A/N: I feel pretty! I feel pretty! Okay, not really, it's just a song. Anyway! I do feel thankful towards my new reviewers: MuzzyOlorea, Jen KenLee, Riley17. You dudes frickin' ROCK!! ::Clears throat::
Lock and Key
Chapter 20
Ginny gushed over Hermione's necklace the following day. She said it was marvelous.
"Both Ron and Harry gave you exceptional presents," Ginny remarked, giving the necklace back, "Do you think either one is trying to tell you something?"
"No!," Hermione replied, not meeting Ginny's eyes, "No! T-they're my best friends Gin, t-that's all. Nothing more." Ginny studied her for a moment and then said:
"Are you… still sort of stuck on Harry?" Hermione looked at her and then away, flustered.
"Yeah… you could say that," she quietly said, beginning to play nervously with her hair.
"I know it's hard Hermione, trust me. Harry's a great guy, and it may seem impossible but you'll eventually get over it."
"Over what, exactly?"
"The crushing feeling that he's unattainable. But hey, then you find that one person and everything's all right again." Ginny relayed.
"Sure." Hermione muttered, gazing at the floor.
Ron moved his bishop, making Ginny frown. There went another one of her pawns. Why was he so skilled at this game?! The Weasley siblings sat in the library, playing chess, along with Harry and Hermione. Harry was doing Potions homework and Hermione had her nose stuck in one of the room's books. With the other two absorbed in their match, Harry and Hermione were able to steal secretive, wistful glances at each other. It sort of became a game, usually ending with both returning to their task at hand, grinning. Neither could stop thinking about yesterday's escapade.
"Hey Harry." Ron started.
"What?" he demanded, sounding startled.
"Uh… just wanted to know if you wanted to play Quidditch."
"Today? Here?!" Ginny wondered. Her brother looked at her in an annoyed fashion.
"Well, obviously not! There's not enough room on the grounds, and I'm waiting for more sunlight," he explained.
"Forget that you may attract unwanted attention." Hermione mumbled. Ginny smiled.
"No, we'll have to go to the Burrow one day." Ron observed, not having heard the last comment.
"All right." Harry agreed. A piercing shout, one of Mrs. Weasley's, was then heard. The four Gryffindors' heads shot towards the door, intrigued. Moments later they were rushing to the entrance of Grimmauld Place. At the foot of the staircase stood Arthur, Molly, Fred, George and Percy Weasley. Molly had tears in her eyes and it appeared as if she had just given Percy a suffocating embrace. Mr. Weasley's face was expressionless, but the twins had no trouble showing their irritation.
"Father." Percy humbly stated, sticking a hand out. Arthur accepted it and said in a formal voice:
"Son."
"Look who else decided to pop up." George steely remarked, referring to Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. Ron looked speechless, and Ginny, uncertain.
"Hello Ron, Ginny." Percy warmly greeted.
"P-P-Percy," she stammered. He gave his sister an awkward hug. The trio moved near the twins.
"We just showed up for lunch and this… brother, was here." Fred reported. Hermione bit her lip, feeling the palpable tension.
"Fred, George, Ron—you're all right?" Percy recognized, nodding at Ron.
"Smashing." George bluntly replied.
"I hear about your shop all the time." Molly was watching her children exchange words with a desperate anticipation.
"Do you now?" Fred inquired, arms folded. The third eldest Weasley child then turned to the only two not related to him.
"Hermione, Harry," he greeted.
"How are you, Percy." Hermione slowly responded. Harry didn't bother saying anything. He had never completely forgiven Percy for encouraging Ron to stop being his friend.
"I hope you all had a grand Christmas?" said Percy.
"It was nice, yes." Arthur told him.
"You would've known had you been here." George muttered, only loud enough for those right next to him to hear.
"I got you all gifts. They're at, m-my flat," he noted.
"Are you hungry dear?," Molly pressed, "You must be. Come into the kitchen for lunch, everyone. You can tell us about your job—everything."
