Title: Harry Potter and the Wand of Ariel (6/?)
Author: Atlantis Potter
E-mail: atlantispotter@yahoo.com
Category: Romance, Action/Adventure
Keywords: Year 6, Harry, Hermione, IMS, Magus
Rating: R
Spoilers: All Four Books.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Also, if you're interested in faster updates, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/powerthree. Again, thank you so much. –Atlantis
Chapter Six: Loss
"It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you." -M. Grundler
Harry blinked. Twice. Three times before his vision cleared enough for him to make out the shapes in the pitch black room. He heard voices to his left as he sat up. Immediately, he realised his mistake as the room spun wildly.
"Harry?" he heard the soft voice of Hermione and instantly felt comforted as her arms slid around him. "Are you alright?"
"Hermione… what happened?"
"Death Eaters stormed the building and you got hit with just a small curse. You'll be ok."
"Are you alright?" he asked, his head finally clearing.
"I'm alright. Just some cuts and bruises."
"And the others?"
"I think we better get you to Hogwarts, Harry. Are you well enough to apparate?"
"Not alone."
"All right then, let's go." She wrapped an around his waist.
"Hermione, no. I need to stay and see what's going on."
She frowned at him. "If you need to Harry…" She helped him move around so that he could see the entire hall.
Throughout Harry's schooling, he had read of many great wars and battles. He had always pictured the battlefields in his mind as he read, trying to imagine the smallest details. Often, he had failed as he had hardly left Surrey in his life before coming to Hogwarts. The sight that met his eyes could only be described as a battle field. The room was very large, made even more so by the feelings of lifelessness now pervading it. He saw fallen figures in many places, some were dead and some were living, but he couldn't tell the difference in many cases. He noticed many of the Ministry officials bustling around trying to sort things out and an entire group of Aurors had been brought in. He must have been out long enough for the Death Eaters to flee, but not before they could inflict as much damage as possible. He heard a figure approaching from behind and nearly jumped as a hand touched his shoulder.
"Harry, I need you to go back to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall has been injured and Snape has left for London to speak with some people at the Ministry. I have instructed Miss Granger on what needs to be done," Professor Dumbledore said, with a very serious tone.
"Sir?"
"Harry, don't ask me any questions just now. I will explain everything to you and Miss Granger later."
"Yes, professor," Harry nodded and turned to Hermione, "Ready?"
"Oh, Miss Granger? Mr Potter? You'll need to walk back to the castle, the apparition words have been placed around Hogsmeade as well. I suggest you both have your wands out."
Hermione nodded at Professor Dumbledore as Harry just looked at the headmaster. He had never seen him look so serious and so sombre. It unnerved Harry greatly and he began to wonder at the seriousness of the attack. Obviously, it was a very serious thing, but Harry wondered the exact effects it would have on the wizarding world.
When they exited the hall, Harry immediately realised what the effects would be. The village was in ruins. The spot where the Three Broomsticks had once stood was a charred, smoking ruin. Other places where Harry knew shops had once stood were in similar condition. There were ministry officials dashing about, but whether they were looking for survivors or the perpetrators, Harry couldn't be sure. He reached for Hermione's hand and squeezed it. She emitted a small cry and he looked towards her. She dropped his hand and put her hand to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, Harry…"
"Hermione, what happened?"
"I'll tell you when we get back to school. You were out for nearly half an hour. So much happened… I don't think even I saw it all."
"How man—who died?"
"Harry, I don't even know. That spell…that the Death Eater used, it killed every Muggle in the room. After it was over, he collapsed, did you see?"
"No, I was looking around to see who had fallen."
Hermione nodded, taking his hand once more. "I just can't believe it Harry. I just can't."
As they walked through the village, no one took notice of them. Hermione kept looking around, taking in the destruction and shaking her head, repeating those words, over and over: "I just can't believe it," while Harry took great pains to not look around, but rather at his feet. He had seen enough. The charred remains of buildings, the unmistakable smell of death and burning flesh. He was nearly sick to his stomach when he had first walked from the hall and would not make the mistake of looking around again.
They were out of the village and making there way down the road that led to Hogwarts when Harry heard a shuffling in the bushes next to him. He pushed Hermione back and took out his wand, training it on the shaking shrubbery. Hermione regained her balance and stood behind Harry, also extending her wand. They waited in silent anticipation for a few eerie moments before a figure jumped out at them.
"Hermione! Harry!" said the figure, obscured by the darkness.
"Ron?" asked Harry, recognising the voice.
"I thought I heard someone coming, so I hid. I wasn't sure if all the Death Eaters had cleared out or not."
Hermione nodded softly. "They're all gone. Have you seen Hogsmeade?"
Ron bowed his head. "I saw it. I haven't been walking long. Only a few minutes or so."
They all stared in the ground in silence for a few moments. It was Hermione who moved first, heading towards Hogwarts at a fast pace. Ron and Harry followed, the three walking together, yet apart. The air was still, but sounds could still be heard from Hogsmeade. Harry's mind drifted to the memories of the wedding. He felt frozen, dissecting each incident so analytically. There was no emotion to any of it. A part of him wished he had not dismissed the wedding so quickly because of how it ended. It hadn't been that terrible. Penelope's family may have been generally obnoxious, but they loved one another and Harry knew that that was what was needed most in the world now. He tried to prevent his mind thinking on what would happen next. War? He didn't know. He couldn't even begin to fathom what it would be. And he wondered who was behind it all. It had to have been Connelly, but why?
***
They reached the IMS common room and parted ways, Ron heading towards a lounge and Harry and Hermione to their bedrooms. Harry sat down on his bed and stared at the wall. He sat for a few moments before realising he was still wearing the strange costume from the wedding. Autonomically, he began to undress and change in to more comfortable clothes. His vision shifted from his wardrobe to the far table. His Pensieve was sitting on the table and he was inexplicably drawn to it.
