Chapter 5
I awoke woke early next morning, wrapped in a sleeping bag on the drawing room floor. A chink of sky was visible between the heavy curtains. It was a cool blue watered ink, somewhere between the night and the dawn. I looked down to see Harry's arm tight around my middle, eyebrows scrunched up but in deep sleep.
All was quiet aside from slow deep breathing from Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Ron had had a fit of gallantry and insisted that Hermione sleep on the sofa; she only agreed to do so as long as he stayed below her. None of us were ready to separate just yet and decided to sleep together in the drawing room.
Hermione's arm curved to the floor, her fingers inches from Ron's. I wondered if their hands were intertwined at some point in the night. The idea made me smile and I thought back to when Harry told me at one point they hated each other. I looked at them again and found that hard to believe.
I let my mind wander over what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. I was in the marquee with Harry, just swaying and dancing; for once, I tried not to think of the horrors that awaited us. And as for Harry's revelation, I thought of going back to Hogwarts. Part of me wanted and dreaded my return to the school. Then I thought of Albus and how heavy the grief was weighing on my heart.
It was more than grief; there was anger, betrayal, confusion…I could go on. Last night, Harry told us about how Ron's Aunt Muriel shared these accusations about Albus. I had heard them before, especially the ones about his siblings, but that was something I blocked out and they weren't things Albus was very keen on sharing.
But I couldn't help but wonder. Could Dumbledore have let such things happen? Could he have turned his back on a sister who was being imprisoned and hidden? Then I thought of mysterious objects left without explanation in Dumbledore's Will and cryptic messages he left behind. Resentment was sinking in with the constant questions.
Why hadn't Dumbledore told me sooner? Or tell Harry for that matter? Why hadn't he explained? Had Dumbledore actually cared about myself Harry at all? Or had we been nothing more than tools to be polished and honed, but not trusted, never confided in?
No, this is my Godfather. I shouldn't tarnish his memory in such a way. But he did only add to the ever-growing list of questions. God, I need to stop thinking in such ways! He loved me. Or at least I hoped he did.
"Emma! Where are you dearie?!" I heard a voice shout, recognizing it as Hermione's.
"I'm down here in the kitchen!" I shouted back.
After wallowing over my thoughts for a bit, I decided to wander instead. I only entered a few rooms before deciding to come to the kitchen and get a start on breakfast. But there was something that was nagging at me as I did so and it was that each room, including the one I was in currently, had been disturbed in some way.
"Emma, do you like giving me a heart attack?" Hermione huffed. I smirked and opened my mouth to reply. "Wait, don't answer that," I chuckled as I plated the last bit of food. She began sniffing and her eyes widened at the buffet I created.
"Hungry?" I asked.
"Famished; I didn't think anybody but Mrs. Weasley could pull this off," she stated in awe.
"I learned to cook at early age and sometimes with very little…I just haven't had the opportunity to show off," I winked.
"Yeah, cause you have so many other talents that you've displayed already," A male voice popped in. I stuck my tongue at Harry who grinned at me. Ron on the other hand was drooling at the table of food.
"Don't just stare Ronald! Dig in while we have a moment!" Hermione shouted, already stacking her plate with eggs and bacon. He blinked a moment then took Hermione's lead and joined in with us.
"So, where did you both run off to this morning?" Ron asked mouth full of eggs. I took a sip of some juice and gestured to the breakfast table, hoping that was a good enough excuse for me being up so early. Harry chewed and swallowed quickly before answering.
"I actually went to Sirus' room," he said simply. I spat out a bit of my juice while Ron choked on some toast. Hermione pounded Ron's back while I cleaned up my mess. He then produced an old piece of parchment from his pocket and tossed it on the table. I grabbed it first, skimming the words and frowned before handing it to Hermione.
Hermione took it out and read it aloud while Harry watched her. I reached for his hand and held it for a bit. When she reached the end of the page she looked up at him.
"Oh Harry…" she gasped and Ron stopped eating to glance at the letter.
