Chapter Thirty-Seven
A Broken Family
Fred and George waited until Ron and Ginny were heading in the direction of the McGonagall's office before they pulled into one of their secret hiding places that they had found in third year. Fred knew that like him George was not happy with the way things were going with the so called Light side. They knew they were going to have to make a choice quickly but at the moment both sides seemed almost as bad as one another.
'Do you really think Harry killed Hermione?' George asked desperately.
'You know the answer to that,' Fred replied sharply.
Fred nodded knowing that the two of them had always had a sort of sixth sense for what the other was feeling. Their mother had hated it trying to discourage them for thinking and speaking as one. Not that Molly Weasley had ever succeeded even when she tried to put them in different rooms all would happen was they would crawl into the same bed at night.
'We knew Harry wanted revenge,' Fred said quietly.
'I thought-' started George.
'That they were going-'continued Fred.
'-to do it legally,' agreed George.
'Do you really think You Know Who would be happy doing that?' asked Fred dryly.
'No,' agreed George darkly. 'Anyway-'
'Azkaban, is hardly better,' agreed Fred.
'I just can't believe Harry would kill Hermione!' George said. 'No matter what she's done.'
Fred nodded feeling sick at what their friend had done. It was sad to realise that out of everyone – Harry, Dumbledore, Ginny, Ron, and Mum they were the most moral of them all. They may have been troublemakers and pranksters but they weren't purposefully cruel!
'What do we do?' George asked Fred desperately.
'It's not like Dumbledore-'began George.
'-and Mum-'continued Fred.
'-Ron-,' added George.
'-Or Ginny-' added Fred.
'-Are any better,' finished George.
'They're plotting to-'began Fred.
'-kill-'George gulped slightly.
'-And rape,' Fred continued darkly.
'-Harry,' finished George. 'Do you really think there's another way to extract his semen?'
'No,' Fred said sharply. 'We have to talk to Harry.'
'Write in the-'began George.
'-diary,' agreed Fred.
'We'll tell him about,' began George.
'-Dumbledore's plans,' agreed Fred.
'-Ask him for his side of the story,' agreed George.
The two of them hurried off to their dormitory careful to avoid everyone that may stop them. George pulled out the plain black diary which looked empty. If anyone had asked they would have said Angelina had given it to Fred for Christmas.
George: Hello Harry
Fred: We know that you have something to do …
George … with Granger's disappearance
Fred We know that
George … she wouldn't …
Fred … run away from
George … Hogwarts because …
Fred … of bullying
George We want to know the truth!
Fred We know you …
George … a reason
Fred Tell us!
George Dumbledore…
Fred … called us to his office …
George … Mum …
Fred … Ron …
George … and Ginny
Fred … were there!
George Dumbledore's given up …
Fred … using you as a weapon
George He's decided you're too …
Fred … dangerous
George … to live
Fred They're planning …
George … to kill you
Fred They still want …
George … your money
Fred They're planning to
George … extract …
Fred … your semen
George Dumbledore claims …
Fred … he's not going …
George … to rape you
Fred He claims there's a way …
George … to extract your
Fred … semen using
George … magic
Fred But we're
George … not sure
Fred Ask Daddy Voldie
George Heard you two were …
Fred … cosying up to …
George … Fudge and pulled
Fred … the wool over Dumbledore's eyes
George Best prank of the …
Fred … century
George Dumbledore's furious
Fred Meet us
George … in Hogsmeade
Fred … tomorrow night
George … at quarter past eight
000000000000000
Percy once again found himself at the Weasley table surrounded by Order members who were all shouting and demanding the truth about Harry Potter. Percy was even more conflicted about the way things were going than he had been this morning thanks to the events at the Ministry. This morning Percy didn't want to believe that You Know Who was back nor that the Minister was trying to cover it up.
