Chapter Nine - Getting to the Truth
A/N: Well, it took longer than expected, sorry everyone. Got a bit sidetracked with another project and some indecisiveness about this one. There's not a whole lot of romance, but I promise to make up for that next time. In a big way.
Many, many thanks go to Tes-Sama, who chaptered Summer AND Paris, thus proving once again that she is not only a talented writer but a true friend.Some people can accomplish things even when they're sick. Love and light to YOU, A-Babe! And always,thanks to you readers and reviewers for keeping me going, there are some great HP fanfic peeps out there, and I LOVE hearing from you.
Someone asked whether my Circe was
from the HP books. No, it isnt. The 713 isn't from Vault Seven Hundred and Thirteen either. Those things have
been mine as long as I can remember, as in forever. Oh well, another weirdness.
"Clear Sirius' name?" Harry asked, looking bewildered, and sounding, even to himself, fairly idiotic.
Hermione didn't seem to think so though, and she rushed over to him, excitedly.
"The man saw Peter Pettigrew, Harry. He talked to him, he knows he was alive at least within the last year
or so. And wait until you hear what he told Mom and Dad, he can describe Wormtail perfectly, down to the missing
finger."
"We may actually be able to help Sirius out, Harry." Chris said quietly. " And you know, having
him back among us would make everyone who really knows him feel better."
"Did YOU know Sirius? I never really thought to ask either of you. Everything's happened so quickly, there
was so much I didn't know about. It's hard even to know WHAT to ask."
Chris sighed and said,"I knew Sirius, of course, and your parents. It wasn't easy being the lone muggle in
the group, but they never made me feel left out. Who would have thought, though, back then, that I'd be the one
going to Hogwarts. We used to joke about the KwikSpell courses, but with Voldemort so powerful, it seemed best
for me not to attempt anything. We had enough to be concerned with. It was common knowledge your parents were among
his targets."
" Sirius and I stayed away from you and your parents during those last months, so that if Voldemort was successful
in an attack, someone would be there to look after you, Harry. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way, thanks
to Peter Pettigrew, as you know." Ivy looked as angry as if all the events surrounding his parents' death
were still as fresh to her as of they had happened the day before. Harry knew Ivy was probably the only person,
other than Sirius, who was still alive and knew how much he had missed, losing his parents AND the sort of life
he could have had away from the Dursleys.
"May I hold the pendant, Harry?" requested Mr. Weasley, and Harry nodded and slipped the chain over his
head. It was amazing, he felt as if he was missing something like his glasses, he'd become so accustomed to the
feel of the pendant. "This was the pendant that was part of the Fidelius Charm. I've heard it described many
times, but everyone thought Sirius had destroyed it. Thank the Sages it has turned up now. Harry,this has given
you back the protection that was taken from you earlier this summer when you met You-Know-Who."
At that point there was a knock at the door. "That must be Monsieur Maas," said Ivy. As she went toward
the door she told them Monsieur Maas was a respected part of the French wizarding world, and they could all be
open and honest with him. "That little collectible shop he runs is merely a sideline. He also has a store
in the Rue de Flagron, the equivalent of our Diagon Alley.'
When Ivy brought Monsieur Maas back to join him, Harry took a closer look than he had before in the shop, and realized
something about the man made him think of Mr. Ollivander. Maybe it was just because they both dealt in magical
objects. Or maybe it was because on their first meeting, Harry had felt the man was just trying to make a larger
sale. Monsiuer Maas was also studying Harry much more closely than he had in the shop.
"So, you are the young wizard who has now escaped He Who Must Not Be Named twice. I have heard you fought
the Dark Lord valiantly and lived, even though his band of Followers were present." He chuckled and added,
" That humiliation didn't give him any affection for you, I'll wager. "
Harry wondered if his face looked as stunned as Hermione's did. The disbelieving attitude of Cornelius Fudge was
with them so clearly, it was amazing to find a stranger in a foreign country so accepting of the events of the
TriWizard Tournament.
An even stranger tale was to come. Monsieur Maa, it turned out,also was well acquainted with Remus Lupin. In fact,
Professor Lupin was presently living with some of Monsieur Maas' wizard friends in Provence. "The poor man
looked like a scarecrow when he arrived in France. He has been living the life of a farmer these past months and
you probably will not recognize him The wine and the food and the days in the sun have agreed well with him."
