Chapter Twenty Nine: Uncovered:
Albus Dumbledore had put down the day's Daily Prophet. It appeared that Fudge had made one colossal blunder too many and people were calling for a forced retirement for the Minister of Magic. It was believed that the Minister would resign by the end of this month but Dumbledore doubted that he would be in a better position than he was politically. The two leading candidates were Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour, two individuals who were not likely to let Dumbledore back into his former status. That actually suited Dumbledore's plans nicely, he had a pivotal year planned for Harry, even though he had to modify his approach slightly due to his status of no longer being Headmaster. Still as long as Minerva remained Headmistress, he would be able to get into the school easily, without many people knowing, to give Harry the information that he required for Dumbledore to take his plan to the next level.
All of the information about Tom's life was secured. Dumbledore planned to release it piece by piece to Harry over the period of about a year, in a matter of speaking. He had located each and every one of the Horcruxes some years ago, but had not touched them as of yet. Dumbledore felt it would be for Harry's own good that he was not given this information. To properly grow into his role as Dumbledore's successor, there were still many storms Harry had to weather. The prophecy indicated that this would be a battle that Harry would need to face off against on his own.
The Resurrection Stone buried deep in the remains of the Gaunt Shack was something that grabbed Dumbledore's curiosity and had been a source of temptation. He wondered exactly how much Tom knew about the item he had made into a Horcrux or if he even believed the legend of the Death Hallows. It was highly possible that Voldemort had disregarded it as a mere fairy tale like others had before then. However, Dumbledore did extensive research, their were holes and contradictions in the history of the Hallows as there were any story. The Elder Wand was not as unbeatable as the legends would like people to believe, although it was a very powerful wand that could be a deadly tool in the wrong hands. Still if his plans went right, the Elder Wand would disappear into history, where no one else could ever use it again.
The Stone, Dumbledore would have, the Horcrux would be destroyed, and perhaps it would heighten Harry's curiosity. Harry would in turn do anything to obtain any information, especially if it was to defeat Voldemort. Dumbledore made plans to write to Minerva, to have her suggest to the Board of Governors to move Severus over to the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher and then he would make a contact to his old friend, Horace Slughorn. Horace had been a rather illusive fellow as of late, but Dumbledore very nearly tracked him down. All it would be take is a few choice words, appealing to Slughorn's sense of greed. He just hoped that Minerva could convince the Board of Governors to go alone with this idea, as they had not played along with what Dumbledore wished lately.
Still with all things considered, Dumbledore was pleased at where Harry was. His selfless act of helping Miss Granger, despite what she had done proved that Harry still had the proper mindset for the Wizarding World and the direction that Dumbledore wished that the Boy-Who-Lived led it in. Harry had passed the test that Dumbledore put in front of him with Outstanding marks, he had put to rest any doubts that he had about Harry. In fact, the former Hogwarts Headmaster would go as far to say that he trusted Harry one hundred percent with his life. Harry had proven himself to have qualities that were ideal for the direction that Dumbledore had lead the Wizarding World.
He would be the first admit he had made mistakes in the past, but Dumbledore was not mistaken about this. As he made plans for both the next year, he arranged for a trip to secure the Resurrection Stone from Grimmauld Place and the Horcrux within. It would be the first step to orchestrate Harry's inevitable defeat of Voldemort and time was of the essence.
-
Daphne, Susan, Harry, and Ginny had returned from a prefect meeting. Draco Malfoy looked awfully smug that his father had escaped Azkaban. Harry doubted Draco would be too happy for much longer and he was amused at the thoughts that he caught in Draco's simple little mind. The arrogant little twat thought he would be a valuable asset to Voldemort's cause. Perhaps for a shield, maybe, but Draco would be no more useful for Voldemort than the other Death Eaters. When it all boiled down to everything, they were all just warm bodies for whatever twisted, convoluted schemes Voldemort had in his mind. Once they arrived in the compartment with Neville and Luna, Harry decided to voice the news that he learned just before they left Hogwarts. First they placed all the necessary charms, before Harry decided to pour into the story.
"I received a very interesting letter just before I left, the Hogwarts Board of Governors wrote to me, saying McGonagall suggested Snape to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher just last evening," said Harry.
