Chapter 21
The Acidic Potion

Ron, Hermione and Harry, along with Hagrid, McGonagall and Flitwick, walked to the fireplace in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

"Once Scrimgeour and the Wizengamot have made up their minds," said McGonagall, "I will come to the Burrow to tell you all. I may get the news before the Daily Prophet does. I should warn you, though. As much as I do want Hogwarts to re-open, I do not want you to get your hopes up. I am afraid that it could result in them crashing down. There is a good chance Hogwarts will re-open, I do believe that. But there is a lot of stuff going on in the Wizengamot right now, I assure you. Let me remind you, also, that some of the members of the Wizengamot are parents. They may be thinking of their children when making this decision."

"You would think security would be a more serious subject right now," said Harry.

"That is a good point," said Ron, "Scrimgeour did mention that security was going to be a problem. He pretty much called the Aurors useless."

"Yes, security will be much better," said McGonagall, "if Hogwarts opened, I have already reassured the Wizengamot. I am afraid that there may be no Quidditch."

"What?!" Ron asked, "No Quidditch?"

"If it comes to that, Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall, with a saddened voice, "Yes... there may be no Quidditch."

Ron sighed. He would have loved if there was a repeat performance of the previous term's result in the Quidditch season: Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup.

"Well," McGonagall said, "I think you three better get back to the Burrow."

Ron, Hermione and Harry agreed and, one at a time, went back to the Burrow via Floo Powder.
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Ron was the last to come out of the fireplace, covered in soot. His mother was waiting for them when they had arrived.

"Back so soon?" she asked, "That didn't take long."

"We said what was needed to be said," said Harry.

"Do you know if Hogwarts will open?" Molly asked.

"McGonagall thinks there is a good chance," said Ron.

"Yes, but she also said not to get our hopes up too high," said Hermione, shaking soot out of her hair.

"Well," said Molly, "How about the three of you get cleaned up? Then you can tell me all about it."

"Mrs. Weasley," said Harry, "Where is Ginny?"

"She went off to work about thirty minutes ago," said Molly.

"Oh... right," said Harry, "Well, I guess I will go take a shower first."

He walked up the stairs. Ron and Hermione began to walk in his direction, but Molly began to talk again.

"Did something go on between Harry and Ginny that I should know about?" Molly asked, "I have noticed that they have been spending quite a bit of time with each other."

Hermione looked at Ron, then back at Molly, "Ginny didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Molly asked.

"Harry and Ginny were dating for a month or so," said Hermione, "But Harry broke up with her at Dumbledore's funeral. But we think Harry wants to get back with her."

"They were dating?" Molly asked.

"Yeah," said Ron.

"I thought something was up with Ginny when she came home," said Molly, "I was wondering why she wanted to ask Fred and George if she could work with them. I thought it was for some extra money. But now I think it was to take her mind off of Harry."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Ron.

"But you said Harry is trying to get back with her?" Molly asked.

"Harry told me," said Ron, "He said it was a bit dumb of him. He did it because he was afraid something would happen to Ginny."

"What?" Molly asked.

"Harry thinks that he is the reason all of these people are dying," said Hermione, "His parents, Sirius... Dumbledore."

"How could he think that?" Molly asked, "That was not his fault."

"Many of the people who have died," said Hermione, "Have been connected to Harry in some way. He believes that they wouldn't have died if it wasn't for him."

"I would say it is survivor's guilt," said Ron.

"Ron!" said Hermione, "That is not true."

"Well," said Ron, "Look at it in Harry's shoes. He went after Sirius in the Department of Mysteries and there was no reason to. Sirius then came after us and then died in the process. And then Dumbledore wouldn't have died if he and Harry hadn't gone after what they thought was a Horcrux."

"But Dumbledore didn't die in that cave," said Hermione.

"No, Hermione, he died when they returned," said Ron, "If Dumbledore had stayed at Hogwarts, he may have been able to stop the Death Eaters and Snape. He wouldn't have been weakened by that potion. He could have fought back. That's what is going through Harry's head, I know it."

"But what does this have to do with Ginny?" Molly asked.

"Harry was afraid that Voldemort would find out about them," Hermione said. She ignored the wincing sound that was coming from Ron, and continued, "And he knew that Voldemort could target her."

"But why does Harry want to get back with her so soon?" Molly asked, "Voldemort isn't dead."

"Harry realized that Voldemort might already know about Harry and Ginny's relationship," Hermione said, "Even if he wasn't looking into Harry's head, Voldemort could find out another way. Both Snape and Malfoy knew that Harry was going out with Ginny."

