Chapter 9-Narcissa Malfoy Framed

Harry was having a difficult time sleeping, due to an odd dream. In the dream, Harry could see Narcissa Malfoy sneaking around Azkaban to Lucius's cell.

He heard Narcissa say, "Lucius, it's Narcissa. Draco has been missing for weeks. What should we do, Lucius?"

Lucius said, "Narcissa, I'm sure he's fine."
Narcissa's voice turned to ice and said, "You think so, Lucius? Well, you won't see your son, since this is your last night. Avada Kedavra!"

Harry panted, and yelled. Mrs. Weasley came running in, carrying a candlestick. Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Hermione were right behind her.
Mrs. Weasley said, "It's okay, dear. You just had a bad nightmare."
Harry said, "It's urgent. I need to see Professor McGonagall."
Mr. Weasley said, "This late?"

Mr. Weasley left the room, and returned with McGonagall a few minutes later. McGonagall was wearing a tartan dressing gown, and slippers.

Professor McGonagall said, "Potter, did you have a bad dream again about Voldemort?"

Harry shook his head and explained about Lucius's murder.

McGonagall sighed and said, "I wonder why Voldemort wanted you to see that dream. It seems odd to me that Narcissa would murder her own husband. Yes, Narcissa is an evil woman, in my opinion, but I don't think she would murder her husband."

Hermione said, "Professor, could it have been someone using Polyjuice Potion?'

McGonagall said, "It's possible, but that person would have to know Narcissa very well, in order to get to Mr. Malfoy."

The next morning, Harry heard that Scrimgeour was in the kitchen, and wanted to talk to him personally. He wondered what the Minister of Magic wanted with him.

Harry went downstairs to the kitchen where Rufus Scrimgeour was sitting at the table along with a distressed looking McGonagall, Mrs. Weasley, and to Harry's surprise, Madam Pomfrey.

Scrimgeour said, "Well, Mr. Potter, We just got back from Azkaban, and Poppy just confirmed that Lucius Malfoy is indeed dead."
Madam Pomfrey rose from her seat and said, "That's right, Minister, but Mr. Malfoy seemed to have struggled with the killer before he died."

Scrimgeour said, "Thank you, Poppy. Mr. Potter, Narcissa Malfoy has been arrested and will be on trial later this month. We would like you to be there, since you saw everything through the dream. Maybe it will give us a clue if Mrs. Malfoy actually is innocent."
A voice shrieked from the doorway, "What are you talking about, Narcissa has been arrested?"

They turned around to see a shocked Andromeda Tonks standing in the doorway. She had her hair changed to green this time.

McGonagall said, "Andromeda, this is a difficult situation to explain. I'll leave the Minister here to explain to you while I take Potter out to the hall to talk to him." She rose from her seat, and Harry followed her.

McGonagall turned to look at Madam Pomfrey, who had no idea what was going on, until Mrs. Weasley tapped her shoulder, and she and Madam Pomfrey followed both them out of the kitchen.

McGonagall said, "Potter, I'm sorry this happened. I know the trial is during school term, but we will manage a way on you not missing out on NEWT class assignments too much."

Harry said, "I just had a thought. Could the killer have been at Azkaban on Voldemort's orders to get rid of Lucius Malfoy?"

McGonagall listened intently, then she said, "It's possible. I just feel bad that young Malfoy is out on the loose, and he has no idea that his father's dead, and his mother's accused for murder. As Severus said last night, I put their lives in danger again. Maybe I'm not suitable for this job."

Harry said, "Professor, you're a good Headmistress. You're just doing what you feel is the right way to protect everyone else, and take on Dumbledore's responsibilities."

McGonagall smiled and said, "Thank you, Potter, for saying that. Now, I would suggest you get to packing. I have to get back to Hogwarts to arrange for tomorrow's Sorting Ceremony."

Harry said, "One question, though. How is Mrs. Figg doing?"

McGonagall said, "Ah, Arabella is doing much better, but she's still in the hospital wing. Poppy thinks her injuries will take a little longer to heal. You can visit her when you are at Hogwarts."

McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey stepped in the fireplace, and disappeared.
Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry and said, "You heard Professor McGonagall. Get busy packing. I better go check on the Minister and Andromeda." She went back in the kitchen, and Harry went upstairs to his room, where Ron and Hermione were waiting.

The trio plus Ginny were escorted by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, and Moody the next day to King's Cross station.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Ronald, don't forget your sandwich that I packed for you. Ginny, be good this year, and behave. Hermione, you study hard, and I'll be sure to feed you extra when you come back for Christmas. Harry, be careful, and keep in touch with us if you need anything."
Mr. Weasley said, "Molly, let them take care of themselves. They have been students at Hogwarts long enough to know what to do."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, tears coming out of her eyes. She hugged the trio and Ginny.

When the train left the platform, they could see Mrs. Weasley's figure disappearing in the fog along with everyone else.

Suddenly a voice boomed from the front of the train, "We're under attack. We have to stop the train."

Hermione's eyes widened when she looked out of the window.

She said, "There are Deatheaters out there on the platform. I just hope we can get out of here before they find us."

Ginny yelled, "Oh no, Mum!" She pointed to a figure laying unconscious on the platform. It was Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley, Lupin, and Tonks were battling the Deatheaters, while Moody was tending to Mrs. Weasley.

Ron jumped off the train, Hermione and Ginny following him yelling at him to come back.

Ron yelled, "No, they won't get near my MOTHER! I'll make sure of that." He stomped up to the nearest Deatheater, and started blasting spells at the Deatheater. Harry had joined Hermione and Ginny who were looking worried.

Suddenly, Ron was knocked unconscious, and Order members started apparating right then, and Madam Pomfrey had appeared too. She levitated Mrs. Weasley and Ron, then disappeared along with them.
Mr. Weasley said, "You three get back on the train. We can take care of the rest. I'll see you at Hogwarts, since I'm going to check on Molly and Ron later."

Hermione was crying all the way to Hogwarts, worrying about her boyfriend. Harry and Ginny tried really hard to comfort her, but it wasn't working.

When they arrived at Hogwarts, they had just arrived in the entrance hall when McGonagall came to them and summoned them to her office.