Another chapter! And to those desperate to know about Ron, just tell you that we're close to know what happened to him.
As always, thanks to Kathy for her help.
PART II
TALES OF OLD SECRETS
Chapter 21
Downfall
24th June, 1994
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, the last issue of Transfiguration Today opened in front of him. He had been reading it, but now it lay open on the desk, almost forgotten. His mind had begun to wander and was now filled with thoughts of Sirius Black.
Sirius Black ...
He looked through the window. The night had fallen, and bright stars could be seen in the sky.
Sirius Black ...
How had he managed to break into the school twice? Sirius had been an extraordinary wizard, like his best friend — back then — James Potter, but his attacks against the Fat Lady and Ron Weasley seemed to indicate that he wasn't in the possession of a wand. So how could he enter the school and avoid the Dementors? Severus had warned him about Remus, but Remus had been another of James and Lily's best friends. He surely hated Sirius for his horrible betrayal ...
He got lost in thought, thinking about all those years ago, when those boys had been students at Hogwarts. Sirius was funny and likeable, though his and James' pranks could be excessive at times. He was so different from his parents and his brother. He had been placed in Gryffindor, he had became a member of the Order, and he had befriended a Muggleborn ... How was it possible that he had been a Death Eater? And if he had killed all those people so easily, why hadn't he killed Ron Weasley that night to silence him and then attacked Harry, instead of fleeing?What had stopped him?
He stood up and began to pace back and forth. There was something odd there. Nobody else seemed to care, or give it the slightest importance, but his mind wouldn't let it rest.
He looked at the starry sky once more, and, not knowing why, the image of Buckbeak came to his mind, causing his mouth to curve into a smile. At least, that had ended well. While they were in Hagrid's hut, he had seen Hermione Granger and Harry free him, and couldn't help but admire their nerve, especially Hermione's. Harry was more inclined to break the rules, but that wasn't — usually — the case with Hermione. Surely she found the sentence very unfair, but it was very curious that she had been there and not Ron Weasley. There was something strange there, too. Where was —?
A sudden knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. He looked at the door and was going to say, 'come in,' but, before he could open his mouth, the door opened, and the mysterious cloaked man walked in.
"Good evening, Professor."
Dumbledore just stared at him for a few seconds, too shocked to answer.
"You," he managed to say finally.
"Me," the man replied with a weary voice. He gave a few steps, and Dumbledore noticed he didn't seem to be very well.
"You look tired," Dumbledore commented. "Are you all right?"
"No," the man answered honestly. "I shouldn't be here, and I can't stay for long."
"Why?" Dumbledore asked, curious. Was there something in Hogwarts that caused him to be ill?
"It's complicated."
"Everything seems complicated when it comes to you," Dumbledore replied, resigned. "I'd want to know, though, how did you know the password of the gargoyle. You aren't one of my professors, are you?"
"I told you once that I know a lot of things," the man said. "But I didn't come here to discuss me, or how I know what I know. I came because important things are happening, Professor, and you are missing them."
"What things?" Dumbledore asked, very interested.
"Come with me."
The man opened the door and began to climb down the stairs. Deeply intrigued, Dumbledore followed him. When they reached the deserted corridor, the man walked towards the window at the end of it.
"Come," he asked Dumbledore, "and watch."
Dumbledore approached the window, and looked out of it, towards the lake.
What he saw made his blood run cold in his veins.
Dozens, maybe a hundred Dementors were converging towards the shore, where Harry was trying, unsuccessfully, to repel them casting a Patronus. However, he seemed unable to do so. Around him, a few bodies lay on the ground, presumably unconscious due to the Dementors' proximity. In the darkness, he couldn't recognise them.
Harry fell to the ground.
"I've got to go there!" Dumbledore said, taking out his wand, but his mysterious companion grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Watch," he said, pointing at something with his glove-covered hand.