"And there's this too." He handed her the torn photograph and Hermione smiled at the baby zooming in and out of sight on the toy broom. She then let out another gasp as she noticed a second baby running after the first baby on the broom.
"I have the same picture in my album," I whispered. Harry nodded in response.
"Emma, this is you then?" Ron asked. Hermione was in shock and could only stare at me.
"Yeah, small world right?" They both nodded. Harry cleared his throat before speaking again.
"I tried looking for the rest of the letter," Harry said, "but it wasn't there."
"Did you make that mess up there looking? Or was some of it done when you got here?" Ron asked.
"Someone had searched before me," said Harry.
"I thought the same. Every room I passed on the way down here had been disturbed. What were they after, do you think?" I asked suddenly.
"Information on the Order, if it was Snape, but you'd think he'd already have all he needed. I mean, he was in the Order technically…wasn't he?" Hermione asked and Harry shrugged.
"Well then," said Harry, keen to discuss a new theory, "what about information on Dumbledore? The second page of the letter, for instance. You know this Bathilda my mum mentions; you know who she is?" Harry asked. I tried to rack my brain for that name…it sounded familiar.
"Who?"
"Bathilda Bagshot, the author of-"
"A History of Magic," said Hermione, looking interested. "So your parents knew her? She was an incredible magic historian." Hermione said matter of fact.
"And she's still alive," said Harry, "Ron's Aunt Muriel was talking about her at the wedding. She knew Dumbledore's family too. Be pretty interesting to talk to, wouldn't she?" Harry asked, looking at me first. That's where I remembered her! She would often visit when I was a child before Albus shipped me off.
"I know where she lives!" I exclaimed, shooting up from my stool. "She lived in Godric's Hollow! Actually, I think she's still there," Harry grinned at this and it didn't take me long to put to and to together either. Hermione smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes. I knew that look…someone was about to get shot down.
"I understand why you both would love to talk to her, truly," she paused, looking between us uncomfortably. "But that wouldn't really help us in our search for the Horcruxes, would it?"
Neither one of us answered; she took that moment of hesitation to rush on, "Harry, I know you really want to go to Godric's Hollow, but I'm scared. I'm scared at how easily those Deatheaters found us yesterday. It just makes me feel more than ever that we ought to avoid the place where your parents are buried. I'm sure they'd be expecting you to visit it."
"It's not just that," Harry said, still avoiding looking at her, "Muriel said stuff about Dumbledore at the wedding. I want to know the truth," then paused to look at me. "We both deserve the truth." Harry had told us everything the night before that Muriel had told him. I sympathized with him then and the same thoughts that plagued him plagued me as well.
Hermione sighed then asked, "Harry, do you really think you'll get the truth from a malicious old woman like Muriel, or from Rita Skeeter? How can you believe them? You knew Dumbledore!" She shouted.
"None of us knew Dumbledore!" Ron yelled all of a sudden, shocking us all since he had been quiet during the exchanges. He looked at me sadly. "No offense, but even his own goddaughter didn't know Dumbledore,"
"But you know how much truth there was in everything Rita wrote about you!" Hermione said to Harry, ignoring myself and Ron for the moment. She looked at me then brought her focus back to Harry. "How can you let these people tarnish your memories of Dumbledore?" She asked sadly. That's a question I asked myself earlier and I still had yet to come up with an answer.
It's been a week since we took shelter in Number 12 Grimmauld Place and there hasn't been anything to report…well, unless you want to count Kreacher's (the extremely pessimistic of all things non-pure blood and utterly demented Grimmauld Place house elf) involvement in the Horcrux hunt and the Deatheaters stalking the front of the house.
Firstly: after summoning Kreacher, he told us a tale of how Regulas Black, Sirus' older brother, and he switched the real Horcrux locket for the fake one that Harry and Dumbledore went after. Then Kreacher explained how a man named Mungdungeous Fletcher had raided Grimmauld Place a few times after Sirus' death since, in his own words, this place was 'ripe for the picking' and nobody would a few pieces of the dead man's 'ruddy ole junk'.
