Apologies for the slow updating! But kazam! Here I bring you a new chapter.
Current song: Blind by Placebo…like I said, my iTunes is on shuffle ! Still a really beautiful song, though. Very nice..
Anyway, here is Chapter 9 for our beloved heroes as they continue on their journey. Also, you'll finally found out what the "key" is!
Here we go!
"Is your family usually this hospitable?" Neville said. He and Ginny were up in her bedroom at Muggle & Burrow, and Neville was examining her hand-made wind chimes and her room's messy appearance.
"Not usually, no," Ginny said, untying her long red hair so it fell freely out of its bun. "Ever since my brother, Hermione and Harry had gone missing they've been very cautious about who they let in." she thought about Harry and how much he was going to sacrifice for the kingdom and smiled a bit.
"Understandably," Neville said, going over to sit on her bed.
"Who do you stay with?" Ginny asked, as she leaned against the wall.
"My grandmother," he said. "Formerly my grandfather, but his time has gone. She doesn't allow any visitors at our house. How often do Order meetings occur?"
"My family has them once every other week," Ginny replied. "But ever since Sirius died –"
"Sirius? Sirius Black, you mean? He's dead?"
"Yes. Ever since Harry had gone missing, he…we found only his remains. We concluded he died in order to protect Harry. It's very sad."
"He didn't die in vain," Neville said. "I just hope the same goes for Luna."
"That's…actually why I invited you here," Ginny said. She straightened up and went to go and sit next to Neville on her bed. "I think we should set Luna free. She shouldn't be rotting away in the dungeons right now, if you ask me."
"I agree, truly," Neville said. "But…how are we to release her? They'd search the country and if Riddle found out we are the culprits he'll have our heads."
"Riddle's been searching the country for Harry since his escape," Ginny retorted. "And he still remains unfound."
Neville kept silent. He looked at Ginny, who looked back. Her eyes read the same thing. "I –"
He was suddenly interrupted by a large knock on the door, audible even to them, even though Ginny's room was two stories away from the ground floor. "What was that?" she asked, breathing heavily.
"I don't know," Neville said.
Another noise, and she knew that her home's front door had collapsed. A scream, a yell of terror, and Neville and Ginny simultaneously rose from the bed, rushing to see from the staircase who had caused the ruckus.
Two tall, bulky and blonde men were standing in the doorway, and Arthur and Molly were on their knees in a kneeling position and Arthur was wavering around on the spot, chanting, "I beg you…please…"
Ginny watched in terror as one of the men struck him across the face; Neville was holding her back, and was saying, "What's going on?"
"Riddle has probably already carried out the search," she said. "My brothers are elsewhere, Neville…what am I to do?"
"We heard rumors from the local villagers use sheltered Harry Potter here," said the tallest of the two. "Is that correct?"
"We do not deny it," Arthur said. "Our home is always open to the weary traveler…have mercy, please…"
One of the men rose his hand and wavered it directly over Molly's forehead, muttering, "Cruci-"
"NO!" shouted Ginny, giving away their spot and releasing herself from Neville's grip. The young and small witch lunged herself at the two attackers an started hitting them and muttered "Stupefy!" to one of them, who flew back from the house and hit the pavement.
"ENOUGH!" the other one said, grabbing Ginny's wrist. "What the ruddy hell - ?"
"You – will – not – hurt – them –" Ginny said, struggling in his grip, and using her free arm to give the man blows with every word. "Merciless – foul –"
"Listen here, Girly!" the man said. "You are to stay out of this!"
"Ginny, stand down, please," Arthur said, now standing up and clutching a sobbing Molly to his chest. "Please…"
Ginny, now sweating, panting and breathing heavily with her hair plastered to her face, turned around to face Neville, who mouthed "please". She removed the man's grip and ceased her attacks.
"Do not think we will not return," The conscious of the men said, and he looked around the house. "If we find any other evidence of your support of Harry Potter's movements…we will have your heads."
Molly broke into tears and Ginny slammed the door shut as the men disappeared from view. She glanced at Neville before bursting into tears herself and running to her bedroom.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
Harry awoke with a start. He looked around at his surroundings; he was on a creaky wooden bed, exceptionally comfortable and looked down at the snoring figure of Ron, who's bed was in the middle, and saw that he was hand-in-hand with Hermione, who's bed was next to his. The idea of it made Harry ultimately think of Ginny and what possible dangers she could be facing. He swung his legs off the bed and pulled his leather boots on, then proceeded to wake up Ron. "Ron," he said, shaking Ron's white tunic, "Ron…Ron…"
Ron jumped off his bed and swiftly gave Harry his backhand.
