Chapter 2

The next morning they had breakfast and got ready to leave, before they realized they didn't know how to get to Hogwarts without the train. Sure Harry and Ron had flown there in the car but they were still following the train.

Hermione rulled out flying, "How will we know where to go? It's unplottable." After 15 minutes they were still thinking and Hermione went to reread Hagrids letter.

"Harry, Ron! Look!" She burst back into the room, and showed them the letter, which had new words on it.

Ps. McGonagall turned this letter into a portkey, it will leave at 8:00 Am tomorrow. See you soon.

They all looked at the clock.

"It's 7:59! Grab the letter!" cried Hermione. As soon as they grabbed the familiar pull behind the naval started and they knew the portkey had worked. They all fell in a heap outside the main entrance. They were helping each other shake off dust when McGonagall came out through the main door..

"Good, you made it here safely. Hurry up, there are things you are wanted to do and Dumbledore will be waiting in his portrait for you at 12:00." McGonagal paused and smiled, "It's so good to see you all here, I'm glad you are doing well." She started to briskly walk toward the door after this rare display of affection. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran to catch up and walked beside her. McGonagall started giving them a schedule, there we're apparently many things they had to do here.

"You will first see Hagrid, he wants to show you the progress on the wall, then"

"But we just saw the wall, it looked fine." Said Ron who was glared at by McGonagall for interrupting.

"An illusion to keep people who would do us harm to believe we are safe, it can only be taken down once the wall is finished. Now, after meeting Hagrid you will be going to…Professor Snape's chambers. We do not know what to do with his things, he has no family to come and remove them. Most of his items will remain at the school for teaching, such as his books and cauldRon's, but there are some personal items that we feel should be taken by friends. He apparently left something for each of you in his will…" McGonagall said with great sadness.

"He left us things? But he hated us, well except Harry, I think." Said Ron confusedly.

"He also left letters accompanying the items, they will probably shed some light on that question. All of them just appeared on his desk one night… Now, Hagrid is waiting for you three, hurry along. I trust you can find your way there without any trouble. Come meet me in my office when you are done. The password is Bastet." McGonagall said as she walked off briskly. The trio went off to see Hagrid.

"Hagrid." Cried all three as they ran into Hagrid's open arms.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione! It's good ta see you!" Said Hagrid smiling as he crushed them in a hug.

"How are your wounds feeling?" asked Harry looking at the mans face which was still covered in scars that would never heal.

"They're alrigh', they itch when it's gonna rain though." Said Hagrid happily ignoring their looks of concern. "Come see Grawp, he's liftin up some o' the wall righ' now. He'd be 'appy to see yeh." Said Hagrid as he released them from the hug and waved for them to follow. They soon reached the wall that had been torn down in the attack, you couldn't see the difference between it and the rest of the castle. "Ere' c'mon and touch this rock." Hagrid held out what seemed to be an ordinary piece of black rock, but the group did as they were told.

Suddenly a gaping hole in the wall could be seen, as well as Grawp lifting up stones high enough so that workers could levitate more of them before wearing themselves out. There were at least 15 wizards, and all of them were putting rocks in place and then using numerous complicated spells to reattach them to the castle. A loud cry broke the air.

"Hermy!" Grawp came running up to Hermione with a grin on his face stopping just before knocking them over.

"Hello Grawp, how have you been?" Asked Hermione trying not to look nervous.

"Grawp been good, you been good?" replied the giant. The group was still amazed at how much the giant had learned scince they first met him, it was amazing.

"I've been doing well, I see you're helping rebuild the wall. Hagrid must be proud." Replied Hermione.

"Hagger do good too. I allowed to stay at castle after finish building wall." Grawp was very happy about being able to stay here apparently. After chatting for a bit Hagrid introduced them to the other workers, then he asked them if they wanted to come see large bugbear he had caught. Harry quickly explained that they had promised they would go down and look at Snape's room and retrieve what he had left them.

They headed quickly toward the dungeon to put as much distance between them and whatever a bugbear was. They entered the potions classroom and looked around, almost expecting Snape to come out of the shadows and yell at them for standing there like a bunch of idiots. He didn't however.

"It looks exactly the same…" said Hermione quietly.

"Lets go." Said Harry ushering the other toward the door. They turned a couple corners before they realized they didn't know where Snape's chambers were. They looked around as Harry cursed himself for leaving the marauder's map at home. He looked up to ask Hermione if they should go ask McGonagall when he saw a familiar billowing cloak whip around a corner.

"That's Snape's cloak!" said Harry as he rushed off after the black clad Professor.

"Snape's dead Harry." Called Hermione sadly after him, but Ron ran after Harry right away. Sighing, Hermione began to trudge after them.

It seemed to Harry that every time he turned a corner in the maze of the dungeons that the end of the cloak was already rounding the next one.

"Snape! Wait a second you git!" yelled Harry running after him with more vigor. Harry rounded another corner and slammed straight into a door, he swore he heard a Snape like snort as he tried to stop his head from spinning. Harry looked warily at the door before drawing his wand and opening it. When nothing happened Harry entered the room. He was in Snape's chambers.

