Chapter 14
"Sorry son you can't, I should not have let his name slip"
"Ron was my best friend, I need to know he is ok"
Hermione stood and faced Harry with her back to Sirius "Listen to your dad" Harry nodded, both sets of parents were amazed at the calming influence they had on each other. They didn't see the wink she gave him.
"Ron was hurt but will recover, everything is being done to protect his identity. The boy was placed under the imperious curse and forced through the tasks, he was stopped by Fluffy"
"But why him"
"Harry I'm not supposed to be talking to you about this"
"Dad unless a chess genius who thinks he can sing is going to get past whatever is down that trapdoor, I just don't understand why him"
Sirius went very pale "I need to speak to Albus right away"
He then rushed from the room, The two looked at each other and shrugged.
"Now your dad's gone do you think Hedwig could carry my mirror"
Harry beamed and pecked her on the lips
"Your brilliant"
Two hours later a pure white owl sailed through a bedroom window near Ottery St Catchpole. It dropped a small packet onto the body of the only person in the room. The skinny red haired boy was laying staring at the ceiling.
He read the label
Ron
Only open this when your alone
Harry
He ripped the small box open to find a lady's compact mirror. He could hear faint voices coming from
"She should be there soon"
Ron opened the mirror to see the side of Harrys face
"Harry?"
The face in the mirror turned and smiled
"Thank Merlin your OK, they said you was but I had to see for myself"
Unfortunately the legendary Weasley tempered started to appear
"we have shared a dorm for 3 months and with the exception of Nev you have barely spoken to any of us"
Harry's head shot forward from the smack to the head he received
"What was that" Ron asked
Rubbing the back of his head Harry replied "My girlfriend reprimanding me for not following my own advice".
Ron smiled "So you made it official with Hermione"
Harry smiled broadly "you could say that, Anyway we have to go. I need to get Hermione's mirror back before the parental's find out we sent it to you"
"Thanks Harry, I want to say sorry"
He was interrupted by Harry "The past needs to be the past, I don't want to go back just forward. Pack the mirror up and give to it Hedwig she will get it back"
"No worries mate consider it done, bye mate"
Ron closed the mirror a smiled a genuine smile, the first since he woke up under fluffy.
Sirius returned later to find all four kids studying. He was joined by Amelia, Dan, Emma, Alice, Frank, Albus and Minerva.
"Can you four come down to the kitchen"
They all walked in to see the table magically expanded and all three sets of parents plus headmaster and deputy head sitting waiting. The students stood frozen on the spot.
"Whatever you think we did, we didn't"
The Headmaster smiled "You are not in trouble please sit"
They all sat down
"We are just waiting for Mr Weasley and his parents. I'm sure he is feeling better after your little chat"
Sirius said sliding Hermione's mirror across the table to her.
The only sound in the room was the slight friction of the small disc sliding on polished wood. Hermione looked up and shrugged
"Harry was worried about his friend i just avoided him doing something rash"
At this point Kreacher guided the latest arrivals in. First Arthur Weasley A tall man with a slite middle age spread and a receding red hair. He was followed by Molly Weasley who they had met at Kings Cross station before Christmas and finally Ron.
Albus addressed the newcomers
"Please take a seat and we can begin"
The Weasley parents sat with the adults, Harry pull the chair next to him out for Ron.
"First we will start with my friend Nicholas Flamel. He is a noted alchemist, we worked together on the uses of dragons blood. His other creation is the philosophers stone"
Hermione's face turned to one of understanding
"I see you have put the pieces together, please allow me to continue"
Hermione nodded
"Thank you Miss Granger, Anyway Nicolas's home was attacked. He felt the only way to protect the stone was to send it to me. I put it into a Gringotts vault but the goblins deemed it against the proper order that is life. So I moved the stone the following day just before an attempt occurred on the bank"
Harry felt the need to interrupt
"Why are you telling us and no offence to Ron but don't you think he has been through enough"
"Please indulge an old Man for a few more moments and I promise it will all be clear"
The boy nodded but was not totally convinced but held his tongue.
"Harry it is because of your conversation with your Farther, you all find yourselves sitting here"
Sirius spoke for the first time
"You told me how could a chess prodigy who thinks he can sing get the stone"
"what do you mean thinks he can sing?" Ron said
"Sorry mate, You are already famous on a chess board. You are also Infamous in the shower" Harry replied smirking
Albus attempted to gain control
"Anyway what I want from you three is a list of students that you believe could pass a set of challenges or at least point me in the right direction "
"Hermione understood where the headmaster was leading the conversation"
"But they are only children"
"Molly you are completely right but I need to know if any of the students are in greater danger"
Four of the students turned to look at Hermione
She became very red "what, why are you looking at me"
Harry kissed her on the cheek, an action Molly Weasley did not miss or like
"We all know you are the brains of this group, even Ron believes it and he has just joined us"
The other four nodded as Hermione sat up straighter.