He pulled his wand from his pocket and began slowing sieving the memories into the ball. He did it slowly, watching the memory flash in the deep basin before it swirled with the rest of the contents and faded. He put each incident of the weekend in there, from the rehearsal to the attack. His need to preserve the weekend was unexplainable, but he got the feeling that it would be helpful later on.
As he was siphoning out the memory of the walk back to the castle, there was a knock on his door. He set his wand on the table and walked over to open the door. Hermione stood there, a solemn look on her face. Her eyes were rimmed in red and slightly puffy and her hair was messy. She had changed from her robes into pyjamas.
"Harry—" she managed before throwing herself on him. He held her close, swaying gently as she cried in great, heaving, shaking sobs. They stood framed in the doorway as she cried. He felt his mind and body slowly unfreezing and a wave of pain washed over him. His thoughts ran over the attack and how Hogsmeade looked after the Death Eaters had left it. He thought of all the families that had lost loved ones, of all the businesses destroyed and all the lives ruined. He felt moisture on his face before realising that he too was crying as the raw emotion burned him.
He held her a moment longer before pulling away. "Are you alright, Mione?"
She nodded at him slowly, wiping her tears dry. "I felt terrible Harry."
"I know. It's terrible what happened."
"No, no. I don't feel terrible about what happened. I mean—yes, it was terrible and horrific, but when you went down Harry, I didn't care about anyone else in that room. I just needed to know you were alright."
He pulled her close again as a tear began to slide down her cheek. He whispered her name into her hair as they rocked together. After another long embrace, they moved apart again. "Have you spoken with Dumbledore yet?" he said quietly, the pads of his thumbs moving across her cheeks to wipe away the wetness there.
"He's still in Hogsmeade. Professor McGonagall called on the fireplace to tell me we will all speak in the morning."
Harry sighed as he nodded, pulling Hermione towards the bed. "Are you tired?"
She nodded as she leaned against him. "I don't know if I can manage to sleep though. Whenever I close my eyes, I keep seeing them fall."
"Do you want to stay in here tonight?"
"But Ron—"
"Hermione, let's not worry about Ron right now. I'm worried about you and I want you in here tonight. I'm worried about you, but it's partially selfish. I don't think I can be alone tonight."
She looked at him a moment before crawling into his bed. He whispered a charm to turn the torches adorning the walls down and climbed in after her. She immediately moved to snuggle into him.
As his eyes closed and a very welcome slumber began to move over him, his mind flickered back to their conversation at the wedding.
"Hermione?" he mumbled softly, not sure if he was actually speaking the words or if his mind was only telling him he was. Silence answered him and he sighed, closing his eyes once more.
"Harry. I was going to say…" she paused, her voice thick with exhaustion.
"Yes?"
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you, Hermione."
He felt her move closer and he kissed her head softly before drifting off.
***
Sun was streaming in through the windows high above his bed and he felt it to be a cruel gesture from nature. He closed his eyes again, an orange light burned into his eyelids. He lie there a moment longer, enjoying the warmth next to him and a feeling of contentment in his stomach. He half-sighed before remembering the events of the nights before. He groaned and stood, shaking Hermione gently to wake her.
She rolled over to the spot where he had been lying only moments before. He watched her smile softly as she stretched. The smile vanished and he assumed that she had come to the same realisation that he had.
"Harry? Did it really happen?"
He gave her a measuring glance before nodding.
"I suppose we ought to get dressed then so we can meet Dumbledore," she said as she stood, stretching again.
He was silent as he looked at her. She noticed the look on his face. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"Did you mean it?" he asked softly, his voice a whisper.
"Mean what?"
"When you said you loved me?"
"Oh, Harry…" Her expression softened and she moved quickly to him. He looked down at her before she leaned up and kissed him.
It was a different kind of kiss than the ones they had shared before. This was a little more urgent and there was a slight hunger in the movements of her lips. He wrapped his arms tight around her, gathering her close to him and kissed her back. The air in the room shifted dramatically and Hermione was pushing herself closer against him, her fingers winding together at the back of his head. He ran his hands down her back, feeling the soft material of her pyjamas underneath his palms. And suddenly the urge tore through him that that wasn't enough. He moved his hands down to the hem of her top and gently and tentatively slid his hands over her bare back.
She moaned against his lips and he pressed his hands harder against her, pulling her tight against him once more. Her left hand was holding fast to the back of his head while the right traced lazy circles on the back of his neck. She started moving against him, her hips sliding against his through the material of their pyjamas. He kissed her harder, hungry to taste her as much as he could.
He jumped back from her, his body beginning to tell him exactly what he wanted.
She looked at him startled, her eyes wide. They looked at each other a moment longer before her eyes resumed their normal shape and she walked towards him. Stopping a few inches away, she planted a slow, lingering kiss on his still lips before stepping back again.
"I'll meet you outside in ten, alright?"
He looked at her nodding.
She smiled at him before walking out of his room, shutting the door behind her. He watched the door close and as soon as it had clicked, he sunk to the bed, raking his hands through his hair.
He sat for a few minutes, his mind quelling the hormones surging through him. When he felt he could leave the room without making any sort of scene, he dressed quickly and left.
Hermione was seated in the common room, across from Ron, who appeared to be wide awake. There was a piece of parchment sitting on the table in front of them and Ron seemed slightly shell-shocked.
"Is something wrong?"
Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable and gave him an odd smile. "Ron has been accepted into IMS."
Ron nodded, looking at the letter as if it wasn't quite real.
