CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THE BEST GIFT EVER
Harry found himself standing beside Kingsley in the middle a block, looking up as number twelve Grimmauld Place revealed itself. The front door opened and Harry stepped through it, pulling off his Cloak and facing a relieved looking Mr. Weasley.
"Oh, thank Merlin," he said, closing the door once Kingsley had followed. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Mr. Weasley," Harry replied, sincerely happy to see him but dreading having to discuss everything that happened tonight.
"It's getting late, Potter," said Kingsley. "Why don't you go on up. I'll speak with Arthur and the others."
"Right, thanks," he said and turned to make his way along the hall to the staircase, but hesitated.
He did not want to walk up that staircase. He did not want to see the mounted heads of house elves or any other Black family relics. What he most wanted was for his godfather to come walking into the foyer to greet him, but he knew that would never happen again.
"Harry," said Kingsley again, somehow knowing what was going through his head, "it's the same room you shared with Ron last time. Go ahead and Apparate. I doubt you'll be waking him."
Harry nodded, let out a slow breath and vanished from the doorway.
Ron was indeed awake and had been pacing the room when Harry appeared from nowhere. He wasn't alone. Fred, George and Ginny were with him.
"Mate, you gave us one hell of a scare," said George. "We were all downstairs when a Patronus whizzed through the room."
"The next thing we knew, Lupin and the others were out the door and Mum was yelling for them to get to you before it was too late," added Fred.
Ginny and Ron hadn't said a word. They were both watching Harry and he could see the signs of worry still etched in their faces.
"I'm fine," said Harry, for the second time in minutes, putting down his Cloak and the gift box from Aunt Petunia.
He may have avoided facing the rest of the Order for now, but there was no avoiding the Weasley siblings in front of him.
"Where's Hermione?" he asked, not wanting to have to repeat this story.
"She went home this afternoon," Ron answered. "She wanted to spend some time with her parents. A couple of Order members escorted her. She'll be back sometime tomorrow."
Harry nodded and looked at his watch. It had felt like the longest night, but less than an hour and a half had passed since he'd set off for McGonagall's office. Christmas Day would arrive in roughly fifteen minutes.
He sat down on the edge of one of the double beds and told them nearly everything that happened. He left out some parts, as Ginny and the twins were in the dark about a few things.
"Harry, you've got more lives than a cat," said George.
"We're glad you're all right," said Fred.
"I can't believe he went after the Dursleys," said Ron.
"He did," said Harry, but he looked at Ginny as he said so.
He needed to see that she understood everything he'd been trying to say to her since Dumbledore's funeral. She did.
"We'll let you get some rest, Harry," she said, rising and walking to the doorway, the twins behind her.
When they were gone, Harry stretched out on his back, removed his glasses and covered his eyes with the back of his right forearm.
"Do you feel like telling me the rest of it?" asked Ron, knowing that his best friend hadn't divulged everything.
Harry did so, never once moving from his spot on the bed.
Ron listened, but didn't do or say anything to add to Harry's anxieties, even though he had tons of questions.
"Well, it's Christmas morning," he commented, walking a few steps to retrieve the gift box that was hidden under Harry's Cloak. "Do you want to open it?"
"Yes and no," said Harry.
"It's here if you want," said Ron, tossing the package on the bed. "I'll go bunk with Fred and George for the night."
Harry finally sat up on his elbows.
"Ron, you don't have to leave," said Harry.
"Don't sweat it," answered Ron, as he too, moved towards the door. "I'll see you in the morning."
Harry had no idea how long he sat motionless in the room, looking at the ceiling.
He dozed off at some point and awoke in the early morning hours, almost forgetting where he was. He sat up and his left hand brushed the still unopened gift box.
He looked at it and pulled it slowly towards him. Harry pulled at the red ribbon tied neatly around it, and tore slowly at the wrapping paper. Inside was a small cardboard box. He removed the lid and found an assortment of items.
Roughly two hours later, Harry was swallowing a lump in his throat. The box contained several letters his parents had written one another during their last year at Hogwarts. It also held a diary of his mother's from her third year away from home. There was an entry after Easter, where she was really upset because she'd lost something very valuable and irreplaceable. You could feel her distress in the written words. Harry also found lots of pictures of her, ranging from the time she was a little girl until she was about Harry's age. She'd been very pretty, indeed.
