Grimmauld Place 12. Two and a half weeks after Henry Le Fay was freed.
"So, since there is now a free spot, Dad is hoping to get that post in Illvermony." Nymphadora entered the house, talking with Kingsley who followed her just a step behind. "Mom even told me that Dad's even thinking about selling the house here and move on permanent basis to Salem, if he gets the post."
"Well, considering that he is one of the top veteran Hit Wizards in the Department, with a couple of decorations, Ted shouldn't have any trouble getting the job." Kingsley said to Nymphadora, who nodded to him, as they moved to the place of Order's meeting. "And are you okay, with your parents moving to Salem? It is on the other side of the Atlantic."
"To be honest, Shacks, I was actually myghty relieved when Mom told me about it." Nymphadora admitted to him. "What with Voldemort back and soon out for blood, and Mr. All for the Greater Good using every dirty trick in the book, I'll honestly feel a lot better, knowing that my folks are good 3 thousand miles away from it all. Plus, it's not like I won't be able to visit them when I want to, nobody had canceled portkeys. And, if we are being honest…" Nym took a quick glance, making sure that only she and Kingsley were around and not heard. "I believe that Harry had actually asked Regulus to help Dad with the post, tough neither will admit it to me or Dad."
Kingsley nodded to Nymphadora, understanding and believing that it could be true, seeing how he knew by now how close former Henry Potter, now Henry Le Fay, was with Tonks' family. And it didn't surprise him in the slightest that Tonks' parents would be moving out of England and that she was glad that it was happening. He himself had sent his wife and their kids to the continent just a week ago, to live on Sardinia, in his family's summer mansion, well away from England and Death Eaters.
Such practice wasn't anything new, as during the First Wizarding War, wizards and witches in great numbers had left the Great Britain in hopes of getting away from the chaos and being caught in the middle of a war they didn't sign up for. The majority of the immigrants were half-bloods and Muggleborns, the very prime targets for Voldemort's rage and fury. Kingsley suspected that in the coming months, there will be the next great exodus of wizards and witches, especially once everyone will realize that the old terror that was Voldemort is back.
But for now, the Ministry has been doing their best suppressing any and all rumors about the return of the Dark Lord, with Fudge and his cronies using Daily Prophet, their authority and every trick in the book to keep up the appearance of stability and calmness. Most of the attempts made by Dumbledore to reveal the truth about Voldemort have done nothing, and only served to backfire at him, painting him as an old and even deluded Wizard, who tries to garner more and more popularity and power for himself.
He and the Order had to change tactics, when it was discovered that Dumbledore and many of the Orders' members were in risk of losing their posts in the Ministry if they had continued with their propaganda. So for now, Order had mainly focused on tracking Voldemort and his Death Eaters, as well as gathering information, along with defending the Department of Mysteries, for whatever reason.
At the same time as Fudge and his party were digging their own future graves, and Dumbledore continued to play the chess master, Amelia Bones had carefully and cautiously weeding out all the potential spies, turncoats, traitors and corrupt Aurors and Hit Wizards in her own Department. Knowing full well about the powers and influences of Dumbledore and Voldemort, Head of the DMLE was making sure that the Ministry's primary fighting force was ready and able to take them both down. And while she couldn't fire the Marauders, for now, she could, however, make sure that Potter, Black and Lupin, had any access or source to sensitive information.
Along with that she had employed Alastor Moody, now their firm and loyal supporter, back into instructing role, preparing Aurors for the fight to come. The old scarred Auror was all too happy to oblige, especially since he learned about the plan that Bones and Blacks had hatched together, being more than a little motivated to help them. Plus, knowing that Charlus and Dorea's grandkids were safe and sound did well for his mind and determination. Old Auror may've lost quite a bit of his youthful reflexes and grace, but he had more knowledge than anyone on taking down Death Eaters, and now he putting it all into the minds and bodies of Aurors.
Nymphadora and Kingsley moved through the hall and walked into the meeting room, where the discussions were being held in full. There was everybody, minus Minerva and Alastor, who had been here when Nym informed them all about Henry's death. And since then there were no talks or suspicion about the current status of Henry, especially with Potters getting their "access" to vaults. But right now the discussion wasn't about the Potters, but rather about the Weasleys.
"Absolutely not! I forbid you to take that post, Bill, and that is final!" Molly Weasley put everyone's eardrums to the test, as she screamed at her eldest son. "Don't you understand that you simply can't take that job, not when you the Order, Dumbledore and your family need you right here? No, it is decided: you aren't going to take that post! That is my word!"
"Mother, maybe you didn't hear me when I said first. If I don't take that post, then Gringotts will fire me, as in kick me out of my job for good." Bill Weasley argued to his Mom and family, while Nymphadora and Kingsley quietly moved past them. "And once I'm out of job, I won't be able to find any other work, as it is general policy to check potential employs working history, and Gringotts makes sure to discredit those that they fire. I'm not left with much of a choice here, and frankly, this post is too good to pass up."
"Um, Hestia, what's with up with our residential banshee and her brood this time?" Nym whispered to her friend, who answered to her.
"Bill here just told us that Gringotts Bank in Quebec has offered him a post of Deputy Chief of Public Relations Department. Apparently, the post comes packing with the living place, really good payment and opportunities for future, and since Goblins never like taking no for an answer, Bill decided to agree to take it." Hestia explained to Nymphadora, who nodded to her. "He decided to inform his family here and right now, and…" Hestia motioned to the near hysterical Molly Weasley.
"Bill, sweetie, if this is about a job then I'm sure that you could get a good job at Hogwarts, with Professor Dumbledore here. Or better yet, why not go and work in the Ministry, like your father here?" Molly suggested to him, not being able to bear with the thought of one of her sons moving away from her control. "Surely working there would be much better than in some Quebec, and especially for those thieving and scheming Goblins, not to mention that you'd be close by to us and be able to help the Order…"
"Mom, this is my life, not yours, not Dad's, and certainly not Dumbledore's and Order's." Bill said in a cold and serious tone. "I know how much this Order means for you all, but I have got my own life to build and this promotion would ensure that I don't have anything worry about. I've already said yes to Ragnok, and I'll be leaving for Quebec in three days." Bill told them all, with Molly's face contorting in rage at what she just heard.
