Chapter 26
Arthur was shocked that the Carrows had won. He looked over at Amelia Bones, who was sitting next to him. Her count matched his. They had each counted the votes twice. The Carrows had won by one vote. Amelia then handed Arthur a folded piece of parchment. Arthur opened it and on it was written 'Minerva.' Arthur looked at Amelia and said,
"Why did you hand me this? "
"That's my vote. I didn't add it because I wasn't sure it would matter. If we add this, then they are tied." Arthur then said,
"Which means as minister I get to break the tie! The board can't fault me for following the rules, can they?" Amelia shrugged. Arthur nodded and the two of them walked out of the chamber and back into the board room. Arthur cleared his throat and said, "May I have everyone's attention please." Once the room was quiet, Arthur continued, "The votes have been counted and there was a tie! This means as minister I get to break the tie and my vote is Minerva McGonagall." There were several mumbles among the board members. Then a high pitched sound of a throat being cleared could be heard. Everyone turned towards the small woman in pink in the back of the room.
" I think the votes were tampered with. I demand a recount by a show of hands." Arthur then said,
" Okay those in favor of the Carrows please raise your hand." Arthur counted the votes and projected the results on the wall. "Okay thank you! Now those in favor of Minerva please raise your hand." Arthur counted those votes and placed then next to the votes for the Carrows. There was in fact a tie. Arthur turned back to the room and said, "My vote stands. Professor Minerva McGonagall will be the new headmistress of Hogwarts and taking over as deputy headmaster will be Professor Severus Snape. Meeting adjourned!" With that Arthur walked out of the board room. He quickly walked back to his office. He closed his door and told his secretary he didn't want to be disturbed unless it was an emergency. Arthur sat down at his desk and put his head in his hands. He took a few deep breaths. The vote had almost gone really bad. He got up from his desk and walked over to his fireplace. He turned on his floo and grabbed some floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. He threw down the floo powder and said, "Minerva Mcgonagall's office". The fireplace in Minerva's office began to glow. She did not look up as Arthur stepped through. Minerva said,
"Hey Arthur! How was the board meeting?"
"Well, it was about as good as one would expect.!" Minerva looked up and said,
"Oh god, the board didn't approve me did they?" Arthur sat down.
"They did but you were tied with Alecto and Amerus Carrow. I ended up breaking the tie. When the votes were originally counted the Carrows were up by one vote. Then Amelia gave me her vote and that tied it up."
"Oh wow! I was up against the Carrows! You weren't kidding that sounds stressful, I am so sorry!"
"It's all OK!" Minerva said,
"Just so you know I'm not moving into Albus's office I can't bring myself to do that, not yet anyways."
"That is fine! The choice is yours and Severus is going to be taking over deputy head master."
"OK I can't believe he is gone. I will make sure that Severus knows. Thank you Arthur for looking out for the well being of Hogwarts."
Arthur smiled and said,
"I didn't do anything. You are the one that is looking out for Hogwarts. You are going to keep this school running as Albus would. I can't even begin to think about what would have happened if the Carrows had won. You will make a great head mistress."
Minerva said with a smile,
"Thanks Arthur! His shoes are going to be hard to fill. There is so much to do. I already cancelled exams as no one would be able to concentrate.
"You are going to do great. I agree with you." Arthur said,
"I just hope I don't screw up."
"You won't Minerva. I will let you get back to work. I should get back to the ministry." Arthur stepped back into the fireplace and flooed back to his office. Minerva finished what she was working on and went to find her husband. She found him in his office brewing some potions. She closed the door and cast 'silencio' with her wand. Severus looked up when Minerva closed the door. Severus smiled at his wife as she walked towards him.
"Well Arthur was just in my office."
"What did he want?"
"The board voted today on the new headmaster position." Severus stood up and took Minerva's hands in his and said,
"Let me guess you won in a majority vote!"
"No, I only won by one vote because there was a tie and Arthur got the final say as minister."
"Are you serious? Who else were you up against? I can't think of anyone who would want the job." Minerva swallowed and then said,
"Arthur said I was up against the Carrows." Severus's jaw dropped. Then after a few moments Severus said,
"You were up against Alecto and Amerus? They are some of the most loyal death eaters. They are also some of the worst kinds of people. They are ruthless and horrible and have no problem killing. I can't even begin to imagine what they would have done to the school if they had won. I am so glad you won."
