Hi readers! Just a quick note about this chapter. It's probably going to be a bit boring lol. I wasn't sure about posting this one as most of it is replaying the recording that was taken in the previous chapter, but it has the reactions to what Harry says and a bit of character development for the Order, plus Hermione and Ron. Will be plowing headfirst into the plot next chapter, honest!
11th September 22:13
After apparating into the verge of moss and dew, Arthur kept low, eyes piercing the gloom cautious for the sudden barrage of stunners coming his away. The night air was silent and dark. No flashes of magic, no signs of danger.
He straightened his robes, stifling a yawn. The night would yet be long and there was still so much to do. He was more than physically tired. He'd left a part of himself in that dark shaft and he could feel the absence in his heart. He knew that when he finally settled to bed next to Molly, he'd find the horror crashing back into him, the bit of his heart that had torn away when he listened to a man torture a boy.
He shook himself. He had to stop thinking of Harry as a young boy. Seventeen was very young, but Harry was far more capable mentally and emotionally than most adults he knew. He'd been orphaned before he even knew what it meant to have family, had to endure a terrible childhood, then live with the threat of being hunted by an insane dark wizard. He was no normal kid.
He reached the ominous ruins, taking out his wand and yawning again. All he needed was to show his wand and the wards lifted to let him in. The illusion of the ruin rippled and dissipated, revealing a rather cute limestone cottage with a neatly organised yard. He stepped onto the path, seeing the firelight flickering through the window.
He approached the door, rapping his knuckles on the wood.
"It's Arthur," he said. "Sorry I'm late." The door creaked open, letting him in.
He squinted at the fire as he stepped inside. His tired eyes struggled with the sudden shift from darkness to bright.
"Merlin, dad, we were nearly going to send a search party." Bill rose from his seat at once, tearing across the room.
"Sorry to worry you," he said roughly, crossing the rather cramped entryway to step down into the living room. It was a very cosy living room and with several witches and wizards taking up every available space, it was very snug indeed. "I was tracked. Took me a while to lose them."
Bill's face shifted from irritation and stress to panic. "Has Harry-."
"No, we're safe for tonight, but we'll have to make preparations. All of us." He looked around at the gathered Order members. "They're using the Veritas Quaesitor."
Gasps of horror and outrage ripped from every adults' mouth. The youngest people in the room, Ron and Hermione, shared puzzled looks.
"It was outlawed years ago," Kingsley's baritone voice explained, "Dumbledore himself put in the request to the Wizengamot to have the relic destroyed. It was too dangerous. In the wrong hands, it can turn anyone into a willing source of information. Certainly useful when interrogating dark wizards, as it had been used in the past. Yet its magics are inhumane… to use it against someone. You have to be sure they deserve it.
"Veritaserum is at least gentle," the brogue of McGonagall's voice came from the corner of the room, her face cast in the shadow. "The quaesitor purges its victims and its magic is very potent. Ancient as well, and for centuries more and more layers of magic are added."
"Should I stand guard outside, just in case?" Bill asked Arthur, under his breath. Arthur eyed him, then nodded. His son slipped outside without a word. Ever since his run in with Greyback, his sense of smell was unparalleled. He could even smell through concealment charms.
Remus moved to follow Bill, the pair having an understandable bond, but Arthur stopped him. "I need to speak to you in private before I… share my news."
Remus looked at him closely, searching his face, then nodded. He took him through to the kitchen, muttering something to the group about 'five minutes'. When they were inside, Remus flicked a silencing charm on the door.
"It's bad," Arthur said at once. "Really bad."
Remus froze. "How bad?"
"We have five days."
"Shit..." Remus turned, grabbing a chair and gripping it tightly. "Wait… how do you know?"
"I… well. I spoke to him."
Remus met his stare, confused, but then saw that he meant an actual two-way conversation. His eyes widened, with joy and then intense pain.
"Are you… alright?" He asked him. Arthur shook his head.
"Not really… he is… one hell of a kid, let's just say that." Remus nodded sadly, intense regret tightening the constant marks of pain that lingered on his tired face.
"Harry said a lot. He passed out at the end from exhaustion," Arthur said quietly, "but it's not for everyone's ears. Some of it," he swallowed, "when I arrived there, he was… being tortured…" Remus approached him and gripped his arm, lending his support, his own face pained. "He was still wearing that blasted thing and the man hurting him was jabbering away so I thought he might tell us something we can use. Remus… I can't let my kids hear what's on that tape."
Arthur pulled the dictaphone out of his pocket. "I've moved it to the start of the tape, but I don't know where exactly the torture ends and when Harry manages to get that thing off…"
"You want us to listen to it and then play the rest to the others?"
"Yes," Arthur said, putting the dictaphone on the table. "I'll tell them about it but Harry specifically said for Ron and Hermione to not hear it."
Remus drew in a sharp breath. "He knew?"
"Well… I told him," Arthur saw Remus's eyes widen. "I couldn't lie to him… the last thing he needs right now is to be lied to."
"How did he react?"
"Well… he was actually very understanding, annoyed and embarrassed, but he accepted my apology."
Remus shook his head. "Why doesn't he want Ron and Hermione to hear it? Is it… that bad?"
"Yes… it is."
"Ron and Hermione won't take this well."
"They're already fraying at the seams with guilt. Hearing Harry's torment will make them feel worse."
Remus looked at Arthur, realising he was right. He gave a nod. "I hope they understand."
"Harry is trying to protect them. Even now," Arthur shook his head. "It's not too long… thankfully."
Remus stared at the dictaphone, wondering if he could even face it. He saw the withdrawn expression on Arthur's face and knew that he was haunted by what he'd heard. He gave a reluctant sigh.
"Alright… do you think we should… say something to them?"
"No, let's just get this over with," Arthur swallowed and reached across the table. He pressed play.
Immediately, a voice spoke from the small device. Arthur waved his wand and it went up in volume.
"Your will and your magic are strong. I will not deny that. I am not fooled by your youth and inexperience. You are a Potter through and through."
"Who is that?" Remus whispered.
"Augustus Rookwood," Arthur said quietly back.
"I knew your parents… your family." Remus frowned. Did he? He heard a loud sound shout out, clearly a person, but there were no words. Just a vocalisation. Then he realised that it was Harry, gagged. He felt his lip draw back into a hint of a snarl as he heard the sound.
How dare this man mention Harry's parents to him? How dare he talk about James and Lily like… He stopped the train of thought.