"William Arthur Weasley, you will stay in England and do as I tell you to do! I am your mother, and don't you dare to abandon your family like Percy did, not when there is a war coming and when your family needs you the most!" Molly shrieked at him, breathing heavily at what she just said.
"Bill, I get it that it all sounds nice and cozy for you there in Canada, but Mom does have a point." Charlie supported their mother, getting glared at by his older brother. "The Order and us need all the help we can get, and you moving to the other side of the Atlantic will not help the matters. Frankly, it sounds to me like you are chickening out on us, being a coward. Please, I know you better than that. You are a Gryffindor, and Gryffindors never back down from a fight, right?"
"Yeah, Bill, it's like you don't even wanna give a damn about our family, just like Percy!" Ron decided to add his bit to it all, finally seeing a chance to shine on his own. "No real Gryffindor would ever run away with his tail between his legs, but I guess that Sorting Hat had made a mistake with you, because you sound like a slimy Slytherin to me! No real Weasley would ever run away when his family needs him!"
"Bill, don't be silly! You know that Will here is the Boy-Who-Lived, and he'll need all the help we can get him, if he is to defeat You-Know-Who." Ginny chimed in, with William Potter nodding to her. "How will you be able to help us all if you are half a world away from us? Charlie and Ron are right: you are acting like a cowardly snake of Slytherin, not like a brave lion of Gryffindor. I'd even say that you are starting to go dark on us all, just like those Death Eaters."
"Bill, my boy, I know that you think that what you are doing is for the best, but please listen to your family here." Dumbledore, with his usual twinkle in the eyes, suggested to his former student. "I fear that without their support and love, you may stray away from the good and right path in these turbulent times. Now, I am sure that I would able to accommodate you and offer you a teaching post in Hogwarts. The post of History Professor, perhaps? I'm sure that such a good and honored post would be more than enough for you, especially since Binns is long overdue for his retirement and final rest. Wouldn't you want to succeed our good friend Binns in his post, making his passing a peaceful one at thought of his work being continued by a capable and good-natured man?"
"See, Bill? It's settled then, you are staying in England and will go on to teach there, and no more that foolish talk about moving away or Gringotts or anything like that." Molly was practically celebrating her victory, but it was far too early for that, as Bill spoke up.
"So, that's how you see it, huh?" He said in a bitter voice, getting everyone's attention. "Being like Percy, not enough Gryffindor for you, and all because of what? Because I want to make my own life and live it as I want? Have it ever occurred to you that Percy might have the right idea in mind? Not one with trusting the Ministry, but one with trying to make a better living for himself, to get away from your damn domineering and choking control." Bill said in a bitter and angry voice.
"William, I do not like what you are saying to me. Apologize to me now and…" Molly said dangerously to him, but was interrupted by Bill.
"And what, take up the post at Hogwarts, go on and help your Boy Wonder here, and hope that I don't get killed off in an ambush like Uncles Fabian and Gideon? And all because I got caught up in a war I want nothing to do with me?!" Bill practically shouted at his mother, who looked appalled, while he directed his anger at his brothers and sister. "Chickening out on you, Charlie? You'd know all about it, wouldn't you, little brother. You may've fooled everyone here with that love of Dragons, but I know better, and I know exactly why you'd turned down that invitation to play for the National Quidditch Team." Bill looked with a serious eye at his younger brother, with Charlie's eyes widening when he understood what Bill had meant.
"Bill, please, you've promised…" Charlie practically pleaded him, with everyone's attention turning to him. "I-I was wrong when I said, and please don't tell them. They don't need to know it, not like this!"
"Know what? Charlie, son, is there something that we should know?" Arthur Weasley spoke up in a worried voice, for the first time since the meeting started. "Son, you know that you can tell us all, right? That is what family is for."
"Oh, he knows, Dad." Bill said in a sarcastic tone of voice. "But he also knows what you, or rather Mom, think about us doing something… foolish, so to speak. And Charlie here has done one big dumb mistake, as he had told me back in 1991."
"Bill, please, I beg you, not like this!" Charlie was near begging point at this one.
"Hey Nym, do you remember Cornelia Lestrange, from your year, but in Slytherin?" Bill turned his attention to the Auror, who blinked a couple of times, first a shock of being noticed, and then at remembering the girl.
"Yeah, I remember her. She was my partner on Ancient Runes since the third year." Nym spoke up. "She was a bit shy and a little uptight, but when compared to the rest of them pureblooded idiots and Slytherin slime balls, she was the nicest thing to come out of Lestranges. One of my besties, actually, which is actually really nice, considering our relation."
"What relation do you mean?" Sirius asked of her, before it suddenly dawned on him. "Wait, Lestrange… Is she…"
"Yeah, she's my cousin on mom's side, being the daughter of Aunt Bellatrix and her uncle Rodolphus, although she was raised by her grandparents." Nym told everyone, shocking most of the room. "She didn't exactly go around and tell us who her parents were, but she told me and I promised to keep a secret for her while we are in Hogwarts. She was really afraid that for what her parents did, she'd be a target of their victims' families. All was good, but then she suddenly disappeared in our last year during spring's vacation, and I haven't heard from her since. All I could think was that she ran off with that lover she was telling me about. That was until I've found out that she was dead a year later, with her grandparents having buried her. Don't know about her beau, though."
"Oh, she ran off, but not with the lover, but the lover's kid." Bill said, folding his arms and looking at his younger brother, who looked down in shame, with everyone looking at Charlie with shock. "Poor girl was head over heels in love with you, Charlie, but when she found out that she was with your child, you, as you've put it so nicely, chickened out and ran off to your dear Romania and to your beloved Dragons, telling no one a thing and dumping her off without even goodbyes."
