That first day, they looked through the orbs was not the last time Harry cried. Every afternoon they made the trek back to Flitwick's office to look at more of the memories Lily had left behind. It gave Harry an insight into his parent's life after they had gone into hiding. He had learned that Lily was a truly remarkable witch. In built Muggle curiosity combined with ingenuity meant that she saw magic and spells in a completely different way, much like Harry and Runes. Instead of just accepting that something could not be done, she assumed first of all that it could because…well, Magic! She was not often proven wrong.
What Harry liked most were the incidental glimpses into their lives. The times when James would blunder into the memory looking for his glasses (they were on top of his head), wand (tucked behind his ear) or broom (in the broom cupboard). Or where his father's voice could be heard calling out to Lily from an adjacent room and Lily forgetting herself would yell right back. Then came the day when Harry noticed the slight swell of Lily's abdomen. It became a rush to find and view all the memories of her developing pregnancy, until finally there was a bassinet in the corner of the room. For the first time Harry felt truly connected to his parents, understanding what the lack of them meant for his life, and he began to grieve their loss.
"Mr Potter," Filius Flitwick was sitting opposite Harry as they placed the last of the balls back into the trunk. "I understand that while you are certainly proficient at charms, that it is not something you are truly passionate about. The spells that Lily has created could be used to posthumously have her granted with her Charms Mastery, if you give me permission to have them published."
"But sir," Harry glanced at the trunk, these were memories of his mother and he wanted to guard them jealously and keep them for himself.
Filius raised a hand to forestall Harry's words of denial, "I am not talking about all of them. I believe several should be added to the Potter Grimoire. There are however a couple that are a serious advancement on current healing spells, these I would encourage you to share."
"The Grimoire is currently missing," Harry frowned at the admission. "It was removed without permission, after my parent's deaths."
"Then Lily's spells could be used to start a new one. Your runic work can then be added. Between the pair of you, you already have a wonderful foundation. When the original is returned to you, they can be combined. Or you can keep it as a second volume for specialist spells."
"Is something special required?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh goodness no. It's quite a simple ritual, done on the night of the new moon. New beginnings and all. I would think that Sirius would be able to take you through it. Outdoors on one of the Ley lines would be best too."
"Right, I'll talk to him about it. Thanks for your help Professor. I think, I would like you to do…. whatever it is you have to do to have Mum given her Mastery."
"Well let's go through these memories again and pull out the ones we need. It is usual to present three new spells. We will need one where the workings are written up in her journals. However, given that she cannot present the full work, a couple of extra spells will be needed. I think five in total should be sufficient. We'll include the one where she shows the Arithmancy behind the spell, in her journal."
"The nerve healer?" Flitwick nodded. "How about the Limb regrowing spell?"
"Yes, and perhaps the baby monitoring spell."
"Oh, what about the one for removing curse scars?"
"Hmmm, and lastly the ultimate wound healer," Flitwick grinned in pride at his former students work. "Now don't you worry; I will take care of everything. When spells like this are created often the creator gets a monetary compensation for the work, I will ensure that it's…"
"No! I think Mum would have liked it best if it was put into researching a cure for Lycanthropy. She had a potion that she was working on…."
"Have you shown it to Severus?"
"Not as such, but I gave a copy of her potions journal to him and it was in there."
"Well I will speak to Severus about it. I always felt that his skills might be better off used outside of the classroom."
Harry could not disagree with that.
"How was the test?" Lord Voldemort demanded the moment his most loyal were kneeling in front of him, Bellatrix remained standing by the door.
"Too aggressive, My Lord," Nott senior bowed his head. "Theo reported that the usual confrontation between Draco and Potter escalated to violence alarmingly quickly."
"That is disappointing," Voldemort raised his wand, "I want thinking fighters not mindless drones, Crucio."
Nott arched his back in pain, managing not to scream, "Perhaps Severus Snape could make adjustments to it?" he gasped, when the spell was released.
Bellatrix stiffened.
Red eyes turned on her, "Speak your mind Bellatrix."
She preened under the attention, "I do not trust one who dangles like a basket from the arm of Albus Dumbledore."
"Even if it was I, that asked him to dangle so?"
"My Lord," she lowered her eyes and dropped her head submissively. Then she looked up through her lashes, "Surely this potion is not so important as to take the risk?"
"With this potion, I will create an army of witches and wizards, all dedicated to our cause. This is but the first step in…."
"But Draco…."
"What spell did Draco cast?" Voldemort snapped to Nott.
"The Entrail Expelling curse."
"And how was it cast?"
"Well, My Lord. Our Auror reported that had it hit, it would have been lethal. Additionally," he hastened to add, "because the remnants of a potion were in his blood it was deemed that he had not acted of his own accord. Therefore, he escaped charge."
"Wonderful," Lord Voldemort smiled beatifically, "My dear Bella, you have been training the boy. Has he managed to cast it before now?"
"No," she admitted grudgingly. "I would have thought that he would have needed his core to develop more first., and he is no killer."
"Yesssss. Too often my beloved Death Eaters, enter the battle to freeze at the last moment, lacking the dedication required to defeat their opponent. The passion it gave him added the power he needed. When the potion is perfected none will be lacking, Mudbloods will fall before them like wheat to the scythe."
Bellatrix began to giggle.
"Do you think someone has spoken to her?" Alicia hissed at Ron as they watched Hermione, calmly assisting a second year to sort through the elective options.
"McGonagall was planning on …" he hurriedly looked away as Hermione glanced up at them and narrowed her eyes. It seemed Harry had been right, the Headmaster had over-ruled McGonagall's decision on Hermione's Prefects status. The girl had dutifully attended meetings and done her rounds, for the last week.
"Right well, I've got to head to rounds," Alicia stood.
"It is an annoying necessity," Ron replied, pulling out the latest review questions for Defence Against the Dark Arts. "Oi, Harry!" he called spotting his friend helping one of the Creevey brothers. They were so alike that he could not tell which it was until he moved closer. "Hi Dennis."
"Hey," the blonde head bent back over the parchment, quill scribbling quickly, did not look up.
"You've got it Dennis, just a bit more practice for consistency. Flitwick says that you need a thousand repetitions of something before you can consider yourself proficient at it."
"A thousand!" Dennis gasped in horror, head snapping to Harry. "But…"
"Not to worry. This is school, you only need to show them how well you have learnt it. You need to know the theory and be able to perform the spell in a maximum of three tries. Currently you are getting them in two, which is a pass. A bit more practice and you'll have them every time." He squeezed the boy's shoulder reassuringly and stood.