"OK headmaster, Sue I noticed your flute in your room Do you play?"
"Yes"
"OK trap one passed, what's next"
"Sue would land in a rather nasty patch of Devils Snare"
Hermione looked to Neville "Nev"
"You would only need to relax and you would pass through"
"Ah but what if you were to scared to relax" Albus hopped that these 11 and 12 year olds were no going to breeze through these tasks as easily as they are at the moment. Neville shot that idea down quickly.
"Devils Snare shrinks from the sun, anyone of us could perform a lumus strong enough"
Albus was in total shock so far the first 2 were rendered useless.
"I was expecting you to point us at a name or two not solve them yourself. My fear is that I know the next two traps, I'm informed Mr Weasley is a star on a chess board and Harry would pass the next with little difficulty, its the last that may offer a little resistance"
He passed over a parchment and lined up a selection of bottles. Hermione silently Read the riddle infront of her. The rest watched in silence for two minutes as she squinted back and froth between the parchment and bottles. She finally reached forward and rearranged the bottles and spoke as she pointed to each bottle
"Forward, back, poison, poison, wine and wine"
Dumbledore dropped his head into his hands
"Nicolas panicking sent me the stone, the goblins order it from the bank and now I can't keep it safe at the school"
Dan spoke with a smirk
"Are all magicals this stupid"
Molly growled at the muggle who ignored her and continued.
"give it to me I will dig a hole in the garden and burry it. Leave the traps make it a competition at the school. Bang a prize at the end, done"
Hermione's laughter broke the stunned silence
"Dad that's hilarious, where's there is traps there must be a prize. I mean no offence with my next statement but you could wear the stone around your neck and the wizarding world still try to look behind a magic door"
Molly Weasley was now beyond angry
"Don't be stupid, you know nothing. First you swoop in a steal Harry then you turn around and belittle our entire world"
"ENOUGH"
Molly looked into the glowing green enraged eyes of Harry Potter. Four of the five preteens stood to protect their friend. The fact that her own son was standing to the young girls defence shocked her.
"Ron get her out of my house, I've tried to be as gentle as possible, no more"
The skinny ginger boy nodded
"Mum I would do as he asked, apparently the last time he lost it, he tried to remove Draco Malfoy's head"
"Amelia are you going to let these children dictate to us in your own home"
Amelia laughed
"I could Ask Dan to let go of Emma a watch what she does"
Four children flinched and a red head looked confused. Albus decided this was a teaching moment and so for asked for assistance.
"Hermione would you please show Ronald what we are talking about"
The genital use of her first name shocked her out of the sombre mood. Smiling she stood
"of course Pops"
This had Albus beaming back at her. Sirius asked everyone to stand and move to the back wall. After waving his wand a couple of times he signalled that it was ready. The table had moved and the floor and walls had taken on the texture of a mattress. Hermione walked to the centre of the room bouncing on her toes a little. Harry threw his arm over Ron's shoulder and whispered.
"I think your a little faster than me on the draw, don't hold back. She wont"
"Are you serious"
"No I'm Harry, but she is a killer"
Ron looked over to see the Hermione stretching. He winced when she stood straight bent forward and almost touched her head to her shin. She then twisted her hair around her wand and stuck it back through the messy bun she had formed on top of her head. Harry looked over a Ron apologetically.
"Sorry mate looks like she is still a little mad"
Ron smiled and whipped his wand out
"Don't worry Harry I won't hurt your girlfriend"
Harry grimaced, Sue and Neville both laughed
"All mouth no trousers"
Was heard as Ron's wand was ripped from his hand as he flew over the smaller girl to land on his back with an "oooffff"
He opened his eye to see the upside down face of Hermione his wand had joined hers in the bun on top of her head.
"Brilliant, but scary"
""Anyone else want to add to my new hair style"
Amelia sent a message and then stood
"I would like to see how well this works on an adult"
She had heard the stories of Dan and Emma's teaching but had not seen it first hand. She prepared herself in front of Hermione. She was not impressed with the nonchalant look she was given by a 12 year old.
