Chapter Fourteen: The Week from Hell (Part Four)
.
Thursday night
.
.
Dumbledore took them to Grimmauld Place.
But he said not a single word during their trip.
Nor did he say anything when he opened the front door to let them inside.
Or when he let them through the darkened hallway and down the stairs to the kitchen.
Harry was only partly surprised to see the Order of the Phoenix gathered down there.
They were all silent, watching him and his friends as they filed in after Dumbledore and Harry felt a sick sense of smugness at the sight of their guilty faces and all the people who wouldn't meet his eyes.
Serves them right, he thought, we warned them and they ignored us and now we have a crisis on our hands. This could be the beginning of the end.
Somehow McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape had made it here before them.
Snape was scowling as always but Harry would have been surprised if Snape felt guilty about anything.
Dumbledore sat down at the head of the table and Harry wanted to tell him to get of that seat. That was Sirius place at the table. Not his.
Flitwick conjured three more chairs near the Headmaster but Harry remained where he was with Ron to his left and Hermione to his right.
There was silence as almost everybody was looking at them but nobody seemed to quite know what to say.
Dumbledore was opening his mouth to speak but before he could, Kreacher appeared next to Harry.
"There is a new Master in the house." He grumbled. He took Harrys hand, the hand that held the ring, and kissed the ring.
"Glory to the House of Black. Glory to the new Master!" the house-elf whispered.
Harry felt uncomfortable.
Dumbledore seemed to find his voice just then.
"Yes, Harry, congratulations to your new Lordship." He cleared his voice awkwardly but it was Hermione who answered him.
"Congratulations? Really, Headmaster? Congratulations? For what? For the exile of his godfather, the only family he has left? Congratulations for being thrust in a position of leadership with responsibilities he shouldn't have to shoulder as well? Congratulations? That's what you have to say about all this?"
"Ms. Granger." McGonagall said softly but there was a warning undertone.
"No, she is right, Minerva. That was in poor taste. I apologize, children. But we are all…taken by surprise by the events of the last twenty-four hours." Dumbledore admitted.
"How…can you be surprised by what happened?" Ron growled. He stepped forward, past Harry.
"We told you what would happen! We literally told you weeks before it happened! We told you about the attack. Harry called you before it happened. You could have made it. This all could have been avoided! If you had only listened."
Harry put a silent hand on his friends' shoulder and Ron took a step back again.
"Mr. Weasley is right. We owe you all an apology. You told us and we wouldn't listen. I think it's safe to say that that's a mistake we will not make again. But…" Dumbledore began but Harry interrupted him, speaking for the first time.
"Was it worth it?" he asked.
Silence.
"Was what worth it?" Dumbledore asked.
"The muggle village. That was attacked. Was at least that worth it? Did you keep them safe?"
Harry saw how the grown-ups exchanged uncomfortable looks.
"There was no attack." Mad Eye growled. "Just a bunch of low-life Deatheaters causing a bit of trouble and scaring the Muggles but nothing major. We were tricked. As much as I hate to admit it…we fell for their lie. Hard."
"So, let me get that right…a dozen or so highly dangerous and fanatic Deatheaters just escaped from Azkaban and what for? For a couple of measly little wanna-be Deatheaters scaring a few Muggles? Wow, this really is the mighty fabled Order of the Phoenix I have heard so much of. Truly exceptional. What a Resistance."
"Spare us the sarcasm Potter, we had now way of knowing the attack on the Village wouldn't be real." Snape growled.
"YES, YOU DID!" Harry thundered, all the rage that had been brewing inside of him since they had left the beach, erupting at once.
"Do you really think they would spread themselves thin when they were planning such a dangerous and high-profile undertaking? Do you really think they would voluntarily spare manpower that could be used elsewhere? You KNEW! Because I told you! I KNEW this was all just a rouse! But your ignorance and unwillingness to listen and be open to what we have to say just gave the other side a huge victory! I should be congratulating all of you!"
The heat was rising from his chest into his face but he didn't care.
"Congratulations on aiding the greatest prison break in history! Congratulations on almost getting all of us killed with your incompetence. Congratulations on giving freedom to the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange. Congratulations on making my godfather a fugitive of the law, again! Congratulations."
Dumbledore nodded. "While your anger is justified Harry, we must look past our mistakes and focus on fixing them. There is nothing to gain from distributing blame."
Harry snorted. "Oh, pardon me, Headmaster, if I don't feel reassured by that statement. What is it that you propose we do?"
"Well, thank you for asking Harry, I propose…."
"Oh wait" Harry said, interrupting him with a chuckle "I just remembered that I don't care. Why would I? I'm just a kid after all. I should let the grown-up handle it, right? Stay at Hogwarts, Harry. You needn't worry yourself with all of this. We, the adults have it handled." He added scathingly.
