DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, only this story, and this computer.
-Chapter Twenty-Seven-
Brothers-in-Arms
"What do you mean, he's going on a vacation?" a bewildered Ron demanded, when they had managed to take in Neville's declarations.
"Luna has turned seer? But…she never…how can she, all of a sudden?" asked a very perplexed Hermione, in a very confused and un-Hermionish manner.
"She hasn't really said she can see, but she did project a very grimy future for us all, with burning lakes and stuff. Trelawney would be proud." Neville explained calmly.
"Oh, you mean she's been her usual self! And what's this about Pettigrew going on a holiday?" Hermione had regained her bossiness.
"Well, if you have noticed, there have been a lot of tour-advertisements in the Prophet recently. Fred and George told us this morning that these tour-operators are actually involved in helping people escape the country. For a huge sum, starting from, say, five hundred galleons, you could be safely across the Atlantic, whether you want to escape You-Know-Who, or the ministry, or both. They will get you all the permits needed, and provide a new house abroad."
"A house for five hundred galleons?" asked Ron faintly, "What are they built with?"
"And so, Malfoy reckons Pettigrew is trying to leave the country?" said Hermione thoughtfully, "But why? I mean, as long as Voldemort is in power, the ministry can't get him, can they?"
"Do you really think so, Granger?" said a voice from the door.
The four of them looked up to find Draco Malfoy standing at the door.
"Hi, Malfoy. Why don't you come in?" said Harry.
"I heard voices in the kitchen, so I thought I would see if you've returned." He replied.
"So, what makes you think Pettigrew wants to escape?" Hermione asked.
"Well, he's never really been an important servant." Draco said calmly, "He's best service has been to restore the Dark Lord's body, and before that, to act as his spy when he was last in power. But he's not of much use now, is he? The Dark Lord doesn't exactly exhibit self-sacrificing love and loyalty for his followers, especially when they are not needed any more, and Wormtail's smart enough to notice that. But he can't change sides now, because he knows neither the ministry nor the Order will help him, and so his only way left is to escape."
"But this can't happen!" said Ron hotly, "That slimy rat deserves to be sent to Azkaban, or to be killed. He just can't escape like that…Harry? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Of course I don't want him to escape." said Harry quietly. "But it's a good sign for us if Voldemort's servants find it no longer safe to remain with him. But I suppose Peter Pettigrew was never loyal to any body, or any thing except his own interests. Neville, what plant did you say that was?"
"What?" said Neville, evidently taken aback by Harry's sudden change of topic. "Well, these are seeds of jansei, a Japanese herb."
"And did you say it's a curse-breaking plant?"
"Oh, yes, it is." He said enthusiastically, "No evil grows on the soil within ten miles of the roots of a blooming jansei. And the fragrance of its flowers is so pure, people believe they bring happiness and good luck. I've read that in wizarding houses of Japan, people grow them in ornamental pots and goblets, and use them to decorate the room and ward of bad luck. I have got four seeds here, I was thinking I would grow three for our rooms here, and give one to Professor Sprout for the greenhouses at Hogwarts."
"That's an excellent idea, Neville." Said Harry excitedly, "Listen, I've got an ornamental goblet, do you think you could grow one for me in that?"
"Sure I could."
"Great! How long does a jansei take to bloom?"
"About a month, if you do everything right. It isn't easy, you see. You need the right amount of…"
"Potter, could you take a break from herbology at the moment and tell me what to do?" said Malfoy impatiently.
"Well, has he written to you again?"
"Yes, and he's asking for the entire sum."
"I'll ask Bill to get out a hundred galleons from your account." Said Ron quickly, "You pay him that for now, and tell him it isn't easy to withdraw money from the bank these days."
"But for how long is that going to work, Weasley? Sooner or later, I'll have to pay him the whole amount, unless Potter decides to stop gardening and do something about the Dark Lord."
"Just because he's interested in a plant does not mean he's not doing his work." Said Neville angrily, "And I want you to know that jansei is a highly useful plant."
"Oh really? What use is it against scheming blackmailers?"
"Stop it, both of you." Said Hermione, "Malfoy, don't get so worked up over Pettigrew, he's not just worth it."
