Well, sorry it was so long until an update, but it's been a busy little while. Just a warning, school's starting again soon so I'll be busy, but I promise to try and update regularly. Please read and review! Oh, and thank you, Orangutan Girl, for being my beta. I apologize for not recognizing you earlier, but I usually update late at night, and am a mite forgetful. Well, enjoy!
Not mine. I wish.
Ch. 10- Unexpected Guests
Hermione was basically living with Severus now. It had been about two weeks since they had become engaged, and a majority of her clothes and personal possessions were down in the dungeons. The clothes that still fit or could be altered to fit were in Severus's closet, but the ones that no longer did were in one of the guest rooms.
Dumbledore had sanctioned their arrangement, giving them his blessings but urging secrecy for the time being. Harry and Ron were a little upset over her new location, but were happy, and in Ron's case, surprised, that Severus had proposed. Ginny was thrilled for her, as was Draco, who teased her by calling her "Auntie." She wasn't sure what her new friend Kori thought of it, though the young woman was becoming an accepted member of their gang, albeit a slightly secret one.
Besides her and Severus, only those six and Minerva knew of their arrangement. Hermione and Severus felt really good about it.
That is, until Dumbledore paid them a late night visit. They were already in bed asleep when he came knocking around midnight. Severus told Hermione to stay in bed, which she did gladly.
Pulling on a dressing gown over his pajamas, Severus opened the door and growled, "This had better be important, old man."
Dumbledore's voice was serious. "It is, Severus, believe me." He entered the room at Severus's gesture to do so and waited for the door to be closed before continuing. "Several members of the Order have been compromised and I'm bringing them here to stay for awhile, since Hogwarts is one of the safest places. I would like several of them to stay here with you."
"I would rather not, since Hermione is here, but they are welcome, I suppose," Severus responded.
"How many do you think you can fit?" Dumbledore questioned.
"There are two guestrooms and a couch, and plenty of floor space," Severus told him, a bit of a bite in his voice.
"That will do. I have four people I would like to place here. Is that all right with you?"
"I don't exactly have a choice," Severus snarled.
Dumbledore just twinkled at him. "And you, Hermione?" he called.
"Sure, whatever," she yelled back. She had heard everything from the bedroom, where she was waiting for Severus to return.
"Good. Please prepare the rooms and the couch. There will be two people in one of the rooms," Dumbledore informed them. "I'll bring them down here in half an hour." He exited as quickly as he'd come.
"Do you need any help, luv?" Hermione asked from the bedroom.
"No, just go back to sleep," he said, going to the first of the guest rooms to freshen it up.
He was just finishing up turning the couch into a reasonably comfortable bed when there was another knock at the door. "Just a moment!" he shouted irritably.
Severus went to his bedroom and signaled to Hermione to be quiet, and then closed the door. He heard the knocking again. He wrenched the door open and said, "Come on in, impatient ones," he drawled.
Dumbledore came in first, followed by Remus Lupin, Sturgis Podmore, Nymphadora Tonks and . . . Melantha. They all carried a small bag of belongings. "I see that you are your normal cheery self, Severus," Remus greeted, shaking his hand.
"Pulling a man out of a nice warm bed will do that, my friend," Severus replied. He turned to the man with thick straw colored hair. "Sturgis," he nodded, and the normally cheery man gave a weak smile.
Tonks's hair was a normal brown for once but she didn't seem terribly subdued. "Hullo, Severus," she acknowledged, giving him a cheeky grin.
"Tonks," he said warily, reminding himself to put up anything breakable up later. Finally, he turned his attention to his sister. "Melantha," he uttered her name softly.
"Severus." Her voice was soft and her eyes, which had dark circles under them, filled with tears. She threw her arms about his neck and sobbed, "I'm sorry."
He just held her and let her cry for a minute before drawing back. He cupped her face with his hands. "Everything's fine, all is forgiven. I think you need to get to bed now. You, and I believe Tonks," he glanced at Dumbledore for affirmation, "Will be sharing this bedroom." He led them to the room with two beds.
"Thank you," Melantha told him, pulling herself together. "I think I will go to sleep now."
"We'll be outside if you need anything," Dumbledore said. Severus closed the door as they left.
