be sure that she had seen it right. Unfortunately the image didn't change. Also between them there was a baby crib with two new born children. A snake was coiled around her left arm and the man's right one like it was creating a bound between them. Monica took a couple of steps back. "Who are you?" she asked with a trembling.
"I'm Firenze, but my name is not important." Said the centaur trying to calm her.
"It's lying! It can't be! That's not who I am!" The girl said pointing towards the smoke and taking more steps back.
Firenze caught her arms and looked her in the eyes. "The smoke is never wrong and you know it. This is your destiny. You can't run from it forever."
"But I'm not like him." The girl said frightened.
"I know that although you do resemble him in a lot of ways. You should consider that maybe your mission is not to fight directly against him." Said the centaur with a calm voice.
"What do you mean?" the girl could feel the room starting to spin around. This can't be happening. She thought.
"The Dark Lord wants you very much and he will stop at nothing to have you and your children. The only way you can help The Light is by joining him and keeping him busy until they find a way to destroy him." Explained the centaur.
"What children? I don't have kids." Said the girl panicked.
"These children." Said the centaur delicately touching her abdomen.
"You mean, but…I'm pregnant?" she asked bewildered.
"Yes." She just looked at him in shock. I'm pregnant. But how? We've always been careful. This is wonderful. Though the girl and suddenly hugged the centaur and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for telling me this! This is the most wonderful thing that happened to me in the past few months." She kept jumping up and down around the room although she had a small problem about that: family. She didn't know how they would react.
"Could you please keep this a secret for now?" asked the girl pleadingly.
"Your secret is safe with me but you'll have to tell your family soon. You can't hide a pregnancy."
"I know, I just have to figure out when and how I'm going to tell them the news."
"You'd better go now. I'm sure your friends are waiting for you." Said Firenze.
"Your right, I totally forgot about them. Good bye." Said the girl making a bow.
"Good bye to you too." Said the centaur making a bow at the girl, which was a rare thing because centaurs didn't bow in front of anyone.
The girl reached the door. "Before you leave, I have two advices for you. First of all don't forget what I've told you. You will know when the time is right for you to join The Dark Lord. Secondly, I know that you had strong bounds with the centaurs from Romania but you will find that my brothers are not that social. If I were you, I would go to them
only if I had no other choice. They might forget who you are and hurt you because your friends offended them greatly when they took that Umbridge woman into the forest."
"Yes, Charley mentioned me something about the accident. What they did was really stupid." With this the girl left the room. Even thought this was no time to have two children Monica couldn't help herself from being very happy about it although if Radu had been alive she would have very angry about it. After all she was a bit too young to be a mother, but right now she didn't care anymore. She'd have something to remember her of the man she loved. As she walked deep into her thoughts she felt like somebody throw a bucket of ice-cold water into her.
"ARGH!" Monica yelled and somehow tripping into her coat and falling flat on her back. "Super!" was the next thing she said as she saw the enchanted ceiling.
"Are alright young mistress?" asked a ghost.
"What! I'm fine." She said removing herself of the floor. Just them a very strong hand tried to clean her. Monica felt like a train had just hit her.
"Hagrid I think that's enough." Said the worried voice of McGonagall as she came to check if the girl was fine.
Monica turned around and saw the half giant that Charley had told her so much about.
"Are you Ok?" asked the professor.
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine. They just scared me because I hadn't seen them." Said Monica.
"We're so sorry young mistress." said the phantom of a man that wore a high collar.
"It's nothing and please don't call me mistress. I'm Monica." Said the girl as she followed the professor and took the only free seat that was between her and Hagrid.
The five friends enjoyed their lunch. They had talked about a lot of things. Monica was congratulated by the entire staff for what she had said to the Minister. The girl also had an animated discussion with Hagrid about dragons and other "nice" and "cute" creatures. Apparently she too had a strange taste for dangerous creatures although she had said very clear that she hated insects. The girl had even given Hagrid a photo of her and Norbert although she had no idea how that picture got into her purse. Very soon it was five o'clock.
"Oh my! We should go. It's really late and I'm sure that grandpa is very worried about us." With this she stood up and so did the others. McGonagall and Hagrid offered to walk them to the school's gates. On the way there Monica insisted that she wanted to visit Dumbledore's grave and that was what they did. She conjured a bouquet of wild flowers which she knew they were the old man's favorite, and put them on the grave. She smiled sadly at the grave and left.
When they arrived in Hogsmead they were assaulted by journalists and photographs that wanted an exclusive interview with the boy-who-lived and Morwen Silverwhite. Monica smiled pleasantly all the way to the apparition point although she didn't say a word to the journalists.
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"What took you so long?" was the first thing that Romendacil told them when they arrived.
"Sorry, but we were delayed." And the girl started telling him what had happened that day although she didn't say anything about her meting with Firenze. The man laughed when he heard about her discussion with Scrimgeour. Monica and her Romendacil spent the rest of the day showing the house to their guests.