Chapter 50- Confusions Abound
The wedding ceremony came to a close as the tufty haired wizard intoned, "...then I declare you bonded for life." and raised his wand over Bill and Fleur. A shower of silver stars exploded out of the tip and swirled around the newly married couple while the golden balloons overhead burst open to release birds of paradise and tiny golden bells which flew and floated about adding their songs and chimes to the din.
The tufty haired wizard requested everyone to "Please stand up."
When everyone had done as he asked them to do the seats rose up while the canvas walls of the marquee vanished leaving the canopy behind supported by golden poles. A pool of molten gold spread from the centre of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor and the chairs hovering above regrouped themselves around small white clothed tables which floated gracefully back down to settle around the dance floor and at the crowd of guests clustered about to give their well- wishes and to congratulate Bill and Fleur.
It wasn't long before the golden-jacketed band trooped towards a podium where they announced the first dance which was to be started by the Newly wed couple started to play the music.
Bill and Fleur started to dance and after a time other couples slowly joined in. The time seemed to fly by as everyone enjoyed not only the music and dances but also the banquet set before them and those who met up with friends that they hadn't seen in quite a while caught up with each others lives as they chattered animatedly about the many events that had occurred among them over the years and especially the most recent ones.
The Weasleys elderly and somewhat cantankerous Aunt Myrtle was relaxing at one of the tables and happily gossiping with some of her old cronies.
"A mockery that is what it is. The ministry is filled with incompetent loafers. Why didn't they investigate those disappearances from Hogwarts? Professor Snape, Draco Malfoy... Well... I must admit that justice was served considering the Death Eater ties." spouted Auntie Muriel."I know He was cleared at the end of the first war thanks to Dumbledore's support and Malfoy well he is a Malfoy and that speaks volumes, but then just recently Dumbledore vanished !"
"Yes, I understand that Minerva McGonagall witnessed his disappearance. She was quite furious. I suppose that is the closest to her reaction that I can describe." responded Elphias Doge. "She said that the wraith that took him looked suspiciously a lot like Snape! Don't you think that is somewhat preposterous?"
"Snape?"He had a hand in Dunbledore's disappearance?" Aunt Muriel's voice rose, "I say that is rather providential don't you think?"
"Providential?" Protested Elphias. "Dumbledore vanished much like Snape and Malfoy but Malfoy did return. He is showing different personality traits. Befriending Potter and his friends, So the rumours go."
"I heard some comments about his wanting the Defense against the Dark Arts position so badly that he would do anything to get it, even if he had to remove Dumbledore. As for young Malfoy, being from the family he does there must be an agenda of sorts."
Doge folded his arms across his chest as he said, "But from what I heard from Molly and Arthur he had come to the burrow only just yesterday and he was interrogated and approved as acceptable by Mad-Eye himself!"
Ignoring his outburst Muriel continued, "I also heard rumours that there have been really bizarre incidents concerning the teens while at Hogwarts.
"Really Muriel you have quite the imagination." Elphias responded automatically even as he asked enquiringly. "What kind of incidents? "
"I suppose you heard the rumour that some of the students where saying that Snape returned and was possessed by death himself-?" Elphias nodded, " W-e-l-l, It seems that on the very last day of term and when the Malfoys entered their estate he apparated right into Malfoy Manor itself and terrorised them. I am not too sure about believing it as it was told by Crabbe and Goyle Sr. who swore that they had seen him."
"You know it might be possible at that. Those two ignoramuses haven't got a spark of intelligence or imagination to make up such a story."
Harry—who was polyjuiced to hide the fact he was present at the wedding overheard the two elders gossiping and hid a smirk of his own as he knew the true facts as Draconus had told him and the other teens about the events of that particular day. Strangely enough Luna Lovegood had recognised him even though he was disguised well enough. She waved to him while standing at the side of her father who was presently having a conversation with Lupin and Tonks.
Suddenly a large silver lynx gracefully landed lightly in the middle of the astonished dancers and from the Patronus's mouth the loud deep slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt said
"The Ministry has fallen, Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
Intense silence reined for a moment then panic took hold as the protective enchantments fell about the burrow and many guests apparated away in fear of being caught and murdered by approaching Death Eaters.
"Harry! Ron!" Ginny called as she raced over to where he was standing with Ron. "Come on! Mum and Dad said we must go..NOW!"
"I'll go with Harry and Hermione." replied Ron as he turned his head slightly and whispered a little loudly, "Something tells me it is time."