He heard Hermione's sharp intake of breath next him and he knew he was becoming insolent but just felt so good to be right.
"You are not helping your case boy by being a brat." That Thickens guy growled. "We get it, you were right, we were wrong, get over it."
Harry chuckled again. "You keep talking and words keep leaving your moth but then I remember that is still don't care."
He turned back to Dumbledore, his expression tightening again.
"This is the same shit that happened with Barty Crouch Jr. He was our only lead and you let them kill him before we had any chance to present him to the Wizengamot and get the truth out there. I trusted you with something important like that once before. But I guess shame on me for doing it again. Shame on me for being fooled twice."
Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Harry, your anger, as stated before is justified and we understand your frustrations, but please, there is nothing we can do about what already happened. But we can learn from our mistakes. Please, if you and your friends would join us so we can talk about what we will do from here on…"
"Oh, so now you want us to join your little exclusive club of rebels?" Harry asked bitterly. "Now, when you finally realize that you might be in over your god-damn heads, now you decided that maybe it'd be a good idea to ask me? Wow, nothing gets past your keen intellect, does it?" he snapped, eyes narrow and his voice bitter.
"Harry." Hermione said softly next to him, an attempt to reel him back, but Harry was having none of it.
"No! Screw you all and your damn Order. I wanted to help from the beginning. If you had let me, maybe Crouch Jr. would still be alive, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation. But no…let the grow ups handle it."
"Quit being a drama queen Potter, you are wasting all our time with your pubescent mood swings." Snape sneered, folding his arms before his chest.
"Oh screw you in particular."
The words were out of Harrys mouth before he could stop to think about them.
The room grew even quieter than before.
"Excuse me?" Snape asked in a dangerously low voice.
But instead of backing down Harry straightened up ever so slightly.
"You heard me. Screw you, I'm not gonna listen to another poisonous word from you. We're not in school, I can say whatever the hell I want and I don't care what you might do. I'm done with your consistently hostile attitude towards me. And while we're on the subject, why are you even here? It's not like you're of any use to us."
"Harry, Professor Snape is a key ally. He's my spy." Dumbledore tried to intervene but Harry interrupted him.
"Not any more" he said with a dry laugh "They suspect you. That's why they didn't tell you about the attack on Azkaban. Or the Resurrection Ritual. They know you told Dumbledore about the stone in Cambodia. They know you are spying for him. They don't trust you. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the next time you and your old pals meet, they'll greet you with a nice green killing curse right between the eyes. Your usefulness is over."
There was a long moment of silence.
"I think the event of the past few days are still causing all of us some turmoil so why don't we continue this meeting at another time when we're all calmer…" Dumbledore attempted to smooth the tension in the room but Harry shook his head.
"No…no more of your deceiving words and false truths. I'm done being told by you what to do. I'm done being a pawn in your games. I told you all of this before. And instead of staying true to your word and being honest with me from then on, you just went back to doing your own thing without letting anyone else in on the plan. I'm sick of it because you don't care if someone gets hurt" he turned to face the other people gathered in the room "he won't care if any of you get hurt or die. Because of his fucking greater good it'll all be worth it. We're just means to an end and nothing more. But I won't have that because for the sake of the greater good I already sacrificed a lot. And so have a lot of you and others you don't even know about. I won't endanger my family and I won't let him do it either."
He swallowed the lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat.
"No again." He added quietly.
The silence that now echoed through the room was a different one.
"My father and my mother were sacrificed for the greater good."
"And now Sirius is on the run again, injured and with only Remus by his side. My friends are injured, because you wouldn't help. The last time I saw Andromeda, she was unconscious and bleeding on a couch with her frightened daughter right next to her. And the person you despise so much, the woman who tried to help and warn us, Narcissa Malfoy? She did more to try and stop Voldemort than all of you combined. And she too is injured and on the run from everybody. But make no mistake…as the temporary Head of House Black I will grant her protection under my name and in this house and if you don't like it, you pack up your little tea party and fucking leave." He spat.
He looked at Ron and Hermione. "We're staying here tonight. There's no point in going back to School."
Turning back to Dumbledore he added: "I'll assume that won't be a problem, yes headmaster? If the toad wonders where we are tomorrow, tell her it's none of her business. Or something along those lines. After all, you are good at keeping people in the dark."
.
.
There was a lot going on right now.
There were a hundred things Harry should do, things that took precedence above all else and yet he couldn't.
But this…this he could do.
Argentum arranged for a private floo connection to one of the Goblin offices and at ten o'clock the very next day Harry stepped out of the fire, straight from Grimmauld Place, Hermione and Ron as always by his side.
Narcissa was already there, dressed in borrowed clothes from Daphne's aunts house.
The robes were soft and gentle flowing and she looked very different from her usual pristine self.
Victor was present as well, having accompanied her there.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked Harry quietly as the goblins prepared everything and they had a second for themselves.