"Please tell me you're kidding!" exclaimed Neville in a slightly mortified voice. He had just managed to get through Potions thanks to Harry's help and had grown to understand the subject, but still Defense Against the Dark Arts was his favorite subject other than Herbology. He hated to see Snape taint it, even though Umbridge did this year, but that was by design, to get the D.A. kick started.
"I don't think he's kidding," responded Luna calmly.
"Can't we just bring Lockhart back?" asked Ginny but Harry just grabbed her hand for support.
"Last I heard his mind pretty much is a mess, he's more or less brain dead," responded Susan.
"And that will be a difference, how?" asked Daphne which caused the group to laugh. "Harry, I personally think it really doesn't matter whether or not Snape is in or not. I mean, we have the D.A. still."
"I agree with Daphne, any Defense Against the Dark Arts class isn't going to be as nearly important," added Susan.
"Besides there's the curse that's supposed to be on the position," suggested Luna casually. "It would be a shame if Professor Snape had a little accident when he was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I think it would break up the entire student body, I don't think we would be able to bare it."
"Ah yes the curse that everyone says is on the position, that is on the position because Voldemort did curse it, by using some rather advanced dark magic when Dumbledore refused the job," responded Harry as he looked with a slight smirk as he looked around to the group. "I could kill two birds with one stone, it's so simple. Snape won't dare do anything because he's still on probation and he needs to remain at Hogwarts to appease both of his masters. Therefore if he learns of the D.A., all he can do is just grit his teeth and scowl nastily, something we can all agree he's had ample practice in doing."
"Not that he can do anything to begin with because the group is technically legal, even though it's not something that is out in the open," added Ginny.
"And if the curse does work its insidious magic as intended, I think we might be saying good bye to Professor Snape forever," said Harry as he brushed away a fake tear. "I better purchase flowers."
"That's a bit cruel Harry," said Daphne seriously before she brightened up. "You should have really been in Slytherin you know, you would have done better than some of the nitwits populating the house."
She turned her head to give a cough that sounded vaguely like Malfoy, before she turned her head as if nothing happened.
"It's going to be sad though, no D.A. this summer," answered Luna. "I just hope everyone who is able to will get a chance to practice what they know, but not on real life Death Eaters."
"Agreed that's a fate I don't wish on anyone," replied Harry.
"With Fudge gone, I think it's safe to say that the Ministry might take everything a bit more seriously," said Neville and Harry did hope that Neville was right, but he had little faith in the Ministry over all. Certain people who worked there, yes, he believed the might be able to make a difference, but as a collective, he doubted the Ministry would be able to contain a room of five year olds on a sugar high, much less a small army of dangerous dark witches and wizards.
"Well it will either be Aunt Amelia or Rufus Scrimgeour," said Susan as she looked a bit worried at the prospect of her Aunt Amelia being a more high profile target than ever before.
"Scrimgeour, he's too by the book to be any good for progression in the Ministry," said Ginny.
"I know Susan, you're worried about your aunt being a target, but steps are being taken to make sure she remains as safe as she's ever going to be," said Harry who as he weighed his options, Amelia Bones getting into the spot of Minister of Magic was best for where he wanted to go. Scrimgeour was a distant second and then there were some absolute putrid options that might be even worse than Umbridge going on down that were in high ranking positions of power. "I have a friend who is keeping an eye on her. Let's just say she blends in really well."
"You seem rather confident that she'll get into the Minister of Magic spot," observed Luna.
"I never plan for something that's not going to happen," answered Harry.
"I appreciate it Harry, but you really shouldn't have to go to all of that trouble, I might be worried, but Aunt Amelia can take care of herself and I think whatever people you have working for you would be better off doing something else than watching her," answered Susan, even though she was really grateful what Harry and Ginny were both doing, she also realized that there was a much bigger picture at state then the welfare and health of her aunt.
"We realize that she can take care of herself, but that might be a problem," said Ginny.