Dumbledore looked at the location he was indicating, and saw a point of light grow. The point became a corporal Patronus, a stag, which graciously galloped over the waters of the lake. Before it got away from its caster, Dumbledore could distinguish two people on that side. There was something familiar about their clothes, and the stag ...
The stag reached the group of unconscious people at the same time than the Dementors, and immediately began to attack them, making them scatter and flee. And under the white light of the beautiful animal, he saw the bodies of Harry, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Severus and — if he was not mistaken — Sirius Black.
"Sirius Black!" he shouted. "What is he —?"
But the other gestured for him to stay quiet. On the grounds, the stag was galloping back to his caster, and, when he reached him, it stopped. Dumbledore cast a Lens Charm on the window.
"Harry ... and Hermione!" he said, confirming his suspicions and finally understanding everything. "The Time-turner!"
"The Time-turner, yes."
"It was they who saved Buckbeak."
"Yes."
"But — why?"
"I haven't got the time to stay and answer all that. You'll understand soon," said the cloaked man, who sounded more tired than ever. "Sirius Black is innocent. Peter Pettigrew is alive."
"What?"
"It's true. Pettigrew was the Potter's Secret Keeper, not Sirius. Don't forget this. Now I've got to go."
"But — wait!"
But the man was already walking away, and, before Dumbledore could say anything more, he had vanished as silently as always.
— — o — —
"Hermione, I know this is terrible, but we've got to get inside!" Harry yelled at her. Hermione wiped her tears away and looked at him. Percy had lifted Neville's body with his hand and was now walking towards the fence.
"Come on!" he urged them.
Harry held out his hand to her, and she took it and got up. Then, together, the four of them got into the protected area and headed straight to the house. Before they reached it, the door opened, and Mr Weasley appeared on the door, shocked and worried.
"What's happened?" he asked. "It is too early for you to —" he laid his eyes on Neville and stopped talking mid-sentence. "Is that Neville? What happened —?"
"Later, Dad," Percy said, entering the house. Hermione and Harry followed him, and, behind them, Mr Weasley closed the door.
In the living room, Ginny was sitting on the couch, with James beside her. On the floor, Victoire was playing. Fleur and Mrs Weasley were in the doorway to the kitchen.
"What —?" Ginny began to ask.
"Get off the couch, Ginny," Percy asked her. "We've got to put Neville there."
Ginny got up quite quickly, taking James in her arms. Percy moved his wand and put Neville's body on the couch.
"What has happened?" Mrs Weasley asked, very worried. "Say something!"
They heard quick steps on the stairs, and, a moment later, Hermione's mother and Audrey, with Molly in her arms, were in the living room.
"What has happened?" Hermione's mother asked. "Why are you —? Is that Neville? What has happened to his face?"
"Sbalkal," explained Harry bitterly. "Sbalkal happened. He appeared there, despite all we had done to prevent it, and he — he —" Harry seemed unable to say it.
"He killed the Minister," finished Hermione.
"He did WHAT?" Mr Weasley asked, completely shocked.
"He killed Kingsley," repeated Hermione, "among many others."
"Oh, Merlin!" Ginny exclaimed.
"But — weren't there more than a hundred Aurors?" Hermione's mother asked.
"Mum, Neville needs help," Percy said to his mother.
Mrs Weasley shook her head, still shocked, and then nodded. "Yes, yes ..." she said, and hurried to Neville's side.
"There were near two hundred Aurors," Harry said. "But it was useless. None of the spells we used could stop him. He was hit with a Stabbing Curse and he healed himself."
"No!" Fleur exclaimed.
"Yes."
"We could escape," continued Hermione, "just because that man that saved me in November appeared and began to fight him. Hadn't been for him, maybe ... maybe we wouldn't be here."
Ron is all right.
Hermione felt her eyes moisten once more.
"Where are George, Angelina, and Bill?" asked Harry suddenly.
