Chapter 13-The Meddling Beetle

Hermione said, "Mrs. Weasley! You're okay!" Mrs. Weasley chuckled and said, " Of course, I'm okay." Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office, and when she saw Mrs. Weasley awake, she shrilled, "What did you do!" to Harry and Hermione.

Harry said, "We didn't do anything."

Madam Pomfrey sighed and said, "Are you alright, Molly? We thought you wouldn't make it."

Ron said, "Not make it? It was that serious?" He looked worried, and then Mrs. Weasley realized Ron was right beside her.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Poppy, I'm okay now. Ronnie, what happened to you?"

Ron said, "When I saw you laying on that platform, I was scared for you, and I stood up to Death Eaters."

Mrs. Weasley gasped and took Ron in a hug and said, "My Ronniekins, that was stupid of you to do that. You could have been killed, but at the same thing, it makes me feel special that you stood up for me."

Madam Pomfrey said, "I better let the headmistress let you know that you're awake."

"No need to do that," a voice said from the doorway. "I'm here." McGonagall entered the wing, followed by Professors Flitwick and Sprout, Bill, Ginny, Charlie, Mr. Weasley, Percy, Fleur, and the twins.

McGonagall said seriously, "I'm so glad you are alright, Molly. We were afraid you wouldn't make it."

Ginny said, "Mum! You're okay."

Ron said, "Hey, What about me?"

McGonagall said, "You too, Weasley."

A voice from the bed across from Mrs. Weasley's said, "I see everyone's having fun, and no one cares about a batty old lady." It was Mrs. Figg.

Harry said, "Mrs. Figg! You are okay, after all."

Mrs. Figg said, "Of course, I am."

That evening, after supper, Harry was headed back to Gryffindor Tower, when he saw Professor McGonagall going out the oak doors in the front entrance, wearing an emerald traveling cloak. Ron had been released from the hospital, and Mrs. Weasley was back at home resting, but after shocking everyone that she would be back the next day to work as Madam Pomfrey's assistant, she went home with the other Weasleys.

Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione, "I'm going out after McGonagall."

Hermione said, "I don't think it's a good idea following McGonagall. If she found out, it would be detention for all of us!"

Ginny who had sneaked up behind them said, "Well, if Harry's going, then I am going, too." She followed Harry out the door, leaving Hermione and Ron looking bewildered.

Harry and Ginny saw Professor McGonagall heading down to Hogsmeade, and Ginny whispered, "Harry, what is she doing in Hogsmeade?"

Harry said, "I don't know, but I intend to find out." He saw McGonagall entering the Hog's Head Pub.

Harry and Ginny rushed into the pub before McGonagall closed the door behind her. Harry saw a plant beside the door, and he grabbed Ginny, and they both hid behind it. Harry looked through the dense branches, and saw McGonagall sitting down at a table, sitting next to Aberforth.

Harry heard McGonagall exclaim, "You know why I'm here tonight, Aberforth?"

Aberforth said, "Well, all I know that when I got your message from Hagrid, who read it to me, and he said that it was urgent that you needed to see me after my pub closed."

McGonagall nodded and said, "That's right, Aberforth. I need some information from you, regarding Severus Snape."

Aberforth said, "That greasy-haired git who interrupted my brother and Professor Trelawney fifty years ago?"

McGonagall said, "What do you mean, Snape was here fifty years ago, in this pub?"

Harry knew what Aberforth was about to say, and didn't want McGonagall to know the contents of the prophecy.

Aberforth shook his head and said, "I shouldn't have said anything. Now, what kind of information do you need?"

McGonagall's mouth went thin and said, "Aberforth, does this have to do with the Potter boy?"

Aberforth said, "Minerva, I said I can't say anything. Albus, Severus, Sybill, and I are the only ones who know this, and Albus would not want me to tell you because it would put your life in danger."

Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and said tersely, "Aberforth, I will do anything to help that POTTER boy, even if I have to DIE for it!"

Aberforth was stammering, "Ok, sit down, Minerva, and I will tell you."

McGonagall sat back down, and Aberforth began the story of how Dumbledore was looking for a Divination teacher, and that he met Sybill Trelawney, and how Snape had heard part of the prophecy, and Snape was the one who told Voldemort what he had heard.

McGonagall said, "I see….Do you remember what the prophecy was about, Aberforth?"

Aberforth nodded, and told McGonagall the contents of the prophecy, and McGonagall gasped.

Aberforth said, "Now that I told you, what do you want me to give you information about Severus Snape?"

McGonagall said, "Did Albus ever tell you why he trusted Severus deeply?"

Aberforth said, "No, Albus never told me anything about his relationship with Severus or anybody."