"N-no, this can't be true. Its' all just lies! No son of mine would ever even look at a daughter of those monsters, much less love her!" Molly refused to believe it. "Charlie, come now, tell us that Bill is wrong. He is wrong and is just trying to lie, right?!"
"Charlie… I-Is this true?" Arthur looked shocked and appalled at his second eldest son. "Y-you r-ran away from… And with Lestranges' daughter… H-How could you do such a low thing?!"
"I was bloody scared, alright!" Charlie shouted in rage, unable to cope with it any longer. "Yes, I was dating Cornelia, and I was bloody happy about it too, and I damn well knew how you would react if you found about us, so I never told anyone about it! I knew for a fact that you'd rather kill me than have me dating and bedding daughter of Voldemort's prime lieutenants!"
"Yeah, you were happy. Until she told you that she was with your child and wanted to make your relations official." Bill continued, with Charlie looking miserably at him. "And, instead of doing the good and honorable right thing, like you all are telling me right now here, Charlie here decided to bail out. After all, he never wanted to be a father at 18, much less a husband to Lestranges' daughter, and if Quidditch was out of question for him, there were always his beloved dragons. And as to ensure that she'd never talk about them, he made her take the Unbreakable Vow, practically forcing the poor girl never to tell anyone about who was the man that robbed her of her honor. And she agreed, taking that secret with her into the grave, when she died of miscarriage."
"Miscarriage?" Nym's mouth hung open, before her freckles disappeared, face took angular features and hair became blood red from anger, when she turned to face Charlie. "You son of bitch! You best fucking run back to your Romania right now, because when I get my hands on you, I'll fucking rip your balls off and feed them to you! Cornie was the nicest and most loyal friend I had, and you went on to knock her up and abandon her?!" Nymphadora was ready to move and literally kill him, if she wasn't stopped by paralyzing charm sent by Snape.
"So much for one of Gryffindor's golden boys…" He sneered with his scarred and disfigured face. "Though not much a loss, really. The girl lacked any sort of commitment and determination towards achieving one's goals. Her demise is nothing surprising for me, and I doubt her parents would be all that surprised when they hear of it…"
"Snape, that's enough." Kingsley stopped him. "I'd hold your tongue, if I were you, because Tonks here can hear you all, and I'm not in the mood of stopping her from doing something stupid. I might consider even helping her in this one, honestly."
"Charlie, my boy, I… I don't even know what to say… I can't tell you how disappointed I am with you." Arthur said in a hollowed voice to his son.
"Good riddance." Molly said sharply, shocking her husband, the twins and many others. "I can't say that I am proud of your, as I am very much disappointed with you, Charlie, but at least that girl is dead and her spawn as well. Obviously, you simply fell for that dark witch's wiles and she wanted to get her hands on you to lead you astray. Wish you had come to me and I'd have helped you with her, but at least now no one will know of this shame and we can move on."
"Mom, a-are you bloody mental?!" Fred said in a shocked voice.
"That girl was one of the nicest ladies in Hogwarts, and she died 'cause Charlie bailed out of his duties as a man!" George continued for his brother, equally disturbed.
"And all you can say is…" Fred continued.
"Good riddance?!" Both twins said in unison, before they exchanged glances and speaking up. "We are sorry, but we need to go and get some fresh air. And Bill- we are with you and go for it. And as for you, Charlie- we thought better of you!" Twins said in unison, before getting out of house as fast as they could.
"Now, where were we? Ah yes, running away with tail between his legs, right, Ron?" William spoke up to him, with a good deal of deathly glare being involved in it. "Also something you know all about, considering that you and your friend here tended to do that a lot, especially in your first year."
"I've never ran away from anything, and you've got nothing on me, you damn Slytherin coward!" Ron shouted at Bill.
"Funny you should mention Slytherin, because I met an interesting young girl a few years ago, back in Egypt, who told me about one very brave Slytherin that had saved her." Bill fixed his eyes on Ron, who still looked confused at what was happening. "She was actually once your housemate and was in the same year as you. Maybe you remember her name, Hermione Granger?" Ron and Will instantly paled at the mention of her.
"That bushy haired know-it-all, with that insufferable attitude, what about her?" Snape remembered the girl, with Bill speaking up.
"Well, she had quite the tale to tell me, about that whole troll incident on Halloween of '91…"
Three years ago. Hogwarts. Girl's bathroom.
Hermione Grange had always prided herself as an intellectual, knowledgeable and bright person, one who believed that having knowledge is the ultimate form of power and wealth. And when she found out that she was gifted with magic and that magic could be learnt in spells, she immediately understood that with her attributes, she would excel at it, just as she had excelled in her studies of normal mundane subjects. Sure, she knew she could be a bit a know-it-all and she always prided herself as having a greater deal of knowledge than the others, but she was sure that she would be able to get friends in Hogwarts, the very best Magical school, where only the best could go to, like her. She was so full of hopes, which had ultimately come crushing down.
Though she had been sorted into Gryffindor, the very best House in her opinion, she quickly found out that no one in her House and even year group had liked her. She was constantly ridiculed and mocked for her hair, her teeth, or worse, her thirst for knowledge and accumulated information. Hermione had thought it was bad when she was in mundane school, but in Hogwarts, it gotten really bad, and the majority of those that had ridiculed her were her own housemates, especially that idiotic Ron Weasley and the Brat-Who-Lived, as she called him, William Potter. Not a day went by when she wasn't called names, had to clean up herself after a bad prank, or closed up in a broom closet. She had tried to talk to Professor McGonagall, but she refused to even listen to her, not wanting to hear that her very own Lions were acting like bullies.
Today, however, was the worst, as Potter and Weasley, along with most of her year students had been particularly brutal in their name calling, pranks and bullying. That, coupled with months of constant bullying, welled up feelings and absolute lack of teachers' attention towards the situation, had caused Hermione to break down in one of the girls' bathrooms, letting out in tears and cries all that had boiled up in her. She has had it with them all, that was for certain, and if nobody was really even caring about her wellbeing here, then she shouldn't even stay here, especially knowing that. Maybe her parents would be able to take her back home, and she'd go back to normal school…
Those were her thoughts, until she had exited the booth… and screamed in horror and terror at the sight of a giant mountain troll standing right inside, roaring and swinging his club right at her. By some miracle, she had managed to duck for cover and moved back into the booth, but it proved to be a bad idea, as troll swung his club right there crashing all booths and nearly killing Hermione. She had been quick to duck down, but unfortunately for her, her left arm ended up being pierced by a large piece of wood, causing her to scream in pain.