At the bottom was a jewelry box. Harry opened it and found a very old and beautiful pair of emerald earrings. There was a note with it. Lily had inherited the earrings from her grandmother. Her grandfather had thought them the perfect gift for his bride on their wedding day because the uniquely colored gems so closely resembled the color of her eyes. As Lily had been the only family member to inherit her grandmother's eyes, her grandmother had always intended them for her. They were the exact color of Harry's own eyes.
For a moment, Harry couldn't understand how Aunt Petunia had ended up with them. There was no way his mother would have left those behind in her family's home. And then it hit him. This was the irreplaceable gift that had been lost. But the earrings hadn't been lost. Aunt Petunia, probably brooding, envious and angry, had taken them during a holiday visit. Harry wondered if his mother had ever suspected the truth.
More than anything, he was amazed that Aunt Petunia had included them in the items she'd finally given to him. He didn't think he'd ever know why she did so; he only knew he was grateful that she had. Beyond that, he didn't really care to examine his feelings regarding the Dursleys. He would do what he could to keep them out of harm's way; but beyond that, he couldn't say. He'd believed that chapter of his life was finally closed.
A knock sounded and in walked Lupin, with a valise levitating before him.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," he said pleasantly. "McGonagall had Dobby pack a few things for you."
"Happy Christmas, Lupin," replied Harry. "Thanks."
"The others are slowly stirring," said Lupin. "But I wanted to talk to you alone, first."
Harry knew he was going to have to account for his actions last night.
"Sorry, Lupin," said Harry. "I didn't mean to upset any of you."
Lupin looked at him for a moment before responding.
"I know you did not," he said. "Nor did I intend to react as I did last night. I am relieved you went to Jillian and Andre. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about what we would find when we arrived. I was afraid that I'd failed to protect you as Dumbledore or Sirius would have and terrified that we might have lost you."
Harry was touched. Lupin was the last link to the family he should have had.
"I let my emotions get the better of me," he confessed. "I shouldn't have taken it out on them, as Jillian so eloquently pointed out."
Harry smiled and Lupin actually laughed.
"She's got a bit of fire in her," he said.
"Yeah, she does," agreed Harry.
"And a few other talents, I take it," said Lupin casually, still smiling.
Harry knew Lupin hadn't missed anything that transpired last night.
"One could say that," said Harry coyly.
"Well, you handled yourself exceptionally well last night, so whatever she and any others are doing with you, it is impressive."
"It's been an interesting term," said Harry.
"I'm sure it has been," he said. "Now, about that tunnel…"
"Is McGonagall going to seal it?" asked Harry.
"Well, I imagine she would probably wish to do so if she knew about it," he said, his dark eyes dancing mischievously.
"You're not going to tell her," said Harry.
Lupin shook his head.
"She assumed Jillian and Andre snuck you across the grounds and out the gates, and we have not told her otherwise. I do not like keeping this from her; but I do believe she would insist on shutting it off and that would likely be a mistake."
Harry was shocked.
"I talked with Ron and the twins last night after I arrived, and with Jillian briefly this morning. We know all about the revamped D.A."
"Oh," said Harry.
"Actually, McGonagall was the first to suspect it. She did not think it was a bad idea, especially given the lack of extracurricular activities this year."
Harry really wasn't surprised to hear that.
"Jillian had already heard about the D.A. from Tonks and Kingsley," continued Lupin. "She realized it was in full swing again when she saw inexplicable improvement in a couple of students who'd been struggling severely since the start of term. It seems you are quite the instructor, Harry."
Harry felt his face flush and Lupin smiled slightly before turning more serious.
"What we did not know until I spoke to Ron last night was that you have marked escape routes to the tunnel corridor from various points within the school."
"Yes, we have," admitted Harry, waiting for the reproach he thought was coming.
"It's a brilliant idea, Harry," said Lupin. "It really is. I told Moody about the tunnel when we learned Fred and George acquired Honeydukes. We should have realized they wouldn't have waited to inform you."
This time, Harry was surprised.
