Chapter 62: The OTHER Meeting

The news during breakfast the following morning shocked the whole school.

"Oh dear Merlin!" Nikki exclaimed after she choked on her pumpkin juice, "Look at this!"

She handed Ianthé the Daily Prophet, "Muggle Mass Killings in the heart of London!"

Ianthé read the article, "This is not good…."

She discreetly scanned the Great Hall to gauge the reactions of the professors and other students.

The headmistress was conversing seriously with Professor Flitwick, while Viktor was talking to George Wealey. The two looked at her as she gestured the newspaper.

Viktor nodded back gravely.

Ernie McMillan approached the Ravenclaw table and sat down beside Nikki, "This is going to get worse, isn't it?" he pointed out the newspaper.

Nikki sighed, "Yeah, I mean, they targeted a residential building near the Ministry of Magic. Even a buffoon would recognize that as a threat."

"And that idiot of a Minister is just sticking his head into the sand…. To think he was a former Auror," Ianthé ranted as she scanned the newspaper again, "Protective measures my foot…"

Ginny Weasley also walked towards the Ravenclaw Table, "I need to speak with you privately…"

Ianthé nodded and followed the red head towards the deserted courtyard outside.

"They almost did not make it…" Ginny said quietly.

"What happened? They're already in London?"

The two girls sat down on a bench.

"At first, they took refuge in Hermione's house. Someone managed to tip them off about the Muggle raids. The three of them, including Hermione's parents, narrowly escaped the Death Eaters."

"They are now in hiding…."

Ginny nodded, "Ron wrote that they were in a safe place but he didn't say where…."

Ianthé smiled warmly, "I think I may have an idea where… Although Ron was wise enough not to divulge the location in the letter… and he will find out he may not like the company he would be having…"

"What?"

"I can't exactly say where but they are quite safe. Trust me," Ianthé placed her hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"What are they doing in London anyway?" Ginny wondered.

Ianthé just shrugged.

Razilia came back to Ianthé's room that night, bearing a letter.

It only had one sentence.

Apparate here with Viktor immediately.

Ianthé quickly changed her clothes and ran to find Viktor.

"Emergency family meeting in London!" she said as she found Viktor still in his office checking some papers.

The two of them sprinted away from school grounds. Ianthé held Viktor's hand and they Disapparated without making a sound.

They landed a few meters away from the mansion.

"I think this has something to do with the recent events…"

Viktor shrugged, "Maybe…"

He rapped the knocker thrice.

The door opened.

"They're already inside the east wing sitting room, Master," a house elf squeaked.

Viktor and Ianthé walked quickly to the sitting room.

They opened the door only to find Edmond and Hermione preventing Ron and Harry from attacking Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy.

"Could all of you just shut up! We're on the same side here!"

Ianthé faced Ron and Harry, "You two, I know it would be very difficult to face them. I don't expect you to be all matey by the end of this catastrophe, but please act in a civil manner…"

A chuckle was heard from the other side. Ianthé turned to face Snape and Draco.

"Same goes for you, Uncle Severus! You too, Draco!"

Viktor smiled while shaking his head. He pulled out a seat for his wife.

"What is this meeting about?"

"Théa, there were news that reached the Dark Lord about your family being in custody of Draco. Your cousin Tarquinus and I managed to convince him that your family is in alliance with him. The quandary we are facing is the strict orders of the Dark Lord having Draco killed, thus ending the Malfoy line," Severus Snape reported.

"Is it possible to let him believe that we killed Draco?" Ianthé asked her former Potions professor.

"The chance is very slim, I'm afraid…"

"Just do it and get this over with, Snape…" Draco sighed.

"No, you can't! That's just…. Stupid!" Hermione protested.

"I'm not asking for you opinion, Mudblood!"

Ron got up to attack Draco but Viktor managed to prevent him.

"Shut up, Draco… Uncle, what about the Draught of Living Death? I remembered your comment about putting a stopper on death back in first year…"

"She remembers that?" Ron asked Hermione in a whisper, while the curly-haired girl slapped him in the hand.

Snape shook his head, "I have tried it on another individual but it didn't work."

"Tried it, sir? How?" Hermione asked.

Snape rolled his eyes, "Always curious, Miss Granger….. The previous Headmaster and I carefully planned the whole thing. It was supposed to work. We were trying methods on how to cure his deceased hand as the necrosis might invade the entire musculature of his upper body. Regular minimal amounts of the Draught were drank. Apparently, the theory of the potion's ability to deflect the Killing Curse was not true…."

"You used Dumbledore in an experiment?" Harry was already fuming.

"As much as I protested, I was under an Unbreakable Vow with the Headmaster that we would keep Draco's innocence. Narcissa Malfoy bound the Vow."

"You have to do me in, Snape. There's no other way… At least, Ianthé's family can infiltrate the Dark Lord's inner circle and attack form the inside…" Draco sighed.

"What if we capture a Death Eater who's not that known, Polyjuice him into you and then kill him in front of other Death Eaters?" Ron said.

"Oh bloody hell! I can't believe I said that!" he banged his head on the table.

"I'm surprised, Mr. Weasley. That might work…. I underestimated your miniscule brain and you proved me wrong…"

"Uncle Severus, no insults…." Ianthé warned.

Edmond further delved on the idea Ron presented them.

"Harry, could I talk to you privately?"

Harry nodded.

"Ginny wants to say hi…"

Harry's tired eyes stirred into a lively emerald.

"She's doing a great job handling the DA with Neville and Luna…. And she misses you terribly…"

Harry smiled, "I wanted to thank you for giving us a head start on the Horcruxes…"

"What artifacts have you destroyed?"

"We found the locket in the Black residence…."

"As in, Black? The pureblood family Black?"

Harry nodded, "I own their house now as an inheritance from my godfather Sirius…"

"… The only sane one, as my mother used to say…What about the cup?"

"You were right about the earth element. We found it on the earth… on a graveyard… Ravenclaw's dagger was hidden in abandoned German airport used during World War II. We've already destroyed them… with fire…."

"What's left is……?"

"The snake Voldemort has…"

"I see…" Ianthé looked him in the eyes, "Is your eyes really that green?"

Harry shrugged, "People say that my mum had exactly the same eyes…."

"The eyes are windows of the soul….. You should return to Hogwarts, you know…"

"Why?"

"I just have this feeling you will go back there… Oh, never mind… I think this is just the effect of hanging out with Luna too much…"

Harry smiled again.

"Tell you what… I'll give you several minutes to write a letter to Ginny and I'll give it to her personally when I get back…."

She conjured a quill and a very long parchment.