For a moment as she rose up with tears of pain, she noticed both Potter and Weasley looking at her with terrifying looks, before running away with screams of terror, distracting the troll enough for Hermione to get out. Unfortunately, the horror, pain and increasing blood loss had forced her to fall down on the floor, right in front of Troll, who was all too glad at the opportunity to crush his dinner. Hermione had closed her eyes, with the entire her life passing right in front of her eyes, preparing to lose her life.
"Accio Hermione Granger!" Suddenly, Hermione's body had practically flown out of her place and she suddenly ended up being held by a strong hand, pushing her right behind.
She took a glancing look at who was it, and noticed that it was tall, strong looking young student, one of the upper students, possibly from the last year. He was dressed in the Slytherin's green and silver colors, looking well with short black hair and soft green looks. She recognized the student the next second that she looked at him. It was none other than Henry James Potter, older brother to the hooligan that has been terrorizing him, and one of the most hated students in Hogwarts, all because of him being the first Potter sorted into Slytherin. She had heard he was practically the second coming of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, yet here he was, saving her life.
Henry looked at Hermione, accessing her and what was done to her, before nodding her and motioning her to stay behind, which the girl did. After that he turned to face the advancing troll, raising his wand and speaking once more.
"Immobilus." One charm and Troll's movements were immobilized. "Don't know how you got in, troll, nor does it matter that match to me. All you need to know is that I really hate it when big boys like you pick on little people like her, and especially when they hurt them just to get their jollies out of the act. Now, I'll make this quick, beast. Avada Kedavra."
The green magical beam struck the troll, and in the next second, its dead body had hit the floor, breathless and lifeless. Hermione was in shock at not just seeing one of the three unforgivable curses was being used, but also at the fact that it was just used to save her life. She looked, with her wincing look up at the young man, who looked back at her and knelt down before her, looking at her injury, examining it carefully, before he carefully put his hand on the wood.
"Hm, I won't lie. I'm going to pull that thing out of your arm, and it will hurt, a lot, so I'll put a numbing spell on your arm, so you won't feel much pain from it. And before you say anything, without pulling it out of your arm, I won't be able to stop the bleeding and heal your arm. Ready?" Hermione nodded to him, and the very next second, Henry quickly put his spell on her arm and pulled out of her the piece of wood
Meanwhile, Henry wasn't wasting any precious moments, as he waved his wand around Hermione's wound, forcing any remaining splinters to leave her blood and body, before stopping the bleeding completely. Next after that, while the numbing charm didn't dissipate, he began to reverse blood back into her wound, before healing it. Despite Henry having learned the healing spells and practiced them since he was in his second year, he wasn't a professional healer, and because of that, he had left Hermione with a scarred flesh where the wound was. Putting his wand away, he stood up, while Hermione looked up to him and spoke up.
"Wh-why… Why did you help me?" She asked him with a shaky and weak voice, with Henry actually looking amused at her.
"Well, I could say that I was feeling heroic and wanted to go and find me a damsel to save, but that would be utter rubbish with me." Henry simply chuckled to her, with Hermione giving him a weak smile. "If you want an honest answer, than I was just on my way back to dorm, when I saw the two Gryffindor prime parasites running out here, and heard a troll in here. After that, I decided to do the decent thing and save you, and also let of some steam on the beast here. Now, I could ask you what you were doing here, Miss Granger, but seeing how you've become this year's prime target for bullying and harassment, I think I can make the honest assumption of you letting out what has been welled up in you."
"Y-you are right…" She nodded to him, before she lunged herself at Henry, wrapping her arms around him, crying her eyes out. "Th-thank you, thank you, thank you…" She kept repeating, with Henry not pulling back and simply embracing her softly and carefully, caressing her mane of hair.
"It's alright now." He softly whispered to her, putting his experience of caring for younger children, like his Rose, to use. "Come now, let's have you looked at by Poppy. Unlike the rest of the staff here, she actually cares for the children here. Don't worry, I'll walk you there." Hermione nodded to him and the pair had left the bathroom, only to run into Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, with Potter and Weasley following closely behind them and looking scared.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, explain yourselves, what you were two doing in that bathroom, at once!" Professor McGonagall commanded, with Hermione already wanting to cover for her savior, only for Henry reply to her Head of the House in an angry and sharp manner.
"Ms. Granger was trying to stay alive there, while you and the rest of your cavalcade of prideful baboons were stuffing your mouths, celebrating the idiot's job well done over Voldemort." Never had Hermione heard or saw someone talk in such a manner to one of Professors, much less Professor McGonagall. "Now, as for how she ended up there, maybe you should finally stand up from your cushy pedestal and look at what your golden boys have been doing for the last 6 years."
"Mr. Potter, 20 points off Slytherin for your utter disrespect and..." Snape sneered in glee at the opportunity to put his enemy's son down in his place, only to be shut by Henry.
"Oh shut your trap, Snape! Go back in your dungeon and jack off of my whore of a mother!" Henry shut Snape, whose face contorted in one of utter rage and fury, with Henry turning back to the appalled McGonagall. "You were asking what I was doing there, Professor? I was doing your bloody damn job of saving a student in urgent need of being saved, that's what! One would think that it was part of your job, but seeing as you not only ignore every and all acts of harassment, bullying and insulting that take place in here, especially by your very own House of Gryffindor, I have started to think that you, much like the rest of the staff here, don't give a flying fuck about the fate of students under your care!"
"M-Mr. Potter, I will not take such language and slander from you! 50 points off Slytherin and detention with Filch for…" McGonagall had composed herself enough to speak up again, only to be interrupted again by Henry.
