New chapter,
So here is chapter 38 and again if there is any volunteer to beta the last chapters please send me a PM.
I am not sure how many chapters we are going to have before the end of the story. The story has two possible ways to end and I am not sure which one I am going to pick. Anyway, almost 200 hundred followers, I am really happy about it and I hope that you are going to like what is going to happen.
Robyn7183 welcome :)
momma2011 welcome :)
Charlwall welcome :)
Asthetic . vibe .girl welcome :)
And finally for this week mirandaadele1996 welcome :)
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Percy was in the archives, he was looking for the precious dossier. He was terribly nervous and he could not stop to glance at the door. If he did not want to be caught by Kingsley, he had to find a way to replace the dossier before 6pm maximum. He had a look at his watch, he did not have much time left.
All this pressure was disturbing him. He could not think straight. Things would have been so much easier if Hermione could have come. Deep down, he knew that Fred was right and that it would have been a very bad idea but still, the thought was there...
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He, first, had to consult the register of all the illegal spells before to know exactly where to look. All the dossiers were ordered by chronological order but unfortunately Percy had forgotten when Hermione had said that the spell that she had used had become illegal.
He had been in the archives often but he had never fully realized how many illegal spells existed. Hundredths of dossiers were in this room.
Percy was imagining his brothers walking around the alleys. Fred and George, in this room, would be in paradise, sort of, and they would, for sure study, all the spells. After that, they would create an encyclopedia of illegal spells, to sell it at a very expensive price, at the black market or under another name at the shop and yes it would be a huge success.
Percy could picture the damages too, like his brothers being sent to Azkaban so he came to the conclusion that Fred and George could never come to this room together. He did not want their mother to accuse him of anything or hold him as the responsible for Fred and George's arrests. He already had enough to cope with for a lifetime besides he was still feeling too guilty to risk anything. Yes, he was taking risks for his brother and Hermione in that moment but this particular case was different, Hermione was the responsible for this mess not him.
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It was almost 4pm when he had finally found it. When he had found the spell in the register, he had been surprised as he was quite sure that Hermione had given a date previous to 1917.
He looked again and noticed that the spell had been first decreed as illegal in the 19th century but the act of illegality had not been stamped before 1917. Apparently, it had been used too much during WW I and the Wizengamot had urged the Minister of that time to sign the act.
For Percy that sounded very familiar, women who had wanted to protect their men from dying just like Hermione had taken huge risks to save his brother.
He had always been a huge admirer of Hermione and he was glad that she was dating Fred. Maybe, she would be able to tame Fred's hot temper. Yes, dreaming was a free luxury and one of Percy's favorite hobby.
He shook his head, it was not the time to start daydreaming, he was in a hurry.
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He briefly had a look at the 10 pages before to take the dossier to his small office. He had gulped and his eyes had narrowed, Fred had been right all along and so had Hermione. Fred's fate had been sealed the moment that Hermione had casted the spell.
It did not look that problematic though but to be sure he had to show it to Fred first as only Fred would know how much time left he had got. Percy wanted to read and study the text. He wanted to be sure that there was nothing written between the lines and that it was not dangerous but he could not, at least not now. He did not have enough time.
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Percy left the archives with several dossiers under his arm. If someone saw him or asked him what he had been doing, they would find it suspicious to see that he had taken only one dossier out of the archives. Besides, this particular one was out of all the lists that Kingsley had named as possible threats so Percy knew that he had to be precocious.
Indeed, he had been quite sure that a sort of alarm would start to strike as soon as he would cross the door but nothing happened.
Relieved, he walked back as normally as he could to his office.
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Percy was looking at the 10 pages that were on his desk. The spell had changed his brother's life and somehow Hermione's life too, forever.
Thoughtful, he was wondering what Hermione would have chosen if she had known everything about the spell. Yes, some might find the clauses romantic like that twat of Lavender Brown but Hermione certainly would not like them, no matter what Fred's wishes might be...
Hermione had wanted to save Fred because she was in love with him however it had been a selfless act, she had never done it to tie up Fred.
Fortunately, Fred would not accuse Hermione of anything or be vengeful because she was the only thing that Fred thought that he would never have.
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Percy was chewing his lips nervously as he was thinking about what Fred's seven wishes could be and how long it would take him to make them real. The fear to loose his brother soon was back. Nothing was written about how many time the wizard had left once his seventh wish had become a reality, it was just written that the spell was broken after that. What did that really mean, he had no idea and he had no way to find out, neither would Hermione, Fred and George.