"And what is he worth, Granger? Fifteen hundred galleons of my family money?"
Hermione looked unfazed. "Listen, I've been thinking. We don't need to pay him real money."
"What?" said Ron, "Are you saying we will pay him fake gold, like the DA coins we had? Hermione, that won't work. I mean, those fake galleons you made were cool, but one careful look can differentiate them from the real ones."
"And there are some kinds of fake gold that can fool the cleverest people. Remember?"
"You mean, leprechaun gold?"
"Granger, have you gone mad or do you really don't know that leprechaun gold don't last beyond a few hours."
"I know, Malfoy." She replied calmly, "But I think that can be worked upon. A good proprius spell can make them last, for say, a month. That will give us time, and get Wormtail out of our way. He will pay the money, and get away and we will be able to get our work done in peace. And when the tour-operators realize they have been cheated, we may not need to hide you any more."
"That's not a bad idea. " Malfoy admitted, "But it will take time."
"You will have to buy that time with those hundred galleons Bill will get for you."
"But Hermione, " said Ron, "are you sure about this? I mean, it will need a lot of studying and work, and we are already quite busy. And brilliant as you are, this isn't exactly your line of expertise. It sounds more like the kind of work Fred and George would do."
"You are perfectly right, Ron." Said Hermione.
"Looks like you need to talk with more than one brother over this Malfoy-Wormtail issue, mate." Said Harry.
"So you think this will work, Harry?" Ron asked when they were finally by themselves, "this plant you think will destroy you-know-what?"
"I think we ought to give it a try." Said Harry thoughtfully, "Hufflepuff, after all, loved plants. And remember what Dumbledore said? An object that belonged to her cannot remain evil forever. If this plant is a symbol of goodness, then it might be able to break the curse."
"But in case it doesn't work…" began Hermione,
"I think we need more than a month in hand with the leprechaun gold." Harry said, "Or if we can't do that, Malfoy needs to pay Wormtail some more gold in installments. There's no help for it."
"Right. But anyway, we need to talk with all three of them, Bill, and the twins, as soon as possible."
"I'll write to them to come over for dinner tonight." Said Ron, and he left to get his quill.
"Hermione, before we can start on the plant, there's some work for you."
"And what is that, Harry?"
Harry took out the goblet from his pocket.
"I need you to transfigure this partially, so that Hufflepuff's emblem may not be seen."
"You guys are kidding, right?" said Fred.
"Or is this some nasty plan to get us to jail?" asked George dangerously.
"No one will get to jail, George." Said Hermione. "We will not pay anyone with this money. The person who will pay will have to admit first that he was trying to escape, and that won't be easy for him. We are safe." She said in a satisfied tone.
"I can't believe this." Said Fred, shaking his head, "Hermione Granger? Miss Rulebook herself trying to make fake money? What are we coming to?"
"Terrible times indeed." His twin agreed.
"We are not doing this to cheat people." Said Hermione hotly, "All we want is to protect the Order."
"And Wormtail deserves much worse than this." said Ron.
"Won't you do it for us, Fred, George?" said Harry.
"For you? Hmm, let's see. Here we have little Miss Perfect, who banned our experiments with the first years." Said George.
"I was only trying to keep them safe."
"And a brother who betrayed us by becoming one of those despicable, awful creatures- a prefect." Said Fred.
"Excuse me?"
"And finally, the Boy-Who-Lived himself, who was our first sponsor."
A silence followed George's words, till he spoke again.
"So, what do you think, Fred?"
"You know my mind." He replied.
"Yeah, we think we will do it."
"Oh, you are wonderful!" said Hermione beaming.
"We know we are." Said Fred brazenly. "That's we are doing it for Harry."
"And what about me? I am supposed to be your brother." Said Ron indignantly.
"Do it fast, okay guys? We don't have much time."
"Oh, you don't worry. Good night, Harry. Night Hermione, and you too, ickle Ronniekins."
They bowed stylishly, twirled around, and were gone.
"Mental, both of them." commented Ron, staring at the spot from where they had disapparated.
"Yeah, they are, " agreed Harry, "but brilliant, all the same!"