Flamer33- how ironic that you mention Voldemort in your last review! Read on to this chapter. : ) I'm not going to introduce the tri-wizard competition because that takes great skill to write through all those obstacles and sorting and I'll just leave that to JK Rowling. I never write what I think I can't do.
Egurlrox- Thanks
Harrypotter4ever- I'm not going to detail through too many little things because this story takes place in a course of over 20 years! Lol
Ilovesporks- Yeah, I like to envision things too. I'm glad you like this story, I hope it will continue to satisfy you.
Chipper1- Thanks so much for explaining MWPP! I've been wondering about that for ages! Man…I really hate those abbreviations though…esp. when I have no idea what they mean.
Isis Stormwing- No one in my family is pregnant right now although my newest little cousin was born about a year ago. You're right, the storyline is weak because this is more of a nice, relaxing cute story and sigh…I guess I'm out of my ideas. I'm not going to introduce too many characters because that'll get things confusing and it's a hassle to write about them all. So no Tonks, sorry. : (
Captain 'Phoenix' Aquamarine- I'm afraid of losing readers rather than gaining them. As long as I have a crowd of loyal readers, I'm happy. It'll be really sad if they start losing interest though, because it's always so nice when the readers that started reading your first story is still reading your fifth. : )
Cinderella1- That sucks that you have to ride the bus! Well, when you start driving later, things will get better. : )
Fantasyangel writer- The plot is very loose. It runs on Arthur/Molly's life and what they go through. There's not a really firm plot line if you know what I mean. However, feel free to offer your ideas if you want to. : )
Chapter 8- The Dark Wizard
"I want to stress the importance of N.E.W.Ts," said Professor Wortham sharply as she banged a stack of papers on her desk. "I'm surprised at how many inept students that are sitting in this classroom. It comes to me as a great surprise that those students even made it to my N.E.W.T. standard class." She turned to look at Arthur and Kingsley whom were playing hangman underneath their desks.
"Accio parchment!" she said, the paper flew to her hands. "Ten points from Gryffindor!"
"For those who wish to work in the Ministry, or even become Aurors," she said and paused to glare deathlike to Frank, who was flirting with Alice. Frank stopped and put on a what he thought to be a face with rapid attention.
Professor Wortham rolled her eyes.
"I wish them to reconsider greatly. Aurors will not be taking such incompetent students. These tests are horrible." She said, referring to the stack of papers on her desk. "Only a select few are worthy of even thinking to join the Ministry," Professor Wortham gave Lucius faint smile when she said this. Lucius looked smug.
She then proceeded passing back papers. Emmeline, to her relief, got an O. Frank got an E. He suspected Professor Wortham took off some points because of her biased way of grading.
At first, Kingsley looked at his paper and beamed. "An O! Haha! Look at that!" he grinned at Arthur, who was looking at his A.
"A zero, Mr. Shacklebolt, and I do not command disruption during class," Professor Wortham said harshly.
Kingsley's face fell.
* *
"Stupid, biased, ugly woman," Kingsley muttered as the crowd of seven walked to lunch.
"Well, Professor Wortham doesn't test you when you take N.E.W.Ts," Arthur spoke. "With your skill, you'll pass with flying colors."
They sat down and helped themselves to some potatoes and roast beef.
"Mr. Longbottom?" Professor McGonagall said quietly.
"Yeah?" Frank said, in the middle of his chewing. He swallowed. "What is it professor?"
"You've better come with me to the headmaster." Professor McGonagall said. She suddenly looked tearful.
"To see Professor Dumbledore?" Frank said in surprise.
"Yes, Mr. Longbottom," Professor McGonagall said, walking toward the halls. Frank got up and followed.
The rest of them looked at each other uncertainly.
"Frank can't be in trouble can he?" Alice asked, worried.
"Wortham expelled him," Kingsley said dryly. "She must've found out that it was Frank and I who dumped the load of cockroach cluster in her glass last Christmas."
"Then, wouldn't McGonagall want to speak with you too?" Molly asked frankly.
"Oh yeah…" Kingsley said with a dawn of comprehension.
"Frank is probably promoted to Headboy number two or something," Emmeline said brightly, then her face turned grave. "Well…I was just trying to be optimistic."
They finished lunch without the usual lax, cheerful demeanor they usually had and Alice looked worried when Frank hadn't returned by the end of lunch.
It was after all their classes were over and that Frank still hadn't returned when they trooped down to Professor McGonagall's office and knocked on her door.
"Yes?" a worn, breaking voice came from within.
"Uh…professor?" Kingsley said uncertainly. "We, we were just wondering…" he stopped.
Professor McGonagall was in tears, her hands gripping a tartan handkerchief.
"Sorry, professor." Moody said.
"You want to know where Longbottom is, am I correct?" Professor McGonagall said, pulling herself together.
"Yes." They answered timidly.
"Well, he's not at Hogwarts anymore. He left on the train."
"It was my idea!" Kingsley said. "Mine! I was the one that put the cockroach cluster…!" he stopped at Professor McGonagall's surprised face and realized she had no idea what he was talking about.
"Frank's father was killed today." Professor McGonagall said in a faint whisper. "He's gone home for the funeral."
"What?" they asked, bewildered.
"He was murdered by an unknown villain. We're trying to track down the murderer."
"Murdered?" Alice asked, her eyes opened wide.
"We believe it has a connection to a group of Dark Arts wizards. It seems that Frank's father knew some important information and therefore killed." Professor McGonagall said seriously, taking in a sharp breath. "I don't advise you to owl Frank right now. He is still in distress. Leave him alone to collect his thoughts. He'll be back when he feels ready."
