Life Takes A Turn
Chapter 26
Information and Leaving
"Guys, guys! Listen!" yelled Hermione coming into the room full of students, who were all talking and shouting around the room. It had been few hours since Hermione told Harry what they wanted, and now it was decision time. Unfortunately Hermione had found out information that the Order wasn't going to like at all especially their younger ones. Everyone quieted down as Hermione stood in front of them, on the raised platform that was used only for announcements.
"You can't leave until you have at least completed your OWL's," sighed Hermione, "I've just looked over all the rules, you cannot leave without a parent or guardian's signature."
"What does that mean? that we can't go?" asked fourteen year old Jane Simms.
"Pretty much," sighed Hermione.
"What if we did our OWL's over the summer holiday's?" asked Sara, "Would we be able to join you then?"
"Well…Harry has grudgingly agreed to allow it," said Hermione "But he's not entirely happy about it, not because he fears you would not be good enough. Merely because he's worried that you will all get hurt, but if its what you want to do Harry is willing to allow it."
"He's gotta stop that crap, or he's never going to win, he really has to stop worrying about others and concentrate on the battle." said Ron shaking his head in dismay.
A chorus of agreement rented the air.
"HEY!" yelped Hermione "Listen guy's, if you are going we leave tonight, Harry's currently looking for a home he can provide for us."
"Not Grimmauld Place?" asked Draco looking sullen.
"No people there are just living there they aren't taking part in the war," said Hermione "Harry knows how you feel and will open one floo network on the houses so you can all speak to your mothers." her face was solemn and wistful as she spoke. Harry was truly the most compassionate man she would ever meet, his mother would have been so proud of him.
"He's do that?" asked Vincent looking at his fellow Slytherins shock clear as day on his face.
"Harry is not the boy you have constantly belittled each and every year since he entered Hogwarts. He knew nothing of his heritage, nothing of being a hero, nothing of magic at all. Harry was in all intents and purposes like a Muggle born when he entered Hogwarts. He was never lazy, he had to fight tooth and nail for everything he's achieved. He's magically powerful yes but he has to work hard too you know," said Hermione grimly.
"There's even been times when I've let him down, times were I didn't deserve Harry as a friend." said Ron "But I'd never be able to wish for a better pal, if you had been nicer Draco you would have learned that too."
"But we aren't here to talk about that!" said Hermione stopping Ron going on anymore. Not that she wasn't proud of her new boyfriend, she was, very much so but they had a lot to get through if they wanted to get out during dinner. "We leave during dinner, write out this form, to give to Dumbledore as we are leaving pulling yourself from Hogwarts. Go and get packed, leave nothing behind because we cannot return at all."
Suddenly there was a sudden dash for the door the students chatting excitedly, trying to get out first and to their dorms. They were going in all different directions, quite happy to be leaving and grabbing the papers from Hermione as they went. The Slytherin's though just sniffed in distain at the manner they were heading out. They had so much more decorum than that, so once the room was basically empty, they took the papers from Hermione, thanking her then leaving at a more casual pace.
"Draco!" yelled Hermione skidding to a halt beside him.
"What's wrong?" asked Draco.
"Do you know any others that might…you know what out?" asked Hermione breathlessly.
"I'm not sure," admitted the teen.
"Well if they do, tell them to meet us in the ROR in one hour exactly, you have nothing to loose. You are leaving with the rest of us," said Hermione "They will know, regardless so you might as well save as many as you can. Just warn them of the silencing vows on them so if they want to play traitor they will have a hard time."
Draco curled his lip at her.
"The others got the same speech, Hannah wanted more Huffelpuff's to join," said Hermione before Draco could start on her.
Arching his eyebrow at her in astonishment he nodded grimly, realizing for the first time that they were truly united in this. That all grounds, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Huffelpuff and Slytherin were given all the same warnings.
"I'll see what I can do," said Draco curtly.
"Good," said Hermione nodding quite happy it wasn't long before they both parted ways.
"I didn't realize just how much my family owned, I thought for years I had this one vault to do until I graduated and got a job," sighed Harry his eyes huge as he actually for the first time sat down and looked over his accounts.
"You can thank Dumbledore for that," sneered Severus waving his wand and some of the properties disappeared "They were abroad, no good to us, these are our options, but I think we should stay in either Scotland or England." another wave of his wand more properties disappeared.
"Cool, how do you do that? What happens to them?" asked Harry curiously looking at the paper.
"Nothing happens to them, they are just invisible, it's very handy when you are looking for information. I use it all the time when I'm looking for potions and their ingredients," explained Severus. "It will come back in less than thirty minutes, whether you are finished or not."
"There's so much I don't even know," said Harry shaking off his wonderment.
