Chapter 10 – Castle Finds
After George and Hermione's heart to heart, they decided to take a walk around the deserted castle. At first they went under Harry's invisibility cloak but after wondering around, they decided they didn't need it, since they only spotted the moving portraits. None of them batted an eyelid at Hermione and George. The corridors were still covered in rubble and destroyed portraits and suits of armour.
"This is going to take forever to clear up." Hermione said sadly. "It might not be ready for opening in September."
"Hermione, have faith. Loads of people will want to come and help re-build the school again and we do have magic." George replied, smiling.
"I know but there's so much that needs doing." Hermione answered.
"And you've got the house elves who've no doubt started doing some of it already." George said.
"It's just horrible seeing the castle like this." Hermione sniffed, trying her best not to cry.
"I know and the blood splattered everywhere is properly creeping me out." George admitted.
"It's like something out of a horror movie." Hermione stated.
"A what?" George asked.
"Oh." Hermione gasped, realising George would not know what a movie was, let alone a horror movie. "In the muggle world we have these things called televisions that we can watch things on and we've got films or movies and there are ones which are really scary and horrible with loads of fighting and blood."
"I think I've heard of those felevision things before." George said.
"They are televisions, George." Hermione giggled. "They have ones in Kings Cross train station that show the train times."
"Oh those things." George said, as though the penny had dropped.
"Well only the ones us muggles have don't show train times but programs and films." Hermione explained.
"Will you show me one some time?" George asked.
"Yes of course I will." Hermione answered. "Maybe not a horror movie though as they are horrible. Just imaging last night's battle but on one of those screens."
"Can you watch Quidditch on them?" George wondered.
"Well as muggles don't know what Quidditch is, then no." Hermione answered. "Muggles have their own sports which you can watch on them."
****
"Should we go and get some potions ingredients from the store?" Hermione wondered.
"We can do that later. I just fancy a wonder around." George answered.
They found themselves outside the Great Hall which had one door hanging off it's hinges and large piles of rubble lying outside of it. The famous Great Hall was completely empty with only the tables pushed up against the walls. There wasn't any stretchers lining the middle of the hall any more as all the dead bodies had been moved to a special part of St Mungos. As they stood staring at the empty room, a shudder ran down Hermione's spine.
"I don't like how quiet this is." She squeaked as she gripped George's hand tightly.
"I don't either. It's really creepy and eerie." George answered.
"It doesn't even look like the Great Hall any more." Hermione said.
Even the house points counter that housed all the coloured gems, had been blown apart with the coloured gems scattered all over the floor. Hermione took her wand out of her pocked and pointed it at the counter.
"Reparo." She spoke, clearly.
Sure enough, all the gems filled back into the newly fixed house points counters.
"That was easy." She gasped.
"Notice how Slytherin have the most points." George pointed out.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Hermione answered.
"And Gryffindor have hardly any." George added.
On one of the tables, the scruffy looking sorting hat sat. Hermione and George walked over to the table to take a look at it.
"The sorting hat actually wanted to put me in Ravenclaw." Hermione admitted.
"I can't say I'm surprised by that Hermione but you're a true Gryffindor." George answered.
As Hermione lifted the sorting hat up, it began to move, causing her to nearly drop it.
"Yes Miss Granger, you would have done brilliantly in Ravenclaw but I am very glad that I decided to put you into Gryffindor." The hat spoke.
"See." George grinned.
"What about you?" Hermione wondered, handing George the hat.
"Ahhh, a Weasley." The hat screeched. "Yes I stand by what I said about putting you and your twin into Gryffindor. Both are exceptionally brave and daring however both of you are very ambitious."
"Don't tell me that Fred and I could have done well in Slytherin?" George gasped.
" You do have many of the traits of Slytherin but you and your twin are true Gryffindor's at heart." The hat spoke.
"Thank Merlin for that." George signed in relief. "Can you imagine my family's faces if Fred and I had been sorted into Slytherin?"