"Pause it a moment," Remus said. "I think he's telling the truth. James told me that some 'slimy prick' tried to recruit him once and that he told them to… well I can't remember what, but something along the lines of 'eat shit'."
Arthur gave a curt nod. "He was the main spy at the Ministry at the time. I expect he would have remained under the radar if Karkaroff hadn't given up his name for his freedom… anyway we should keep going. They're waiting."
"Sorry play on," Remus said.
"And like your father, I know you will fight to the bitter end."
"That… bastard!" Remus growled.
"But to hide your pain from me is foolish. Do you think your pride matters? I just told you how impressed I am by you. Exercising your newly healed vocal cords will not change my opinion."
"Crucio."
"If I ever see this man again…" Remus was growling. His chest was bursting with the animalistic rage that lingered always, under the skin.
"Easy, Remus."
"You don't have the stamina to keep this up. I can see the strain."
There was a very audible thud and an oomph of pain. Remus turned his head away at the sound.
"You are at your absolute limit. You know it. I know it. You think I can't see the defeat in your eyes? I don't need legilimency to see it. I know what I'm looking for. Look at you. You're injured, exhausted. You tested the confines of your prison with your little stunt earlier and found just how trapped you are, didn't you? Coming to terms with the inevitable at last."
"Wait… wait…" Remus muttered. "He tried to escape."
"I asked him about it later," Arthur said. "He… didn't get very far, but from the sounds of it, he fought very hard."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to punish you for your attempt. I see that Yaxley has already done enough… and that it very much hurts. I'm curious what you said to him to make him go to such extreme lengths."
Remus felt sick. "What did he do to Harry?"
"He… broke his hand," Arthur said honestly. Remus turned sharply from the dictaphone, taking breaths to calm the beastly rage.
"Hmm… this one-sided conversation is getting a little tedious. Shall we continue? Crucio!"
"This is what I didn't want the kids to hear," Arthur said. Remus nodded, understanding what he was implying. Harry was going to lose his control. He could hear him moving. Oh Harry… He heard some sounds of… shuffling, then a cry. High-pitched, so full of anguish and pain.
"Starting to drop that composure now I see. Let's do this a little longer this time, hmm?"
"Yargh!" His rage erupted at the taunt and he grabbed the nearest thing he could find, wanting only to destroy. His hands found a chair and he threw it. It smashed on the floor.
"Remus!" He saw the damage on the floor and remembered where he was. He pulled out his wand.
"Reparo."
He could hear the cries of pain, growing louder. He could tell it was Harry, but he'd never heard him in pain before. This wasn't just pain, but pure agony. The type that broke people far older, like Frank and Alice.
"You managed a minute before. Let's see what happens when you endure two."
Remus closed his eyes, breathing heavily. Two minutes of cruciatus… he had experienced the curse once, years ago during the last war when he'd fought Death Eaters with the Potters. He trembled for hours. It reminded him of the sensation of transforming into the wolf, of how it ripped into your muscles and cracked your bones. Only it was in your head, forcing you to experience agony while your body went untouched.
Then the horrible shrieks of agony happened. He flinched. Arthur's hand went to his arm.
"There we are! Let's hold this for a little more."
Harry had lost complete control and was shrieking at the top of his lungs, as loud as he could with his mouth locked shut. The agony he must be experiencing…
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Remus murmured. He was listening to his friend's son being tortured, the same son that yelled at him only a week ago, face twisted with fury. Remus had been furious with him, but when he got home, finding Tonks crying, alone. His shame and regret of what he had done brought him to his knees. Harry hadn't been pushing him away because he didn't want him, he had been pushing him away back to his family where he belonged. Harry understood what it was like to be alone and was trying to spare his unborn child of the pain.
I'd been too stubborn to see it. His heart ached at the thought that the last thing he did to Harry was shout at him.
Now he was hearing that same person in the worst pain he'd ever been in his life. Unable to move, unable to speak, feeling more alone than ever before… he felt the tears come now.
Then there was silence.
"Wake up." There was a snap sound. At the sound of the slap, Remus's rage resurfaced.
"I am going to rip his throat out and-."
"Remus…"
"Let's have a look at you. Few more scars there… hmm… enough cruciatus for tonight."
Remus blinked… scars? Cruciatus scars… He remembered with revulsion the way Alice and Frank had looked. Their eyes completely red from where the blood vessels had erupted from the strain.
"You'll need all the rest you can get. It's another day on the veritas quaesitor for you tomorrow."
Arthur sighed at this. "We'll talk about this later." Remus gave a tight nod, understanding that this was a cue for 'don't interrupt'.
"Ah that reminds me, I have a gift for you from Yaxley. I'll open it for you… don't worry. Well? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot about your eyesight." There was a pause and Remus heard the sound of Harry's anger. It was wordless, but he knew the timbre of it well. "It'll be printed in the paper tomorrow, but as you don't have access to it, Yaxley thought you'd like the exclusive news first. It is about you, after all. Looks like you'll go down a little in the public eyes when they know what a little murderer you are."
"We'll need a paper tomorrow then," Remus said heavily, knowing full well that whatever Harry had seen, it would not be pleasant.
"Oh I felt that. Your magic is manifesting itself. Only the most powerful wizards can project their energy, you know."
Remus blinked at it, frowning, looking over to Arthur. "Manifesting at seventeen?"
"Dumbledore did say Harry is powerful," Arthur replied.
"I'm glad that it entertained you. At least you know how long you have left here. You of course know that this is just a formality. There will be no dementor's kiss for you. The Dark Lord is far more… imaginative."
"I am going to eat him," Remus said calmly.
"I'm done here for the night then. Rest well."
"You'll hear me in a sec. Just wait for the right moment, then we go in there and explain… somehow," Arthur said, ruefully.
There was a very loud cry of rage, then a meek. "Harry, it's me."
"I've never seen dad like that," Ron whispered. He was staring at the space where his dad appeared, summoned Lupin and slipped away. "Not even when Bill was hurt."
Hermione shivered. Even with the blanket that Tonks gave her, tucked around her, the chill wouldn't leave her. She didn't know what it was. She felt cold ever since she recorded her message in the dictaphone. She would say that there was a dementor in the room if she wasn't surrounded by incredibly talented witches and wizards who would instantly dismiss a dementor without a sweat.
