Chapter 2

Leaving

By that Friday, there were numerous issues of the Daily Prophet being issued on something major, like Cornelius Fudge being sacked and replaced by an old head of the Auror Department, Rufus Scrimgeour.

But the articles were mostly about two things: ways to keep you and your family safe from the Death Eaters…and my brother.

"Harry Potter: The Chosen One?" flashed across the front page of the Prophet for weeks, making me feel bad about myself.

It was all about Harry. Harry this, Harry that, everything I read from the wizard world, it was all about Harry being the stupid "Chosen One", not a word about me.

That Friday, I was sleeping when Harry woke me up by shaking me, knocking over my black cat, Hellion and making her hiss and walk out the door.

"Han, wake up!" he shouted "Are you ok?" he asked.

I stirred and looked into his speckled face "What d'you mean 'am I ok'?" I asked.

"You were muttering in your sleep." Harry said, concerned.

I creased my eyebrows together and sat up "I was muttering?" I asked "What was I muttering?"

"You were muttering about Malfoy." Harry said, authentically concerned. "You were saying stuff like 'Draco, Draco no.' and 'Draco, please, please don't do this, there has to be another way.' and 'Boys, stop, stop!'. What were you dreaming about?" Harry asked.

I was taken aback as my owl flew through the window. "I don't know. I normally remember these things…but I can't." I said, shutting Gwendolyn in her cage as Harry did the same. "Maybe Dumbledore will know." I said as I heard the doorbell ring.

Harry gaped as I smirked. I was right. Dumbledore was coming to claim us.

"Crap!" Harry hissed as he started throwing things randomly into his trunks

Uncle Vernon shouted "Who in the bloody hell would call this time of night?" from downstairs as I grabbed my leather jacket and trunk and went downstairs, leaving Harry to pack.

When I got downstairs, there stood the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, talking to Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley about how the agapanthuses were flourishing (like I gave a Skinner's ass).

"Ah, Hannah." Dumbledore said, smiling at me "I see you're packed. Excellent, excellent."

I smiled as Uncle Vernon gave me a look. Apparently, someone looking at me and saying "Excellent" was someone with whom he didn't see eye to eye.

"Shall I assume that you have invited me into your sitting room?" Dumbledore asked as Harry walked into the hall next to me "Ah, Harry, excellent, excellent."

"Professor, I thought you were going to take us to -?" I started, nodding to my trunk.

"A few moments, Hannah, we have a few matters to settle with your aunt, uncle and cousin first before we leave." Dumbledore said, walking through the threshold and into the sitting room (I've respected Dumbledore a thousand times more ever since he did that.) and sat down, Harry sitting in an armchair, me stuck on the floor.

I gasped when I saw Dumbledore's wand hand. It was black and withered.

"It looks like it's died." I muttered to Harry, my eyes still on the black hand.

"Sir, what happened to your -?" Harry started.

"Later, Harry," Dumbledore said to Harry "Please sit down."

Harry took his seat in the armchair and Dumbledore turned to the Dursleys, who were sitting on the couch.

"I would assume that you have offered me refreshment." Dumbledore said, taking out his wand. "But that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness." he said, waving his wand and making a dusty bottle and six glasses appear, giving everyone in the room a glass full to the brim with crimson red liquid.

"Madam Rosemerta's finest oak-matured mead." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling at Harry and I as we took a sip.

It wasn't anything I had tasted before, sort of like when I first tasted Butterbeer, but I liked it just as much and enjoyed it immensely with Harry. Hellion came back and curled up in my lap to be petted, which I didn't disappoint.

"Now, we have a problem that concerns the contents of Sirius' will. Now, he's left you both everything, so you add a reasonable amount of gold to your Gringotts vault and earn all of his possessions. But, there's a problem for the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius has also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place."

I raised my eyebrows together. Harry and I…both sharing a house? Oh, that'll end well when we get married. I thought.

"You can keep using it as Headquarters. Really, I don't want it." Harry said, making me gap at him.

"Maybe I'd want it?" I asked, glaring at Harry."You never know how long it'll be before I get married. You can always live at the Burrow until I find a husband, then you can move in there."

"Oh, we all know Malfoy's going to propose to you. Stupid ferret he may be, but he's madly in love with you." Harry snapped.

"Keep Draco out of this!" I snapped back. "I'll have you know that my private life is none of your -"

"Both of you." Dumbledore said quietly "You are kind, Harry, but we have vacated the place temporarily. You see, Sirius's brother Regulus predeceased him, and both were childless. Now, I predict that there will be enchantments on the house that can only be avoided by someone of pure blood with the name of Black."

Harry nodded, no doubt remembering the picture of Sirius's mother, who screamed about Mudbloods and filth "besmirching the house of my fathers" and blah, blah, blah.

"So naturally the supposed new owner of the house is Bellatrix Lestrange." Dumbledore finished, making Harry and I shoot up.

Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius's killer, inherit his house?

"No." Harry and I said together.

Dumbledore smiled "Thankfully, there is a simple test." he said, waving his wand again.