Now there was Harry Potter who according to what Professor Dumbledore had shouted at him today in the atrium was the son of You Know and Lord James Potter. Percy had known Harry for almost four years whilst the boy was quiet and a bit of a rule breaker he was not evil. Percy just wished he had better influences than his three younger brothers who were sure to lead him astray.
Anyway Foma Slytherin the so called Dark Lord had been in the Minister's office for about half an hour and no harm had come to the Minister. Surely if You Know Who had spent so long in the Minister office it would have given him the perfect opportunity to kill him. In the chaos that would have resulted would have allowed You Know Who to have a Death Eater elected into the most sought out position in Britain!
The only evidence they had was the fact that the Dark Mark had been burning. Percy didn't see that as good enough evidence for him no matter what Professor Dumbledore said. Percy just didn't want to believe that You Know Who had said.
Percy had considered speaking to the Minister or his boss today but the events at the Ministry had put paid to that. Percy had wanted to speak to his parents and older brothers before he chose to do anything. Plus, he didn't want to get his father in trouble with the Ministry which he would be if they knew about the treasonous discussion that gone on last night.
His mother had told him that if Dumbledore had said it then it must be right. His mum had correctly pointed out that Harry was a Parselmouth which could be explained by the fact he was You Know Who's son. In fact for a woman who claimed to love Harry Potter like her seventh son Molly Weasley had suddenly become quite anti-Harry Potter all because of what Albus Dumbledore had said even though they knew the young man.
Percy frowned not happy with the influence the headmaster had with his mother. Before this morning his mother had never told him off but just because he questioned Albus Dumbledore his mother had bit his head off. Percy wondered how Fred and George had coped for years with that treatment because Percy hated it!
His father had been more restrained in his comments. Arthur did warn that rumours were like Chinese whispers but Percy had been running errands so had actually seen it. His father didn't want to believe that Harry was the son of You Know Who nor did he want to believe that Dumbledore was wrong so was very much on the fence.
Bill had had his own comments to make after wanting to hear exactly what had happened in the Ministry. Bill had agreed that You Know Who could have obtained a fake identity and family tree with the right price. However, he had said that there was no way to fake the embezzlement or drugging that Harry had claimed.
Bill believed that there could be two explanations. The first one was the one that Dumbledore was right and Harry Potter was Voldemort's son. Then Voldemort could have acquired a fake family tree and set Dumbledore up but no matter Voldemort would not be able to get the goblins to testify against Dumbledore if there had been no embezzlement.
The second choice was that Dumbledore was lying to get Harry's vaults back under his control. That he had kept the knowledge that Harry Potter was not an orphan a secret. That he had effectively kidnapped an heir of a noble house reminding them that even if he wasn't Voldemort's son he was still a member of the Slytherin Family so would be a Parselmouth and no one really knew how far Family Magic went.
Charlie hadn't liked the idea of Albus Dumbledore doing what he was being convicted of but his only defence was "its Albus Dumbledore". Charlie hadn't liked that his defence was that Dumbledore wouldn't do something like that. Percy had commented on the fact that Dumbledore got away with everything because "Dumbledore wouldn't do that because he's Albus Dumbledore".
Percy had just been thinking that when the man in question walked in causing the previous shouting had reached a crescendo as everyone began screeching at Dumbledore demanding answers. Unfortunately for headmaster the Order had already heard or seen the events at the Ministry. Few people wanted to believe that the Boy Who Lived was You Know Who's son but even fewer doubted the "Great Albus Dumbledore".
Dumbledore cleared his throat and held up his hand for silence just as he would had they been at a Hogwarts Feast. Percy wondered if these people realised that Albus Dumbledore was treating them like school children. Obvious not if the way everyone shut up immediately as Dumbledore sat down at the head of the table opposite Percy's mother.
'I see that you have heard of the events at the Ministry,' Albus said calmly.
Dumbledore's brother snorted, 'I think the whole world will has heard about that. And any who haven't will have heard about it by tomorrow!'