"Go ahead and take 500 off my arse if you want, never cared about this moronic system of yours." Henry replied to her, causing McGonagall to go stiff with anger. "Now, if you and the Ghost of Canterbury are done, I will go and take this student to hospital to have her checked and hospitalized if needed. And after, you can go ahead and expel me out of here for telling you, Professor McGonagall, what really is really going on and how you bloody well allow your own fucking House go around and terrorize everyone they want, including your very own fucking Lions that you prance about being so noble and brave!" Henry and Hermione moved past the two shell shocked Professors, before Henry stopped right near the pair of Gryffindors.
"You two are lucky that she is alive, but mark my word: you do what you did to her to anyone else, and you will wish that you had to face a troll." Henry warned in cold and furious voice the pair, who nearly wet their pants, with Henry moving with Hermione towards the hospital.
"Thank you… I-I can't believe th-that she didn't do anything…" Hermione said, not letting go of Henry. "Sh-she told u-us that o-our House will be o-our family, but th-they…"
"I know." Henry softly said to her, holding her carefully. "You are not first student to suffer for being different from everyone else, nor are you the first student to find her pleas lost on deaf ears of those Professors. The students here, especially those of Slytherin and Gryffindor take it for an unspoken rule to harass and terrorize those that don't fit in for one reason or another, no matter how utterly stupid or senseless that reason is. You being born from non-magical parents and being the brightest witch of this year are enough reasons for those jackals to start their hunt."
"I thought it would be different here, different from m-my previous school, but this… This so much worse…" Hermione held back her tears, with Henry gently rubbing her shoulder. "Sh-She told us that I-I would be able to b-become a g-great w-witch, a-and that Hogwarts was th-the very best school i-in the Magical World."
"She tells that to every family that she goes to visit, believe me." Henry told her. "Maybe in the past Hogwarts was something great, but now… I have a little sister, Rose, and she'll be starting the next year. I'd much rather see her go to any other Magical School, even Durmstrang, but not this damn place. But, being born a Potter and to this particular cursed generation, I'm forced to witness as that brat and his arselicker make my sister's life here miserable. You know, I'm actually envious of you in this department."
"Y-you don't like your parents and brother?" She asked of him.
"No, I hate them, not just because of the fame and glory, but mostly because they don't give a damn about me and my little sister, especially her." Henry truthfully answered her. "I know it's a dumb question, but do your parents love and care for you?"
"Y-Yes, they always loved and cared for me. M-Mom d-didn't even want to let me g-go here, b-because she d-didn't trust that it would b-be as Professor h-had said…" Hermione told him.
"Then you are a very lucky girl, Hermione Granger." Henry chuckled dryly to her, but with no ill intent. "I don't know your parents, but I believe that the moment they found out about what is really happening here, they would move the mountains and skies, just to make sure you are safe. I don't think that you have been writing them about what was going on here, haven't you?" Hermione shook her head at this one, before she spoke up.
"No… B-But I think I will, when I have the chance." She said to him. "D-Do you know of any other Magical Schools, b-by any chance?"
"If I had my way, I and my sister would've gone to Illvermony, in the US. I hear that's the very thing that Hogwarts should be…"
Present time.
"She and her parents were on vacation in Cairo, and we ran into each other in the magical district. She told me everything that had happened, including what you two have been up to." Bill looked with a heated glare at his younger brother. "So don't preach to me about snakes and tails, Ronald. If there was a Gryffindor in that story, than it was Henry Potter." Potters and Weasleys looked repulsed at what Bill had said.
"You'd believe in the word of some damn bookworm of a mudblood over Headmaster here?!" Molly screeched at Bill, who looked near murderous at her. "She was obviously lying to you, trying to mix Willie's good name and deed with mud like her blood is. Come now Bill, you don't really believe that, now do you?"
"I don't bloody care at this point what to believe, Mom, especially after that last comment of yours." Bill said with cold rage. "And as for you, Ginny… The world doesn't revolve around your golden prince, and honestly, if trying to live my own life without you turning it upside down means going dark, then I think I'll be dark in your eyes. At least the one person that truly cares about me will know that I'm doing the right decision. Consider this my resignation, and good luck in your crusade." Bill grabbed his jacket and was moved towards the exit.
"The one who truly… William Weasley, you will stop right there, or you can forget the road back to our House and that your name is Weasley, do you hear me?!" That didn't stop Bill, with his mother continuing to scream at him. "Bill, I am warning you: one step through that door, and I'll disown you as my son! You'll be just like that mudblood wench you told us about, so…"
"Bill!" That was the voice of Arthur Weasley that had forced his son to stop and look back, along with Molly to shut up. "For whatever it's worth now, after all that was said, good luck to you, and I am proud of you, son." Bill looked nearly shocked when he heard his father speak, while everyone else was utterly baffled when they heard Arthur.
"Thank you, Dad." Bill said to him, before opening the door and stepping out of the Black's family home and out of the Order for good.
"Arthur, how could you allow him to leave?! And what is this about being proud of him?! He just betrayed our family and…" Molly continued to screech, before Arthur slammed his fist into the table shutting her up.
"My son has just made a monumental decision and decided to do what was right for him, Molly, and I am proud of him for that. I've always wanted to see all of my children be able to grow up into fine young men and be able to build their lives as they want it, and Bill does just that, and because of that I am proud of him." Arthur answered to her and everyone. "And I will not force any of my children to fight in this war, especially if there is a way for them to avoid being engulfed into it. Call me a coward, but I am here because of my choice and because I decided to come here. And as for Bill, anyone among you here that decides to call my son a coward will have to consider themselves as enemies of House Weasley for insulting its Heir Primus. As for what was revealed to us today, we will talk about this at length after the meeting. And Molly, threaten my son or anyone with my status as Head of the House, and I'll personally disown you out of the House, got that?" Arthur had sent a heated glare towards her, making her squirm and nod in response.