If I had known this man was capable of such things, I would've remembered to hex him during the few exchanges we shared; it's hard to believe that they allowed a bastard like him to be a part of the Order. But then again, Albus let someone like Snape slither in as well. In an effort to hopefully get the locket back before he could pawn it, Harry ordered Kreacher to track him down and bring him back here; that was five days ago.
Secondly: starting around mid-day yesterday, mysterious figures, some decked out in black cloaks began appearing on the streets outside of the house. Hermione believes that Snape disclosed the location to the Headquarters but due to a special curse Moody fabricated before his death, Snape wasn't able to say how to enter.
"Reckon they know we're in here?" Ron asked suddenly as we peeked out the second floor window.
"I don't think so," said Hermione even though she looked frightened, "or they'd have sent Snape in after us, wouldn't they?" I shrugged while contemplating blasting them with some lightening but I didn't want to take a chance at that backfiring.
"D'you reckon he's been in here and had his tongue tied by Moody's curse?" asked Harry.
"Yes," said Hermione, "otherwise he'd have been able to tell that lot how to get in."
"But they're probably watching to see whether we turn up." I piped in and Hermione nodded. "They know that Harry owns the house, after all."
"How do they-?" Harry began.
"Wizarding wills are examined by the Ministry, remember? They'll know Sirius left you the place." Hermione stated.
After peeking for close to an hour, the Deatheaters poofed away I'm assuming to report back to Voldemort. We headed downstairs to have some lunch and once were halfway down the stairs, a tap on the front door stopped us then the metallic clicks and the grinding of the chain.
Every nerve in my body was on high alert and we each whipped out our wands, pointing them at the front door from where we stood. I quickly flanked Harry's side while Hermione and Ron went across, hiding in the shadows.
The door opened and a cloaked figure edged into the hall then closed the door behind them. The intruder took a step forward, and Moody's voice asked, "Severus Snape?" Then the dust figure rose from the end of the hall, and rushed him, raising its dead hand like it did us several days ago.
"It was not I who killed you, Albus," said a quiet yet familiar voice. The jinx broke and the dust-figure exploded again; it was impossible to make out the newcomer through the dense gray cloud it left behind. Once it did clear, Harry aimed his wand down the center.
"Don't move!" Harry said. The figure then threw up their arms and I was able to see a scared, weathered face.
"Hold your fire, it's me, Remus!"
"Oh, thank goodness," said Hermione weakly, lowering her wand as did Ron.
"I wouldn't do that just yet," I stated, both my wand and other arm outstretched.
"Show yourself!" Harry called back. Lupin moved forward into the light, hands still held high in a gesture of surrender.
"I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married to Nymphadora Tonks, usually known by her Surname, and I taught you how to produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."
"Ok, that's good enough for me." I said, lowering my arms.
"Well, I had to check didn't I?" Harry said, shooting me a glance and I half shrugged.
"Speaking as your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I quit agree that you had to check. Ron, Hermione, you shouldn't be quite so quick to lower your defenses." He said with a stern look. "No sign of Severus then?" he asked.
"No," said Harry. "What's going on? Is everyone okay?"
"Yes," Lupin said tiredly. "But we're all being watched. There are a couple of Deatheaters in the square outside-"
"We know," we said in response.
"I had to Apparate very precisely onto the top step outside the front door to be sure that they would not see me. They can't know you're in here or I'm sure they'd have more people out there; they're staking out everywhere that's got any connection with you, Harry." He stated. "Let's go downstairs, there's a lot to tell you and I want to know what's happened after you left the Burrow."
We spent roughly a good hour or so sharing stories of what transpired after the wedding. Harry explained how we were tracked and ambushed by Deatheaters barely hours after we escaped while Remus shared how, thanks to Kingsley's warning, mostly everybody escaped. There had been no deaths, thank the Gods, but there had been a rise in tortures of various Wizarding families on what information they had on Harry Potter.
"And there's this," said Remus; he hesitated then pulled out a folded copy of the Daily Prophet. "Here," he said, pushing it across the table to Harry. "That's the Ministry's pretext for going after you."