Severus gave a short tour of the rooms without even moving. "Living room, library, kitchen, bathroom, bathroom," he pointed at the appropriate places. Then, "My room. Off limits. Understood?" Everyone nodded. "Tonks, you'll be sharing that room with Mel. Remus and Sturgis, you can flip for the other guest room, which is over there, and the couch bed. Albus, you'll have to sleep in your own quarters."
Everyone laughed and the Headmaster bid them good night. Sturgis and Remus vied for the room and Remus won. While Sturgis was in one bathroom preparing for bed, Tonks joined Melantha in their room. Severus opened the other bedroom's door and escorted Remus inside.
"Just ignore the stuff in the closet and the first two drawers, Remus," he told him.
Remus nodded, questions in his tired eyes that he wouldn't ask yet. Severus started to leave. "Good night, Severus," Remus said.
"Good night, Remus," Severus returned before leaving for his own room.
Slipping inside, he found Hermione still awake. "So Tonks and your sister, huh? Wonder who's going to kill who first." Severus smiled for the first time since
Dumbledore had woke them. "And Mr. Podmore and Remus. It will be good to see him; I've missed him."
Severus raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. "He's a good friend to Harry, Ron, and myself. There's no need to be jealous," she defended herself.
Severus crawled in next to her. "I'm not, luv. I'm just teasing. Now let's go to sleep."
"I agree," she told him, and then snuggled down into the bed, falling asleep quickly.
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Hermione only slept a few hours after Severus returned from settling in their unexpected guests. It wasn't terribly early, only about an hour before breakfast. She edged out of bed and changed into a clean change of clothes.
Severus stirred. "Where are you going?" he asked sleepily.
She walked over to the bed and smoothed his hair back. "I'm going to grade papers in your office for a little while, and then got to breakfast. You can sleep for awhile longer, but since we're still trying to stay a secret, I thought I would leave early."
"If you must. I'll see you this evening. I love you," he told her, placing a kiss on the palm of her hand.
She couldn't get enough of hearing that from him. "I love you too." She brushed her lips across his. "Now go back to sleep. You have an hour before you need to get up."
He mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over. Hermione smiled at his prone form and then quietly snuck out of his quarters. The only person she really had to worry about was Mr. Podmore, and he was soundly asleep, snoring lightly.
Hermione did as she had told Severus she would, grading papers and attending breakfast. However, she didn't tell Harry or Ron about the new arrivals, and wouldn't until she was given express permission by Severus or Dumbledore. It was hard, since Remus was a good friend and uncle-type figure to all three, but she knew how to keep a secret, and went through the day without mentioning anything at all.
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Hermione came back to the dungeon rooms directly after her last class, telling Harry, Ginny and Ron that she would eat down there tonight. They didn't fuss, since she almost always ate dinner with them.
She used the classroom entrance this time, fetching more papers to grade. She slipped in quietly, looking around to see where everyone was. She saw Sturgis Podmore in front of the fireplace, writing something, and Melantha was tucked away in the library. Remus and Tonks were in the kitchen, where he was trying his best to keep her away from the sharp objects.
Hermione snuck up behind Remus and covered his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?" she asked in a deep voice.
"Who?" Remus replied, obviously stumped.
Hermione lowered her hands and he turned around. His face lit up when he saw her. "Hermione! It's great to see you!" They hugged and Hermione kissed him on the cheek.
She and Tonks greeted each other before Hermione turned back to Remus. "How have you been, Remus?" she questioned.
"Not too well, really," he answered, continuing to chop up some vegetables. "We've been compromised, that's why we're here."
"I know. Severus and Albus told me."
Remus glanced at her, interested. "Severus and Albus?" he queried. She shrugged and spread her hands wide, indicating that that was how the two men wanted it. Remus looked her over. "You're looking pretty good, Hermione. How do you feel?"
"Fat," she said dryly. Tonks burst out laughing and Remus chuckled. The others came in to see what the noise was about. "Greetings, Mr. Podmore. We met a couple of years ago, at Grimmauld Place. I'm Hermione Granger," she introduced herself.
"Miss Granger, a pleasure to see you again," Sturgis replied. "May I ask what you are doing here?"
"She has every right to be here, as she's my Apprentice and friend," bit out Severus, who appeared in the doorway.
"Very well," Sturgis said stiffly and retired back to the living room.