"WILL YOU GET THESE BLOODY THINGS OFF US!?" Uncle Vernon shouted as his, Aunt Petunia's and Dudley's glasses started jumping on their heads.

Dumbledore smiled "It would have been better manners to drink it, you know." he said, making the glasses vanish with a flick of his wand.

I looked to the floor next to me and there stood Sirius's house elf, Kreacher.

"Give him an order." Dumbledore said "And if he has really passed into your ownerships, he will have no choice to obey."

"Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't!" Kreacher shouted, stomping his feet "Kreacher won't go to the Potter brats, oh yes, Kreacher belongs to the Blacks, Kreacher wants his new mistress, Kreacher won't go to the wannabe pureblood or the Potter brat! Kreacher won't, won't, won't!"

Finally, after five minutes of this, I got fed up with his tantrum and the only thing I could shout was:

"KREACHER, SHUT YOUR FUCKING PIEHOLE!" I shouted.

Kreacher gulped and acted as if he was choking before falling into an ugly, but peacefully silent tantrum.

I sighed "That settles matters." I said "Harry, you want him?" I asked.

"No, he can go somewhere. I don't want him." Harry said to Dumbledore.

"I'll take him!" I said, raising my hand. "Kreacher, I order you to go upstairs and get my trunk and Gwendolyn's cage!" I said proudly.

Kreacher gave me a death look and Apparated upstairs, coming back a few seconds later with my trunk and owl.

I smirked "Awesome." I muttered "Best. Inheritance. Ever. Can I keep him and take him to school with me?" I asked Dumbledore.

"Absolutely, he is your elf." Dumbledore said kindly.

I gaped. I had a caddy for my books!

"Sweet!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air as Dumbledore turned to Harry.

"Now, Harry, are you packed?" Dumbledore asked, smiling.

"Uh…" Harry said, stowing a pair of underpants and a telescope behind him.

"Doubtful I'd turn up?" Dumbledore asked, smirking.

"I'll just, uh…go and…finish off." Harry said, rushing back upstairs.

"HURRY UP, HARRY!" I said, turning to Dumbledore. "I'll…uh…go help him." I said, following him upstairs "LET'S GO KREACHER!" I shouted, making the elf tail me upstairs.

I started throwing my jewellery that I had forgotten into my backpack, my wand, Draco's charm bracelet that played (and was Charmed to play him singing) Safe and Sound, my Invisibility Cloak, my hair straightener, anything of mine that I saw, I threw in.

Then I saw it.

It was as I was digging through my night table that I saw in the DVD of Halloween, that Draco put on me when I was one.

The silver ring with the diamonds on it…and a ball chain.

I gasped, my eyes filling with tears as I took off the necklace I was wearing and slipped my baby ring on the necklace chain before putting it on, grasping it tightly in my hand.

I put the pendant from the necklace into my backpack and zipped it up, handing the pack to Kreacher to Apparate downstairs.

Harry and I looked into the hall, but we rolled our eyes. Dumbledore was still in the sitting room.

"Professor," Harry said as Kreacher stood by my things. "we're ready now."

Dumbledore smiled "Excellent. We shall only tread on your aunt and uncle's hospitality a little while longer."

"You will, will you?" Uncle Vernon asked menacingly.

Dumbledore smiled "Yes, there is one more thing I must ask of you…as you may well know, Harry and Hannah come of age in a year's time-"

"No they don't." Aunt Petunia said "Dudley's a month older than them. And he doesn't turn eighteen until year after next."

Dumbledore shook his head "Yes, but in the wizard world, we come of age at seventeen."

Uncle Vernon mumbled something that sounded a lot like "a load of shit.", which Dumbledore ignored.

"Now, with this in mind, the protection evoked by their mother's sacrifice fifteen years ago will cease to work the moment they turn seventeen, the moment they become a man and a woman.

However, the other way her protection will break is when the twins no longer call this house home. So, I am imploring you to let them come under this roof one more time, this time next year until their seventeenth birthday."

"With all due respect, sir," Harry started "Hannah and I have separate birthdays, remember? You said I was a day older."

"Yes, I did say so, Harry." Dumbledore said with a smile "But in the wizard world, twins birthdates are depended on the date the first twin is born, so, although Hannah's birthday is August first, she will become a woman in the Ministry's eyes the same as you, on July thirty first, although her legal seventeenth will not be until August first."

I smirked. "So I cheat the system?" I asked.

Dumbledore nodded "Yes, into simplest terms, you 'cheat the system'."

I smirked "Sweet!" I said as Dumbledore stood up.

"Excellent. They shall see you then." he said as he turned to me. "Hannah, I believe your elf should go back to Grimmauld Place, or to Hogwarts."

I nodded and turned to Kreacher "Kreacher, I order you, please, to go to Hogwarts and work with the elves there until I arrive." I said.

Kreacher glowered at me and Harry and Apparated away.

I smirked "I love house-elves." I said proudly as I slung my backpack over my shoulder and kissing two fingers, holding up the peace sign to the Dursleys as Harry and I followed Dumbledore out.