"You can help yourselves to biscuits," McGonagall suddenly said, stepping out the corner that she'd been lurking in. Hermione felt the same odd mixture of intense familiarity and the unknown blur together and jerk apart. Since she found out that they were currently hiding in her favourite professor's house, she felt weirdly embarrassed. Like she was intruding. Minerva McGonagall gave her a very friendly hug and said that she missed her.
"I'm lucky that they don't look for brains when they recruit Death Eaters," she said when she explained how she slipped out of the school without anyone being any the wiser. "Who knew they'd be fooled by the animagus trick?"
At that, she transformed into a tabby and hissed at them. Hermione smiled.
Remus suddenly appeared. He was ashen, looking very shaken, just how Arthur had looked when he entered. Hermione clutched her hands together at the sight. It was bad news… please let Harry be okay. He latched onto her gaze at once and saw him sigh. He approached the group, sighing. Arthur followed, holding the dictaphone that Hermione sorted for him. She felt a thrill.
He used it! It worked. He gave our messages to Harry.
As Arthur neared, he looked around at everyone. Conversations stopped at once and McGonagall returned to her human form.
"I know how much everyone has risked to make this meeting," Arthur started and all the tiny snippets of conversation froze. "I'm… sorry that you had to wait so long. And thank you Professor… I mean, Minerva. Sorry, old habits die hard. Thank you, Minerva, for hosting us."
Bill and Charlie shuffled in through the door and quietly slunk into the background. Their dad gave them a nod.
"I'm sorry for the secrecy earlier. I managed to infiltrate the Row as I did before, but when I arrived, Harry wasn't alone. The… person… in the cell with him was quite talkative, even though Harry wasn't and… well… he wasn't there to give Harry tea, let's just say. You probably heard Remus destroy a chair. It wasn't easy listening and… Harry… well I did get to speak to him and he told me to not share that with people it would upset."
Hermione felt herself blanch. Harry knew he'd been recorded and said for them not to listen? She felt her tears dew again. Stop protecting us, Harry!
"I have the rest of the recording that I took of Harry right here," Arthur held up the dictaphone, "I hope the batterings will last." Hermione let out a small huff of amusement at batterings.
"Wait… dad what do you mean you spoke to him?" Ron asked, confused, "you just said he couldn't speak."
Arthur winced. "You'll see," was all he said. "Most of what he talked about, he said it's Order business so… he's comfortable with you listening to." He then looked to Ron and Hermione, "he risked a lot to speak to me because of your messages so… without that, I doubt he would have risked it so… just so you know how instrumental you were."
Hermione gave a gasp, nodding. "I… know we all care about Harry, but when he responds to Ron and Hermione's messages, I hope you don't mind that we do so in private. He has a message for you, Remus, as well… I forgot to say. So when we get round to that, we'll go into the kitchen. I'll share with you any details that he adds that are relevant, of course."
"It's okay, dad, we get it. Harry's not exactly the most open person in the world," George said.
"Well, actually, he spoke so much he passed out so…" Hermione gave a gasp. Arthur grimaced at her reaction. "I… suppose I don't need to say this, but this will not be easy listening. But, Harry wanted you to know."
"If you need to speak and ask a question, send a spark and I'll pause," Arthur said. "I'll amplify this."
Hermione gave a teary nod. Arthur swallowed, closing his eyes, and hit play.
"Harry, can you hear me?"
Everyone in the room went completely silent, listening to the recording. Hermione could hear something in the static, like movement, a clattering of something hard against stone.
"I'm… so sorry," came a mumble. Hermione's eyes darted up to Arthur, whose face went red as everyone's eyes went to him. He just gave them a little shake of his head. "What you're going through right now. No one deserves it, Harry… you're so incredibly brave."
Hermione felt Ron grab her hand and gave her a desperate look, then he looked at his dad. She remembered what he had said to her. He'd never seen his dad like this. Whatever he had heard before, what Harry didn't want them to hear, must have been horrible. Hermione could think of only one thing that Harry would keep to himself - his pain. She gave a soft gasp. He was being tortured with the cruciatus curse.
"Harry… can you hear me?"
Then there was a loud bang, like metal against the wall.
"It's how we communicated before," Arthur explained quietly. "One bang for yes, two for no."
"Harry, listen… I'm really sorry about this. You'll… feel angry at me, I'm sure. I deserve it. Hermione… oh wait. Ron and Hermione are safe and with us, Harry. We're all safe. I'm sorry, I should have led with that. Bloody hell, Arthur," Mrs Weasley gave an annoyed sigh at her husband.
There was a gasp of shock, so clearly Harry. Hermione felt herself tense at the sound, the real proof that he was alive.
"Well… anyway, you see I have a lot of muggle knick-knacks in my shed, as you know, and Hermione picked through them to see if there was a way that I could… well... gather information while I'm down here. She said that there is equipment that can record sound and voices - not just that - but play them back."
"As you're unable to speak… and I heard him talking in there, so… Harry, I'm so sorry. If I'd known how bad it was going to be, I would have never… I'm… I'm sick with myself."
Everyone listened as Arthur stammered his way around the apology and his guilt. Hermione felt awful for him. He must have felt that he had really invaded Harry's privacy, which meant that whatever he had heard really got to him.
"He… he gave really valuable information that we can use to help. I know… for instance… that you've been given a date. We have time to get you out!"
"A date? For what?"
"Shut up, Ron and listen." Fred whispered.
"I… I didn't just bring it to get intel. I… have a message. From Ron and Hermione. On a different tape. Good grief, this dictaphone is fiddly. Uh so what I do is… stop recording this one, remove it with this button. Wait… that's the power button. Oh that was close!"
"Bloody hell, dad." Bill said under his breath.
There was suddenly a load of noise, movement on the other side of the wall. Hermione's eyes went wide, desperately trying to imagine what Harry was doing. There were a lot of confused expressions.
"Harry, are you alright?"
"What's he doing?" Tonks murmured, clearly alarmed as well.
"He's trying to remove the gag," George mumbled, "or whatever it is they call it."
"Silencer… it's more like a…" Tonks swallowed, "muzzle." Hermione felt herself cringe inwardly at the clear act of humiliation, forcing Harry into that thing. Like he was less than human.
There was then a loud crash and the clear sound of chains. At that, Ron gave an angered sound.
"Harry! What… what are you doing to yourself?"
"It's alright… keep your voice pants on."
"Harry!" Hermione burst out, as did Ron and Remus. Fred gave a laugh.