Hermione gave Severus a quick smile before looking at Melantha. "I believe I owe you an apology, Ms Snape. My behavior that day was terrible and I should not have said those things or have struck you."
"I was also at fault. I too said some awful things," Melantha apologized. She held out her hand and Hermione shook it.
"Now that that is settled, out of the kitchen, I'm trying to cook," Remus ordered good-naturedly.
They made their way to the library, Hermione pulling Tonks after her, to Remus's eternal gratitude. "Oi, Severus, I was wondering if I can tell Harry and Ron that Remus is here?" Hermione requested permission.
At her use of "oi," Severus looked at her with an endearing half-smile, half-sneer. "You've been around Ron too much lately, haven't you?"
"Not so much just him. All of my friends are Quiddich players, you know, and that is one of the few words that grabs their attention. I see it worked with you as well."
"That's right, both Ginny and Kori are on their House teams, aren't they?" Severus had an amused glint in his eyes.
"As you very well know," Hermione said sarcastically.
They joked and chatted for awhile, but Hermione excused herself to check on Remus, assuring Tonks that she could stay where she was. "Do you need any help, Remus?" she offered.
Remus looked at her, surprised to see her there. "If you want, you can shred that head of lettuce on the counter for a salad."
She had already taken off her school robes in the library, but she rolled up her sleeves. Remus watched her out of the corner of his eye, and grabbed her left hand. "Is that an engagement ring?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Who's the lucky guy?" he questioned.
"You'll find out, but no, it's not Harry or Ron, I promise." Hermione gave him a small smile.
"I should hope not," he said. "Neither are suited to you that way."
"I'm glad you agree. At least they haven't protested overmuch. Harry's been especially supportive, from my relationship to my babies."
"You've piqued my curiosity now," he informed her.
"I know." She winked at him.
Everyone ate supper together, Sturgis Podmore observing Hermione silently. It was fairly obvious that he didn't think she belonged there.
Hermione excused herself shortly after dinner, telling Severus she wanted to get Harry ad Ron down there. He nodded, wishing that he could kiss her, but not willing to expose their secret yet.
Instead of going to fetch her two friends herself, which would have meant many flights of stairs, she went to Draco's room and knocked on the portrait. It opened immediately. "Hermione?" his voice lifted in question.
"I was wondering if you would do me a favor," she said without preamble.
"Oh, hi, Draco, how are you? I'm fine, thank you, and yourself?" he teased with mock petulance.
She flashed him a smile. "Sorry, ferret. Can you fetch Harry and Ron for me? And to answer the question Harry will ask, yes, Ginny can come. Tell them that there is someone at Sev's that would like to see tem, and to not mention my relationship with Sev, okay?"
Draco sighed as if hard-put-upon, but told her that he would do it. "You can come visit too, though it might be a little uncomfortable."
"Might take you up on it. They'll be there in a few minutes," Draco promised.
"Thanks, Draco. I don't much like stairs anymore."
"Just tell your kids that they owe me one," he joked.
She slapped his arm playfully and headed back. Tonks asked her where she'd been but Hermione was saved from answering by a knock at the statue. Since she was closest to the "door," she called, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Kori."
Hermione looked at Severus for permission; he waved his hand, giving it. "Budge up, Jafar," she ordered the statue. "Come on in, Kori."
The younger girl stepped inside. "Have you seen my boyfriend?" Kori inquired.
"Yeah, he should be here in a few minutes. He's being my feet. Come and meet some people." Hermione drug her over and introduced Remus and Tonks first. "This is my friend Kori."
Tonks greeted her cheerily and Remus extended his hand. "Nice to see you again, Miss Zambini. You've certainly grown up since I last saw you."
"It's Kori, Professor Lupin. I have no pride in my last name. And it's a pleasure to see you, too. We haven't had a proper DADA teacher since you left."
"Why, thank you, Kori. And it's Remus."
"She shouldn't be here," Sturgis spoke up.
"Shut your mouth, Podmore. If my brother trusts her to keep quiet, then she'll keep quiet. He doesn't place his trust easily, you know," Melantha drawled. "Hello, Kori, I'm Melantha Snape, your Potions Professor's younger sister."
"Pleased to meet you," Kori said warily. It had taken her weeks to get used to Severus, and another Snape was a little overwhelming.
