Lily's Son
Chapter 36
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR GUYS! :D
Searching for Information
"Aww man, this sucks!" said Harry grabbing his Slytherin hat and shoving it on his head. The sky had just opened up and drenching them to the bone, it was pouring rain. The others all did the same thing; the hats were all the same style just different colours. Hermione and Luna had blue and silver on, Ravenclaw colours. Harry and Draco green and silver, Slytherin colours. Neville was the only one without a matching colour buddy, as he was the only Huffelpuff in their group. "What do you guys want to do?" Harry asked them turning to face his friends as they finally found shelter.
"It's only rain come on we are half way there!" said Hermione shivering slightly, grateful at least they'd brought their jackets. That had only been because they planned on being away all day. They couldn't use magic to make themselves warm again, unless they did it Wandlessly.
"I'm freezing my ass of here! Just make a decision and make it the right one! I want to go back home. I want a bath and out of these wet clothes!" said Draco, the spoiled brat in him coming out. It wasn't worth going to see a film wet, it would just make them unwell for the rest of the summer holidays.
"I agree with Draco. I don't want to end up sick," said Neville, he shuddered at the thought of having to take Muggle medicine. From what he heard it took them five times longer than Wizards to get better. Their Potions were much more potent than the Muggles chemistry medicine. Not that he'd take it! He'd rather listen to his Gran moaning and huffing at him. He loved the Muggle world, make no mistake about it, but it was still slightly alien to him. It would be like drinking American water, or joining a military or army with no training.
"I suppose we can just grab a DVD," said Hermione she was not looking at them but the shop door they were standing at, getting out from the rain. She and Harry were the only one with Muggle money. The rest hadn't brought any with them; they couldn't understand Muggle money either.
"Can we get the crunchy stuff we had the last time at yours Hermione?" asked Draco all too eager to go home.
Hermione giggled, "It was popcorn," she told Draco, exasperated; it's obvious he'd called it crunchy stuff before. It was a joke between them; the Wizarding world didn't have it.
"I think my aunt got some…unless my cousin ate it, but I don't think he's back yet." said Harry. He'd been sleeping over at his friend's house, one he'd befriended at smelting - Harry didn't remember his name. He'd returned home after boxing, grabbed a few things and left immediately. Harry hadn't even had time to speak to him never mind introduce Luna to him.
"When does he get back?" asked Luna, she was the only one who hadn't met Dudley yet. So she was curious to know what Harry's cousin was like, especially considering everything she'd heard about him. He hadn't always gotten along with Harry, and had also recently discovered his cousin was magical. Petunia had sat him down and told him the truth. To say everything had made sense to Dudley was putting it mildly.
"I don't know," said Harry truthfully. They finally entered the shop, browsing the films. Looking for something that Luna, Neville and Draco would like and find interesting. Truth be told Harry and Hermione weren't as excited about watching movies. It wasn't something new to them; they'd always had TV's and VCR's and the newly invented DVD's.
"This one looks good," said Hermione handing it over, it wasn't a DVD but a video. Thankfully Harry still had a video player in his room. The rest of the house in the Dursley's had been installed with the latest technology. Which meant the video players were gone, replaced by the DVD players.
"Come on then, lets hurry I need the toilet." said Harry grabbing it before making his way to the checkouts. Paying for it the five Hogwarts students ran home, as the rain continued to beat down upon them. Needless to say when they got back, they were grateful for it. Each of them took turns to have a quick shower and change of clothes.
"Where's this horrible weather coming from?" sighed Petunia looking out of Harry's bedroom window. The wind had started up, making it look even fiercer. She'd gotten quite a fright when she saw his room, so much bigger than it should be. She'd been worried Harry had done it, that he might end up expelled but Harry had quickly explained before she could get riled up. So much had changed since Harry was eleven. What couldn't be denied though was that Harry was flourishing with a family that accepted magic. Who would have thought all it took was Vernon Dursley choking to death? Well Harry certainly hadn't. It just goes to show that it's never truly too late until it was of course too late. Harry had still been a child when they'd made peace with one another, if they'd attempted this when he was sixteen or seventeen the results wouldn't have been the same.