"Well, this sure has been one eventful meeting so far…" Nymphadora commented off-handedly, before asking something she wanted to know. "Um, where's Professor McGonagall? Shouldn't she also be here, not that I'd want to face her if she heard what was said here…"
"I've sent Minerva to Illvermony, to collect the records about four transfer students from there, who will be studying this year in Hogwarts, as part of exchange program between MACUSA and our Ministry." Dumbledore answered, getting everyone's attention. "Along with the students, we will also be hosting one of their teachers, who will take up the post of Professor for DADA for this year. And this is actually the reason why I've called this meeting today, since this man could very well be of much use to our cause…"
"Really? And who is he then, some American high ranking Auror in retirement?" Sirius asked of Professor Dumbledore, who shook his head, who produced magical photographs on the table.
"Not quite, Sirius." Dumbledore spoke up, with photos moving to everyone at the table. "Although, he has served in MACUSA as an Auror for 10 years, the last 6 years, he has spent as a teacher of DADA in Illvermony. However, while his experience as Auror and teacher are certainly valuable, it is his past before that truly makes him valuable to our cause. Now, Sirius, tell us, does the person on the photo look familiar to you?"
"Hm, now that you mention it..." Sirius looked carefully at the photo, before his eyes slowly widened when he recognized the man on it. "Bloody Merlin's arse… Is that him?!"
"Him? Sirius, do you recognize this man here?" James asked of him, also looking at it. "I'll say that he looks kinda familiar and there is even some resemblance to you, but…"
"Indeed there is resemblance, Potter, given the fact that this is Mutt's own little brother shown here, if I am not mistaken." Snape said, shocking everyone, while he turned to smiling Dumbledore. "It would you have managed to track down the ghost of Regulus Arcturus Black of all people, and drag him into the light, Professor."
"Yes, you could say that, Severus." Dumbledore chuckled. "Indeed, the man on the photo is our dear Sirius' younger brother Regulus, who had managed to disappear near 16 years ago without a trance. According to my friends in America and their government, he had received a full pardon for his association with the Dark Lord and Death Eaters, after a public trial before ICW. After that, he has gone on to become an Auror for MACUSA and very good one at that, if my sources are correct, before going on to teach at Illvermony Academy. During his time in America, Regulus had made himself a name as a very reliable and powerful Wizard, one of their top tier Aurors, as I am told. He has even received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, in recognition of his service and protection of people, especially a year and a half ago, when a group of American students was accidentally attacked by dementors, who were looking for Peter Pettigrew."
"I bet that coward had bought his freedom and status, just like the rest of his friends did." James sneered at Regulus' photo. "Headmaster, why would you even employ him? Reggie has always been a coward, and I bet that he ran away from the Dark Lord without lasting a week. For all we know, the moment he sets his foot in Hogwarts, he'll probably find some way for Death Eaters to get inside the castle and hurt everyone. Severus here will probably even help him at that."
"I'll have to agree with James on this one, Professor." Remus supported his friend on this one. "If you want to simply neutralize a potential threat, then why not simply let us capture him and throw him into Azkaban for his crimes?"
"I am afraid that the Court of International Confederacy had found him not guilty of any crime, safe for association with Dark Lord and his cohorts. For that he had managed earn his pardon before the court in some way, and because of that he is now a free and innocent man in the eyes of the law." Dumbledore informed them all. "However, while Regulus' will and convictions may not be as strong as that of his dear brother Sirius here, he could still be very much valuable to us, and I am sure that the young man would wish to truly earn his forgiveness for his past sins."
"Pft, valuable…" Sirius snorted at that one. "Professor, Regulus has always been a whipping boy for our parents, always wanting them to be proud of him. He is a spineless coward, much like Wormtail, if not worse. What's so valuable about him?"
"As much as I detest the notion, I am afraid that they are correct in their assessment, Headmaster." Severus spoke up again. "Regulus never had the stomach for any kind of violence, nor did he last long in Death Eaters, having apparently run off at the first opportunity he had gotten. And as for his combat magic… He is as useless at it as Pettigrew."
"Is that so, Severus?" Suddenly, a new voice spoke up, drawing the attention to the doorway. "I here I thought we were friends, but I guess I've overestimated your capacity for feeling any sort of attachment and friendship."
Stepping into the room and moving past Weasleys, Potters, Lupin and Black, was Regulus Arcturus Black, dressed in black jacket with white shirt underneath a black vest, couple with black pants and shoes. He looked every bit as dignified and powerful as a true Black Wizard would, showing not even a single hint of emotion or even his power out in the open. He took the place at the opposite head of the table, right across Dumbledore and Severus Snape, both eyeing the man with shocked and curious eyes, while Regulus simply looked at Nymphadora and spoke up.
"Nym, good to see you, girl. My missus and kids asked me to say hello and ask if you wouldn't mind visiting Salem this weekend. We'll be having a BBQ on Sunday, and you and with Andromeda and Ted are welcome to come by." Regulus smiled to his niece.
"Sure thing, Reg, I'll let my folks know and I think they'll love it. Though, we'd best arrive in a couple of days beforehand, to acclimate to the time zone and all that." Nym responded, ignoring the shocked looks that most people sent her across the room.
"Even better, we've got plenty of spare rooms in our house. Plus, we'll have far more time to catch up. Just give me the call when you, Ted and Andy have decided everything." Regulus smiled to her, before turning to everyone and losing his smile. "I must say, I was expecting something interesting to come out of my trip here, but to find the majority of the Order in here, that certainly is something I did not expect."
"Well, and we didn't expect you to be alive, dear brother." Sirius practically spat those words out, speaking up to Regulus. "I thought you had died all those years ago, but no, you are alive and well, with a family of your own as well. So, mind explaining why no one, aside from Nymphadora and her folks, had known that you were actually alive and kicking, hm?"
"Because they, along with Grandfather, are among the only people that I wanted to know about me, Sirius." Regulus simply answered to him, not missing the scowl from him. "And to be quite honest with you, I wasn't even planning on returning back to Britain, ever. However, as it would happen, your dear old Headmaster and Leader of Light here has a different opinion, seeing as he had managed to blackmail the President of MACUSA and Headmaster of Illvermony to send not just me, but also my own children and wife here with me. You just can't let people live their lives in peace and quiet, can you, Dumbledore?" Regulus asked with sarcasm of Dumbledore.