Minerva then said,
"I don't want to know what would have happened. You will be taking over as deputy headmaster. That should get a few certain people off your back."
"I will do my best to fill your shoes. I may not be able to do what you do but I will try." Minerva smiled and said,
"You will do just fine Sev." She then kissed him. A few kisses later, Minerva left. The rest of the school year flew by.
The first half of summer Harry spent at home. He and Hermione wrote letters back and forth. They were all in a secret code that only they knew in case the letters fell into the wrong hands. The second half of the summer was spent at Grimmauld Place as the order was having meetings to try and come up with a plan since Voldemort was back. Harry and Hermione finalized their plans to hunt down the last four horcruxes and figure out how to destroy the locket. They were so busy planning their trip that they didn't notice a certain redhead was listening.
The day before the train was scheduled to leave Ron approached Harry and said,
"I know that you and Hermione are planning on going on a hunt for the remaining horcruxes."
Harry looked at him and said,
"I don't know what you were talking about." Ron replied by saying,
"I heard you and Hermione talking. You are planning on skipping 7th year and trying to find the remaining four horcruxes." Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He then said,
"How much do you know?"
"I know just that. I stopped listening after that. I don't think you two should go alone. It's going to be dangerous."
"While I appreciate the kind offer, and please don't take this the wrong way, but we don't need another connection to Voldemort, mine is bad enough." Ron smiled and said,
"Of course! I totally understand and I didn't think about that. I don't want any harm to come to you
especially after all you have been through. Just be careful and don't do anything too stupid." Harry then said,
"Please don't tell anyone about what we are doing. I mean that no one can know."
"I won't tell a soul." Everyone got ready for the trip back to Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione packed additional bags. They left with everyone else but then slipped into an alley and took off for a forest to figure out how to destroy the locket. At first no one noticed they were missing. It wasn't until the train arrived in Hogsmeade and Tonks didn't see Harry get off the train.
Harry set up the tent while Hermione set up several wards to protect them. Once they got everything set up, they sat down at the table and looked at the Locket. After about 5 minutes, Harry broke the silence,
"I have no idea how to destroy this."
"I remember reading a book in the library that says basilisk venom can destroy your horcrux."
"Well that's just great since we have that just sitting around."
"We may have to wait on destroying that until we're able to get to Hogwarts.
"Wait maybe we can find a stick that has come in contact with basilisk venom." Hermione gently smacked Harry playfully and said,
"Ha ha very funny! I doubt there have any sticks in the woods that have come in contact with basilisk venom." Harry kissed her and then put the locket around his neck. The next day Harry was sitting outside the tent, and he saw the patronus of a doe. He followed it and it led him to a frozen lake. He looked around at the frozen lake and after a few minutes he noticed the doe had vanished. He was about to leave to go back to the tent, when he noticed something glistening under the frozen water. He walked carefully out onto the lake to get a better look. When Harry got close, he saw that it was a sword. He knelt down to get a closer look. He then realized it was not just any sword it was the sword of Gryffindor. Just then it dawned on Harry that the sword had basilisk venom on it since Harry had used it down in the chamber of secrets to stab the basilisk. He stood up to go tell Hermione, when the ice under him began to crack. The next thing Harry knew he had plummeted into the frozen lake. The water was freezing. He decided that since he was already soaking wet, he should grab the sword. Harry swam down to the sword and grabbed it but when he tried to swim back up he couldn't no matter how hard he tried. In fact, the harder he tried, the more tired he became. Harry struggled with dropping the sword or dying in the frozen lake. He was just about to run out of air when he felt a pair of arms grab him and pull him out of the lake. When Harry reached the surfaced, he gasped for breath. He lifted the sword and crawled to the bank. He sat up and looked around. He didn't see anyone. Just then as Harry heard Hermione's voice, he saw what looked like a stag disappear into the woods. Harry stood up in Hermione ran over to him. She threw her arms around him,
"Harry, I was worried. Why are you all wet and what are you doing with a sword?" Harry grabbed her hand and walked quickly back to the tent before saying anything. Once they were safe in the tent, Harry placed the sword on the table. He then pulled out his wand and cast the hot air charm to dry his clothes. Once his clothes were dry, he said,
"I fell into the lake trying to get a closer look at the sword."
"What is so special about the sword that you would risk your own life for it?"