"But wouldn't it put Ginny in more danger if she were to get back together with him?" Molly asked, "Doesn't Harry realize that?"

"We think he does," Ron said, "But you must understand, Mum. Harry told me that he was really happy when he was with Ginny. It made him forget about everything else. He didn't have to think about... him."

"Well, that is a good reason," Molly said, "But it still puts Ginny in danger..."

"We are all in danger, Mum," Ron said, "All of our names are pointed to 'Mortal Peril', remember? Ginny is just as safe with Harry as she is without him... maybe even a bit more."

"You make it sound as if they are back together," Molly said, "Are they?"

"We don't think so," Hermione said, "At least... not yet. Harry still isn't sure whether he wants to get back with her yet, knowing that the war is still going on."

"Well, I think I should talk to Harry," Molly said, "I want to get his opinion about all of this."

"Do you have to, Mum?" Ron asked, "Harry will probably be mad at us for even telling you this... not to mention how Ginny would feel."

"I won't tell him how I found out," Molly said, "I will just tell him that I have been noticing an awful lot."

"Okay," Ron said, "Just don't upset him."

"Of course not," Molly said.

"Well, Harry will be through with his shower soon," Hermione said, "So I guess one of us should get ready."

Both Hermione and Ron walked up the stairs.

"Do you think it was right that we told my Mum about that?" Ron asked Hermione, "You said it yourself a few months ago. It isn't right to intrude in their relationship."

"Your Mum would have found out anyway," Hermione said.

"You are right," Ron said, "She notices quite a bit. Er... do you reckon we should have told her about us?"

"We can tell her later," Hermione said.

Ron agreed. He knew his Mum would find out soon, so it would be the right thing to tell her soon. He just wasn't ready for her reaction, but he wasn't going to tell Hermione that.

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An hour later, after Ron, Hermione and Harry had all taken their showers, they were seated in the living room. When Molly came back into the living room, she wasn't alone. Remus, Tonks, and Slughorn were all there.

"We were hoping to learn about the hearing," Remus said, when he saw the surprised expressions of Ron, Hermione and Harry.

"So, what did happen at the hearing?" she said, sitting down, "You returned rather quickly."

"Actually, we think it went pretty well," Harry said, "As soon as we walked into the courtroom, Scrimgeour invited us into a room off to the side. When he realized that Hermione and Ron would be coming in with me, Scrimgeour decided that two of the Wizengamot would join him. So he chose Cornelius Fudge and Delores Umbridge."

"I bet he knew your past history with those two," Remus said, "He probably hoped that it would break you."

"Yeah, that is what I figured," Harry said, "But it didn't work. In the end, all I had to do was tell him about the Horcruxes and that I was the Chosen One, and he seemed satisfied with it. The hearing ended there."

"That was it?" Molly asked, "So is Hogwarts going to re-open?"

"We don't know," Harry said, "We left before he could make his decision. Apparently he didn't want any of us, including the professors, inside the courtroom."

"But McGonagall did say that she thought there was a very good chance that Hogwarts would re-open," Hermione said, "She didn't want us to get our hopes up though."

"So there is a good chance?" Molly asked.

"McGonagall thinks so, yes," Harry said, "But she also said that Scrimgeour is worried about security at Hogwarts. After what happened there, well... I am sure you can all understand that."

"We thought that might happen," Remus said.

"McGonagall also said that Quidditch might be cancelled," Ron said, "How could she cancel Quidditch?"

"They did when the Chamber of Secrets was opened, Ron," Harry said, "It will be the same. I doubt there will be many extra-curricular activities. For all we know, there might not be enough students returning to even have extra-curricular activities."

"McGonagall has expected that already, yes," Remus said.

"She has a lot to think about if Hogwarts does re-open," Harry said, "She will have to hire a new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher."

"How many would take that job?" Hermione asked, "We know the history of that. You were one of the lucky ones, Remus."

"Hey!" Ron said, "There is an idea! Remus, you could take the job again."

"I don't think that is possible, Ron," Remus said.

"Why not?" Ron asked, "You were probably the best teacher we ever had for the job."

"I think it is a good idea, Remus," Tonks said, "Forget all that hatred for werewolves."

"That is just it, Tonks," Remus said, "I couldn't do my job completely when I was the Professor... because of my... my..."

"Furry little problem?" Harry asked, smiling.

"Yeah!" Remus said.

"So, you might have to have a substitute sometimes," Tonks said, "Big deal."