"The tunnel access needs to be secured on Honeydukes' end however, just like we did at the Burrow. I know it's fairly well hidden, but we absolutely cannot take any chances. Not only does it afford you a way out, it provides an escape route for Fred and George in an emergency. And it is also the perfect unmarked path for the Order stationed in Hogsmeade to get to you, if necessary."
"That makes sense," said Harry.
"Good, then everyone is in agreement," he said. "And again, I hate to have forced you back here, but..."
"It's fine, Lupin," interrupted Harry. "You're right. Voldemort will be out to make a point once he learns what became of his Death Eaters."
"Well, that's likely to be rather soon," said Lupin, pulling his wand and summoning a copy of the morning's Daily Prophet.
Staring out from the front page was an image of Minister Scrimgeour, with four shackled Death Eaters behind him. The headline read, "Voldemort's Ranks Diminished in Thwarted Attack." The article went on to confirm that three other Death Eaters had been killed in a confrontation that took place in a Muggle suburb.
"Scrimgeour was not told that you were present, although he does know the attack happened at your aunt and uncle's home."
Harry nodded, but continued reading the article, anyway.
"I guess there was no way to delay him, then," said Harry, referring to Scrimgeour.
"No," said Lupin. "He's been hungry for anything that proves the Ministry is making headway. There could be no better story to wake up to on Christmas morning."
"And what about the Dursleys?" inquired Harry.
"They are still close by for now, but safe. It seems the company that employs your uncle is part of an international corporation. We're working with Xavier Shacklebolt's staff to arrange a temporary job transfer to the U.S. for Mr. Dursley. They should be relocated within a few days."
Harry let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Lupin," he said. "So, now what?"
"Well, I thought you might like to finally see this," he said, flicking his wand.
A moment later, Sirius's motorcycle was taking up most of the space in the center of the room. Harry stood and gaped at it. It was large and shining and looked to be in excellent condition.
Lupin smiled once more at Harry, who was completely mesmerized by the bike, and said, "I wish he were here to see the look on your face."
Harry took a second to look at him and said, "Me, too."
"I'll leave you alone. When you're ready, you can come downstairs and enjoy Christmas with the rest of us. Moody and I will work out when to get you back to Hogwarts; but in the meantime, this is home."
Harry nodded as Lupin walked from the room and closed the door.
He moved to the bike and ran his hands over every inch of it. He couldn't find a single scratch, ding or flaw anywhere on it. Harry finally straddled the leather seat and smiled broadly. He had absolutely no problem imagining Sirius riding it. He pictured a grin on his godfather's face and his hair whipping about in the wind. He could even hear his bark-like laugh and voice in his head.
"It seems to fit you, as well," he imagined him saying.
Harry could have stayed upstairs on the bike all day, but that wasn't really an option.
When he'd changed his clothes and no longer looked like he'd been in a fight, Harry made his way downstairs.
To his immense relief, he saw that most of the hideous Black family heirlooms and creepy wall mounted relics had been removed. The hall walls had all been stripped of the ancient and peeling wallpaper and painted in warm tones. The woodwork had been polished to a high gleam and Christmas decorations were everywhere.
He reached the kitchen and found Mr. Weasley and Bill sitting at the table. The kitchen looked nothing like the depressing hall he'd remembered. Mrs. Weasley had truly worked magic in here, as well.
"Happy Christmas," Harry said from the doorway.
Mrs. Weasley was at the stove; but turned when she heard him, dropping the spoon she'd been holding and hurrying over to embrace him.
"Harry, dear," she said, tears threatening to overspill. "We were so worried. Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm okay, Mrs. Weasley," he said. "Really."
Harry took a seat next to Bill, who passed him a cup of coffee, catching his eye as he did.
He'd gotten Harry's package. Harry nodded once as he took a sip from his cup.
The rest of the Weasleys, Kingsley, Moody, Lupin and Tonks all trickled in for a light breakfast and an enjoyable session of gift exchanges.
By afternoon, the house was filled with incredible smells from the kitchen. Everyone was gathered in the drawing room. They'd decided to eat a little later than normal, wanting to wait for Hermione to join them. Harry was talking with Moody and Kingsley.
A flash of blue sparks lit the room and Moody rose from his chair.