"There's plenty of time for that, even I, am still learning new things mostly about Potions but regardless, I am still learning. There's always something out there to learn Harry, its nothing to do with you and your inability to learn." said Severus smoothly.
"Yeah, once I've defeated Voldemort," said Harry.
"If I could make it otherwise I would," said Severus, basically telling Harry he would kill Voldemort, if he had, had the power to do so. Unfortunately he wasn't powerful enough to do such a thing, added with the Dark Mark he would die too. The Dark mark would sense his magic killing its bonded/host and would kill him for his treachery. Something they had found out the hard way, when someone had tried to cast a cutting curse at Voldemort's neck. Of course Voldemort recovered…but the er, traitor, really didn't. by the time the mark and Voldemort was through with him, no doubt he was wishing he hadn't done such a stupid thing.
"I know," reassured Harry.
"I think I like this one," said Harry pointing to the Potter Manor that was in Scotland.
"Its big enough for the numbers," conceded Severus nodding his approval.
"Half might be sharing too," said Harry.
"Indeed, then we shall use that one," agreed Severus.
"I have to go in approximately an hour, I've asked Hermione to ask Draco if he could try and get some more Slytherin's on our side…maybe there are more like Draco, Vinnie, Teddy and Greg." said Harry. "I need someone who could tell their intentions, you will scare them and their walls should come down just long enough to read them."
"Good idea, I think I'll do just that," mused Severus.
"We leave at six o'clock by the way, they already have the forms, as soon as Dumbledore is in public were are leaving. I don't want to sneak of with the others, that's just a cowardly way." stated Harry.
"Yes, you would be giving them all the wrong impression," said Severus nodding curtly. Sneaking out gave the impression they were doing something wrong, that they were in the wrong. Going out heads in the air, gave the impression they were doing the right thing.
Harry and Severus who was under Harry's invisibility cloak, made their way to the room of requirements. They had decided upon a house, and then gone down to the kitchens, employed Dobby, Winky and a very surprising house elf loyal to Severus named Dandy. Thankfully willingly bonding to a wizard overrode the loyalty they had to Hogwarts and Dumbledore. Dobby was of course free, Winky and Dandy had been officially bonded to the Headmaster. Now they were bonded to Harry and Severus, once their allegiance had been secured Harry gave them conditions to their employment. Which included decent clothes, and of course money to get whatever they wanted. Severus had rolled his eyes but Harry had been adamant. Thankfully the want to go with Harry and Severus had won them over. Dobby had been excited, and agreed straight away, he had wanted to bond to his Harry Potter.
After everything was decided, Harry had told them to get food, clean the manor ready for them coming in a few hours. They had promptly apparated on the spot eager for a good clean up. With that done they had promptly began their walk up to the Room of Requirements.
Harry waited patiently, although Severus was rather impatient stuck under the cloak. Hermione came in a few seconds later, smiling at Harry "How did it go?" she then asked.
"Everything's ready for our departure," said Harry.
"Good, Draco will be here soon hopefully with some others," said Hermione.
"Yeah," agreed Harry wholeheartedly.
"So where are we going?" asked Hermione she had been dying to ask that for hours.
"Potter Manor, it's in Scotland not far from here, it's now under Fidelus and a whole other set of charms. Dumbledore couldn't get near to it even if he knew the existence of it. Now that he cannot get into my vaults now, he couldn't get it changed even if he wanted too." explained Harry.
"Great," sighed Hermione.
"Dobby, Winky and Dandy have been employed by me to look after us," said Harry waiting on the inevitable explosion.
"WHAT? Harry you know how I feel about that!" she said in her most disproving voice scowling at him nastily.
"Think you can cook for the nearly hundred students coming to the Manor?" asked Harry without raising his voice.
"Well…no…not really but Harry…it's not fair!" whined Hermione.
"Whining Hermione? Don't worry they get clothes and money plus a proper place to sleep than in a bloody cupboard!" snapped Harry getting defensive now.
"Oh, I'm sorry Harry I didn't mean to overreact," said Hermione her brown eyes swimming with unshed tears. Of all the people she knew Harry wouldn't harm another creature, those house elves were better of with Harry. At least they were getting a small taste of freedom, with clothes and money. She knew how Harry had been treated, it made her heart ache.
"It's alright, let's just forget about it," said Harry just as the door opened.
Harry's jaw nearly dropped, their entire year of Slytherins walked in with a few others.
Millicent Bulstrode, Tracy Davis, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle. Eight of the students that had been sorted into Slytherin Harry's first year. All of them very powerful and looking adamant and weary at the same time.
"You do realize, if you are trying to spy it wont work, you will be signing a piece of parchment that will bring about your death if it's spoken about." said Harry smoothly standing tall. Which was true, the only thing worse than death, would be the spell that could take their magic away.