Harry couldn't seem to shake the weird feeling that he'd gotten as soon as Hermione had said that Ron had been accepted. Why should he feel weird? Ron was their best friend. And he should be happy for him, despite everything that had happened between them the past weekend. Maybe they could work things out and they'd all be best friends again. The weirdness would be gone and—
"Oh, go on Harry. Don't look so excited about it," Ron said, venom dripping from his voice.
Harry started and stared at the tall, ginger-haired boy sitting on the lounge. "What?"
"You seem so thrilled about it. What? Am I impeding on your precious school? Interfering with your perfect little world with Hermione?"
Harry looked bewildered, wondering where exactly this had come from. Hermione looked as startled as he felt and she was staring between the two boys.
"Well, you know what, Harry? I don't need IMS! I don't need you and I don't need Hermione!" He stood up, nearly knocking over the coffee table before stalking from the room. Hermione looked after him, her eyes the size of Quaffles.
"What'd we do?" she asked quietly.
Harry shrugged. "Sometimes, I wonder if maybe he has mood swings or something," he shook his head, "Shall we go meet Dumbledore then?"
Hermione nodded, knitting her brows in confusion at Ron's episode.
***
Dumbledore looked at them intently over his spectacles. There was no sparkle in his eyes and he was in a very serious mood.
"Forty-seven people were killed last night. Fifteen of them Muggles. Thirty of them were muggleborn witches or wizards. Two were pureblood."
Hermione seemed puzzled by this. "Why does it matter whether they were pureblood or muggleborn?"
"I don't think I can explain that to you properly, Ms Granger. This afternoon, Minister Connelly will be addressing wizarding Britain in Diagon Alley. I have been invited to attend, as have you Harry. I don't see any problem in Hermione joining us. We're taking the train down, as it is not possible at the moment to apparate anywhere, so I would like you both to meet me in the Entrance Hall in one half hour."
Hermione and Harry both nodded, understanding that their meeting was finished. Harry was somewhat surprised at how short it had been, but he supposed they'd speak more on the train.
They returned to their dorm rooms and quickly threw some clothing in backpacks before donning their robes. Ron didn't look at them as they walked past as his nose was shoved in a book.
Dumbledore and McGonagall were waiting for them in the Entrance Hall. For the first time since Harry had known her, McGonagall didn't have a stern air about her. She seemed deflated and her eyes were red, as if she had not slept all night.
A horseless carriage delivered them to Hogsmeade station, which was amazingly still standing. Harry was surprised by this and Dumbledore noted his look.
"The station is under the same protection wards as Hogwarts. Also, it's separate from the village enough that it was not a target for the Death Eaters."
Harry nodded his understanding as they boarded the train. Dumbledore directed them to the first cabin and the four passengers entered, a grave air following them.
They were seated and within several minutes, the train began to move. Harry had heard a handful of other passengers board the train and he assumed them to be ministry officials that had been working in the village and were now heading to Diagon Alley.
They travelled in silence. Dumbledore was staring out the window, a pensive look over his features. McGonagall was staring straight ahead, her eyes void of emotion. Hermione was picking at invisible lint on her robes and Harry was watching her.
"There will be a great change today. It shall change the wizarding world as we know it," Dumbledore said suddenly, turning to face his companions. "Hermione, what do you know of the Holocaust in Germany during the muggle Second World War?"
She shifted in her seat, apparently uncomfortable with having been singled out. Staring at her hands, she began to speak, "Adolph Hitler took over Germany and when he did, he began persecuting the Jews, Gypsies, and countless others that didn't fit Hitler's idea of a perfect human being. They were put into ghettos within their cities at first, and after that moved to concentration camps. There were all sorts of laws about what Jews could and could not do."
Dumbledore looked at her for a moment before looking back to the window.
Harry sat still, looking at Hermione who seemed to be increasingly uncomfortable. His mind ran over her words several times, recalling his history lessons from primary school. The lessons hadn't gone in depth, but he knew about the atrocities that had been committed against the Jewish people. They had been singled out and used as a scapegoat for the failing German economy. Hitler had blamed everything on the Jewish people. Harry suddenly grew nervous about the address this afternoon, beginning to think that Dumbledore had given them a clue as to what they were going to be hearing.
***
The train ride was endless. When they finally arrived in London, Harry felt as if he had aged about 5 years and if his legs would never be fully under his control again. Hermione looked just as exhausted as he did, perhaps more so. They had spent the trip in silence after Dumbledore's question. Harry had remembered to pack a book and had read the remainder of the journey. Hermione had eventually fallen asleep and Dumbledore and McGonagall both stared into the distance.
Dumbledore motioned for them to exit the passenger cabin and he led them onto Platform 9 ¾. He walked quickly through the barrier and out into the main station. Harry noticed as they walked, people seemed to step aside to make way for them, but no one looked in their direction. He found this odd as they were all dressed in robes and Dumbledore even wore one of his elaborate hats. They moved quickly and Harry was surprised to see a ministry car waiting for them outside.
When they finally arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry noticed a great deal of other wizards and witches making their way through the entrance of the pub. They meshed in with the crowd. No one stopped for drinks or for a chat with Tom, but walked straight through the courtyard, where the entrance was held open to allow the steady flow of wizards and witches to pass through.
As Harry walked through the brick archway, he saw a mass of people moving down towards Gringotts. As they neared closer, he saw a podium on the main steps of Gringotts. The group stopped in front of the towering white building and Harry followed Dumbledore up towards the front of the crowd. Hermione and McGonagall were close behind. After a few minutes, the rumblings of the crowd quieted and an eerie silence descended over the entire alley.
Harry stared straight ahead as a group of wizards dressed in robes so dark they made the blackest night look blue. They collected near the podium and stood motionless, staring out over the crowd. The doors of Gringotts opened and another figure, dressed also entirely in black stepped to the podium.