Harry shrugged. "She's done more to help us than the Order has in the past fifteen years. And don't worry. We're putting safeguards in place and all that."
Victor nodded.
"How is Andy?" Harry asked, changing the topic to more important things.
"She's doing well. Ajax transferred her to her home earlier this morning and she is being taken care of by her husband and daughter."
Harry nodded, relieved. "That's good." He muttered.
"Mr. Potter, we are ready for you and Mrs. Malfoy." Said one of the goblins.
Harry nodded his thanks.
Victor put a hand on his shoulder, asking: "Would you like me to accompany you and whiteness the process?"
"Yes please. The more people the better." Harry agreed.
.
The five of them shared a cart that took them into the depth of the bank, far away from any vaults and to the more mysterious parts of the underground cave-network.
They stopped in front of a huge stone gate that opened as soon as they stopped and two Goblins in hoods stepped outside to greet them.
The Goblin who had taken them down here stayed in the cart.
Slowly they approached the gate and the goblins.
"You are here for the cleansing ritual?" the first one asked.
"Yes. My name is Harry Potter. I'm here to re-admit Narcissa Malfoy nee Black back into her family."
"And I am Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, here to cleanse my name and become a Black once more." Narcissa said.
"And these are our witnesses. Victor Greengrass, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. May we come in?" Harry introduced the rest of their party.
The goblins nodded and let them inside.
.
It was a small cave, as far as Harry was concerned. And he'd been in a lot of caves in the last two years, thank you very much. If someone had asked him to summarize his trip to Cambodia in two words he would have said: "Dangerous caves."
This one was small, just a lot of plain grey stone.
The only things standing out were the two bodies of water.
One was a free-falling waterfall, like a shower that fell from and opening in the middle of a ceiling and whose water turned into a small pool that took up most of the backwards part of the cave.
And there was something about that water…
It was so clear and yet it sparkled like a diamond. And the water in the pool was so clear it was like almost invisible. And despite the water from the waterfall thundering down into it, the surface of the pool was so eerily calm it was unnatural.
Other than that, there was only a small stool with a brass pitcher and a cup on it.
Nothing else.
Harry had of course spent most of his last night and the early morning hours researching the ritual needed to re-admit Narcissa into his family.
Luckily as the temporary Head of House he had access to a lot of books and also the Black Family Book of Spells.
It didn't take much to find the right page and it was even easier contacting Gringotts and arranging the ritual.
And now here they were.
"So…how does this work then?" he asked, looking at the Goblins.
"You have prepared your parts, correct?" the other Goblin asked.
Both Harry and Narcissa nodded.
"Then we begin with you, Lady Malfoy." The first Goblin said.
He took the pitcher and pour the clear liquid into the cup next to it.
"What is that?" Hermione asked.
"It's holy water." The Goblin said simply.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Like…Holy Water you find at church?"
"No…not exactly. It is holy water but not Holy Water." Ron explained.
"Wow, that makes it much clearer." Hermione scoffed.
"Holy water means that it comes from a holy spring or well, which are often direct sources of magic, coming from the earth itself. Mythology is full of famous rivers and lakes and ponds and this water right here is actually water from the river Styx." The other Goblin explained as he walked back over to them, the cup now held firmly in his hands.
"That's one of the five main rivers of the underworld in Greek Mythology. It's the River of Promises. People use to swear upon the River Styx and if they broke their promises, horrible things would happen to them." The first Goblin added.
"Like what?" Ron asked.
"The usual bloodshed, death and destruction. But not to worry. That is magic of ancient times and it has faded over the eons. If you break a promise today, something bad still might happen. But nothing as bad or major as in ancient times. Still, it holds in court and usually the win will be awarded to the person who hasn't broken the vow. Also, if one person breaks the vow, the other is released of the promise as well and will face no repercussions if they then too break said promise."
"What do we need it for?" Hermione asked.
"Well, Narcissa re-uptake into the family is conditional. And as such we both will make promises on this water to uphold them. So we can be held accountable for our actions and on our promises to each other." Harry explained quietly.
"Isn't that dangerous? To bind yourself like that?" Hermione wondered.
Narcissa laughed lowly. "He's not the one making the big promises. Its easier on him." She stated.
"Please, both of you hold the cup together. Mr. Potter you will start with your part. Lady Malfoy you will then accept his demands to you and drink from the cup. When you have done that you may present your own demands and Mr. Potter will drink from the cup. Afterwards we can progress with the second part of the ritual." The other Goblin explained.
They nodded, stepped forwards and together held the cup.
The light in the room dimmed and a magical circle formed around them, slowly becoming the only source of light in the room, illuminating the two of them from below and casting dark shadows over their faces.
