Harry Potter and the Golden Labyrinth
Book Seven Fanfic
Disclaimer – Anything that you recognise belongs to J K Rowling.
A/N: Our main characters battle it out with the adults and finally manage to leave the Burrow…but will they ever return?
Chapter Seven – Leaving HomeThe next day Harry set to mastering all the spells that Ron and Hermione had discovered and learnt over the past few weeks. His mind kept on wandering back to the memory, and every time he thought of it he felt relieved. After seeing Snape's memory he hadn't been able to imagine how the two teenagers who so obviously hated each other could end up getting married. He had even had some unpleasant thoughts that perhaps James had forced Lily in some way. But in Remus' memory Harry had seen them change, and it was easy to work out what happened next.
At midmorning, when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the kitchen table having a drink, there was a tapping on the window. Looking up Harry could see four large tawny owls struggling for space on the windowsill. He stood up and hurried over to let them in. One of the owls flew to each of the four of them, all carrying a large parchment envelope attached to its legs. With a sinking feeling, Harry realised that these must be the letters from Hogwarts. Although none of they had mentioned it, because it was too awful a thought, they had all been wondering if Hogwarts School was going to close.
Harry took his letter off the owl and read the name written on the front, then flipped it over and broke the seal. He pulled out the heavy parchment letter and shook it open. He started to read, ignoring the others doing the same.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
(Order of Merlin, Second Class)
Dear Mr Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be opening this up-coming year. It has been decided that the current situation only makes it imperative that young witches and wizards become proficient magic-users as soon as possible. Due to this there will be some changes in the syllabus, to include more practical, defensive magic in the earlier years. In addition, all pupils will be required to attend Defence Club, which will be running every evening after lessons, at least once a week. This should help them prepare for the difficult times ahead.
New rules will also be in place, to ensure the maximum protection for all. Pupils must go to their house common rooms as soon as lessons have finished. At night the heads of the houses will magically seal the entrances to their common rooms. If a student wishes to go anywhere after school, they must ask a teacher. If the teacher deems it important enough they will escort the pupil to their destination. A new library system is currently being set up to allow students to find and borrow books without leaving their common rooms. All after school clubs that cannot function in the house common rooms will not exist this year, therefore the Quidditch Cup will not be taking place.
Additional charms and protection spells are being put in place to ensure that Hogwarts is secure. However, we cannot state anything here for confidential reasons. There will also be Aurors present at all times.
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. Transport to school will vary this year from pupil to pupil, due to the fact that the Hogwarts Express is too conspicuous a target. On August the thirty-first you will be informed of your transport to Hogwarts. For security reasons, please do not tell anyone else how you will be travelling to school. Be prepared to have your luggage searched, and all students will be given one drop of veritalism upon entering the grounds to check who they are. No other questions will be asked of them until the effects have worn off.
I am sorry to inform you that your post as Quidditch Captain is no longer applicable, due to the fact that quidditch will not be allowed this year as it brings too many pupils into the open at one time.
However, due to your success in your illegal Defence group in the fifth year, we would like to offer you a post in addition to your studies. As a student teacher, you will attend your lessons as usual, and teach your own group in the evening Defence Club. In the daytime you will be regarded as a student, and in the evenings you will be regarded as a teacher. We must impress on you the seriousness of this group, and that it is important above any of your academic studies for the safety of all.
Please send us your reply soon, telling whether you will be returning to Hogwarts or not.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
Harry read the letter through again, feeling a mixture of emotions. He was glad that Hogwarts was staying open, as he agreed that it would help no one if witches and wizards didn't go to school. He only hoped that the securities described and hinted would persuade parents to allow their children to go. His feelings dropped as he read that Quidditch was not going to happen, and he soon realised that the cancellation of many other clubs meant that there would be even less communication between the houses, something he was sure the Sorting Hat would advise against.
The Defence Club sounded like it was going to be a larger and more legal version of the DA that Harry had run two years ago, and he realised that it was a very good idea. He was honoured at the offer of becoming a teacher of one group, which showed that the school had been thinking things through. He looked in his envelope and pulled out the second sheet of parchment, containing his booklist, and a large badge. The badge displayed the Hogwarts crest, and underneath were the works 'Defence Teacher'. He stared at it, realising the responsibility that was being offered to him.