"Is Charlie here at the moment? Is Bill still on… his mission?" Percy asked as he let his mother lead him away. Arthur and Ginny followed.
"I don't know if I'm hungry anymore." Fred pointed out.
"Why are you still so angry with him?" Hermione wondered.
"Because he brutally bashed our family! His family!"
"Everyone deserves a second chance, and you're right—you are family," she meekly mentioned. There was silence and then Ron sighed. Shrugging, he went towards the kitchen. Hermione was next, and then a dawdling Harry. He didn't have to talk…. Finally, Fred & George trudged after all the others, even if it was grudgingly.
The rest of the vacation passed by too quickly. Ron had tried to get his Quidditch plan approved, but it was rejected by more than one adult. And they always used the whole "safety" excuse. (Ron wanted to scream from the rooftops that Voldemort wouldn't be at the Burrow, but sulked in his murky anger as an alternative). There were two more Order meetings and the kids consecutively missed both.
"What is the point of being of age if it doesn't work to your advantage?! For anything?!" Ron shouted, absolutely frustrated.
The twins were back in heavy business and didn't appear as much. When they did, it was usually only George, explaining with a grin that Fred was with Angelina. Harry's training sessions continued and he had to come up with believable fables to feed to his friends. Hermione could always be found wearing her gold necklace, and she put the pin in her hair once or twice for Ron's sake. (It wasn't that she disliked it—on the contrary; it was simply meant for more formal dress). As far as his romance with Hermione went, it was quite difficult achieving loneliness, especially with Ron and Ginny there. They had only snogged twice more since Christmas. The first time had been while Ginny washed her hair and while Charlie explained the finer points of a Quidditch move to Ron; it had been rather short. The second time had been at night. Hermione crept out of her room at midnight and went to Harry's. For some reason that time had been extremely thrilling. Maybe the darkness had played a role in it, or the knowledge that everyone else was asleep. Whatever the case, she left by means of the magic door and he went back to sleep very happy.
It was eleven o'clock at night. Harry sat on his bed, in his pajamas, with no light source. He had the Person Personifier in his hands and was revolving it slowly. (Earlier in the day he met with McGonagall for another rigid lesson). He had only used the gadget a few times since having it, mostly using it to confuse occupants at Grimmauld Place by pretending to be another wizard, or to mock Snape. Harry had, however, wanted to discover something since he had laid eyes upon it. It might very well bring him pain, but even so… he'd be able to experience it again.
Harry took his wand that was on the pillow and tapped the Person Personifier.
"James Potter," he quietly stated. It took him a little while to finally bring it up to his mouth, and when he did, his hand was shaking.
"Prongs," came the voice of his father. The Personifier dropped quickly as Harry's eyes filled with water that he refused to let fall. So….
He tapped it again, vision still blurred.
"Sirius Black," he whispered. Harry hesitated once more before testing it.
"Sirius," said Sirius. Harry threw the Personifier over the side of his bed and covered his eyes with his arm.
Ron walked into the drawing room, having just come back from the kitchen to get a snack.
"It's back to Hogwarts tomorrow," he blandly announced.
"Don't remind me," muttered Ginny. Harry actually didn't mind returning to the castle. There would be many more places he could sneak away to with Hermione, and it'd be much easier. Grimmauld Place was too small, in that sense anyway, and it was challenging escaping Ginny and Ron.
"Our last time." Harry mentioned thoughtfully.
"Bittersweet feeling." Ron said, sitting down.
"NEWTs are almost here, Harry and Ron. We must buckle down and start studying! I can't believe I waited so long! I'm working on schedules right now." Hermione told them, writing furiously. The boys groaned silently as Ginny smiled, petting Crookshanks.
Commotion then began. The front door could be heard opening and closing repetitively, and anxious voices followed it. Rapid footsteps were then heard through various parts of the house, accompanied by urgent voices. The four looked at each other.
"What's going on?" Ginny wondered, sitting up.
"Emergency meeting?" Ron put forth, sounding hopeful and worried.
"In the drawing room!," they heard Molly say, "Drawing room!"