"Thanks Harry. I've got to go," Dennis said, scrambling to his feet as well.
"Where are you off to its nearly curfew?" Ron asked.
"Um, I needed some help with Arithmancy, and Hermione was the only one free at this time." He glanced cautiously over to where she was still sitting on the floor, the second year having just left.
"Right, let us know how that goes for you. Percival should be back shortly if you have any remaining questions." They watched him wander the short distance over to Hermione, who smiled at him as he sat down.
"How long do you think it will last?" Ron asked dubiously.
"Who's to say? The threat of losing her Prefects status might be enough to get her back on track. She was very stung up on getting it."
"So was I," Ron admitted.
"Yeah but at least you've been living up to the role."
"It's been bloody hard work. Sometimes I wish I didn't have it."
"Well, given you have rounds tomorrow, you'd best get your homework done now." Harry said offering his friend no sympathy.
"Fine!" Ron turned to his parchment, thinking forlornly of his chess set sitting unused up in his trunk.
Things were going well, right up until the point that someone, a highly stressed Seventh year, mentioned the 'E' word.
"We have what?" Hermione cried.
"Three weeks until the Exams," the seventh-year repeated.
"But I thought that we had five weeks!"
"For everyone else yes, but the OWL and NEWT exams are earlier," Katie Bell explained patiently, the Seventh year having turned back to her books already.
"But I still have so much revision to do!" Hermione whined in a panic.
"Hermione, if you've been studying consistently throughout the year, there really is no reason to panic now. Just review your notes from the previous years after you complete your homework," Katie made an attempt to reassure the girl.
"They examine us on previous years' work?" Hermione asked wild eyed.
"Yeah," Katie frowned. "Of course. OWLs are to assess how much you have learned already. How are you going to show that if they don't examine it?"
"But I didn't bring my old books and notes with me!" Hermione asked, panicked.
"Well then hopefully one of your friends will lend you theirs," Katie shrugged.
"But…"
"There is also a library full of books, just three floors down, so there's no need to stress. Most people just leave all their schoolbooks in their trunks."
"Nobody told me! How was I supposed to know? My trunk was too full of…." she paused.
"Not my fault," Katie said. "Anyway, I believe I have some homework of my own to get done." The chaser wandered off.
Hermione watched her for a moment, glanced around the common room before racing up the stairs.
'Parvati is sure to have her notes, I can just copy those,' Hermione mused as she ducked into her dorm. Scrambling quickly under Parvati's bed for her trunk. This time the word on her forehead was spelt out in glitter letters. Needless to say she did not get the notes.
"Sirius!" Remus called as he entered Grimmauld place.
"In here," the dark-haired man replied. "Did you find anything?" Sirius looked up from the paper he was reading as Remus entered the kitchen.
"Yeah, the locals pointed out the old Riddle property and the manor house is warded up the whazoo. I'm not sure if they'll be using it for long to be honest. It's pretty run down, and I can't imagine the likes of Nott and Malfoy wanting to stay there when they have their own manors."
"You didn't get close enough to have a look inside?"
"No, but interestingly there was another warded property in the area. It looked to be abandoned. Even I would have thought twice about staying there."
"Do you think it is related?"
"Well, there was a snake nailed to the front door, and it was charmed enough to rise up and hiss. I'd guess it's probably the Gaunt house."
"Huh, we might need a Parselmouth then."
"Yeah. I think it's time we had a word to Amelia to see what she had found out."
"Alright, I'll arrange an appointment through Seraphina. Dumbledore is less likely to find out that way." Sirius looked over at his friend and noticed that his hands were shaking slightly.
"Something else happened?"
"You could say that. I..uh….I found her. She denied it but I am sure that it was her."
"Who Remus?"
"Marlene."
Sirius dropped his teacup.
In a whirl wind of classes, homework and extra lessons the OWLs grew closer. The Gryffindors had won the Quidditch cup in a clean sweep, to nobody's surprise. Ron and the other Prefects had a hard time of it, trying to keep a lid on the growing underground trade in aids to memory, concentration and wakefulness which had sprung up targeting the Fifth and Seventh years. Even the twins had suggested that they had a product that they were testing but it left their volunteers (themselves at this point) with a rather unfortunate rash in a most uncomfortable place, and they were not sure how long it was going to last, even if the elixir did seem to help them concentrate.
Ron looked dubiously at the bottle of Baruffio's Brain Elixir that had been he offered by Ravenclaw Sixth-year, Eddie Carmichael, who swore it was solely responsible for the nine 'Outstanding' OWLs he had gained the previous summer and was offering a whole pint for a mere twelve Galleons.
"How about," Ron said, looking sternly at Eddie, "we go and ask Professor Snape to have a look and if he confirms that this is Baruffio's Brain Elixir, I won't stop you from selling it?"
"No, there's no need to get Snape involved," Eddie's hand flicked out to snatch back the bottle, but Ron used his greater reach to hold it out of the way, while Harry sent a patronus to Snape.
"What seems to be the problem Mr Weasley."
"Eddie here claims to be selling bottles of Baruffio's Brain Elixir, but it looks to me like a rather poorly made cheering concoction." He passed the bottle over.
Snape held the bottle to the light, popped the cork and smelt it, before swirling the liquid in the bottle.
"Not quite, Mr Weasley. I believe it was an attempted Wit-sharpening potion, which unfortunately has had dried hellebore added instead of the mint. It is now quite the toxic combination. Mr Carmichael, I believe we will be needing a word with your Head of House." Bottle in hand Snape frog marched the unlucky Eddie up the corridor.
"Well that's one down," Harry commented.
"I don't know, I could have used that," Seamus muttered from behind them.
"Seamus," Percival said, "Hellebore is a known emetic. So, the only thing it might have worked for is a cleansing potion."
"Oh!"
"Yes, Oh."
"Nearly as bad as the powdered Dragon's claw that I confiscated from Harold Dingle," Ron sighed wearily.
"Dingle has powdered Dragon's claw?" said Seamus excitedly. "That's supposed to give your brain a real boost."
"Not this stuff. I remember some of the things the twins were mucking around with last summer, so I was able to identify it," Ron said grimly.
"What was it?" Dean asked curiously.
"Dried Doxy droppings."
Seamus flushed green, "Right guess I'll get back to studying then."