"Now, Regulus, my boy, this is no way to treat your dear old Headmaster." Dumbledore had his usual twinkle in his eyes, as he spoke to his former student. "Now, I assure you, that I had no ulterior motive, other than allowing you and your family the opportunity to reconnect with their historical homeland, and for you to seek a possible forgiveness for the missteps you've made in the past."
"Reconnect with the historical homeland, right when Voldemort decides to return back to life and is gathering his cohorts." Regulus said to Dumbledore and everyone, surprising them. "How very Slytherin of you, Professor, which is something, considering you being a Gryffindor and Leader of Light. One would think that putting the lives of innocents into danger is something opposite to the Light. So don't try and bullshit me, Dumbledore: I know your game and what you are at. And that is exactly why I am here, to give you all a warning: stay the fuck away from my kids and Faye." Regulus told them all, with Lily's eyes widening when she heard that name.
"Faye? You and Faye have married?" She asked in a shocked tone, with Regulus turning to face her. "So, you are now the husband of the Head of House Stewart, are you not? Tell me, how is that little Miss Perfect doing, hm? Does she remember her dear betrayed older sister?"
"Oh she does, Freya." Regulus saw how Lily's face contorted at the mention of her birth name. "She remembers all too well how you've sickened your boyfriend and his friends on her, once you learned of being excluded from the House. And no, she has passed her rights and status as Head of House Stewart onto Samuel Stewart, her Uncle, and unlike you, she didn't make any scandal or dishonored her family in any form or fashion, hence why she and our kids are always welcome by Stewarts."
"Wait, what is he talking about, Mom?" William asked of her, confused, with Regulus deciding to lift up the shroud of mystery for him.
"Long story short, kid: your mother is a Pureblood and was an Heiress of a Noble House, like your father here, but after she showed her true colors to her little sister and Regent of the House, along with getting knocked up when she was in her 6th year, she was excluded from the House and forbidden of ever using the name Freya Lillian Stewart." Regulus told him, before turning his head towards Dumbledore. "I know your game, Dumbledore, and I am warning you for the first and last time to keep your hands away from them, or I will make you pay for hurting them in any way. The same goes for your second master too, Severus." Regulus looked at his former friend. "Yeah, I know that the half-blooded snake is back and that you are still on his payroll, so I want you to give him this message: if you try and come after one my children or any true member of House Black, you and your minions will regret that decision dearly."
"Those are some very bold words, for someone who had run away so cowardly in the past." Severus sneered at Regulus, who wasn't even fazed by that. "Do you really think that the Dark Lord, or we for that matter, will take that warning seriously, Regulus?" All of us here know for sure, that you are a coward and a weakling, as you've always been, and the only reason why you even got accepted into Death Eaters was because Bellatrix claimed that you had a very great potential in you."
"For all her flaws, my cousin Bella was quite right about that one, Severus." Regulus assured him. "You can doubt me all you like, but if you think that I am as weak as you believe me to be, then you are in for a nasty surprise."
"Oh really?" James laughed at him openly, as he stepped forward towards Regulus, standing right next to him now. "Did little Reggie here finally grow a pair of balls? We all know that you only ever acted tough just so you could get into that bitch's panties, but she ain't here, so you don't get to act all tough and mighty. You are just one proud ponce that thinks he is hot stuff, but in reality nothing more than a spineless, miserable little boy, whose only girlfriend took pity on him after we made you our bitch and pissed on you." He laughed in the open with Sirius and chuckling Remus and Lily at that what he said.
It was true, as back then, Regulus wasn't strong enough to fully defend Faye from those four freaks, and they had put him a hospital for a month, but not before beating him to a bloody pulp and even pissing on him. True, back then, he was "their bitch"…
But that was over 20 years, and Regulus has spent those years well enough. In quick motion, his arms unfolded, and his right fist lunged itself into James' gut, beating the air out of his lungs as he laughed. Capitalizing on the shock factor, Regulus moved to James' right, grabbing his right arm, before giving him a knee-breaking kick on his right leg, forcing the Potter to scream in pain and fall in his knees. In next second, Regulus grabbed his head by the hair, and slammed it against the table, breaking his nose and driving shattered glass into his face, whilst still holding James' right arm. While everyone was too shocked with what they were seeing, Regulus bent close to James and whispered to him.
"Call my wife a bitch, or anything like that, and I'll make you in to a literal bitch." He warned him, before twisting James' arm and breaking it, forcing the grown man to cry out in more pain.
Regulus again grabbed James' head by his hair and pushed him away from the table, forcing him to fall down onto the floor. His glasses were shattered, with its remains wedged deep into his bleeding cuts, which were luckily enough not in his eyes, while his nose looked like it had been pressed deep into his skull, bleeding profoundly. His knee and arm weren't moving at all and looked out of place, making the whole scene for everyone very shocking with Regulus knowing that it had gotten the message across the room.
"Anyone still doubting my capabilities?" He asked no one in particular. "Good, because like with your dear James here, I am not here to play games with you. And I won't be anyone's bitch, not Voldemort's, and not yours, Dumbledore. If you decide to dig your scrawny old hands into my children, I'll kill you. If because of your damn schemes and games they get hurt or somehow involved in this whole mess, I'll kill you. And if you, Lily, or any of your Potter idiots tries anything funny with them while I am teaching in Hogwarts this year, I'll personally eradicate House Potter and everyone with that last surname that has your blood in it. That goes for everyone here: hurt my family, and I will kill each and every one of you here, got that?"