Looking up he saw that Hermione too was staring at a badge in her hand, her mouth hanging slightly open. Walking over, Harry saw that it looked that it was a smaller version of his, with the words 'Head Girl' written under the crest.
'Well done, Hermione.' Harry said softly, breaking the silence that had been filling the kitchen. Ron looked up from his booklist and stared at the badge in Hermione's hand, then his eyes flicked to Harry's badge.
'Head Girl and Head Boy?' He asked, his voice choking slightly as he tried to sound off hand.
Hermione turned to look at Harry. 'Are you Head Boy?' She asked excitedly.
Harry, seeing the badly concealed jealousy on Ron's face, shook his head quickly. 'No, no. Aren't you Head Boy Ron?'
Ron shook his head too, but his face relaxed a bit. 'No I'm not, but that's not surprising really. I never was much of a prefect. We all knew that Hermione would be Head Girl. I wonder who Head Boy is.'
'Well at least we know that it won't be Malfoy.' Hermione said with a small smile. 'I wouldn't want to have to work with him.'
Harry was about to point out that she wouldn't be working with him even if he were Head Boy, when Ron's attention was drawn once again to the badge in Harry's hand. 'So what's that for then? It can't be anything to do with Quidditch, because that's being cancelled this year.'
Hermione and Ginny looked at him curiously as well as Harry held up the badge. 'They want me to be a teacher at the Defence Club they are staring in the evenings. I would be given one of the groups to teach.'
Hermione looked impressed and somewhat jealous as she took the badge to inspect it. 'So you'll have teacher status.' She said wonderingly. 'Sounds like you'll be able to give and take house points, or give detentions. This is just…' words failed Hermione as she looked at Harry's badge, then glanced once again at her own.
'I'd better go tell mum that the letters have arrived.' Ginny said, saving Hermione from trying to find a word to explain just how amazing Harry's badge was, as she turned to go.
Harry looked at Hermione, who had always been destined to be Head Girl. Could he really rip this away from her? 'I suppose you're right, I probably could give detentions. But I'll never know.' He said sadly.
Ron looked up. 'What d'you mean? Aren't you going to do it?' he asked in surprise.
'I'm not going back to Hogwarts. I can't, remember? As much as I'm honoured by this offer, and how much I want to finish my education, I can't go. I have more important things to do. Maybe, one day, if anything goes well, then I'll be able to catch up on what I missed. But until then, I have little choice. I can't go back.'
There was a short silence after Harry's sad speech. Then, without a word, Hermione scrunched up her letter, drew a clean sheet of parchment towards her and started writing their rejections to Hogwarts.
&&&&&&&&&&
Remus came over for supper, but the table was not as crowded as usual as the Twins were at their shop, Mr Weasley was still at the ministry and Charlie was out working for the Order. Hermione and Ron were discussing the vacant jobs at Hogwarts. McGonagal was now Head Mistress, and Professor Flitwick was Deputy Head as well as Head of Ravenclaw. They wondered who the heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin were, who was going to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts and if McGonagal was still going to teach transfiguration.
Harry's thoughts were elsewhere. He felt that he had delayed doing anything long enough. He was of age now, and there was little else stopping him from going. When there was a lull in the talking Harry took the opportunity to announce his plans to the adults.
'In a few days I'm going to be leaving.' He announced. Before the adults came out of their shocked silence he hurried on to explain. 'I have to go to…places…to find out some stuff. No matter what you say I will be going without any Aurors to protect me. Where I go must be a secrete for everyone's sake.'
'And I'm going with him.' Said Hermione firmly.
'Me too.' Ron added, even though the adults had guessed that much already.
A babble of noise rose up from everyone around the table. Harry sat firmly, refusing to answer the hundreds of questions until everyone clamed down.
'Harry, you can't just get up and leave.' Said Remus as if he was trying to make Harry see sense.
'I'm not just getting up and leaving.' Said Harry patiently; he had expected the many objections. 'I'm planning, and packing, and with your help I won't forget anything that I need.'