"George is at the shop... and Bill went with him; he had to do something in Diagon Alley," explained Mr Weasley. "Angelina is at her parents'."
"And Dad?" Hermione asked her mother.
"In the backyard."
"I'm going to Diagon Alley," said Harry, heading for the fireplace. "That man told us to hide, and I think that's the best idea right now. We've got to get everyone here, or to Grimmauld Place. George, Bill, Angelina, her parents, Audrey's dad, Hannah ... Andromeda and Teddy too. I don't know what's going to happen, but surely nothing good." And without another word, he disappeared through the fire.
"I'm going to fetch my father, then," Audrey said, extremely worried.
"I'll take care of that," said Mr Weasley, and Audrey nodded.
"I'll get Andromeda and Teddy," said Fleur.
"And I'll send a Patronus to whomever is now at Grimmauld Place," added Percy.
Soon everyone was moving. Ginny sat on one of the armchairs, and Mrs Weasley took Victoire's hand and sat on another armchair. The little girl was watching everything with big and curious eyes, not understanding what was happening, but aware that it was something bad.
"Is Rose all right?" Hermione asked her mother.
"Yes, she's sleeping," her mother answered. She stared at her daughter, and her face filled with worry and sympathy. "Hermione, don't cry."
"You didn't see w-what we s-saw," Hermione sobbed, shaking her head. "Kingsley b-beheaded, and people being electrocuted and burned alive ..."
"Oh, God!"
"His powers are so terrible! We couldn't do anything! If — if he hadn't appeared, we would be d-dead right now."
"But who is he?" Mrs Weasley asked, having finished with Neville, who now was snoring peacefully. "Or what?"
"I don't know, but he seems to have the same kind of powers Sbalkal's got. He seemed weak, though, and told us he wouldn't be able to hold him for long."
"But why hasn't he appeared before? Why doesn't he tell us what's happening?" wondered Ginny.
"I don't know," Hermione said. "He just told us to get out and hide, and we did. And ..."
"And what, Hermione?" Ginny encouraged.
"He spoke directly into my mind. And told me — told me that — that Ron ... Ron is all right."
"WHAT?" Mrs Weasley said, getting to her feet and approaching her. "He is? But where? WHERE?"
Hermione shook her head. "He didn't tell me anything more. His voice vanished. Maybe Sbalkal — maybe Sbalkal killed him, too."
With an air of defeat replacing the hope that had filled her a moment before, Mrs Weasley dropped onto a chair.
"Oh, Ron ..."
Hermione tore her eyes away from her. "I ... I need to see Rose," she declared, and hurried towards the stairs and upwards, to her and Rose's room.
She opened the door carefully and tiptoed into the room, not wanting to awaken her if she was asleep.
She was and Hermione, like every time that she saw her after being apart, fell in love once more and couldn't help but smile. She had the thumb of her right hand in her tiny mouth, and was moving slightly, probably dreaming. Hermione stared at her, her best achievement.
"Someone told me that Daddy is all right, Rosie," Hermione muttered to her, "but he didn't tell me where he is or why he isn't with us." She brushed her moistened cheeks with her right hand, and then thought about the cloaked man, and about what he had told her ...
Protect Rose.
She had said she didn't know why the man hadn't appeared before, and it was true ... but she had a suspicion, something she had discussed with Ron long ago. Then, they didn't have any proof, but now ...
He saved me when I was pregnant. He saved me from a miscarriage. He saved Rose's life ... and then he disappeared, and when does he appear again? When I'm in danger once more. And what does he tell me? 'Protect Rose.'
Hermione continued to stare at her daughter.
"Is there something about you I don't know, Rosie?" Hermione asked. "Are you — are you destined to destroy Sbalkal, or something like that?"
She felt a shiver run down her spine. That thought was terrifying. Not just because it would mean that Sbalkal would be at large for years to come, but, mainly, because she didn't want her daughter to be another 'Chosen One.' No, she didn't want her daughter to spend her childhood and teenage years fighting like Harry, Ron, and she had. She had fought — they had fought so their children could live in a better, kinder and more tolerant world. She didn't want to raise a soldier.