"Narcissa, daughter of Druella. You stand before me, ready to come home and retake your name as Narcissa Black. But your loyalty to me and my house has been questioned. So in return for protection under my name and my house I make these demands of you. You will not harm me. You will not harm my family and those who I consider to be my family. You will not harm my friends and allies. You will not conspire against me and what I stand for. You will not obstruct my leadership. You will stay at our ancestral home, Grimmauld Place Nr. 12 and not leave without my consent or contact anyone without my consent and you will not disclose any information I consider confidential. These restrictions will stay in place until the war is won and the Dark Lord Voldemort is defeated or I die. These conditions might change when Sirius Black takes back Lordship as Head of House Black. Any deals and promises made with me will not hold in that case. In return for your promise to adhere to these rules, I will grant you peace and protection under my house and name, I will keep you safe from those that seek to harm you."
Narcissa slowly pulled the cup they were holding towards her and he guided it along, always keeping a firm grasp on it and holding it with her as she drank from the cup.
"I accept these conditions. In return I ask for the peace and protection under your name and to be kept safe from those out there seeking to harm me."
Harry moved to pull the cup to his lips to drink but suddenly Narcissa was holding him firmly in place, her eyes locked onto his own.
"And that also goes for my Son Draco Malfoy."
"Narcissa, we never agreed to this." He growled.
"Yes we have. That has been my condition from day one. I want to safe my son. You owe me, Harry Potter. This is the one simple demand I have."
Hermione spoke up. In the darkness around them Harry had almost forgotten about his friends.
"And we also told you in no uncertain terms that Malfoy chose his own path. He has done nothing to make us think differently."
"He is a confused boy, he doesn't know what he wants and he is being let astray." Narcissa sobbed, slightly hysterical.
Harry also noticed that the magical circle around them was flickering and the stone walls were shaking slightly. Narcissa was derailing the ritual and it seemed like Magic wasn't too happy about it.
So he tightened his grip as well, drawing Narcissa gaze in.
"If Draco will let me, then I will help him to the best of my abilities. But he has to come to me. On his own free will and he will have to take the same vows as you. As his mother and legal guardian, you have the right and the ability to make that promise for him in his stead. But as soon as he reaches magical maturity, my promise to you and thus to him won't hold anymore and he will be responsible for himself."
She stared at him, clearly not happy.
"Take it or leave it Narcissa. Or I will stop this here right now and walk away from you. And I will owe you nothing."
She bowed her head. "I accept your conditions." She whispered, a single lone tear falling from one eye.
Harry raised the cup to his own lips and drank the liquid inside.
It was tasteless and cold but as soon as it hit his lips a tingle of magic overcame him and he knew that the promise had been made.
Narcissa drew back her hands immediately and the cup fell to the ground, the holy water splashing for the stone floor.
Harry bend down, picked it up and held it out to the first Goblin before muttering: "You pull something like that again and there will be repercussions."
"He's my son. There is nothing I won't do for him."
"I know. And that's why I'm warning you."
Harry stepped past her harshly and re-joined his friends.
They too didn't look thrilled about how this had turned out.
"Once we're done here and she's at Grimmauld Place we will go back to Hogwarts." Harry muttered.
"What is this next part anyway? I thought this was all we were doing?" Ron asked.
"This is just the first part. And technically the most important one as well. But this next one basically seals the deal." Harry explained.
Narcissa had taken off her coat and over-robe and only stood there in a long white gown and just finished removing all her jewellery.
She hesitated, ever so slightly as she took off her wedding band.
The first goblin held out his hand and she gently placed the ring in his hand.
The two goblins then flanked the waterfall and Narcissa faced the water coming down from the ceiling and the pool beyond.
The light stayed dim but the water started to sparkle even more and shone otherworldly bright.
"Narcissa Malfoy, daughter of Druella. You have taken a vow and your Head of House has accepted it. Now it is time to shed yourself of who you were and become Narcissa Black once more." The other goblin said.
His partner picked up where he had stopped.
"This is water from the River Lethe. It's the river the souls of the virtuous dead would drink from before being reborn so that all memory of their previous life would fade from their minds and they could begin a new life. You are beginning a new life as well. And as such you will have to clean yourself of everything that previously made you Narcissa Malfoy. Once you step through the waterfall, your marriage to your husband will be no more. And everything that magically connects you to him and all magic that was placed on you will be washed away. Nothing will tie him to either. Do you understand this?"
Narcissa nodded.
"Yes. I understand." She whispered and Harry could hear the tears in her voice.
"Do you do so on your own free will?"
"Yes." She whispered again.
"Then step under the water and be reborn as Narcissa Black of the House of Black."
Harry watched with baited breath as she stepped under the waterfall and let the water surround her.
As soon as it surrounded her, the light grew stronger until she was hidden from view.
"Come around and greet her on the other side." Said the first Goblin gently and they stepped around the glowing waterfall and stopped by the edge of the pool.
