Chapter fifteen

Over the next few weeks Harry made some fake wands, some were shaped differently, some were carved. Harry would carve the different types of animals on each handle, that were used for the cores of wands. He thought it would make the wand more unique. So like his phoenix feather wand, if he was making it today he would have a phoenix carved into the wand to match the core.

Harry did read that another one of the child abusers had been found dead in his cell at Azkaban and just like the others, he had been boiled from the inside, leaving his outside perfectly normal. Even though he didn't remember doing it, he couldn't care that he had killed anyone, especially those men.

Harry was sitting on the floor finishing up the last of his sample wands ready to show Garrick Ollivander when an owl fly in and dropped an envelope in Harry's lap before flying out.

"Harry, I have something quite disturbing to discuss with you. Unless you have plans you cannot change I will be there at two o'clock today. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic."

Harry stared down at the letter, it was so different from all the other letters he received from Kingsley, it was short and it didn't give away what was going on.

Harry quickly flooed into Severus's rooms then headed to his office. He stuck his head through, once he saw Severus alone in his office he stepped through.

'Severus.'

'Harry, what brings you here?'

Harry stopped beside the desk then held out the letter, 'I don't know what to make of it.'

'Do you wish me to join you for this meeting?'

Harry nodded, 'Yeah, if you can, I'm just nervous as to why. It's the letter Severus, it's not like how Kingsley usually writes to me.'

'Yes, it does seem a bit abrupt, more formal than what a friend would write.'

'You don't think he found out it was me, do you?'

'No, no one was seen Harry, you were not there, your soul was. It would be impossible for anyone to find out what you did. I am the only one that saw those films, they are now hidden and we only agreed to hide them instead of destroying them in case they were needed as evidence.'

'What if the Unspeakable's or someone found out what was going on?'

'Harry, even magic has its limit. There is no physical proof that you were at Azkaban. No one can get into that place without the guards knowing. The theory going around now is there deaths have something to do with the dark mark and how they used their connection to Voldemort to commit murder and torture. I escaped this as I turned my back on the dark and re-joined the light.'

'Um, I could get rid of the dark mark for you, we could say that's why you haven't been boiled to death, you won't have the mark anymore.'

'I know you are powerful Harry, but even your power would not be able to remove that.'

'I know I can, it might be a little uncomfortable, it might hurt, but I know I can do it, if you let me.'

'Stay here, let me tell Minerva I will be gone for a few hours. We will then go to your place and I will allow you to try. If it works then yes, we can go with the rumour that is currently the most logical reason why those in Azkaban are dying. I'll be right back,' Severus stood then stopped beside Harry, 'As you can see, I removed his portrait to one of the cellars. He was never going to return so I figured the blank canvas should be removed. But I also thought there might be a chance he might return to that painting when you were here. I did not want you to see him.'

'Thanks, I've been worried about that. I thought maybe I could visit you here but kept picturing him up there on the wall, staring down at me, giving me those looks.'

'Now you do not have to worry about that.'

Harry sat on the chair facing the desk, he stared up at all the other former headmasters and headmistresses. He wondered if they knew what was going on with Dumbledore. As Harry got lost in his thoughts an owl flew in and landed on the desk.

'He'll be right back, unless you want to give me the letter?' Harry smiled when the owl held out it's leg, so he undid the small scroll then watched the owl fly away.

'We can go now Harry.'

'An owl delivered this, it let me take it for you, it has the minister's seal on it,' Harry held out the scroll.

Severus unrolled the scroll, "Headmaster, I need to speak with you regarding an urgent matter. If you could open your floo at three, I will come through. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic."

'Now I am worried.'

'Let's get to your place, if you can remove the dark mark we can discuss what the Minister might wish to talk to both of us about.'

Harry went first, then Severus, they sat together on the sofa, Harry pushed Severus's sleeve up then place his right hand over the dark mark.

Severus watched Harry's face, his eyes were closed, he's brow furrowed as he concentrated. Severus didn't believe Harry could remove the dark mark but decided to let him try. His arm started to get warm, so warm that it was like he was holding it close to a fire. When Severus thought he could not take any more a sharp stabbing pain slashed across his arm making him gasp.

'I'm sorry if that hurt,' Harry panted, 'It was connected to your magical core.'

'Was,' Severus looked down at his arm as Harry removed his hand, 'It's gone, completely.'

'I had to severe it from your core before I could pull it out.'

'How did you know you could remove that?'

'The wand,' Harry looked up at Severus, 'He used his wand to perform the magic on that mark, I am the owner of that wand now even if it's been destroyed. So the magic around the dark mark recognised me which allowed me to reverse it. I just had to make it release your core, which is very powerful by the way.'

'Now it makes sense,' Severus smiled, 'Thank you, I never liked looking at that.'

'No, you wouldn't, I didn't like seeing it either, it reminds me of the graveyard.'

'Yes, it would. Well, now we have the perfect excuse to go with those rumours of why those death eaters are being boiled alive.'

'I got a flash this morning, like I was trying to remember a dream. I think I worked out why they are being boiled. It starts with their magical core, I'm burning their magic away, but it's destroying everything at the same time. It's like fiend fyre, apart from burning everything in its path, it destroys wards, enchantments and magical objects. So I'm destroying them from their core out which is destroying their body.'

'Maybe your subconscious wishes to remove their magic, but yes, it can't unless it destroys everything else. Unless I could get copies of the autopsy we would be just speculating but I believe your theory is right,' Severus picked up one of the fake wands, 'These are remarkable Harry, you have a gift. Have you shown them to Garrick yet?'

'No, I plan to tomorrow, but this is a copy of my wand. I thought if I was making a wand then I would match the core with the picture of the magical being that supplied the core,' Harry pulled out his wand which was the same shape and length as the fake wand, but this one had a phoenix on it.

'Yes, it could make the owner feel more connected to their wands.'

'What is your core, if you don't mind me asking?'

'I don't, it's a tail hair from a hippogriff, but this is my third wand, the first two were destroyed. Most adults will go through a few wands in their lifetime, especially with a war going on.'

'Were they all different?'

'Yes, different wood and cores. Ah, but I think you're guest has arrived.'

Harry got up to opened the door, 'Hello Minister, come in.'

'My auror guard must come in with me Harry.'

'Does he know I have to connect him first? I wouldn't like an auror to think I'm going to curse him.'

'He knows,' Kingsley smiled.

Harry did his charms then stepped back to allow the two men in, 'I was talking to Severus about your letter when he received yours.'

'Then it makes this easier. I'll start with Severus if you don't mind?'

'Not at all,' Severus waited until Harry sat beside him, the minister sat opposite with his auror guard standing behind him.

Harry and Severus could tell that whatever Kingsley needed to talk to them about was serious, now they just had to hear what was going on.