A/N: Thanks goes to RRW for unintentionally helping me with my explanation with Ron. Honestly, I was having a hard time explaining why. So thank you.
Whispers of Truth
Chapter 8: Whispers
When the door opened, Dolores expected to see Ron Weasley, instead it was Harry Potter; on the child's shoulder was his owl Hedwig.
"Mr. Potter?"
"Good evening Professor" Harry said standing the doorway.
Something was not right, be it the boy's eyes, body language or the fact that the moment he entered; the room had gotten darker. Whatever it was, it had her discreetly reaching for her wand.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked voice surprisingly calm.
Harry said nothing as he closed her door, even though it was quietly, the Witch still had to resist the urge to flinch as though it had been slammed.
"May I sit?" Harry then asked.
Dolores nodded, "But not for long, I have an appoint—"
"Ron will not be coming" Harry interrupted as he sat down in the chair in front of her desk.
Dolores blinked, startled, "Beg your pardon?" she jumped when Hedwig flew up and landed on top of her cabinet in the right corner. Golden eyes stared down at her.
"Ron, will not be coming" Harry repeated, gaining the woman's attention.
The child then reached into his robes, and brought out a very familiar quill, Dolores stared and had to resist the urge to open her desk drawer. Harry stared at the quill as he twirled it between his fingers; finally he looked back at the stunned woman and placed it on her desk.
"I don't—"
"Think carefully on your next words Professor" said Harry softly
Dolores closed her mouth, then opened it again, she closed it once more; then cleared her throat. "I believe there has been some kind of misunderstanding"
Harry titled his head, "A misunderstanding you say"
Hedwig ruffled her feathers, and her pupils seem to darken, but Dolores dismissed it as imagination, and continued speaking, "Yes, yes, one guided by a very obvious mistrust"
"Is that so?"
"Yes"
Harry hummed, then he stood and made his way to the door, his hand was on the knob when he paused and looked over his shoulders, green eyes glowing.
"You had been warned Professor" he said softly, and left the room.
The moment the door shut, Hedwig glided down from the cabinet and Dolores screamed.
~.~
Glowing eyes of amber looked up when the door opened, they watched as the person walked in to the room. Feet making no sound as they came over to the bed and sat along the edge, green eyes stared at the sleeping figure.
"You should have let me handled her" Hermione said, voice quiet so not to wake the other boys in the room, though she doubted they would wake at all if Harry didn't want them too.
"The deed has already been done" Harry said, eyes never straying from Ron's form snuggled up between the Twins, "there is no changing it"
Hermione huffed, but there was no anger in it. "Headmaster Dumbledore called me into his office today" she then said after a moment.
Harry titled his head.
"Asked me if I noticed you acting strange, told him no, of course. I doubt he believed me"
"His past makes it hard for him to trust"
"You know more about that then me" Hermione hummed, "anyway, tonight could likely make him tip his hand"
"It is a possible path"
"Are we ready for it?" Hermione then asked as she moved closer to smooth Ron's hair, the boy murmured but doesn't wake, "should the Path become true?"
Harry doesn't answer.
~.~
Dolores Umbridge had disappeared.
There was no note or any indication of her leaving the castle, no clues of any kind of foul play.
She was just gone.
And while many of the students and Professors though curious and somewhat worried, they were also glad she no longer hunted Hogwarts's halls.
And the Headmaster sat in his office, wondering who will be next, and how to stop it.
~.~
Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lives In Wonderland?
After being kidnapped by the so-called Savior of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter, and taken to a secret location. Mr. Potter proceeded to tell me that the Wizarding World has been lied too. That what we thought was true history is wrong! According to Harry Potter, every last Wizard and Witch, Muggle-born or not, is a descendent of one Magical creature or another, and yes, Werewolf and Vampire are in those numbers! This revelation would indeed be something, however keep in mind that Mr. Potter also said that the Dark Lord had also returned, which the Ministry has denied nor has any proof been found to support Potter's declaration. That being said, can what Mr. Potter said about our world be true, or is this more ramblings of a mad-man?
"Compared to her other works, this is very tame" Fred said as he stopped reading the Daily Prophet.
"Almost nice even" said his Twin.
Severus hummed as he flipped through his own copy of the newspaper before looking over at Harry who was sitting by his fireplace, running his fingers through Hedwig's fur, the owl nestled happily in the boy's lap. Harry looked unconcerned that Rita had gone back on her word.
"She only mentioned the Old World" said George, "didn't go into details or anything"
"And she insulted Harry" Fred pointed out, "but I think that's because she has some weird compulsion when it comes to him"
Harry's lips twitched.
"You do not look concerned" Severus finally said.
Harry turned to him, "Rita had chosen her path"
"Yeah" Fred grumbled, "and now everyone is going to start gossiping about you again"
Green eyes went bright, "A whisper is all that is needed"
~.~
Fred had been right, everywhere Harry went there were whispers and stares, nearly every Professor had talked to Harry about the news article. The Chosen didn't tell the others what had been said during those meetings, but whatever it was, or whatever he said, seemed to reassure the Professors because they never asked for a second meeting.