"Ginny has a point, as much as I hate to say this, this won't be a job that Voldemort will entrust his little servants to do on their own, he's going to take a more hands on approach," said Harry darkly and Susan's eyes widened at this. "In the Ministry, its unlikely Voldemort would risk showing his face…"
"But after hours, when she's at home, I can see where you're going Harry," said Susan as while her aunt was an above average witch, against Voldemort, she had little to no chance. In fact, there was only one person who could be able to match Voldemort spell for spell in a duel and that person was sitting right across from her.
They spent the rest of the train ride making some light non-Voldemort related conversation but it eventually got to a subject that Harry was a bit apprehensive in explaining.
"Now Harry, we didn't have time in the D.A. meeting but the Granger situation, the fact that you're actually forgiving her for what she did, I guess that's your business but I just wonder if it's such a good idea," said Daphne but she stopped. "Unless of course you aren't really forgiving her…"
"I am, but at the same time, I'm not," responded Harry cryptically. "Let's just put in this way, the Hermione I knew before that Goblet of Fire deal when down, she might still be alive for all I know, but this person that we have been dealing with, was nasty, vindictive, and quite dangerous. Not by design, but unfortunately by a series of bad choices that had nearly destroyed her mind."
"She had Dark Arts Dependency," answered Ginny.
"A very early stage I take it," prompted Luna and Harry nodded. "Fair enough you're both giving her another chance and being smart about it."
"My intentions aren't completely noble, but if Hermione does manage to get better from these potions, than it's an unexpected bonus to this grand plan," said Harry. "Ginny and I both agree that it's possible, but not something we're hanging are hopes on."
"Just wait and see in other words," said Neville.
"Precisely," answered Harry. "The moment we get a hint of her regressing back into how she was all year, we'll contain her and…well I don't think any of you have ever had to put down a rabid animal before that was once close to you, like a pet."
The group shook their heads.
"Neither have I but I think it's safe to say that it would not be fun at all, you want to remember all the good times, but you then realize its for its own good, its sick and a danger to both itself and others," concluded Harry. "A human being, well that would be much worse, especially when she was once considered to be about as close as a sister. There is a high likelihood that she will get better and we won't have to cross this bridge but there is also a chance that…"
"You'll do what's necessary no matter what happens," interjected Ginny in a confident voice as she moved close to Harry, wrapping her arms around Harry, turning so he could look into her eyes.
"Most people would take the easy way out, whatever that is any more," concluded Harry as he heard the train move to a stop as he looked at them seriously. "You all try and have the best summer you can with what's waiting out there, if you need to contact me or each other, do it through the usual secure methods, owls won't work where I'm staying anyway and until Voldemort's six feet under, owls aren't really going to work too well."
They all nodded, saying good bye to each other, before Luna, Daphne, Susan, and Neville all went their separate ways leaving Harry and Ginny alone, as they enveloped each other in an embrace before their lips met in a kiss. They never wanted this to end but it was unfortunate as Molly Weasley had just arrived on the platform, looking a bit tired and weary. Arthur's death had did a number on her. Ron, Fred, and George made their way over and Ginny reluctantly pulled apart from Harry.
"I'll see you tonight Ginny," said Harry as they broke apart.
"Won't be soon enough for me," responded Ginny as they both laughed before they exchanged one more quick kiss, before Harry walked off. He had precious little time to waste, he needed to get the information on the vault out of Bellatrix and he hoped his latest inspiration on how to get the information out of her would do the trick.
-
"Potter," said Bellatrix coldly as Harry had entered the room where she was secured. "Still see you haven't given up on trying to get me to tell you the vault number where the cup is being held."
"No, I'm not and let me make one thing perfectly clear, I don't like you and you like me even less," responded Harry crisply as he looked at Bellatrix with an emotionless look on his face. Her past had garnered some sympathy, until it was realized all of the rotten things Bellatrix did in the name of Voldemort. "But let me make one thing perfectly clear, I'm not going to pretend to be your friend or play games. I might have been able to pity you at one time, but there are some things you've done that can never be excused no matter what."