'Did you really embezzle from Harry?' demanded Bill looking worried.
Percy understood exactly why Bill was so worried about the embezzlement charges. Should it be true that Dumbledore was embezzling from Harry then Bill would be forced to withdraw his support from the Order or risk becoming under suspicion from his employers especially if as Harry had implied that Hermione and more importantly Ron were being paid by Dumbledore. Bill would be suspected by association with his brother.
'More to the point,' his father said coolly. 'Inform this lot that You Know Who is not Harry's father!'
'I am sorry Arthur to say that it is true that Harry is Voldemort's son,' Dumbledore said calmly.
Percy couldn't help but flinch at the casual use of You Know Who's name as his parents had brought him up to do so. The majority of the rest of the Order did the same as him which wasn't surprising as most of them had lived through the taboo enacted on You Know Who's name which was what had killed so many of the Order in the war. After the flinches had finished the shouts and demands for answers began.
Dumbledore once again held a hand up for silence, 'I am sorry that I told none of you. Not even Harry. Perhaps that would have prevented Harry's choices.'
'What did Harry do?' demanded Arthur.
'Why did you trust him?' demanded Lord Vance. 'He's He Who Must Not Be Named's son!'
'How the hell can the Boy Who Lived be You Know Who's son?' demanded the man from Yorkshire.
'How the hell was a Muggleborn knocked-up by You Know Who?' a reedy man demanded.
'We all know that it did not necessarily have to be consensual,' Dumbledore's brother said darkly.
Moody frowned, 'I never heard of a single reported case of rape from the Dark side in all my years as an Auror.'
'Lily would have told me,' a middle aged woman said.
'Not if she was ashamed,' Lady Vance chimed in.
'Poor Lily,' grunted Hagrid.
'It wasn't Lily,' Professor Lupin said.
'What do you mean it wasn't Lily!?' demanded a Welsh witch demanded. 'She was pregnant. We all saw her!'
'From what Harry said at the Ministry James Potter was his bearer,' Percy interrupted.
'It was a scam to stop Voldemort from realising the truth,' Lupin said. 'James-'
'We all remember what side James Potter was on at the beginning of the war,' Albus said grimly.
'What do you mean?' asked Charlie.
'James was a Death Eater,' their mother said harshly.
'Suspected,' rumbled Moody. 'Nothing was ever proved. In those days you couldn't tell your Neutrals from your Darks, your friends from your enemies. No one trusted anyone. People were drying! We suspected James was Dark but we could never tie him back to anything.'
'Not that that was unusual,' Lord Doge said, 'especially for those who held a seat in the Wizengamot. He Who Must Not Be Named tended to employ them to further his political goals.'
'That's what first brought Potter to our attention,' Moody rumbled. 'He had traditionalist leanings and blamed the Light for his parents deaths.'
'And Dumbledore said so,' Hagrid said.
Percy watched with a frown as the overs nodded in agreement. Percy was beginning to see how the legendry Order of the Phoenix worked. If Dumbledore said so it must be right. Suspecting innocent noble Lords of being Death Eaters or You Know Who purely all Dumbledore's say so without any sort of evidence!
'He didn't join the Order until Harry was conceived,' a muscular woman said.
'We all thought that he was doing so to protect the mother of his Heir,' an elderly man said. 'And making sure his son would live in a world where he wasn't a second class citizen! But I take it that there was more going on than that.'
'Yes,' Lupin said sharply.
'James was subjected to rape by Voldemort when he was still a loyal Death Eater,' explained Dumbledore.
There were cries of horror and outrage at this comment. There were those who had looks or pity and guilt. Others who looked furious. Others who seemed to think that the Death Eater deserved what he got which Percy found absolutely appalling that anyone could think even their worst enemy could deserved being raped.
'He came to me begging me to protect his son,' Dumbledore continued.
'You can't hurt your child!' Percy spit out. 'Magic wouldn't let you!'