"The first thing he says is 'keep your pants on'?"
Ron cracked a smile.
"H… Harry? How… did you?"
"Yes… it's me. Uh, yeah that was more… ow… more difficult than I thought it would be… ow! Oh… wait just a minute, whew."
Hermione looked over to Ron who she saw was staring at the dictaphone as if Harry had materialised in the room with him. It was so… very much Harry, sounding so normal as if he'd just tried to do some stupid broom trick and landed on his ass. Not… manage to remove something fastened around his head with his wrists restrained.
"Won't they… notice? Harry, if you get into trouble…"
"Oh I'll definitely get into trouble. I know what I'm doing." Ron shook his head, shock and disbelief at war on his face.
"That is so…"
"Him… I know," Hermione finished.
"It's worth it… look, keep it recording for a second. Then… I'll listen to the other one. You can then switch over and I can give them a response."
"Blimey, Harry…" Fred said, stunned.
"Oh… yes, that's brilliant. This muggle stuff is just brilliant… really. Right so here's the tape with Ron and Hermione's message so I press this and it ejects…"
"W… wait," Harry's voice went softer, quieter. "Not yet. This… is my only chance to give you stuff. You… the Order. I have… information." Hermione heard the subtle shift. This was Harry being deadly serious.
"Yes but Harry, I can't expect you to… you're going through enough right now. I don't want to tire you out."
"Please… let me do something useful. I got myself in this mess. I should at least make something out of it."
"Oh, the poor kid," Molly said suddenly.
"I really am sorry about recording you earlier… I overstepped."
Hermione cringed, expecting a sharp reply, a defensive remark. The sound of Harry making out that it didn't matter when it clearly very much did.
"I understand why you did it. I'm not very comfortable about it, but… I'm not comfortable about a lot of things at the moment."
"Whoa… that was a surprise," Ron said.
"Um, are there any side effects to truth magic?
"Vertiaserum no… but what they're using on you is no mere potion, Harry. Its magic is very old and very powerful. I wouldn't be surprised if you're feeling a few lingering effects. Don't worry, though Harry. I would never share anything you tell me here with anyone you don't want me to. I've breached your trust enough tonight. I give you my word."
"That means you lot don't breathe a word to anyone," Mrs Weasley shot at her sons, who nodded meekly.
"Alright… thank you, Mr Weasley."
"I think we're beyond that now. Call me Arthur. You… I know I said it last night, but I really am proud of you."
Hermione felt tears start to form. She knew how brave Harry was, but this was another level. How was he so calm?
"You shouldn't be… before I'm done here, I will betray you and your family."
"He's worried about us?" Bill asked, shaking his head.
"Truth magic isn't a new threat, Harry. We know the risk when one of us falls into Death Eater hands. We'll manage - and never think you are betraying anyone. Everyone knows how much this fight means to you."
"Too right," snapped George.
"Well said, Arthur," McGonagall said quietly. Hermione had almost forgotten that their teacher was there. Usually so stern-faced, she listened to Harry with a relaxed expression, clear admiration in her eyes.
"Th… thank you."
"It does mean that… well… I won't be able to return. At least, not this way."
"I know. It's okay. I'll be moved in five days anyway."
"W… what?"
Sparks went up from several wands. Arthur paused the tape.
"Yeah so… when Harry says five days, does he mean…?" George asked.
Arthur nodded. Hermione gasped. She wasn't alone. Mrs Weasley was on her feet, wringing her hands. Remus looked like he was going to curse something. Kingsley just stood resolutely, eyes fired.
"Come on, Harry doesn't need us to fall apart right now," Ron said angrily, earning himself a sharp word from his mum. "If he can be this calm about it, and focused, so can we." The panic died down. Hermione took a deep breath. Ron was right. They had to be strong for him. Arthur gave Ron a proud look and resumed.
"Um… when did you arrive back there? How much of what R-Rookwood said did you hear?" A short sigh. "It doesn't matter as it'll be printed in the paper tomorrow."
There was a pause. Hermione recognised this as Harry trying to control himself. He was really trying.
"He… he showed me my sentence." Angry sounds this time, no panicked gasps. "Signed by the Right Honorable Pius Thicknesse himself. I expect the full, formal thing will be printed word for word."
He was angry now, his voice had gone tight and hard as it did. Hermione felt it trigger her own anger. How dare they… how dare they even try to defame him like this?
"The… uh… event is scheduled for 16th September, so five days. I don't know if they'll bother to pretend or what. R-Rookwood did say that something else was in mind. Maybe Vol-"
"No… no Harry. Don't say the name."
"Sorry…"
"No, it's not that. They've made the name taboo. If you say it, they know. They can trace you with it. Kingsley and Remus both have had encounters with Death Eaters because of it."
"Oh wow… that was pretty close then."
Ron sent up sparks. Arthur paused.
"When we fled from the wedding, we went to lay low, but we kept getting followed. We thought that Harry might have the trace on him still, but it turned out that it was the taboo. Harry kept dropping the V-bomb. We're lucky really."
"They cornered us in a coffee shop at one point," Hermione added. "I wiped their memories as they'd seen Harry and us."
"Blimey, guys…" Fred said quietly. "Also, I'm stealing 'V-bomb'" Remus gave a sigh.
Arthur hit play again.
"Five days?" his own voice asked from the speaker. "I admit, it's not a lot of time, but it's better than nothing. We'll work o-."
"No, don't tell me anything!" Harry's voice was suddenly loud and clear.
"O… oh."
"Sorry… but you have to keep me in the dark." He dropped to a whisper again. His voice had shifted again. Hermione had rarely heard him sound this way. He was… scared. "Anything I know can be taken out of me, by the quaesitor and… later. Now I think about it, if they suspect that I've spoken to anyone, I can't lie about it… oh well, it's not like they can arrest me again."
He laughed.
"That was a terrible joke, Harry," George said, quietly.
"Just make sure your lot are safe and somewhere I don't know about."
"We'll be fine, Harry. We'll just make the most out of this, okay?"
"Right okay. Can someone… take notes? Harry is about to give us a lot of information."
"I have an enchanted quill ready," McGonagall said. A red quill and sheaths of parchment rose up at her mention.
"Yeah… okay. So information, Ah… ow." He gave a pause, clearly thinking about what to say. "There are five guards outside in the hallway, not Death Eaters, some clearly in their pockets. They answer to Yaxley… you know, Yaxley."