Harry set my things down beside him.

"Harry, I want you to take out your Invisibility Cloak." Dumbledore told Harry.

I took out my Invisibility Cloak and my wand. "I have mine in my backpack, sir." I said.

Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent." he said, walking away from Privet Drive "Now, Harry and Hannah, let us step out into the night and pursue that fleeting temptress, adventure."

"Oh, this is exciting!" I said, starting to sprint up ahead as Dumbledore waved his wand and made my trunk, my Nimbus 2001 and Gwen's cage disappear. "Where're we going, sir?" I asked "Are we going to track down some Death Eaters and throw the scum into Azkaban where they belong? Are we going to try and demolish Voldemort once and for all? OH, are we going to go to Annabelle Drosie's house and play Ding-Dong Ditch?"

"Hannah, calm your crap!" Harry shouted. "We'll probably not be doing that, sis. But yes, what are we doing sir?"

"Kindly grip my arms, twins, and you shall know. Hannah, please grip onto Harry's arm tightly."

I nodded and gripped Harry's arm, and before I or Harry knew it, we were being pressed into a tight rubber tube.

I was being squished through all sides and I gripped Harry's arm tighter as all the air left my lungs.

I thought I was going to suffocate when I smelt air again, making me gasp and wheeze and gulp for air.

When I finally got some oxygen into my system, I finally realized what happened. I had just Apparated for the first time in my life.

"C…Cool…" I gasped, my eyes streaming "But I may just prefer brooms or Floo Network." I said before looking around "Where are we?" I asked the same time as Harry.

"This, Harry and Hannah, is the charming village of Budleigh Babberton." Dumbledore said before turning to me "Are you all right, Hannah? The sensation does take some getting used to."

I gasped a little more and waved two fingers on my right hand in a circular motion "Fine" I said in a high pitch, gasping voice "Keep going, I'm just catching my breath."

Dumbledore chuckled "You're faring much better than others. People normally throw up the first time."

I smirked "Lovely way to celebrate getting somewhere by Apparition." I said sarcastically "A nice big puddle of vomit."

Harry burst out laughing. When he finally controlled myself, he walked along with Dumbledore, me trailing behind them, taking in my surroundings.

The large clock in the square chimed midnight as I passed and small little houses were darkened and gloomy.

Must be a place you have to live in for a while to get used to. That, or it's better at night. I said, thinking of Draco suddenly.

He told me he lived in a Manor…is this where it was?

No, he told me the Manor was in Wiltshire, this is Budleigh Babberton, there's a difference!

Suddenly I had what I had not had in five years…

I had a vision as I walked.

"Severus, my son, my only son…" Narcissa Malfoy was sobbing at my Head of House's feet.

"Draco should be proud!" Bellatrix said "If I had sons, I'd be proud to give them to the Dark Lord."

"His love…my possible daughter-in-law…my best friend's daughter." Narcissa wailed "Severus, please, could you try…?"

"If you think I can change his mind, you're mistaken." Severus Snape said "Once the Dark Lord has made up his mind, he will not be swayed."

Narcissa started to cry. I made out some words like "They'll be killed."

"But…" Snape said "I think it would be possible for me…to help Draco."

Narcissa looked up, her face tear stained "Really?" she said "Will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?"

Snape glared at Bellatrix "Yes." he said, making Bellatrix go shock still "I believe Bellatrix will consent to be our Bonder?"

Snape and Narcissa clasped hands and Bellatrix stood there, shocked.

"We will require your wand, Bellatrix." Snape said, smirking at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix slowly drew her wand with a sneer and placed it on Snape and Narcissa's joined hands.

"Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Draco Malfoy as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?" Bellatrix asked.

"I will." Snape said indifferently, his words making a fiery rope come from Bellatrix's wand and wrap itself around the two hands.

"And will you, to the best of your abilities, protect him from harm?" Bellatrix asked.

"I will." Snape said again, and again another fiery rope bound him to Narcissa's hand.

"Should it seem that Draco will fail," Bellatrix smirked, making Snape twist his hand, but not pull away "Will you yourself, carry out the deed, the Dark Lord has bad Draco to perform?"

"I will." Snape said, making another rope bind him to Narcissa.

"And…" Narcissa said, making Bellatrix huff and make her wand holding forced "should it seem that Draco's love Hannah Potter should come to harm…will you assist Draco in keeping her safe?"

Bellatrix huffed and turned away, a large smirk playing on her lips as if she was going to say "As if I'd let him keep that promise."

"I will." Snape said, adding one more rope to the family, which joined together into a large snake.

Narcissa and Snape let their hands go.

I gasped and shook my head as I stood at the door of a cottage.

It couldn't be…I didn't believe it…I wouldn't believe it. Voldemort wouldn't dare put my Draco into a mission.

"Completely preposterous." I said as Harry and Dumbledore walked into the house.

"Come on, Hannah!" Harry said "Draw your wand and get in here!"

I sighed and drew my wand, stepping into the cottage. "I must be overtired, having visions this unbelievable." I said as I looked around.