"Yes Potter, do go on, I here the screams of my victims at night in my dreams and it turns me on quite frankly, to see human suffering," said Bellatrix coldly. "I don't feel any remorse for what I did, my father never felt any remorse for all of the great times we shared together so why should I be any different. Sirius never felt any remorse when he shunned me and left me to rot in Azkaban. And your mother Potter, let's not get started on her. Lily Evans played the vision of perfection, a pure princess of the light side, but there was a much darker side to her, she used people to get what she wanted and discarded them. Kind of like you Potter, but I suppose I can't blame you too much, Fudge and Umbridge are two people that even I'm sickened by and it takes a lot to sicken me. Still your mother, she was like a leech…"
"You make one more remark about my mother, Lestrange, and I'll send you back to Voldemort in pieces," said Harry dangerously.
"I don't doubt you will do so anyway in the end, Potter, perhaps yes," said Bellatrix in a calm voice, that was almost too calm and put Harry on edge and he was ready for her to do something desperate. Even if she was secured, Bellatrix Lestrange was a dangerous and mentally unstable woman beyond all help. "Mummy wasn't as perfect as you would have liked to believe, she strung Snape along for five years, learning as much about the dark arts she could before she ripped out his heart and stomped on it. Isn't that nice, Potter?"
"It's no less than Snape deserved," answered Harry coldly, he knew what Snape was capable of though his Voldemort obtained memories.
"I'm feeling a draft in here, Potter, you're cold," responded Bellatrix eyes widened but then she gave him a twisted grin.
"The vault number Lestrange," said Harry.
"No Potter!" sang Bellatrix as she looked at Potter expecting frustration but he was just smiling before he reached into the pocket of his robe.
"I didn't want to resort to this but you forced my hand, Bellatrix," responded Harry in a mock regretful voice. "What would you say if I have a way to remove that dark mark from your forearm?"
"NO!" shrieked Bellatrix fearfully, she could not bare to lose her dark mark, it connected her with the Dark Lord, the only person who ever looked out for her best interest. "STAY WAY FROM MY FOREARM YOU HALF BLOODED PIECE OF TRASH!"
"Yes, I can do that, Bellatrix, I have within my pocket the cure that fortunate blemish upon your right forearm," said Harry as he removed a bottle of a bubbling green substance from his pocket. "See this little potion will remove any unsightly blemishes, including tattoos burned in your skin by megalomaniac dark lords. Sure it might burn right through the bone as well, but it's the thought that counts. This little miracle cure can be avoided with one easy payment, that's one easy payment of telling me what number is vault the cup of Helga Hufflepuff."
Harry held the bottle over Bellatrix who swallowed. There was no way Potter was bluffing, the look in his eyes suggestion absolutely no deception.
"Alright vault eight four!" shouted Bellatrix
"Are you certain?" asked Harry.
"Yes, I swear to the Dark Lord I'm not lying!" cried Bellatrix, as she did not want to lose her dark mark, that would be the greatest insult. "Keep that vial away from me you sick, sadistic, half blooded bastard!"
"Ah, afraid of a little water mixed with food coloring I see," responded Harry and Bellatrix gashed her teeth together when she realized that Potter had found a way to trick her. "I have urgent business to attend to right now but you will be reunited with your precious master all too soon."
"Just wait Potter, I'll kill you and everyone else that you love!" shouted Bellatrix in a crazed voice but Harry paid her no mind, as she was completely secured. Besides he had heard that song and dance in the past and will hear in the future. It was a tactic that psychopaths used to get in the head of their victims, even though they were very capable of carrying out their threats. Still he had no intention of Bellatrix leaving this room with the ability to kill a fly, much less a human being.
-
"Are you sure this will work, Harry?" asked Tonks the next day, as Harry and Ginny were following her at a safe distance under the Invisibility Cloak as they approached . As far as Mrs. Weasley knew, Ginny was upstairs studying and doing her homework. Right now Tonks looked exactly like her aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, thanks to her abilities.
"I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't sure," replied Harry calmly, as he held the bag on his shoulder, containing their secret weapons against the goblins just in case they found out. He thought using Tonks to pose as Bellatrix was one of his better ideas. After all, why waste perfectly good time, money, and potions ingredients to make Polyjuice Potion when there is a Metamorphmagus on the payroll? One of Dumbledore's great blunders was not taking advantage of her talents when he had the opportunity. She could the perfect spy or decoy with the ability to change her features. The fact that Dumbledore squandered her abilities by placing her under an Invisibility Cloak to guard a Prophecy, was just rather sad.
