I own nothing. J.K.R Owns everything :(
Chapter 25: The Next Morning
11th, August, Wednesday, 1998...
He was lying in a forest with people all around him, dressed in tattered and torn clothes. He was confused as to how he got there. The last thing he could remember clearly was walking into the forest with a group of people. Then it came to him. Of course, the full moon. We're in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. And for some reason I can't remember much of last night.
I wonder what time it is? It has to be at least 6am. I'm human again so it's past sunrise. He looked down at where his watch usually was before remembering he'd taken it off before heading to the forest incase it got too damaged.
He felt the body next to him shiver a little and he turned around to see his girlfriend waking up.
"Morning." he whispered, his voice was hoarse and his throat sore. Now that he thought about it his whole body was sore.
"Morning." she replied, her voice sounded hoarse too and she looked as if it hurt to talk.
"Are you sore?" he asked indicating his throat, she nodded.
"A little. I thought Death said it wouldn't hurt?" she pouted.
He smiled, "Yes he did. You look cute when you pout."
"I thought so. Thank you, you look handsome with blood all over you." she giggled.
He looked down and sure enough he was covered in dried blood down his chest and arms. "What did I do?"
"Ate a rabbit." a man said from his other side making him turn around and notice most of the others were awake, "You two are noisy in the morning." Remus grumbled, "But you decided to hunt last night and you ate a rabbit Harry." he grinned.
"Brilliant." Harry smirked, "Am I the only one who decided to hunt and eat something?" he asked.
"Nope... Ron's covered in blood too." Hermione said looking at her boyfriend who was still asleep. "So are Bill and Neville." the two were starting to stir from where they were curled up not far from each other, Neville next to Luna, Bill a few meters away from them.
"So's Dudley, Astoria and Draco." Petunia added as they woke up. "The rest of us decided to play games. Ginny you're covered in blood too."
"Harry shouldn't we be able to remember this?" Ginny asked frowning looking down at her blood covered arms and chest.
"It'll come back to us eventually." he shrugged.
"When are we heading back?" Remus asked.
"Do you know the way?" Harry asked, "'Cause I don't."
Remus frowned and looked around the clearing they were in. "Er... No, I don't." he admitted, "It's been years since I last ran around in here, I know we're not far in but I don't recognise this particular clearing."
"I've got an idea." Ginny said, she pulled out what looked like a rectangular golden cigarette lighter.
"Of course! The P.C.D." Hermione exclaimed, "I'd completely forgot about them."
Ginny smirked and opened hers, a little green flame appeared, "George Weasley." she said, "If anyone can help it's the twins." she explained.
"Or James and Sirius." Remus added.
"Hullo?" George's sleepy voice said.
"George it's Ginny. We're all human again and kind of lost in the forest. Can you send help please?"
"Sure. Oi! Fred! Time to go on a rescue mission." there was a sleepy mumble in reply, "Just sit tight you lot we're on it."
"Try getting James and Sirius, they know the forest well enough and Padfoot can track our scent's." Remus said.
"We will." Fred's voice came, "Like George said, just sit tight and we'll be there soon. See you soon." the flame disappeared and Ginny put her P.C.D away in her pocket again.
"Well... I guess all we have to do is wait." Harry sighed. "Is anyone else sore?" he asked.
Everyone nodded, "It's still not as bad as the werewolf transformations." Remus said, "More like soreness from sleeping on the ground or muscle sprains, and our throats will be sore from howling."
"Which is likely as we did sleep on the ground and most of the night we spent running around and howling until we fell asleep." Dudley pointed out hoarsely.
"True." Ginny nodded.
Harry looked around again, "You know half of us are covered in blood right? And most of our clothes are destroyed too. What are they going to say when we get to the castle?"
"We're going to call you all mucky pups." James's voice came from behind them, Padfoot was walking beside him with the twins behind them. "What were you lot doing last night?"
"Being wolves and eating rabbits." Remus told them with a smirk, "You were fast." he added.
"Helps when you can turn into a stag or dog. You aren't all that far in and I gave these two a ride." James explained gesturing the twins.
"It was cool." the twins grinned.
"Good thing you remembered the P.C.D Gin-Gin." Fred added.
"You could have been stuck here for ages before we found you." George agreed.
"Well Padfoot found them." James shrugged, "Not much can get past his nose. Especially Moony's scent."
