Harry Potter and a Marauder Revival
Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoy Chapter 20 of "Harry Potter and a Marauder Revival!" Chapter 21 is a work-in-progress and will be posted LATE MONDAY NIGHT! With this chapter, I will say my story does deviate slightly from the "Half-Blood Prince" book; I took some liberties and for those of you that know the book backward and forward, you will know what I'm talking about.
Also, some reviewers have pointed out issues with my story; all I will say is that my story does have a conclusion, meaning everything will come together soon. As always, thank you for the reviews and let me know what you all thought about Chapter 20 with a short review!
Warning: This chapter contains scenes and depictions of strong violence.
Chapter 20: The Incriminatory
Rain lashed against the cobblestone street; it was nighttime as many people converged under large black umbrellas to shield themselves from the cold water droplets. Puddles started to form along back alleys in which small streams of water merged together and began to flood poor drainage areas.
A streak of white lightning temporarily lit up the night sky, followed by a loud roll of thunder which sounded like an amplified bowling ball smashing into its pins.
Ever since leaving the pub, he had felt strange; he could not place this new feeling of paranoia but his current state of trauma persisted so much so that it rocked against the confines of his skull. The collar of his brown jacket was turned up against the falling water with one hand resting on his wand, while the other was stuffed in his jeans pocket.
He had a mission to do…a mission to carry out and he must not fail. Walking down a side street, the man encountered a homeless couple, pushing a cart full of garbage to find a place of shelter.
The rain seemed to be falling harder and harder by the minute. Passing a light post, another flashing of lightning cracked against the black sky which was once again followed by a cosmic boom of thunder.
The man walked as if he was strolling in a park in mid November, enjoying the chilly fall air with his mind at peace and tranquility. However, on this storm-stricken night in early November, thoughts of calmness and serenity were long gone; now turbulence and unrest rested behind the man's dark eyes.
Turning down a much more shady lane, the man noticed that some of the light posts had gone out, casting the avenue into an even darker night full of eeriness and mystique.
Opening the door of where the man lived, he silently made his way into the hall, shutting the door behind him as quietly as he could. After taking off his rain-soaked jacket and letting it fall to the floor, the man decided that by letting his jacket fall to the floor wouldn't really factor much after what he was about to do. After all, he had an assignment to complete.
The man crept up the stairs as another lightning strike flashed through a nearby window; the thunder that followed was so great that the walls of the man's townhome shook with a vengeance.
Once he reached the top of the landing, three doors led off into different rooms. Two of the rooms were empty, one was not. Careful not to make too much noise, the man entered the only occupied room.
Far away, Harry was sleeping in his four-poster bed, dreaming happily of another match he was having out on the Quidditch pitch. He felt elated as the wind whipped through his jet-black hair while his Firebolt zigzagged around the stadium.
Harry was smiling triumphantly as he caught the Golden Snitch in his hands again and again and again. The darkness of the night itself pressed in against the windows of Hogwarts castle however, it was not to be penetrated for young minds drifted off happily into the world of dreams and fabrication.
Yet, as the man crept into the bedroom, there was no happiness that could be felt; instead, coldness and dreariness had harvested itself into the atmosphere of the house. As the rain pounded against the windows loudly, this could be easier than the man had originally thought.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, the man knew what he was about to do was wrong on levels of humanity; however, it was as if he was unable to stop himself.
As he watched the two people sleep peacefully, their heads resting against their pillows, the man stealthily took out his wand.
Pointing it at the woman, he said, "AVADA KEDAVRA." A jet of green light shot out of his wand at the woman and she breathed no more.
Hearing a grunt from the older gentleman now sleeping next to the now dead corpse, he directed his wand at the man and whispered, "AVADA KEDAVRA." A second jet of green light was fired until there was a single breath left existing in the room: his own.
The man snapped his own wand in half; his mind was now focused upon the last part of his plan. Walking over to the rain-soaked window, the man looked out at the street somberly, hoping to see at least one more person full of life for he was about to be put to rest.
Reaching into his pocket, the man pulled out a sharp knife. His last order he was given: kill yourself without prejudice. The man pressed the blade against his throat, and with a final breath, he slashed his own gullet, blood splattering across the window pane.
The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was settling down for a night's sleep. She recounted on the conversation she had earlier today with one of her aurors: Nymphadora Tonks.