"Besides yes there is a chance that the goblins will find us out, but we've got it taken care of," answered Ginny firmly from underneath the cloak. "You know the things we just purchased before we got here."
"Those water guns, you expect those to beat the goblins?" asked Tonks in surprise.
"Yes, we do, Nymphadora," replied Harry calmly. "For almost a year, I have learned about everything I've could about the security of Gringotts, the measures they take against thieves. I hope to use their defenses against them. It wasn't until now that I had the information that I needed to go in and get the cup."
"If you say so Harry, hopefully this will go off without a hitch," said Tonks.
"Considering how suspicious the goblins can get, we need to be ready for anything they throw at us, to fight at a moment's notice," said Ginny.
"And we will be, goblins are among the fiercest warriors in the world, but much like the humans they show disdain for, they still don't plan for every possible angle that they can be attacked with, even the completely absurd," answered Harry. "Of course no one expected anyone to think of the completely obvious solution of summoning the egg in the first task in the Triwizard Tournament."
"Just remember Tonks, try and act as much like her as possible," added Ginny.
"In other words, be nasty, rude, and threaten the goblins with great bodily harm if they don't do what you say," said Harry firmly. "They are beneath you, they are filthy half breeds to you, that are not fit to breath the same air. You are pureblood, they should be falling at your feet, kissing the very ground you walk on."
"I get it Harry," said Tonks as they entered the bank, which thankfully was not that crowded. Hogwarts had only been out less than a day and Diagon Alley was barely populated. She walked over to a goblin at a desk who looked rather bored.
"May I help you, human?" asked the goblin in a snide voice.
"Listen here you filthy creature, I need you to take me to my vault, number eight four and make it snappy!" shrieked Tonks, doing a very accurate impression of her aunt as the goblin looked up, as his eyes widened and it was very amusing to see a goblin show some signs of fear.
"Madam Lestrange, of course, of course, this way, please don't hurt me, I'll lead you right to it, I trust that you have your key," stated the goblin.
"No, once I was thrown into Azkaban, the Ministry confiscated my home and everything in it, including the key!" snapped Tonks, as she lifted her wand threateningly. "I trust this will not be a problem, as I am a respected pureblood and deserve your respect."
"No, we will require a drop of your blood when you get down here, to make a new key," said the goblin.
"Good thing Tonks is related to her, it might be enough to trick the goblins," muttered Ginny.
"Let's hope so," whispered Harry, who doubted the goblins would be fooled for much longer, they would need to make their move. So far, so good, as they were lead into a cart. Harry and Ginny carefully climbed in, with Tonks and the goblin in as the cart moved down a winding path, towards the level where Bellatrix's vault were but they were met with a group of about two dozen goblins, each wielding spears, wearing both armor and nasty expressions on their faces as well. The cart stopped as the goblin who maneuvered it stopped it.
"Is their a problem, Karak?" asked the goblin to what appeared to be the leader of the goblin warriors.
"This human is an imposter, our sensors picked up an attempted deception," said Karak nastily, as he looked in the cart. "And there are others in that cart, under an Invisibility Cloak."
"Time to go," muttered Harry as he threw the cloak off, before he and Ginny blasted the goblin in the cart over the side and quickly Harry activated the lever to propel it down the pathway, mowing over several goblins.
"How did they know?" asked Ginny.
"They're goblins, they have their ways, but don't worry, everything is going to plan," responded Harry in a reassuring voice.
"I hate to see how bad things are if everything was going badly," said Tonks but Harry looked at the lever with a frown.
"Those lying goblins, there is more than one speed on this thing," responded Harry and he activated the lever, causing it to propel itself faster but there were several carts on their tail.
"Activate defenses, don't let those thieves get away!" shouted a voice and jagged rocks erupted out of the ground.
"TIME TO BAIL!" shouted Harry and they leapt out of the cart, before rocks erupted underneath it, shattering it to pieces. Harry stuffed the Invisibility Cloak back into the bag, the hoods of their robes were pulled over his and Ginny's faces, obscuring their identity, the magically voice distorters in the hood activated.