"They should be arriving shortly," he said, heading for the entry hall.
"Is Jillian joining us?" asked Harry of Kingsley.
"No," he answered. "She's decided to stay at the school."
Harry hesitated for a moment, but finally asked quietly, "Kingsley, is she all right?"
Kingsley looked closely at Harry, but did not answer him directly. Instead he inquired, "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. She's been a bit quiet lately. I mean she's great in class, but sometimes she looks – I don't know, really, – a little sad, I guess," he heard himself saying, realizing that it was the truth. "It's not everyday or anything; but sometimes she seems miles away."
Kingsley seemed to be debating on how to answer Harry.
"Jillian has her own issues, like anyone else. It's not my place to divulge them for her. I do appreciate you asking, though," said Kingsley and then lowered his voice. "She's okay, Harry. But if these moments are interfering with your lessons, then you should tell me."
Harry knew he wasn't talking about regular class.
"No, they aren't," he said. "How long have you known?"
"I obviously know what Jillian can do," answered Kingsley. "And I know Dumbledore reached out to her a number of times. I had my suspicions, but I really wasn't certain until after your little demonstration last night and Jillian's remarks."
It wouldn't be long before the whole Order knew. But Harry wasn't worried. They'd guard his secrets as closely as they guarded him.
"Moody's still tickled and I don't think I've ever known Andre to be at a loss for words," added Kingsley.
Harry looked up when her heard the front door being opened. Hermione walked in, flanked by two of the Order members who'd joined Tonks last night at the Dursleys. Her escorts spoke briefly with Moody in hushed tones and left immediately back out the front door.
Hermione called out a rushed "Happy Christmas," to everyone and made a beeline for Harry, grabbing him by the elbow and urging him from his seat next to Kingsley.
"Sorry, Kingsley," she said. "but I need a word with him."
"Not a problem," said Kingsley
Alone in the corridor, she pulled her copy of the Daily Prophet and waved it at Harry.
"Imagine my surprise when Pig showed up before I left with a very short note telling me it happened at number four, Privet Drive and that you were there," she said, looking very much like she wanted to rap him about the head.
"Hi, Hermione. How was your visit with your parents?" he asked lightly.
Hermione did not crack a smile. Harry wanted to rap someone about the head, too—Ron. Instead, he filled her in as quickly as possible on everything that happened last night.
"Oh, Harry," she said, her upset at him gone as she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
She was actually shaking. Harry wanted very much to tell her everything would be okay. But he couldn't. He didn't believe it himself. Ron's voice drew their attention.
"Hey, if I didn't know any better, I'd be getting really jealous right about now," he said, making the goofiest face he could. "There's been quite a bit of that going on."
Harry was ready to have a go at him for setting Hermione on edge with that note, but he couldn't do anything but laugh, now. Hermione did the same.
"Come on you two," said Ron "Everything's ready."
The afternoon turned into a quiet and peaceful evening. Everyone seemed to grasp that there might not be too many more moments like this one. Fleur and Bill were nearest the fireplace. Fred, George and Ginny were laughing at Crookshanks, who was chasing a small ball that Fed kept making vanish and reappear. Ron and Hermione were talking to Tonks and Kingsley.
Harry was sitting on the floor, facing two wing chairs occupied by Moody and Lupin, listening to them tell stories from days long gone. He was as far away from the still hanging tapestry of the Black family tree as he could possibly be. Once again, they'd placed a huge Christmas tree in front of it, blocking a great deal of it from view.
It was late when Tonks decided to head back to Hogwarts. Lupin rose to see her off. Finally, when the yawns could no longer be stifled, one by one, everyone else began moving upstairs to bed.
It wasn't long before Harry, Ron and Hermione were left alone with Moody.
"It's all yours," he said to them, getting up to make a final security sweep before retiring.
They trio all had the same questions. Why had Draco double coded his message to Blaise? Was Draco in trouble himself? Where was Snape? What would Voldemort do next? Unfortunately, they had no answers to any of them.
When their heads were near exploding, they too, decided to call it a night and headed out the room and along the hall to the staircase. They'd barely started up when Crookshanks suddenly darted down the stairs, nearly tripping Ron who'd been the first one headed up, causing him to bang into the wall to catch his balance.
