Chapter Twenty-Five.
Threats and Lies.

The next morning went by quickly, Hermione was overly nice to Ron and Harry thought he looked more freaked out than pleased by it. Every time she saw Ron, Lavender cried a little too loudly and walked off with Parvarti in the other direction. Harry was just pleased to have her out of the way. Monday afternoon when all the lessons of the day were over Harry, Ron and Hermione were back in the library looking for anything that could help them with finding the horcrux that was hidden at Hogwarts. Harry found it hard to relax as he felt every second that passed was another second until the death eaters would come and take it away from them. Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione; the table was stacked with books that they were going through one by one. Harry closed a book he had finally gone through and picked up another one.

'There is no way of knowing all the mysteries that lie inside the Hogwarts walls. Even the four founders do not know of them all. Helga Hufflepuff was said to have stored a secret passageway inside the Hufflepuff common room without the knowledge of the other three founders. Whether this was a mere rumour, no one has ever known for the passageway has never been found. Salazar Slytherin was the one suspected to have more secrets in the Hogwarts walls than any other. One example is the Chamber of Secrets….'

Harry drifted his eyes off from the page and sighed loudly ruffling his hands through his messy black hair. "Hermione this is useless, they all say the same thing." Harry said in a defeated voice. Hermione looked up from the book she was reading with an annoyed expression. The way she always got annoyed when someone pointed out books weren't helping. She opened her mouth to say something and frowned when Ron slammed his book shut looking hopeful.

"There has to be something that will help us somewhere in here. Besides it's our only option, there's nothing else we can do." Hermione said this as if it was final and buried her head back behind her book.

"We could at least try the chamber of secrets, it wouldn't hurt." Harry suggested. Hermione looked up from her book again looking more irritated.

"Harry, think about it. If only a Parseltongue can get into the chamber how is a death eater supposed to get in. Unless Voldemort comes when they attack, but I really don't suspect he would." Hermione said looking thoughtful. Harry thought about this for a moment and gave up with the chamber idea. After all, there were hardly any times he could remember when Hermione had been wrong. "Now if you two just sit there we wont get through much will we?" Hermione said sternly.

"Can't we take a break?" Ron groaned leaning back in his chair and rubbing a hand against his forehead.

"Have you taken your potion today?" Hermione said as she turned to Ron and her expression turned from a frown to concern. Ron looked back at her guiltily and Hermione's face turned back into a frown. Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out the bottle of potion that Madame Pomfrey had given him which had now been refilled. Harry now had his head rested on the table as he watched Ron poured some of the liquid into his mouth. Harry shifted his eyes back to Hermione who gave a slight satisfied smile and began looking through the book she was holding again. Harry who had never seen Ron do something Hermione had told him to without a word smiled to his self.

"What?" Ron said defensively as he saw Harry smirking. Harry merely shook his head and picked up another book. Just as Harry had begun to read he heard someone cough behind him and he turned his head to see Lupin not looking pleased.

"Harry can I speak to you for a moment?" Lupin asked him still looking stern but a slight smile appeared on his face. Harry got up and turned back to Ron and Hermione.

"I'll meet you in the common room later, bring more books we can look in them there." Ron and Hermione nodded and Harry followed Lupin out of the library. "What is it Professor?" Harry said walking along the corridor.

"Rufus Scrimgeour is in Minerva's office waiting for you. I heard he requested a meeting with you yesterday which you politely refused." Lupin turned to look at Harry and smiled.

"I told him I didn't want to speak to him and I'm not going to." Harry said determinedly.

"The Minister is a powerful man. Best to speak with him Harry, it can do no harm. Whatever you have been doing recently now is the time to tell me." Lupin stopped walking and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. He didn't know why he felt it, but at this moment he found it the hardest to tell Lupin that he wouldn't be able to tell him anything until it was all over.

"If I could tell anyone Professor you know it would be you. But I can't." Harry looked at the floor not wanting to see the disappointment in Lupin's eyes as he said this. Lupin took his hand off Harry's shoulder and began walking once again. "I'm sorry Professor." Harry muttered.

"If anything, the fact you are standing by your word to Dumbledore even now, it says a lot more about the man you really are." Lupin said with a smile. Harry breathed a sigh of relief at these words and carried on walking wondering what Scrimgeour could want with him. He knew one thing for sure; he hadn't changed his mind about being the ministry's poster boy. When he arrived at Mcgonagall's office he saw Scrimgeour sitting on a chair looking grim. Lupin left the room and Harry shut it behind him.

"Nice to see you've come Harry, sit down." Harry saw Scrimgeour force a smile.

"What do you want?" Harry said bluntly. "If you wanted to make small talk you wouldn't of come here don't treat me like an idiot." Harry sat down. Scrimgeour looked taken aback but nodded.

"Very well then, another death eater has escaped from Azkaban. You see, without dementors security isn't as tight as it should be." Scrimgeour shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Who was it?" Harry asked leaning forwards in his chair now interested in the conversation.

"Walden Macnair. When people find out another one has escaped…"

"They'll realise your getting completely no where in getting rid of Voldemort." Harry said coldly. He felt he was now catching on at why he had been asked here. "And you want me to make it look like you are actually doing something, well you asked me this last year and my answer hasn't changed." Harry started to get up from his chair when Scrimgeour put out a hand to stop him.

"Arthur Weasley. A friend of yours dad isn't he? Well you know I have the power of what to do with his job." Harry sat back down.

"Are you threatening me?" Harry said a tone of anger now in his voice.

"I'm merely giving you a piece of information Harry. Now if you'd like some time to think it over I shall be seeing you very soon." Scrimgeour rose from his chair leaving Harry fuming and speechless. Harry banged his fists on the table. He couldn't let Mr Weasley lose his job; he would have to do what Scrimgeour asked of him. When Harry arrived back to the common room he tore through the portrait hole still furious at what Scrimgeour had said to him. He found Ron and Hermione sitting in the armchairs with the books on the table they had brought up from the library.

"What's wrong with you mate?" Ron asked him looking startled as Harry sat down. Harry explained to Ron and Hermione what had just happened after ten minutes.

"Bloody git. He can't sack dad he has no reason to." Ron said heatedly.

"He won't sack him Ron. I'll just have to do what he wants me to." Harry said miserably. "You found anything?" Harry said changing the subject thinking he already knew the answer. Hermione shook her head. The three of them sat in silence randomly looking at pages in the books until Hermione sat up and gasped. Harry who had been nearly asleep sat up in alarm.

"This is a long shot but…the room of requirement?" Hermione looked from Harry to Ron to see their reactions. Harry who had expected something better from Hermione sat back in his chair again.

"Sorry Hermione but, there's no obstacles in the way, anyone could just go in there and pick it up." Harry said.

"No just think about it for a moment. If he hid all of his horcruxes somewhere where barely anyone could get to them if he died how could he ever come back? And the room of requirement isn't that obvious there's so many things in there but there's always the small chance of someone picking it up. It's so simple that's what makes it such a good place. We've been looking for a well hidden place when it's been right under our noses all along." Hermione finished.

"It's worth a shot." Ron agreed. The three of them got up and walked out of the common room towards the room of requirement. When they arrived they walked past three times. Harry remembering he hid the potions book in that same room walked past thinking the same thing.

I need to find my potions book
I need to find my potions book

And on the third time praying Hermione was right he walked past again with Ron and Hermione right next to him.

I need to find my potions book

The door appeared and Harry immediately ripped it open. When the three of them stepped inside they discovered they were not the only ones in the room.