Chapter 5- Aberforth Dumbledore

Professor McGonagall pushed through the mass of crowd that were standing in the hall. Professors Flitwick and Sprout had gotten in front of McGonagall to protect her, in case Snape did something to her.

McGonagall said angrily, "What do you want, Severus?"

Snape said, "Minerva, I think we need to talk in private."

McGonagall said, "No, if you have something to say, you will say it in front of us! Now, tell me why should I listen to you when you murdered Dumbledore? Maybe I should contact the Minister right now to have you arrested!"

Harry ran past McGonagall and yelled at Snape, "YOU MURDERER! How dare you show your face here. I can't believe Dumbledore ever trusted you."

McGonagall barked, "POTTER! Control yourself."

Harry said, "But, Professor, Snape murdered Dumbledore!"

McGonagall sighed and said, "Look, POTTER! Don't tell me how to handle my job! I know what I'm doing." She turned back to Snape.

McGonagall said, "Now, what did you want, Severus?"

Snape looked at Harry loathingly and said, "Potter, thank you for your snide comments. Minerva, danger is coming to Hogwarts. You need to put up your guard, because the Dark Lord is coming."

McGonagall said, "If that's the case, I will go down with Hogwarts! Dumbledore went down with Hogwarts, and I will do anything to protect the school that Dumbledore had been headmaster for so long."

Snape sighed and said, "You will regret your decision, Minerva." As he was about to go out the door, he stopped by Bill and said, "Congratulations, Weasley, on your big day." Snape then stormed out the door, his robe billowing behind him.

Harry said to McGonagall, "Why did you let Snape go? He murdered a person who was good to us and the wizarding community."

McGonagall said, "Severus Snape may be some help to us in defeating Voldemort, but you don't know it yet, Potter. Remember Malfoy is hiding with Snape, so we need to set up a trap, and Snape will lead us right to Voldemort." Harry had noted that McGonagall had mentioned Voldemort by name, but was puzzled at McGonagall's comment.

Professor McGonagall turned back to the crowd and said, "BACK TO HAVING FUN!" She stormed out of the hall, to join Lupin and Tonks in conversation.

Krum came up to Harry and asked nervously, "Vhere's Herm-own-ninny?"

Harry said, "Hello, Viktor. It's nice you came to Fleur's wedding. I am sure Fleur appreciates it."
Krum smiled, and when he spotted Hermione in the corner of the room, he waved to Hermione, who waved back to him. Suddenly, someone whizzed past Harry and punched Krum in the nose. Harry saw that it was Ron who had punched Krum in the nose.

Mrs. Weasley came up and she said furiously, "RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY, WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING!"

Ron said, "What I should have done before." He walked to Hermione, who was looking shocked at what had just happened.
Harry and Mrs. Weasley helped Krum to a chair, where Krum was clutching his bloody nose.

Harry listened to Ron's conversation with Hermione.

Ron said, "Hermione, I should have done this a long time ago! From the first day I met you, I knew I had fell in love with you. I just didn't want to admit it myself. Last year, when I was dating Lavender, I realized Lavender wasn't the one for me, you are."

Hermione had tears coming out of her eyes, and said tearfully, "Ron, are you asking me out?"

Ron said, "Hermione, what did you think that was? I'm sorry I punched Vicky, but it was just because I had enough of Viktor, and who knows, he could have asked you out before I did. I was jealous when you went with McLaggen to Slughorn's Christmas Party, and that's why I turned to Lavender. I understand if you think I'm a horrible person and don't want to be my girlfriend." He was about to walk away, when Hermione grabbed his shirt, and she kissed him on the lips.
She said, "That was the most romantic thing I ever heard you say, Ronald Weasley, and yes, I accept."

Mrs. Weasley was smiling at all this, as she watched Ron and Hermione's relationship unfold before her eyes. She had happy tears coming out of her eyes.

Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and said, "Let's leave the lovebirds alone, and I want to talk to you in private, in the drawing room." She turned to Krum, and flicked her wand at Krum's nose, where the blood had disappeared.

She led Harry up to the drawing room, which was on the third floor.

Professor McGonagall, Lupin, and Tonks were already in the drawing room when Mrs. Weasley and Harry entered.

Professor McGonagall looked up and said, "Ah, Molly, I see you brought Potter. Good, where's Weasley and Granger?"

Mrs. Weasley said, "They're in the living room. Should I get them?"
"Don't bother, I got them here," said a voice from the doorway. It was Moody.

Ron, Hermione, and Moody entered the room, and Moody closed the door behind him.

McGonagall looked down at Harry sternly through her spectacles, and she said, "You may be wondering why I called you three here. I had to drag you three from the fun for a reason."

Tonks interrupted and said, "Minerva, do you think this is really necessary?"

McGonagall said tersely, "As Head of the Order and Secret Keeper, I feel it's my duty to take over Dumbledore's wishes, and I'm sure Dumbledore would have wanted them to continue their education."

She turned to the trio and said, "You know, Dumbledore would have wanted you three to continue your education at Hogwarts. Potter, as I told you after the wedding, I'm extremely disappointed in your decision of not going back to Hogwarts. You would have made a great Head Boy. Granger, the same goes for you, I thought you wanted to be Head Girl. You're the best female student at Hogwarts, and now you're not coming back to Hogwarts! Weasley, I was going to make you Head Prefect, a new title that I have created this year!"

Lupin said, "I'm sure Harry and his friends have a reason not to go to Hogwarts." He looked at Harry when he was speaking.

McGonagall seemed to notice this, and she said, "Remus, are you hiding something from us? Do you know something that we don't?"

Lupin said, "Of course not, Minerva."

McGonagall looked suspicious, but she didn't press the matter any further. Mrs. Weasley said, "Harry, Ron, Hermione, you have to go back to Hogwarts! You three would disappoint Dumbledore if he was still alive, if you didn't go back to Hogwarts."

Ron looked guilty, and he said to Hermione and Harry, "Mum's right. We don't want to disappoint Dumbledore, do we? Professor McGonagall's disappointed in us, too. We don't want our former Head of House disappointed in us."

Both McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley were smiling at Ron's comments.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then nodded. Harry said, "Professor, if I come back to school, you have to understand I have to resign the captaincy of the Quidditch team."

McGonagall was shocked. "WHAT do you mean, I'm losing my best Quidditch player?"

Harry said, "I have my reasons, and you can bet it has to do with Voldemort."
McGonagall sighed and said, "Alright, Potter, but I promise you, I'll train you all of this year to make you're ready for Voldemort. Remember what I promised two years ago, that I'd make you an Auror if it was the last thing I did? I'll keep that word, even if I have to travel to the end of the earth to help you defeat VOLDEMORT!"

Harry was surprised at the help McGonagall was offering him, and how she was so confident in him.

The door opened, and Professor Flitwick poked his head in.

Professor Flitwick squeaked, "Minerva, someone's here to see you."

McGonagall said, "Ok, thank you, Filius. Send him in."

An old man with half moon spectacles entered, wearing green robes. Harry recognized the man as the barman of Hog's Head. The man reminded him of a younger Dumbledore, because the man's silver hair was not fully white yet.

McGonagall turned to the trio and said, "I would like for you to meet Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus's brother. He's here to share Albus's will with us."

Harry was surprised that this man was actually Dumbledore's brother.