Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter material. Everything except the characters Sarah Nelson and Angus Black as well as the plot are owned by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 37 Hogwarts Attacked!
When Harry and Dumbledore arrived back at Grimmauld Place, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all began asking him how it went with his visit to his muggle relatives at St. Mungo's. It was quite clear that they could tell something big had happened there, as Harry's face was white as a sheet. Harry gestured for them all to go upstairs into the room he would be sharing with Ron over the Easter holidays and told them all that Aunt Petunia had said to them.
"She was friends with the git?" asked Ron, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "And I would never guess that she loved magic.
"Stop calling Snape a git, Ron," said Hermione, eyeing him. She turned back to Harry. "So he and your aunt played a practical joke on your mother. I don't see the big deal, even though I wouldn't have approved of it. Besides, I read in an old magic law book that, twenty years ago, it was permissible to do magic outside of school. What Snape did was totally legal then."
"Yeah," said Ginny. "Sounds like a Fred and George thing. I wouldn't worry too much about it, Harry."
"But she said there was more to the story," said Harry, sitting on the bed. "And you should've seen my aunt. The story really meant something to her."
"Yeah, well, admitting that she loved magic to you must've taken some nerve," said Ron.
Harry tightened his lips. He was hoping better reactions to what his aunt said than this. But he could tell it really meant something. As soon as he saw his aunt again and she told them the rest, they would see.
Easter passed by uneventfully. Order members did come and go, but no big news came. The subject of Angus Black, the Malfoys, and the secret pathway never crossed Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Ginny's lips. Harry was glad to be relieved at least for a few days from what was happening around him. He liked it even more when he and Ginny were alone where she giggled and kissed him, and they made out.
At Easter dinner, it was almost as crowded as Hogwarts. Dumbledore had promised anyone who believed that they were under threat from the Ministry to come over to Grimmauld Place where they would be safe. The guests mainly consisted of muggleborns, squibs, and Order members. Dumbedore had to set up six tables that took up three rooms. Fortunately, however, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny got to sit next to Dumbledore, the rest of the Weasleys, as well as Lupin, Moody, and Tonks. Percy couldn't show up, however, to avoid suspicion by the Ministry.
When it was time to leave for Hogwarts again, Dumbledore announced that they would be going on the Knight Bus.
"Lucius Malfoy can't get control over that," he said with a grin.
"Oh, no," said Ron, putting his face in his hands. "The Knight Bus will make me sick again."
It almost did. As they and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley headed for Hogwarts, Ron was almost gagging. Harry was able to control himself, however, as well as Ginny. Hermione was nearly as bad as Ron, however.
"Hogwarts here we come," said the bus driver Ernie. He stepped on the brakes, causing Ron to nearly vomit literally. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the ride was over. He looked toward the castle walls and smiled. Even though he was sure that Narcissa Malfoy would still be there, he was still glad to back.
That is until he looked down at the ground, across the lake. Little dark figures were aligned there.
"Look, everyone," he said, pointing. "Look at the ground."
Everyone got up off their seats and followed Harry to the front of the bus.
Mr. Weasley spotted them first. "What on eath…," he began, but was interrupted when the bus doors opened and someone came on. It was Hagrid. He looked terrified.
"Professor Dumbledore," he said, turning to him. "You won't believe what's happening!"
"Calm down, Hagrid," said Dumbledore. "What's happening?"
"Lucius Malfoy is at the gates!" said Hagrid. "He and a bunch of Ministry officials. They're trying to get Professor McGonagall to talk and they want the muggleborns handed over!"
Harry felt a jolt in his stomach. He shook his head, hoping this was some dream, but knew it wasn't. He looked back at the others. They all looked equally shocked.