"Thanks for the Hot Chocolate Mrs. Dursley," said Hermione picking up her cup and gratefully drinking it. She'd been the first to shower and get dried. Draco may be spoiled but he'd been brought up as a gentleman so the girls had gone first.
"Call me Petunia darling and you are welcome." said Petunia smiling, she was very fond of Harry's friends. They were calm, very polite and understood how they felt about magic, obviously since they never spoke about it or did in her presence.
"When'd Dudley coming home?" asked Harry wondering if he'd get to see him before going to Hermione's.
"Next week," said Petunia, smiling sadly she missed her baby boy. He was growing up, but if there was one thing she'd learned by accepting Harry into her heart - she was going to loose him eventually. They were going to grow up and have families of their own. It's the reason she'd never wanted to get close to Harry. Her and Vernon couldn't compete with a magical world. She knew she'd loose him just like she lost Lily. She hadn't realized she'd go through it with her own son…until he'd gone to boarding school. She'd realized how stupid she'd been in the first place. No matter what you always lost the people close to you, whether to friends, school, families it was…inevitable.
Which made her appreciate this second chance immensely. She had been such a stupid girl to think she'd lost Lily because of magic. No it was just foreseeable that they'd grow apart have families.
"So we won't see him then," said Harry. It was more of a statement than anything. Nearly a week had already passed; they wouldn't remain here much longer. In two days time they'd be going to Hermione's to stay. Luna and Hermione would be staying in Hermione's room the boys would be taking the spare bedroom. Using their sleeping bags once again.
"No you won't," said Petunia a small wistful smile still on her face.
"You want to next Harry?" asked Neville when Draco returned from his shower.
"No, its okay Neville. You go ahead." said Harry, grinning wryly at his friend. He was the last one, Luna, Hermione and Draco had already showered, he was the only one now still with the cold wet clothes on. He was sitting right next to the radiator though to keep him warm.
"Pet!" yelled Vernon, wondering if his wife was home.
Harry and his friends didn't even twitch; they'd learned during their first summer that it was Vernon's natural tone. Vernon Dursley did not do quiet, in fact he'd probably never whispered in his entire life.
"Coming dear," said Petunia, leaving Harry's room, closing the door behind her and joined her husband down the stairs.
Severus and Lucius Apparated from Malfoy Manor to the ruins of Gaunt Manor. Ruins being the keyword, it didn't look as though it had ever been a manor. It looked like a ruined cottage, just how long had this place been abandoned to occur this kind of damage? Removing their wand they used it to see if there was a presence nearby. Nothing, they were safe to use magic openly. That being done they banished the long grass, thorns, the nettles, thistles and everything else that got in their way. It took them ten minutes to clear a path to the derelict building.
"I doubt he has anything in here," said Severus doubtfully looking at the remains.
"Are you kidding? This is the prefect place to hide it." said Lucius looking at the building as if it held all the answers they were looking for.
"Do you really think the Dark Lord would leave evidence lying to what he was doing?" asked Severus sarcastically.
"Only one way to find out," said Lucius shrugging his shoulders in a very un-Malfoy fashion. As they ambled on, levitating the broken door away from the opening. Warily looking around, normally Lucius would never allow himself to be caught dead in a place like this. Looking up they were thankfully that there was no roof; they didn't want any debris falling on them.
"Where is the study in these buildings?" asked Severus, looking around sharp eyed, his wand held tightly in his hand.
