The Sign
Chapter 5
Sponsors
Upon entering 12 Grimmauld Place, they felt as though it were a different building. Kreature had been doing a thorough clean-out, and now it was empty, a shell waiting to become whatever Harry needed it to be.
"Wow. I haven't been here since it was headquarters for the Order. It feels different." Ginny whispered when they tip-toed past the portrait of Mrs. Black. "Do you think we could get rid of that atrocity somehow?" She pointed behind her.
"That would be the first thing, I would think." Harry agreed.
When they got to the kitchen, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Harry knocked on the boiler cupboard door, "Kreature? We're visiting for a few hours. We won't need anything, just letting you know we're here."
The door creaked open and Kreature, the house elf, poked his head out. "Thank you Master. Kreature is ready to serve, you need only ask."
"Thanks. By the way, Ginny and I will be betrothed a week from Sunday. So, that means she'll be the Mistress here." Harry waited to see what the old elf would do with the information.
Kreature came fully out the door and walked to Ginny. "Welcome Mistress to the Illustrious and Honorable House of Potter. Kreature is at your service." He bowed so low, his nose rested on the floor. His locket dragged across his feet.
"Uh, Thank you, Kreature. Uh, I'll try to be a good Mistress." She wasn't sure she said the right thing. She wanted to start on the right foot.
"Also, Ron and Hermione, like before, will be around quite a bit. They will have full run of the place."
"As Master requests. Welcome Mister Ron and Miss Hermione." Again, he bowed, only not as deep.
"Thank you for your welcome, Kreature." Hermione said sweetly.
"Would Master, Mistress and friends wish for refreshments? It is noon. Would you care for luncheon?"
Ginny looked at the others for agreement. "Yes, I think so. Maybe in a half hour? Something simple would be fine."
"As you wish, Mistress." He bowed again, "Master? Kreature has done what you ordered. Kreature has sold the furniture and cleared the rooms."
"Excellent! Thanks." He turned to Ginny, "You're going to be a natural with him."
"Yeah, yeah." She brushed him off, with a sly grin, "I'm going to be a part of the, what did he call it? The Illustrious and Honorable House of Potter. I guess I need to learn the part."
Ron and Hermione wandered off towards the stairs. "Mind if we look around?" Ron asked.
"Sure. Kreature has been doing a deep clean. I'm curious how much he's got done." Harry motioned Ginny to go in front of him as they moved up the stairs.
Their first stop was the dining room. Harry noticed that the weird knick-knacks and old portraits were gone, leaving ghostly outlines on the faded wall paper. Then they moved up the stairs.
The drawing room was just as empty. The tapestry was still on the wall but nothing else remained.
As they moved continually upwards, they found more of the same. Only empty, silent rooms.
"I looks a lot better since the last time I was here." Ginny said, pleased at the new condition of Sirius' room. "I would dread having to clear it all out myself."
As they turned to leave the top floor, there was a POP in the hallway. "Master? Luncheon is served" He popped back out.
"I guess we've been summoned. Miss Weasley, would you care to accompany me to luncheon?" Harry held out his arm.
While eating sandwiches, Kreature showed Harry what he had found during his clean-out. "Master. Mistress Black ordered Kreature to hide many things throughout the house." He placed several large bags of coins on the table. Also, a large box of various silver candle holders and tableware. "these were hidden from Mundungus Fletcher."
Ginny nearly fell off her chair. "This is all Harrys now?"
"Yes Mistress. Kreature remembered all the secret places. What would Master have Kreature do with these things?"
Harry looked carefully at the pile on the table. "I guess keep a hold of it. I'll take some of the money but the rest, set aside. I'll eventually get it all into a vault."
He turned to Ginny, "I've been thinking on something since we've been here. I know who I want for my sponsors. What do you think of Professor McGonagall and Hagrid?"
"Great idea." Ginny agreed. "Hermione? Do you have anyone?"
"No, I haven't thought much on it." She answered. "I don't know where to start. Ron, you have any ideas?"
"Not really. Everyone I can think of is related to me somehow." He scratched his head and thought hard as he ate. "There's always the guys from school. I don't know if you want any of them."
"That's brilliant Ron!" Hermione set her sandwich down and hugged him. "Who?"
"Let's see, Harry here is out of the picture. Seamus might be a maybe. I think Mum said his mum was a second or third cousin somehow. Neville, I'll have to check. Dean Thomas is muggle-born, as far as he knows." Ron said.
"Oh, please not Dean. That might be a bit awkward, if you know what I mean." Ginny grimaced a little at the thought of her ex.
"Good point. Not Dean." Hermione gave a little laugh. "I probably shouldn't write to Victor Krum either." She winked at Ron, who glared at her good naturedly before he too laughed.
"Ginny, I'd like to go talk to Professor McGonagall and Hagrid this afternoon. Will you come with me?"
"Sure, whenever you're ready." She wiped her mouth and carried her dish to the sink.
"Ron, Hermione? Are you heading back to The Burrow?" At their nod, Harry continued, "Could you please let Molly know we'll be back by dinner?"
"No problem. We can also ask about who might be suitable." Hermione tapped Ron on the shoulder.
Harry held his hand out to Ginny, knelt down and tossed a handful of powder in the low flames. "Hogwarts headmistress office."
The fire flared green, "Yes? Oh, Good Afternoon, Mr. Potter. How may I help you?" Came the voice of Minerva McGonagall.