They watched as Narcissa slowly emerged from the water and slowly walked into the pool. The water rippled slightly with each of her steps but almost immediately settled again, keeping the surface calm and even.
It was a bit deeper than Harry had originally thought.
With each step the water rose until it stopped at her waist.
The other Goblin turned to Harry.
"For the last step she will need your help. To thoroughly clean herself of her past and for you to accept her into her family, she will need to submerge herself seven times. And you will help her with that."
Harry nodded hesitantly and stepped into the water.
It was pleasantly warm and his movements did not seem to disturb the surface of the water as well.
He reached Narcissas side and gently placed one arm around her shoulder and held her hand with the other.
She nodded at him and gently they bent down together and Harry held her as the water covered her head.
He pulled her back up, letting her catch her breath before lowering her back down again.
And with every time she came back up…something changed about her.
Her face lost some of its hollowness and cold complexion.
Her hair turned darker until it matched that of her sisters and cousin.
Her skin got more colour and she became almost lighter in his arms.
And when she came up after the seventh time and opened her eyes to look at him, they were still that steel blue colour but they seemed softer and younger.
He guided her to the edge of the pool and stepped out but she hesitated.
"You are now Narcissa Black." The other Goblin said solemnly and he bent down and put something in the water.
It was Narcissas wedding band and they watched as it slowly sank to the ground of the pool and settled down there between the pebbles.
"Do you accept that?" the first Goblin asked.
Narcissa nodded. "Yes, I do." She said, confidence returning to her voice.
The goblins looked at Harry.
"Do you accept this woman into your House?" the other one asked.
Harry nodded. "I do."
He held out his hand to Narcissa.
And she took it and he hoisted her out of the pool.
Slowly the light returned in the cave and Victor conjured a blanket for Narcissa to dry herself in.
"Congratulations Ms. Black. Let me be the first to commend you on your bravery. Here's to hoping that my dear friend Harry Potter was right about you. Do not disappoint him."
"We'll see about that." Hermione grumbled; her arms crossed before her chest.
.
Harry pulled Victor aside as they waited for the cart to come back and take them upstairs.
"I need to ask another favour." Harry muttered.
"I'm listening." Victor said, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.
Harry pulled off the House Ring on his finger.
"I cannot deal with the responsibilities I have as a member of the Wizengamot and all that bullshit. But I still need to be in the loop and I need you to represent me and my interests in that chamber. I'll doubt it'll do anything but…I still won't just abandon my vote. I trust you to make the right decisions for our families."
He handed Victor the ring.
"It's only temporary and I hope to clear up this mess around Sirius soon but until then…" he trailed off.
"Thank you for your trust Harry. I know this is not an easy decision. I will make sure to act in your best interest and keep you updated." Victor promised, taking the ring carefully.
.
As Narcissa got changed, one of the accountants laid out a series of documents in front of Harry.
"What's this?" Harry asked, weary and tired. He hadn't slept more than five hours in the past three days and it was wearing him down.
"Ms. Blacks assets. Her dowry, the custody over her sister's vaults and her dowry. It's all going back to the House Black. Just sign here and her ex-husband's family will not be able to access it."
"Right." Harry signed the dotted line and the goblin nodded, made a copy of each document and handed it to Harry.
"I suggest you tour the vaults as soon as possible to inspect them."
"Sure."
Narcissa came back, dressed in borrowed clothes.
"How are you feeling?" Harry wondered.
"I'm not sure." She admitted.
Harry noticed how she kept rubbing her left hand, particular her ring finger.
"Do you think he has already noticed?" he asked, knowing she would know he was talking about Lucius.
She hesitated for a moment.
"His ring will have disappeared the moment the goblin put mine in the water and I accepted my new identity as Narcissa Black. Our marriage was annulled in that second. I like to think that he noticed straight away that something was wrong. That something was missing. But I doubt it. My husband is gone. What remains of him is just an empty husk of a man who once believed he could rule the world. Who once made me believe that I could be his Queen. But I should have known it was too good to be true."
.
.
.
There was nobody at Grimmauld Place.
Harry would have been surprised if there had been.
But still…it didn't look like Dumbledore had quite packed up yet. Maybe he was considering staying after all.
That could be fun.
The one living being in the house that was there was probably also the only one truly happy to see Narcissa.
Kreacher wept as he saw her and fell to his knees and started kissing her feet.
It was uncomfortable for everyone around and Harry ushered the house elf away.
He then gestured around, half-heartedly.
"Feel at home." He muttered.
"I'll try." Narcissa said dryly.
"I've prepared your old room. Maybe that will help." Said a voice from the top of the stairs.
Andromeda slowly descended, her steps careful and still rather stiff and aided by her daughter.
But she was up and walking and alive and obviously on the road to recovery.
Narcissa straightened up, trying to hide her emotions behind that façade she had perfected and worn for so long.
But her sister could obviously look straight through her because Andromeda gently caressed her cheek when she reached her and smiled at her.