Harry smoothed out the paper and we each leaned across the table to get a better look. A huge photograph of his face filled the front page; the headline over it reads:
WANTED FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Ron and Hermione roared in outrage but Harry said nothing. My stomach churned at the article. He pushed the newspaper away and I scooped it up to continue reading. Nobody but those who had been on top of the tower when Dumbledore died knew who had really killed him and, as Rita Skeeter had already told the Wizarding world, Harry had been seen running from the place moments after Dumbledore had fallen; it was also conveniently left out my involvement in that night as well.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Remus said.
"So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too?" asked Hermione furiously. Remus nodded and sighed while chucking the parchment across the table.
"But surely people realize what's going on?" Ron asked.
"The coup has been smooth and virtually silent," said Remus. "The official version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse; the public isn't aware that Scrimgeour was killed partially for not giving anything away,"
"Well, at least he isn't a complete bastard…" I mumbled.
"Why didn't Voldemort declare himself Minister of Magic?" Ron asked, making Remus laugh.
"He doesn't need to, Ron! Effectively, he's the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet, Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the ministry.
Naturally many people have deduced what has happened: There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is not the point.
They whisper and they daren't confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion and remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear."
"And this dramatic change in Ministry policy involves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort?" Harry asked, confused.
"That's certainly part of it and it is a masterstroke." Remus replied. "Now that Dumbledore is dead, you-the Boy Who Lived-were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But, by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hero's death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you."
He then rounded on to me. "And as for you, Savior, you are just as guilty in the public's eyes as Harry here,"
"How do they know I'm the savior?" I asked. Remus gave me a look that said I should know better.
"Do you really think that your prophecy reading was kept secret? With Albus' death, that all died as well," he stated and I went quiet once more. "Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggleborns; look at page two." Hermione now held the piece of parchment and read the excerpt aloud with distaste:
OFFICIAL MUGGLE-BORN REGISTRY
"The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called 'Muggle-borns,' the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets. Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce.
Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force. The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission."
"Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak." Remus stated.
"But how are they supposed to have 'stolen' magic?" Ron asked. "It's mental! If you could steal magic, there wouldn't be any Squibs, would there?!"
"I know," Remus said sadly. "Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment." We all glanced at Hermione and my mind drifted to the thought of where Dean stood on this.
"What of Hogwarts?" I asked suddenly. Remus sighed at this and I felt myself doing the same; I needed to prepare myself for what I would be facing in a couple months.
"Attendance is now mandatory for every young witch and wizard; that was announced yesterday," he replied. "It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred.
This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. And it's also another way of weeding out Muggle-borns because students must be given Blood Status, meaning that they have proven to the ministry that they are of wizard descent before they are allowed to attend."
"It's a damn good thing that I'm returning this year huh?" I stated bitterly. Harry, Hermione, and Ron didn't meet my gaze, but Remus looked up.
"You are? But, uhm-" He began, clearing his throat a few times before looking to Harry. "Weren't you left a mission from Dumbledore?"
"Yes," Harry replied, still not looking at me. "Ron and Hermione are in on it and they're coming with me while Emma returns to Hogwarts; she's the only one who can protect those attending this year."
"Can you confide in me what the mission is?" Harry looked into the prematurely lined face, framed in thick but graying hair, and I could see the struggle clearly on his face. If I wasn't able to go, I'm pretty damn sure Remus wasn't going either.
"I can't Remus, I'm sorry. If Dumbledore didn't tell you then I don't think I can."
"I thought you'd say that," Remus replied, looking disappointed. "But I ought to still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection that Emma won't be providing." I scoffed at this but he continued. "There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to."
Harry hesitated and before he could answer, Hermione piped in. "But what about Tonks?"
"What about her?" He asked indifferently. I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling just as indifferent to him at the moment.
"Well," Hermione frowned, "you're married; how does she feel about you going away with us?"
"Tonks will be perfectly safe; she'll be at her parents' house." There was something strange in Lupin's tone; it was almost cold. There was also something odd in the idea of Tonks remaining hidden at her parents' house. She was an Order member and from what I knew about her, she wasn't one to take back seat to this type of action so easily.