Padfoot changed back into a grinning Sirius, "At least with scents I know and most of your scents were and still are masked with rabbit blood so it's a good thing I recognised Moony's. You really are mucky pup's aren't you?"
"Of course." Ginny smirked, "It was only those not covered in blood that didn't go hunting." she added. "But if they did I'd bet they'd be in the same state as us."
"Probably." Petunia agreed.
"Let's get you all back to the castle. Everyone's awake thank's to another explosion." Sirius said while looking at the twins.
"It wasn't our fault this time." George said.
"Not your fault? I'll believe that when I see it." Ron muttered.
"Okay it was. But it was an accident." George said, "I kicked a bucket and it exploded. I reckon Peeves was at it."
"Probably." Sirius nodded, "Well let's go. You guys need to clean up."
They all nodded and the Lycan's slowly got to their feet as Sirius transformed and started leading the way back to the castle.
At the castle everyone was waiting on the Lycan's, James, Sirius and the twins returning. They were in the Great Hall and Amber was looking around interestedly.
"I wish I had come here." she sighed while feeding Cecelia her morning bottle.
"It's pretty amazing." Lily smiled, "Especially if you never studied here."
"Like me. I was at Beaubaxton's Academy of Magic, in France." Fleur smiled, "I was amazed the first time I came here even if I acted differently then."
"What age were you the first time you visited Hogwarts?" Amber asked.
"I was 17." she replied, "I can't tell you why I came though. Harry will be showing it soon enough anyway."
"Soon? As in his 4th year?" Lily asked.
Fleur nodded, "Oui, he was 14 the first time I met him."
"We had international guest's in Harry's 4th year." Minerva said joining them. "From Beaubaxton's and Durmstrang Academy."
"Why?" Lily asked suspiciously.
"Can't say I'm afraid. Harry wouldn't be happy." Dora said, "I will tell you it's big though."
"Is it bad?" Amber asked.
"Um... That's something you need to decide on your own." Minerva said evasively.
"Aren't they back yet?" Andy asked walking in with a very hyper Teddy bouncing in her arms. Cissy was behind her.
"Not yet." Molly frowned. "According to George, Ginny said they didn't know where they were. Remus told him to get James and Sirius to help."
"Padfoot will be able to sniff them out." Lily explained, "And Prong's can move quickly and carry anyone if they needed him to."
"Not to mention those two know the forest quite well." Dora grinned, "After all the moon's they spent with Remus. He told me quite a few stories from his time at school." she explained.
"That's true." Minerva chuckled, "I still can't believe they became Animagi without help or getting caught." she added.
"The Marauder's are never caught doing something like that." James said entering the hall with the others behind him. "We're just that good."
Padfoot bounced over to where the women were sitting and climbed onto a seat beside Lily and looked around impressively.
Molly and Lily shrieked when they saw half of the Lycan's covered in blood and the torn clothes on them all.
"What happened?" Molly demanded.
"Relax Molly. It's rabbit blood. This lot decided to go hunting last night." Remus chuckled, "No idea how our clothes ended up this bad though." he shrugged.
"It'll be the running around." Bill suggested, his voice wasn't as hoarse as the others but it was still a little croaky, "Our fur getting hit by branches and such must've transferred to our clothes, I for one am just grateful we all still have clothes."
"I think we all agree with that." Astoria giggled as the others nodded, some blushing slightly.
"You are messy aren't you." Lily sighed, relaxing now that she knew no one was hurt.
"Mucky pups." Regulus smirked amusedly as he entered the hall and walked past the Lycan's.
"That's what I told them." James snorted.
"We couldn't help it." Harry protested weakly.
"How were we to know rabbits were messy to eat?" Ginny added grinning.
"The clue is that they have blood." Dora made a face, "Of course they're messy."
"Oh well." Draco shrugged, "Still taste good."
"Eww." the non-Lycan women groaned.
"That's gross." Amber said looking faintly sick.
"Don't knock it 'till you try it." Astoria giggled.
"Besides at least it wasn't any other animal." Luna added.
"Like a spider?" Neville suggested.
"Or a deer, or something that could have hurt us back." Luna nodded, "We're not that experienced with fighting in wolf form yet."
"Ugh. How can people eat deer." James groaned.
"People eat venison." Lily corrected.
"And just like that I'm a vegetarian." James made throwing up motion.