"How could have the ministry been so blind, trying for over a year to deny the fact that You-Know-Who had returned," Tonks asked. "Both Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter had been labeled as cold-blooded liars, with the Daily Prophet slandering them both."
Amelia Bones looked at Tonks as she replied, "Human beings have an uncanny tendency to ignore everything that is wrong with the world, and more importantly, in our own communities. We rather strive for progression when it is really our present that hinders our ability to move forward.
"Dark times covered our community the last time You-Know-Who held power, Auror Tonks. It is not a time many people happily remember."
"I understand that, Madam Bones, but to outright call Professor Dumbledore and Harry liars…I don't understand the mindset of doing something like that," Tonks protested.
"It was Cornelius' way of making sure he still held power over wizarding Britain. The man was so consumed with it that I never thought I would see the day he would voluntarily step down; of course, many people had called for his resignation before that, so I used the world 'voluntarily' loosely," Bones replied.
Tonks remained silent for a moment, her arms folded across her chest. After another moment, she whispered, "It's really starting up again, isn't it, this war?"
"I'm afraid to say that war has been knocking on our doors for quite a while; it is only now that we choose to act because we feel threatened."
"It's not fair; none of this is, especially to Harry," Tonks replied, looking down at her feet.
"I understand that you have grown to care for the boy," Amelia suggested, rather than asked. Tonks silently nodded her head.
"He's been through so much, Madam Bones, so early on in his life. For a whole year, he was called a liar when telling everyone You-Know-Who had returned, and now, when the Ministry of Magic finally recognizes that fact, what is he left with? I find it incredibly troubling that the wizard who murdered his parents and tried to murder him has now returned, and he's returned with fury."
Bones nodded her head in understanding as she said, "It is true what Headmaster Dumbledore said: dark and difficult times lie ahead. But we would have already lost this war if we refuse to fight."
Amelia Bones laid her head against her soft pillow, wondering how the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, would handle the current state of things.
It was then that Madam Bones had heard movement from just outside her door. Reaching under her pillow, she pulled out her wand, bracing herself for the inevitable.
Suddenly, to Bones' horror, You-Know-Who, Lord Voldemort, appeared inside her room. Donned in a thin black cloak, his skeletal, bony fingers grasped his wand, as his thin, red eyes stared evilly out from under his dark hood.
Without sparing a moment to exchange words, Voldemort had shot out a streak of green light at Bones. She dived out of the way, the killing curse blasting a hole through the wall.
Recovering quickly, Bones fired two different spells at Voldemort who easily deflected them with a flick of his wand.
He then fired a jet of orange light at Amelia who produced a strong shield charm which deflected it. Growing in anger, Voldemort disappeared; in the next second, he reappeared directly behind Bones.
Shooting off another jet of green light at her, he was furious when she managed to jump out of the way again.
Standing to her feet, she began shooting curse after curse at the Dark Lord; he repelled her curses and sent jets of light of his own at her. The duel became more ferocious as the seconds continued to pass, sparks starting to emit out of the tips of the both of their wands.
Voldemort sent a powerful blasting curse at her which she managed to deflect. Before she could cast another spell of her own, she felt a piercing pain in her head as Amelia Bones now found herself re-living her worst memories.
Crying out, the pain of losing so much of her family during the first war flashed before her eyes. She then saw her niece, Susan Bones, being mauled by the ferocious and unforgiving werewolf, Fenrir Greyback, her blood seeping down his vicious fangs.
Deciding to end her life, Voldemort said with a cold ferocity, "AVADA KEDAVRA." A final jet of green light slammed into Amelia Bones' face. She fell back against her nightstand; a sickening crack was heard. The unforgiving red eyes of the Dark Lord looked upon the deceased woman and he saw the neck of the leader of the Magical Law Enforcement had snapped.
His thin mouth twisting into a cruel sneer, Voldemort disapparated away, leaving the lifeless body behind.
Harry awoke the following morning with a huge smile spread across his face. No doubt, his dreams of Quidditch still fresh in his mind. Stretching his arms over his head, Harry opened the curtains of his four-poster bed and saw the morning sun, shining brightly into the windows of his dormitory.
Getting dressed, Harry, hearing Ron's soft snores, departed from his room and walked down the stairs into the cozy Gryffindor common room. There, he saw Hermione, sitting at a table by the window, reading her Potions textbook.
"Good morning, Hermione," Harry said, taking a seat across from her at the table.
Hermione looked up from her book as she said, "Oh, hello, Harry; you're up quite early."