The twins who considered themselves responsible for the safety of the younger members of their family had overheard his comment.
"Okay but Harry still has the trace on him. Hermione and you..." The twins paused as Ron's last statement registered.
"Time for what? What are you three planning?"
"We know Draconous is involved too... "
"Please keep your voices down." Harry said nervously even though there were still some very loud screams and racket as a streak of light whizzed over their heads. A stray thought passed through his mind as he ducked, It was fortunate that everything they needed had been placed in Hermione's small beaded handbag that had an undetectable extension charm applied to it beforehand. Thanks to Hermione heeding Mad-Eye's suggestion they be prepared for any situation.
"We'll be talking to you three later. Come on Ginny, Mum and Dad are waiting." The twins yelled as they ducked another streak of red light and pulled Ginny toward them to bring her with them and their parents to the prearranged safe house known as Shell Cottage as their brother Ron grabbed Hermione's arm and that of Harry while she spun on the spot.
Sight and sound extinguished as darkness closed in upon them and they all squeezed through time and space away from the Burrow. The twins followed shortly afterwards along with every other member of their family.
The Burrow was vacant. Chairs and tables scattered about the area, while the Marquee collapsed and the white tablecloths lay torn and muddied, as they had been scattered about. The Death Eaters entered and trampled all through the Burrow but found no one. But an eerie sense of deja vu came over them and each of them felt a chill of fear race up their spines as a strange collection of dead looking eyes, bloody skeletal hands and other human parts materialised along with bizarre dark ghostly shades that chanted in ancient long lost languages came towards the now terrified masked wizards who hadn't been able to escape the terrifying chilling beings that now surrounded them.
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"the others ... everyone at the wedding... Did they get away?" Harry asked as soon as they found themselves on Tottenham Road near an old cafe that Hermioine had remembered from visits with her parents. She hadn't meant to but the idea of traveling there had popped into her head as she transported herself and her friends.
"We can't worry about them at the moment. It is you that the Death Eaters are after and If we go back."
"Yeah I know I will end up putting them in worse danger." sighed Harry.
"Anyway, Most of the Order was there and you know that they won't let harm come to anybody." Ron said while wondering where his own family had apparated to.
Knowing that they needed to keep moving the teen's half walked and half ran down the wide dark street that thronged with late night revelers and a double decker bus rumbled by as pub goers gawked at the sight of Ron and Harry still in their dress robes passing by.
Eventually Hermione noticed that the street was empty and grabbed both of the boys by the hands and hauled them into a nearby darkened alleyway where she pulled out two sets of clothing which the boys swiftly put on while she watched the opening of the alleyway in case of the possibility that there could be someone going by and peering in.
"Put your invisibility cloak on for now Harry, Hermione suggested as she once again reached into her little beaded bag and pulled it out. "Now where shall we go from here."
"We could go to 12 Grimmauld Place, the wards would keep us safe." suggested Harry Even if he looked a little forlorn as his memories of Sirius flooded his mind.
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The next day Mad-Eye was sitting in his kitchen working on combining what facts he had known and the new facts he had recently acquired from the teenagers who were obviously conspiring to do something most likely illegal—to him at least, the other Adults had been too occupied with the wedding to notice the covert glances and whispers as the youngsters were helping to complete the preparations. It still annoyed him somewhat that the Malfoy boy could easily circumvent the wards as it they where made of pie crust. To be honest the Malfoy boy had seemed to be very sincere and yet he was just that ...a. Malfoy!
The fact that the wedding reception had been disrupted by a Patronus sent by Kingsley Shacklebolt saying "The Ministry has Fallen, Scrimgeour is dead. They Are Coming." was rather suspicious considering the timing. Was the boy involved? Yet when members of the Order arrived back at the Burrow after the evacuation they found a few dead Death Eaters who had appeared to have been running from something as they laid twisted about out in the yard staring sightlessly towards the skies,wands strewn over the now vacant gold dance floor and several terrified out of their mind Death Eaters clutching their faces and necks while writhing about crying out about bloody hands detached eyes and other objects attacking them. Why they hadn't just apparated away was a mystery.
His attention was suddenly diverted by a strange sense of being observed. Not wishing to be caught out, he swung around as he drew out his wand from its holster. "All right who is spying upon me?" he roared as he cast a stunner. A strange unearthly chuckle and a word 'Thantos 'was the only answer as it reverberated throughout the ex-aurors home.