However, Sbalkal had declared that his interest in Rose was due to the fact that she was Ron's daughter. But then, why did the mysterious man seem to be protecting Rose? Was there something in Ron and Rose? Was this thing, whatever it was, the reason Ron had left that day? But, even if it was, why hadn't he told her something? Why hadn't he explained?
A knock on the door drew her out of her thoughts. She looked at the door and said, "Come in."
The door opened, and her parents walked in, both looking very worried.
"Hermione, are you all right?" her father asked, striding towards her and enveloping her in a tight hug.
"I am fine, Dad."
"Your mother told me everything. All those deaths ... the Minister murdered ... God, Hermione, this is becoming too much."
"I know."
No one said anything for a moment, and Hermione saw her parents exchange a look. She knew what they were going to say, but waited for them to say it.
"You ... you've got news about Ron."
"I'd hardly call it 'news,'" responded Hermione. "That man just told me he is all right — I haven't even got proof that it is true."
"He saved your life," her mother pointed out.
"But I don't know why," Hermione replied, and looked at Rose. "He obviously knows what Sbalkal is, and has got a better chance of stopping him than we do, but he hadn't done anything 'til now. I don't know if we can really trust him."
Neither her mother nor her father seemed to know what to say.
"Harry was back when we came up," said her mother after a few moments. "He brought George, Bill and Neville's girlfriend. Hannah, isn't it?"
"Yes," nodded Hermione. "We should go down, then."
Her parents nodded, and, after checking Rose one last time, they headed downstairs.
The living room was bursting with people, though all of them looked gloomy and were talking in low voices. Andromeda was there, talking to Ginny, while Teddy was in one corner, playing with Victoire. Audrey was sitting next to her father, and, near the front door, George and Angelina were talking to her parents. Hermione looked at Neville, who had regained consciousness. Hannah was sitting next to him, watching him with evident concern.
"Ah, Hermione," said Harry after seeing her. "We were talking about what happened."
"Losing Kingsley is a hard blow to the Ministry," commented Mr Weasley, a very dejected expression on his face. "I think we should go there and try to put some order. This is going to be a chaos. And we'll need to take care of the bodies of the people who were killed in the conference room."
"I don't think that is a very wise idea," Hermione interjected.
"Why not?" Mr Weasley asked.
"The mysterious man told us that we should hide and that there's nothing we can do. And I think he's right. We cannot stop Sbalkal."
"But someone must take care of things!" exclaimed Neville. "If we let him create havoc —"
"He doesn't want to create havoc," interrupted Hermione. "You heard him. He wants absolute power, to rule over all of us, wizards and Muggles. He's going to seize control of everything, and how can we stop him? Curses? Hexes?"
"Hermione, you're not usually this pessimist," said Harry.
"I'm not being a pessimist, but a realist. You were there, Harry. You had almost two hundred Aurors at your command, and what good did that do? We're lucky for having made it out alive. Nobody could do anything against him in the trial, and today he said he was even more powerful ..."
"So you suggest we let him do as he pleases?" Bill asked her.
"I don't know," Hermione answered sincerely. "Acceptance or death, those were his words. And I've got a daughter to take care of. That's my number one priority."
"And I agree with you," Mrs Weasley said. "Arthur, you can't go to the Ministry. Send owls, or Patronuses, or anything else — but don't go there." Her eyes became bright with tears. "We lost Fred, and we don't know where Ron is. I don't want to cry over anyone else."
Harry walked around, clearly furious, and hit the wall with his closed fist. "Shit!" he swore.
"'Arry, there are children in the room!" Fleur admonished him.
"Sorry," he replied automatically, clearly not feeling sorry at all.