The late afternoon sun caused the blond hair to glow a brilliant gold. The tall figure gave off a vibe that made Harry incredibly nervous. His scar began to irritate him, not in the pain that came when Voldemort was near, but almost as if it was an itch. He rubbed his head before letting his hand drop to the side. Hermione instantly reached for it and they waited with baited breath for something to happen.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you find yourselves on the dawn of a new age. For centuries, the wizarding world has allowed itself to be comprised. Since the building of Hogwarts a millennium ago, the wizarding world has slowly been degrading from the glory it once held.
"Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred. Forty-seven people were killed in Hogsmeade. Forty-seven people, dead, countless others injured, and entire village levelled. This morning, right here in Diagon Alley, four people were killed. Why were these people killed? What was the reasoning behind their deaths?
"The answer may come as a shock to you, the reason may sound disbelieving. Ladies and gentleman, of those forty-seven that died fifteen of them were muggles. Not muggleborns, but muggles, who because of their muggleborn daughter, were welcomed into the wizarding world with open arms. Thirty of the victims were muggleborns and the remaining two were pureblood wizards, able to trace their wizarding ancestry back at least two generations. They were killed needlessly in what was an attack on muggles and muggleborns. Today, the four children, yes, children, killed in Diagon Alley died because one of their number was a muggleborn wizard.
"Five pureblood wizards died in the past twenty-four hours because of their relation to muggleborns. How many more need to die before we do something to stop this? It has been rumoured that these killings will continue. I have spoken with the members of the Wizard Council. We have spoken through the hours of the night to come up with a plan to prevent this from occurring again.
"This is not the only wrongdoing against our world. We have suffered for years now. Muggleborns have taken over our businesses, they steal the top spots in our educational system from pureblooded students and now, they have caused the death of five of our number. We can stand for this no more.
"Effective immediately, we will begin implementing laws to ensure the safety of the wizarding public. Biweekly, we will be releasing two laws in order to protect our people. As I have spoken with you, members of the Ministry of Magic have posted the first set of these laws on every lamppost throughout our world. These may seem drastic, but we must protect ourselves. We must defend all that is the name of wizard. For us there are only two possibilities: either we remain Wizards or we come under the thumb of the Muggles. This latter must not occur; even if we are small, we are a force. A well-organized group can conquer a strong enemy. If you stick close together and keep out new people, we will be victorious over the muggleborns."
Connelly stepped back from the podium and looked out across the sea of people. Harry stared at the blond man, who seemed to have noticed him and was now gazing directly at him. Close as he was, Harry could make a malicious glint in those blue eyes. And as he stared, he heard a sound that amazed him. The shock that had befallen the crowd during the speech had disappeared and was now replaced with something that terrified Harry even more than Connelly's words.
They were applauding. In overwhelming support for the plans of the Ministry.
Hermione was squeezing his hand so tight, he thought she might pull off his fingers. He turned to look at her and saw tears welling up in her eyes. He pulled her close and looked to Dumbledore, who had never looked so aged. McGonagall retained her empty stare. Dumbledore motioned to him and they quickly made their way back to Leaky Cauldron.
As they entered the pub, Dumbledore strode quickly to the bar.
"Tom, open the fireplace. We would like to floo back to Hogwarts tonight."
"Headmaster Dumbledore—sir—I received notice this morning that the Floo network is unavailable. I'm not permitted to allow anyone to use it."
"Tom, I assure you, no harm will befall you or your business if you allow us through."
Tom looked doubtful of this but Harry knew that Dumbledore was a powerful force to be reckoned with. He motioned his wand towards the fireplace across the room and waved his wand. A roaring green fire erupted in the box and he waved the group towards it.
Dumbledore strode through the flames, saying "Hogwarts" as he moved. This astounded Harry as he didn't know that it was even possible to floo to Hogwarts. McGonagall nodded her head, indicating that he and Hermione should follow.
Harry stepped into the fireplace, feeling the green flames tickle his skin as he said "Hogwarts". He felt the familiar spinning sensation envelop him and he pulled his arms in, shutting his eyes tight.
He tumbled onto the floor of Dumbledore's office. Hermione came out of the box shortly after he did and Harry pulled her up, both of them turning to face Dumbledore at the same time. He looked at them solemnly as Professor McGonagall stepped from the fireplace.
"Ms Granger, why do you cry?" he said, staring directly at Hermione.
She looked at him and drew a deep breath. "I just don't understand how he can get away with it Professor Dumbledore. What are we going to do?"
Harry's heart was breaking as he looked at her, standing and shaking in the middle of Dumbledore's office. She looked small and insecure, standing there alone and he moved instantly to wrap his arms around her. She leaned against him, sobbing.
Dumbledore pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and walked towards Hermione. He handed it to her, saying, as he did so, "Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us--and those around us -- more effectively. Look for the learning, Ms Granger."
Hermione unfolded the parchment and held it so that Harry could read it as well.
The Anti-Muggleborn Laws
Effective immediately upon posting in public locations.
No muggleborn students will be admitted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to hold teaching positions at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
No witches or wizards of muggle descent are permitted to work for the Ministry of Magic.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to own or operate businesses in Diagon Alley or other predominately wizarding areas in Wizarding Britain.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to use magic after the hour of eight pm. Anyone caught using magic will be fined.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to own magical property.
In order to insure that no muggleborns are participating in illegal activities, all written communication is subject to investigation.
***
A/N: There are two quotes in this chapter that come from other sources. During Connelly's speech, I have modified a short speech given by Adolph Hitler on the 9th of November, 1931 in Munich. The speech begins with "For us there are only two possiblities: either we remain German or we come under the thumb of the Jews…". What Dumbledore says to Hermione at the end of the chapter is a quote from Eric Allenbaugh.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Please continue to review the chapters, I thrive on your comments.