"Welcome home Cissy."
Narcissa nodded and Harry knew that decades of pain and anger and betrayal could not be resolved in one night. But you could at least start.
Narcissa walked past Andromeda, smiled briefly at Tonks and vanished upstairs.
Harry went to hug Andy, careful of her injuries.
"I'm so glad you are alive." He breathed. "And I am sorry you got hurt."
She whacked him over the head. "That was my own fault. I should have been more careful. But it's fine now."
Harry told her what had happened today and handed her the documents.
"If you find the time, could you review them for me and see what comes up?"
"Sure dear. Is this all their assets? Bellatrix's as well?"
"Yeah, at least the Goblins aid so."
Andy nodded. "You see, when Bellatrix got arrested, the management and custody of her bank vaults were handed to Narcissa. Normally they would have gone to her husband but since both he and his brother were arrested as well, they went to her next of kin, her sister. Too bad we can't get the other Lestrange vaults as well. There's a lot of money in there too. But they are managed by Lucius. Not that he can do anything with that money. Anyway, both my sisters had huge dowries when they got married and all of that is coming back into our possession. It'll cut Lucius funds a lot. No more greasing the ministers pockets." She explained as she flipped through the papers.
Harry nodded absentmindedly.
He didn't really care, he had enough gold as it was, he didn't need more and he really didn't care for whatever dark artefacts were hidden in those Deatheater vaults.
His gaze fell back on the stairs where Narcissa had vanished.
"Don't worry my love" Andy assured him "I'll keep her company for a while, check in on her, make sure she behaves alright. And I'll mediate between her and Dumbledore."
"So he's staying here?" Harry asked.
"You could throw him out." Ron pointed out.
"I know but what good is it? Just because I don't want anything to do with the Order doesn't mean I don't want them fighting on our side. And if they need a place to meet…fine, they can do it here."
"I'd really love to see that first meeting when they see Narcissa here though." Ron snickered.
"I've got a camera; I'll take some pictures." Tonks promised.
"So…what now?" Andy asked, looking at the three of them.
"Back to Hogwarts, I guess. For now…we have done all that we could. We'll have to wait and see what the other sides' next move will be. And then prepare accordingly." Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Gods above, he was tired!
"I think the first thing will be to sleep, all of you." Tonks pointed out.
"Yeah, I think so too. What time is it?" Hermione asked.
"It's about two o'clock in the afternoon." Andy said.
"Well…schools out for sure. Good thing tomorrow is Saturday. At least we can finally sleep in." Ron yawned.
"Yes" Harry agreed "Though there is…one more thing to do." He added.
Ron and Hermione groaned.
"And what would that be?" Hermione asked.
Harry chuckled. "Don't worry Mione, you two don't have to come."
He reached into his pocket and handed her a blanc golden coin.
"It's a portkey. It will take you two to Hogsmead and from there on you can head for the castle."
"Where are you going? You really shouldn't be going anywhere alone Harry. Ron and I won't mind a little detour." Hermione assured him.
"It's fine. I'm not going anywhere dangerous. I just have to check in with Gina, thank her and her family for all they have done and put up with and then I'll come straight back to Hogwarts."
"You promise?" Ron asked, his expression dead serious.
"I promise. But Hermione, I'll need to burrow your purse."
.
.
.
Gina wasn't at all surprised to see him when she opened the door.
"I knew you'd be around sooner or later." She said, stepping aside to let him in.
"I'm sorry for all the chaos." He muttered, kicking off his shoes.
Barney, the Irish Wolfhound the van Zuyds owned, walked over and licked his hand in greeting. Harry rubbed the dogs big head for a couple of second before straightening back up again and to look at Gina.
"Is Narcissa alright?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Yes. That's actually why I'm here. I just want to say thank you, for taking care of her. I know it couldn't have been easy."
Gina smiled. "It comes with the territory. But she was a good houseguest and very grateful for our help. I liked her. Sent her my best, will you?"
"I will."
"So…is there anything else? Anything…you want to tell me?" she asked.
Of course, she could sense there was more. If Gina had been born with magic, she would have been a Sensitive or a natural at legilimency like Andy.
"So much. None of which I can tell you. I wish I could." He looked around.
"We're alone. My parents are taking my siblings to the doctor for shots and then ice-cream and a movie afterwards. They wanted me to join but I said no thanks. I like some quiet time every now and then."
Harry nodded. "Me too."
"Come on, let's sit outside on terrace and you can tell me everything."
He shook his head.
"I can't. I have to get back to school…a lot is happening right now. But I had to come by and say thank you. I really appreciate what you have done for me, a complete stranger."
"You are not a stranger; you are my friend." She protested.
"I was a stranger. But you…didn't care, you welcomed me into your group of friends and…I really appreciate that. I wasn't in a good place then. You pulled me out. And I will pay you back in kind. I promise."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Harry, this sounds awfully like a goodbye." She whispered.