"Good idea."
They received their examination timetables and details of the procedure for the OWLs in their next transfiguration lesson.
"As you can see," Professor McGonagall told the class as they copied down the dates and times of their exams from the board, "your OWLs are spread out over two successive weeks. You will sit theory in the morning and the practice in the afternoons. Your practical Astronomy will, of course, take place at night. Now I must warn you that the most stringent anti-cheating charms have been applied to your examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills are banned from the examination hall, as are Remembralls, Detachable Cribbing Cuffs and Self-Correcting Ink. Every year, I am afraid to say, seems to harbour at least one student who thinks that he or she can get around the Wizarding Examinations Authority's rules. I can only hope that it is nobody in Gryffindor. Cheating will be punished most severely."
"Please Professor," said Hermione, her hand in the air, "when will we find out our results?"
"An owl will be sent to you sometime in July," said Professor McGonagall.
"Excellent," said Dean in an audible whisper, "so we don't have to worry about it till the holidays."
It was a strange unfamiliar feeling but, Harry hoped he would do well enough to make Sirius proud. He imagined waiting in the kitchen of Grimmauld place for everyone to be gathered, maybe Seraphina would be there, so that he and Percival could open their results together.
Their first examination, Theory of Charms, was scheduled for Monday morning. All of the fifth years had gathered in the common room to study. Hermione asked everyone to test her and eventually Harry gave in. He regretted it almost immediately. She was very agitated and kept snatching the book from him to check that she had got the answer completely right, finally hitting him hard on the nose with the sharp edge of Achievements in Charming, when she thought he was not giving her the correct answer.
"Why don't you just do it yourself?" he said firmly, handing the book back to her, eyes watering.
Meanwhile Ron was reading five years' worth of Charms notes with his fingers in his ears, his lips moving soundlessly; Seamus Finnigan was lying flat on his back on the floor, reciting the definition of a Substantive Charm while Dean checked it against The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5: the girls who were practicing basic Locomotion Charms, were making their pencil cases race each other around the group (Lily Moon won), with Percival asking them questions at random. When the race was over, he and Harry asked each other questions out of the Charms textbooks.
Dinner was a subdued affair that night. Harry and Ron did not talk much. Hermione on the other hand, kept putting down her knife and fork and diving under the table for her bag, from which she would seize a book to check some fact or figure. After their first attempt to prompt her to eat, they left her to it. Suddenly her fork slid from limp fingers and landed with a loud tinkle on her plate, drawing their attention to her.
"Oh, my goodness," she said faintly, staring at the Entrance Hall. "Is that them? Is that the examiners?"
Harry and Ron whipped around on their bench. Through the doors to the Great Hall they could see McGonagall and Dumbledore standing with a small group of mostly ancient looking witches and wizards. McGonagall appeared to be enquiring after the identity of one of them.
"Shall we go and have a closer look?" said Ron.
Harry and Percival nodded, and they hastened towards the double doors into the Entrance Hall, slowing down as they stepped over the threshold to walk sedately past the examiners. Harry thought Professor Marchbanks must be the tiny, stooped witch with a face so lined it looked as though it had been draped in cobwebs; Professor McGonagall was speaking to her deferentially. Professor Marchbanks seemed to be a little deaf; she was answering McGonagall very loudly considering they were only a foot apart."
"Yes dear, this is Mafalda Hopkirk, unfortunately one of our examiners has fallen ill, so we've had to pull her in specially for this." She reached out and patted a nervous looking blonde, who was significantly younger than the others, on the arm.
Harry and Ron dragged their feet up the marble staircase as slowly as they dared. With Harry saying, "I hope I don't get her, she's the one who sent that letter about the magic use last summer."
"Tea would be lovely," Hopkirk was saying, when she gave a little stumble and reached out a hand, holding fast to Dumbledore's beard to prevent herself from falling.
"Oof!"
"Oh…oh…oh I'm so sorry Headmaster," she babbled. "I'm terribly clumsy! Sorry."
"Think nothing of it my dear," Dumbledore soothed, smoothing down his beard with one hand. "How about we go into the Great Hall and we get you that tea. New situations can be quite nerve wracking, can't they? Who knows, once you have done this one set of Exams might find you enjoy it." Eyes twinkling, he led them into the Hall.
It was an uncomfortable sort of evening. Everyone was trying to do some last-minute revising, but nobody seemed to be getting very far. Harry went to bed early but then lay awake for what seemed like hours. He remembered his careers consultation with McGonagall, while Umbridge was still in residence. It had been a farce. Harry did not have a clue what career he wanted. Though a great many people had pushed him towards being an Auror. With Umbridge there he had not been able to have any sort of deep and meaningful conversation with his Head of House. In the end he had said Auror just because…well because he knew that was what Percival had been. Though they had not had a chance to discuss if he wanted something different for his life this time, Harry supposed it did not matter what they both did. Something with Runes, or perhaps Spell Creation, would be fascinating. Though both Healing and teaching were interesting as well. There were just too many choices and if he wanted to keep his options open, he needed to do well on his OWLs. Eventually it was Percival, alerted by Harry's tossing and turning, sliding into the bed beside him, wrapping him deeply in a hug, that eased him towards sleep.
Harry was not the only student staring glumly at their porridge the morning that the OWLs were to begin. Stomach churning violently and threatening to rebel should he even attempt to put anything in it, he wished he were outside in the beautiful sunshine. None of the fifth years talked very much. Parvati was practicing incantations under her breath while the saltshaker in front of her twitched; Lavender and Ron were copying out their notes again, writing so fast that the letters were mere blurs on the page; and Neville kept dropping his knife and fork and knocking over the marmalade.
"Come on you have to eat. Our first exam is in an hour," Percival, who was a calm as ever, coaxed Harry, with a nudge to his side.
Once breakfast was over, the fifth- and seventh years milled around in the Entrance Hall, while the other students went off to lessons. Ron, Harry and Percival were overwhelmed with the number of second- and third years who wished them luck, as they passed.
At nine-thirty, they were called forward by class to re-enter the Great Hall, which had been re-arranged. More than a hundred smaller desks had replaced the four house tables, all facing the staff-table end of the Hall where Professor McGonagall stood facing them. When they were all seated and quiet, she said, "You may begin," and turned over an enormous hourglass on the desk beside her, on which there were also spare quills, bottles of ink and rolls of parchment.
