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Chapter eight The Solution.
EXPLOSION ROCKS OTTERY ST CATCHPOLE
Fears of the second-coming of evil increased today
as The Ministry of Magic Officials tried to cover up
an explosion which has destroyed one of their own
workers homes. Arnold Weasley's family home was
found in ruins this morning. The Ministry deny that
anyone has been injured but as yet no-one has been able
to contact any of the family members.
Cornelius Fudge reported "it was a gas leak, they had a
ghoul in the attic, who liked to hit the pipes a lot." Mr Fudge
denied it to be the work of you-know-who, but that gives this
reporter little reassurance as he denied for a year that
you-know-who had returned.
Severus stared blankly from the paper to the smiling face of Dumbledore. "Why have them deny it was Voldemort?"
"Simple, they have so little credibility at the Ministry, people are bound to believe it was indeed Voldemort, the resulting gossip will reach his ears," answered Dumbledore.
"It will not last, when the Weasley children arrive next term, I will be discovered in a lie!" Severus said slowly. "Unless I had already questioned him, using veritaserum, then destroyed his family's home in anger, when he could not answer me! If I had used too much, he would have no clear memory of the encounter." Dumbledore watched the brilliant young mind work out the problem and knew he was storing the false images in his mind, for Voldemort to discover later.
Dumbledore added "Miss Granger always takes an extended vacation with her family during the summer; they are in Germany at the moment. Kingsley Shaklebolt volunteered to go and retrieve them."
"Alright, Weasley is safe, that is the main thing I suppose, and Granger will be soon, without drawing attention to the fact that I warned her. Now what about Arabella Figg and Potter?" Severus questioned.
"Alas we did not catch Peter at the ministry, though the court scripts from Harry's case last year were missing, Minerva had just arrived at Arabella's when Peter turned up," Dumbledore sighed, Severus' pulse escalated and he held his breath, as the head master continued, "she used a portkey and they both escaped unharmed, though Arabella is distraught over the loss of her cats and her home. Peter obviously furious at having failed blew up three houses in the street. Luckily the residents of the adjoining properties were at work when it happened."
"Bloody RAT he so loves his dramatic exits!" snarled Severus.
"I thought it wise to remove Harry from his Aunts house, it is only a matter of time until Voldemort himself goes to retrieve him, and with the small amount of Harry's blood he now carries, I fear he will be able to break the protection surrounding the family home," Dumbledore looked weary as he told Severus this.
"He should be safe enough here for the moment," replied Severus. "Though I dread to think of the mischief those three will cause here during the holiday, they are bad enough during term time, with classes to occupy them."
"I will leave you to rest as I must finish arranging the Dursley's emigration plans; I decided to have his firm transfer him to America, with a substantial increase in salary as motivation. It seemed the most expediential way to remove them from Voldemorts interest and from Harry's life once and for all!" Dumbledore left looking pleased with himself.
Severus lay back and closed his eyes, somehow it didn't seem right that those muggles would get rewarded for abusing the trust Dumbledore had given them. Severus caught himself wondering how Potter would feel about that, and then realizing what he was doing, sympathizing with the dratted boy, he stopped.
It was late evening when Severus was woken by the sound of many feet running into the hospital ward, he turned on his side to watch the procession, Lupin carrying a dark shape was being directed by Madam Pomfrey, who was closely followed by Tonk's, Moody, Dumbledore and a large assortment of red heads, who could only be the Weasley's.
As Lupin laid down his burden and they all stepped back to let Madam Pomfrey closer to the bed, Severus saw a very broken and bloody Potter. The boy was unconscious and bleeding profusely. The matron was cleaning and bandaging and Molly Weasley was shooing her family back to the other side of the ward, to allow her space to work.
No-one noticed Severus lying at the end of the ward, suddenly there was a scrapping noise as Lupin and Arthur pulled the screens around Potter's bed leaving Madam Pomfrey and Potter alone behind it.
All the other seemed to sink down in unison on various beds and chairs. "What has he gotten himself into this time?" Severus raised his voice slightly and was rewarded by a growl from Ron and a stern look from Moody.