Ron came bursting in through the door panting as Harry stared at his surroundings. This couldn't be Snape's chamber, it wasn't dark enough. Granted everything was in dark shades of green, black, blue, and red, but silver shot through here and there along with gold and white. There were no skulls, no strange devices, no…anything really creepy. There were, of course, lots of potions ingredients and even more books. Vials, bunsen burners, test tubes, pliers and all manners of scientific equipment were crammed onto shelves along with small cauldrons, herbs, and other small items. There were candles everywhere, and no windows. The other parts of the chamber were behind closed doors.

"Oh look at all the books!" squealed Hermione happily making Ron and Harry jump.

"Don't sneak up on people like that! You'll get hexed." Cried Ron still at Hermione, but the number of ancient tomes on the shelves lining the room had already entranced her. Ron sighed and went over to look with her. Harry however had not moved from the spot, his eyes were fixed on the table where three envelopes lay along with three packages.

"Guys come look at this." Ron and Hermione came and looked at the letters with Harry. There was one addressed to each of them. They each opened their and read them silently. Hermione broke the silence with a squeal.

"What?" Ron jumped at the sound, he obviously did not feel comfortable in the dungeons.

"He left me all his books and a feather light bag with a charm that lets me put an infinite amount of things in it! But…"

"What…" said Ron sounding nervous.

"He said that I am not allowed to loan them to anyone but you and…if he should return I must let him have use of the texts… but how could he come back…he's dead…" Hermione said thinking.

"The git is trying to make sure that the books are technically still his… or something." Said Ron before continuing to read his letter. "Cool, he left me a charm that repels spiders…wait, is he trying to make fun of me? Oh, he also left me large bottle of… no way! Felix Felicis!" Ron gasped as he grabbed the package that accompanied his letter and held it tight. "What about you Harry? …Harry?" Ron walked over and touched Harry on the shoulder.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Asked Hermione quietly.

"He left me a bottle of an experimental potion he had perfected….Immortalus…" Hermione walked over and looked at the letter curious about what the potion did, her eyes widened.

"24 hours of true immortality, wounds heal instantly, limbs re-grow, the body reforms if blown up, the soul cannot be destroyed…wow Harry this is, amazing." Said Hermione in a whisper of awe.

"He said it's because I have the inability to stay out of trouble…"said Harry with a sad smile. Harry folded the letter and picked up his package before going to wait outside the room. Hermione quickly magicked the books into he new bag and pulled the string tight before following. Ron left right after her.

Waiting for his friends Harry started walking in silence beside them, he couldn't help the feeling that someone was watching them. Was he going insane? What had he seen going around those corners? He pondered this as he walked and when he looked up they were at the entrance to the headmaster, or mistress's, office. Ron said the password and the waited for the griffon to move.

"I didn't think McGonagall would be one to use nonsense words for her passwords." Said Ron thinking.

"Bastet isn't a nonsense word Ron. Bastet is an Egyptian cat goddess. McGonagall probably uses cat references for her passwords, a cat being her animagus form. And it's pronounces Bas-tet not Bost-at." Said Hermione knowingly as the griffon jumped out of the way. They climbed and were about to knock on the door when they heard McGonagall talking loudly.

"How would Severus's experiment notes and Gringotts key vanish though? No one could enter the wards without the password and only I know it."

"I assure you Severus's items are in good hands Minerva, there is nothing to worry about. Now I believe our three young guests are waiting outside the door." Harry recognized Dumbledore's voice and heard footsteps coming toward the door. A second later it opened and McGonagall ushered them in. "Hello Harry, I trust you are well?" Asked Dumbeldore's portrait as a painted twinkle appeared in his eye.

"Yes sir." Replied Harry curious as to why they had been asked to come and impatient as ever to know.

"Miss Granger, Mrs. Weasley now I believe," said Dumbledore smiling as Hermione nodded blushing, "and Mr. Weasley, may I assume you are both in good health as well?" They both nodded. "Good, we can get down to business, but first, would anyone like tea?" Everyone nodded and Professor McGonagall summoned one out of thin air much like Dumbledore used to do. "Every new headmaster or mistress gets the ownership of the tea set that comes with the office." Dumbledore said eyes twinkling like mad. He reached for a painted cup of tea as everyone else prepared theirs the way they liked it. "Now, I know you have all been accepted for the practical exams for Auror testing. Your teacher is a friend of mine and I must warn you to not anger her, though it may be hard at times to do so, it is quite easy at others. Be careful. Also, do not be surprised if you see old friends. I hope you succeed in finding the testing place, but here is a tip or two, muggles cannot see what we can see, and a simple finite incantatum or revealing charm often work wonders. Lastly, when all is lost, you can find the answer easily by listening, listen to nature and she will help. Oh, and I will talk to you again soon." Dumbledore smiled and walked out of the painting leaving them speechless. McGonagall urged them up out of their seats.

"You only have two hours to look for the correct building, you shouldn't sit here dawdling, I will send your new belonging back to your house along with a house elf to pack them in the appropriate suitcases. Yes I know about the letters having helped many students try to apply and have read them myself." McGonagall herded them toward the door and paused before she pushed them out. "I am all very proud of you, if any students of mine should have the greatest chance to become aurors it is you three." McGonagall smiled and shooed them away after giving them a portkey to the London down town area.