"Remus," Hermione began tentatively. "Is everything all right between you and-"
"Everything is fine, thank you," Remus interrupted harshly. Hermione turned pink. There was another awkward pause and Remus let out a heavy breath. "Tonks is going to have a baby." Both Hermione and I gasped.
"Excellent!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"Congratulations!" Harry exclaimed as well.
Remus grimaced, which baffled me. This was great news and it would explain why he was being so closed off. But the way he was smiling, I sensed there was more to the way he was reacting.
"Are you not excited Remus?" I asked suddenly.
"I-I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment and I have regretted it very much ever since." He said suddenly and I felt my blood run cold. Hermione squeaked but said nothing else as did Ron. Harry looked angry then and his fists clenched on the table.
"I see," Harry began. "So you're just going to dump her and the kid and run off with us?" Remus' face drained of color at Harry's words.
"You don't understand," Remus replied softly.
"Explain then," Harry said and Remus sprang to his feet, his chair toppling over in the process. Remus looked like a cornered wild animal at that moment and I wondered if he was like that in his wolf form as well.
"Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and my unborn child? I should never have married her; I've made her an outcast!" He said as he kicked aside the chair he had overturned.
"You have only seen me amongst the Order or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the Wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've done? Her very family is disgusted by our marriage! When parents want their only daughter to marry a werewolf? And the child! Oh the child-" He moaned as he grabbed at his hair.
"My kind doesn't usually breed! It will be like me, I am convinced of it! How can I forgive myself when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it will be better off without a father of whom it must always be ashamed!"
"Well, I would be pretty damn ashamed!" I yelled suddenly. "How can you think this way about your own flesh and blood? How can you even present an argument like this to Harry and me?!"
"Emma!" Hermione shouted back; tears were present in her eyes now.
"No Hermione, she's right," Harry said darkly. "If this new regime thinks Muggle-borns are bad, what will they do to a half-werewolf whose father's in the Order? My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you reckon he'd tell you to abandon your kid to go on an adventure with us?"
"How dare you?!" Remus exclaimed. "This is not about a desire f-for danger of personal glory…how dare you suggest such a-"
"I think you're feeling a bit of a daredevil." Harry continued. "You fancy stepping into Sirius' shoes-"
"Harry, no!" Hermione begged but Harry went on; he was on a roll.
"I'd never have believed this. The man who taught me to fight dementors is a complete coward." Harry almost growled. Remus drew his wand so fast that Harry had barely reached for his own. Seeing the red in Remus' eyes, I quickly threw a shield up for Harry as the bright white light flew towards him.
There was a loud bang and it looked as if Harry was shoved hard as he went backwards into the sink, knocking over a few pots and plates. With a quick swish, Remus turned away quickly and left the room.
"Remus! No Remus, please come back!" Hermione cried, but he did not respond. A moment later, they heard the front door slam. "Harry! How could you?" Hermione wailed.
"It was easy," He stood up with Ron's help as he rubbed his backside. From where I stood, he was still shaking with anger. "Emma got the ball rolling and I just went with it." I neither confirmed nor denied that statement as I worked to control my own temper; she was glaring through her tears as she looked between us.
"Don't look at us like that Hermione!" I snapped, moving to Harry's side.
"Don't you start on her!" Ron snapped back and I saw Harry raise his wand towards him.
"No! Please, we mustn't fight!" said Hermione, launching herself between us and Ron.
"You shouldn't have said that stuff to Lupin," Ron went on.
"He had it coming to him," Harry replied. "Parents shouldn't leave their kids unless they've got to." I nodded in agreement. Hermione reached out to him but he sidestepped her. It was utterly quiet then…eerie even after what had just happened. I pitied Tonks then for the position she was in…the possibility of losing her husband and being a single mother during the war.
Harry sighed. "I know I shouldn't have called him a coward."
"No, you shouldn't," Ron said at once.
"But he's acting like one." I countered.
"All the same…" Hermione began.
"I know," Harry said sadly. "But if it makes him go back to Tonks, it'll be worth it don't ya think?"