Author: Atlantis Potter
E-mail: atlantispotter@yahoo.com
Category: Romance, Action/Adventure
Keywords: Year 6, Harry, Hermione, IMS, Magus
Rating: R
Spoilers: All Four Books.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Also, if you're interested in faster updates, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/powerthree. Again, thank you so much. –Atlantis
"It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you." -M. Grundler
Harry blinked. Twice. Three times before his vision cleared enough for him to make out the shapes in the pitch black room. He heard voices to his left as he sat up. Immediately, he realised his mistake as the room spun wildly.
"Harry?" he heard the soft voice of Hermione and instantly felt comforted as her arms slid around him. "Are you alright?"
"Hermione… what happened?"
"Death Eaters stormed the building and you got hit with just a small curse. You'll be ok."
"Are you alright?" he asked, his head finally clearing.
"I'm alright. Just some cuts and bruises."
"And the others?"
"I think we better get you to Hogwarts, Harry. Are you well enough to apparate?"
"Not alone."
"All right then, let's go." She wrapped an around his waist.
"Hermione, no. I need to stay and see what's going on."
She frowned at him. "If you need to Harry…" She helped him move around so that he could see the entire hall.
Throughout Harry's schooling, he had read of many great wars and battles. He had always pictured the battlefields in his mind as he read, trying to imagine the smallest details. Often, he had failed as he had hardly left Surrey in his life before coming to Hogwarts. The sight that met his eyes could only be described as a battle field. The room was very large, made even more so by the feelings of lifelessness now pervading it. He saw fallen figures in many places, some were dead and some were living, but he couldn't tell the difference in many cases. He noticed many of the Ministry officials bustling around trying to sort things out and an entire group of Aurors had been brought in. He must have been out long enough for the Death Eaters to flee, but not before they could inflict as much damage as possible. He heard a figure approaching from behind and nearly jumped as a hand touched his shoulder.
"Harry, I need you to go back to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall has been injured and Snape has left for London to speak with some people at the Ministry. I have instructed Miss Granger on what needs to be done," Professor Dumbledore said, with a very serious tone.
"Sir?"
"Harry, don't ask me any questions just now. I will explain everything to you and Miss Granger later."
"Yes, professor," Harry nodded and turned to Hermione, "Ready?"
"Oh, Miss Granger? Mr Potter? You'll need to walk back to the castle, the apparition words have been placed around Hogsmeade as well. I suggest you both have your wands out."
Hermione nodded at Professor Dumbledore as Harry just looked at the headmaster. He had never seen him look so serious and so sombre. It unnerved Harry greatly and he began to wonder at the seriousness of the attack. Obviously, it was a very serious thing, but Harry wondered the exact effects it would have on the wizarding world.
When they exited the hall, Harry immediately realised what the effects would be. The village was in ruins. The spot where the Three Broomsticks had once stood was a charred, smoking ruin. Other places where Harry knew shops had once stood were in similar condition. There were ministry officials dashing about, but whether they were looking for survivors or the perpetrators, Harry couldn't be sure. He reached for Hermione's hand and squeezed it. She emitted a small cry and he looked towards her. She dropped his hand and put her hand to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, Harry…"
"Hermione, what happened?"
"I'll tell you when we get back to school. You were out for nearly half an hour. So much happened… I don't think even I saw it all."
"How man—who died?"
"Harry, I don't even know. That spell…that the Death Eater used, it killed every Muggle in the room. After it was over, he collapsed, did you see?"
"No, I was looking around to see who had fallen."
Hermione nodded, taking his hand once more. "I just can't believe it Harry. I just can't."
As they walked through the village, no one took notice of them. Hermione kept looking around, taking in the destruction and shaking her head, repeating those words, over and over: "I just can't believe it," while Harry took great pains to not look around, but rather at his feet. He had seen enough. The charred remains of buildings, the unmistakable smell of death and burning flesh. He was nearly sick to his stomach when he had first walked from the hall and would not make the mistake of looking around again.
They were out of the village and making there way down the road that led to Hogwarts when Harry heard a shuffling in the bushes next to him. He pushed Hermione back and took out his wand, training it on the shaking shrubbery. Hermione regained her balance and stood behind Harry, also extending her wand. They waited in silent anticipation for a few eerie moments before a figure jumped out at them.
"Hermione! Harry!" said the figure, obscured by the darkness.
"Ron?" asked Harry, recognising the voice.
"I thought I heard someone coming, so I hid. I wasn't sure if all the Death Eaters had cleared out or not."
Hermione nodded softly. "They're all gone. Have you seen Hogsmeade?"
Ron bowed his head. "I saw it. I haven't been walking long. Only a few minutes or so."
They all stared in the ground in silence for a few moments. It was Hermione who moved first, heading towards Hogwarts at a fast pace. Ron and Harry followed, the three walking together, yet apart. The air was still, but sounds could still be heard from Hogsmeade. Harry's mind drifted to the memories of the wedding. He felt frozen, dissecting each incident so analytically. There was no emotion to any of it. A part of him wished he had not dismissed the wedding so quickly because of how it ended. It hadn't been that terrible. Penelope's family may have been generally obnoxious, but they loved one another and Harry knew that that was what was needed most in the world now. He tried to prevent his mind thinking on what would happen next. War? He didn't know. He couldn't even begin to fathom what it would be. And he wondered who was behind it all. It had to have been Connelly, but why?
They reached the IMS common room and parted ways, Ron heading towards a lounge and Harry and Hermione to their bedrooms. Harry sat down on his bed and stared at the wall. He sat for a few moments before realising he was still wearing the strange costume from the wedding. Autonomically, he began to undress and change in to more comfortable clothes. His vision shifted from his wardrobe to the far table. His Pensieve was sitting on the table and he was inexplicably drawn to it.