Lily giggled, "Just don't eat venison."
"Good plan. I quite like steak and beef." James chuckled. "None of you lot better start hunting deer." he warned the Lycan's.
"Don't plan on it. The rabbit's are hard enough to catch, never mind a deer that could kick back and run faster or a stag that could use its antlers." Dudley told him.
"Good. Now that's settled let's go get cleaned up." Harry said leading the other Lycan's away to get cleaned up. Even those who never had blood on them went as they did have mud and grass stains on them and had to change their clothes too.
"Padfoot, down." James said, Padfoot got off the seat and James took it. "Good boy."
"Do you want a treat?" Fred offered. The dog barked and nodded happily.
"Here you go." George tossed him a custard cream.
"You shouldn't have eaten that Sirius. It's one of their product's." Molly chuckled as Padfoot caught and swallowed the biscuit in one bite, "A canary cream."
Padfoot froze and a second later there was a big poof of smoke. When the smoke cleared a big Padfoot sized canary was sitting there looking confused.
"You're a canary mate." James gasped through his laughter.
Padfoot tried to bark but only a loud 'Cheep!' came out.
Everyone burst out laughing at this.
"How long does it last?" Regulus asked the twins when Padfoot went to sulk in the corner and everyone had calmed down.
"About 10 minutes." Fred told them.
"Which is longer than the first batch we made. The first time it was only 30 seconds." George said.
Padfoot was glaring at them.
"Come on Sirius. It was funny and you know you should never accept food off of these two." Arthur smiled.
Padfoot just looked away from them all and put his head down.
James got up and went over to him, "Come on Paddy. You know their prankster's, doesn't it seem like something we'd do? I know you hate being pranked but..." James whispered something in his ear.
Padfoot stood up and walked out of the hall when James finished whispering to him five minutes later.
"Where'd he go?" Regulus asked.
James shrugged, "I have no idea. Plotting revenge most likely."
"Or he's come to tell me. Since I can apparently understand him." Harry said walking in with the Padfoot-canary beside him and wearing clean, non-ripped clothes, "He told me to tell you to watch your head's." he told the twins, Padfoot made a few whimpering sounds and barked, or rather cheaped, twice. "And that he's not happy being stuck in animal form, he can't change back and he's tried it."
"Sorry Sirius. We only meant it as a joke." George said.
"Yeah we can fix you if you come here." Fred added.
Padfoot looked wary.
"They'll fix you." Harry assured him, "If they don't I'll hex them for you." he promised.
Padfoot nodded and went over to Fred.
Fred took a jar out of his pocket, it was full of a yellow looking cream.
"Stay still and try not to lick it off." George warned as Fred took a bit of cream and rubbed it on Padfoot's nose.
Padfoot whimpered.
"He said it smells horrible." Harry translated.
"We know." Fred said, "We've tried to make it smell better but it doesn't work."
Padfoot sat still and a few seconds later the canary cream wore off and he changed back into an annoyed looking Sirius.
"Not fair." was the first thing he said. "This means war!" he declared.
"You two pranked him didn't you?" Remus asked coming into the hall with Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Petunia and Dudley behind him.
"Yep. Sirius just spent the last few minutes as a canary." Dora grinned, "Or rather Padfoot did."
"I've got advice for you two. Run. Fast." Remus told the twins, who shared look's.
"Nah." Fred smirked.
"It's difficult to prank us so..." George continued.
"We're going to let him try..."
"Even if he has help." they both said.
"World war three here we come." Molly groaned, "Nothing life threatening please."
"'Course not." the twins and Marauder's said together.
"Some rule's though." Lily said, "1, you're not allowed to prank anyone who is not a part of this. 2, you're not allowed anything illegal. 3, nothing that will mentally scar your target or anyone at all. 4, you can't break any of the rules or the other side gets points. Got it?" she asked.
The Marauder's nodded.
"Seems fair." the twins agreed.
"Lily! Your going to let them?" Minerva asked, astounded.
"If we tried to stop them it wouldn't work." Dora pointed out.
"That's why I've set rules." Lily smirked, "Better having limits then nothing at all."
"True." Molly sighed as the other Lycan's walked into the hall and sat down. "Oh and Ginny dear?"
"Yes Mum?"
"Happy 17th birthday." she grinned.