"Oof!" Harry cried, falling back against the wall and covering his bloody nose. "What the – Ron!"
"S-sorry, mate," Ron grinned, now fully awake.
"You little –"
"What in Albus' name?" Hermione muttered, rising from her own bed. She spotted Harry. "Dear God, Harry – what happened?"
"Your boyfriend over here smacked me all the way to the end of the room," Harry growled. Ron's ears turned bright red; Harry smirked at his embarrassing remark.
Hermione blushes furiously, but shook her curls out of her face and said, "Come over here." Harry did so, eyeing Ron dangerously as he walked over to Hermione, who rose from her bed and raised her hand so it was directly over Harry's face. "Episkey."
His nose stopped bleeding, but his face was still drenched with blood. He wiped it off with his tunic and turned to Ron. "Next time you have a nightmare don't take it out on me."
Ron narrowed his eyes and mimicked Harry viciously. He swung his left legs off the bed and started putting on his boots. "So what do we do now?" he said, facing Hermione.
"I…don't know," Hermione yawned, stretching her arms wide. "Harry's the boss."
"I say we just ask about this key and leave," Harry said, still dabbing at his nose. "…say, Hermione, do you by any chance know where we can new clothes? These are just killing me," he said, indicating his dirty, torn up tunic and his faded pants.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but the door banged open and all three of them turned to face Lady Sybil come in, looking the same of how she had looked when they first met her. "Ah, good morning, children!" she said, throwing her arms in the air. She walked towards Harry. "So wonderful to see your bright faces – the faces of bravery!" she grabbed Harry's cheeks and squeezed them as if he were a toddler.
"And we best be on our way," Ron said, standing up from his bed. "Our stay was nice and you've been truly hospitable but I think it would be best if Harry, Hermione and I –"
"Oh, but what about breakfast? And your yearning for knowledge about the key? And what about your clothes?" she said. "I certainly cannot let you leave my shop looking like this!"
"Oh, but we certainly can!" Ron laughed nervously.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Lady Sybil. "We really enjoyed the stay, milady, but I think it would be best if we left to fulfill our mission."
"That would be best," Sybil said. "But remember about your stay in the first place- you wanted to learn about this key?"
"Yeah," Harry said straightening up. Ron rolled his eyes. "What about it?"
"Well, I have received a mere prediction of what this key is!" Sybil declared to all three of them.
"A mere prediction?" Hermione said. "No research? I prefer this to be rather factual."
Sybil only starred at her, her eyes glassy. She walked up to Hermione and said, in a sympathetic tone, "My dear…your soul is as dry as the pages of the books of which you so desperately cleave."
Hermione seemed to take this offensively, but nonetheless distanced herself from Sybil and went across the room to stand next to Ron, who's eyebrows were raised at Harry.
"Whatever happened to your nose, dear boy?" Sybil asked, staring at Harry, who was still dabbing his nose.
"Oh, erm – accident," he said, glancing at Ron, who was looking at the ceiling.
"Come downstairs. I have prepared some food for you to start your day – and I have some clothes for you, as well, which Madam Malkin was kind enough to provide me with in her next door shop." She whispered the last word before disappearing out of view completely, going downstairs to the shop's front.
Hermione raised her eyebrows and said under her breath, "Such a waste of time," before descending down the stairs after Sybil. Ron and Harry shrugged at each other and followed her, aware that an iciness between Sybil and Hermione had begun. The downstairs of Sybil's shop still looked the same as it did when they had arrived, despite the difference in the time of day. Sybil was chanting something inaudible, and Hermione and Harry descended down the stairs, followed by Ron. Hermione gave a little cough and Sybil stopped her chanting and faced them.
"Hello, dear ones!" she said joyfully.
Ron raised his eyebrows and Harry said, "Milady, we've been here long enough…perhaps…perhaps you could fulfill our visit here by telling us a bout –"
"The key," Sybil said, or rather whispered, causing all three of them to edge near her. "The key of Godric."
"The Key of Godric?" Ron repeated rather loudly.
"Shhh!" Hermione and Harry said simultaneously. Hermione raised her hand and the windows closed shut with the curtains draped over.
"This – this known key by few…it is an old tale, usually not believed by most. But I trust you do, my dear boy, as it is you who has been through most."
"What is it?" Harry said. He was shaking with impatience.
"This key, is, in fact, not technically speaking, a key," Sybil said, as she stared at Harry and glanced at Hermione.