They knew it was coming. From behind the drawn curtain, came a voice they all hated. It was the portrait of Sirius's mother, and it had been mercifully quiet since Harry first arrived, but not now.
"Blood traitors, half breeds, and Mudbloods have taken over my home! Oh, the shame! Oh, the disgrace!"
Harry was oh so not in the mood for this. He turned and walked to the curtain, ripping it open and exposing the sick and twisted looking portrait of Walburga Black. Hermione and Ron were frozen where they stood, afraid to set her off anymore and wake up the entire house.
She stared at Harry, her eyes narrowing with recognition and then she started on another tirade, in a loud, angry and possessed sounding whisper.
"And you – you little mongrel – you dare stand in my house, looking just like him. I told Sirius he would regret the day he ever befriended that blood traitor, Potter. And I was right. Look where it got Sirius. But did my moronic son learn his lesson? No, he turned around and picked right up with you. He left you everything that was ever mine and you aren't even fit to stand before me," she spat, her mad eyes rolling in her head.
"I think you have that backwards," said Harry gravely. "Why don't we do something about it?"
His anger was boiling. Harry had not wanted to come here and he'd been trying so hard to keep his emotions in check since arriving, but she'd just pushed him over the edge. If the Order didn't need this place, he'd probably burn it to the ground. Instead, he decided to start with one spot.
Before anyone knew what was happening, a huge ball of red flames erupted within the confines of the portrait. It's inhabitant shrieked, and try as she might, she could do nothing to extinguish it. Harry watched, unblinking, as she ran from the portrait and vanished.
He looked up to find Ron and Hermione watching him, their mouths wide open. They looked from him, to the portrait, and back to Harry, again.
He wasn't done. Still fuming, he decided now was as good a time as any to destroy that hideous tapestry. Harry turned on the spot and marched back into the drawing room. Ron and Hermione, realizing what he was probably about to try to do, followed after him.
With a wave of his hand, he moved the Christmas tree across the room without so much as a second glance and stood in front of the tapestry. Harry walked forward, and with trembling fingers, touched the spot where Sirius's name had been blasted away.
"Harry," called Hermione, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Harry," she said again, much more urgently, pulling at the sleeve of his shirt.
He turned to her and couldn't quite describe the look on her face. She gasped and pointed at the spot nearest to where Sirius's name was once visible. Harry blinked to make sure he hadn't misread it. He hadn't.
It read Regulus Black. Or R.B. Could it be R.A.B? Sirius's younger brother had been a Death Eater. He'd tried to get out, but had been killed for his troubles. They'd been searching for a R.A.B. or R.B. who could have gotten close enough to Voldemort to learn about a Horcrux. It absolutely had to be him.
"All this time," said Ron, "and the answer has been hanging on this stupid thing. I was actually going to start with 'Bl' when we got back after break. Unbelievable."
"Sshh," said Hermione, and Harry could see she was trying to recall something.
"Oh, no," she said, covering her mouth with her hands.
"What?" asked Harry.
"When we were last here, Mrs. Weasley had us cleaning out the drawing room," she said reluctantly. "We ended up chucking out all kinds of junk."
Harry's felt lightheaded. He remembered. They'd come across an old locket that no one could open and had thrown it in the pile to be discarded.
"We threw it out," he said, in total disbelief, feeling physically sick. "Please tell me we didn't."
No one spoke. Harry still felt ill. Ron had gone pale and Hermione looked on the verge of screaming.
Something was gnawing at the back of Harry's mind, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Where was the Pensieve when he could have used it? Of course, it would only help if he knew what memory he needed.
Harry closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, unconsciously tapping the back of his head against the tapestry. He took long, slow, deep breaths, trying to slow down his heart rate and clear his mind of everything that was hurdling through it.
Bit by bit, he mulled through the time he'd spent here two years ago. Just when he was ready to give up and pull his hair out, something clicked and he moved so quickly that he startled Ron and Hermione.
"Kreacher," he said.
It took a few moments, but then it registered for both of them.
They ran from the room, across the hall and down into the darkened kitchen. Wall lanterns lit as they made their way to the cupboard that housed the boiler and had once been Kreacher's quarters.