"Oh!" said Hermione, happiness shining from her face. " Professor Lupin was the best teacher we
had, Is someone here able to help him with his, er, affliction? He had to have help from our potions master, and
even then he was often ill."
" He hated the potion Snape made because it was so bitter, but Professor Snape had told him sugar made it
useless, and he thought Snape was the only one who could make that particular potion." put in Harry who also
looked gratified that Professor Lupin was in a better place.
"Ah, no, none of what Lupin was told is true. Henri's wife Madina is from Italy and has amazing talents in
potion making.This Snape appears to be a man of some conceit as well as having sadistic impulses. Madina mixes
the wolfsbane with juice from their sweetest grapes, and Remus has not been troubled by the affliction since he
arrived."
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A half hour later, a plan had been formulated for Monsieur Maas, accompanied by the French minister of magic to
visit England and call upon Cornelius Fudge. Arthur Weasley had pulled his wand from his muggle suit and after
giving it a shake something unrolled from it.
""What've you got there,Arthur?" asked Chris. "Something seems familiar about it."
Arthur looked a bit sheepish, but he handed his wand to Chris " This is something I've just invented, more or less. I'm calling it a wand pilot, and it might become very popular for magical business and communication purposes. For the wizard or witch who tends to be forgetful, I've incorporated a sort of Remembrall that stores information. I'm going to use it now to keep our conversation with Monsiuer Maas, so that the minister and Dumbledore can hear it. I've also incorporated a feature that's something like the communication of the head in the fire. Molly's grateful for that. She says she never stops wondering where people are, and worrying about them. I expect all of you children will have one for Christmas, if things continue to go well with their operation. You'll enjoy some of the features, especially the one that allows you to hear any music you choose, and save it too."
"Sounds as if you were inspired by our computer." said Ivy. "And the Weasley family's been busy this summer, haven't you, what with Molly and Ginny's journalistic success and now this. It sounds marvelous Arthur. Now if we can only see that Hermione, and the others use them when they decide to do some of the exploring they don't seem able to resist."
Even though they were happy and interested in Mr. Weasley's invention,Harry and Hermione were disappointed Sirius
could not be proved innocent that day. As Ivy told them however, the wheels were in motion. If things went as they
hoped, Harry could be spending Christmas with Sirius . He hoped Hermione and her parents would be near, as well
as the Weasleys. It had been years since he'd had a Christmas without his friends nearby, They has been good Christmases
for him, he thought, grinning to himself as he remembered the Polyjuice Christmas, but sobering as he thought of
the Yule Ball last year, with Hermione and Viktor and Cedric and Cho. If there was a Ball this year, he hoped Hermione
would teach him how to dance. Harry was picturing himself holding Hermione close and the two of them whirling to
music in a darkened room. He was many miles away when he was shaken from these pleasant thoughts by Mr. Weasley's
hand on his shoulder.
"You can go back to celebrating your birthday now, Harry," he said. "I imagine the Weasley crowd
is wild to hit the streets of Paris, so if Ivy and Chris have no objections, we'll let you go now."
" Be back here by half past four though." said Ivy, attempting to look stern. "And stay aware of
your surroundings, remember you aren't at Hogwarts. I'm not sure this city, as large as it is, can hold this group!"
Harry and Hermione said their goodbyes, after thanking Monsieur Maas enthusiastically, and assuring Mr. Weasley
and Hermione's parents they would, in fact, attempt to be sensible. Once they were in the hall, Harry quickly pulled
Hermione to one of the small alcoves that they both adored the hotel for providing, and kissed her very well and
thoroughly.
"Now," he said. "That's what I call a celebration. Oh, Hermione, looks as if things will be better
this year than we expected. When I left Hogwarts at the beginning of vacation, I tried to be positive, but it was
an act. Now, though, even if Voldemort is a threat, I think we'll all be strong enough to fight. Do you? As long
as I have these times with you to look forward to, anyway."
"Things are looking better, Harry,and I don't want to seem negative, but we'll have to be prepared to fight"
She hugged him hard and went on."But yes, we'll make sure these times together happen more and more. Now let's
go get the others . I'm sure the twins are driving Mrs. Weasley bonkers, Ginny wants to shop, and Ron wants to
check out the French girls."
So, the next one? An afternoon of fun and shopping, Ron, Gred and Forge check out some hot French girls. And at
night, the party begins! Let's see how these witches and wizards have a real celebration!
PS Ginny will soon be very happy too!