Chapter Seven: Aftermath at Grimmauld Place
Once the cars and the motorcycle were out of sight, they all went back inside of number twelve, Grimmauld Place to go back to the kitchen. Once there, Lily and Molly decided to make a start on dinner. However, Tonks rounded on them and their husbands.
'Sirius wasn't the only one who knew they were still alive and where they were, I did too.'
James and Lily and Arthur and Molly gave Tonks a look as though they had been betrayed.
'Don't look at me like that!' snapped Tonks, 'if you had each been better parents to Harry and Ron they wouldn't have fucked off in the first place! Ginny left because Ron was sad! When they were away they were happy and loved! Nic and Nelle gave them the love they needed! I got to know them when the girls needed the advice of a girl who was a bit closer in age to them to talk to and confide in! Sirius did nothing wrong, he was doing right by his godson!'
Lily then asked, 'But what about the other girl?'
'Hermione, well, despite having loving parents, she was lonely. All her classmates used to bully her because she was smarter than them and because of the bushy hair and large front teeth she used to have,' replied Tonks.
'Ginny looked good,' said Bill. 'Although, I'm not too sure about the navel piercing,' he added.
Fred chuckled and said, 'I disagree, Bill, it looks good, and I have to say it, Ron's missus is fit.'
'I must agree with my esteemed twin on both counts,' said George.
Douglas nodded in agreement while Molly looked most displeased; both gestures were noticed by Tonks, who said,
'I wouldn't get any ideas, Douglas, because if you so much as look at Ginny, Harry will beat the shit out of you, and if you look at Hermione the wrong way, Ron will kill you, end of story, and Harry won't stop him.'
Douglas went pale before Mad-Eye spoke,
'It was a bit disappointing really … I thought Harry would've knocked him on his arse!'
Moody had seen but not heard what had happened in the room upstairs thanks to his magical eye.
Tonks then addressed Molly.
'I'd be careful if I were you, Molly, you don't want to insult Hermione again, I promise you.'
'Why shouldn't I be able to tell that girl what I think of her?' asked Molly.
'I'll tell you why,' began Tonks, 'because she wouldn't care what you have to say about her, however, Hermione is the joint most powerful magical person in the world and is more intelligent than anyone I've ever met – even Dumbledore! Then there are her Martial Arts skills, her technique is fucking flawless, she could kick your arse in any kind of contest you can think of, Molly, and to be frank, you aren't fit to wipe the shit from her shoes.
'Well, I've had a lovely evening, but I have to go, I have dinner plans, so cheerio!' finished Tonks.
Tonks then walked out of the kitchen and left the old house to Disapparate.
The occupants of the kitchen were still reeling at Tonks' words.
'I can't believe they're married and Soul-Bonded,' said Lily.
'Is that what makes them so powerful?' asked Remus.
'Yes,' began Dumbledore, 'each couple share a connection so deep and routed in love, they have Soul-Bonded together. In fact, they are so powerful I feel that the normal rules where magic is concerned can be disregarded. For example, I would not be surprised if all four of them have multiple Animagus forms, and have the ability to Apparate anywhere they choose.'
'Even Hogwarts?' asked Neville.
'I can only guess, but yes, Mr Longbottom, I think they can,' replied Dumbledore.
'And you are just curious to find out, aren't you, Albus?' asked Professor McGonagall.
'And you aren't, Minerva?' sneered Snape.
'Well, I must admit I'm dying to see what they can do where Transfiguration is concerned …' she replied.
'They might even be able to break Gamp's Laws of Elemental Transfiguration, Minerva,' said Dumbledore.
'Damn, now that I'd pay to see,' said James.
'I still can't believe Sirius did what he did …' said Remus.
'I'll never forgive him for this, never,' said James, angrily.
'No, James, he was right. We ignored Harry in favour of his brother, and to tell you the truth, if I saw my godson as miserable as we made Harry, I would've done the same thing,' said Lily.
'If anybody is to blame, it is I, for it was me who declared, incorrectly, Douglas, as the Boy Who Lived,' said Dumbledore.
'Look, there is no point in all this blaming ourselves for the past; you have been given the chance to make up for everything now. They have returned happy, well-nourished and cared for, but immensely powerful and intelligent. Those four will put the fear of God through the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, I am sure of it,' said Snape.
'Never mind that, Black also kidnapped Ginevra and Ronald!' screeched Molly.
'No, Molly, Ginny and Ron went with Harry and Sirius by their own power. I understand that Ginny was born six weeks premature and that she needed constant care during her infancy, but it should not have come at the expense of Ron. You smothered Ginny and ignored Ron, making him feel sad and lonely. Now, being as close in age as they are, I suspect Ginny felt sad for Ron, and more than likely, a little tired of your smothering and controlling ways. After all, you would have never allowed her to ride a broomstick, would you?' said Arthur.
'Again, this is getting you nowhere,' said Snape, 'placing blame on each other or Black is a waste of time. Now, if there are no more issues to discuss, I would like to go home.'
'Of course, the meeting is over, Severus, you may leave,' said Dumbledore.
Snape then left without another word.