'Be quiet Percy,' Molly said sharply. 'You have no idea what you're talking about! You Know Who is a monster if you think he's above hurting his son you have another thing coming!'
Bill was frowning at his mother, 'no, mum, Percy's right Voldemort couldn't hurt his son magic would … magic would protect him. It would certainly explain him surviving the killing curse.'
'Exactly,' Molly said. 'You see Voldemort tried to kill Harry – son or not.'
Dumbledore cleared his throat once again, 'I believe that James was more worried about Voldemort's influence over Harry.'
'Don' blame him,' growled Hagrid. 'Tha' bas'ard would 'ave ruined Harry.'
Dumbledore nodded, 'I offered him protection in return for information. Lily chose to marry James to hide Harry's parentage from Voldemort. Unfortunately, Voldemort went after Harry anyway. James and Lily died whilst the Family Magic protected Harry.
'I placed a strong, permanent glamour over the babe to hide him from his father and any older Death Eaters who might see Voldemort in Harry. I decided to never tell Harry the truth because sometimes a white lie is kinder than the truth. How do you tell a child that their father killed your father and stepmother who died trying to protect you!?'
'It would have destroyed him,' murmured Molly weepy. 'That poor boy. How is he coping now that he knows the truth?'
'Unfortunately, I fear that Voldemort has spun a web of lies to trick Harry into believing that he loved James,' Dumbledore sighed deeply. 'That I stole Harry and James from his home and family. I just wish I had told Harry the truth then he wouldn't have been vulnerable to Voldemort's manipulations.'
'Don't blame yourself,' growled an arrogant looking middle-aged man. 'He Who Must Not Be Named is a master of manipulation.'
Arthur was frowning, 'maybe he wouldn't have been so vulnerable to You Know Who if you hadn't left him in an abusive home!'
Abused?
Memories of Harry filtered through Percy's brain. Percy knew that Harry had always been the smallest skinniest boy his age Percy had ever met even skinnier when he came back after the holidays. The way the boy flinched away from loud sounds and sudden movements. The wariness in those bright green eyes. The way that the boy was the first to sign up to stay in Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays.
It all fit Harry had been abused by his Muggle relatives and his parents had done nothing about it! They had left a child the age of their children to rot in an abusive environment. It felt as though everything Percy knew about his parents was a lie because his parents were kind people who would never condemn an innocent child to abuse.
'Harry was abused!?' demanded Bill.
'Yes,' their father agreed bitterly. 'I attempted to get Dumbledore to do something. Offered to take Harry in myself but he claimed that the Dursleys were the safest because of the blood wards.'
'We wouldn't want him here,' snapped their mother. 'The Slytherin brat would corrupt our children!'
'Don't be ridiculous,' Arthur snapped. 'Harry was always kind and sweet.'
'He was tricking us,' Molly said. 'He is a Slytherin.'
'Oh so he almost died to protect our Ginny!' Arthur said sharply. 'And there were no blood wards as the Dursleys weren't related to Harry!'
'Arthur,' Dumbledore said placatingly. 'I had to place Harry somewhere and if I had gone through the normal routes he would have been placed with Narcissa Malfoy who was the closest living relative to James who was not either disowned, in prison or dead.'
Arthur scowled, 'he could have stayed with us over the summer. I'm sure the Dursleys would have been happier without Harry. And maybe then Harry wouldn't be so desperate for family that actually loved him that You Know Who managed to trick Harry into believing he loved him if he had a family who actually loved him!'
Percy frowned at that statement. He had observed Lord Slytherin and Harry's interactions at the Ministry. Lord Slytherin had seemed very protective of Harry and Harry appeared to trust him even if he could hold his own against Dumbledore.
'Dad,' Percy said. 'I saw Harry in the Ministry. Lord Slytherin seemed to genuinely love him.'
'Don't be silly, Percy,' his mother snapped. 'You Know Who was just acting!'