Harry turned over his paper, his heart thumping hard - three rows to his right and four seats ahead was Percival, his head already bent over his parchment and quill flying across the page. Harry lowered his eyes to the first question: a) Give the incantation and b) Describe the wand movement required to make objects fly. He had a fleeting memory of a club soaring into the air and landing loudly on the thick skull of a troll…. suddenly the exam did not seem as daunting. Smiling slightly, he bent over the paper and began to write.
"Well, that wasn't too bad, was it?" Hermione asked in a loud and slightly anxious voice in the Entrance Hall two hours later, as she clutched the exam paper to her chest. "I'm not sure I did myself justice on Cheering Charms, I just ran out of time. Harry did you put in the countercharms for hiccoughs? Do you even know it? I wasn't sure whether I ought to, it felt like too much. I noticed you finished before the bell," she said to Harry. "Did you forget something, do you think? Or was it just that you didn't know the answers to a few questions? I know that on question twenty-three….."
Before she could get any further Harry interrupted, "Not that it is any of your business, but I answered every question Granger."
"Well, you can't have answered them with all the detail required if….."
"I will leave that to the examiners to decide thank you very much."
His response was curt making it clear that he did not want to discuss the matter any further, but Hermione still opened her mouth to continue."
"If you had just let me…."
"Listen Granger," Ron said bluntly, "we've been through this before….we're not going through every exam afterwards, it's bad enough doing them once. If you want to cross examine your answers, go find one of the Ravenclaws."
Hermione gave a little sniff and muttering something about how ungrateful they were, moved away.
"That wasn't very nice, Ron," Neville chided the red head.
"What?"
"Well what did those poor Ravenclaws every do to you?" he nodded to where Hermione had attached herself to Terry Boot and Padma Patil, talking very fast.
The fifth years ate lunch with the rest of the school (the four house tables reappearing for the lunch hour), then they trooped off into the small chamber beside the Great Hall, where they were to wait until called for their practical examination. As small groups of students were called forwards in alphabetical order those left behind muttered incantations and practised wand movements, occasionally poking each other in the back or eye by mistake.
Percival was called, and Harry gave him a quick kiss for luck before he left the chamber with Hermione, Anthony Goldstein, Gregory Goyle and Daphne Greengrass. Students who had already been tested did not return afterwards, so Harry had no idea how Percival had done.
"He'll be fine. Just remember how impressed Flitwick was when he could produce a wandless, wordless patronus," Ron pointed out. "I bet he scores top of the year."
Ten minutes later, Professor Flitwick called out, "Parkinson, Pansy - Patil, Padma - Patil, Parvati - Potter, Harry."
Good luck, mate," Ron said quietly. "Remember all that practice we did, you'll be fine."
"Yeah, you too," Harry nodded.
He walked into the Great Hall, clutching his wand so tightly his hand shook.
"Professor Tofty is free, Potter," squeaked Professor Flitwick, who was standing just inside the door. He pointed Harry towards what looked to be the very oldest and baldest examiner who was sitting behind a small table in a far corner, a short distance from Professor Marchbanks, who was halfway through testing Draco Malfoy.
"Potter is it?" said Professor Tofty, consulting his notes and peering over his pince-nez at Harry as he approached. "The famous Potter?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry distinctly saw Malfoy throw a scathing look at him; the wine-glass Malfoy had been levitating fell to the floor and smashed.
"Ah, can't say I deserve to be famous, Sir, I believe that was all my mother. I'm just another student," his voice shook a little and he gave a nervous smile.
The quavery old voice said, "No need to be nervous. Now, if I could ask you to take this egg cup and make it do some cartwheels for me."
Harry smiled genuinely then remembering the dancing pineapples from first year. He could do this.
On the whole, Harry felt it went very well. At least his levitation charm was certainly better than Malfoy's. He had nearly mixed up the Colour change and Growth charms but remembered a prank Fred and George had pulled at the last moment, so he was able to stop and cast the right spell on the rat he was supposed to be turning orange just in time.
There was no time to relax that night, they went straight to the common room after dinner and submerged themselves in revision for Transfiguration; Percival made them stop (over the shrill voice of Hermione extorting them to continue working) a half hour before bedtime, to relax. He said it would help them all sleep better. Certainly, having a rousing game of Exploding snap in the dorm, released some of the tension that had been building and they felt better for it the next day.
Wednesday was Herbology, Thursday Defence Against the Dark Arts. Here Harry knew he not only passed but passed well. He had been asked to demonstrate his Patronus and Professor Tofty had laughed in delight, before he dismissed Harry, with a jovial 'Well done'.
On Friday morning, Harry sat at the breakfast table, writing out notes with one hand a piece of buttered toast in the other.
"What exam do you have today then?" Hermione asked from the other side of the table.
"Ancient Runes," Percival answered as if she had asked him.
"But Harry doesn't," she pointed out smugly.
"I tested into fifth year Runes just after Easter Hermione," Harry said quietly.
"Harry you need to stop lying like this. You know full well your electives are Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," she glared. It seemed that the stress of exams had pushed her past the point of reason.
"Well, I guess we will see when I turn up at the exam then won't we. If my name is on the list then clearly, I am in the class," Harry snapped back sarcastically.
Quick as a snake she stretched out a hand and slapped him across the face, so hard his head snapped to the side with an audible crack. "You just need to do as you're told…"
"Miss Granger! Detention this evening with me," Snape barked from the other side of the room.
"But Sir, Harry….." she whined, going so far as to stomp her foot.
"But nothing Miss Granger," McGonagall's voice sounded in support of Severus Snape. "We do not resolve disagreements with violence!"
Turning to the surly Potion's Master she added, "Would you please provide that memory at the next Board of Governors meeting. I have been unable to convince Albus that she is not suited to the Prefects position. Every time I try and discipline her, he over-rules it or takes the detention himself."
"I will make arrangements."
Hermione ignored the teachers in favour of continuing ranting at Harry, who Percival had pulled to his feet and was escorting from the hall.
"Don't walk away from me Harry!" Hermione ran after them and grabbed him by the arm.
Like bending a dry branch, something in Harry finally snapped, "Back off Granger," he growled, and turned towards her, pulling his arm out of her grasp. "What I do is no longer any business of yours. You are no friend of mine and I would appreciate it if you kept your opinion on my life to yourself, because, I do not care what you think! The only reason I did not retaliate to your physical abuse is because it's not appropriate to hit a lady. To be honest you're fast approaching the point where I will no longer consider you a lady! You have been warned." Spinning around quickly he stalked away, leaving a stunned Hermione behind, mouth open like a codfish.