Hermione stared at him, knowing that the impotence he felt was eating him alive. How many times had he complained about the fact that people were doing nothing during the last war? And now that he was in charge, or one of those in charge, he was being forced to hide.
"We can't just hide," he tried to convince the others. "He will subjugate everything and everyone. And soon there won't be a place to hide. If we let him take over, what will we do then?"
"Surely he won't be able to do that so easily!" said Ginny. Harry stared at her.
"I'd have agreed with you before seeing what he did to Azkaban and what happened today."
"But if he can win against the entire world, what difference would we make? It is not as if we had a weapon nobody else has!" reasoned Ginny.
Harry grunted, but said nothing. He didn't have an answer to that.
— — o — —
The arrangements continued during the whole day. The Burrow, Grimmauld Place and other safe houses hidden under the Fidelius Charm were now crowded. Meanwhile, Harry, Neville, Percy and Mr Weasley had managed to contact other people, Aurors and other staff of the Ministry, and the news they had got wasn't good. Some members of the Wizengamot had disappeared, and, except for Harry, Percy and a few others, the highest-ranking officials of the Ministry seemed to have been wiped out, Pamwyck included. The Ministry was now in total anarchy.
However, Artemius Pye and Aldus Humpton, along a few others, at last had managed to conceal the secret premises where the meeting of the ICW had taken place. They had gone back there and had found out that both Sbalkal and his mysterious enemy were no longer in the edifice. The building was burning and crumbling, but they had managed to conceal the secret premises under it before the Muggle Fire Department and the police had arrived. Then, they had retrieved the bodies of all the dead, which consisted of twenty-nine people, Kingsley included. Afterwards, both Aurors had told Harry that, as he was the Head of the office and Pamwyck was nowhere to be found, they considered him the highest authority at the Ministry, and that they — and every other Auror they had talked to — would follow him and obey his instructions. Harry had felt very grateful, but also uneasy about it. Seeing as he had opposed Sbalkal at the meeting, he reckoned that allegiance to him could be very dangerous.
After telling everyone at The Burrow about the disappearance of officials and what they had discovered, everyone had agreed that it seemed that Sbalkal was really going to try and seize control of the Ministry. The only thing they could do was gather as many people as possible and create a 'second Ministry' to oppose him.
So Harry had met with the Aurors again, and had made them promise they would be careful and that, if the worst happened, they wouldn't defy Sbalkal directly.
Hermione knew how much that sickened Harry, accepting Sbalkal's victory even before it had happened. But it was evident that, if he tried, no one could really stop him, and, as he had clearly showed that he didn't mind killing them all if they refused to obey him, they didn't have another choice. Even organising a resistance group like they were doing was very dangerous. They were protected by a Fidelius Charm, yes, but, would that be enough? Certainly, no one had ever broken such a charm without the Secret Keeper revealing the secret, but it was also true that they had never faced someone as powerful and terrible as Sbalkal.
The worst thing was that the public didn't know anything of what was happening. There had been journalists at the meeting, but would that be enough? Harry had said that what had happened should be revealed, so everyone could be ready. At least, people would not be lied to about Kingsley's death, like had happened when Scrimgeour had been murdered.
So Ginny had managed to contact some of her workmates at the Prophet, and they had told them what had happened and what Sbalkal's intentions were.
And so, the next day, The Daily Prophet had published an extensive article about the meeting, Sbalkal's actions, and his threat. Some of the people now in hiding had gone out, to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, to see what people were saying and how they were reacting, and the unanimous report was that everyone was shocked and utterly scared. Some people at the Three Broomsticks had even declared that they were thinking about leaving the country, though that was hardly a solution, as Sbalkal had threatened the entire world, not only Britain.