Dumbledore nodded, 'Voldemort has always been a master manipulator!'
'What is your proof that You Know Who and Lord Slytherin are the same person?' asked Percy frowning.
'PERCY!' yelled his mother. 'HEADMASTER DUMBLEDORE KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU! DO NOT QUESTION IS JUDGEMENT!'
'But-'Percy began hurt by his mother's yells.
Bill was frowning, 'Percy's just asking the question. We can't condemn Harry and his father without proof especially as you've yet to answer my question. Did you embezzle from Harry?'
Albus cleared his throat once again, 'I taught Voldemort at school. I would recognise him anywhere.'
Bill frowned, 'but they're relatives so wouldn't any similarity in looks be explained away by that. Anyway by the end of war You Know Who was corrupted by Dark Magic so he wouldn't look like he did in school anyway,' Bill pointed out reasonably.
Dumbledore twinkled kindly at Bill, 'I am unsure how but it appears that whatever Voldemort has done he has managed to get his old body back!'
'Do you know how he got his body back?' asked Arthur.
'I have some ideas,' Dumbledore admitted. 'I suspect that Harry lured Miss Granger out of Hogwarts where she was used as a sacrifice to resurrect his father.'
'Wait you think Harry killed Hermione?' demanded Percy incredulously. 'What is your evidence for that!?'
'Miss Granger has gone missing,' Dumbledore said.
'Anything else?' asked Percy knowing the answer.
'PERCY!' screeched his mother. 'OF COURSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THE DARK SIDE KNOW HOW TO HIDE ANY EVIDENCE!'
'So Harry killed Hermione, Lord Slytherin is You Know Who just because Dumbledore says so!' Percy said angrily. 'Just like James Potter was a Death Eater just because Dumbledore said so! Well that was proved wrong in the end as well!'
'PERCIVAL IGNATIUS WEASLEY,' screeched his mother. 'YOU WILL STOP THIS RIDICOLOUSNESS AT ONCE! GO TO YOUR ROOM AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE!'
'I'M NOT A CHILD!' Percy yelled back. 'I AM JUST NOT CONDEMNING A CHILD BECAUSE OF WHAT ALBUS DUMBLEDORE SAYS! YOU CLAIMED TO LOVE HARRY AS A SON. THEN AS SOON AS DUMBLEDORE CLAIMS HE IS THE SON OF YOU KNOW WHO HE IS AN EVIL, MANIPULATIVE MONSTER!
'DID YOU EVER CONSIDER THAT ALL DUMBLEDORE IS TRYING TO MOUNT HIS DEFENCE AGAINST THE NEGILLENGE, EMBEZZLEMENT, SLANDER AND DRUGGING CHARGES? DAD'S EVEN ADMITTED THAT DUMBLEDORE KNEW THAT HARRY WAS BEING ABUSED! AND DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT DUMBLEDORE HASN'T ANSWERED THE QUESTION ABOUT EMBEZZLING FROM HARRY'S VAULTS!
'I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE OF YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH ALBUS DUMBLEDORE! DO YOU KNOW HOW BLOOD DIFFICULT TO WORK BY UP WHEN I'M UP AGAINST YOUR REPUTATION! DO YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU AND YOUR UNHEALTY OBSESSION WITH MUGGLES!'
Percy stormed off outside not sure where he was planning on going. Percy didn't think his girlfriend would be very impressed with his actions. Almost as soon as Percy got outside he regretted what he said; not about Dumbledore but about his father.
'Hey Percy wait up,' Bill called after him.
Percy turned around to see both Bill and Charlie running after him. Percy was sure the guilt on his face was clear for them to see. At least Percy hoped so because he wanted to explain how sorry he was about what he said to his father.
'I'm sorry about Mum said,' Bill said quietly. 'I know how Mum gets. Why do you think I chose to work with the Egyptian branch of Gringotts instead of the London branch?'