"Well you can't say that you did not have that coming Granger," Neville said as he walked past.
Something seethed and roiled in her gut as she watched, the boy she had considered one of her best friends walk away. Even now she knew he had not meant the ending of their friendship. Harry had always had a bit of a bad temper; it would blow like Mount Vesuvius but when he calmed down, he would be sorry and apologise. However, the Headmaster was not going to be pleased, if only she had kept a hold on her temper, it's just that Harry pushed her so. There was only one way she knew that she could make up for it and that was to bring the Headmaster Percival's wand. Over the past month she had carefully observed Percival in class trying to memorise every knot and turn of his wand. Then she had stol…confiscated one of the Twin's fake wands and transfigured it into what she felt was a reasonable facsimile of the original. The question was how she was going to be able to get the wand from the boy! On the upside, if she could swap it at the right time, it would show Harry just how poor a wizard Percival Graves actually was, perhaps the humiliation of failing the rest of his OWLs would encourage him to return to his country of origin. Even better with their names so similar, she would get to witness his downfall. She giggled at the thought, completely forgetting that they had already completed the exams for the heavily wand-based subjects.
"Let me see what that harpy has done to you," Percival coaxed Harry once they had reached the kitchens.
Harry looked at his boyfriend, an angry red handprint marring his skin.
"Dobby!" Percival called.
"Yes, Master Percival Sir," the little elf appeared at their side.
"Can you go and ask Professor Snape…"
"Ask me what, Mr Graves?" the Potions Master said from behind them, having followed them from the hall.
"If you had a poultice Harry could use Sir?"
A jar was pulled out from the voluminous sleeves of his robe, "We cannot have him late for his examination now, can we?"
"Thank you, Sir?" Harry said trying not to move his jaw as Percival coated it and his cheek with the paste.
"Stop moving!" Percival chided. "Now are you ready? We do not have long before they will be calling us in."
"It's as good as it's going to get," Harry said, opening and closing his mouth experimental.
"The mutt said to wish you luck," Snape said as he walked with them to the door.
"Thank you. I'll call him on the mirror tonight," Harry said.
"Good, his whinging has been annoying me," Snape smirked. "It would not do for us to walk into the foyer together."
"Right well you go ahead, Sir," Percival grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him back.
"Do not be late!"
"Tell me honestly, are you alright?" Percival said softly, rubbing a thumb across Harry's jaw.
"It's ok?"
"There is no harm in putting this off and doing the exam at the ministry over the summer."
"I know, but after…..well I don't want her to think she won."
"Don't let what she thinks influence your decision," Percival, tipped Harry's chin up slightly and bent in to press a gentle kiss against his lips, before drawing back, eyes searching Harry's face for any sign of discomfort.
Harry, reached his hand up, hooked around Percival's neck to draw him back down. Needless to say, they were very nearly late, ducking through the doors to the Great Hall a moment before they were pulled shut and sliding into the last two seats at the back.
It seemed that Hermione was not happy with her Ancient Runes exam, telling anyone who would listen that she had confused two of the Runes. As a result, she was in a foul mood for the entire weekend. The rest of the fifth years retreated to the quidditch pitch to study, in order to avoid her.
It had taken nearly a week before Amelia was free to join them, however they had finally gathered at Grimmauld Place.
"We suspect this one was one of the first if not the first he made; in which case he was still very young. I guess he would have protected it with the equivalent of spells learnt at Hogwarts but translated into Parseltongue and he is arrogant enough to believe nobody else would be able to undo them, so I do not think he has been back to change them. At least there is no sign that anyone has disturbed the preservation wards since they were placed in about 1943," Remus was saying to Amelia Bones.
"The Department of Mysteries has come up with this," Amelia pulled a round disk on a long chain out of her pocket.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, looking at it in confusion.
"Do you know what a muggle compass is?"
"It's a device that shows which direction North is, kind of like a one-use Point-me spell," Remus explained to his pureblooded friend.
"That's right. This works in a similar fashion, the arrow on its face is drawn towards Tom Riddle's soul and therefore his Horcruxes. For example, I can tell that there is one in…. that direction," Amelia pointed towards the staircase, with a frown.
Sirius indicated for her to lead the way. She walked up the stairs and towards the Black Lord's personal study stopping outside the door.
"Lord Black may I enter?" she asked Sirius formally.
Sirius opened the door and stepped through it before inviting her in.
"The arrow is still holding steady. I assume that it stored in your desk?"
"Yes," Sirius sat on the chair behind the desk and opened the drawer, pulling out a plain silver coloured box. "We have located two, so far and have a possible lead to follow," he admitted.
"Didn't you think you should tell me?" Amelia said sternly.
"To be quite honest, I had forgotten that you had been involved in the discussions with Harry on the matter. Remus reminded me. I apologise," Sirius said.
"Well. Open it!" Amelia ordered.
"Be prepared, they feel foul,' Sirius said, flicking the latch on the box to reveal the Locket and the Diadem.
"The lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin's Locket," Amelia whispered. "Close it please."
"Correct. We have hypothesised that he has collected items of historical or personal importance." The lid was snapped back into place.
"We reached the same conclusion. We believe that there is the possibility of one being located in Gringotts and have commenced discussions with the Goblins. What is your lead?"
"As Remus was saying we started with the Graveyard where Harry was taken last year. Riddle's father is buried there. With both the Riddle mansion and another small hut in the area are warded, we believe that there might be an artefact from the Gaunts hidden there. Though we need a Parselmouth, and probably a curse breaker to assist getting us through the wards," Remus said.
"I know that there are none currently working for the Ministry. We might have to talk to the Goblins about hiring one of their Curse-breaking teams."
"I'll send a message this afternoon, Sirius nodded. "I want to get it out of the way, before the kids are finished school."
Monday saw them back in the Great Hall for their Potions OWL. Harry found himself more relaxed than he ever thought he could be in a theory exam. The practical flowed as well, even Neville and Seamus produced brews they were happy with. Though neither expected to do well enough to care the subject on to NEWT level.
"Only four exams left!" Parvati Patil said wearily as they made their way back to the common room.
"Only!" said Hermione snappishly. "I've got Arithmancy and it's probably the toughest subject there is!"