"Happy Birthday!" the others said cheerfully as banners appeared from the ceiling.
Ginny looked shocked, "I can't believe it."
"Believe what?" Arthur asked her smiling.
"I forgot my own birthday." she laughed, everyone else laughed too.
"Your presents are at the Burrow so you can get them later." Molly told her making her nod.
Food appeared on the table and everyone dug into their breakfast with enthusiasm, congratulating Ginny on being a legal adult at last.
After breakfast everyone went to visit Hagrid in the hospital wing.
"Hello Hagrid. Poppy still keeping you in?" Minerva asked.
"Yeh I shoul' be allowed ter leave in a bit though." he told her, "It wasn' overly bad an attack... jus' un'spected." he admitted.
"Why did she keep you in then?" Harry asked, "Wait never mind. It's Madame Pomfrey."
"Why thank you Potter." the mentioned woman laughed, she had just come out of her office, "If you must know a few of the scratches were deep."
"An' I don' take well ter healin' potions." Hagrid chuckled, "It's the giant blood in me."
"Ah, that makes sense." Ron nodded. "Harry's just resistant to most of them."
Harry glared at him but nodded. "It's because my body is used to them, right Madame Pomfrey?" he asked.
"More used to them since your fourth year that's for sure." she smiled. "And please call me by my first name. You've been in here often enough as I've told you before, that goes for all of you." they all nodded.
"Sure Poppy, on one condition. You call us by our first names too, as I told you in May." Harry grinned.
"Deal." she smiled, "Right do you mind if I check you over? Just to make sure your magic is still stable." she added. "Ginny too, your's climbed quite a bit last night dear."
Harry and Ginny nodded and walked forward. Poppy checked Harry's first.
"Hmm..." she frowned, "Harry have you noticed there's a part of your magic that's waiting to be activated?" she asked.
Harry frowned and shook his head.
"Oh its fine Poppy, I know what it is." James cut in smoothly. "I just haven't had the time to teach Harry how to activate it just yet."
"Okay as long as you know." she said, "Other than that there's a few points of active power across your back, arms, and legs."
"Advanced healing powers." Ginny reminded her. "We all woke up a little sore from spending the night running and sleeping on the forest floor."
"Of course. Do any of you want an energy restorative?"
"Not for me thanks." Harry smiled, "I'm full of energy."
The other's declined politely as well.
"Well if you're sure." she shrugged, "At least you never came back drenched in blood." she said as she started to check Ginny's magic.
"They did." Lily frowned, "Rabbit blood anyway."
"Yeah they decided to go hunting." Remus nodded, "Half of us anyway. The rest of us just ran around."
Poppy laughed, "Well I suppose it couldn't be avoided, but Remus? You know what I meant when I said covered in blood."
"Yes. You meant not covered in their own blood." he winced, "Kind of like I used to before my 5th year."
"Yes and wasn't I shocked when I found out what had happened to stop you biting yourself."
"Yep. Moony found a new toy." James grinned, "Padfoot." he laughed.
"He chased you a few times too you stupid deer." Sirius retorted.
"I'm a stag, not a deer, there's a difference you mutt." James stuck his tongue out like a child.
"And their off." Remus sighed as James and Sirius started arguing.
"So anythin' bother you's las' nigh'?" Hagrid asked.
"We saw a centaur. But it just said 'Fine night for hunting, Jupiter is in line with Saturn. So there will be load's of prey' and then he walked away." Astoria frowned.
"You didn't recognise him?" Ginny asked.
"I felt like I should have."
Harry nodded, "It was Bane. One of the centaurs that helped in the final battle at one point and the one I saw in my 1st year during the detention with Hagrid."
"So that's how I recognised him. We would have known if it was Firenze." Draco commented, "We saw him almost everyday for 2 years."
"True." Hermione nodded, "It's odd he didn't attack us though."
"Centaurs are good at tellin' who yeh are. Even if yer in animal form." Hagrid smiled. "He would've known who yeh were from yer eyes and fur colour."
"Some of our fur isn't the same colour as our hair though." Bill pointed out, "Mine is mostly grey with little flecks of red through it."
"And Harry has some unusual marking's." Neville added, "In red and white."
"Yeah, I have a red one in the shape of my scar on my forehead and then white ones everywhere I have a scar."