It was so vague, too vague for Percy whose pulse was already playing a speedy symphony in his ears. How were they suppose to live with that, how was Fred going to hide the truth from Hermione.
So many questions were left dangling.
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About 20min later
The dossier was still laying on his desk while Percy was pacing in his small office thinking about what to do.
He could not take the complete dossier to the shop. Hermione would be there for sure and she could not see it.
Percy did not want to be hold for responsible for anything. Hermione would find out someday. He knew that she would but then she would be the one deciding what she should do.
Would she try to defy fate again or accept it, that would be her decision to take and Percy did not want to witness it or help her to find out. Also there was something else that was bothering him. He had taken the dossier out of the archives without any problem but he seriously doubted that he would be able to take it outside the walls of the Ministry.
He sighed deeply and sat on his chair. He observed the pages for five long minutes. He had a lot of ideas but in all the scenarios, he could foresee Hermione's doubts. He knew that she had not liked to be put aside and that she would be suspicious no matter which option he would choose.
He took the dossier and hide the pages 3 from 8 into one of his drawers. Hermione and Fred wanted to see the act of illegality well that was what Percy was going to show them and once Hermione would not be with Fred, he would tell Fred the truth and show him the rest of the pages or not. Indeed, he was still unsure about telling the all truth to Fred. May be, it would be wiser to keep it for himself and let Fred live his life fully.
On the other hand, if he decided to tell the all truth to Fred, it could help Fred to live longer. Fred could have a better control over the situation and delay some of his wishes. Percy sighed, the burden on Fred's shoulders would be heavy but the burden on his own shoulders would be worst. He had to be honest with his little brother.
Convinced that this choice was the best of all his options, he stood up and left his office and the Ministry while he was thinking about a way to get Fred, alone or with George, to the Ministry.
Finding an excuse to force Fred and George to come to the Ministry would not be a complicated task. Percy knew that Kingsley had signed the approval of the commercialization of a bunch of new products so the twins would have to come in the next few days to pick up the new licenses but how were they going to keep Hermione out of this one that was the real question.
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In the meantime
Hermione was with the twins at the shop. They were in the backroom working on the last samples of the no polyjuice needed kit. They were also working on a polyjuice's counteractant.
The Aurors and Kingsley were afraid that some people could try to penetrate into the Ministry, like the trio had done, to get informations about the trials so Kingsley had ordered Fred and George to work on that.
Snape knew how to do it but his belongings had disappeared. The Aurors and Kingsley had found nothing more that few notes in the headmaster's office and his dungeon which was making them think that the formula could have fallen into the wrong hands.
The twins had gladly accepted the offer. It would not be easy but Kingsley had promised them something even more valuable than money, if they succeeded, the title of Potions' Master which was more than they could have ever dreamed of.
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They were chatting and laughing, with Fred being the happiest of the three. Indeed, it looked like George and Hermione had really buried the hatchet and accepted the presence of the other.
Fred was joking about how cute they were all looking in their magenta robes when Percy knocked at the door. The three young adults looked at each other's, they all knew what a visit from Percy in the middle of the afternoon meant, he must had found the act of illegality.
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Percy made his best to look calm and serene though his shirt under his vest was totally wet.
He took a sit and explained what had happened, everything that had happened which included the talk that he had with Kingsley.
« And well there is something else, Kingsley is afraid that the Death Eaters on the run might be after not just McGonagall's time turner but Mr Lovegood' special time turner too. As I've already told you weeks ago Hermione, I do not know much about this special time turner but what I know is that it is able to detect and define when was the last time that a time turner had been in use. Actually, Kingsley said that it showed the scene. How, I don't know but I am started to think. » started Percy before to be interrupted by Hermione whose mind was racing.
« That it could be through a memory like a pensieve. Mr Lovegood's time turner shows or worst, what if it could bring you back to the starting point. One of our books mentioned those very rare and precious time turners. The Death Eaters had taken Luna, they had trapped Mr Lovegood, I am sure that they know about his special time turner. » gasped Hermione who had turned white
« If what you think is right, it means that it does make you travel back so the Death Eaters could travel back to the 2nd of May with McGonagall's time turner. Hermione, it also means that Rookwood did see you. » pursued Fred whose voice was shaking
« And this could be true because Kingsley had told you Percy that whoever had taken the time turner, that person was in grave danger. Bloody hell, what are we going to do. » finished George who was as astounded and petrified as the others.