Nobody was foolish enough to snap back, so she was unable to vent her spleen on any of them and was reduced to telling of some first years for giggling too loudly in the common room. They ignored her.
"Thank you for agreeing to a meeting on such short notice Striknott," Sirius bowed to the Potter Account Manager.
"And thank you for keeping the boy in line. He is finally responding to the missives we have sent in a reasonable period of time, though of course at this time of year we understand that he is rather busy. Indeed, it seems Harry is developing quite the nose for investment." When Sirius looked at him curiously, he added, "He has received several letters from various members of the public requesting financial backing for business ventures. Each one has been sent back to me with a comment on it stating his thoughts on its viability and asking for my opinion. I have not found that we disagreed in our opinions. Thus far he has decided to support five ventures though he has made it a requirement that all of them seek financial advice from an account manager of their choice before the final go ahead is given. Potter profits look to increase by an additional ten percent."
"That is good. Thank you for being so patient with him."
"Now I assume your Godson's accounts were not why you requested this meeting."
"No," Sirius rubbed his palms down the front of his pants. "I do not wish to compromise your integrity by saying too much. However, I would like to engage the services of one of your curse breaking teams, and it needs to contain at least on Parselmouth, or be they must sufficiently trained and experienced to deal with Parselmagic."
"We will not be getting involved in this war," Striknott said sternly.
"No, this is a financial endeavour," Sirius said with a wry smile. "As it currently stands the war will drag on forever," Striknott's eyes widened, "which while it may prove profitable in the short term, will be financial damaging in the longterm, as I am sure you are aware. We have discovered a way of decreasing that time. I believe that Amelia Bones wishes to talk to you about a similar matter."
"Are you suggesting that one of these things," the Goblin said in distaste, "is hidden in this bank?"
"We believe it may be, however Amelia understands the political difficulties involved and will provide the evidence to support our claims. For myself, I believe that we have another location…"
"Can he have created so many?" Striknott asked dubiously.
"We believe he has six at this time with a seventh one already having been destroyed."
"Six!" the old Goblin gasped. "I will make enquiries, when did you require an answer?"
"I wanted to have the matter well in hand before school lets out."
"Yes, I can see why that might be," Striknott smirked. "Do you believe in the muggle concept of Karma Lord Black?"
"Harry!" Hermione called out as he sat in the common room on Wednesday afternoon.
He sighed and dropped his head to his chest.
"Hurry up, you need to get down to the Great Hall! You have your Divination exam in ten minutes. Ron left half an hour ago."
"I'm fine thanks Granger," he opened up his Arithmancy notes.
Hermione stood over him.
"Do you mind?" he snapped.
"I don't know why you persist with this Harry? What exactly do you think it's getting you?" she reached down and snatched his notes.
"Give me those back!" he made a grab for them, but she raised her wand. "Inflamarae!"
"Aguamenti!" the seventh-year prefect called out from behind her. Soaking the burning pages, extinguishing the flames.
Harry stared stunned at the soggy parchment, the ink of the words running together.
"Miss Granger," the prefect said firmly, "come this way."
"But Harry needs to…" she complained.
"I saw the whole thing. Mr Potter was sitting there studying he didn't do anything."
"He has to get to Divination; he is going to miss…."
"That is Mr Potter's decision! Now you will…"
"I will take it from here Mr Jefferies," McGonagall had approached while they had been talking. "Miss Granger?" she fixed the girl with a stern glare.
Harry watched them go, casting a drying spell on his notes, unfortunately they were ruined.
"Come on, we will study together," Percival said, he had just arrived in the common room after helping Neville review Astronomy ready for that nights practical.
"Here look at this," Remus drew out a photo Album, from inside his bag.
Opening it to the first page, there was a picture of 'Janey' standing next to a red-haired girl arms slung around each other's shoulders, grins on their faces.
Janey took the picture, running a finger delicately over the surface.
"Who is she?"
"That was Lily Evans, Marlene meet her at school, and they were pretty much inseparable after."
"There was a castle," Janey said hesitantly. "I have been thinking about things since you were last here. Remembering some things."
"Yes, Hogwarts. The first trip over it we all crossed the lake…"
"Four to a boat," she murmured.
"That's right and then Hagrid led us up the stairs and knocked on the door, where Professor McGonagall let us in, to wait for our sorting."
Reaching up a hand she touched her head as she stared into her tea, the photograph now resting on the table, "It seems strange when the photographs don't move."
Remus took a chance and turned to the back of the Album, withdrawing a photo and passing it to her. On one end, Lily stood, James behind her, arms around her waist, chin on her shoulder. In the middle was Peter and next to him Remus, at the other end in a matching pose to Lily and James was Sirius with his arms around Marlene. Suddenly a single Firework, burst from behind the group, causing them to duck, Marlene then turned and swatted a madly laughing Sirius on the arm before the frame started again.
"He was named for the stars," Janey said.
"Yes, his name is Sirius," Remus nodded.
"When I think about him, it hurts my head, right here," she pointed to her temple.
"I can take you to someone who might be able to help," Remus offered, holding out his hand.
"Yes, I think I would like that," she agreed, taking his hand.
The fifth years practically tumbled back into the common room following their late night Astronomy practical. Hermione had not stopped talking the whole way back from the tower, until Parvati had hit her with a silencing spell, from behind.
"Well, well, well, the wanderers have returned," Fred said as he looked up from where he was sitting next to George and Lee, books spread out in front of them.
"How are the exams going, Ronikins?"
Ron, shrugged inelegantly, "I think I've done alright so far. How about you guys?"
"Good. We don't have so much riding on this," Fred said nonchalantly.
"Really? Why would you think that?"
"Well," George began before stopping as he noticed Hermione sitting just behind the group, "let's just say…"
"We have plans."
"That are beyond the scope…"
"Of institutionalised education…"
"And the ministry!"
"I think Sirius might want to talk to you about those plans," Harry commented.
"Really?"
"Mmhmm," Harry hummed. He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes, ignoring Hermione who was now thumping her foot on the floor in an attempt to be noticed.
"Come on. We had best head to bed, there are more exams tomorrow," Percival coaxed Harry to his feet, by poking him in the ribs.