Mad-Eye shuddered involuntarily, as he felt—what he would later describe as a chilly draft of solid...nothing swish around and through him. Yet it was strangely and eerily comforting which was unnerving to the down to earth elderly ex-auror who relied upon his wits and his amazing magical eye to ferret out necessarily needed information to win the war against Voldemort and his ilk. What did this odd occurrence mean? He had to find Potter, Weasley and Granger... possibly Malfoy too. Now where should he start. He doubted that the trio had gone to one of the numerous safe houses set up by the Order so...
Frowning in thought he wondered –in passing if the teens had gathered together at Malfoy Manor... Not likely! In his opinion then again it is possible that Potter and his friends might be hiding out at 12 Grimmauld Place.
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Knowing that there was some prep work needed to be done before the new term started, Q/Snape strode into Hogwarts and met up with Peeves. It had been several days since Draconus had been at the Burrow to give Harry the two commands that he had to know and understand for the plan to work. Meantime the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour had occurred and the Ministry had fallen to Voldemort's forces.
Some bad things had to happen Q/Snape thought. His face hardened slightly, But he was going to make sure there were more survivors than what would have been and as for those new muggle studies and Defense Against The Dark Arts Professors that Voldemort had insisted be part of the staff... a terrifying evil smile graced Q/Snape's face.
"Your thinking of evil thoughts I see." commented Peeves gleefully. "Is there anything we should be concerned about?"
"No.. I don't think so. Just planning out a few consequences for certain parties who needn't be mentioned at the moment." answered Q/Snape as he strode forward. His boots striking forcefully upon the flagstones that paved the Entrance Hall as he climbed the vast staircases to the seventh floor while observing the different paintings and structural aspects of the castle.
"Refresh my mind Peeves. Am I correct in assuming that Hogwarts had started out as a Manor house and expanded as the student population grew? "
"Yes sir! The Grey Lady could tell you more as she is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw" the poltergeist said respectfully, "Rooms grew as needed and the castle itself is as sentient as a magical building can be. It also likes to shift its rooms and corridors about"
Q/Snape nodded, "Excellent. Tis always best to have too many than not enough... Especially now when we may have to hide those who are most vulnerable."
Peeves saluted and then vanished as he went off to inform the Ghosts that things were going to get interesting.
The seventh floor was reached in record time as three Heads of house approached Q/Snape. Pomona Sprout - head of Hufflepuff, Filius Flitwick - head head of Ravenclaw and Minerva McGonnagal—Head of Griffindor.
They were curious and furious at the same time. Wondering how and where Snape had been hiding all this time and then being nominated as Headmaster since Dumbledore had disappeared. Furious also when they had been informed that the Death Eater twins Alecto and Amycus Carrow where to take over the muggle studies and Defense against the Dark Arts positions.
"Good-day. Shall we head into the Headmasters office to discuss the curriculum that is to be followed this term?" Q/Snape asked firmly in a professional tone that forbade any snide comments.
"Yes Sev- er Headmaster." Flitwick squeaked, "That is we three," He motioned toward his fellow Heads, "Would like to question and understand certain aspects- before the arrival of..."
Q/Snape knew what aspects they were inferring to. The same two he was planning consequences for. "The Carrow twins." He stated with distaste as they moved swiftly up the stairs, through the corridors and arrived at the entrance to the Headmasters tower where the gargoyle did not ask for a password but wordlessly slid open to allow them entrance. "I understand that you three also wish to know the details concerning the whereabouts of Albus Dumbledore."
Remembering the incident which she had witnessed-Minerva's eyes narrowed as she spat out, "You—It was you in the corridor! What have ye done with Albus!"
"Where is his portrait?" squeaked Filius as he noted all the portraits in the office. "He has to have a portrait. He was the Headmaster!"
"Do not worry, he will return when it is time. As you noticed his portrait is not hanging up so he is till alive and well." answered Q/Snape with confidence ringing in his voice."but as you know Voldemutt has taken control of the ministry and has instructed the Dementors to watch over Hogwarts during the coming year."
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Pomona as her hand flew up to her mouth in shock, "The children!"
"Voldemutt? Are you sure it is wise to make fun of He-Who-Should -Not -Be-Named?" squeaked Filius nervously, "Have you totally lost what sense you had?"
"There are those who would say I never had any sense whatsoever. But then again I am not really quite all here... or there." Q/Snape chuckled as he tapped a forefinger against his lower lip thoughtfully, "Okay then I'll refer to him as 'Vole Day Mart' and his dark floaty horrors."