He pulled his wand from his pocket and began slowing sieving the memories into the ball. He did it slowly, watching the memory flash in the deep basin before it swirled with the rest of the contents and faded. He put each incident of the weekend in there, from the rehearsal to the attack. His need to preserve the weekend was unexplainable, but he got the feeling that it would be helpful later on.
As he was siphoning out the memory of the walk back to the castle, there was a knock on his door. He set his wand on the table and walked over to open the door. Hermione stood there, a solemn look on her face. Her eyes were rimmed in red and slightly puffy and her hair was messy. She had changed from her robes into pyjamas.
"Harry—" she managed before throwing herself on him. He held her close, swaying gently as she cried in great, heaving, shaking sobs. They stood framed in the doorway as she cried. He felt his mind and body slowly unfreezing and a wave of pain washed over him. His thoughts ran over the attack and how Hogsmeade looked after the Death Eaters had left it. He thought of all the families that had lost loved ones, of all the businesses destroyed and all the lives ruined. He felt moisture on his face before realising that he too was crying as the raw emotion burned him.
He held her a moment longer before pulling away. "Are you alright, Mione?"
She nodded at him slowly, wiping her tears dry. "I felt terrible Harry."
"I know. It's terrible what happened."
"No, no. I don't feel terrible about what happened. I mean—yes, it was terrible and horrific, but when you went down Harry, I didn't care about anyone else in that room. I just needed to know you were alright."
He pulled her close again as a tear began to slide down her cheek. He whispered her name into her hair as they rocked together. After another long embrace, they moved apart again. "Have you spoken with Dumbledore yet?" he said quietly, the pads of his thumbs moving across her cheeks to wipe away the wetness there.
"He's still in Hogsmeade. Professor McGonagall called on the fireplace to tell me we will all speak in the morning."
Harry sighed as he nodded, pulling Hermione towards the bed. "Are you tired?"
She nodded as she leaned against him. "I don't know if I can manage to sleep though. Whenever I close my eyes, I keep seeing them fall."
"Do you want to stay in here tonight?"
"But Ron—"
"Hermione, let's not worry about Ron right now. I'm worried about you and I want you in here tonight. I'm worried about you, but it's partially selfish. I don't think I can be alone tonight."
She looked at him a moment before crawling into his bed. He whispered a charm to turn the torches adorning the walls down and climbed in after her. She immediately moved to snuggle into him.
As his eyes closed and a very welcome slumber began to move over him, his mind flickered back to their conversation at the wedding.
"Hermione?" he mumbled softly, not sure if he was actually speaking the words or if his mind was only telling him he was. Silence answered him and he sighed, closing his eyes once more.
"Harry. I was going to say…" she paused, her voice thick with exhaustion.
"Yes?"
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you, Hermione."
He felt her move closer and he kissed her head softly before drifting off.
Sun was streaming in through the windows high above his bed and he felt it to be a cruel gesture from nature. He closed his eyes again, an orange light burned into his eyelids. He lie there a moment longer, enjoying the warmth next to him and a feeling of contentment in his stomach. He half-sighed before remembering the events of the nights before. He groaned and stood, shaking Hermione gently to wake her.
She rolled over to the spot where he had been lying only moments before. He watched her smile softly as she stretched. The smile vanished and he assumed that she had come to the same realisation that he had.
"Harry? Did it really happen?"
He gave her a measuring glance before nodding.
"I suppose we ought to get dressed then so we can meet Dumbledore," she said as she stood, stretching again.
He was silent as he looked at her. She noticed the look on his face. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"Did you mean it?" he asked softly, his voice a whisper.
"Mean what?"
"When you said you loved me?"
"Oh, Harry…" Her expression softened and she moved quickly to him. He looked down at her before she leaned up and kissed him.
It was a different kind of kiss than the ones they had shared before. This was a little more urgent and there was a slight hunger in the movements of her lips. He wrapped his arms tight around her, gathering her close to him and kissed her back. The air in the room shifted dramatically and Hermione was pushing herself closer against him, her fingers winding together at the back of his head. He ran his hands down her back, feeling the soft material of her pyjamas underneath his palms. And suddenly the urge tore through him that that wasn't enough. He moved his hands down to the hem of her top and gently and tentatively slid his hands over her bare back.
She moaned against his lips and he pressed his hands harder against her, pulling her tight against him once more. Her left hand was holding fast to the back of his head while the right traced lazy circles on the back of his neck. She started moving against him, her hips sliding against his through the material of their pyjamas. He kissed her harder, hungry to taste her as much as he could.
He jumped back from her, his body beginning to tell him exactly what he wanted.
She looked at him startled, her eyes wide. They looked at each other a moment longer before her eyes resumed their normal shape and she walked towards him. Stopping a few inches away, she planted a slow, lingering kiss on his still lips before stepping back again.
"I'll meet you outside in ten, alright?"
He looked at her nodding.
She smiled at him before walking out of his room, shutting the door behind her. He watched the door close and as soon as it had clicked, he sunk to the bed, raking his hands through his hair.
He sat for a few minutes, his mind quelling the hormones surging through him. When he felt he could leave the room without making any sort of scene, he dressed quickly and left.
Hermione was seated in the common room, across from Ron, who appeared to be wide awake. There was a piece of parchment sitting on the table in front of them and Ron seemed slightly shell-shocked.
"Is something wrong?"
Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable and gave him an odd smile. "Ron has been accepted into IMS."
Ron nodded, looking at the letter as if it wasn't quite real.