"They're not looking for one of us?!" Harry said, surprised. Moments later Mrs. Weasley came bustling into the room.
"Oh! No," she remarked, seeing their bewildered faces, "Er, you four will have—" Albus Dumbledore then swooped into the room, followed by a few wizards.
"Albus, the children…" she began.
"Are fine, Molly. There are more pressing matters," he responded. She bit her lip as Ron looked excitedly at Harry. Hermione frowned and Ginny moved to join the others as more Order members entered the drawing room.
When it was full, and they sat huddled near the fireplace, eager, Dumbledore began to speak.
"There is a crisis at the Ministry," he started, "A short while ago, Cornelius Fudge claimed he had been put under the Imperius Curse by a Death Eater." Cries and talk immediately erupted. The Gryffindors' jaws dropped. Dumbledore held up his hand and silenced them all.
"Fudge is deducing that the Death Eater works for the Ministry since a hooded individual was not seen walking into the Ministry, and knows that that task is highly improbable. The Minister claims he was hit from behind and that it took a few minutes before he was able to regain control of himself. Apparently, when Cornelius had broken the spell, he saw the man running down the corridor. All exits and fireplaces were sealed, and an anti-Apparating charm was instantly cast by the Minister himself," the headmaster said.
"Was he, the Death Eater, caught?" asked Hestia Jones.
"Supposedly. They have a man detained, and he is refusing to speak."
"What was Fudge sent to do?" asked Charlie Weasley.
"Get into the Department of Coveted and Confidential Information. Apparently, he was ordered to obtain all of the information he could on the Order of the Phoenix." Dumbledore said. Murmurs started.
"Was the Death Eater successful?" pondered Remus.
"No. Cornelius came to his senses just as he approached the door. We need to go to the Ministry at once and investigate ourselves. I have been asked to be present at the interrogation myself. Kingsley, Arthur, Nymphadora, and Emmeline are already there since they were working, as are Sarai Higgins and Severus Snape."
"Meeting adjourned then?" growled Moody, ready to leave. Dumbledore nodded and everyone quickly departed.
"We're coming." Harry remarked, standing up. Dumbledore and the few who still remained turned to look at him.
"Yeah, we are!" Ron energetically added, also standing. Hermione appeared horrified.
"What?!" questioned Remus.
"We're coming to the Ministry as well," Harry said, "We have a right to. We're practically a part of the Order. We know just as much about Voldemort as any member, probably more. We want to come and can't be told not to."
"Yes! We're of age and you can't stop us! We're going!" Ron stated.
"You most certainly are not!," shrieked Molly, "I don't care how old you are! You're still a teenager and in school ! It's too dangerous!"
"No it's not!"
"We just fought a hoard of dementors—that's not dangerous?" Hermione uncertainly commented, standing up at last.
"They are right Molly, Remus," Dumbledore acknowledged, "They are of age and they have been through a great deal, have done more terrible things. You three may join us."
"What about me?!" cried Ginny.
"You are not going!," deemed Molly, near tears, "I will stay here with you!"
"So will I." Charlie volunteered.
"It's not fair! I've done just as much as they have!" shouted Ginny, running out of the room. Her brother went after her as Molly fell in a chair, blinking tears away.
"We must leave. Harry, Ronald, Hermione—you know to bring your wands." Dumbledore noted, nodding and walking out. Molly was eyeing them warily.
"Stay close to me," Remus instructed in a tense voice, "Do not stray."
When they were inside the Ministry of Magic, witches and wizards were seen bustling around hurriedly. McGonagall met Dumbledore, Remus, and the three teenagers, alerting them that Fudge was in the first conference room on their right with Amelia Bones and others. (She raised an eyebrow at the trio but said nothing). Indeed, inside the room were both Ministers, various Aurors, and various Order members.
"Ah, Albus!," greeted Fudge, agitatedly, "Wait—what's this?"
"Children?" asked a Ministry employee, outraged.
"Unacceptable!" added a Wizengamot official.