The Q was amused to see the three shocked faces staring confusedly at him. "Have you been at the firewhiskey Sever... Headmaster?" ventured Pomona hesitantly. "You aren't talking sense."
"No- but now that you mention it, I could do with am Acamarian Brandy.. or maybe Altairian." Q/Snape licked his lips as he concentrated and suddenly to the shock of his Heads of House- a variety of foods and drink they had never heard of much less seen appeared before them. "Enjoy the feast set before us." He raised a fluted glass of Brandy as the portraits of past Headmasters grinned and nodded their understanding, Now I suspect you all feel that before plans are to be made, that explanations are in order..."
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Ollivander and Miss Burbage were doing much better under the care of the Doctor who had explained in his normal rather gruff manner that neither of them would be returning to the Wizarding world below until he was sure the situation was stabilised and that they were strong enough to withstand transport—so they were not present at the meeting in the Captains Ready Room where discussions of what the next steps where to be taken.
"I have read the book.. or at least the words on that computter about the second war against " Draco paused momentarily and then choked out "Voldemort! It was considered an important turning point of Wizarding history.
"It is called a computor." Lieutenat Malfoy responded automatically with amusement. His eyes glittered and he grinned, "Come to think of it, despite all your training I have never heard you call it anything else."
Draco fought the urge to roll his eyes and continued, "But what caught my eye especially is the Great Gringotts Robbery where evidence was found that a vault was entered, the dragon guarding the lower levels disappeared and yet nobody was found to be responsible. The magical signatures of those who had accessed their vaults throughout the day, where found. But none where they shouldn't be. Information on what was taken was not even released to the public. Though I somehow suspect Potter with his two friends... and Draconus had something to do with it."
"I suspect we will also somehow become involved in that caper. I believe the coordinates of several magical sites that concerns us were programmed into the computer by Q." Tom Paris smiled at the nonplussed look that crossed Draco's face. "Draconus will probably alert us when our assistance is needed."
"We... that is Leonia and I aren't sure as to where we fit in except the fact that Sirius has taken us in and given us his name of Black as he has Dulcis."
"You are now part of my family. No matter where you are in time and space as you both have indicated that you would like to stay on board Voyager. At least I have the comfort that if anything happens to me that somewhere the Black name will still carry on—with pride!" Sirius gathered the youngsters together and said, " For now though I think you all should stay on board for awhile till I scope out my home and am sure you will not be harmed.:"
"Harmed by what? Or do you think somebody has taken over your home who isn't trustworthy." asked Pollax practically.
"It is possible however unlikely." answered Sirius, "I hope that my Godson Harry has taken possession as I had named him my heir upon my demise. I am sure I am considered dead due to the circumstances of my disappearance."
"Your not dead daddy. I can touch you. I can't touch ghosts " Dulcus looked up from petting Vulcan, her Sehlat cub with puzzlement written across her face. "I'd like to see this Harry you keep worring 'bout."
"In time Dulcis, in time. " Sirius said distractedly as he thought over the reassurances he had been given by the Captain and those of her staff that had been present at the last meeting. He just couldn't imagine being beamed down into 12 Grimmauld Place without first lowering the warding but he was assured that they had that capability—so long as he gave them permission to do so according to Lieutenant Malfoy who explained the differences between Magical wards and that of the Forcefields that were used by Voyager and her fellow muggle starships.
"We will keep monitoring the situation as requested by Q and remember you do have a combadge to keep in contact with us if the need arises." said Tuvok in a resigned voice as he had been worrying about the consequences of their interference on 20th century earth even if it was Q's 'request'.
"Draco, you do know that it would not be advisable at this moment for you to return to your home just yet. It would not be advisable for anyone to see you and Draconus together ... at least not yet till the time is right." Said Commander Chakotay. "Timing is critical and I am sure that you do not want to become a distraction and compromise the situation."
Draco nodded even as his heart yearned to go home and see his parents and how Draconous was faring. "I know sir. But stll, I can't help but feel a little worried, knowing what I do. It is almost like a Prohecy that may or may not come to pass but I know according to what I read that it did... er, does." Maraga squeezed his hand in comfort as Starfoot , Vedeien and Mogar stood beside them to show their support.
The little House Elf was looking somewhat anxious also as he was wondering how he was to serve his 'family' and help keep them safe from harm when it was obvious to him that despite the apparent agreement, they were intent upon going down at some point.