"Well that's probably why you have those marking's, wherever there is white it will be a natural scar and the red will be a curse scar so it's different to the rest." Poppy explained, "Ginny you're fine." she added as she finished checking, "Just the same as Harry, your healing power around your body. And Happy Birthday." she smiled.
"Yeh. 'Appy Birt'day." Hagrid beamed.
"Thank you Poppy, Hagrid." Ginny smiled back.
"A few of you have those white marks though." James pointed out after a moment, "Does that still signal a scar?"
"As far as we can tell, yes." Harry nodded, "It's most likely through the war with this lot." he gestured Draco, Astoria, Neville, Ginny, Bill and Luna. "I gained at least one scar each year. Sixth year is the only year I didn't, I think." he admitted, "And Ron, Hermione have been with me on quite a few 'adventures' but there is a few I went on myself."
"We have fewer than Harry." Hermione agreed. "Because people seemed to target him more than us."
"They did. Voldemort wanted me dead by his own hand so he told his followers to hurt and capture me."
"He wanted you hurt so you wouldn't get away." Draco put in, "Didn't work too well, you got away no matter what. Which we are all grateful for."
"Riddle's mistakes were the main reason I escaped every time." Harry admitted, "He underestimated me until it was too late for him."
"So did a lot of the Death Eater's." Cissy smirked, "It was fun watching them try to figure out where you three were when you were in hiding."
"If I don't want to be found, unless you trick Kreacher, then I can't be found." Harry laughed.
"We didn't trick Kreacher, we just found a loophole and used it to our benefit." Hermione huffed.
"You still got around his orders." Harry pointed out. "And I closed as many loopholes as possible."
"Obviously not enough of them." Ron snorted, "Not if Kreacher was willing to listen to us."
"Which is odd." Sirius commented, he had finished arguing with James, "That elf used to hate you all... The last time I saw him he was perfectly friendly to everyone, even Lily and Hermione." he frowned, "I didn't even know that was possible."
"People can change, why not house-elves." Ginny shrugged, "Winky changed too. She used to sit and mope around about her old masters until last year when the war got bad, she got determined to help as much as she could and she fell in love with Dobby and had kids and now you wouldn't be able to tell she spent almost 3 years in a deep depression."
"And like Winky turning her life around, Kreacher changed. He's nice to everyone I'm nice to, if I'm not nice to them or if he know's I don't like them, he'll subtly insult them or be mean as long as they don't notice and he doesn't go back to how he used to be. He has my permission to do that by the way." Harry added chuckling.
"As well as permission to beat up Mundungus Fletcher?" Regulus asked.
"Yes. Special permission for him." Hermione growled, "Stupid thief."
"I told Kreacher he can beat Dung up and keep him tied up until I get to him if he's caught by Kreacher anyway. He's to come to me as soon as he's been caught though." Harry explained.
A 'Crack' sounded making everyone jump and spin around to see Kreacher standing with a grin on his face and a big box behind him.
"Master Harry." he bowed, "Kreacher has found Mundungus Fletcher."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"The thief was trying to enter the House of Black again, Mistress Hermione." he bowed to her.
"Trying to steal more?" Harry asked. Kreacher shrugged.
"Kreacher doesn't know Master, Kreacher never gave the thief a chance." the elf explained, "But Kreacher sensed the thief at the door to the house, so went to investigate and caught the thief."
"What did you do to him?" Ron asked.
"Kreacher hit him on the head with a frying pan." the old elf said gleefully. "Then put the thief in this box when he passed out."
"Brilliant. Kreacher could you go get Kingsley and tell him to bring an Auror, then head to the kitchen's here to help the other elves." Harry told him, the elf nodded and disappeared. "Dung's been on the wanted list since the end of the war." he explained.
"For handling dark and dangerous objects, theft and breaking and entering." Ron added, "Kingsley reckons he deserves some time locked up."
Harry was opening the box and levitating a confused looking Dung out of it.
"How'd I get 'ere?"
"Never mind Dung. What's this Harry's been telling me about you robbing from Grimmauld?" Sirius demanded.
"'Aint you meant to be dead?"
"Have you seen the Prophet?" Molly asked.
"'Course, it's a scam though."
"It's not." Harry growled, "Show him what a Lycan looks like Gin?" he asked, she nodded and changed into Misty.
"M'kay... she could be an Animagus." Dung pointed out.
"Will some of the rest of you change?" Harry asked without taking his eyes off Dung.