"They're concealed, activate the thief's downfall!" shouted another voice as a blast of water appeared from the ceiling but rather Harry and Ginny removed the water guns from Harry's bag, before they siphoned the water into them and passed one to Tonks.
"Aim for the armor, it's magically enchanted and this water from the thief's downfall, it melts away any enchantments and concealments," explained Harry without taking a breath and they aimed the water guns at the goblins who stopped, before they laughed at the humans threatening them with mere Muggle toys. The humans had the last laugh as magically altered water of the thief's downfall splashed the armor, causing it to crumble apart. The goblins were quickly bombarded with as many spells as possible, several of them dropping to the ground or getting blasted back. Others remained standing but they backed off.
"Release the dragons!" cried one of the goblins which caused Harry to just smile.
"Everyone relax, stay calm, its just an overgrown fire breathing lizard that will become angry when its hit in the eyes with three consecutive Conjunctivitis Curses," stated Harry as they saw a shadow of a dragon that could just barely fit through the tunnel but that just made the beast even more nasty and foul tempered. Several more appeared to be in the distance, but judging by the vault numbers, they were rather quick. "Ready set go!"
Three Conjunctivitis Curses struck the dragon in the eyes, causing him to go insane. Harry, Ginny, and Tonks quickly slipped down the side, before they made their way to vault eight four.
"No key hole?" asked Tonks.
"Figures, that could have been why we got found out," said Ginny. "It might be difficult to get in without a key."
"A minor inconvenience," responded Harry.
"How could you be so calm about this?" asked Tonks as she heard dragons approaching.
"Practice," said Harry as he looked towards the vault door. He remembered what he was told years ago, that anyone but a Gringotts goblin would be sucked inside if they tried to touch the door of a high security vault. Exactly what Harry needed for easy access. "Okay, hang on, but I do warn you, this might cause slight discomfort."
Ginny and Tonks did as they were told as Harry touched the door and sure enough, they, along with everything on them were sucked inside the vault. They crashed to the ground of the vault, surrounded with piles of gold galleons, along with many artifacts that Harry suspected would be rather dark and dangerous. Then on a shelf was the Hufflepuff Cup. Ginny made a movement to go over, but Harry grabbed her hand.
"Don't touch anything, Gemino and Flagrante Charms are on this vault and likely have been activated, anything will multiply and burn when touched directly until it's out of the vault," responded Harry.
"Then just summon it then?" asked Ginny but Harry responded by shaking his head.
"Won't work, all objects in Gringotts have been charmed against summoning, proving that goblins are one step above the organizers of the Triwizard Tournament, levitation as well," responded Harry as he reached into his bag, before he pulled out an ordinary magnet. "But, naturally there are ways around any charm, if I magically alter the properties of this magnet just enough, it should be able to grab onto Hufflepuff's Cup easily. Just a few minor adjustments and we have our cup."
The cup was pulled off of the shelf and stuck onto Harry's magnet. He was careful not to touch the cup with his hand, before he removed an exact duplicate, minus the Horcrux, from his bag and levitated it in the exact place where the original Hufflepuff Cup was stolen. Harry then carefully placed the Hufflepuff Cup along with the magnet. Then he pulled back his sleeve to reveal his wrist Portkey.
"Goblins have some pretty sophisticated anti-Portkey wards, but they are mostly for keeping people from out, not in, a small adjustment to my Portkey, and we should be able to weave around the wards with no problem, except for a small case of nausea and perhaps a slight ringing sensation in our ears," stated Harry as he tapped his wand and made a temporary alteration, before he placed his bag over his arm, containing the Hufflepuff Cup and his Invisibility Cloak. "Okay, everyone grab on, I don't know how long this Portkey can stay intact without going apart."
Sure enough, Ginny and Tonks grabbed an arm each, as they were pulled through a very distorted hole in time and space. The journey was rather rocky and shaky, but at least they came out in one piece, behind Fred and George's new shop in Diagon Alley. They dropped to the ground as Tonks nearly clapped in dizziness.
"We did it Harry!" shouted Ginny happily as they pulled their hoods down before they exchanged a very long kiss, with Harry nearly lifting Ginny off of the ground in triumph, but they were pressed tightly towards each other. It took them a moment to realize that Tonks was still on the ground, dizzy, vomiting at the trip she went through.