Ron pulled the door open and they each used their wands to light the tight and cramped space. It did not appear as though Mrs. Weasley had been in here anytime recently. The air was stale, moldy and smelled of old cheese and something far less pleasant.
"We can't all fit in there," said Hermione. "I'll go. I'm smaller than either of you."
She dropped to her stomach and inched forward, using her wand light to illuminate the space between the bottom of the boiler and the filthy floor.
"Aughh!!" she cried.
"What!" said Ron and Harry, ready to pull her back.
"Trust me," she said. "You don't want to know."
Ron rolled his eyes.
Harry and Ron provided her with more light so she could use her own wand tip to probe beneath the debris and clutter. Minutes went by, and Harry thought he'd been holding his breath the entire time.
She finally slid back out, dirt and grime covering her sweater and smudging the left side of her face; but nothing could mask the glint in her eyes. Dangling from the length of her wand was a dull gold chain, on which hung a very grimy and old locket.
"We had no problem touching it last time," she said. "We only tossed it because no one could open it."
Ron pulled her to her feet and she let the locket slide from her wand to Harry's outstretched hand. It was heavy.
He turned it over. The locket was filthy. Hermione shone her wand light against it and Harry could just make out the outline of an ornate "S" beneath all the years of dirt.
"Is that it?" asked Ron.
"Yeah, it is," said Harry, still in disbelief.
"It's been here all along," said Hermione.
"Well, if we can touch it, doesn't that mean Regulus destroyed the Horcrux?" asked Ron.
"Not necessarily," said Harry. "If we could open it, then I'd say yes, he had. But I don't think he got around to it before he was murdered."
"But no one was able to open it," said Hermione. "I wonder what spell Voldemort used?"
"I don't know," said Harry.
For the next half hour, they ran through every single spell they could think of, but nothing worked. They sat quietly around the kitchen table.
"I need to go back to Hogwarts," said Harry.
"Now?" asked Hermione.
Harry looked at his watch. It was nearly three o'clock in the morning. Everyone else was sound asleep, and Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were as exhausted as he was.
"I'll wait until the morning," said Harry reluctantly.
"Good," said Ron, "because I was really starting to wonder how comfortable a bed this table might make."
It was three hours later when Harry woke up, the locket Horcrux still in his hand. He could hear Ron's deep breathing from the other bed. Harry dressed quickly and crept quietly from the room. He walked downstairs to the kitchen and found it empty.
He waited as long as he could and when he couldn't stand to watch the time tick by any longer, pulled his wand and watched as his Patronus shot forward and disappeared from the room. Harry had barely begun pacing when Lupin and Moody Apparated before him. They were fully dressed and clear eyed.
"What's wrong, Harry?" inquired Lupin.
"I need to go back to Hogwarts, now," he said.
"Correction," came Hermione's voice from the doorway, with a still half asleep Ron standing next to her, "we need to go back to Hogwarts."
Moody and Lupin were watching all three of them.
"If you've left something you need, Potter, we can…"
"No, it's nothing like that," he said.
"This can't wait?" asked Lupin.
"I was ready to knock on your door at three this morning," answered Harry.
Moody and Lupin exchanged glances, but asked no other questions.
"I'll have someone secure Honeydukes," said Moody as he passed between Ron and Hermione on his way from the room. "You can alert Jillian to be standing by at the castle."
"Very well," replied Lupin.
"Harry, get your Cloak, please. We'll leave once we're signaled," added Lupin, disappearing on the spot, no doubt upstairs to fill in Kingsley and to contact Jillian.
It wasn't very long before the five of them, with Harry still hidden, made their way through the long, winding tunnel back to Hogwarts.
Lupin waved his wand and light filtered in from the opening in the statue as they climbed through. Jillian, Tonks and DeSousa were all standing by, wands drawn. Harry removed his Cloak.
"Couldn't stay away, Harry?" asked Tonks.
"I guess not," he answered.
"Molly will arrange to have your things sent back later today," Tonks added to the trio.
"You can head upstairs," Jillian said to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Professor McGonagall wants to see the rest of us."
"Has something happened?" asked Harry, hearing something odd in Jillian's voice.