Hermione could not believe her luck. She had cast a Disillusionment charm on herself and followed the boys up to their room, their heavy feet masking any sounds she might have made. Percival had tucked Harry into bed, even if she could not admit it to herself it was rather sweet, but then instead of going to bed himself, he proceeded to get ready to shower. Taking off his wand holster and wand and leaving them on his bedside table while he went about finding his pyjamas. It did not take him long to move towards the bathroom, the other boys all had their curtains pulled. It was but the work of a moment to cast a freezing charm on the holster allowing her to bypass its protective spells and to slide the wand out and slot the faux wand she had prepared back in its place. She practically skipped from the room.
Professor Dumbledore was in the common room, looking at the frozen portrait above the fireplace.
"Miss Granger," he said severely, a wave of his wand had the room warded and the other residents of the tower confined to their dormitories.
"Professor," Hermione choked in surprise. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just the exams are….so…and then Harry…. he wouldn't…. I tried, I really did. I know I shouldn't have …."
"Do you understand how far this will put our plans back? It will put my plans back. I need you there guiding him!" He made a truly intimidating figure; his power was almost palpable.
Hermione noticed his wand was drawn and lifted Percival's out in front of her like a peace offering.
"What is this?" Dumbledore paused.
"Percival's wand," she whispered.
"Well…..I think we can forgo your punishment this time," his eyes twinkled as her shoulders relaxed.
"Thank you, Sir. I am truly sorry."
"You will take steps to rectify the situation, and you should be aware that the boy's mother, knew how to hold a grudge."
Hermione collapsed into a nearby chair as the Headmaster left, her shaking limbs no longer having the strength to hold her upright had folded. Clasping her hands together Hermione bent forwards and rested her head on her knees for a moment. That had been so close, the man had only punished her the once, after she had slapped Harry in the Great Hall, but it was not an experience that she cared to revisit. After a few deep breaths she managed to get to her feet and stumble her way to her bed.
She watched the students pour in through the double doors and assume their places. Silent, heads bowed. Yes, this is how it should be. Only two hours before she could put the final steps of her plan into place.
Two hours later they spilled out of the Great Hall, like water flowing downstream and a relieved chattering spread amongst the students. Percival slung an arm over Harry's shoulders and pressed a kiss to his temple, causing Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones to start to giggle. They never noticed Hermione get pulled to one side by the Headmaster.
"Miss Granger, I have another task for you."
"Yes Professor."
"It is imperative that Harry go to the Department of Mysteries."
"Really Professor, why? Oh, is it something I could do instead? You know I would be only too happy to help. I've always wanted to see inside the Department of Mysteries."
He held up a hand to stop her ramblings. Why did she not just do what she was told?
"There is a room in the Department that is full of orbs. They contain every Prophecy ever made," Dumbledore intimated. "There is one made that refers to Harry and the Dark Lord. Only one of the people mentioned in the prophecy may retrieve it. It is imperative that Harry removes it before the Dark Lord can."
"Yes Professor. But aren't there defences…."
"Do you truly believe that there is anything that can prevent the Dark Lord from obtaining anything he sets his mind on?"
Hermione tilted her head considering, "When?"
"Take him tonight. I will ensure that the wards will not detect you leaving." This was of course a lie, but in truth the person that the wards were connected to would not be in the castle that evening, so it made little difference, and the illusion was maintained.
"Yes Professor. I'll try my best," Hermione said doubtful after their last interaction.
"You will not try, Miss Granger. You will succeed by any means possible. Otherwise your last punishment will seem like a walk in the park." Stumbling across that juicy bit of information had been quite the coup. Watching the girl blanch certainly made it worthwhile as well.
"Yes Professor," Hermione dropped her head, and tucked her shaking hands behind her back. Mind already working through ideas.
When she returned to the common room, the others were already there, lounging over a pair of couches and the floor space in between. There was a bitter little twist in her chest as she watched them all enjoying themselves, feeling her exclusion for the first time.
"Ah, Harry?" Hermione said demurely.
He sat up, from where he had been lying with his head in Percival's lap.
"Co….could I speak with you a minute?" she put a little quaver into her voice.
His forehead furrowed as he considered her, "Ok."
When he joined her, she grabbed his hand and pulled him from the common room. Withdrawing her wand, she cast a silencing ward around them.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry," she twisted her hands together and looked at him shyly, pushing the thoughts of what she needed to achieve from her mind.
"What exactly are you apologising for?" Harry said dubiously.
"I…." she realised that she was going to have to treat this as a real apology, not that she felt she had a lot to apologise for. After all everything she had done had been with his best interests in mind. She thought back over the arguments. "I'm sorry for striking you. It was uncalled for. I can only plead that I have been super stressed over the exams and I took it out on you."
Harry was not sure if Hermione looked apologetic, in pain or constipated, but whatever the expression was it looked like it hurt. Still he was not going to let her off easily.
"Is there anything else you would like to say?"
She was taken aback by his bluntness, what else did he want? Oh, that must have been it. "Ah, I'm also sorry I kept trying to get you to go to Divination. I just did not want you to be disadvantaged because you did not have enough subjects, but I see now that it was your decision to make."
"It is not just that Hermione," he said exasperatedly. "You didn't listen to me. I have been telling you all year that I was self-studying other subjects. I have been getting the teachers to check my work, give me work sheets and mark my assignments. I had already spoken to Professor McGonagall and received permission."
"But…." She began to protest.
"No Hermione. As you said it was my decision. As was sitting the OWLs."
"But you weren't in the Runes OWL."
"Yes, I was, but was very nearly late because I had to receive treatment after someone hit me!"
"Oh," she looked ashamed.
"Yes Oh! But I did the exam anyway to prove you wrong. When I could have just as easily booked in to do it at the ministry. Now if you have nothing else to say."
"I do…." She bit her lip, "I just don't think you are going to listen to me."
He sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair, "What is it?"
"I…I overheard something. I know what the Order has been up to this year! Why Mr Weasley was in the Department of Mysteries."
"That's nice Hermione, but I am sure they can take care of whatever it is," he said dismissively.
"It's a prophecy!" she squeaked out as it looked like he was about to leave.
"Since when do you believe in Divination Hermione?"
"These are in the Department of Mysteries," she said in an awed voice. "It's not like that fraud Trelawney!"
"Why do you think it has anything to do with me anyway?"
"I overheard that it's a prophecy about you and …." She looked around, despite the ward to see who was listening. The Fat Lady was snoozing against her frame. "Voldemort," she finished in an exaggerated whisper."
"Why should I care?" Harry crossed his arms and stared at her.
"Harry, he killed your parents!"