"Okay Tonks?" asked Harry.
"I'll be fine, that wasn't a pleasant way to get out of that mess," said Tonks as she shook her head and pulled herself to a standing position.
"That worked out well, don't you say?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, exactly as I had planned," said Harry as he had the bag with the Hufflepuff Cup inside. "Fred and George had some things they were working on for me, that I need to take a look at before we go and destroy the cup."
"I'll just be going home to lie down if that's alright with you Harry," said Tonks and Harry nodded his head, dismissing Tonks.
"Thanks for the help, you deserve the rest of the day off," responded Harry, as Tonks disapparated before Harry turned to Ginny, and they moved towards the back entrance of the shop. Harry raised his hand and knocked three times.
"Password," said a voice from behind the door of the back entrance.
"Open this door, you twin nitwits," answered Harry.
"That's right, come on in Harry," said George as he opened the door to allow Harry and Ginny to walk inside, as Fred was also in the back room in the shop. "And Ginny as well, I was under the impression that you were upstairs studying."
"Well that was the idea," responded Ginny.
"True, it's nice our little sister hasn't been lost to us forever when she became a prefect," answered Fred.
"Guys, I'm a prefect too," said Harry.
"Yes, we know, but you'd kick our arses if we made fun of you," responded George with a shudder.
"Too true," stated Fred.
"And Ginny wouldn't?" asked Harry as Ginny stood in the back with a sweet smile, but she held her wand firmly.
"The man's got a point," said George.
"Indeed he does, George," replied Fred. "So what can we do for our favorite investor?"
"I understand you gentlemen have some items to show me, that would be of great interest to my efforts against Voldemort," answered Harry.
"Quite right Harry, a few Ministry warnings about Inferi might be used by Mr. Riddle caused us to develop these little things," said George.
"Nasty creatures, well they would have to be, walking corpses and all of that," answered Fred. "Well, we managed to take the basic concept of dung bombs, to create a new weapon to use on these foul things."
"Yeah, as hard as it might be to believe, we do read every now and again, and these things have a strong fear of fire," answered George. "So we were thinking, we could modify dung bombs, causing them to burst into large blasts of fire, instead of the charming smell they release normally."
"Took us a couple of tries and several misfires, but we have our newest creation, the Incendio Bomb, which can wipe out several Inferi in one throw," continued Fred.
"They could also be rather dangerous to use, especially in the wrong hands, so it's obvious why we are not going to put them with the regular stock," answered George. "A few of these things could burn down a house the size of the Great Hall."
"Intriguing," responded Harry as he eyed the Incendio Bombs.
"We also made some modifications to the robes, a shield that manifests itself around you, obviously with any other shield it could be blown through with enough powerful attacks," responded George.
"Also, repels all physical attacks, even the ballots from those firelegs," added Fred.
"I believe the term you are looking for his bullets from firearms," responded Harry, who was intrigued nevertheless and Fred and George responded with nods.
"And we also took your idea on Muggle poison darts and have adapted them to be able to be used hand in hand with magical poisons, took some tweaking, along with several charms, but the final result is more than acceptable," said George. "These things can hold enough poison to put a full grown mountain troll down for a long nap."
"What are these?" asked Ginny curiously as she lifted up a pair of silvery gloves.
"A reject project I'm afraid, something they we developed to help deal with the giants, to amplify the magic to bring them down," said Fred sadly. "They would also work well against Dementors for someone who could barely manage a Patronus, but I think we learned a harsh lesson of why a shortcut like this hasn't really been invented before."
"Yeah, the gloves kept backfiring on us and blasting them back into the wall," said George. "The last time we tried, I couldn't sit for a week, they're no good."
"Well not everything is going to be as successfully as intended," said Harry but privately he wondered if there was something that the twins had missed in their attempts. It would be something for consideration for later.
"I'm afraid that is the best of what we've got to show you, we're making some progress a few of your other projects, but no where near completed," said George.
"On the bright side, we are making a killing through all of the prank items, they seem to be very popular sellers," answered Fred. "We have made back almost triple of what you gave us for our start up fees."