Using that spell was a straight heading for the Dementor's kiss.
"We know, Draco told us," said Parkinson.
"Why do you want to join?" asked Harry staring at them all.
"We don't want to join our parents, we've seen him coming home sometimes…and it's not the life I want," said Parkinson.
"We?" asked Harry.
"I have a little sister, I want to bring her with me, she's eleven and will start next year," said Parkinson's.
"Malcolm and Graeme cannot come they are too young," said Zabini.
"Yeah they are only fourth years," agreed Harry.
"Is there family members you want placed in safety?" asked Harry after a few seconds.
"My mother is safe in the manor," said Blaise.
"Ours are already taken care of," said Draco speaking for Teddy, Vinnie and Greg.
"My parents don't want to join the war, but I do I know he wont leave anyone alone." said Millie.
"Same with my parents," said Tracy Davis.
"Alright, fair enough, Hermione did you bring…" Harry didn't even get to finish his statement as she already brought out the paper. Handing it to the ones who hadn't been sworn in yet. Severus hadn't made an appearance so that must mean they were all true to the group.
"Of course," she said grinning widely.
"We are leaving, heading for Potter Manor we cannot do anything more under the old fool's nose as much as it would satisfy me." smirked Harry wickedly.
This caused the Slytherins to grin in feral satisfaction.
"You'll need these," said Hermione handing them the papers that would see them leaving Hogwarts.
Dumbledore was in for a shock.
"We leave in less than an hour, I'm sorry about the lack of time but with magic…you'll be done in no time." said Harry smoothly.
"My sister?" questioned Pansy.
"Can she floo?" asked Harry.
Pansy gave him a strange look "We learn when we are five years old,"
"All of you?" asked Harry cocking his head to the side.
"Yeah," said Blaise.
"So if Voldemort hadn't ruined my life I might be more graceful stepping through the floo?" asked Harry a small pout on his lips "Another thing I can blame on snake face."
The Slytherins gasped and flinched in fear upon hearing the horrified name, even worse when they heard Harry talking casually about him.
"We will hand it to Dumbledore during dinner so he cannot cause too big a scene," smirked Harry.
"Oh, ho this is going to be good," smirked Tracy in merriment.
"I am rather looking forward to it too," nodded Harry in agreement.
"Well we best go and pack," said Pansy.
"Before you go, floo your sister tell her to grab what she really wants and floo through here." said Harry sternly as the others all walked out of the room.
"Alright," agreed Pansy looking for a fire only to have one appear out of nowhere. Shaking her head this room was rather crazy. Kneeling down she smiled softly, maybe not so crazy for the first time using the floo her knees weren't going to hurt. The room had provided her with a knee pad for in front of the fire.
"Pansy what's wrong?" asked a small voice.
"Sandy, grab what you need and come back here your coming with me," whispered Pansy quickly and quietly.
"What? How?" gasped Sandy.
"Just do it Sandy now!" said Pansy urgently.
"Alright, alright!" said Sandy leaving the room, Pansy meanwhile waited impatiently.
Her sister came through the door again, with a bag she recognized to be bottomless. She had the exact same one; she nodded her approval to her sister before speaking again, "I want you to shout quietly into the fire Hogwarts, room of requirements alright?"
"Okay Pans," said Sandy nodding her head eagerly.
Pansy withdrew from the fire, and stepped back hoping and praying it would work and her sister would get through alright. Only Daphne Greengrass understood her, she had a little sister too. Only she was already at Hogwarts, Astoria Greengrass and a little darling.
Only Greengrass' parents weren't Death Eaters but sister to sister they both understood one another. All the others didn't really have siblings; Pansy thought it was because when they had girls they tried to have a boy only to fail.
Suddenly the fire flared to life throwing out the eleven year old girl. Harry was er, rather surprised, she looked, er gorgeous compared to her sister. Not that Pansy was disgusting, but she just had one of those faces. He didn't mean any disrespect but it looked like the shape of a dog, without its' muzzle.
"Pansy!" shrieked Sandy happily.
"Keep an eye on her, Hogwarts likes to have fun with little firsties" smirked Harry nodding to her, Hermione and Harry left.
Half the student's population stood outside the hall of Hogwarts, anticipation on each and every one of them. Severus was sitting in his seat, eagerly waiting on the show starting. To top it off he was leaving last, that sure would be the icing on the cake for the old fool.
"Ready?" whispered Harry and everyone nodded in silent agreement. They were more than ready to leave. Their trunks were all shrunk and in their pockets everything they owned inside them. They were finally leaving Hogwarts and going to make a difference. Nobody could say the next generation weren't ready. Because they were ready to rock and roll, Voldemort wouldn't know what hit him. There were more students here than there was Death Eaters and that was putting it mildly.
