Disclaimer: I wish that I owned Harry Potter
Chapter Five
"Harry," Hermione whispered. "Where are we going to go?"
He shook his head. "Not sure but for now, I think I'm going to go look through Snape's things. I figured you'd want to come too."
She nodded quietly. "Do you think she really meant all those things she said?"
Harry still hadn't told her what Mrs. Weasley had said to him. He was afraid it would make it even worse for her. "I'm sure she's just upset." He brought her tightly to his side. "Now hold on."
"Maybe, I should do it." Hermione laughed. "Considering you technically don't even have your license."
He smiled. "If it will please you, though, I think that's the ministry's least concern."
They apparated to Hogsmeade, and continued to walk the rest of the way in silence.
The gates were open but the campus was silent.
"Do you think anyone's here?" Hermione asked.
"Have to be. They wouldn't just leave the gate open, plus I imagine the professors live here during the summer as well as the year." He said.
"I've never really thought about what happens to Hogwarts during the summer…" Hermione said as they walked through the doors.
It was eerily quiet and empty. Neither of them had ever seen it this empty.
"I guess we should go to the headmaster's office." He mumbled.
"We don't know the password." She was practically whispering. It seemed wrong to speak loudly when there was no one there.
"Well, we'll figure something out." He said.
They reached the gargoyle and this time it wouldn't let them up.
"What do you suggest we do now, oh great Chosen One?" She laughed.
He stuck his tongue out at her. "Professor McGonagall!" He shouted. "It's Harry! Can you let us up please!"
There was silence. "Professor McGonagall!"
"The off is sound proof in case you didn't know. And I thought I told you to call me Minerva."
Harry smiled. "Sorry."
"I didn't expect you to come so suddenly." She said.
"Well we needed to leave the Burrow." Hermione whispered.
Professor McGonagall stayed quiet for a moment. "I'm sure everything will be alright."
Harry nodded.
"Now, I moved all of Professor Snape's things to his old office for the mean time. We haven't hired any new teachers yet I'm afraid." She began to walk with them towards the office. "Unfortunately, some are a little too scared to come back to Hogwarts after what happened. And everyone's even more paranoid than they were the first time he disappeared."
"But he didn't disappear this time. He's really dead." Hermione said.
"Of course but that doesn't stop the fear in our heart does it? I mean we all know that no one will come to kill us if we go to the bathroom at night in the dark but that doesn't stop people from fearing that someone will." She said.
"That makes sense." Harry said.
"Well here we are." She said. "If you need anything I'll be in my office, there's quite a bit of stuff here so if you get hungry, you can ask one of the house elves to make you something. When you're done make sure to stop by my office. I'll tell the gargoyle to let you up."
They went inside the office and were hit with the dreariness of the office.
"I forgot how dark and cold it is in here." Hermione said. "Why are we doing this again?"
"Because, he was good." Harry said. "And I owe it to him."
It took them most of the day to clean through the office, the majority of which were potions and textbooks and unimportant things.
"Harry, we've been here for hours, and we've only found materials for a potion's class. I mean there's nothing here to even say that this was his office." She said.
"I know." He said. "I was just hoping that there was something more."
"Harry…"
"Yeah?"
"Where are we going to go after this? I mean we can't go back to the Burrow…and my parents are in Australia and it's not like we can back to your aunt and uncle's—"
"Oh no!" Harry said his eyes suddenly widening.
"What?"
"I forgot about the Dursely's!"
"What do you mean you forgot about the Dursley's?" She asked.
"I forgot to get them out of hiding…"
"What?" She screamed.
"You think that's bad?" He asked.
"Harry!"
"I'm sorry; I'll go send an owl, when we're leaving." He said. "I'm sure they're perfectly fine."
"Did you ever think they might be worried about you?"
"No."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Come on, I'm tired. We can stop by the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer."
Hermione got up and walked out of the office but Harry stayed behind for a few minutes. He wondered how he could spend so long here and not have even left a mark.
He sighed and left the office and went to Professor McGonagall's office.
"Find anything of interest?" She asked.
He shook his head. "It's almost as if he didn't exist."
"Hard to believe," She said. "I'm used to seeing him around here and now he's just gone."
"Well what about his painting?" Hermione asked. "I mean he was headmaster, it's only fair that he get his painting up."
"The only Slytherin headmaster since my time!" Phineas Nigellus' painting said.
"Thank you for the information." Harry said. "But as Hermione said why isn't his painting up? Dumbledore's was up almost immediately."