"What is it?" asked Lupin, looking at Tonks.
"Voldemort staged another successful breakout at Azkaban late last night," said DeSousa. "I guess he didn't like yesterday's headline. Lucius Malfoy was among the escapees, along with a few other rather nasty pieces of work."
"Let's go," said Moody. "You three watch yourselves."
Harry, Ron and Hermione stood rooted to the spot, watching the Order make their way down the corridor and out of sight.
"That was not good news," said Ron.
"No, it wasn't," said Harry, wondering what other surprise Voldemort had waiting around the next corner.
They reached the empty common room and Harry headed straight for the dormitory.
"What are we going to do, now?" asked Hermione.
"I'm in the mood for a little Quidditch," answered Harry.
"Quidditch?" said Ron, his brow raised.
"Yep," answered Harry, putting on a jacket and grabbing his Firebolt and the Quidditch set he'd gotten for his birthday. "Get your broom, Ron. We could use your help, Hermione."
She was looking at Harry and trying to figure out what he could possibly be planning.
Once they'd gotten past Kipling and covered a few meters of school grounds, Harry began walking in the opposite direction from the Quidditch pitch.
"Umh, Harry," began Ron.
"We're going into the forest," he said before Ron even finished asking the question.
They walked on and on, and Hermione had a suspicion about where they might be headed, but she hadn't figured out why. Sure enough, they stopped in the clearing where trees had been ripped from the ground.
Harry bent down and opened the Quidditch set. He removed the two beaters' bats and handed them to Ron. Next, he pulled the locket from his pocket, and with a nonverbal sticking charm, secured it to one of the Bludgers. He freed the struggling Bludger from its chain and held it securely under one arm.
"Would you mind closing that back up, Hermione?" he asked.
She did as asked and finished just as Harry mounted his Firebolt and rose straight up in the air.
"Coming, Ron?" he asked, and waited until Ron hovered beside him.
"Harry, what are you doing?" asked Hermione.
"Waiting for your friend to join us," he said and was glad he was feet away from Hermione when she gave him a rather dirty look.
They did not have to wait very long. They each heard his heavy footfalls long before he reached the clearing.
"Pass me a bat, Ron," said Harry.
Grawp entered the clearing and it took him a minute to realize he had visitors. He hadn't noticed Ron, but Harry was hovering nearly eye level to the giant, directly above Hermione. Grawp was looking at him quizzically.
"Say something, Hermione," urged Harry.
"Hi, Grawp," she yelled from the ground, finally getting the giant's attention.
"Hermy," he said, clearly happy to see her. "Hermy visit Grawp."
"Yes," said Hermione, slowly stepping back in case Grawp decided to make a grab at her. "Harry is here, too."
"Hermy and Hery," he said, looking at Harry again, with his yellow teeth showing through what was supposed to be a smile.
"Do you want to play a game with us, Grawp?" asked Harry.
"Oh, you really have gone mental," yelled Ron from the other side of the clearing.
Grawp noticed him then.
"Red," he said and Hermione laughed.
"Yes, Grawp," she shouted. "Red is our friend."
"Ron," called Harry, as he released the Bludger that zoomed directly at him.
Ron belted it back at Harry, who caught it and held it once more.
"Grawp wanna play," said the giant.
"Okay. It'll be me and you against Ron," said Harry, flying closer to the giant. "You have to hit the ball back to Ron."
"Hit ball to Red," repeated Grawp.
"Ron, if he hits it, dive out of the way," said Harry. "I'll flank him and cover anything he misses."
Ron laughed and said, "Yep, you're stark raving mad."
"Be careful," yelled Hermione, both amazed and terrified by Harry's idea.
Harry really was playing a dangerous game. He not only had to watch the Bludger and return every swing Grawp missed, but he had to avoid being swiped out of the air by Grawp's massive arms. The giant was swinging wildly and was as excited as a little kid.
Harry was growing numb from the cold when Ron sent a perfectly straight swing right at Grawp. Harry could see the giant lining up for a direct hit with his massive fist.
"Get down, now, Ron," he yelled, but Ron had seen it too and was already diving for the ground.
They landed, dismounted and were pulling Hermione flat to the ground when they heard Grawp make contact with the Bludger.