'I didn't know you had got a place in London,' Percy said surprised.
'That's because I didn't tell anyone,' Bill replied. 'After the way Mum kept going on about joining the Warders division of the Ministry I had enough so I chose the place which would get me away from Mum.'
'Didn't Dad say anything?' asked Percy.
Charlie snorted, 'haven't you realise that Dad rarely stands up to Mum! It was same when I wanted to specialise with dragons.'
'Mum wanted you to do your Mastery under Professor Kettleburn,' remembered Percy.
'Then take over from Kettleburn when he retired,' Charlie said bitterly. 'Silvanus was the one told me to work with dragons because he knew it was where my heart lay and to stop listening to my overbearing mother so I did. I was going to accept the Mastery in Wales but like Bill I had had enough of Mum so I moved to Romania.'
'I had no idea how difficult it was for you,' Percy admitted.
'Of course not,' Bill muttered. 'You've always been Mum's favourite. Fred and George are going through the same thing. They are brilliant with their joke products you know that with the right investment and business training they could be really successful but because it's not what Mum would do Mum disagrees with it!'
Percy frowned but nodded remembering Mum's advice over the years to Percy's brothers. Percy had always agreed with the stability that working with the Ministry brought. However, Percy had been forced to concede that both Bill and Charlie had done very well in their chosen careers so maybe Fred and George would do well as well.
'I'm sorry about what I said about Dad,' Percy admitted.
'I know,' Bill said with a soft smile. 'I saw your face when I came out here. What are you going to do?'
'I was going to go to Penelope's,' Percy decided. 'What about you?' asked Percy.
Bill sighed heavily, 'I don't like walking away from the war but I don't like the way things are going. The way they were going on about Harry and You Know Who or Lord Slytherin or whatever name he is going by it sounded like they were plotting to kill Harry.'
Percy blanched, 'kill? Mum and Dad too?'
'Dad – no,' Bill said much to Percy's relief. 'Mum,' Bill grimaced, 'sounded like she wanted to be the one to do the deed. Plus, Professor Dumbledore finally admitted that he had removed money from the vaults to stop You Know Who having access to the money. I can't be involved in this if I value my job! I'll be back in Egypt tomorrow and I'll have to report this to my boss.'
'I don't know,' frowned Charlie. 'I've only met Harry once and he seems a nice kid I can't believe he'd murder another girl.'
'And all the evidence of You Know Who's supposed return is circumstantial,' Percy said. 'I don't want to lose my job either,' Percy sighed, 'but if I say anything I might get Dad sacked!' Percy admitted his worry.
Bill frowned for a moment, 'Fudge doesn't care about Dad he's got bigger fish to fry. Go to Fudge tell him that you have news on Dumbledore's plans but you will only say if he can guarantee Dad will keep his job.'
Percy blinked, 'I didn't think you'd approve.'
'I wouldn't have if I hadn't heard there plans for Harry,' Bill admitted.
'I think I'll head back to Romania for now,' Charlie decided. 'I'll keep an eye on the news though. if You Know Who really is back there will be signs soon enough.'
Bill nodded grimly, 'quite. We're going to get a twin room in the Leaky Cauldron for tonight.'
The three eldest Weasleys brothers turned to the sound of shouts from inside the house. Their mother was shrieking like a banshee and their father was yelling. Percy didn't think he'd heard his father shout since the twins almost made Ron make the Unbreakable Vow.
The three of them made it to the edge of the wards that their father had just replaced after the news of You Know Who's supposed return broke. Percy Apparated to London where Penelope lived and was currently studying healing. Percy had no idea how he was going to explain this mess to his girlfriend.
Authors Notes:
The younger generation is pulling away from Dumbledore
I hope you like how I managed to convince the Weasley twins to side with Harry. That was the reason why Dumbledore invited them to the "lets murder Harry Potter" meeting.
Next chapter: The Death Eaters return