Harry couldn't seem to shake the weird feeling that he'd gotten as soon as Hermione had said that Ron had been accepted. Why should he feel weird? Ron was their best friend. And he should be happy for him, despite everything that had happened between them the past weekend. Maybe they could work things out and they'd all be best friends again. The weirdness would be gone and—
"Oh, go on Harry. Don't look so excited about it," Ron said, venom dripping from his voice.
Harry started and stared at the tall, ginger-haired boy sitting on the lounge. "What?"
"You seem so thrilled about it. What? Am I impeding on your precious school? Interfering with your perfect little world with Hermione?"
Harry looked bewildered, wondering where exactly this had come from. Hermione looked as startled as he felt and she was staring between the two boys.
"Well, you know what, Harry? I don't need IMS! I don't need you and I don't need Hermione!" He stood up, nearly knocking over the coffee table before stalking from the room. Hermione looked after him, her eyes the size of Quaffles.
"What'd we do?" she asked quietly.
Harry shrugged. "Sometimes, I wonder if maybe he has mood swings or something," he shook his head, "Shall we go meet Dumbledore then?"
Hermione nodded, knitting her brows in confusion at Ron's episode.
Dumbledore looked at them intently over his spectacles. There was no sparkle in his eyes and he was in a very serious mood.
"Forty-seven people were killed last night. Fifteen of them Muggles. Thirty of them were muggleborn witches or wizards. Two were pureblood."
Hermione seemed puzzled by this. "Why does it matter whether they were pureblood or muggleborn?"
"I don't think I can explain that to you properly, Ms Granger. This afternoon, Minister Connelly will be addressing wizarding Britain in Diagon Alley. I have been invited to attend, as have you Harry. I don't see any problem in Hermione joining us. We're taking the train down, as it is not possible at the moment to apparate anywhere, so I would like you both to meet me in the Entrance Hall in one half hour."
Hermione and Harry both nodded, understanding that their meeting was finished. Harry was somewhat surprised at how short it had been, but he supposed they'd speak more on the train.
They returned to their dorm rooms and quickly threw some clothing in backpacks before donning their robes. Ron didn't look at them as they walked past as his nose was shoved in a book.
Dumbledore and McGonagall were waiting for them in the Entrance Hall. For the first time since Harry had known her, McGonagall didn't have a stern air about her. She seemed deflated and her eyes were red, as if she had not slept all night.
A horseless carriage delivered them to Hogsmeade station, which was amazingly still standing. Harry was surprised by this and Dumbledore noted his look.
"The station is under the same protection wards as Hogwarts. Also, it's separate from the village enough that it was not a target for the Death Eaters."
Harry nodded his understanding as they boarded the train. Dumbledore directed them to the first cabin and the four passengers entered, a grave air following them.
They were seated and within several minutes, the train began to move. Harry had heard a handful of other passengers board the train and he assumed them to be ministry officials that had been working in the village and were now heading to Diagon Alley.
They travelled in silence. Dumbledore was staring out the window, a pensive look over his features. McGonagall was staring straight ahead, her eyes void of emotion. Hermione was picking at invisible lint on her robes and Harry was watching her.
"There will be a great change today. It shall change the wizarding world as we know it," Dumbledore said suddenly, turning to face his companions. "Hermione, what do you know of the Holocaust in Germany during the muggle Second World War?"
She shifted in her seat, apparently uncomfortable with having been singled out. Staring at her hands, she began to speak, "Adolph Hitler took over Germany and when he did, he began persecuting the Jews, Gypsies, and countless others that didn't fit Hitler's idea of a perfect human being. They were put into ghettos within their cities at first, and after that moved to concentration camps. There were all sorts of laws about what Jews could and could not do."
Dumbledore looked at her for a moment before looking back to the window.
Harry sat still, looking at Hermione who seemed to be increasingly uncomfortable. His mind ran over her words several times, recalling his history lessons from primary school. The lessons hadn't gone in depth, but he knew about the atrocities that had been committed against the Jewish people. They had been singled out and used as a scapegoat for the failing German economy. Hitler had blamed everything on the Jewish people. Harry suddenly grew nervous about the address this afternoon, beginning to think that Dumbledore had given them a clue as to what they were going to be hearing.
The train ride was endless. When they finally arrived in London, Harry felt as if he had aged about 5 years and if his legs would never be fully under his control again. Hermione looked just as exhausted as he did, perhaps more so. They had spent the trip in silence after Dumbledore's question. Harry had remembered to pack a book and had read the remainder of the journey. Hermione had eventually fallen asleep and Dumbledore and McGonagall both stared into the distance.
Dumbledore motioned for them to exit the passenger cabin and he led them onto Platform 9 ¾. He walked quickly through the barrier and out into the main station. Harry noticed as they walked, people seemed to step aside to make way for them, but no one looked in their direction. He found this odd as they were all dressed in robes and Dumbledore even wore one of his elaborate hats. They moved quickly and Harry was surprised to see a ministry car waiting for them outside.
When they finally arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry noticed a great deal of other wizards and witches making their way through the entrance of the pub. They meshed in with the crowd. No one stopped for drinks or for a chat with Tom, but walked straight through the courtyard, where the entrance was held open to allow the steady flow of wizards and witches to pass through.
As Harry walked through the brick archway, he saw a mass of people moving down towards Gringotts. As they neared closer, he saw a podium on the main steps of Gringotts. The group stopped in front of the towering white building and Harry followed Dumbledore up towards the front of the crowd. Hermione and McGonagall were close behind. After a few minutes, the rumblings of the crowd quieted and an eerie silence descended over the entire alley.
Harry stared straight ahead as a group of wizards dressed in robes so dark they made the blackest night look blue. They collected near the podium and stood motionless, staring out over the crowd. The doors of Gringotts opened and another figure, dressed also entirely in black stepped to the podium.