"I'm glad to see that and don't even try to give me one knut of that money," warned Harry. "You earned it through your hard work and determination, I just gave you the start up capital."
"Still do take anything you want, especially in the back room, but anything in the shop is rather fair game," said George.
"Given your innovation nature, you might find a more serious use for even the prank items we have," added Fred.
"I'll have to take you up on that offer late, but right now we have to get back, duty calls," said Harry cryptically.
"Right, we'll leave you to your…work," said George but Harry and Ginny were already gone in the blink of an eye.
-
Rita Skeeter waited at a back table of the Leaky Cauldron, impatiently. The big news of the day was Fudge's resignation as Minister of Magic. Right now, there was no Minister but that fact would of course change within the next few weeks. It looked to be down to either Amelia Bones or Rufus Scrimgeour as the brand new Minister. Rita made a mental note to dig up some dirt on both potential candidates, because that's what sold papers. The recent Gringotts breakout was mildly amusing, but since nothing had been stolen it was of little interest to the readers of the Prophet.
Right now, Rita tapped her fingers on the table impatiently. She had a meeting with Harry Potter, who had been the subject of some of her most memorable stories. The more she continued to write about Potter, in a favorable light, the more comfortable she was able to live. Rita in fact suspected that Potter had some stake in the ownership of the Daily Prophet, but she could uncover nothing that would prove her theory. However, right now, Potter hinted that he had information that could lead to Rita uncovering the story of the century. With Fudge's recent exit of the Ministry of Magic, she doubted that anything that Potter said could eclipse that. However, Rita was not going to be for sure until she asked.
"Good afternoon, Rita," answered Harry as he sat down right across from her, with two hooded figures on either side of him, each holding wands.
"Harry, how delightful, it's been too long," answered Rita cheerfully. "I wonder, it's been too long, how about an exclusive interview with the Boy-Who-Lived…"
"As many papers as my scar sells, this little story will sell much more," answered Harry as he dropped a folder right in front of Rita as he placed Anti-Eavesdropping spells all around them. "Information about Lord Voldemort, that proves that he is a half blood wizard, not the pureblood he portrays himself in. Concrete evidence, enough to write perhaps the greatest story in your career, to expose Voldemort for what he truly is."
"And the last," muttered Rita, who was conflicted. On one hand, she enjoyed puncturing overinflated reputations and there was none that was more overinflated than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. On the other hand, she could measure her remaining life in minutes, as the moment he saw what she had written, there would be Death Eaters at her front step.
"Now come on Rita, where is your journalistic spirit, it's an important story that the people have the right to know, especially the masses of purebloods who follow Voldemort blindly because they think he's one of them," answered Harry. "But if you're not interested, I'm sure I'm going to have to withhold that five thousand galleon payment for writing the story and give it to some other journalist."
"Wait a minute, Harry, I didn't say no," responded Rita who smirked in triumph. Five thousand galleons would be enough of her to flee the country and live someone else under an assumed name. She would still get the fame of exposing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to the word.
"Have the story in the Daily Prophet within a week and the gold is yours," responded Harry, before he dropped his voice to a whisper. "And my name can't be tied to where you have gotten the information in any way."
"Right Harry, I understand, you have a deal," said Rita as she took the information with greed. This would make her famous the world over. This would be the greatest story of her career and the money she would get to write it would allow her to retire in luxury.
"Excellent I knew you would see it my way," answered Harry as Rita watched him and his two hooded companions move off.
-
Days later, the headline of the Daily Prophet read the following.
Special Report: The Hidden Secrets of Lord Voldemort Revealed
By Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
The article went on to give a great deal of information on Voldemort's past and heritage. Needless to say the aftershocks were felt throughout the Wizarding World and one Dark Lord was none too happy with the article that he was reading. He knew exactly who had spilled the information as well, Potter would pay.
And that's the end of Chapter Twenty Nine. Chapter Thirty will be a big one. All I'm going to say it'll suck to be a Death Eater in the not so distant future.
Also, I did not forget to mention what happened to Bellatrix. It is being left open for reasons that will be made clear later. Everything will be revealed in due time.
Until next time.