"Am I," Harry asked, his eyebrows shooting upwards.
Hermione gave a small laugh and said, "Harry, haven't you noticed you and I are the only ones in the common room right now?"
Harry looked around and he saw that Hermione was indeed correct. "I actually didn't notice that until right now."
"You know, I must tell you that you played really well yesterday; it was like you never forgot how to fly. And the best part was, was that you seemed to be having a lot of fun."
Harry looked over at Hermione as he replied, "I did have a lot of fun, most definitely. But winning was great too."
Hermione laughed slightly as she asked, "Have you completed your Potions essay?"
"Not yet," Harry said, his mind wandering back off toward the Quidditch pitch. "Hermione, have you even thought about playing Quidditch?"
At his question, Hermione laughed loudly. After she calmed down, she said, "Harry, don't you remember last week when you took me for ride on your Firebolt, how nervous I was?"
"Well, maybe you've gotten over your nerves of flying," Harry suggested.
"No, Harry, I haven't…I don't know if I ever will, actually," she replied, looking out of the window.
"Maybe you and I can practice together," Harry proposed.
Hermione seemed to consider his offer for a slight moment before she said, "I rather have my feet left on the ground, but thanks for the offer."
A few minutes later, Ron had stumbled down into the common room and sat at the same table Harry and Hermione had occupied.
"Morning," Ron yawned, resting his head on his hand. "Hermione, why are you reading so early in the morning?"
Hermione's cheeks flared pink as she replied, "Because, Ron, I haven't finished my Potions essay and it's due tomorrow."
"Please don't talk about essays right now…it's too early for that," Ron replied sleepily.
Hermione huffed but remained silent, reopening her Potions textbook. Harry watched as Hermione's brown eyes move across and down the page. He smiled to himself as he watched her.
As more and more students started to awake and drift down into the common room, Harry could tell Hermione had tensed up each time she heard another new voice erupt into a new conversation.
Finally, after three third-year girls started cackling madly over a joke, Hermione slammed her book closed and stood up.
"Where are you going," Harry asked, startled by Hermione's sudden actions.
"Library," she seethed, stalking away.
Ron, who had remained oblivious to Hermione's increasing tension, turned to Harry and said, "Mental that one."
As Harry shrugged his shoulders, he said, "Let's go get something to eat." With that, Harry and Ron departed from the growing noise of the common room and headed down to the Great Hall.
As the pair sat down at the table, Neville Longbottom leaned over to them and whispered, "Do you guys know what happened to Susan?"
"Who," Harry asked.
"Oh, right," Neville said, his cheeks burning a bright red, "Sorry, Harry, I forgot about your…condition."
"What happened to Susan, Neville," Ron asked.
"I don't know; Dean said he saw Susan with Professor McGonagall and she was crying," Neville replied.
Ron shook his head and turned to Harry, explaining, "Susan Bones is in Hufflepuff. Her aunt is the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I overheard Mum say that the Bones' family was nearly completely obliterated during the first war."
Harry, who had been chewing on a rather delicious piece of coffee cake, felt his mouth go completely dry so that his cake started to taste like a stale piece of bread. Harry had lost his parents during the first war; not having much knowledge of his extended family besides his aunt, uncle, and cousin, he could not come to terms with what it must feel like to lose nearly an entire blood-line.
After the two finished their breakfast in silence, Harry said, "You know, I have to finish my Potions essay as well."
Ron grumbled and said, "Me too."
"Then let's go to the library and see if we can find Hermione." As Ron stood to his feet, Harry grabbed two muffin rolls and stuffed them into a napkin and the pair departed from the Great Hall.
After grabbing their belongings from their dormitory, Harry and Ron headed off for the library. Once inside, they walked along the towering rows of bookshelves, looking down each aisle, seeing if they could find Hermione.
Finally, the two spotted her, sitting a table situated under a window, scribbling away on her parchment.
"Figures she would be at the back of the library," Ron said. Ignoring him, Harry led the way over to Hermione.
"May we take a seat," Harry asked softly, not wanting to interrupt Hermione's concentration.
Looking up, she said, "Of course." She moved her things off of the surface of the table as Harry and Ron took seats next to and across from her.
"I got this for you," Harry said, handing over the napkin to Hermione. Opening it, her eyes softened at Harry's thoughtfulness for bringing her breakfast.
"Thank you, Harry," she said, smiling over at him.
"No problem," he replied, taking out his Potions textbook, his quill, and a roll of parchment.