"That would be one more teacher that McGonagall would have to find," Remus said, "I can't put her through that. It will be her first year as Headmistress, I don't want to make it that much harder for her."

"Tonks could be your substitute," Harry said.

"What? I -- well," Tonks sputtered.

"Come on, Tonks," Harry said, "You are an Auror. You could teach us the stuff you learned while going through your training. Teach us everything about Metamorphagi."

"Now, I do like that idea," Remus said.

"So, what say you?" Harry asked, "Will you both be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors?"

"If Hogwarts does re-open," Remus said, "Then I promise you that we will think about it."

Hermione's eyes widened, and to Ron's surprise, she whispered something in Harry's ear.

"Oh... oh yeah," Harry said, after Hermione was finished, "Professor Slughorn? Ron, Hermione and I were wondering something. We were hoping you could help us with something."

"Perhaps," Horace said, "Depends on what it is."

"Well, recently we realized that even if we do find Voldemort's Horcruxes," Harry said, "We don't know how to destroy them. But Hermione thinks there might be a way. Have you ever heard of the Acidic Potion?"

"Er... yeah, I have heard about it," Horace said, "In fact, it is in your Most Potente Potions book."

"Yes, we found it in there," Harry said, "The only problem is... we don't know how to make it. It looks incredibly complicated and we don't know where we can find ingredients."

"You are right," Horace said, "It is a very complicated potion to make. It takes two months even if you have the ingredients for it. The ingredients aren't rare, but they are hard to find. The Acidic Potion is very dangerous, so the Ministry tries to keep the ingredients hidden away from the public."

"Any way that we can get those ingredients?" Harry asked, "We need to make the Potion soon."

"Soon?" Remus asked, "You sound as if you found a Horcrux?"

"Well, not exactly," Harry said, "But we think we do know the location of one. We think we know where Regulus Black hid the locket."

"But..." Remus said, "I thought you said that the Horcrux is destroyed."

"We are not sure," Harry said, "And we have to be sure. We think that the locket might be hidden at Grimmauld Place. We were hoping that you could take us over there sometime... er, sooner then later."

"Well, I don't think that would be too hard," Remus said, "Seeing that Sirius gave you ownership to it. I am sure we can get inside."

"Well, if we do find the locket," Harry said, "We really don't want to handle it, or keep it too long. I want to get it destroyed. That is why we need that potion, Professor Slughorn. Is there any way we can get those ingredients?"

"The only way would be to get permission from the Ministry," Horace said, "Well, I suppose the ingredients could be in the black market."

"Black market?" Ron asked.

"It is what you call a place that sells illegal merchandise," Hermione said.

"Well, that sounds just like..." Ron began.

"Knockturn Alley!" Harry said, finishing Ron's sentence, "Professor, do you think they could have the ingredients there?"

"How should I know?!" Horace asked, "Do I look like someone who would visit that place?"

"Er... sorry," Harry said.

"There is someone that would know," Remus said, "But unfortunately, he is in Azkaban."

"Mundungus!" Harry said, "Of course!"

"Too bad he is in Azkaban," Ron said.

"Well," Harry said, "Never mind... it would never work."

"What, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I think..." Harry said, "I need to have another visit with Rufus Scrimgeour."

"He would never free Mundungus!" Hermione said.

"Hermione's right," Remus said.

"I wasn't going to ask him if he could give Mundungus a pardon," Harry said, "If we can't get the ingredients on the black market, we have to get them from the Ministry. What better way to get them then to ask Rufus."

"That's a good idea," Remus said, "You did say that Rufus does know about the Horcruxes now. I am sure he would let you borrow the ingredients that would make the Potion to destroy the Horcruxes."

"I don't have any other choice," Harry said, "I am going to write a letter to him."

Harry stood up and walked out of the room.

"Do you think Scrimgeour would want to talk to Harry again?" Ron asked.

"I think there may be a good chance," Remus said.

Hermione was about to stand up, but she looked at Ron, and whispered to him.

"Should we tell them about us?" Hermione whispered into Ron's ear.

Ron nodded, then looked at Molly and the others.

"We were wanting to tell you guys something," he said.

"Go on," Molly said.

"Hermione and I are dating," Ron said.

"Really?" Molly asked, "Oh, that is wonderful!"

Tonks sighed and took something from her pocket. Ron noticed that it was coins. Tonks handed five Galleons to Remus. Ron looked at them in question.

"Tonks and I had a bet whether you two were together or not," Remus said, noticing Ron's face, "I won."

Ron and Hermione laughed.