However, Harry was naturally right as well, every day there was an new article about a family coming forward confirming that Harry's theory was indeed true. Which sparked both surprise and outrage, some toward the Ministry for keeping this secret, and some towards Harry himself for spreading what they thought were lies.
"Shall my wife and I also give our opinion on the matter to the reporters?" Lucius asked one evening during a meeting the Room of Requirement.
"Not at the moment" Harry had answered, eyes never leaving the story about Minister Fudge refusing to answer any questions on the subject, "we have other things that require our attention, such as your task Lucius"
Lucius sighed at the mention of his task.
"Not going well?" Severus asked.
"Spreading the rumors was easy enough, and Seeker's article only strengthen them, but for once in possibly his entire life; Fudge is not backing down"
"That is a surprise"
"But easily handled"
All eyes turned to Harry, the boy merely hummed.
~.~
The Headmaster is watching them, mostly Hermione and Harry. The brainy witch isn't sure what Severus said to convince the older wizard he was anything but loyal, but she wasn't complaining. And it was very obvious Ron had nothing to do with them…for now as it were. Hermione just knew Ron had a part to play in all of this, and it's why she was climbing up to the Owlery. Harry seemed to like spending time here when he wasn't doing whatever it is he does when he occasionally disappeared.
"…..They do know you're not a post, or a tree right?"
From where he was standing, and acting like the owls' post and/or tree, Harry's lips twitched, "I do not think Hedwig approves" he then said.
Hermione looked and easily spotted the snowy white Owl, she was in her nest and she did not look happy that her human was being piled on.
"I do not think she does" Hermione agreed before looking back at Harry, "you might have to beg for forgiveness"
Harry sneezed when feathers tickled his nose.
After freeing her friend from the owls, the two of them sit down at the small table that was there for the students to use.
"You have questions" Harry said as he smoothed a brown feather.
"What's wrong with Ron?" Hermione said, getting straight to the point, "why are you….hesitating with him?"
Harry stared at her, and Hermione stared back as she waited for her answer, finally Harry spoke. "There are many reasons for my hesitation"
Above and around them the owls flew and hooted.
"One friend is already following a potentially dangerous path, why should I allow another?"
"Oh" Hermione thought in understanding, "Harry" she then said, "were you hoping I'd say no that day?"
The reason why Harry was so hesitant about Ron was because he wanted to protect his friend, protect both of them.
"I know favoring one Path for another is unwise, and yet I still hoped"
"Oh Harry" Hermione sighed, and reached over to take Harry's hand that was now fidgeting with the feather, "you really are a good friend" she said, "but, I think you're being a little unfair. You gave me the chance to choose, should not Ron also get that chance?"
~.~
"Hello Little Brother"
Harry looked away from the statue of Salazar to his siblings.
"Hello my Sisters, hello my Brothers"
"You are troubled" Rowena stated with a slight tilt of the head.
"My thoughts are many" Harry admitted.
"Of the one called Ronald Weasley and of his Path"
"Yes" Harry nodded.
"His Path is greatly needed now, and in the future" Salazar said, "and you must guide him to it, you know this, why do you hesitant?"
"Before knowing Truth," Harry spoke, "my Path had already lead me to a maturity that should not have come as soon as it did. Hermione's Path of intelligences helped her maturity grow faster than most children. Because of this, we were ready for our Paths, but Ron…..Ron is different, he is still a child in mind, still growing. And I'm….worried he will not be able to handle the Path or take the other Path that will lead to the destruction of Peace far sooner than expected"
His siblings are quiet, then finally Helga came and kneeled down in front of their youngest. "The Path that you must guide Ronald on, is a great one, just like the one who walked the same Path before him. That you worry for him, shows us that you are a good friend. However, just like Hermione and the others, you must let him chose whether or not he wishes to walk it"
"Hermione said the same thing" Harry said after a moment.
"She is very wise" said Godric, "you should listen to her more"
"She also said that too"
~.~
"And where have you sent my wife off too?" Lucius asked when entered his office and found Harry standing at his desk and reading some document or other, "she was leaving with one of the Priestess, as I was getting ready"
"Themiscyra"
Lucius blinked, and then decided it was safer not to ask.
"Shall we?" Harry then asked as he walked and stood in front of the man.
Leaving the subject for another day, Lucius nodded, then after a thought offered his arm to Harry. Harry took it, and together they made their way to Minster Fudge's office; the halls empty. When they arrive, Harry politely knocked.
"I'm busy at the moment" came a familiar voice from the others side, "please make an appointment"
Lucius raised a brow at Harry, the Chosen gave an amused hum before nodding at the man. Chuckling, Lucius opened the door.
"I said I wa—Lucius…and Mr. Potter, this is unexpected"
From where he had stood up when the two had entered, Fudge's eyes trail down to the entwined arms before going back up, "What do I owe this visit?"
Not saying a word, Lucius escorted Harry to the vacant chair near the Minister's desk, and after the Malfoy Lord sat down in the other empty chair, the two stared at Fudge; who was suddenly very nervous.
"We wish to discuss an earlier conversation" Lucius said as he crossed on leg over the other, "as well as a new proposal"
"New proposal?" Fudge said after a moment.
"Yes" Harry smiled, eyes glowing, "about Azkaban and its prisoners"
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