Chapter 37
"Any new ones?" asked Ron
"Professor Charity Burbage." answered Hermione.
"One too many already." said Ewan.
"I had her for my Muggle studies class… she was great, hardly assigned homework." said Ron.
The three were at the Burrow, in fact the entire order was, with the exception of Severus Snape. The past month, many things changed. Albus Dumbledore, the leader of the light was murdered by Snape, thankfully the secret-keeper to 12 Grimmauld place was always Ewan, if it had been Dumbledore like it was supposed to have been they would have had a lot of problems. Harry and Ewan weren't talking due to a row, and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ewan were leaving for a trip to find the last two Horcruxes. Mrs. Weasley had spent the last two weeks interrogating the four on their plans, but they wouldn't say.
The day of Harry's seventeenth birthday was a somber affair. Not that Ewan can blame them, this was tense times. It was during the middle of the day that Scrimgeour crashed Harry's party.
He told them that Dumbledore left a will, with the four all listed.
"But first I have some questions for each of you, it's best we do it in private, one on one. Mr. Weasley, you first."
"We're not going anywhere, if you want to speak to us it's all or none." said Harry.
"Fine, as you know I'm here about Albus Dumbledore's will." started the Minister.
"Dumbledore died last month. Why has it taken this long for us to hear about this?" asked Harry.
"They wanted to examine what he left." said Ewan.
"You had no right to do that!" said Hermione
"I had every right! The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation gives the Ministry the power to confiscate the contents of a will-"
The law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts, and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?"
"Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?" asked Scrimgeour
"No, I'm not." retorted Hermione. "I'm hoping to do some good in the world!"
Ewan smirked and Ron laughed.
"So why give it to us now? Don't have a pretext to hold them?" asked Harry.
"Their thirty-one days are up." said Ewan.
"They can't keep objects longer than that unless they can prove they're dangerous. Right?" asked Hermione.
"Would you say you were close to Dumbledore, Ronald?" asked Scrimgeour, ignoring Hermione.
"Me? Not- not really… It was always Harry who…"
"If you were not very close to Dumbledore, how do you account for the fact that he remembered you in his will? He made exceptionally few personal bequests. The vast majority of his possessions – his personal library, his magical instruments, and other personal effects- were left to Hogwarts. Why do you think you were singled out?"
"I- I dunno. I… when I say we weren't close… I mean, I think he liked me…"
"You're being modest Ron, Dumbledore was very fond of you." Said Hermione.
"'The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore'… yes, here we are…. 'To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it.' That is a valuable object. It may even be unique. Certainly it is of Dumbledore's own design. Why would he have left you an item so rare? Dumbledore must have taught thousands of students, yet the only ones he remembered in his will are you three. Why is that? To what use did he think you would put to the Deluminator, Mr. Weasley?" meanwhile handing the deluminator to Ron.
"Put lights out, I suppose. What else can I do with it?" asked Ron.
"'To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive'. Why do you think Dumbledore left you that book, Miss Granger?"
"He… He knew I liked books." said Hermione, taking the book.
"But why that particular book? Did you ever discuss codes, or any means of passing secret messages, with Dumbledore?"
"No. He must have thought I'd enjoy it. Has for codes, if the Ministry didn't find anything in thirty-one days then I'm sure I won't."
"'To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill'" said the Minister, handing over the Snitch. "I noticed that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch. Why is that?"
"Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact Harry's a great Seeker, that's way too obvious. There must be a secret message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!"
"'To Ewan Evan Potter, I leave my wand, in hopes that he would keep it polished for me even in death.' Dumbledore's wand is said to be the most powerful wand in the World, Mr. Potter, why do you think he left it to you and not a blood relative?" asked the Minister.
"Like it says in his will, that I will keep it polished for him." Said Ewan, taking the wand.
He placed Dumbledore's wand in his coat pocket.
"So is that it, then?" asked Harry.
"Not exactly. Dumbledore had one more thing to give to you Potter."
"What is it?"
"The Sword of Godric Gryffindor."
"So, where is it?" asked Harry.
"Unfortunately, that sword was not Dumbledore's to give away. The sword of Godric Gryffindor is an important historical artifact, and as such, belongs-"
"It belongs to Harry." said Ewan.
"It chose him, he was the one who found it, it came to him out of the Sorting Hat-" started Hermione.
"According to reliable historical sources, the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor. That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumbledore may have decided. Why do you think-?" asked Scrimgeour.
"-Dumbledore wanted to give me the Sword? Maybe he thought it would look good on my wall."
"This isn't a joke Potter."
"No one is laughing." said Ewan.
"Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor can destroy the Heir to Slytherin? Did he wish to give you the sword, Potter, because he believes, as many others do, that you are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"Interesting theory." said Harry. "Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban... people are dying! And you still expect us to cooperate with you!"
"You go to far!" yelled Scrimgeuour, standing up; Harry jumped to his feet too, followed by Ewan. All had their wands pointing to each other.