McGonagall said sternly, "I see. Another reason I am here, I would like you to join the Order once again, and you know, Potter will need all the help he needs. He told me the night that Albus died, he and Albus were looking for Horcruxes. Do you know what that is?"

Aberforth said, "Firstly, I thought Albus was the leader for the Order, and Secondly, I don't know what Horcruxes are?"

McGonagall sighed and said, "Albus left a note saying that I was the new leader of the Order, and Secret Keeper. It seems he knew he was going to die, so he must have left a note for his successor which was me." She then whispered in Aberforth's ears about the Horcruxes.

Ginny whispered in Harry's ears, "What are Horcruxes?" Harry didn't say anything, and was paying attention to what was going on. Harry suddenly saw a beetle scuttling around on the bar, and it had familiar markings around the eyes.

Harry whispered angrily, "Rita…What is she doing here?"

Ginny whispered, "Rita? What are you talking about?"

Harry suddenly lunged at the bar, which startled McGonagall and Aberforth. Harry grabbed Rita, and held her tightly in his hands.

McGonagall rose from her seat so quickly that the chair fell backward. Her nostrils were flaring. She looked furious.

McGonagall barked, "POTTER! What are you doing here, and what are you doing on that bar?"

Ginny came out from behind the bush, and said, "Professor, Harry caught a spy here."

McGonagall turned to look at Ginny, her eyes flaring. She said, "MISS WEASLEY, not you too!"

Ginny said, "Professor, are you going to see what Harry has in his hands or not?"

McGonagall shrieked, "DON'T YOU TALK BACK TO ME! I'M EMBARRASSED THAT GRYFFINDOR STUDENTS LIKE YOU SNEAKED HERE TO A PUB AFTER SCHOOL HOURS! I EXPECTED BETTER OF YOU, MISS WEASLEY! POTTER, WHAT DID YOU HEAR EXACTLY?"

Aberforth interrupted, "Minerva, maybe you need to calm down. Maybe they had a reason to be here."

McGonagall barked, "ME CALM DOWN! I'M THE HEADMISTRESS OF HOGWARTS, AND I'M JUST PUNISHING THESE TWO FOR BEING OUT AFTER SCHOOL HOURS! ABERFORTH, I'M SORRY YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS ANYWAY, I'M JUST EMBARRASSED AND FURIOUS!"

Harry said, "Professor, to answer your question, I heard everything." Harry opened his hands and added, "You may want to see what I have caught."

McGonagall peered in Harry's hands, and said, "I don't care about a beetle that you caught, Potter!"

Harry said, "It's not a beetle. It's an Animagus."

McGonagall's eyebrows arched and she said, "Oh, really, if that's an Animagus, tell me who that is!"

Harry said, "It's Rita Skeeter."

Aberforth peered over McGonagall's shoulders and said, "The nosey reporter from the Daily Prophet?"

McGonagall sighed and said, "Well, Potter, I doubt it's Rita Skeeter, but if it is, then why is she not listed as an Animagus?"

Harry said, "She's an unregistered Animagus."

McGonagall was about to reply, when the door opened, Professor Flitwick leading the way, with Ron and Hermione behind him.

Flitwick said, "Minerva, are you alright? Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley had told me that Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley had followed you down here."

McGonagall said, "Yes, Filius, I'm fine. Potter was about to reveal who that beetle really is."

Hermione's eyes widened, and McGonagall noticed it. She said, "I presume you know who it is, Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded, and McGonagall flicked her wand at the beetle, saying, "Reveal who this Animagus really is! Reveal your Secrets!" The beetle transformed into Rita Skeeter.
McGonagall gasped, Flitwick and Aberforth both looking surprised.

McGonagall said angrily, "YOU! Potter was right. Rita, what are you doing here, and how much did you hear of our conversation?"

Rita said, "I heard everything, and wait until the Ministry hears!"

Hermione scowled and said, "You promised, Rita, you wouldn't do anything."

Rita said, "Oh, silly girl! Don't look at me like that, McGonagall."

McGonagall said tersely, "I have a right to be angry with you, Rita! You eavesdropped on our conversation, which you did too, Potter, but I will deal with you later."

Harry sighed, "Oh, great…."

McGonagall said, "What is it, Potter?"

Harry said, "I feel like I have let Dumbledore down, because only Ron and Hermione were to know, but now it's Lupin, you, Rita, Slughorn, and Snape, Aberforth, and soon Ginny and Professor Flitwick will be finding out what the Horcruxes are."

McGonagall said, "Did you say Snape?"

Harry nodded and explained to her that Snape knew about the Horcruxes.

McGonagall said, "Ah, Rita, we will deal with you later, but you come with me right now, Potter."