As he spoke, the quill started to scratch on the parchment. Hermione looked up at it, seeing. Five guards in hallway. Not Death Eaters but answer to one - Corban Yaxley.
"Yeah, we know about him. He has the Minister under the imperious curse."
"Oh, well that makes a lot of sense. The head guard has a key to my cell. His name is Sabor. He's not a Death Eater either, but he is a nasty piece of work."
"Good, Harry. Names are good."
Ron was shaking his head, his eyes full of tears. Hermione looked at him, squeezing his hand. "How… how is he this focused? If that was me, I'd be… well I dunno… crying my eyes out probably."
"We'll talk about it later," Hermione said to him as she heard Harry continue. She agreed with Ron though, but she knew that Harry was so focused because he understood that this information could potentially save his life.
"There's another man who they use. He's called Berrick. I don't… don't think he's like the others. They have control over him, likely threatening him. He's the only one that's treated me...well… you know. Like he's actually decent."
Sparks flew, this time from Kingsley.
"I know him, and Sabor."
"Could he be turned into an informer?" Remus asked. It was instantly Order business.
"He was a mule for Lestrange before. He lay low when you-know-who fell, but we never pursued him. He never fell in with them again. I imagine that he got pressured into service. They will need those that they can pressure and threaten for the more… mundane jobs. Those familiar with their methods and know well that they will follow through on their threats. I expect they have leverage."
"I assume Sabor is Dreston Sabor," McGonagall said. Everyone looked over to her. "Slytherin. The family moved over thirty years ago, all purebloods. I imagine they joined with you-know-who if their son is in charge of the Row. He was a bully then and I expect a bully now."
She looked around the room. "If I taught them, I'll know them," she added. The quill wrote down the names.
Berrick - potential informer and messenger for HP.
Sabor - headguard, has key to HP cell.
"Anything else?" Arthur asked the room.
"There's no one else but Harry in the Row," Remus said carefully, "so there are five guards patrolling the hallway as well as these two men, or are there more?"
"Harry mentions two guards that escort him in and out his cell, so I imagine the five in the hallway are for the exit."
"He has seven guards?" Charlie asked. "He's a kid with no wand and… chained to a wall? What are they expecting him to do? Turn into a werewolf? Uh… no offense Remus… Bill."
"None taken," Remus said. "I don't think it's about what Harry will do, but what would happen to them if he did get loose or if we got him loose."
"Oh… yeah."
"About that…" Arthur said, looking at Charlie. "Don't underestimate, Harry. You… see why." He resumed the recording again.
"He comes in to give me water. It's… not a lot. I was given more today than yesterday, but I guess it's just enough so I… I stay alive. Doubt Vol- you-know-who would be pleased if I perished from thirst."
Hermione heard the falter in his voice. A hint of how scared he was, how very aware of his danger.
"No food. I guess if I'm meant to be killed in five days, I don't need it to live."
"Sweet Merlin…"
Molly gave a small sob. "The poor boy. They're… keeping him weak on purpose."
Hermione looked at McGonagall's notes. Purposeful dehydration and starvation to keep HP under control. She swallowed at how much thought had gone into Harry's imprisonment. They were doing everything they could to make sure he couldn't escape. Charlie was right, it seemed so… over the top.
"I've only come into contact with two Death Eaters and they're pretty confident that I can't get out. I… tried earlier."
"What happened?"
"They messed up," Harry gave a laugh, which made Ron tense.
Sparks went up. Kingsley again.
"Who are the two Death Eaters?" He asked, looking to Arthur.
"Yaxley and Rookwood," he said.
"Hmm… both very dangerous dark wizards in their own right. Though Rookwood is certainly the larger threat, with his experience and longer service in the Death Eaters. Two Azkaban sentences as well, one of which Harry was responsible for, so I imagine he has a personal grudge."
"Wasn't Rookwood an unspeakable?" Tonks asked.
"He was the one that… told you-know-who about how to get the prophecy," Hermione said quietly. "The one about Harry… that he was tricked into getting for Vol- you-know-who." Everyone turned to look at her.
"How in Merlin's name do you know all about that?" Remus asked, astounded.
"I didn't… Harry told us," she looked around at everyone. "You all know about Harry's connection to Vol- you-know-who right?" Some nodded, Fred shrugged. "It's how he knew about the snake attack, remember?"
"Yes, Hermione, but how do you know about the prophecy?" Remus walked over to her. "Dumbledore made it clear that it was to never be known."
"Dumbledore told Harry and Harry told us," Ron said defensively. "Harry never keep anything from us. Whatever he knows, we know."
A strange silence fell. Understanding dawned on Remus's face and he smiled. Hermione knew what he was thinking. He was reminded of Harry's dad and how fiercely loyal he was to his friends.
"Well… sorry, I was just surprised to hear you say it, is all," Remus said, giving Hermione a grasp on the shoulder.
"There's something you should note down about them, Minerva," Arthur said, "I don't think Harry mentions it specifically, but Yaxley is in charge of questioning Harry while Rookwood is… ah."
"His torturer," Hermione finished. "I worked it out," she added when Ron looked at her with wide eyes. Arthur nodded, swallowing tightly.
Corban Yaxley - active Death Eater and from a pureblood family loyal to LV. Has control of the Ministry through imperious curse. Designated as HP's inquisitor and using veritas quaesitor as interrogation method.
Augustus Rookwood - veteran Death Eater of the first war. Was imprisoned in Azkaban for fourteen years until escaped in mass-breakout. Responsible for leading LV to prophecy. Captured by AB and then released during LV coup of the MoM. Designated as HP's torturer.
Hermione translated the abbreviations, looking at McGonagall with immense respect. Of course she would be very insightful as a long time Order member.
"Do we need any more information about the Death Eaters?"
"Do we know if you-know-who has been at the Ministry?" Kingsley asked, "He must have given his orders to his lieutenants in person."
"I imagine he must have, but Harry doesn't mention that he's seen him in person, though I expect he's witnessed a few of his… uh. What does he call them?" Arthur asks Ron, who shrugged.
"He just says that he can see into his mind. He doesn't really call them anything. He'd hate to have them referred to as visions…" He said carefully, glancing firmly around the room. "They are very real and… well… dangerous. You-know-who is aware of the connection and did block Harry last year, but for some reason he dropped it. I guess he forgot?"