"But professor…" said Arthur.
"I can't tell you anymore than I know, Mr. Weasley. Now I advise you all to go down to dinner…" she broke off and inhaled a sharp breath again.
"Are we allowed to go to the funeral?"
"Absolutely not." Professor McGonagall said. "I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but the funeral is for family only. They don't want to draw much attention…" Professor McGonagall suddenly realized she had said too much and stopped.
She then got up and opened her door. They walked out, one by one.
"I'm sorry." Professor McGonagall said again, gripping her handkerchief. "Good day."
* *
"Why Frank's dad?" Alice asked, in tears in the Gryffindor common room. "He was so nice, he never did anything to anyone…"
"He was a strong wizard," said Arthur thinking. "He must've knew something…"
Kingsley looked at them. "I think it had something to do with the new, rising Dark Wizard."
They looked at each other.
"They're starting to kill off important people." said Kingsley, in thought. "Remember when Patil's mother disappeared?"
"Well, she's disappeared, but---" Emmeline said.
"She's been missing for months now." Kingsley said. "And I read on the Daily Prophet that a man named Franchouser Bones was found dead in his home this summer."
They were quiet.
Finally, Molly spoke, "But why all these innocent people?"
"Patil and Bones were both half-bloods," Kingsley said. "But I don't know why Frank's father…unless he knew something important…"
"That's enough." Emmeline said. "We can't go on making these theories on what happened."
"The Dark Wizard is rising," Kingsley said. "He's rising and no one is doing anything about it!"
"Kingsley!" Emmeline said, taken back.
"The deaths! The disappearing! I bet they're linked!"
"Calm down, Kingsley, people have died before." Moody spoke.
"Someone in the Ministry had better stop them, soon." Kingsley said bitterly before going up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.
Moody went after him.
Alice was in tears and slowly walked up the stairs to her dormitory. Emmeline went with her, an arm over her shoulder.
Molly and Arthur sat there, in front of the fire, completely shocked.
"You know Arthur," said Molly softly. "If something happened to Frank's father, something can happen to my father."
"I know." said Arthur quietly. "And my brothers…"
Molly got up and sat beside Arthur, resting her head upon his chest.
"Arthur…I don't want anything to happen to my family." said Molly.
"There, Molly, it's all right. They're fine…"
"I can't bear it if something happened…"
"Your parents aren't Aurors, they're probably not target…"
"Arthur…"
Molly cried while Arthur embraced her, her tears falling down her face and quietly landing upon his heart.
* *
The news of Frank's father traveled around school the next day. During breakfast, the Daily Prophet printed an obituary and a wanted statement.
Death of Honored Auror
Frank Longbottom, Sr. passed away on January 2nd. He was a devoted husband, a loving father and an honored Auror. Given an Order of Merlin, First Class for saving the lives of ten people (7 wizards and 3 Muggles) the previous summer during which he single handedly battled against a swarm of Dementors, this valiant hero was murdered by an unknown villain the night of January 2nd.
"We are frantically searching for the murderer of Longbottom," said Dearborn, Minister of Magic. "We urge everyone to take special cautions and be extremely alert until the murderer is caught."
Meanwhile, there is a thousand Galleon reward for any information pertaining to the murder.
Arthur finished reading, looking livid; his porridge remained untouched.
There were whispers all over the Great Hall as students read and reread the article. The only table that wasn't looking grave and serious was the Slytherin table.
Malfoy kept on laughing his head off and entertaining a group with some sort of joke. They looked over to the Gryffindor table occasionally.
Professor Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. The Great Hall ceased talking immediately.
"As you all may have heard," said the headmaster, looking very serious. "There may be one or more convicts on the run at this moment. Because of this situation, the Minister of Magic has decided to have dragons around the school, guarding the entrances and exits." He paused as a mixture of anxious and excited murmurs whispered. He cleared his throat again. "We are also going to make a new curfew. No student shall go out into the grounds after six. No student is to go out to the grounds at all alone or in a group unless accompanied by a teacher. Any student that fail to follow these new rules will be expelled." Professor Dumbledore said gravely and sat back down.
"I can't believe it!" Kingsley said. "Six o' clock curfew?"
"No one allowed outside unless accompanied by a teacher?" Molly said, frowning.
"Who do you reckon did this?" Bertie said, coming over to them.
They all shook their heads.
"Dragons!" Bertie said, his face anxious. "Can you believe that? Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"Wait…" Arthur said, thinking. "Maybe…maybe…" He looked at them. "My brother might come here!"
"Percy?" Molly asked.
"Yeah…yeah, he works with dragons, blimey, he might come to Hogwarts again!" Arthur said, suddenly happier.
"Why so happy, Weasley?" Lucius said, strolling over with his girlfriend smiling smugly. "Came upon the ownership of a real galleon?"
"Go away," said Emmeline, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Heard about what happened to your friend there," Lucius continued, smirking. "You've better think hard of who to follow after graduation. Don't want to pick the losing side." He smirked again and walked away.
"What's he playing at?" Arthur said. "Losing side?"
"Problems in the brain area," said Kingsley. "He doesn't speak sense."
"Well, I don't know about you guys," said Emmeline. "But I don't like the sound of convicts on the loose. I'm going to work extra hard in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"You are passing the class with an O on every paper!" said Kingsley, bewildered.
"Well, that's not enough," said Emmeline, biting into a piece of toast.
"Yeah, she's right," said Moody. "This is real. Something's happening out there and people are bein' killed."
Molly leaned upon Arthur again, her mind filled with worries.
-
A/N: There'll be happier moments. : )