It sounded as if a cannon had gone off. The Bludger soared beyond the clearing and Harry was amazed it was still in one piece. But the trees were dense beyond the clearing and in seconds, they heard the Bludger smash into one of the ancient trees.
The explosion that followed made the one in the trophy room look like a Muggle fireworks display. Grawp wanted to find his new toy and took off into the line of trees.
Ron gave his broom to Hermione and grabbed the Quidditch set from the ground. They had to jog to keep up with Grawp.
When they caught up to him, he was standing at the end of a line of fallen and badly broken and destroyed trees. The Bludger had not survived the second impact and Grawp looked like he wanted to cry.
"I'll get you another one, Grawp," said Harry, stepping over huge fallen branches and large pieces of bark.
The giant was holding what remained of the Bludger and as he turned it around in his hands, Harry saw two sides of the locket. It was open.
"Wow," said Ron.
"Can I have that, Grawp?" asked Hermione, as she stood beside Harry.
"For Hermy," said Grawp, pleased to give her a present.
"Thank you," she said. "It's the best present I've ever gotten."
And indeed it was. They'd actually found and destroyed two Horcruxes.
Harry let out a slow breath and admitted, "I wasn't so sure that was going to work."
"Fine time to tell us," said Ron and they all grinned.
They turned when they heard barking and running footsteps. It was Hagrid, his crossbow loaded and ready, with Fang on his heels.
"Harry. Ron. Hermione. What are yeh three doing in here? What's going on? Grawp, what did you do?"
"It's okay, Hagrid. Grawp was just helping us out with something."
"I believe we warned you to stay out of our forest that last time we crossed paths," came a voice from behind a huge maple tree. "You never cease to amaze us with your gall."
It was Bane, his displeasure at finding them in the forest more than apparent. Magorian soon followed him.
"Hagrid," said the older centaur.
"Hello, Magorian," said Hagrid, keeping Bane in his line of sight.
"Tell me human," said Bane, turning to Harry, "why do you continue to reek havoc in our home."
"My apologies," said Harry. "I'd be happy to plant a few new trees for you."
"Can you plant a new member of our herd, as well?" retorted Bane. "Maybe the next one won't be a traitor like its predecessor, Firenze."
"Firenze didn't betray yeh," growled Hagrid. "He was only helpin' out Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore is no more," said Magorian simply. "Yet Firenze remains at the school."
"Well, what'd yeh expect?" asked Hagrid. "Yeh nearly killed him once before. He'd be a fool to come back."
"You are right," said Bane. "He would be. Firenze will never be welcomed back among us. He should have never aligned himself with you."
"And who are you aligned with?" asked Harry, his annoyance growing by the second.
"No one, Harry Potter," said Magorian. "It is the way of the centaurs. We do not mix with humans."
"I hope that continues to work out for you," said Harry, more than ready to leave.
"What do you mean by that?" snapped Bane.
"Drop it, Harry," said Ron, but Harry's patience was in short supply these days.
"I mean you are the ones who are delusional if you believe you can just sit by while the Wizarding world is torn apart."
Hermione, still standing next to him, grabbed his hand.
"How dare you," railed Bane. "We centaurs are an ancient race…"
"Yeah, we've heard it all before," sniped Harry. "I hope it does you a world a good if Voldemort wins."
"The Dark One does not concern us," said Magorian.
"He should," said Harry. "Because if he prevails, there's not a snowball's chance in hell he's going to let you live happily ever after in your little forest. You'll be lucky if he doesn't mark you as food for the giants. Grawp's an innocent. You should see the others."
"Well, isn't it your charge to stop him?" jabbed Bane.
"It won't be for lack of trying," said Harry. "Too bad you won't be able to say the same thing."
With that, Harry turned without so much as a backward glance and headed out of the forest, Hermione and Ron beside him. They knew Hagrid and Fang wouldn't be far behind, Hagrid probably walking backward until they reached the school grounds.
"Harry," said Ron as they kept walking.
"Hmh," said Harry, a part of him still annoyed.
"I really wish Crabbe and Goyle were here this term," he said, looking wistful.
Hermione took a swing at the back of Ron's head and Harry laughed at both of them.