"This is not just any sword, it's the Sword of Gryffindor."
"Cool we now have the Sword of Gryffindor!"
"Hermione I use the sword to kill the basilisk in the Chamber of secrets during second year. I also think my dad pulled me from the lake." Hermione then said,
"Now we can use the sword to destroy the locket. You think Remus pulled you from the lake?" Harry shook his head,
"Not Remus, my father James. After I crawled off of the ice and caught my breath, I saw a stag patronus disappear into the woods."
"I guess that makes sense. Let's destroy the locket." Harry took the locket from around his neck. He grabbed the sword and walked out of the tent. He placed the locket on a stump. Harry held the sword between him and Hermione and said,
"Together?" Hermione placed her hands on the sword with Harry and the two of them destroyed the locket. As they did this, Harry got a sharp pain in his head. It lasted a few moments, then it stopped. Hermione grabbed the busted locket while Harry grabbed the sword. They walked back to the tent hand in hand. Once they arrived back at the tent, Hermione placed the broken locket in her bag and pulled out a notebook. She flipped it open and checked off the box next to the locket.
"Only four more to go." She closed her notebook and put it back in her bag. Harry then said,
"I wonder what the other four horcruxes are." Hermione shrugged. Later that night Harry and Hermione were laying on a blanket looking up at the stars. They figured out which stars were apart of which constellations. Hermione found the Big Dipper and said,
"There is Ursa Major otherwise know as the Big Dipper." Harry smiled saying,
"I love how the Big Dipper looks like a cup." Harry then sat up, "That's it! I remembered another horcrux. I remember seeing a golden cup in the penesive in Dumbledore's office. I think its original owner was a Hufflepuff." Hermione sat up and said,
"That's great now we just need to figure out where it is." The two decided to head in for the night. Hermione pulled out her notebook and wrote Hufflepuff cup next to the next horcrux on the list.
The next morning, Harry turned on the radio and listened to the morning news. There were death eaters going on killing sprees, killing muggles, muggle borns, and blood traitors. After a few minutes, Harry turned it off and said,
"I can't believe that Voldemort is killing random people." Just then the wards fell and Harry and Hermione heard voices. Harry had used the taboo of Voldemort's name, not thinking. They ran out of the tent to see a group of snatchers running towards then led by none other than Fenir Greyback. They turned and ran the opposite direction. They soon realized that they could not outrun them. Hermione drew her wand and cast a stinging hex at Harry. This caused his face to swell up. He pulled off his glasses and placed them in his pocket. He then drew his wand and cast a few stunning spells at the snatchers. The snatchers disarmed the two and grabbed them. Greyback questioned the two's identity. Harry told them that he was Vernon Dudley, son of a ministry worker and a Slytherin. Hermione claimed that she was Penelope Clearwater and a half blood. The group believed then until one recognized Hermione from her picture in the Daily Prophet. The snatchers took them to Malfoy Manor instead of the ministry. Upon arriving, Draco was called into the sitting room to identify Harry. Harry swallowed as Draco looked him over. After a moment, Draco said,
"This is not Harry. I have never seen this boy in my life." Satisfied Bellatrix said,
"Throw him in the dungeon with the others. I want to have a word with the mudblood." Harry tried to fight as he was dragged away. He was pushed down the stairs to the dungeon where he was locked in. Harry put his glasses on and frantically looked around the room. He then heard a voice say,
"Hello Harry!" He turned around to see Luna. Harry gave Luna a hug. Harry then saw two more people step out of the shadows, Garrick Ollivander and Griphook. Just then an ear-piercing scream filled the air. Harry slowly turned to face the stairs and the locked door at the top of the stairs. He instantly knew who was screaming. Hermione was being tortured. This pissed Harry off. He began to breathe very hard and fast. Luna put her hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry said,
"Luna, I would back up if I were you. I don't want to hurt you." Harry handed Luna his glasses and she backed up with Ollivander and Griphook behind her. Harry let out a howl and then a big gray wolf was standing where Harry had just been.
AN:/ I know that werewolves are typically scrawny and have less hair but I have always pictured them more like the wolves from Twilight. They are more menacing and deadlier too. I don't' really see the werewolf that Remus turns into killing anyone, but the twilight wolves can for sure.
My dear readers I am so sorry for the delay. My beta has been very busy. I appreciate all of you guys more than you will ever know.