Hermione was awakened, on Monday morning, by Rose, who was wailing in hunger, so she got out of the bed, took her in her arms and began to breastfeed her, trying to focus solely on her and not to think about what was happening, though it was rather difficult. She should have been up a while earlier if she had had to go to work, but, of course, she didn't. She began to think about Ron once more, feeling sadness and disappointment sink into her once more. She had stayed awake until late, the night before, trying again every Finding Charm, Locator Charm and Trace Spell she knew, as she had done dozens of times before, but — like all those other times — they hadn't worked. And if the mysterious man was right and Ron was fine, then it was clear that he didn't want to be found and had taken all means to make sure he wasn't. This made Hermione sad and angry at the same time, both feelings battling for dominance.
When Rose had finished, she put her back on the cot and began dressing to go down for breakfast. She was almost finished when she heard a furious yell from downstairs. Scared, she took Rose in her arms and hurried down the stairs, to the living room and the cramped kitchen, where Harry had The Daily Prophet in his hands.
"What?" she asked, gazing around quizzically. "What's happened?"
"Look at this!" Harry said, and closed the newspaper and showed her the front page, where a big photograph of Sbalkal could be seen.
"What does it say?" she asked. Harry turned the newspaper and started to read.
INTERVIEW WITH LORD SBALKAL:
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA
The 13rd August, 2006, will be forever remembered as the day a new era, and a new order, began. After all the rumours spreading throughout the Wizarding world, Supreme Leader Lord Sbalkal —
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Hermione, astounded.
"Wait and you'll see," Harry said darkly, and continued reading.
After all the rumours spreading throughout the Wizarding world, Supreme Leader Lord Sbalkal has decided to come and explain, so the nation understands what is happening and what it means that he assumes his rightful position as ruler of our world.
"'Rightful position'?" repeated Hermione, livid. "Who wrote that? The Prophet wrote an article against Sbalkal yesterday!"
"Well, if he went there and threatened them, there's nothing they could have done, is there?" said Percy grimly.
"I suppose not," admitted Hermione.
Harry resumed reading.
"Lord Sbalkal, the citizenry wants to know about you: who are you, and what are your plans. Could you answer those questions?"
"Everyone knows me already. Yesterday, this very newspaper published an article explaining what had happened at the meeting of the International Confederation of Wizards and the horrible crimes I committed."
"Our readers must know, I think, that the employees responsible for that article no longer work here, the former editor included."
Hermione looked at Ginny; she looked thoughtful, sad and worried.
"But they're not the instigators. It's obvious that Harry Potter and his friends are behind it. Anyway, the article, though truthful, didn't focus on the truly important event that took place at the meeting. And what event is that? Well, of course, I declared myself ruler of the world and officially took over every Wizarding country on Earth.
"Did I commit those crimes stated in the article? Well, what's a crime, for starters? Just the violation of a law. But laws are written and imposed by those who rule. So, as I now rule, talking about crimes makes no sense.
"There won't be any more struggles for power. There won't be any more war, neither between Wizards, Muggles nor any other race. Today, my people, whom I released from Azkaban, will take over the main positions at the Ministry. But don't worry, the role of the Ministry will be severely diminished. And don't fear them because their past crimes don't matter anymore. There won't be persecution based on race, beliefs or parentage ever again. Those questions have no importance at all.
"The only thing that matters is that I'll rule over everything and everyone, and I shall do so forever. There's no way to stop me, and no way to defeat me, so, trying to defy me would not be valiant, but foolish and stupid. The only thing you've got to fear henceforth is disobedience. Disobey me, and you're finished.
"A new era begins, and there's no way back. Fighting is pointless. The only choice you've got is acceptance."
Harry stopped reading and threw the newspaper to the floor, disgusted. A gloomy silence fell over the house.
"People won't allow this to happen," George said. "Not this time. Especially, when this monster is not disguising his intentions in any way."
"He doesn't need to," Hermione said. "That whole speech only says one thing: acceptance or death. It's what he said at the meeting. He doesn't fear opposition. In fact, he doesn't care about it. He believes himself far above us, so he'll simply wipe out anyone that tries to defy him. Though —" There was something odd there, but she couldn't grasp what, and she fell silent, biting her lower lip.