Before she felt too uncomfortable, though, there was another knock at the statue. "It's the delivery boy with the goods," Draco called.
"Well, come in already," Severus yelled.
Harry entered first with Ginny, followed by Ron, with Draco coming in hesitantly. "Remus!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over.
"What is he doing here?" Sturgis demanded to know, pointing at Draco.
"God, do I have to tattoo GOOD GUY across his and Severus's heads? He. Can. Be. Trusted," Hermione stated slowly, joined by Harry and Ron at the last words.
As everyone introduced themselves, Hermione faded herself into the background. She curled up in a corner of the library and proceeded to study some for the impending NEWTs. On Madam Pomphrey's orders Hermione was trying not to stress over the exams, but she still studied every chance she got.
She wasn't there long before Severus came over and knelt next to her chair. In a voice low enough to be heard only by her, he asked, "Are you all right, luv?"
Hermione brushed her now frizzy hair back from her face. "I'm just very tired, Severus, and worried about exams. And Mr. Podmore staring at me like I'm a weirdo doesn't help things any."
Severus turned and glared at Podmore, catching him frowning their way. Their eyes locked but Sturgis looked away first. "Don't intimidate him too much, Sev, you have to live with him for an unknown period of time."
Severus snorted. "I'll kick him out on his ass if he bothers you too much. You don't need any added stress right now," his words were as gentle as the hand that stroked her stomach.
Hermione gave a soft and shaky laugh. "I think I'm just going to find a way to sneak off to bed soon," she told him. "If I wait too long, I'm not going to be able to fool anyone as to my sleeping place." Severus squashed down the urge to kiss away her weariness. She seemed to sense his thoughts because she leaned in and said, "I wish we were alone again, or that we could be public. While I can keep a secret, I don't like having to sneak around and hide and lie all of the time." Her voice held a longing and sadness that tore at him.
"I'm sorry it's this way, but it will change," he promised.
"I would rather have it this way than not have you at all," she whispered fiercely, removing all doubts from his mind.
"I'll see you in bed then." Severus got up and went to talk with his sister, who was avidly listening to the other's conversations.
Hermione stayed where she was for awhile longer, and then put her book on the shelf nearest her. She unobtrusively went over to Harry and pulled him aside. Leaning in close, she gave him instructions on how to handle her disappearance. Orders given, she waited until no one was looking to slip into the bathroom and into the bedroom.
She listened at the door and about five minutes later she heard Tonks ask where she was. Harry answered, "She left. She didn't want to interrupt everyone but said that she will see you later. She's been really tired lately."
There was no dissent so Hermione assumed that they had accepted the excuse easily. She hated having to lie, but for now it was required.
Suddenly Hermione felt weary beyond words. She didn't even have the energy to change or to pull back the covers. She simply lay on the bed and closed her eyes, and was gone as quick as that.
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Severus was glad to finally be able to retire for the night. He was weary but most of all he was concerned for Hermione. She had seemed so tired and was stressing over so many things.
He expected her to be curled up in the bed asleep in a night gown, so he was surprised to see her laying in the middle of the bed still fully clothed. He went over to her and tried to shake her awake. She murmured protesting but didn't awake.
Severus ran a hand through his hair, worried. Should I fetch Poppy? he speculated, but decided not to. Instead, he sat on the bed and pulled Hermione closer. First he pulled off her shoes, which were basically slippers since her ankles swelled so badly.
He hesitated, wondering if he should go through with changing her clothes, but he wanted to take care of her. He slowly undid the buttons on her blouse and his breath caught at the sight of her breasts nearly spilling out of her brassiere. This is going to be harder than I thought he realized.
He fetched her nightgown and pulled it over her head. Before tugging her arms through, though, he reached underneath and unlatched the bra, taking it off and stifling a groan. Hurrying to finish, he took off her slacks and pulled her arms through the proper holes. She didn't stir the entire time.
Severus sighed, but backed up and drew the covers down on one side of the bed. He returned to her and carefully picked her up and laid her under those covers, tucking her in. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then left to go take a very cold shower before joining her in slumber.
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Remus excused himself to his temporary quarters shortly after Harry and the others had left. This evening had given him much to think about. Draco Malfoy on the side of good, with a girlfriend that he had promised to marry if she still wanted him when she was out of school.