They would have never thought that something like that was possible. The situation was worst than what they could have ever imagined. They weren't even sure that they were pointing the right issue but if they were, they had to react and quickly.
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It bothered and stressed Hermione so much that she did not even ask more about what Percy had found in the dossier. She did not care about the damn paper anymore. Kingsley would discover the truth, she was positive about it and she could loose her wand or worst, she could loose Fred so yes the act of illegality was the last of her problems.
As for the Death Eaters who could be after her, well that was not worrying her that much, she was used to it.
All she could think about was Mr Lovegood's time turner and what could happen to them.
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The young men tried to calm her down but it did not work. They had never seen Hermione that scared before. She even said that she was ready to confess what she had done and loose her wand as long as they would not do anything to Fred.
« I won't loose you Fred, I won't. » she said firmly
« You won't but you aren't going to confess either. At least not yet, we need to think of a plan first. Hermione, I forbid you to run to Kingsley's office, are we clear. » insisted Fred who was certain that Hermione was overreacting because she did not want to disappoint Kingsley. George was with Fred, of course.
Hermione was wining Kingsley's affection, she needed a paternal figure and Fred knew that Hermione was picturing Andromeda and Kingsley as alternative parents. She had even confessed that she had spoken with Harry and that both would love to see them as a couple...
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Hermione nodded though her mind was still working at full speed about what could they plan and how. For her, the best option would be to confess even though she did agree to listen the twins' ideas.
As for Percy, he, obviously, agreed with Hermione and firmly believed that it was time to confess which had made Fred glared at him.
« Look, Dumbledore is not going to tell Kingsley that you had taken the time turner. Come on, we know the old man, he would never betray you. It gives us enough time to think about something. » said Fred before to pause to look for the right words to expose his idea.
He had already mentioned a couple of times that they needed to get rid of the time turner but this time he was really serious. They had to do it and he was trying hard to convince the others to accept to do it.
« I know that you are scared about the idea of destroying the time turner but the books specified that your spell does protect me even if my come back was not written. We have to destroy this time turner as soon as possible so the morons can't go back and nobody will ever know what you've done. Without proof, theories stay theories. » insisted Fred
« But Fred what if it does kill you too, what if the books aren't right. » argued Hermione
« Books are always right, aren't they. Come on Perfect Prefect, it is not the time to start to mistrust your best friends and I am not talking about SuperBoy and our little brother but your real best pals.» scolded George who assumed that Fred was right. They had to do it.
Hurt, Hermione glared at him and argued back as coldly as she could. She was disappointed, in this battle George was supposed to be her ally to protect Fred.
« Hermione, I am not against you. Do you think that I want to loose my twin, my other half. I don't but I do believe in the power of the spell and I do believe that with the morons looking for the time turner and Kingsley looking for the truth, we are putting ourselves, specially Fred in graver danger. Have faith in the spell that you had used just like you had faith when you had run to McGonagall's office » replied George gently this time
For Hermione's despair Percy, who had changed his mind, pushed in that direction too. She had no choice but to agree with them though she affirmed that they would destroy it only when they would know how to control the curse fire properly.
Fred smiled and agreed under one condition, Hermione had to give him the time turner. They argued for a while. Percy left before the end of the argument, he had to go back to the Ministry and replace the dossier even though he really wanted to know who had won the fight.
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Later, when Hermione and Fred went to the Ministry to have a look at the act of illegality. Percy learnt that Fred had won. The time turner was hidden somewhere, Percy did not ask more, he trusted his brothers and Hermione. If they had said that it was safely hidden then it was.
He let the lovers studied the piece of paper and when Fred looked at him, he did not forget to scratch his nose, an old code that they were using when they were kids. They used that code when they could not speak but wanted to make understand their siblings that they had something to say. Fred blinked and smiled at his brother. He was grateful and very happy to have Percy back at their side.
As they were ready to leave Percy's office, Fred thanked his brother again, then he took Hermione's hand, they were officially done with their quest.
Yet, Fred was curious and worried about what Percy had discovered but he had promised himself to live his life and for the time being, he had something better to do than ruffling the pages of an old dossier. Indeed, demonstrating to Hermione that his fingers could be very useful and not just to concoct potions was a much better prospect.
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Basically everything that is going to happen in the next chapters, well clues are given in this one. Where I live, lockdown ends in two weeks, so I will be back to work and a kind of normal life on the 11th if may, until then I will try to post at least the next chapter, two maximum.
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