Forgotten Yesterday

Chapter 28: Lest We Forget

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters borrowed for use in this story.

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Dinner had been a loud and joyful affair. Fred and George had regaled them with stories, often leaping from the table to act them out. Arthur and Percy had arrived shortly after they began eating. Arthur watched his sons antics with amusement and Percy took their jibes with practiced good nature. They had both regarded Hermione with politeness, though Arthur had a sad look in his eyes when he said his hello. Soon Snape, Kaitlyn and Claudia, Ginny and Molly and the two young aurors joined then for the meal. Hermione scooted closer to Harry when the two women entered. They walked past everyone and sat at one of the small tables by themselves, barely stopping to say hello to their husbands and children. Draco watched her and snorted a laugh.

"And she calls me a snob." he whispered under his breath.

After dessert was served and eaten Snape asked them to reconvene in his office for the meeting.

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Snape stood at the head of the table as they all filed in and took seats.

"Are there any new reports?" he look to the aurors.

They both shook their heads and studied their hands.

"I know he killed people last night." Harry to became very interested in the make up of the table.

"How do you know?" Percy asked.

"I'm having the dreams again. And my scar won't stop throbbing."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I know you don't want to hear this," Arthur stood, "but how can we be sure this is Voldemort? I'm not doubting you Harry. But I need more than that."

"It is him." Draco whispered softly.

"How do you know?"

"Do we all agree to the fact that only Voldemort can call the Deatheaters?" he looked around as all nodded. "Well," he lifted up his sleeve to show the black dark mark in sharp relief against his flesh. "It faded until it was almost gone after… Now… It hurts so fucking bad I can hardly speak."

"Severus?" All eyes went to the headmaster.

"Yes, mine as well."

Everyone was suddenly overcome with a deep foreboding.

"We are in a very unfortunate position now. One we have not ever had to face in our fights against him. We have no spies among his followers. No way to feed misinformation or learn of plans."

"I've thought about it… I could go back…"

"No." Snape cut Draco off. "That I'm afraid is not an option. Neither of us can go back now."

"Do we know of any that might have gone with him?" Hermione tried to work through the problem.

"Most of his old followers are either dead or in Azkaban. There are a few. Mostly from around your schooldays. Pansy Parkinson, Padma Patil, Crabbe and Goyle, Dennis Creavy and a few others."

Hermione sat still in shock. She had know Padma and Dennis. They had hardly seemed the type to join Voldemort. But then she had never expected her best friends to abandon her either.

"Hermione…" Harry touched her arm gently.

She blinked and looked at him. Everyone was watching her. "I'm sorry. I was thinking."

"As I asked before," Snape looked to her, "Is there anyway you could think up some more… I'm not quite sure how to word this… muggle-like ways to fight him. You're the only one here who has lived among that world. Given Voldemort's aversion to anything of that world there may be some weapon we can use against him."

She thought a moment. "The largest problem we face is one muggle-borns have had for years. Purely muggle technology doesn't work in magical environments. That severely limits our options." She stopped a moment, "I wonder… Does he have any relatives left. Distant muggle ones. Ones that wouldn't be particularly obvious. Maybe ones that… if a wizard turned up in their family they would be thought of as muggle born rather than having any connection with a wizard family."

"What would that have to do with anything?" Molly spoke for the first time in the meeting. "Why would anyone care about that?"

"Because he carries so much hate for his father's family. If he were to discover one of his relatives still lived. Let alone one went to Hogwarts recently or maybe even is here now…"

"He would be furious." Snape finished offhandedly.

"He does believe he has destroyed the Riddle family completely." Draco thought carefully. "That could be a fun conversation. 'Um… excuse me Mr. Dark lord sir… we um… found some of those relatives you thought you exterminated. They go to Hogwarts now. Oh by the way Professor Potter is their favorite teacher. I would love to be their for that."

"This will be a very hard war, children. We must never forget he, at the moment, has a definite advantage. We know nothing."

"Then we need to learn." Hermione leaned back in her chair.

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