"Hermione, why did you suddenly take off from the common room," Ron asked, looking over at her.
"Because I couldn't concentrate," she responded dryly. "Did you hear those girls sitting next to us?"
Harry and Ron shook their heads, confusion sifting into their eyes. "They were actually talking about you, Harry."
"Why me," he said, shocked.
"Well, after everyone realized you and Professor Dumbledore were telling the truth about V-Voldemort – oh get a grip, Ron – the Daily Prophet has started calling you, "The Chosen One."
"What is that supposed to mean," Harry asked.
Hermione sighed as she replied, "Many people suspect that you are the one that can bring about the end of Voldemort – oh please, Ron – and in doing so, you are now the fancy of many of the girls at Hogwarts."
Harry felt uneasy as this sudden 'celebrity status' he was now receiving. "Why didn't you say anything about this before?"
"Because, Harry, you always didn't like all the attention you received growing up. Besides, after the Daily Prophet slandered you and Professor Dumbledore all last year, you didn't really care what was printed in the Daily Prophet."
Hermione broke off a piece of her muffin as she returned back to writing her Potions essay. Harry looked over to Ron who said, "She's right, you know."
Harry nodded in mild understanding, trying to think back about being labeled a liar; he unfortunately could not retain those memories.
As the three students continued on with their essays, Ron had unconsciously started eating one of the muffins Harry had brought for Hermione.
As Hermione grabbed another piece of her muffin, a sudden voice yelled out, "What are you doing, eating in the library, you depraved children?!"
The trio looked up and saw the school librarian, Madam Pince, looking down upon them, her eyes flashing with fervor.
"Out, out with you three," she shouted, bearing down upon their table.
The three swiftly packed up their things and made a hasty exit out of the library.
"Well that was bloody brilliant," Ron moaned, his mouth still full of muffin.
"At least I finished my essay, though," Hermione commented. "Although, Professor Slughorn did say he wanted eighteen inches…I might've only written seventeen-and-a-half."
Harry saw Ron rolls his eyes and shake his head, but he refrained from saying anything. The rest of their Sunday passed by without incident; it was Monday morning when everything changed.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down at breakfast the following morning, owls flew in through the school's rafters and into the Great Hall, delivering mail to students from their parents.
An owl landed in front of Hermione which delivered her copy of the Daily Prophet. As Hermione paid the owl a knut, Harry asked, "Hermione, why do you still receive that for? Didn't you tell me they called me a liar all last year?"
"Yes, but it's best to have information on what's going on within the magical community," she responded, unfurling her paper. Seconds later, she gasped loudly, causing Ron to spill the contents of his goblet all over Neville, who was sitting next to him.
"What is it," Harry asked.
Hermione laid down the paper in front of them. A bold headline read: "Bones Found Dead!"
Harry read aloud: "Madam Amelia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and member of the Wizengamot, has been found dead in her home; she was 43. Madam Bones was found murdered in her own home; her body was found inside her bedroom, with her door locked from the inside. There was no evidence of physical harm besides a snapped neck. Investigations have been opened as to who the murderer could be."
Silence fell over the trio as they pondered over this piece of news. "That is really sickening," Hermione said.
Harry looked up at the staff table and saw most of them were in deep discussion with one another, particularly Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall.
As Hermione picked up her paper and began ruffling through its pages, Ron poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice.
Harry took a bite out of his cake when a thought came reeling back to him. "That's why Susan was crying yesterday, Ron!"
Hermione peeked over the newspaper and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, yesterday, after you went to the library, Ron and I came down here for breakfast when Neville told us that Dean said he saw Susan crying. Now we know why," Harry finished.
As Ron took a sip from his goblet, Hermione said, "Oh, this is awful."
"What now," Harry asked, dread welling through him.
Hermione laid down the newspaper as she said, "The Ministry found a family of three dead in their own home. The son, who was twenty-four, was a Muggleborn. The Ministry believes he was put under the Imperius Curse in which he was ordered to kill his parents and then himself."
For the rest of their breakfast, Hermione continued to read the Daily Prophet as Harry wondered how many people would have to die for one man who was obsessed with taking power over the wizarding community.
Walking down into the dungeons for Potions class, Hermione looked over at Harry and asked, "Are you feeling okay, Harry?"
"What? Oh, um, yeah, I feel fine," he lied, without looking over at her. He sensed that she knew he wasn't telling her the truth but Hermione dropped the subject for now.