"Yeah, and he is a seventy-year-old wizard who knows a lot more spells then I do. Surely there are wizards far more qualified than I to deal with him."
"But you have an obligation to…"
"To who, Hermione? The Wizarding public? Who condemn me at the slightest chance!"
"But Harry, you can't expect them to…."
"To what, Hermione? To stand up for themselves? They outnumber the Death Eaters by at least ten to one!"
"To be brave," Hermione managed to say. "Not everyone is as brave as you!"
He just stared at her, before turning to face the portrait.
"Aren't you even a little bit curious to find out what it says?" she wheedled softly.
With a sigh, he stopped and said over his shoulder, "I'll investigate it." He left her standing in the corridor.
"What was that about?" Ron asked when he returned to couches. The girls had moved their celebrations to their dormitory, promising to return when the twins, who had gone to the kitchens, returned with supplies.
Harry allowed himself to flop back into his previous position.
"She wanted to apologise."
Ron sat up straight, looking interested, "Was she.."
"Genuine. I don't even know. She also mentioned some prophecy. Said she overheard the Order talking about it. Obviously, that's a lie. When would she have even been around anyone from the Order?"
"Not since Christmas."
"Exactly, so if she heard it then, why would she wait until now to mention anything?"
"My point exactly."
"Mirror call Sirius," Percival suggested.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I might go and do it now so I can enjoy the party tonight."
"Do you want company?"
"Nah," Harry replied, groaning as he pulled himself back up to his feet
Not ten minutes later Harry was back, though this time he sat on the floor next to Ron and pulled out the chess set he had grabbed while in the dorm.
"Thought you might appreciate a game or two, now we've the time."
"Cheers. What did Sirius say?" Ron grinned as he began to set up his pieces.
"He said that Dad mentioned something about a Prophecy which was why they went into hiding. He's going to take me in to get it sometime over the Holidays."
Ron studied him for a moment, "What's up?"
"Nothing, I guess," Harry shrugged, an odd look on his face.
"If is causing that expression, it is worth talking about," Percival pressed.
"I just…there was a voice in the background. A….female voice."
"So?" Ron asked.
"I guess," Harry shrugged again. "I just thought he some sort of weird thing for Severus."
"Severus?!" Ron asked in surprise. "Mate I know he's been better this year, but those two argue like….well like Sirius and Snape!"
"Very helpful Ron," Percival said dryly.
Harry continued to grumble, until Percival pushed him up the stairs towards to dorm, telling him that what Sirius and Severus got up to in their own time was none of his business. He made Harry promise not to get involved.
If it were a nightclub the common room would have been said to be pumping. The seventh-year prefects had sent all the kids under fifth year to bed at a reasonable hour, and then silenced their dormitories, before coming back down to enjoy the party. Fred and George had not only snagged food from the kitchens but snuck out and wheedled a supply of Butterbeer from Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks. At ten-thirty the sixth years decided they had enough and asked for their dormitories to be silenced as well. The fifth and seventh years carried on.
Eleven-thirty came and went, and Harry still had made no move to act on his curiosity. Hermione looked around the common room and noticed for the first time that Harry was not even there! Damn, had he gone without her? He would never find the room, or the prophecy without her. Another quick scan of the room showed that Harry and Percival were the only two boys missing. Though Hermione did a quick double take when she noticed Ron sitting rather close to Parvati Patil. She added dealing with that to her list of things to do later and scurried up the stairs to the boy's dormitory.
It was empty, not that she checked the bathroom, having learnt her lesson last time. It was hard to see where anything was in the mess, but a sheet of parchment on Harry's bed caught her eye. It was just what she needed. It took her several minutes to search for her missing friend, having assumed that the two boys would have headed to the astronomy tower. They were not far away and by the look of it were heading towards the kitchens, typical boys! Hermione tucked the map under her arm determined to find them.
She practically flew down the stairs she was moving so fast and managed to catch up with them at the bottom of the Great Staircase. How was she going to do this? She needed to get Harry on his own.
"Stupefy, Stupefy!" She watched them fall. Right, what to do now? Looking around Hermione saw one of Filch's supply cupboards, and quickly levitated the older of the two boys over to it and unceremoniously shoved him in. Not noticing the map fall from her pocket. Then she returned for Harry. The Headmaster had told her that he would be out hadn't he, and she still knew the password to his office, so she levitated Harry there. The Gargoyle stood aside for the password, and with a tremulous hand on the door, Hermione pushed. It opened before her, there was no sound from within except for the snores of Headmasters and mistresses passed.
'Please let there be floo powder' Hermione muttered to herself. There was in an antique looking urn on the mantle. Rotating Harry's unconscious form, Hermione grabbed a hold of Harry's arm and felt something hard resting under his sleeve. Investigation revealed a silver coloured cuff covered in runes. Perhaps this was what Percival had been using to control Harry. Thinking she would Iook at it later she slid it off his arm and put it in her pocket. Then she took a pinch of powder from the urn, wrapped an arm around her friend and dropped the powder saying, "Ministry of Magic."
Cut –Albus Dumbledore was happy, he held in his hands the wand that he had been wanting to study for some time. It was a powerful wand, he could tell. Just by touch. Still he needed to get it back to his office so that he could inspect it properly. Not being a Wandmaker, he did not have the skill to identify its components on sight but needed to perform a little ritual.
With a lilting spring in his step he made his way through the castle, stopping only to smile at Filch's cat. Easily avoiding the teacher's on rounds.
Opening the door to his office, he quickly pulled the wand from his pocket and 'felt' it. It did seem to have that certain….taint of Death, though there were ingredients which could replicate that. He laid it on his desk and hurriedly retrieved all the items he needed. Finally prepared he sat at his desk and…..the wand popped out of existence. No! Albus lost control over his core as fury whirled up inside him. In a feat of accidental magic the black threads seized any object in the room they could and smashing them all. Until sated they resumed their previous quiescent state.
Steepled fingers supported his chin as he thought. With a Godmother like Seraphina, the boy no doubt had a wand holster, the usual ones, prevented the wand being summoned or drawn by anyone who was not keyed into the holster. A feature easy enough to overcome. Some though, the ones the Aurors used, were also linked to the wand, and if the wand was removed then after an hour it would simply be returned to the holster. This was a lot harder to work around. Without a doubt Seraphina would have provided her beloved Godson with one of these. He doubted his protégée had even heard of them.
Albus huffed out a sigh of regret, it seemed she would have to be punished after all.
Cut –