"Because it is. I…A lot is happening and I don't want you to get more involved then you already are."
"Harry, I don't understand…"
"You don't have to. Just know that you really helped me and that I enjoyed living here this past summer. I'll miss you. I really will."
"Are you…are you guys moving? Because of what happened with Narcissa?"
"It has something to do with that."
She bit her lip. "Are you in danger?" she asked.
His heart broke at her anxious expression. She barely knew him and yet she was so concerned for his wellbeing. The world didn't deserve people like Gina.
But he couldn't lie to her. "Yes. And that's why we have to go. We don't want to endanger anyone around here."
"We can help." She offered meekly.
He took her hand and squeezed it slightly. "You already have. Thank you for everything."
He turned around and opened the door.
"I gotta go." He whispered.
He was halfway out the door, when she said: "I will see you again Harry."
He looked over his shoulder and saw the surety in her eyes.
"Then I'll hope it'll be under better circumstances." He said, pulling the door shut behind him.
.
Their house was dark and cold and so empty.
When Sirius had first taken him here after his return from Cambodia Harry had immediately fallen in love with the place because it had felt like home.
Their home.
But Sirius and Remus had made it a home.
There were still remnants around from their hastily departure to come to Azkaban.
Remus's favourite tea-set with tea still in the cup and pot, Sirius's reading glasses he refused to wear but then had to wear in order to read the newspaper, Sirius' keys on the side-board that he always misplaced and had to turn the house over to find, Remus's books all over…
But now the sight of these things didn't fill him with the warm feeling of being home.
It was just dark and cold and empty.
A bit like Harry himself.
He should have known that none of this could ever have lasted.
The Ministry would know where they lived and it was only a matter of when and not if they came by to look for clues or really anything to help them find Sirius.
So far, the protective wards around the property and the neighbourhood had not been triggered but nothing was infallible. Narcissa was living prove of that.
He slowly put Hermione's special purse down on the ground and pulled out one of the extra wands he had taken to carrying around.
He slowly moving his arm around in huge circles over and around his head, muttered the incantation Hermione had given him.
Around him all small items and keepsakes, personal belongings and all that started rising up and flew towards him.
As it headed towards the purse it began to shrunk down into a miniature version of itself and disappeared in the bag.
From upstairs and downstairs more items joined in and soon Harry was surrounded by a miniature tornado of things that pretty much represented their whole lives in this house. It was depressing how little it actually was.
When the torrent had disappeared, Harry re-holstered his wand and carefully picked up the purse.
He looked around. Nothing but bare furniture remained. The house was empty.
Nothing that would have pointed to people living her up until a minute ago.
Anger, hot and yet so familiar, swelled up inside of him and he clenched his fist tight, feeling the nails cut into his palm.
And once again his family and his home had been taken from him by Voldemort.
And he would be going to a place that despised him and didn't want him there.
But this time it was worse because Hogwarts used to be his save haven. Now it was another thing taken.
A blink of an eyelid later and gone was the house, gone were the memories and Harry found himself in a dark alleyway somewhere unfamiliar.
It was raining and the wind whipped the water harshly from side to side.
Yet the two people dressed in huge cloaks stood unwavering in the middle of the alley, their faces hidden, waiting for something.
Harry couldn't make out any identifying marks about them. But both figures were holding their wands at their sides. Ready to act whenever necessary.
Harry looked around, trying to understand what they, and consequently he, were doing here.
"He's late." The one on the left observes. He sounded male.
"He'll come." Said the other one. Female.
Neither moved.
"What if he knows it's a trap?"
"He doesn't. He thinks he's so clever."
"Very well."
"I will enjoy this." The female added after a short bout of silence.
"Me too."
Harry blinked and was back in the house, standing where he had stood a second ago.
But judging by the long shadows outside, some time had passed.
A feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach.
The bad things just kept on coming.
.
.
It was late but not 'detention-if-you-get-caught'-late when Harry walked through the main portal of the castle.
He was surprised to find Ron and Hermione lounging on the lowest steps of the main staircase, obviously waiting for him.
They looked like absolute shit with dark bags under their eyes and pale as the ghosts floating around.
"What are you doing awake? I thought I told you to go and rest. Did you have so little faith in me returning unharmed?" he asked as he approached.
"No, actually we tried going to sleep but found it impossible. Our dorms are just too loud and we decided to stick it out until bedtime. So, we decided to wait for you after all." Ron muttered, dragging himself to his feet and offering Hermione a hand to stand up.
Harry checked the time.
"I don't think things will quiet down for another couple of hours. It's Friday after all."
"God, I wish we could just go hide somewhere until Monday." Hermione groaned, slumping over where she stood, leaning against Ron.
"There is somewhere you can do that." Said a voice from behind.