Dumbledore however approached him before answering quietly, "death-eaters managed to locate the Dursley's house from the court transcripts. Not being able to attack Harry directly, they threw bottles of burning fuel through the windows at Harry's cousin; the protection spell did not repel them as they were not magical objects. The house caught fire and Harry escaped through his bedroom window, and then returned to pull out his Aunt and Uncle, he had returned to collect his cousin when the second floor of the house collapsed on them, Tonk, Moody and Lupin arrived in time to pull them both out after duelling with the death-eaters present. The Dursley's are in a local muggle hospital."
Severus had no reply to this lastest saga in the Potter drama. Arthur Weasley was approaching Severus, dragging an unhappy Ron with him. "I want to thank you Severus, it would seem that you have saved my family again, I am eternally grateful to you." He smiled then nudged Ron, who muttered "Thank you Sir," they turned and went back to the others.
"Bet that was painful" said Severus sourly, forgetting that Dumbledore was close enough to hear him.
"Now Severus," chided Dumbledore, "I know for a fact that Arthur meant every word."
"I was referring to Weasley junior," Severus retorted.
"You should get your rest now," was Dumbledore's answer.
"With that lot roaming around? I wouldn't dare fall asleep, I'd probably waken to find I had green hair," snorted Severus.
"At least it would be Slytherin colours" Dumbledore replied merrily, as though imagining Severus with green hair.
"Will the boy be alright?" asked Severus, trying to keep his voice aloof.
"Harry should be fine, Poppy is taking care of the burns now," Dumbledore said. "I think I will go and arrange meals for everyone, you can rest without fear for your hair." Dumbledore left taking the reluctant group with him. A few moments later a house elf arrived with a tray of food for Severus.
Severus must have dosed off again because when he opened his eyes he saw Potter was asleep looking better than he had before and his faithful friend Ron was dosing in a chair at the side of his bed. Severus wondered what it would be like to have a friend like that, Potter, for all his faults, seemed to engender deep loyalty in others. Severus snorted 'am I jealous of the brat?' he turned to his other side and hoped Madam Pomfrey would permit him to convalesce in his own quarters tomorrow, the thought of sharing a ward with Potter was not appealing. He tried to convince himself that it was because he would be constantly disturbed by Potter's visitors coming and going all day. "Not Jealousy!" he muttered.
Chapter eight The Solution.
EXPLOSION ROCKS OTTERY ST CATCHPOLE
Fears of the second-coming of evil increased today
as The Ministry of Magic Officials tried to cover up
an explosion which has destroyed one of their own
workers homes. Arnold Weasley's family home was
found in ruins this morning. The Ministry deny that
anyone has been injured but as yet no-one has been able
to contact any of the family members.
Cornelius Fudge reported "it was a gas leak, they had a
ghoul in the attic, who liked to hit the pipes a lot." Mr Fudge
denied it to be the work of you-know-who, but that gives this
reporter little reassurance as he denied for a year that
you-know-who had returned.
Severus stared blankly from the paper to the smiling face of Dumbledore. "Why have them deny it was Voldemort?"
"Simple, they have so little credibility at the Ministry, people are bound to believe it was indeed Voldemort, the resulting gossip will reach his ears," answered Dumbledore.
"It will not last, when the Weasley children arrive next term, I will be discovered in a lie!" Severus said slowly. "Unless I had already questioned him, using veritaserum, then destroyed his family's home in anger, when he could not answer me! If I had used too much, he would have no clear memory of the encounter." Dumbledore watched the brilliant young mind work out the problem and knew he was storing the false images in his mind, for Voldemort to discover later.
Dumbledore added "Miss Granger always takes an extended vacation with her family during the summer; they are in Germany at the moment. Kingsley Shaklebolt volunteered to go and retrieve them."
"Alright, Weasley is safe, that is the main thing I suppose, and Granger will be soon, without drawing attention to the fact that I warned her. Now what about Arabella Figg and Potter?" Severus questioned.
"Alas we did not catch Peter at the ministry, though the court scripts from Harry's case last year were missing, Minerva had just arrived at Arabella's when Peter turned up," Dumbledore sighed, Severus' pulse escalated and he held his breath, as the head master continued, "she used a portkey and they both escaped unharmed, though Arabella is distraught over the loss of her cats and her home. Peter obviously furious at having failed blew up three houses in the street. Luckily the residents of the adjoining properties were at work when it happened."
"Bloody RAT he so loves his dramatic exits!" snarled Severus.
