Chapter 20

Harry ushered Daphne and Neville into Twelve Grimmauld Place… and paused on the threshold. "What!?"

"Hello, Harry." Augusta Longbottom greeted him. "I wasn't sure what you'd want to do by way of renovations, so I merely stripped most of the accoutrements, such as the severed elves' heads, and had everything painted white. That is, above the picture rails. Below I just had the wood polished."

"Augusta," pronounced Walburga's portrait, "has been most efficient."

"It's much lighter now," commented Neville.

"Yes." Daphne, who'd been so subdued since her sister's death, brightened visibly. "It's a good basis for redecorating. Now it could use accent colors."

Augusta dismissed that. "You have the entire summer to decide, Daphne. We have more important things to consider, like the Wizengamot. Harry, you and Neville will need to claim your seats at once."

"But Gran, what about you?" Neville queried.

"Ah." Augusta smiled. "I shall be replacing Dumbledore as Chief Witch."

"That's great!" Neville beamed.

Harry nodded. "What about his other titles?"

Augusta waved her hand dismissively. "I'm not concerned with that. The important thing is to prepare for the future…and we will."

"Are you sure about this, Harry?" Daphne was nervous, although she maintained her calm expression.

"Positive." Harry's voice held no doubt. "We will represent the House of Black-Potter with pride."

He indicated their plum Wizengamot robes, which blazoned the crests of House Black and House Potter.

Neville joined them in similar robes, displaying the crest of House Longbottom, and the three friends nodded.

"Here we go."

The Wizengamot buzzed with chat, but fell silent when the trio walked in. However, the murmuring increased tenfold when Harry assumed the Black seat, and Daphne glided confidently to the Potter chair.

She paid no attention to Titus Greengrass or Pythias Parkinson, both of whom glared at her.

Harry found himself seated beside Susan Bones, who raised one eyebrow. "Thought you'd go the other way around, with Daphne holding the Black seat."

"Always keep them guessing, Susan."

She returned his smile as the Chief Witch called the session to order.

Pansy Parkinson glowered at Daphne.

Two crests on her Wizengamot robes? Two?

It wasn't fair for a disgraced blood traitor to wear the Black crest; that rightfully belonged to Draco!

The thought of Draco cheered her. He had recovered from the brutal wounds Potter had inflicted and was now in favor with the dark lord.

Better yet, Astoria Greengrass was out of the picture forever!

Now Pansy was the only acceptable heiress for House Greengrass. It was only a matter of time until everyone acknowledged that.

Susan Bones and Terry Boot accompanied them back to Grimmauld Place.

"We wanted to invite you all to our wedding," Susan explained, "but the owls couldn't get through."

"The place is under Fidelius," Neville said. "Gringotts cast it again, once Dumbledore died."

The reference to Dumbledore put everyone in a somber mood, so Harry tried to create a diversion. "When is the wedding?"

"Next week. The day following exams."

"Can't wait until exams are finished," admitted Neville.

The arrangement was that each year would assemble at the Ministry on a different day.

Harry joined the crowd of his yearmates. On the way to the examination room he felt someone watching, and glanced up to lock eyes with Dolores Umbridge.

He couldn't help smirking; he'd been proved right, and Fudge had been driven from office. Still…he didn't like the thought that Umbridge was still at the Ministry.

The practical portion came first, followed by the theoretical, and Harry felt he acquitted himself well. He put down his quill, and handed in his test.

Neville followed him up while Daphne, who had already finished, waited at the door.

Just as Harry reached her, there was a loud explosion.

Debris rained down on them all, choking them with smoke and dust.

Students were pouring past, desperate to reach the exit.

Harry yanked his cloak from the pouch. "Put this on!"

"You might need it," Daphne argued.

Neville caught Hannah's arm and pushed her towards Daphne. "Both of you, get out as quick as you can! We'll find you!"

But the way out was blocked by Death Eaters and panicked Ministry employees. The hordes of students simply added to the chaos.

Harry caught sight of Bellatrix Lestrange, and sent a bludgeoning curse in her direction.

It hit her arm, and she screamed and dropped her wand.

Harry tried to follow up with a cutting curse, but had to break off to shield Neville.

Thorfin Rowle was throwing around the Unforgivables with his usual lack of restraint, and an auror fell.

Harry spied Dolores Umbridge cowering behind a pillar; Rowle also saw her and sent the killing curse in her direction.

Without hesitation, Umbridge summoned Susan Bones, pulling her to block the curse.

Harry reacted without thinking and cast a tripping jinx; Susan tumbled to the floor as the green light flashed over her, and hit Umbridge head on.

Susan, unhurt, scrambled to her feet. "Good riddance!" she shouted as they ran towards the atrium.

Harry's heart sank as he saw the bodies. At least four students were dead, along with several Ministry workers.

Rufus Scrimgeour was only slightly injured, but he refused to leave the scene, helping to evacuate the wounded.

One group of students, surrounded by aurors, were waiting in a huddle.

"What's going on?" Neville demanded.

Hermione Granger stepped forward. "Harry James Potter! Did you kill Umbridge?"

"What? NO!" Harry shouted.

"I saw you," she persisted. "You didn't stop the Killing Curse from hitting her."

But Harry no longer felt guilt for not being able to save everyone. "That's because I was busy preventing it from hitting Susan!"

Susan looked up from the shelter of Terry's arms. "It's true! Harry cast a tripping jinx…and I fell down and the curse missed me by inches!"

"With the result that it hit someone else!" Hermione persisted.

"Umbridge cast a summoning charm on me, so that I'd take the curse for her!" shouted Susan. "She tried to use me to block it, but Harry saved me."

"I've heard enough," declared Terry Boot. "Harry…I owe you."

"Yes," Susan nodded. "I owe you a life debt!"

"Not necessary among friends." Harry managed a smile for them. "Consider it a wedding present."

"Anything I've got is yours. "Terry refused to lighten the mood. "For saving Sue, I should give you everything I own!"

Daphne wound her arms around Harry. "We know you'd do the same thing, Terry. So would Susan."

"Except we didn't. Harry did, and we will never forget it." Terry held Susan close.

"I still don't think it's acceptable to sacrifice one life to save another," sniffed Hermione.

Terry let go of Susan and strode over to Hermione.

"Never say that again, or you and I will have a serious falling out!"

Susan placed a soothing hand on Terry's arm. "Never mind her. " She spared an angry look for Hermione. "Not like anyone cares what she thinks anyway!"