Dan whispered to his wife
"Quick or showy"
"Quick she knows Amelia the least"
Dan nodded back his agreement
Molly had had enough
"Arthur we are leaving, let's go Ronald"
Ron's face fell until Harry spoke
"We have a set routine school starts at 9am sharp. Don't be late Kreacher won't come for you after that"
"See you in the morning guys"
They all waved him off and then returned to the Amelia and Hermione show. Amelia turned as if to address the observer's, only to spin around with wand drawn. Hermione wasn't there confusion was replaced by shock as her legs were kicked from beneath her she found herself spread eagle her wand had joined Hermione's, Ron's already returned to him.
"I do hope you are teaching my children this well"
"Why would I do that when I can have Harry on his back whenever I want"
Dan paled and Emma laughed along with everyone else.
"why do you insist on trying to kill your Farther with comments like that"
"Only until he trusts me"
"Trust everyone, just not the Devil inside them"
was Dan's response.
Tonks entered the room to see her boss on the floor and someone standing over her, the two years of auror training kicked in, she drew her wand and fired a stunner. Hermione glimpsed the spell heading her way. She performed a one handed cartwheel, pulled her wand from her hair with her free hand and erected a shield.
"hey you've been holding out on us" Susan said jumping up.
"Yeah Mi that was amazing" Neville added
"It was reflex they cant hit you if your not there, besides I can't see dumb and dumber over there doing that" Pointing ant Harry and Neville.
Amelia spoke next
"expect a job offer from me when you finish school, Tonks is one of best new recruits. I would like to see her take you on in a duel"
"I wouldn't, she has been training with the three amigos over there"
Dan's face became very serious
"Sirius can I have a private word with you"
The two men entered the library and Sirius sat waiting for Dan.
"Please reassure me you are not turning our children into soldiers"
Sirius's shoulders dropped
"When we first discovered Hermione's friendship with my children we approached yourself and your wife. As you know we did this so you would have all the information and to give you the option to do what you felt best for your daughter"
"I am fully aware of this but you haven't answered my question"
"I know I'm getting to it, We told you of the dangers in the magical world and what Harry had faced. We told you of the prophecy and how we believe its a load of crap"
"yes and you told us that not everyone would see it that way"
"I love all the children in that room and just want them to live a long and happy life"
"I fear for my Hermione's safety, this is not the world I grew up in. It feels more like I've been sent back in time 200 years. Child soldiers, week government and a mad dictator waiting to take control. I want to grab my daughter and run away. I'm a soldier at hart but she is not"
Sirius nodded
"I totally understand your point of view and also know what is stopping you"
Neither men needed to state what would happen to his family if they chose to leave. Messing with people's memories could fundamentally change a person something Daniel Granger feared greatly.
Sirius chose then to break the tension
"I have been teaching my children to look after each other but your daughter put my wife on her back in seconds. How"
Dan smiled
"That is a little easier to talk about with how happy she is know. But at the time is was Hard, my princess was a child that struggled to fit in. So she wanted to join a dance troop, then gymnastics and martial arts. My baby excelled but all it did was alienate her more"
Dan sobered again
"Seeing her in action against Amelia scared me. I don't want her in the middle of a war"
Amelia and Emma entered the room laughing.
"Those four are an amazing team, I would love to see them go up against some auror trainees" Amelia said
Sirius and Dan started to frown. Emma plonked on Dan's lap
"Daniel Granger you can stop that at once, I know you are worried about this and so am I, but if a war hits us we will have no power to stop it. If we can't take those children and run at least they will be able to look after each other"
"Emma you are the only person in this room who hasn't seen war first hand"
Emma stood and rounded on her husband
"Bullshit just because I didn't hold a weapon I still had to sit and wonder if I would loose you every day you were away. The only way I could cope was to place my faith in your training and that is what I will do with my daughter"
She sat back on her husbands lap
"Captain Granger, I'm ordering you to stop sitting and feeling sorry for yourself. Get of your ass and make sure you help your daughter and her friends to be as good as you"
She then smirked
"Do a good enough job and I may let you order me around later"
Dan jumped put still holding his wife and plopped her in his vacated seat. He then marched from the room towards the stairs down to the basement.
"Right you horrible lot call that a formation. Potter your leaving your back to open, Longbottom stop wasting time hit the target quick and move to the next. Bones stop pissing about time and start practicing with loverboy and his knives. I don't know what your smirking at Granger. Their are 4 points to a compass and you are doing a piss poor job of protecting the west"
Frank was smiling and signing as the Sirius and the others followed Dan
"Mad-eye, who's Mad-eye"
Emma translated