The late afternoon sun caused the blond hair to glow a brilliant gold. The tall figure gave off a vibe that made Harry incredibly nervous. His scar began to irritate him, not in the pain that came when Voldemort was near, but almost as if it was an itch. He rubbed his head before letting his hand drop to the side. Hermione instantly reached for it and they waited with baited breath for something to happen.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you find yourselves on the dawn of a new age. For centuries, the wizarding world has allowed itself to be comprised. Since the building of Hogwarts a millennium ago, the wizarding world has slowly been degrading from the glory it once held.
"Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred. Forty-seven people were killed in Hogsmeade. Forty-seven people, dead, countless others injured, and entire village levelled. This morning, right here in Diagon Alley, four people were killed. Why were these people killed? What was the reasoning behind their deaths?
"The answer may come as a shock to you, the reason may sound disbelieving. Ladies and gentleman, of those forty-seven that died fifteen of them were muggles. Not muggleborns, but muggles, who because of their muggleborn daughter, were welcomed into the wizarding world with open arms. Thirty of the victims were muggleborns and the remaining two were pureblood wizards, able to trace their wizarding ancestry back at least two generations. They were killed needlessly in what was an attack on muggles and muggleborns. Today, the four children, yes, children, killed in Diagon Alley died because one of their number was a muggleborn wizard.
"Five pureblood wizards died in the past twenty-four hours because of their relation to muggleborns. How many more need to die before we do something to stop this? It has been rumoured that these killings will continue. I have spoken with the members of the Wizard Council. We have spoken through the hours of the night to come up with a plan to prevent this from occurring again.
"This is not the only wrongdoing against our world. We have suffered for years now. Muggleborns have taken over our businesses, they steal the top spots in our educational system from pureblooded students and now, they have caused the death of five of our number. We can stand for this no more.
"Effective immediately, we will begin implementing laws to ensure the safety of the wizarding public. Biweekly, we will be releasing two laws in order to protect our people. As I have spoken with you, members of the Ministry of Magic have posted the first set of these laws on every lamppost throughout our world. These may seem drastic, but we must protect ourselves. We must defend all that is the name of wizard. For us there are only two possibilities: either we remain Wizards or we come under the thumb of the Muggles. This latter must not occur; even if we are small, we are a force. A well-organized group can conquer a strong enemy. If you stick close together and keep out new people, we will be victorious over the muggleborns."
Connelly stepped back from the podium and looked out across the sea of people. Harry stared at the blond man, who seemed to have noticed him and was now gazing directly at him. Close as he was, Harry could make a malicious glint in those blue eyes. And as he stared, he heard a sound that amazed him. The shock that had befallen the crowd during the speech had disappeared and was now replaced with something that terrified Harry even more than Connelly's words.
They were applauding. In overwhelming support for the plans of the Ministry.
Hermione was squeezing his hand so tight, he thought she might pull off his fingers. He turned to look at her and saw tears welling up in her eyes. He pulled her close and looked to Dumbledore, who had never looked so aged. McGonagall retained her empty stare. Dumbledore motioned to him and they quickly made their way back to Leaky Cauldron.
As they entered the pub, Dumbledore strode quickly to the bar.
"Tom, open the fireplace. We would like to floo back to Hogwarts tonight."
"Headmaster Dumbledore—sir—I received notice this morning that the Floo network is unavailable. I'm not permitted to allow anyone to use it."
"Tom, I assure you, no harm will befall you or your business if you allow us through."
Tom looked doubtful of this but Harry knew that Dumbledore was a powerful force to be reckoned with. He motioned his wand towards the fireplace across the room and waved his wand. A roaring green fire erupted in the box and he waved the group towards it.
Dumbledore strode through the flames, saying "Hogwarts" as he moved. This astounded Harry as he didn't know that it was even possible to floo to Hogwarts. McGonagall nodded her head, indicating that he and Hermione should follow.
Harry stepped into the fireplace, feeling the green flames tickle his skin as he said "Hogwarts". He felt the familiar spinning sensation envelop him and he pulled his arms in, shutting his eyes tight.
He tumbled onto the floor of Dumbledore's office. Hermione came out of the box shortly after he did and Harry pulled her up, both of them turning to face Dumbledore at the same time. He looked at them solemnly as Professor McGonagall stepped from the fireplace.
"Ms Granger, why do you cry?" he said, staring directly at Hermione.
She looked at him and drew a deep breath. "I just don't understand how he can get away with it Professor Dumbledore. What are we going to do?"
Harry's heart was breaking as he looked at her, standing and shaking in the middle of Dumbledore's office. She looked small and insecure, standing there alone and he moved instantly to wrap his arms around her. She leaned against him, sobbing.
Dumbledore pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and walked towards Hermione. He handed it to her, saying, as he did so, "Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us--and those around us -- more effectively. Look for the learning, Ms Granger."
Hermione unfolded the parchment and held it so that Harry could read it as well.
The Anti-Muggleborn Laws
Effective immediately upon posting in public locations.
No muggleborn students will be admitted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to hold teaching positions at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
No witches or wizards of muggle descent are permitted to work for the Ministry of Magic.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to own or operate businesses in Diagon Alley or other predominately wizarding areas in Wizarding Britain.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to use magic after the hour of eight pm. Anyone caught using magic will be fined.
No muggleborn witches or wizards are permitted to own magical property.
In order to insure that no muggleborns are participating in illegal activities, all written communication is subject to investigation.
A/N: There are two quotes in this chapter that come from other sources. During Connelly's speech, I have modified a short speech given by Adolph Hitler on the 9th of November, 1931 in Munich. The speech begins with "For us there are only two possiblities: either we remain German or we come under the thumb of the Jews…". What Dumbledore says to Hermione at the end of the chapter is a quote from Eric Allenbaugh.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Please continue to review the chapters, I thrive on your comments.