Remus looked a little appeased by Harry saying he would be allowed to help with the packing at least. However, uneasiness was evident on his face. Harry caught his eyes and stared hard at him.
'Remus, you'll know that I have to go if you think about. Nothing you say will make any difference. I'm going, whether you agree or not. You can decide how difficult this is going to be for all of us.'
Remus met Harry's green eyes and was suddenly overwhelmed by sadness. There was a hardness, determination and maturity there that barely resembled the unsure child he had once known. He looked down and nodded slowly, admitting defeat. There would be no point arguing with this young man.
Ron, however, was having greater difficulties with his mother.
'Ron, you're barely of age!' She cried.
'But I am of age.' He pointed out, although Molly wasn't listening to him.
'I simply won't let you go off gallivanting without even telling me where you're going or when you're coming back.'
'Well I can't tell you where we're going, and if you think about it you know why.'
'I can't see why your own mother isn't allowed to know where you are going.'
'Because if You-Know-Who's supporters come around looking for me they'd torture you because you knew!' Ron yelled desperately.
His shout rose about the general consternation and everyone fell silent. Molly's eyes filled with tears as she desperately fought for an argument. Even if she protested that she wasn't scared of the Death Eaters, there was still the fact that she would be giving away Ron's position.
'Then you admit you are going where there is danger.' She asked with a sob in her voice, trying to find a new reason to refuse to let Ron go.
'No, I never said tha. I'm not going looking for trouble. But surely it is obvious that Death Eaters will be looking for Harry.' A steely note entered his voice. 'If you want me to avoid danger, then you'll have to break my friendship with Harry, and that's not going to happen.'
There was a tense silence, Ron daring his mother to say anything. It was obvious to all that she couldn't argue any more without out insulting Harry. Tearfully, Molly looked at her son. 'I know that Harry needs you to go with him, and that you have to go and do…whatever you are going to do. But,' she took a shaky breath, trying to hold back her tears, 'I mustn't loose you.' She broke down sobbing, and Remus was soon at her side comforting her.
Harry, Ron and Hermione watched sadly. The adults had suspected that they were going to be going away, but they hadn't really accepted it until now. Hermione smiled sadly at her friends, and they could tell her mind was on her muggle parents, who were oblivious to the danger their daughter was about to head into.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The next week was full of making ready for whatever was in store for the trio. They learn spells, bought supplies and made lists of everything they would need. Harry and Ron applied for Apparation tests, and a week after Harry's birthday they both passed. With their licences in hand there was little to stop the friends from leaving. They packed they rucksacks with various items, carefully picked out so that none of the bags were too big or too heavy.
Finally the last evening before they were due to leave arrived. Ron, Harry and Hermione were out the back with Ginny playing a last game of quidditch. They hadn't bothered with a snitch and were playing two on two, chucking the quaffel towards trees instead of hoops. Ginny was just squaring up to take a shot at the tree behind Ron when Mrs Weasley called out of the kitchen window that supper was ready. Regretfully, the four landed and trouped inside after shutting their brooms in the shed. Harry glanced sadly at his Firebolt, propped against the shed wall in the gloom, wondering when he would ride it next.
There was a tense silence at supper that night, punctuated by few attempts at polite conversation. No one had forgotten the emotional argument that had occurred just a week ago when the friends had announced their plan. Even the twins, who had visited for supper, weren't talking and joking as much as they usually did. When Harry, Ron and Hermione started to gather the plates together, Mrs Weasley told them to sit down and let the twins do it. Surprisingly, Ron spoke up. He told her calmly and firmly that they would clear up, as they wouldn't have a chance to help again soon.
As the three friends carried the plates through into the kitchen they could hear Molly sobbing quietly, and Remus murmuring something to her. As Hermione took out her wand to start the washing up, a much quicker chore with the use of magic, she looked thoughtfully at the other two.
'What is it, Hermione?' Ron asked as he shoved some now clean plates into a cupboard.
'I'm just thinking about leaving tomorrow.' Hermione mused. 'It'll be a nightmare if we leave with them all hanging around. We'd have to say goodbye to them all umpteen times, and promise to be good and careful, and check that we have everything we need again and again, and be asked if we're sure that we don't want any help, and be made to promise that we'll be good again…at that rate we wouldn't leave the house until midday, and we were hoping to do some stuff tomorrow.'