Bill, Dudley, Draco, Astoria and Petunia all changed.
"She's not an Animagus because what are the chances of there being more than one wolf Animagus here in this room. Form's can't be chosen or copied and they're all the same except for their fur colours." Minerva smirked.
"So answer my question. Why were you stealing from Grimmauld Place?" Sirius snarled.
"You never cared about that stuff."
"Defeat's the purpose. You still stole from an Ancient and Most Noble House, from the Black's no less. You're lucky I don't like or want to kill people." Regulus spat.
"Who're you?"
"Regulus Back. Sirius's younger brother."
"Weren't you a..."
"Death Eater? Yes I was but I left a year after I joined."
Kingsley walked in with a woman behind him.
"Good morning everyone. This is Auror Louise Skull."
Everyone greeted them and introduced themselves to the Auror.
She smiled widely as Dora was introduced.
"Dora it's nice to see you again." the Auror smiled.
"You too Louise." she replied. "We worked together on a few cases." she explained to the rest of the room.
After the introductions Auror Skull looked at the floating form of Mundungus then at Harry.
"That's one way to keep him still." she laughed, "We've been looking for him for a while. Did you catch him?"
"No my house-elf did." Harry smiled at the look of shock on her face, "Dung here was trying to steal from my house in London and he's stolen from it before so I allowed my house-elf to beat him unconscious then come to me with his prisoner. Very effective way of catching people."
"And spying." Draco grumbled, "I know you had Dobby and Kreacher following me in our 6th year. Kreacher's not good at hiding."
"And spying." Harry agreed, "He's right I did." he admitted, "I was positive he was up to something and he was. Kreacher has caught Mundungus for me before when we discovered he had stolen an object vital to ending the war that was in the house in London to begin with." he added.
"Stupid bleedin' house-elf." Dung muttered.
"Kreacher's not stupid." Regulus growled.
Dung went silent as he was knocked out with an unknown source.
"What in the world was that?" Auror Skull asked.
"Uh... Oop's." Harry blushed, "Accidental magic. Sorry."
"Accidental magic at your age?"
"Harry is very powerful and still need's to get used to his power level. He's just had a magical block removed so he has a lot more power than what he's used to." Poppy explained running her wand over Harry again, "Your healing's done." she told him.
"Healing?"
"Auror Skull, have you seen the prophet?"
"Of course Minister."
"Then you should know last night was a full moon. And that some of this lot are Lycan's."
"Oh yeah. Never thought of that." she admitted, "Anyway should I take this," she pointed at Mundungus, "to the Ministry now?"
"Please do." Kingsley said. "Put him in the underground holding cell's, one of the ones with the strongest protections, until his trial is sorted, I'll message Gibbon and he can sort it out."
The Auror nodded and bound the unconscious form of Mundungus in ropes before saying goodbye and leaving.
"Who's Gibbon? The name sounds familiar." Dora said.
"He's just below Percy's position." Arthur said.
"Which is?" Regulus prodded.
"I'm Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, he's in between me and the Junior Undersecretary." Percy answered. "Gibbon helps with paperwork before handing it to me. He also does errands for Kingsley."
"Such as setting up court dates and times." Kingsley smiled, "Makes my job easier and Percy's." he chuckled. "That's why I created the position."
"I agree. It does make it easier. The office runs smoother with Gibbon helping."
"Who exactly is Gibbon?" James asked.
"He's a house-elf. He get's paid and day's off of course, he used to belong to a family that was killed about 5 years ago. Since then he was going from department to department helping and delivering messages ect." Kingsley explained. "But he works directly for me now."
"Which is why I recognise the name." Dora grinned, "Helpful little elf was the one who told me the minister was going to kill Remus and I after we were married." she explained.
"I wondered how you knew that." Remus chuckled. "It was when the Death Eaters had taken over the ministry." he added darkly as people looked at the current Minister. "Kingsley wasn't trying to kill me, the one before him was."
"They wanted everyone close to Harry either watched, dead or worse than dead." Kingsley sighed.
"We were watched but they didn't touch us." Ginny nodded, gesturing the other Weasley's, "Which is confusing because the best way to get to Harry..."
"Is to go after those I care about and love." Harry finished. "They would have expected me to contact you."
"Exactly." Cissy nodded. "The group watching you was told to not contact or harm you in any way."