"Sirius and Tonks were both in different houses to their families. They were the only two who weren't in Slytherin." Hermione stated.
George set the hat back down again as they wondered around the Great Hall. Hermione sat down on a bench with George following her actions.
"I can remember my first day here as if it only happened yesterday." Hermione stated.
"Me too Hermione." George said.
"I was just so scared and nervous about it all." Hermione admitted.
"Fred and I were really, really excited." George said.
Both had just started talking about their first days at Hogwarts when a voice caused them both to nearly jump out of their skin.
"What on earth are you two doing here?" The female voice screeched.
Hermione and George jumped to their feet with their wands out as they spotted McGonagall who was not in her usual robes but a simple black pinafore and white blouse. McGonagall walked towards George and Hermione as though she was about to tell them off and give them detention.
"Hello there Professor." George said, nervously.
"Why are you both here and not at the burrow with your family celebrating?" McGonagall asked.
"It's a long story Professor." Hermione answered.
"You are the real McGonagall and not some imposter?" George wondered.
"That is a very good question Weasley." McGonagall answered.
"What item did you give me in my third year to help me get to my classes?" Hermione asked.
"A time turner." McGonagall answered.
"What about us?" George asked. "We might be imposters."
"What did I make you and Fred do on your first ever detention with me?" McGonagall asked.
"You asked us to help you mark some Transfiguration homework." George answered.
"Correct." McGonagall answered. "I don't need to ask you one, Miss Granger as you mentioned the time-turner. I suggest you both come up to my office."
George and Hermione followed McGonagall up to her office. Both were quite nervous about how they were going to explain themselves to her. George knew that he'd leave all the explaining to Hermione as she was better at that than he was.
"Please take a seat." McGonagall urged.
George and Hermione took at seat at the opposite side of McGonagall's desk to her.
"Are we in trouble?" George asked.
"Of course you are not." McGonagall replied. "But I'd like you both to tell me why you have returned to the castle."
"Well George and I kind of did something." Hermione squeaked.
"Like what Miss Granger?" McGonagall wondered.
"Well we used a time turner to go back in time to the battle and safe Fred, Tonks and Lupin." Hermione confessed.
"You did what?" McGonagall questioned.
"We used a time turner, Hermione had found at the Ministy to go back in time to save Fred's life because he was actually killed. Lupin and Tonks were too but we came back to last night and saved their lives." George explained.
"That is why we are here, Professor, because we couldn't go back to the burrow as our other selves would be there." Hermione added.
"We can't return to the burrow until tomorrow evening." George said.
"We realise that what we did was seriously dangerous but we had to come back and help save people's lives." Hermione said.
"Yes it was very, very dangerous Miss Granger and so much could have gone wrong." McGonagall answered.
"Will something bad happen now?" George wondered.
"No it won't." McGonagall answered. "I do suggest that you stay here until you are free to return to the burrow."
"We were sleeping in the common room last night. Is it alright if we stay there tonight again?" George asked.
"Yes of course it is." McGonagall answered. "You can also give me a hand with a few things."
"Thank you so much Professor. We really are grateful." Hermione said.
"I will get the house elves to sort some food out for you both." McGonagall said. "If you need anything please don't be afraid to ask."
"Are my family all ok?" George asked.
"Yes they are Mr Weasley. I was speaking to your Mother and Father last night before they left and everyone is alright." McGonagall answered. "They've a few minor injuries but nothing serious."
"Oh thank Merlin for that." George gasped.
"And Fred?" Hermione asked.
"Fred is alive and well. He was cracking jokes last night with your other self." McGonagall answered.
"What about Harry and Ron? Neville?" Hermione asked.
"All are perfectly fine. All are very tried I suppose and all injuries have been treated." McGonagall replied.
"Have you heard any news about Lupin?" Hermione asked.
"Not yet I'm afraid." McGonagall replied.