"I – I don't understand," Hermione said. Ron buried his face in his hand. Hermione continued on: "I had concluded that it was a key to open the library of Hogdmeade. Isn't that what keys are for, anyway?"
Sybil twitched. "My dear child, let me finish. This key is metaphorical. As in to say, it is a key, but not the normal types typically fashioned by blacksmiths. It is a sword – a sword of Godric – "
"Oh, again with Godric!" Ron said, or rather moaned. "Godric this, Gordic that – our kingdom is in danger of collapsing and all we are conversing about is an old wife's tale – "
"It is, in fact, true, my dear boy!" Sybil said, her lip trembling. "Unless you wish to carelessly walk into the library of Hogsmeade and casually steal the book with the answers, I suggest this key is your only way!"
Ron rubbed his eyes.
"Where is it?" Harry said hopefully.
"It will present itself," Sybil finished.
"Good – when?" Harry said eagerly.
"It's unknown," Sybil said. "It will present itself when it feels you are worthy of it's –"
"It is a mere sword, milady, it cannot render feelings –" Hermione began, but Ron held up his hand.
"And what do we with it once we obtain – I mean – once it "presents" itself?" He said impatiently.
"You are to stab the book with the sword and you will get the answers."
Hermione looked outraged; Ron looked annoyed; Harry, on the other hand, looked rather confused. "I - I don't understand; why would we destroy something that has all the answers?"
"I don't know, my dear boy," Sybil said. "But I trust the idea. Destroy the book and the answer will come to you."
"To – to me?" Harry said.
"But of course, you!" Sybil said. "You were there the night Riddle killed your parents and claimed property of the kingdom! It is you, my dear boy, who are destined to defeat the Dark Lord. And it is you who must and will obtain the answers hidden in the libraries of Hogsmeade."
Harry looked at Hermione, whose face had eased up a bit, and said, "I knew it would have to come to this."
"But then that means Riddle can't be destroyed," Hermione said, breathing heavily and staring at the floor. "He killed both of your parents with the Salazar Touch, Harry – Salazar was the enemy of Godric during the formation of Hogwarts. He loathed him and his toleration of non-pure magical folk, and so set off to invent the deadliest curse of all time. Nobody known today can perform it…that is, until Riddle…." She gasped. "He is descendant of Salazar, destined to murder Albus all along. This is what makes him powerful, Harry. Knowing he can't harm you because he can't find you weakens him. If he is truly the master of the Salazar touch…you are the master of Godric's," she concluded.
"But – I don't understand," Harry said. "I won't be worthy to defeat him – I'm not a descendant of Godric –"
"No, but the last time the Salazar Touch was used was when he murdered your parents – think, Harry! Riddle doesn't use it frequently…a simple killing spell would be of use for others, but the Salazar Touch? It shows you are worthy!"
"I still don't quite understand," Harry said. "How will this help me to defeat him?"
"There must have been something powerful that rebounded the night he murdered them," Hermione whispered. "Something unknown to any of us yet…something that rebounded the Godric Touch to you…so you are, indeed worthy. We just need to find the incantation."
"Hermione – you are brilliant," Ron said, gaping at her in admiration.
"Thank you," she said, blushing. "I do a lot of light reading in my spare time."
"L-light?" Harry said. He shook his head, his eyes closed, abruptly and said, "Well, Lady Sybil, it has truthfully been an honor but I think it is best we leave now."
"Not so soon!" Sybil cried. "There are fresh tunics awaiting for you upstairs, boys. And you, young lady – a nice clean dress that Madam Malkin fashioned."
"Th-thank you," Harry said, and he and Ron went back up the stairs, followed by Hermione. She halted and pulled Ron's tunic before they were able to get inside their room; Hermione pulled both of them to the side and eyed them.
"Are you sure about this sword?" she whispered. "I'm not quite sure it's logical."
"She is a seer, isn't she?" Ron said.
"Well yes, but when you really think about it – destroy something with answers. Does that make sense to you, Ron?"
"I'm just saying –"
"I think," harry said, breaking the silence between them, "That we should just go with our guts, do it and we'll finally be able to get this over and done with."
Hermione nodded and Ron sighed. Harry felt a slight throbbing in his head and followed both of them into the room to change into a fresh new tunic.
Again, not so much of a cliffhanger, but the story is pretty much building up, I think (:
I'm not so sure what will happen on the next chapter, I didn't start writing it yet but I do have a small idea and will begin writing it as soon as inspiration hits me !
Please rate & review – I'm almost at 40!