"We should try and find out what's happening at the Ministry," Mr Weasley said.
"NO!" Mrs Weasley shouted, giving everyone a fright. "No, Arthur! If he's really there, you can't go!"
"But we must know what's happening," Bill interjected. "We can't remain uninformed."
"We should wait," Hermione argued. "We managed to get a good network of informers. We need information first."
She saw Harry clench his teeth, and without finishing his breakfast, he stormed out of the kitchen.
"Harry!" Ginny yelled after him. She stood up and walked out of the kitchen, too.
Hermione wasn't feeling hungry, either, so she, too, left the crowded room, with the intention of going upstairs and staying alone with Rose for a while.
As she passed by the living room, she saw Harry sitting on the couch and staring at the fire. Ginny had sat down beside him and had her left hand on his right shoulder.
"Harry ..." Hermione heard the other girl say.
"I feel like a coward," Harry muttered. Hermione was heading towards the stairs silently, but she stopped dead when she heard Harry's words.
"You're as far from a coward as it is possible to be," Ginny said vehemently. "Don't ever think that."
"I am sitting here, while people in the Ministry, people I know, are risking their lives ... maybe even losing them."
"You can't do anything to prevent that," Ginny said. She raised her gaze and looked at Hermione. "Don't you think so?"
Harry looked at Ginny, furrowing his brow.
"Eh? What —? Ah, Hermione."
"You're not a coward, Harry," Hermione said. "We weren't cowards when we hid for all those months when Voldemort seized power. We just waited for the right moment to fight. And this is not the right moment to fight."
"And when will it be?" Harry asked. "The other time, we had a plan, something to do. We had the Horcruxes to find and destroy. What have we got this time, eh?"
"I don't know," Hermione admitted.
Harry palmed the cushion next to him several times, and Hermione, getting the hint, sat down there. Harry looked at Rose and smiled at her.
"I want our children to live in a free world," he said.
"We all want that."
They stayed there for a long time, just sitting, relishing in the comfort they gave one another. After a while, Harry and Ginny began a chess match, but Hermione didn't pay them any attention. Her mind was focused in something else.
"What are you thinking about?" Harry asked her a few minutes later. Hermione shook her head, a bit startled. Ginny had already checkmated Harry.
"I'm thinking about that interview in The Prophet."
Harry grunted.
"I mean," Hermione continued, "Sbalkal is mysterious; we know that. We don't understand his power. When he attacked our house, the day he left that letter, and the day we 'captured' him, he was using a wand. But he hasn't used another ever since. He seems not to need it. So I assume that, previously, he was just playing with us. There's a lot we don't know, but I think we know something about the way he acts."
"What has all this got to do with the interview?"
"Nothing," answered Hermione. "And that's it, isn't it? That interview ... makes no sense at all. Why did he do it?"
"To present himself as supreme ruler," said Harry angrily.
"Maybe," said Hermione, "but he had done that. The article about the meeting covered that part. This interview ... I don't know, I've just got an odd feeling about it. I can't explain it."
"I think nothing feels normal when it comes to him," commented Ginny. "Why did he steal that brain and the archway?"
"The archway is known as 'the gate of Death,'" said Hermione. "The Unspeakables reckon he could use it as a weapon, though they don't know how. But the brain ... Nobody knows which brain he took, since he destroyed the others. And they've got no clue as to why he could want any of them to start with."
"Ron was attacked by one of those," said Harry.
"I know," Hermione nodded. "I've already thought about that. You know I asked the Unspeakables, and they told me there's nothing special about them. Ron was wounded by them, yes, but he was healed. Those wounds leave no sequels, except the scars. Other people have suffered accidents when handling the brains, too, and nothing happened to them. Nothing we know suggests there might be a connection.
"Maybe Sbalkal knows more," Harry said. "I mean, he seems to know much more than any of us. The seizure Ron's suffered ... we don't know what happened to him."