"We're not children!" Ron indignantly said.
"Leave them," ordered Amelia Bones, "They are fine. Harry, how are you?" He merely looked at her and gave a short nod, as everyone else began to notice that it was Harry Potter and not just any child. Fudge gave an odd smile and Snape cut his eyes. Typical that Potter would be allowed to tag along.
"Harry, dear boy," he hailed. Harry glared at him. Fudge, along with Snape, was on his list of unforgivables.
"Cornelius, your story please." Dumbledore commented. The Minister of Magic launched into his tale for the fifth time since it happened. Harry listened to detect any hint of lying, but didn't note one.
"We are about to go incriminate the man right now." Bones reported when Fudge had finished.
"The people with whom he worked are being questioned as well," announced Kingsley, arms folded.
"His wand was proven to have performed the Imperius Curse," divulged Midge Thornton, a Wizengamot witch, "It was Samuel Micheals." Dumbledore nodded.
"Let us proceed then," he remarked.
"It was decided that Cornelius hereshould have some time off Albus." Moody revealed, sounding repulsed.
"Yes. Still shaken by… the thing. Think a month… be enough." Fudge rambled.
"I see," the headmaster said.
"I will, naturally, take his place until he is able to return." Bones remarked.
"Are you sure you don't need to go into hiding Minister?" Snape pondered, only a few catching the sarcasm he laced with it.
"To Micheals, to… interrogate, the man." Fudge declared, puffing up somewhat proudly. He left with Bones, Shacklebolt, and two of the Wizengamot. (All the others would not be attending the questioning).
"Uh, Professor?" started Harry, speaking to Dumbledore, "Are we allowed to go, or is it too—"
"You may hear what this man has to say, Harry, though I ask you not repeat it to anyone," he replied. Harry nodded and Hermione testified:
"Of course we won't."
"Remus, you may join us as well."
"Yes." Lupin said, not really wanting to leave Harry's side.
Samuel Micheals was being held on the second level, in a room that belonged to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Tonks, a Tonks with flowing yellow hair and violet eyes, was guarding the door and grinned when she saw whom the last people in were.
"Get a confession out of 'im," she whispered to the three. Inside was solely a single chair in the center of the room, with a man perched on it. Micheals was drained of color but had a razor thin set mouth. His arms hung at his sides and he had bags under his eyes, despite being rather young. He didn't have the courtesy to even look at them when they came in, but upon spotting a lightning bolt scar, he glanced intently.
"Samuel K. Micheals—you are accused of being a Death Eater of Voldemort. Do you deny it?" boomed Bones. He didn't move or speak.
"You allegedly performed the Imperius Curse on Cornelius Fudge. Do you deny it?" Nothing.
"Your wand was examined and it was uncovered that you recently carried out an Unforgivable Curse. Can you explain?" Stillness.
"Are you in league with You-Know-Who?!" the (first) Minister shouted, suddenly angry. Ron glanced at Harry. Micheals shot Fudge a contemptuous look and laughed a little, though it was full of fear.
"Get the Veritaserum; he's not cooperating." Fudge curtly told Kingsley. As he made to move, so did Samuel Micheals.
"You can't stop the Dark Lord!" he hollered. Without warning, he grabbed Fudge's wand, who was closest to him, and pointed it at his chest. Almost everyone cried out, and Dumbledore & Kingsley moved to stop him. Micheals yelled out the incantation, a red light coming forth, and he slumped over in the chair. Amelia Bones looked horrified and Remus' hand had instinctively gone to Harry's shoulder.
"He just…," Hermione whispered, hand covering her mouth, "He just… killed himself!"
A/N: Ha ha, did you like how I just made up that Department? Nice. Erm… there was something I needed to say. Crap. Don't remember. Probably wasn't important anyway. Next chapter on Friday and it's when they go back to Hogwarts. Blergh!! WAIT! COME BACK! I just remembered what I had to say! I put that little excerpt in there showing Harry and the Personifier 'cause I wanted to show that Sirius' death still affects him. Kay, s'all.