"I thought it wise to remove Harry from his Aunts house, it is only a matter of time until Voldemort himself goes to retrieve him, and with the small amount of Harry's blood he now carries, I fear he will be able to break the protection surrounding the family home," Dumbledore looked weary as he told Severus this.
"He should be safe enough here for the moment," replied Severus. "Though I dread to think of the mischief those three will cause here during the holiday, they are bad enough during term time, with classes to occupy them."
"I will leave you to rest as I must finish arranging the Dursley's emigration plans; I decided to have his firm transfer him to America, with a substantial increase in salary as motivation. It seemed the most expediential way to remove them from Voldemorts interest and from Harry's life once and for all!" Dumbledore left looking pleased with himself.
Severus lay back and closed his eyes, somehow it didn't seem right that those muggles would get rewarded for abusing the trust Dumbledore had given them. Severus caught himself wondering how Potter would feel about that, and then realizing what he was doing, sympathizing with the dratted boy, he stopped.
It was late evening when Severus was woken by the sound of many feet running into the hospital ward, he turned on his side to watch the procession, Lupin carrying a dark shape was being directed by Madam Pomfrey, who was closely followed by Tonk's, Moody, Dumbledore and a large assortment of red heads, who could only be the Weasley's.
As Lupin laid down his burden and they all stepped back to let Madam Pomfrey closer to the bed, Severus saw a very broken and bloody Potter. The boy was unconscious and bleeding profusely. The matron was cleaning and bandaging and Molly Weasley was shooing her family back to the other side of the ward, to allow her space to work.
No-one noticed Severus lying at the end of the ward, suddenly there was a scrapping noise as Lupin and Arthur pulled the screens around Potter's bed leaving Madam Pomfrey and Potter alone behind it.
All the other seemed to sink down in unison on various beds and chairs. "What has he gotten himself into this time?" Severus raised his voice slightly and was rewarded by a growl from Ron and a stern look from Moody.
Dumbledore however approached him before answering quietly, "death-eaters managed to locate the Dursley's house from the court transcripts. Not being able to attack Harry directly, they threw bottles of burning fuel through the windows at Harry's cousin; the protection spell did not repel them as they were not magical objects. The house caught fire and Harry escaped through his bedroom window, and then returned to pull out his Aunt and Uncle, he had returned to collect his cousin when the second floor of the house collapsed on them, Tonk, Moody and Lupin arrived in time to pull them both out after duelling with the death-eaters present. The Dursley's are in a local muggle hospital."
Severus had no reply to this lastest saga in the Potter drama. Arthur Weasley was approaching Severus, dragging an unhappy Ron with him. "I want to thank you Severus, it would seem that you have saved my family again, I am eternally grateful to you." He smiled then nudged Ron, who muttered "Thank you Sir," they turned and went back to the others.
"Bet that was painful" said Severus sourly, forgetting that Dumbledore was close enough to hear him.
"Now Severus," chided Dumbledore, "I know for a fact that Arthur meant every word."
"I was referring to Weasley junior," Severus retorted.
"You should get your rest now," was Dumbledore's answer.
"With that lot roaming around? I wouldn't dare fall asleep, I'd probably waken to find I had green hair," snorted Severus.
"At least it would be Slytherin colours" Dumbledore replied merrily, as though imagining Severus with green hair.
"Will the boy be alright?" asked Severus, trying to keep his voice aloof.
"Harry should be fine, Poppy is taking care of the burns now," Dumbledore said. "I think I will go and arrange meals for everyone, you can rest without fear for your hair." Dumbledore left taking the reluctant group with him. A few moments later a house elf arrived with a tray of food for Severus.
Severus must have dosed off again because when he opened his eyes he saw Potter was asleep looking better than he had before and his faithful friend Ron was dosing in a chair at the side of his bed. Severus wondered what it would be like to have a friend like that, Potter, for all his faults, seemed to engender deep loyalty in others. Severus snorted 'am I jealous of the brat?' he turned to his other side and hoped Madam Pomfrey would permit him to convalesce in his own quarters tomorrow, the thought of sharing a ward with Potter was not appealing. He tried to convince himself that it was because he would be constantly disturbed by Potter's visitors coming and going all day. "Not Jealousy!" he muttered.