They turned to see Neville standing in the door to the Great Hall.
"There is this great Room on the seventh floor that I think might just be the right thing for you." He said.
The three friends exchanged glances.
"No, Neville its fine, we can go too the library to study a bit." Hermione said with forced cheerfulness.
Neville rolled his eyes and stepped closer, lowering his voice as he spoke.
"Look, I know where you were, what you have done and what happened. Not all of it, obviously, but I get the gist. And you all look terrible and you have to get going because Umbridge's been snooping around these past days, questioning all and everybody about your whereabouts. And she is not happy and I overheard her arguing with McGonagall and it was not pretty. So come on, I'll show you where you can stay the weekend if you want to avoid people."
.
.
"I've been here before…I think. After the first task last year Sirius, Remus and I stayed here. I think…it looked different then but…I think this was the spot." Harry muttered as he looked around the room.
It was pretty much a replica of the Gryffindor dorms but instead of many rooms there were just two bunk beds and a bathroom that let off from the main common area. A fire was already dancing merrily in the hearth and on a small chair next to the bathroom lay three sets of clean school robes as well as toiletries and pyjamas.
"This is heaven." Ron muttered. "And you sure nobody will come in here?"
Neville nodded. "I don't think anyone knows about this Room. It…it just appeared to me one day." He said with a shrug.
Hermione swirled around on the spot to face him.
"Oh my god Neville, you found the Room of Requirements! That is amazing."
"The Room of what now?" Ron asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like. It's also called the Come and Go Room and it only appears to people in need and gives them exactly what they need."
"I really need food. Can it give me that?" Ron asked.
Hermione glared at him. "No, it cannot. Because that is one of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, which you should know."
"Food is no issue." Harry said. "Dobby?" he called out and not a breath later, the house elf appeared by his side.
"Mister Harry Potter Sir!" the elf shriek in happiness and hugged Harrys legs.
"Hello Dobby. It's good to see you." Harry said, smiling slightly.
"Dobby is happy to see you too sir!" Dobby laughed. "How can Dobby be of service to the great Harry Potter?"
"Ron, Hermione and I have been busy all day long and had little time to eat and we could really use some food, are there any left-overs from dinner tonight?"
Dobby looked almost affronted.
"Dobby will not serve Harry Potter and his friends left-overs" he said that word like it was poison "Dobby will personally cook them something fresh and filling and deliver it personally."
"Dobby you don't have to…" but the elf was already gone "…do that…" Harry finished, shaking his head.
"Well…that's done…" he turned to Neville "Thank you Neville, for showing us this place. And…thank you for not rattling us out." He added.
Neville shrugged. "I believe you Harry. You have always said the truth and my gran believes you. And I can think for myself and I can see what's going on and I know that my parents would never have sat by idly so neither will I." the other boy said strongly.
Then he waved at them goodnight and left.
And the door through which he had stepped dissolved behind him.
.
After a shower and changing into their pyjamas, the three of them tended to their healing but not yet completely healed wounds while they waited for dinner. The cut on Ron's face was sealed shut and new skin had started to grow but it was still a visible red line down his cheek and over his chin.
"Maybe one day you'll be able to grow a beard over it…" Hermione suggested quietly.
Ron shook his head. "I don't want too. Bill doesn't let his scars stop him. And I want people to know what I did and where I stand and that I will not back down just because some bastard got a lucky shot." He said firmly.
Hermione's hand had been broken in two places from a bludgeoning spell and a cut ran from the palm of her hand over her thumb to the middle of her forearm.
Like with Ron's injury, her cut would never completely fade away.
"Can you move your fingers?" Harry asked as she unwrapped the bandages.
She bent and flexed he fingers, wincing slightly when she moved her thumb.
"It's not great but Ajax said it would heal given time and I should retain all my movement."
Harry nodded. "That's good." He said, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Hermione took his arm, the arm Wormtail had cut.
"Harry…you have been marked just like we have…" she raised her other hand to push away the stay hair that covered his forehead and his lightning bold scar.
"More than once. This" she raised her own arm and then pointed at Ron "This connects us. And I am proud to carry this scar because…it feels like I can take some of the burden you have been carrying for so long and help you."
"Think of it as our Dark Mark." Ron suggested.
"RON! No! That's disgusting! Urgh…I was trying to make him feel better about it! Read the room! We are not a cult of crazy fanatics!"
"Mione, we followed him into live fire with no protection or plan B. We are at least a tiny bit fanatical."
"But our loyalty is real and wasn't born out of fear or it maintained by fear." Hermione shot back.
Turning back to Harry she continued. "Don't listen to him, we… why are you smiling?"
Harry couldn't help it.
He smiled wider.
"I love you. Both of you."
Hermione softened. "We love you too." She assured him.
"See…a cult!" Ron shouted. But then he grinned. "But…she's right mate. Right back at you."