"Headmistress, May I, er, we, come through and speak with you for a moment?" Harry asked politely.
"Of course. Of course."
Harry held tight to Ginny and they stepped through into the headmistress office. Harry instinctively looked up at the large portrait that hung above the desk, but Dumbledore seemed to be out visiting.
"He is supervising the refurbishing of classrooms on the fourth floor today, Mr. Potter. It seems he cannot relinquish the reigns even from the other side of the portrait."
Harry turned and spied Minerva McGonagall against a bookcase with a stack of books precariously balanced in her arms while standing on a small step-ladder. They rushed to assist her.
"To what do I have the pleasure?" She said with a wide smile as she placed the final book on the shelf.
"I have a favor to ask of you." He said softly.
"Yes?"
Harry paused, looked over at Ginny and rolled his sleeve up. Ginny followed suit. They showed Minerva their arms. At her intake of breath, he looked her in the eye.
"I should have expected. With both your parents." The older woman smiled gently.
"Yes. Still a surprise, though. We came because, well, I would ask you to be my sponsor."
Minerva's eyes turned wide. She reached behind her blindly and sat. "Mr. Potter? Did I hear you correctly?"
"Yes, you did. You see. I… I was told I should choose someone I cared for. I thought of you."
"I'm honored, of course. But I never thought you…" She was flustered.
"I know." He shook his head. "In my years here, everyone expected things from me. You only wanted to do for me. It took me a while to learn how to accept that. So, I'm asking, will you be my sponsor?"
"Out of all the students I have taught, I have never had the honor to stand as sponsor. I would be pleased. Where and when might this take place?" She smiled, thrilled at the prospect.
"The Burrow, Sunday next. 6 PM. Dinner after. I'm sure Molly will write." Harry held Ginny close to his side. "This means a lot to us. Thank you." Harry moved to leave. "I wish we could visit more, but is it alright if we go visit Hagrid? We are on a tight schedule today."
"Wait." Ginny stopped Harry from leaving," Professor, is there a policy, you know, rules about betrothed? I want to come back for Newts."
"We're working on that. You're the third couple to ask so far." Minerva nodded and smiled.
"Well, that might make it four couples now. Hermione and Ron are in the same boat." Harry laughed.
"Oh Dear. I must address the board again. Yes, Hagrid was working on his hut today, you should be able to see him there. Miss Weasley? Mr. Potter? Thank You." She nodded her goodbye as they sprinted out of her office and out the door. They got a little disoriented as a few landmarks within the castle had changed during the renovations but soon they found the main doors and were out in the grounds.
Ginny slowed as they came close to the park-like trees and shrubs that marked the graves of the fallen. Harry pulled her past them with only a skip to his heart. Now was not the time to mourn. Now was the time to look forward.
They crested the hill and spied Hagrid's hut, new, yet still the same. The half-giant's head sprang up from inside the fence as he neared, "Well, I'll be. Harry! Ginny! What brings you two by today?" Hagrid dropped his spade and held his arms wide for an embrace.
With a spine cracking hug, they were released and made comfortable on the stair step while Hagrid sat on a stump. "So, tell me. What's been happenin' this past month?"
"Has it really been that much time?" Harry shook his head. "Not much, and really, too much to tell." He looked down at his feet. "Look. There're some things that have happened just today. Things that must be decided quickly. I need to ask you a favor. Okay?"
"Well sure, m' boy, Anything." Hagrid looked worried
Harry and Ginny showed their arms. Hagrid looked and sighed deeply. "Is tha…? I never seen one 'afor."
"We learned what it was today. We're getting betrothed Sunday next." Ginny began.
"Hagrid, I want you to be my sponsor." Harry spoke as fast as he could. He knew that Hagrid could be unpredictable, emotional.
He didn't expect a very serious Hagrid. "You don't know what yer askin', Harry." An unexpected anger emanated off him. Ginny nearly moved away at the agitated emotion Hagrid was displaying.
"What do you mean?"
"People don' go 'roun' askin' folk like me for doin' things like this. I'm not like…" Hagrid got up from his stump and started to walk off.
While motioning Ginny to stay put, Harry jumped up and ran off after him, "What are you talking about Hagrid? Don't walk away from me! Stop and talk to me!"
Hagrid stopped and swung about, "This is a Wizard thing Harry. No one asks a half-breed these things."
"A half-breed?" Harry stood his ground. "Since when do I consider you a half-breed?"
"You heard me. I'm half giant. Half giants don' go for sponsors."
"Really? Is it a law?"
"No, it ain't no law. Harry, it's just the way it is. I'd be like a godfather, I'd be kin." Hagrid cried loudly.
"What will happen if you stood as my sponsor?" Harry asked quietly. "Hagrid, what will happen?"
"Naught. You'll be laughed at, you will. Maybe even shunned. Sponsor means kin. Kin with a half-breed? Bah. Ya don' wan' tha'."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "So, if you stand with me as my sponsor, at my private betrothal, there can be no consequences except be laughed at. Am I right?"
Hagrid nodded. "It's just… Why would ya want someone like me?"
"Someone like you? Someone like the man who loved me? Who watched over me? Who cared for me when no one else did? Why the hell would I give a rat's ass if you are a half-giant? You're already more kin than anyone else alive. Who else would I ask?" Harry yelled, tears poured down his face, matching the tears Hagrid never bothered wiping.