Severus Snape and the "Dream Team" getting along. That was a shock within itself.
Hermione Granger pregnant and engaged to be married. He had known about her pregnancy and attack, but it hadn't it him until now that she was really going to have a baby. Even Severus was being good to her.
Still, everybody seemed to be hiding something. Remus wasn't sure what, but he had a feeling that it had to do with whoever Hermione was going to marry.
He sighed and went to unpack the few belongings he had with him. He had been too tired to do so last night. Opening up the closet, he found that it already had several sets of Muggle clothes and a few robes hanging in it. He remembered now the comment that Severus had made to him when he'd shown him the room. "Just ignore the stuff in the closet and the first two drawers."
Remus went and looked in the drawers. The top one, much to his embarrassment, contained women's underclothes. The second contained more Muggle and wizarding clothes, feminine also. A red sweater caught his eye. It looked . . . Just like a sweater that Hermione had been wearing the last time he had seen her.
An impossible idea suddenly came to mind. Well, not so much impossible as improbable. Could Hermione and Severus be a couple? Could he be the one she was marrying? The idea astounded Remus, but didn't disgust him as he thought it would. It seemed right, somehow, when he thought about it.
He wasn't certain, not yet, but he was definitely going to keep an eye on them. His curiosity demanded it, if nothing else.
Besides, if that idea was wrong, then the only other possibility was that Severus liked to cross dress as a female student. Somehow, that didn't quite feel right.
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It was Severus that woke Hermione in time to slip out undetected. She loathed having to leave, because she was still tired and he was here, not out there. "Go on, luv, it's Friday, I'll see you early this afternoon," Severus tried to cheer her up.
Hermione just grumbled under her breath irritably. She did come over and kiss him before she left, though. She couldn't make herself blame him for any of the things that troubled her, because none of them were really his fault.
She managed to drag herself through her classes, though she snapped at several people that really didn't deserve it. No one minded much, since everyone had become somewhat accustomed to her mood swings.
Hermione would have slammed the door if there had been a door to slam. As it was, she stormed in with a glare that put off a majority of the people in Severus's rooms. Sturgis started to say something, but Hermione growled, "Don't even think about it, Podmore," in a menacing voice.
Even Melantha did a double-take, wondering if this was the same girl they'd socialized with the previous day. They shared a worried glance, and then four of them pointed at Remus. "You go ask what's wrong," Melantha ordered him.
Remus was looking a little alarmed. Hermione was kind of scary when she was angry. He sighed, though, and walked over to where Hermione had barricaded herself behind a book in the library. He pulled over a chair and leaned towards her. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"What makes you think something is wrong?" came the sarcastic answer from behind the leather-embossed cover. The book suddenly snapped shut, allowing Remus to see the myriad of emotions swirling in her eyes. There was anger and exhaustion, fear and sadness, and good old-fashioned confusion and misery. "I'm sorry, Remus, you didn't deserve that. I'm not feeling very well today. Didn't Harry or Ron or Severus warn you about my mood swings?"
"No, I don't believe the subject ever came up," Remus said.
"Just ignore me, Remus, and tell the others I'm sorry and to ignore me too." She tilted her head and thought for a moment. "On second thought, tell everyone but Podmore I'm sorry. He deserves it."
"Give him time, his family is in another country at the moment."
She nodded grudgingly, resolved to treat him better, but still did not render an apology. Right now, she wanted . . . no, needed . . . to blame her anger on someone.
Severus came in shortly and upon seeing Hermione's face, he went directly to the kitchen and put some water on to boil. When it was hot, he poured it into a cup and put in a tea bag and carried the cup into her.
She accepted it gratefully, wishing she could have the kiss that usually accompanied it. She gripped the cup so tightly that her knuckles turned white, trying to hold back the tears. Severus leaned in close and whispered, "I love you."
Hermione gave him a weak smile but managed to hold back the incipient flood. Remus didn't know what Severus said but her reaction chalked up a point for his Severus Snape/Hermione Granger romance idea.
The rest of the time until supper went pretty smoothly, with everyone leaving Hermione alone for the most part. After the meal, Hermione settled behind a coffee table in front of the fireplace to grade papers.
Suddenly, about 45 minutes later, Hermione was fed up. "These are pieces of crap!" she yelled, pushing the papers across the table.