Hermione looked over to him, frowning. "It is a bit weird. Harry's seen a lot of his mind recently and, well, I wasn't the most supportive about it as it scares me that his mind is so open to attack. But…"
"You-know-who is also scared of the connection as direct connection with Harry and his emotions causes him pain," McGonagall said, "Albus believed that Harry would be safe from possession after his failed attempt to do so at the Ministry."
Hermione nodded, then she glanced at Ron. "Harry kept wanting to see what was going on as he felt like it gave us an edge, but… all he kept seeing was you-know-who being obsessed with his wand and its link to Harry."
"We still have a lot to go through… uh we took a bit of a detour. I think Harry is about to describe his escape attempt." Arthur said.
Hermione straightened. Escape attempt?!
Everyone nodded and he started the audio again. Harry's voice erupted out of the device at once.
"I pretended to be unconscious when they took me off the quaesitor. My hands were free. They… said some things. And it just flipped me over the edge and my magic went wild. I managed to get them to let go of me. I… I got hold of a wand."
"What… how?"
"It was on the floor. Umbridge was…I'll get to that."
"Umbridge?" Harry, Ron, Fred and George all blurted out.
"Shh!" Mrs Weasley hushed.
"Okay… keep going."
"I was wearing the… silencer and I thought that was it. No voice, no magic, no escape." Hermione's heart sunk. "But then, it just came to me and I was duelling Yaxley. I didn't think… it was instinct. Yaxley beat me pretty easily when he caught me mid-apparation… but this time was different. And there were two other guards."
"You… held them off, alone and weakened? Merlin, Harry…"
"Holy shit!"
"George!"
"It's not that impressive. I got stupid. I tried to run. I… didn't think that there would be silencing charms in the chamber. The moment I got into the hallway, it was eight-on-one. If I'd held my ground and dealt with the three, then went into the hallway… ah no, I could hardly stand after just a few minutes, I wouldn't have made it… anyway, Yaxley told them to barricade the door and that he'd finish it. Which he did."
Multiple sparks went off. Everyone waited, not knowing who should speak first. So Ron just said.
"Did Harry just say that he managed to duel three people at once? After being to- tortured?"
"What did he mean that his 'magic went wild'?" Hermione asked. "Like when he blew up his Aunt 'wild'?" No one answered her. No one had an answer.
"Harry's always been pretty good at this stuff," Fred pointed out. "He ran the D.A for a reason."
"Yeah but this isn't school league stuff," Ron said, bewildered. "I mean, Harry's good, but to hold his own like that..."
"What did they say to him to set him off?" Hermione whispered. Ron's face slackened. It would have to be something pretty bad. "He'd just been on the quaesitor, probably confessing things that he'd… never even tell us."
"Albus always knew that he had the potential," Kingsley said, appraisingly, "and when we fought side-by-side with him at the Ministry, he gave his own then. He was facing five Death Eaters alone when we arrived."
"Yeah, true," Ron said, quietly, rubbing his arms as he clearly remembered the scars that he got from that fight. Hermione too had painful memories of the curse that she took that should have killed her.
"For him to make a move like that," Molly said, looking up to Remus, "he must have been… very desperate." Remus nodded.
"He's fighting with everything he has," he said softly. Hermione gave a sigh. Arthur's eyes went over to her.
"This.. will be hard to hear but… just remember how strong your friend is, alright?" She nodded. He pressed play.
"Harry… what did they do to you after this?"
"I… don't want to…"
Grimaces and winces all appeared at the same time as everything knew what that implied. Harry always hid his pain, always. He despised showing weakness and vulnerability. He attempted to hide what Umbridge was doing to him in fifth year and persuaded Hermione and Ron to conceal it too.
"I know, but if you're injured in any way, we need to know."
"He… broke my hand. My wand hand."
Outrage filled the living room. Sparks flew in the air, even a curse - from Remus. Ron was shouting, even McGonagall let out a furious remark about cowards. Arthur waved his hands for silence.
"I know, I was really pissed off too and…"
A loud bang sounded on the recording. "And I punched the wall. I nearly gave us away."
Silence fell at his admission. Then they heard Harry's terrified voice. "If… if they hear you back there…"
"I'm sorry, Harry. Don't worry… I cast silencing charms, well, here. Oh… I see what you mean."
"I don't know if the silencing charms on my door go both ways. I thought they might do… but I have no way of knowing."
"I'll be more careful. I just… can't believe someone would do that to a kid."
"I do."
Sparks from Molly. "What… does he mean by that?"
"Harry didn't have the best time as a kid, mum." George said, "You remember the bars on his window when we went to rescue him?" Molly was pale.
"We'll talk about this another time, Molly," Arthur said to her quietly. "When we have Harry back, okay?" She nodded.
He hit play.
"But… anyway, broken bones are easily fixed, right? And about the wand. It was Umbridge's. She interrupted my in-interrogation because… Hermione's charm failed so she knew what we had taken. I… I already confessed to it at that point…oh… I'm sorry…"
"Oh no…" Hermione mumbled. "Harry, don't be sorry."
"But… but Yaxley doesn't know enough yet. I imagine if he knew exactly what we'd stolen and what I know about Voldem- you-know-know he would have called him there and then. I'm not sure though. Anyway… I'm sure Hermione will tell you why that's important."
Hermione's numbly sent up her sparks. She felt the eyes of the Order members on her. She pulled the locket from under her blouse and held it up for them to see.
"He means this. We went to the Ministry yesterday to steal it from Umbridge. It's a… long story. That you know about its existence is dangerous enough and I would tell you why it's important and why Harry risked capture for it, but Harry was sworn to secrecy by Dumbledore. He told us in trust and we keep that trust. That Harry is fighting this hard to stop them finding out about it what it really is should be enough to tell you how important it is."
"I'm guessing that Harry told Yaxley a certain word. He wouldn't be able to avoid it. I've… read about truth magic and how it works. I assume that either Yaxley doesn't know what it is or Harry managed to cover up with generalisations, either way."
"Is Harry right about his knowledge being enough for him to call you-know-who?" Remus asked her. She swallowed and nodded.
"I expect that when you-know-who finds out that Yaxley knows about this, he will kill him," she said. "That's how dangerous this knowledge is to him. Harry isn't just the one who's meant to kill him, but he knows how."
Everyone went silent.
"We are rescuing him, right?" Fred asked.
"We have to," McGonagall said. "There's no question about it now."