"No, we don't," said Hermione, nodding. "I've thought about that a lot, Harry. But I'm completely lost. Nothing makes sense. There's so much we don't know. Why is he interested in Rose? Why is that man protecting her? And now, we're here, trapped, with no means to research. Though, so far, research on this has led us nowhere, so I don't think that matters."
They fell silent, and Hermione looked at Rose
"I've got to change her," she commented, smelling her.
She got up, and was beginning to climb the stairs when she heard George said, "Who's that?"
Hermione wheeled around, and saw him looking out of the window. Harry jumped off the couch and ran towards him.
"It's Aldus Humpton, one of the Aurors allowed to come here."
Hermione went back to the living room while Harry opened the door and invited Humpton in. The first thing Hermione noticed when he saw him was that he looked awful.
"What?" Harry asked him. "What happened?" he asked when he closed the door.
"It's over," Humpton said. "Sbalkal and the escaped prisoners Apparated in the middle of the Atrium while everyone was there, wondering what to do or whose instructions to follow. He declared that he was in charge now, and named some of the Death Eaters Heads of departments. As you advised us, Potter, we didn't do anything to confront him, and nobody else did. Everyone was scared to death."
Harry nodded. "If you had done anything, you'd probably be dead right now."
"What does he want? What has he ordered so far?" asked Percy, who, like every other person in the house, had now gathered in the living room.
"Taking over Muggle Britain and the rest of Wizarding countries seem to be the priorities now."
"What about us?" Hermione wanted to know. "The ones who didn't go to work?"
"Anyone who wasn't at their post is fired," Humpton responded. He looked at Harry. "Not everyone is displeased with this, Potter. Wilson, for starters. He is now the Head of the Auror Office."
"What?" asked Hermione. "I mean, he doesn't get along with Harry, but — siding with Sbalkal —"
"There are always people ready to take any opportunity to get promoted, or gain more power," Harry told her with bitterness in his voice. "It was like that when Voldemort took over, and it will be that way now, too. Wilson never liked the changes Ron and I made."
"Anyone who didn't come to their posts also must now be imprisoned by us," Humpton said. "If I tell you the truth, I don't think any of us will have our jobs for very long. Wilson knows how close we were to you and Ron, and you know him, he'll be eager to please the new bosses."
"But he won't imprison all his workmates!" protested Hermione. "He fought Sbalkal's men after the trial! He can't be that evil!"
"Maybe not before," Mr Weasley said, cleaning his glasses. "But perhaps, now that he feels reassured, and now that he has the authorities on his side, he will. I saw it the other time," he continued. "People you would have sworn were honest and kind did terrible things just because there was nothing restraining them. Some people seem to rely on what they consider authority to dictate their morals, so they may be all right under the right circumstances and cruel under the wrong ones."
"And Wilson had no problem crashing Bill and Fleur's wedding back then," Harry added. "He won't have any problem now, either."
Fleur frowned.
"I must go back now," Humpton said. "I'll contact you as soon as I can."
"Thank you, Aldus," said Harry. "Take care."
Aldus nodded and moved to the door. But, before opening it, he seemed to remember something and turned round.
"Don't use the Floo Network," he warned them. "It is monitored, and even if you travel between houses under the Fidelius Charm you will be captured. Avoid it."
"We will," Mr Weasley said. "Thank you."
Humpton nodded again and then left.
"What are we going to do?" Percy asked. "We're outlaws now."
"I don't think there's anything we can do," Bill answered. "We don't have a weapon powerful enough to beat him."
Hermione looked at Rose, who was gazing around curiously, ignorant of what was happening in the world, and then she laid her eyes on Harry, who was staring at the floor, deep in thought. He lifted his head and looked at her.
"Maybe we have," he said. "Maybe we have ..."
Next chapter, on Monday or Tuesday. Have a good weekend.