Severus was there in an instant, grabbing the essays before they fell off the table and into the flames. "Luv, I cannot say there was another potions explosion to explain away why some papers are destroyed. I can only do that once a year, it's in my contract." He was not used to guarding his words in these rooms.
She burst into tears and he promptly dropped the papers onto the table and pulled her against his chest. "Shh, everything's all right, everything's fine," he soothed, rubbing her back gently.
Everybody with the exception of Remus and Melantha were slack-jawed in shock, and then slit-eyed in anger. They were merely seeing an older man with a young woman. They thought he was taking advantage of her.
Severus got Hermione calmed down quickly but looked up to encounter the stony faces of Tonks and Podmore and the amused ones of Melantha and Remus. "Soo, what's going on?" he drawled warily.
"You're cradle-robbing students now?" Sturgis demanded to know.
Hermione peeked at them from where her head rested on Severus's shoulder. "No robbing, Podmore, no casual affair. We're getting married after graduation." She held out her left hand and waggled her fingers, showing off the ring.
"I knew it! You owe me, Melantha, big time!" Remus boasted. Melantha had bet him that they couldn't prove that it was Severus who was going to marry Hermione, because she knew her brother was normally a cautious man.
Podmore's mouth flapped open and shut like a fish. Tonks turned to Remus, outraged. "You knew?! And you didn't tell anybody?!"
"I didn't know, precisely. I suspected, and since I now know, I approve."
"Thank you, Remus. That means a lot to us." Severus echoed Hermione's sentiment. Eyes solemn, he extended his hand and shook Remus's. His gratitude was no less sincere than Hermione's. "And Tonks, I swear I have the best intentions with Hermione. I would never hurt her; I would die first."
Tonks studied him hard, and then Hermione. Finally she sighed. "If it's what you want, I can't say angry about it. Just don't expect me to be happy about it yet."
Sturgis Podmore stood there with his mouth clamped shut. Hermione wasn't sure if it was because he couldn't think of anything to say or because he didn't have anything nice to say and so wasn't saying anything. "Mr. Podmore, I'm sorry that I seem to upset you so much. Is there something I can change to make you more comfortable?" Hermione questioned, standing up with Severus and then sitting on the couch.
Podmore's voice was stiffly formal. "I apologize for my behavior. I am simply concerned for the safety of myself, my colleagues, and my family. I'm not sure where they are or if they are all right."
"I am sorry for that. Is there anything I can do to help?" Hermione offered earnestly.
"I'm afraid not," Sturgis said, eyes hard, and turned and stalked out into the hallway.
"Should he be doing that?" Hermione asked.
"He can take care of himself," Melantha stated confidently. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking, separating him from his wife and small children."
"I'll ask that he be transferred to them as soon as possible," Severus decided. "A man should not be separated from the ones he loves."
"Hermione, you've turned my brother into a soppy romantic!" Melantha proclaimed.
"No I've not, but he does have his moments," Hermione admitted.
The remaining three people sat down. Until Sturgis returned, they quizzed Hermione and Severus on their relationship. When he did come back, everyone but Hermione retreated to their rooms. She approached him, projecting compassion.
"It may not be exactly the same, but I do know what you're going through. My friends are my family, especially Harry. I have to live with not knowing how he is doing every summer. Now I'm going to have children to think of, too. You're not alone," she told him. Before he could reply, she turned, managing to be graceful despite the bulk of her stomach and breasts, and slipped into Severus's room.
The next morning was a Saturday, but she got up earlier than usual. She hiked up to Dumbledore's office and plead Sturgis Podmore's case.
The decision came down that afternoon, surprising all but her, because Severus hadn't had a chance to talk to the Headmaster yet, and everyone knew that. Severus's head snapped towards Hermione, remembering that she had been up early. Sturgis noticed, and came to the correct conclusion. He came up to her and extended his hand, too grateful for words.
Hermione ignored the hand, instead putting her arms about his torso, hugging him. He returned the embrace tentatively. "Say hello to your family for me," she whispered in his ear as she drew back.
Sturgis was obviously surprised at how nice she was being; he hadn't treated her well, so she had basically returned the favor. "We'll be seeing you, Podmore," the others told him, and he left with Dumbledore to rejoin his family.