"Let's do it Harry," said Draco smirking in anticipation. Merlin Draco couldn't wait to see Dumbledore's face when half the students walked out of Hogwarts. The only reason it wasn't more than half was because, you had to pass your OWL's before leaving.
When Albus noticed all the children coming into the Great Hall, he didn't think much off it. After all it was dinner time, and the place where all his students should be at this time of day. Unfortunately when seventh years were matching their way up, all four houses worth of them a small frown worked its way on his face. What on earth was going on, smiling brightly at them, he took the pieces of paper from them. Nodding as he continued to take them, wondering what it is they wanted this time. Just what kind of petition had been made today, by his wayward students.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head, they were withdrawing from the school! He couldn't believe it half of the schools population was there. His jaw dropped, there was no hiding his reactions he was just too shocked. He had lost the Potter money earlier along with every penny he had ever taken.
"What is this?" boomed Dumbledore furiously.
"I think you will find people are withdrawing from school Headmaster," said Harry finally revealing himself from the thong of students.
"I don't think so," said Dumbledore coldly.
"I do believe you don't have a choice in this," said Harry smirking viciously.
"This is where you are safe!" snapped Dumbledore, ignoring all the other students who were going forward and putting their paper on top of his dinner.
"No I'm not," snorted Harry bitterly "You've manipulated my life the second I walked through those doors. Egging an eleven year old to fight Voldemort wasn't a smart move. We knew what you had done; we unfortunately were still blinded then." Hermione and Ron both nodded.
"Let's not forget the Chamber of secrets, the Dementors, the tri-wizard tournament and the fact Voldemort was able to get to him." sneered Hermione, oh she had been dying to do that for ages.
"Take care Headmaster," said Harry coolly.
Every student going with Harry began walking out, only to have the doors of the Great Hall slam shut. The students sitting watching the ciaos all were frowning and astonished by what was happening and why Dumbledore was speaking the way he was.
"What are we going to do?" whispered Ginny.
"No worries," smirked Harry "Hogwarts I demand you to open the doors and ignore all other requests for five minutes."
The students standing all gasped, of course Hogwarts would listen to him, he was Slytherin's heir. The doors did indeed open, and they continued walking out, feeling satisfaction invade them.
Dumbledore got up and planned on following them, trying to stop them whatever means necessary. However, Severus stood up in front of Dumbledore, and handed in his own notice, smirking in satisfaction, his onyx eyes glittering dangerously.
"What is this? And please move! You're Slytherins are about to leave!" said Dumbledore trying to get around Severus but it was impossible to do so.
"As am I," smirked Severus "I do believe my contract is up, find yourself another spy, Hogwarts professor and head of house."
"Severus' what's going on?" asked Minerva.
"I do believe I just said - I quit," said Severus moving away from Dumbledore and walking out of the Great Hall. Normally if that had happened, students would have been cheering. They were just far too stunned to even think about applauding about something like that. Their prefects and head boy's had left Hogwarts, and they weren't sure how to feel about that. The Great Hall suddenly felt very, very empty.
"Severus!" yelled Dumbledore "You're under oath!" he said coming back to himself when Severus was half way down the hall. He began walking trying to catch up with his spy; he couldn't loose Severus or Harry.
"Actually when I turned Harry I was released from the oath," smirked Severus ferally. "You really should have kept any eye on how many oaths you had left."
"SEVERUS! I WILL SEE YOU IN AZKABAN BEFORE I LET YOU WALK OUT OF HERE!" snarled Dumbledore.
"Oh no you won't, if you did you can deal with Voldemort yourself," said Harry coming back in looking vicious.
"What does it matter to you?" said one of the students confused, the hate between Severus and Harry was legendary.
"It matters because I am mated to him," sneered Harry slipping his hand into Severus' showing the man he wasn't scared to let others know about them.
Severus on the other hand tightened his hold, feeling so amused by the look of shock and disgust that darkened Dumbledore's face. Without more ado, they both left Hogwarts and Dumbledore behind. Thankfully though Dumbledore said nothing else, too stunned by the implications of what happened under his very nose.
He'd lost Potter, his weapon.
He'd lost Severus, his spy and second greatest weapon.
He'd lost students, who were candidates to become order members as soon as they had finished school. In fact he had been intending on approaching them in a weeks time, after their NEWT's had passed.
The world had come crumbling down around Albus Dumbledore, so it wasn't surprising when he passed out.
THE END! WHAT DID YOU THINK? LIKE IT? GOOD OR BAD! There will be a sequal to this obviously some day! do you want one? R&R PLEASE!