Everyone agreed. Arthur sighed and said, "let's just listen to the rest of this first and then we can make dangerous plans of a prison break."
"I tried… tried to warn Umbridge… I don't know why. She was still all 'Potter is devious' and all that. But Yaxley let her hear about who the locket belongs to and then killed her for her involvement in it. I… had to watch."
"Merlin…" Remus muttered.
"That mustn't have been easy."
"Not really, no, but I don't know how much longer I can stall Yaxley. I tried… to convince him that if he takes too much information from me, V-you-know-who will kill him. I mean, that much is true. Ah… yeah, you should probably know that. Dumbledore told me a lot of his secrets, ones that no one knows. Knowing them is a death sentence. When he finds out that his greatest secret is known by not just Dumbledore and me, but known to my friends… I expect when he finds out, he'll take it out on me and whoever's close."
"We are going to get you out before that happens…"
Everyone was focused on listening now.
"No, please… look. I know you want to assure me that I'm getting out of this alive, but there is a very real possibility that you can't. I'm not saying it's impossible… but please, don't do something reckless. If anyone dies because of my stupidity… It would be worse… so much worse… than dying."
"He's grown up a lot," Molly said quietly.
"Anyone would if they went through what he's going through. That or go mad," Remus said.
"I would feel the same way," everyone stopped talking to listen to Arthur's voice on the dictaphone. "And don't say that about yourself. You're not to blame for this, Harry. You were pulled out of apparation… you're lucky he didn't rip you in half."
"That would be a pretty lame way to go."
"I guess, I'm sorry to say this, but we are getting short of time."
"Oh… of course, I… don't think there's anything else… maybe it'll come to me when I hear the messages."
"Okay, Harry. You… you gave me a lot of stuff…"
Then it stopped for a moment. Arthur paused it, realising that this was when Harry gave his personal messages.
"Sorry everyone, but the rest that Harry says is private and for Ron and Hermione's ears only. We'll go into the kitchen and listen to the rest. I… expect you want to do a lot of planning."
"Tea anyone?" Burst out Tonks, jumping to her feet. "It's going to be a long night."
Hermione watched Remus casting silencing charms around the kitchen to keep the space as private as possible. Arthur had sunk onto a stool, hand resting on a glass filled with a healthy portion of whiskey that McGonagall had thrust at him. She had also given one to Ron and Hermione, then left, saying that they were welcome to use her home for as long as possible. She wished them luck, arms full of notes to give to their friends.
"Ginny should be here," Ron said suddenly, staring at his glass. "She loves Harry too."
"We didn't have time to move her out of the castle," Arthur said quietly, "she's laying low in the Room of Requirement. We have people to move her tomorrow morning before… well…"
"Are we going to stay here? Harry might say about McGonagall's involvement in the Order."
"I'm sure they know that, Ron. You're forgetting about Snape," Hermione said softly. At the mention of the name, Remus let out a growl, surprising them.
"Sorry… I'm a bit riled up at the moment. Full moon was only two days ago," he said, pulling out a stool and settling down into it.
"Listen… if you'd rather I not be here, just say," Remus said to them quietly. "When you last saw me, I didn't make the best impression of myself."
"You were right, weren't you?" Ron said morosely. "Harry was way over his head."
"Ron!" Hermione gasped.
"Don't say you aren't thinking it too," he said, "we were all in over our head."
"It was bad luck," she shot back, anger rising, "Ron… we can't think about what went wrong." Ron gave a hard sigh, burying his head in his arms. Then he started shaking, breaking into sobs.
Arthur rose at once and pulled his son into his arms. "It's going to be alright. Look… I think you should listen to what Harry has to say to you."
"I bet he calls me a prat." Ron said, voice muffled in his dad's arms. Hermione saw Arthur's brows rise in surprise. "Oh… okay. I'll listen…"
"Here…" Arthur put the dictaphone in his hand. "That button to play, that button to pause… he replies to you first, then Hermione and then both of you so… yeah just give it to Hermione when it's her turn."
"Uh yeah."
"You… didn't answer," Remus pointed out.
"Yeah because you're staying. Harry would want you to be here, even though he said those things to you. He felt really bad about it after, but… you know he was thinking about your family, right?" Ron said. Remus sighed.
"Yeah, I do."
Hermione gave him a cautious smile. "You're here with us now anyway, and with your family." Remus smiled.
"I guess I am."
Ron took a deep breath and stared down at the dictaphone. His eyes were red-rimmed, but determined, and he hit play. There was the odd stuttering of static. He glanced up at his dad when the pause was long.
"Hey… uh, so it's me, Harry." Ron's hand jumped at the voice. "I'm taking a bit of a… risk talking… but anything… I'd do anything to speak to you again so…"
The calm composure that he'd had before wasn't here. He'd dropped his guard… for them. Hermione felt a hitch in her chest, a rise of panic as she heard the undercurrent of fear in his voice.
"It was a huge faff getting it off and I'll be in trouble for it, but when's that ever stopped me before, huh?"
He's talking about the thing that he had on. Then she put her hands on her mouth in horror. Ron saw her reaction and paused in alarm.
"What's wrong?"
"Just…" She looked up at Arthur. "They'll hurt him, won't they? For taking off that thing." Arthur sighed.
"He said he knew what he was doing."
Hermione gave a nod, trying to calm her panic, but she shuddered. Ron watched her, checking if she'd speak, but she didn't so he clicked the button.
"Ron, first off, you're a prat for thinking that you let me down in any way. If you'd come back after me, you'd be in a cell across from me or on your way to Azkaban. You're also meant to be sick at home so you'd also get your parents in trouble for lying to the Ministry. No, you made the right call and I'm really glad you did because I know you're safe."
Ron gave a sob and nodded, tears falling. "I'm a prat," he said.
"Look after my dad's cloak, will you? Use it well." Ron's lip quirked, knowing that Harry was quoting Dumbledore. "I'm giving everything I've got left. I've got a couple of tricks left. The headguard keeps his wand in his belt… just need to get close enough and I'll pay him in kind. Won't get very far, but every victory counts."
Ron frowned, but then when he heard the first syllable of Hermione's name, he paused the recording and put the dictaphone down, pushing it over to her.
"He's never been like this," he said suddenly, "so… well… focused. Is it the after-effects of that thing you said that they're using?" He glanced up at his dad.