"Oh you've done it now, Reggie!" Sirius, along with Remus, whipped out his wand and pointed at Regulus…
…Only to be plastered against the wall with his friend and fall off unconscious after a double Stupefy, while Regulus put away his wand. He turned his attention to Dumbledore, who was weighing his options. So far, Regulus has proven that he really wasn't someone to be messed with, and he wasn't even able to get inside his head like with the others, meaning that his Occlumency shields were on the same level as that of Voldemort. Not only that, but he had just defeated the Marauders without any trouble, literally breaking James in the process. And from the way he spoke and manner of his posture, it was clear that he meant every word he said. No, he was far too dangerous and powerful to be manipulated.
But his children weren't…
"Very well, Regulus, you've made your point. I promise you, that for as long as your children and you are here in Britain, you will not be an involuntary part of any of our plans." Dumbledore carefully spoke to him, with Regulus smirking at him, as if he won.
"Don't think that I don't know your game, Dumbledore. You and Voldemort are the same in your manners of ruling your little armies, and I know what you've just thought about." Regulus narrowed his eyes on him. "This is your only warning: stay the hell away from them, Dumbledore. Voluntary or not, we are not a part of your little war, period. And now, if all of you have gotten that message through your skulls, I'll be taking my leave. Feel free to have this place and don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it. It's not like Voldemort doesn't already know where all you meet. Right, Severus?" Regulus smirked at his former friend, before apparating out of the house.
House Black's Mansion.
Regulus reappeared the next second in the study of his grandfather Arcturus, alongside Cassiopeia and Rose, who already waiting for him.
"Did they get the message?" He simply asked of him, with Regulus nodding to him. "Good, it's long due that our enemies understood that crossing House of Black is a suicidal notion. Can we trust Severus to get the message to his another Master?"
"The scarface didn't even notice me using Legilimency on his mind while Dumbledore was announcing me as the next DADA Professor, not like I even needed to probe too far into his mind." Regulus told them. "Snape is good though, really good with Occulumency, but only when he expects the attack on his mind. But, no one's perfect, and Snape has more than enough flaws, with conflicting morals and loyalties being among them. Henry's analysis of his was on spot: he really does play for both sides, with Dumbledore not even realizing it. Old coot must be thinking that he has Severus on a short leash, but in reality..."
"The more there is division among our enemies, the better for us it will be in the future." Arcturus noted out, before turning their attention to the map behind him, showing the lands and the owners of the Magical Britain. "Now, our next order of business is to wait for Harry to call us to Le Fay's Castle. He should've reached it by now, even on foot."
"Still, I don't really understand why would Harry need to go there so soon? I mean, he may've fully recovered and is back to top shape, but still..." Rose said in a bit of a saddened tone.
"Don't worry, dear. We all know how you worry about your big stupid oaf of a brother." Cassie made Rose chuckle with that comment. "But this is something that needs to be done, especially if we intend to fight both the Death Eaters and the Order, and in the worst case scenario, the very Ministry itself. Back when House Le Fay had existed, they controlled most Wales, Western and Central England, and commanded the loyalty of all magical creatures and wizards that resided there. Those borders and lands are still there, and magic itself knows to whom those lands belong to. If Harry manages to reignite the magic of Le Fay lands from his castle, we will have ourselves a potentially massive army of magical creatures and races that reside there, not to mention many Wizarding families that will feel the magic of the land and it's effect on it."
"Yes, but only if the Castle's guardian recognizes him as Prince Le Fay." Arcturus said, getting everyone's attention.
"What's that supposed to mean, old man?" Regulus asked of him.
"Had it ever occured to any of you that throughout centuries, Le Fay Castle has never been looted out and that any that ventured there for that purpose, were never seen again?" Arcturus asked of them, before producing a book before the, with the crest of House Black. "This is the journal of Perseus Black, our founder and one of the last students of Morgana Le Fay. Within it lies the answer to that very question." Regulus and Cassiopeia took the book and quickly looked through it, before their eyes widened at what they read in the chapter about Le Fay's Castle.
"Merlin's beard... I knew that Morgana was powerful, but to take a hold of that, and manage to make it submit... You realize, that if it doesn't recognize Henry as Prince Le Fay, he is dead, right?" Regulus asked of Arcturus, who simply nodded to him.
"Indeed I do, and so does Henry, but this is something he must face on his own." Arcturus simply explained to him. "Prince Le Fay can only claim that place on his own, no other way around it."
"What are you two talking about? Did Morgana leave someone to guard that place?" Rose asked of them, with Cassiopeia nodding to her.
"Yes, something not of this world." She showed her apprentice the book. "Morgana Le Fay had been an equal to merlin in every field, but in one magical area, she had surpassed even him."
"Demonology..." Rose read, before her own eyes had widened. "I-Isn't that the Dark Art of Magic th-that is used to..."
"Summon, banish, destroy and even subjugate the denizens of the Underworld, the only Dark Art of Magic that even Voldemort hadn't delved into." Regulus spoke up, taking a sip of whiskey that stood near. "This field of magic is so taboo and secret, that it makes the Unforgivable Curses look like child's play. Even Horcruxes are considered a lesser form of dark magic in most magical communities. A friend of mine from the American Department of Mysteries even told me once, that Demonology is one field of study they avoid exploring, and those are the same guys doing the study all magical arts that shouldn't be explored by others."
"Yes, Regulus, we get it, thank you." Cassiopeia said in an irritated voice, reading the book. "If only I could show it to Dorea in person... We were quite fascinated with Morgana in our youths, but to find out that she had bound one of the Higher Demons to the will of her house... Increadible."
Whoops, sorry for the cliffhanger, but... I just couldn't help myself there. Hope you like this chapter folks, as I've had a ton of fun writing it this time, especially the parts about Bill and Regulus smacking James like a bitch. Anyway, I think I'll go out for this one on a short note, as I believe that this chap doesn't need much of an explaining. However, if you have any questions about it, suggestions for the future or just want to give me you opinion, feel free to give it to me in Reviews or in PM. Also, I've now started to moderate my Reviews, as I've really grown tired of some BS being written into the review section. Seriously, what the hell is that guy's problem?!
Sorry about that one. Oh, and if you have any suggestions about the romance for our main lead, let me know.
Next time: Le Fay Castle and Illvermony.
See ya!