"It consisted of two members of the inner circle and five that weren't, at least at the Burrow." Draco added. "There was others tailing Fred and George and watching the shop. Percy was normally at the ministry, so was Arthur, so they were watched there. Ginny was watched at school and Bill and Fleur couldn't be found except when they were at the Burrow or elsewhere."
"Our cottage was under Fidilius." Bill explained. "No one knew where it was without us knowing and we just Apparated to our property and away from it when needed."
"Good choice. Remus and Dora were being watched closer than you. The one's watching them were told to kill if the chance arose." Draco winced, "The rest were followed too but not as much as the Weasley's, Remus and Dora."
"Do you know who it was who set the order for Dora and I to be killed?" Remus asked.
Cissy nodded, "Greyback and Bella. Greyback wanted you dead Remus and Bella wanted Dora dead."
"Let me guess 'Stain on the family name'?" Andy guessed mocking her sister's tone.
"Yes. Something like that." Cissy nodded.
"She never started actively wanting Dora dead until you two were married and Teddy was on his way." Draco added. "So I'd say that's it. No matter how stupid it sound's."
"Oh well. Bella's dead now, good riddance." Cissy smiled tightly.
"You still miss her don't you Cissy?" Regulus sighed, she nodded slightly.
"She may have been evil to the core but she was still my big sister, that is all I miss her for." she said, "She was a murderer and insane but then again..."
"She was still your big sister and my younger one." Andy nodded, "I know the feeling even if I hated her."
"I didn't know her that well." Draco admitted, "But I know what you mean as well, evil bitch but still family."
"Exactly." Regulus nodded. "Draco has it right, at the end of the day she was family."
"No matter if she was a twisted bitch or not?" Sirius snorted, "I don't mean to be insensitive but I definitely won't miss her."
"You never cared much for her though." Regulus pointed out, "Every time she visited when we were kids you used to drive her and Cissy up the wall with all of your pranks."
"Knew it was you." Andy smirked, "You would never tell me. I could get you to admit to anything else, except that."
"And you wouldn't believe ickle Siri would dare prank your sisters." Cissy snorted.
"He had help." James pointed out. "He told us."
"Who?" Cissy asked.
"Me?" Regulus offered, "Who else was in that house? Do you really think the other kid's would help him? I was the only one willing to help, at least with Bella. She was too proud for her own good." he laughed.
"You corrupted your brother?" Draco asked Sirius.
"Not exactly..." Sirius muttered.
"It was me who did it. Me and Alphard Black." Andy smiled wickedly, "Alphard showed Sirius how to prank people without being caught and I taught him not all Muggles and Muggleborns are scum." she explained, "He told Regulus so technically it wasn't Sirius."
"Nope. It was Andy and Uncle Alphard." Sirius nodded. "I was too young to keep something to myself and had to tell someone, naturally I went to Reg."
"Since we both knew never to go to our parent's for anything." Regulus nodded, "That resulted in a day of punishment or more." he winced.
"Which is what I grew up learning with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia." Harry frowned, "Thinking back to that it was only Vernon that put me in the cupboard and you usually only gave me a few chores Aunt Petunia."
"That's because I hated that cupboard. Why Vernon kept you in there I will never know." she sighed, "I used to argue constantly that there was enough bedrooms and that the cupboard was too small for you, but he wouldn't listen."
"And you couldn't act on your own." Lily nodded. "I know what Vernon would have done," she shuddered, "And I can't say I blame you for not doing anything alone."
"I could or should have done something. Called the police, owled Dumbledore for help, divorced Vernon and took full custody of Dudley..."
"You could have." Harry agreed, "But that's the thing, could have and should have add up to the same thing, didn't." he sighed, "There's no use dwelling on the past. It happened the way it did and there's nothing we can do to change that. I said it before, I'm willing to forgive you and start over, even if it won't be easy." he added, Petunia nodded. "But speaking of dwelling on the past, who want's to go continue the memories?"
Most of the room nodded. As they said goodbye to Hagrid and Poppy, Hermione pulled Harry to the side.
"Do you think Dumbledore would want to watch?" she asked. "He might be interested in how we done it."
"He might. We can ask him and if Minerva's fine with it we can use her office to watch the memories." he replied. She nodded and they went to say their own goodbyes to Hagrid and Poppy before leaving.