"Always on the ground floor thankfully," said Lucius his mercury eyes looking around in interest. He led the way towards the first room they came across, standing at the entrance. They pointed their wands in, luminating the end of their wands, with a simple word 'Lumos' as they edged in. There were a lot of scrolls, abandoned books and oil lamps that had long since burnt out. Candle wicks lay on the floor, the magic drained out of them. Normally they'd be floating in mid air, lighting the room. The place was surrounded by Muggle repellent charms, stopping Muggles from coming in. Curious enough though this was a Muggle area, they wondered briefly when the wards had been put up.
"Well we might be on the right path," said Severus, picking up one of the books, it was on dark rituals. As he nosed through it though, it had nothing on what they were looking for.
"There has to be something," said Lucius picking up one, before repairing a seat, and casing a lightening charm so he didn't need to sit with his wand against the pages with his Lumos spell.
Severus followed his lead, although he actually conjured a chair, rather than sit on the rickety old wooden one. He wasn't as confident as Lucius that they'd find anything here. This could just be the remains of the Gaunt library.
"These people were insane," said Lucius laughing out loud.
"What do you mean?" asked Severus eyeing Lucius curiously.
"This is a diary from one of the Gaunt descendants! They believe they are the rightful owner of the Resurrection stone." said Lucius dryly chuckling in amusement, throwing the book away shaking his head. He went off searching for yet another book to read.
"There's nothing in here, but I'm taking it with me," said Severus shrinking it down. They'd been here for two hours and they hadn't found anything out yet.
"Why?" asked Lucius as he continued to read the book he'd picked up.
"It's got rituals how to bring people back, and potions to help spirits regain a body." said Severus always the cautious one. Unaware that someone had already memorised it from front to back. Getting rid of it was not going to stop what's meant to be.
"Oh yeah, that's dangerous," said Lucius in agreement, sighing as he flipped through another page.
"Why don't we just pack everything up and read it back in the Manor?" asked Severus shivering in cold. Even the warming charm he'd cast on himself wasn't keep the chill at bay.
"Good idea," said Lucius immediately summoning everything to him, as Severus brought out a bag.
"I normally use it for Potion ingredients," explained Severus upon seeing Lucius' questioning face. The blonde nodded and they got everything packed up. There weren't just books and scrolls from the study, but from other areas in the house. They'd floated through when Lucius had used a summoning charm.
"Let's go then," said Lucius. Making their way back through the house, Severus looked back sensing dark magic emanating from the corner. He didn't think anything of it as they made their way out. The Gaunts had after all been a dark family, years later though he would be cursing himself for not investigating further. "Hopefully we will have everything investigated before Draco comes home." his son was far too curious for his own good.
"Yes, I head the Weasley's got tickets to go to the World cup also," said Severus rolling his eyes, he didn't see everyone's fascination with the sport. To him it was a waste of time playing and an even bigger waste watching. He cared nothing for Quidditch and it would always be that way.
"I know, Weasley has been raving about it," said Lucius sneering at the thought of Arthur Weasley. The man was a disgrace to wizards; he was so feeble it was just embarrassing. Weasley's wife had more guts than him; then again if he was honest Narcissa had more guts than him as well.
"That when you decided to go?" asked Severus sardonically.
"I decided afterwards yes, but not at his expense…Draco wanted to go." lied Lucius straightening up properly, his 'arrogant' stance adopted.
"Of course," said Severus, his voice held enough doubt to fill Gringotts.
"Let's just go," said Lucius knowing he hadn't kidded Severus, with that both men took one last look at the building before Apparating back to a more comfortable setting. Once they were back, they settled themselves in the library. They were determined to figure out what the Diary was, Lucius out of anger that he'd held someone very dark that belonged to the Dark Lord. Severus because he knew it might hold the secret to how the Dark Lord survived.
There we go :D another chapter for you to enjoy so will i spice up the story by having Regulus Black have a portrait done? telling lucius and severus what he knew...leading them to learning there is more than one? will dumbledore still find the horcrux ending up injuired and dying? or would you like to see severus and lucius play the hero and destroy them all before Dumbledore could begin to comprehend what a horcrux is never mind that voldemort had made them? R&R PLEASE!