"It's time you learned respect, Potter."
"It's time you earned it."
Suddenly, a sworn of people broke into the room. The minister left in a hoff.
* * *
"Ron, can you tell Ewan to pass me the peas?" asked Harry.
"Er- Ewan, can you pass Harry the peas?" asked Ron.
"Ron, do you do everything you're told?" asked Ewan, grabbing the peas and moving them closer to him.
"Honestly, this is getting ridicules!" said Hermione.
"Is it now?" asked Ewan
"If you two just grow up-" started Hermione before Harry interrupted her.
"-Or if a certain person I trusted didn't side with Death Eaters-" started Harry, this time Ewan interrupted. The two stared at each other, leaving Ron in between them.
"-Death Eaters! Oh so you think, that just because I'm not the CHOOSEN ONE, I have to be a DEATH EATER!?"
By this time the entire dinner table was watching the two.
"Boys-" started Mrs. Weasley.
"Who was the one who went to the graveyard!?" asked Harry, ignoring Mrs. Weasley.
"Who was the one who just HAD to go to the Department of Mysteries?" retorted Ewan.
"Whose the one who was all buddy-buddy with Snape!?" said Harry.
"Whose the one was with Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets?" asked Ewan.
"Boys!" yelled Sirius. "It's bad enough that Voldemort is out there hurting and killing people, we don't need him to turn us against each other! So shut up and eat your dinner!"
Ewan pushed the peas to Harry but didn't say a word.
* * *
It was four hours into Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding, both Harry and Ewan had drank Polyjuice potion to look like two red headed muggle boys from the neighborhood. Harry was Cousin Barney and Ewan was Cousin Samuel.
Ewan, aka Samuel, had been talking to Charlie about Quidditch when suddenly a lynx shaped Patrouns flew into the center of the wedding. Everyone looked to the Lynx patronus. Then the mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kinsley Shacklebolt.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
Everything was quiet for a minute, when suddenly, screams were heard. The burrows defenses fialed as many disapparated on the spot. Ewan watched as masked figures entered the fields.
"Protego!" , a cry was echoed on all sides.
Ewan found Harry, Ron, and Hermione all holding hands. He grabbed Harry's shoulder as all four apparated away from the Burrow, away from the chaos, away from the Death Eaters and probably Voldemort himself.
"Where are we?" asked Ron.
"Tottenham Court Road." said Hermione. "Walk, just walk, we need to find somewhere for you three to change."
"We don't have clothes now do we?" asked Ron.
"We can transfigure our robes into Muggle clothes." answered Ewan.
"We don't know how to do that!" said Ron.
"Well, then your lucky you have me." said Ewan
"I wish I brought the invisibility cloak." said Harry.
"Don't worry, I have that." said Hermione.
"Where? All you have is that small purse." said Ron.
"Undetectable Extension Charm, it was difficult, but I think I got it." said Hermione. "I told you I had everything packed for days."
"You're amazing, you are." said Ron.
They entered a dingy looking alley, Ewan changed all their clothing into regular muggle clothes. "We need to get to Sirius's." said Ewan. "It's the safest place now."
"But Snape!" said Harry. "He knows where its at."
"I trust him." said Ewan. "That should be good enough for you!"
"Fine." said Harry. One minute the four were in the Alley the next they were in front of Grimmauld Place. Ewan opened the door, and the four entered.
"No one is here..." said Ewan. "I thought at least some one would be here."
Suddenly, gave a cry and his hand went to his scar on his forehead.
"What did you see?" asked Ron. "Did you see him at my place?"
"No- I just felt anger- he's really angry-" answered Harry.
"What about before Ron said you had a dream about someone..." said Ewan.
"Gregorovitch, but I never heard of him before."
"I have, Gregorovitch is a wand maker, he made Victor Krum's wand, I learned that during the Tri-Wizard tournament." said Ewan.
"He must want to find him." said Harry.
"I thought your connection with Voldemort was closed?" asked Hermione.
"I think it opens when we loses control." said Harry.
"Harry, you have to try and close your mind." said Ewan
"That's easy for you to say Mr. I'm Prefect at Everything."
"Seriously, we're going to get into that now?" said Ewan, angrily.
"Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to use this connection." said Hermione. "He wanted you to shut it down, that's why you're supposed to use Occlumency!"
"Otherwise, Voldemort will plant false memories in your head, just like at the Department of Mysteries." said Ewan.
Harry looked away. It was a whole second before Hermione shrieked. In the room landed a weasel, it solidified and spoke with Mr. Weasleys voice: "Family safe do not reply, we are being watched."
Ron fell to the couch followed by Hermione.
"Thank goodness,everyone is safe." said Ewan.
"Bathroom." Harry said practically running to the room.
"When a guy has to go, a guy has to go..." said Ron.
"I don't want to be alone tonight, can we use the sleeping bags I brought?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah." said Ewan. "I just hope everyone is okay."