The three Gryffindors grabbed a table all to themselves as Professor Slughorn walked out from behind his desk and faced the class, smiling widely.
"Welcome, welcome, to another Potions lesson! Today, we will begin to brew the Venomous Tentacula Juice. Now, who here can tell me what this is," Slughorn asked, as he turned toward Hermione who had her hand raised in the air.
"Ah, yes, Miss Granger," he said.
"The Venomous Tentacula Juice is from the Venomous Tentacula plant where the juice acts like a poison however, it is not deadly. The drinker of the juice feels a burning sensation on the inside of his or her stomach while the skin of the drinker turns purple."
"Excellent, ten points to Gryffindor," Slughorn called out. "Now, in the hour that remains, I would like each of you to brew your version of the Venomous Tentacula Juice; the directions of which can be found on page one-hundred and twenty seven of your textbooks. On you go then!"
Per usual, stools skidded across the stone floor of the dungeon as students rushed over to the supply cabinet to collect the required ingredients in order to brew the juice.
Half an hour later, Hermione, who had just added a handful of roots into her cauldron, seemed to have progressed the furthest out of anyone, as her potion was a deep green, the ideal halfway stage according to the Potions textbook.
Harry stirred his potion clockwise twenty-three times and added up his recently chopped roots; to his relief, his potion turned a deep green that mirrored Hermione's.
Professor Slughorn started to walk around the room, looking down into the cauldrons of his students to see how far they have come with the Venomous Tentacula Juice.
When he reached Harry's table, he looked down Ron's cauldron and cringed in disgust. Moving on to Hermione's, he gave an approving nod. Finally, upon seeing Harry's, he smiled delightedly and said, "I must tell you, Mr. Potter that you have seemed to inherit your mother's natural potion-making ability!"
As Harry smiled inwardly, he continued to stir his potion, nearing the end stages in order to complete the juice.
The school bell clanged loudly about, startling everyone in the room. "Okay, time is up! I want each of you to flask what is in your cauldron's, clearly label the vial with your name, and leave it on my desk for grading!"
As Harry and Hermione walked up to deliver their version of the Venomous Tentacula Juice, Professor Slughorn approached them and said, "I should let the two of you know that the both of you will receive an invitation to my special Slug Club meeting scheduled for tomorrow night! I do hope to see the both of you there. I really not rather spoil a surprise I have in store but I'll tell the two of you anyway: I have a special guest that I have invited to join us!"
"That sounds wonderful, professor," Hermione said, faking a smile.
She and Harry departed from the dungeons together, as Ron had decided not to wait for them; Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "I thought you didn't want to go to his meetings, Hermione?"
She shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to attend one of his meetings."
"Do you think it'll be any fun?"
Hermione laughed loudly as she replied, "Harry, I honestly doubt it but you never know, maybe it could be entertaining."
For the rest of the day, Harry and Hermione's minds seem to wander over who the special guest to Professor Slughorn's Slug Club meeting could be.
Whenever they brought up the topic when they were together, Ron seemed to grow increasingly grumpy and would refuse to partake in their conversation.
The following night, Harry and Hermione departed from Gryffindor Tower and headed for Professor Slughorn's office.
Upon entering his office, Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "Why do you think Ron has been so moody these past two days?"
"It's probably because he's angry that he didn't get an invitation to Professor Slughorn's Slug Club meeting," Hermione reasoned.
"Really? Because, he can take my place if he wants," Harry said.
Hermione laughed, shook her head, and said, "Let's go inside."
As they entered into the Potions masters' office, the pair saw a wide, round table was placed in the center of the room.
Harry and Hermione saw other students Professor Slughorn had deemed worthy of joining him for his meeting.
Setting his eyes on the two Gryffindors, Slughorn called out, "Ah, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, how wonderful of you to join us! Take a seat, take seat!"
As they did so, the Potions master said to them, "Now, I believe the two of you know my special guest, do you?"
Harry and Hermione as one turned their attention to the woman sitting next to Professor Slughorn: this was a woman Harry did not recognize yet she seemed to recognize him. Harry, however, felt Hermione seething next to him.
"How are you, my dears," the voice of woman asked; to Harry, it sounded as if this woman was speaking in mythical tones.
"Um, fine, I guess," Harry responded.
He turned his gaze over to Hermione who, surprising Harry, had begun to smile as she responded, "Hello Professor Trelawney, how do you do?"