"Maybe. I don't know much about truth magic, but I know that it can have emotional impacts. Harry's not had the easiest life and it made him very guarded. I think some of those guards have dropped. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing," he shrugged.
Hermione took the dictaphone. "It feels weird talking about him… like it's not him… I don't like it. I feel like we're invading his privacy."
"We need to know what he's going through so we can help him."
"I know…" she murmured. She looked down at the device that she had discovered in the shed only that morning. She ran her thumb over the triangular play button and pressed.
"Hermione…"
She felt a lurch in her chest. The way he said her name, it startled her. He said it slowly, as if he was savouring the sound. It was weird. She glanced at Ron, hoping he hadn't noticed.
"Thank you. I… still blame myself, but I've come to terms with it. I always make stupid decisions so it's no surprise that one ends up finishing me off… uh sorry, bad joke."
She paused. Her heart was racing. She knew what was so wrong, why she felt so nervous at the way he sounded. She realised why he mentioned his cloak. She gasped horribly and jumped up from the stool, causing everyone to flinch in alarm.
"He's saying goodbye," she gasped, panicking, unable to breathe. "He mentioned the cloak because… he's passing it on to you." She said, looking to Ron who was going pale. "It's why he keeps making jokes about his death. He's making light of it because… it scares him. He's so scared. How did I not see it before?"
She paced away, Remus coming up, moving to comfort her.
"It's why he's been so… calm. He's… accepted it. I don't blame him for it at the least! I'd probably do the same, but… doesn't he know that we'll do everything we can to help him? Doesn't he believe in us?"
"Hermione…" Remus put a hand on her arm.
"Oh God… when he tried to escape and found that he couldn't… he must have… and he saw Umbridge get killed like collateral damage, just like he did when… oh Harry," she felt like she was going to be sick.
Arthur stood up and walked to her. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"Breathe," he said to her, "and listen. Listen to what he has to say to you first, okay? I think you'll find he believes in you more than you know."
She stared up at his brown eyes, so kind and understanding, then to Ron who looked horrified at what she had just said. She went back to her stool, grabbed the whiskey and took a large gulp. Then coughed.
"Oh… that wasn't what I expected," she said, feeling the heat rise to her face. Arthur and Remus gave a laugh.
"Minerva has the good stuff." Remus said with a smirk. Hermione leaned on the warm feeling that surged down her throat to her stomach and looked down to the dictaphone. She pressed play.
"I know it was bad luck, but I clammed up when I found myself back. I should have just apparated again, but I had a real shithead of a Death Eater on me and there were all those people… I didn't want them to get hurt."
"I'm so… so grateful that you thought of this. I can't get it out of my head that I've ruined every… everything. Oh… sorry. I know you'll want to jinx me for that."
She wanted to jinx him for trying to say goodbye already, and then he said that. She started to feel irritated.
"This… this next thing I have to say, I know it won't be easy for you both to hear." Her irritation went at once. She had never heard him sound like this. He had dropped away all his guards, everything, and was being completely honest with them. He was showing them his complete trust. She felt the tears spring to her eyes and knew, just knew, that he was going to spring the word 'goodbye' on them.
"I know you want to help me get out of here, but this isn't slipping into Snape's cupboard to steal boomslang skin. This place… it's designed to keep the most dark wizards in history locked up. They've used every security measure they can think of, the Ministry and Volde- oh taboo - you-know-who. This very cell is where they kept Bellatrix Lestrange so that might give you some idea… not the nicest place. That we might have worn the same shackles…"
It was the first time that he specifically mentioned the chains. She could hear them occasionally when he moved and Arthur had told them when he came back from his first visit that Harry was restrained, but to mention it to them. It showed that he trusted them alone with the reality of his situation.
"Please be careful, remember that you have the secret now too. You have to keep the mission alive. It's more important than me right now. I can't stop you from trying something, obviously because I'm locked in here, but look, what I'm saying is don't do a 'me' and run into danger."
Ron had his eyes closed, shaking his head. Hermione realised that, rather than feel alarmed and outraged by what he was saying, he was actually calming her down. What he was saying made sense. He was using reason.
"Not unless you are absolutely sure you can do it without a single loss of life. I cannot… I cannot have any more people dying for me. Please…"
She knew now that he was going to say something very and deeply personal. Showing a vulnerability that he likely only ever showed Dumbledore, who knew him best.
"So many have already died because of me… my parents, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, Mad-Eye, even Hedwig… I can't add you to the list. It would… destroy me."
She could hear the tears in his voice and felt her own falling down her face.
"I guess… goodbye and… I'm sorry. I… just know I'm being realistic and not… what's the word?"
"Fatalistic?" Ron jumped at his dad's voice. He, like Hermione, had forgotten he was there.
"Yeah that one. I won't stop looking for a way out. Even if I have to blast my way out the bloody walls. He's not taking me without a fight."
"Also, don't believe what you'll read in the paper tomorrow… I didn't murder Umbridge. I actually tried to save her, believe it or not. She paid the price for owning a horcrux… oh yeah, guys, I'm sorry… I tried to stop it, but the quaesitor is relentless. I don't know what else it'll get me to reveal, likely your names next and other stuff… oh wow…"
His voice was growing thick now, words starting to slur. He was exhausted.
"I… I won't lie to you… it is pretty bad in here. Vold- you-know-who wants me to suffer, but the two in charge of me are under orders to not do anything serious. My mind and life belong to the Dark Lord, they say - which is good news because they won't torture my brains out, just enough to push me to the limit."
"Tell Remus, I'm sorry about… what I said. I was… mad that you'd… leave your kid... look after them…" He was struggling to speak now. Hermione looked over to Remus, seeing the tears.
"Let Ginny know… I always… will remember her… oh wait you're her dad. I'm sure she knows."
"Go into hiding please tomorrow… I'll give you all away. I can't stop it…"
"Don't worry about us. We know how to prepare."
"Ah… ah ow… sorry. I'm… struggling to stay awake, the… pain. It takes over."
"It's alright. Do you want me to wait with you while you fall asleep?"
"It… now…"
The audio died. It was the end of the tape. The finality of it made Hermione want to collapse. She placed the dictaphone on the table. No one spoke for a while. Ron went to grab the whiskey and took a sip, not reacting like Hermione did.
Remus broke the silence by raising his glass.
"To Harry Potter, the most infuriatingly brave kid."
Hermione took her glass and raised it. "Yeah… also the most stubborn idiot to have survived the killing curse."