Harry nodded; with the way Molly was acting they'd be lucky to leave before lunchtime. 'But what do we do about it?'
Hermione glanced toward the door, where distant voices were floating to them from the table. She lowered her voice and talked quickly. 'We leave early, without telling anyone. We leave before they're even awake.'
Ron looked a bit apprehensive at the though. 'But, we wouldn't have a chance to say goodbye.'
Hermione nodded understandingly. 'Say anything you need to tonight, without letting them know that we won't be seeing them tomorrow.' She saw Ron's doubtful looks. 'It'll be better for them in the end, it won't be so bad. Just make sure you leave them all on a good sentence tonight. I'll write a note for them to find in the morning.'
They all agreed, then headed through to the table for pudding. After supper they headed through to the family room, to chat, play games or just to sit. They moved around casually, taking care to talk to everyone. Finally they sat together in a corner, but the quiet tension in the room soon drove them to an early bed.
&&&&&
Ron's alarm went off early the next morning, and Harry groaned as its insistent beeping penetrated his warm sleep. There was a groan, a thud and a curse from the bed as Ron reached out to the clock and accidentally knocked it on the floor. Ron cursed colourfully as he leaned out of bed to switch it off. Silence filled the room once again and Harry fought the urge to just go back to sleep.
With a sigh he stood up and dressed in comfortable muggle clothes. While he waited for Ron to dress he petted Hedwig sadly. Stroking her soft white feathers, Harry talked quietly to her.
'I'm going away for a while, Hedwig. I'm afraid you can't come.' The owl cocked her head and looked at him accusingly with her fierce eyes. 'I'm sorry.' Harry said truthfully. 'Ginny will look after you. I don't know when I'll be back.'
Feeding her an owl treat Harry turned to see that Ron was ready to go. The boys grabbed their bags and headed to the door. Just before leaving the room, Harry turned and surveyed the chaotic orange scene, with Hedwig a patch of white perched on the windowsill. With a regretful sigh he closed the door and headed down the stairs.
Hermione was just placing three steaming mugs on the kitchen table when the two boys entered. She smiled at them and gestured to the cups and the plate of toast. 'Might be the last time we get a decent cup of tea.' She commented as they sat down to eat a hurried breakfast.
They ate and drank quickly, wanting to be gone before anyone else woke up and found them. If one person awoke they would never be able to take their early leave. Harry drained the last of the tea from his cup and they quickly cleaned all of their utensils. Hermione then withdrew a piece of neatly folded parchment and handed it to Harry with a quill pen. It read:
Dear Everyone,
We have decided to leave early this morning, due to the fact that we must start our tasks as soon as possible. We understand that you will wish that you could have said goodbye to us, but we all said goodbye last night. By leaving early we have ensured that none of us will be delayed in whatever we have planned for today, and it will save painful farewells. We hope that we have not caused you any unnecessary grief.
We cannot say when we will be back, we can only assure you that we will be back, and as soon as we possibly can. Please try not to worry about us, we will be careful at all times. We will miss you so much.
Thank you for everything
Dearest Love
Hermione
Harry signed his name next to Hermione's, then handed the letter to Ron who read it and did likewise. Stony faced, they re-folded the parchment and dropped it on the kitchen table. Then the friends swung their bags onto their backs and headed outside through the kitchen door. Ron suddenly turned and hurried back inside, claiming that he had forgotten something. Peering in through the window Harry thought he could see Ron scribbling something very quickly on the bottom of the note. He felt sorry for Ron then, knowing that this parting must be hardest on him.
Ron joined them and the three headed halfway down the garden. Tears were streaming down Hermione cheeks and Ron's eyes were glistening threateningly. They turned on the green lawn to have one last look at the Burrow. Harry took in a deep breath, trying to capture this moment and remember every feature of the rickety old house that he could.
A voice whispered softly, unwilling to break the morning silence. 'One…two…three…'
With three loud cracks, they disappeared.
A/N: This chapter was very short at first, but then I remembered the Hogwarts letters. What do you think of this chapter, there is plenty to comment on, so please review and tell me what you think.