"Yes well, technically, Professor Snape abandoned his post at the school, so he is not eligible to put up his painting." She said.
"That's horrible!" Hermione said. "After everything he did for us and they won't put up his painting."
"She's right, he deserves to have his painting put up." Harry said.
"I believe," Dumbledore's painting spoke for the first time since they had entered the office. "A complaint to the ministry from the Chosen One may have a good result."
"He is correct." Professor McGonagall said. "I think you could tell them to set their houses on fire and they would."
Harry smiled.
"I think we should be going now, it's late and Harry has a letter to send." Hermione said.
It was dark when they left the Three Broomsticks. They had stalled as long as they could but they had to leave as it was time for Rosmerta to close up.
"We could go to 12 Grimmauld Place." Harry said. "But we have no idea what Yaxley or any other Death Eaters did to it."
"Well what about Kreacher?" Hermione asked.
"You're willing to put a house elf in danger?" Harry asked.
She shoved him playfully to the side. "No, but he was there while Yaxley was there, maybe he could tell us what to look out for or if there's even a house still there."
Harry shrugged. "Might as well try." He stopped walking. "Kreacher!"
There was a loud crack and Kreacher stood in front of them. "Master Harry, you called?"
"Yes, Kreacher. Have you been to the house since we were last there?" He asked.
"Yes, Master, it was bad. The man who appeared tried to take me but I was able to get away to Hogwarts. I went back after a few days; they had gone through everything and destroyed the Master's home. I tried to clean it as best I could but I feared they would come back Master."
"It's alright Kreacher." Harry said. "Thank you. Is there anything that could hurt us when we get there?"
"No. Is Master Harry thinking about going back?" Kreacher seemed excited at the idea of them going back.
"For tonight at least."
His eyes shone. "Can Kreacher come with you?"
"Kreacher is welcome to do as he pleases." Hermione said.
Kreacher smiled and there was another loud crack and he disappeared.
Kreacher was not lying when he had said the house was destroyed. It was practically in shambles.
As soon as they came in Mrs. Black's painting started screaming and Kreacher was trying to calm her down.
"Oh shut it." Hermione mumbled and pointed her wand at the painting and causing it to silence.
There seemed to be a path cleared around all the rubble, probably from when Kreacher had tried to clean up.
"The kitchen is completely destroyed, all the plates and everything are smashed." Hermione said as she came from the kitchen.
"Dining room is too. I'm not even sure I want to go into the bedrooms." Harry said. "What were they looking for?"
"My guess…you." She said.
"Kreacher! Was anything missing?" Harry asked.
Kreacher sadly came into the dining room, where they were standing. "Only whatever treasures that were left."
Harry sighed. He hoped he hadn't taken anything of Sirius'. "Well, Yaxley's in Azkaban now, we may be able to ask Kingsley if we can find out about the things he took."
"I don't know Harry, going to Azkaban. Just to get stuff back." She sat down in one of the chairs for the dining room set.
"If it's Sirius' stuff, it's worth it." He said.
She nodded and quietly looked at the table.
"Hey Kreacher, why don't you try and clean up the kitchen so we can have something to eat soon."
"Yes Master Harry." He said before leaving to the kitchen.
He sat down in the chair next to Hermione's. "You miss them don't you?"
She nodded.
"I miss them too. Mrs. Weasley is just upset over Fred, and she'll come to her senses in a few days."
Hermione nodded.
"Ron said that you were making plans to go back to get your parents."
"I need to, it's not like I can just leave them there and Kingsley said it would be more effective if I talk to them. He said that the charm I put on them might be too strong but it'll be impossible to know until I try." She whispered.
They heard the door open and then there was a banging before Mrs. Black started screaming again.
They ran to the front door with their wands ready.
"Bloody hell, stop screaming woman!"
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"That would be me." He grunted and pushed himself off the ground. "What is all this crap?"
"About a hundred years of Black memorabilia." Harry said. "What are you doing here? Your mum's probably going to kill you."
"Well…" He stuffed his hands in his pocket and looked at Hermione.
"Right then." Harry said as Hermione blushed.
"Look, Mum and Dad had a real row after you guys left, Ginny too. She hasn't left her room since you guys left. Dad says he's going to get her to apologize but that she needs a few days, he didn't want you guys to leave but he thinks it's best if you guys stay away for a while. And he's—we're all really sorry about what she did to you Hermione, and what she said to you Harry, that was unforgivable."
"What did she say to you?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing that matters, I know it wasn't really her. How did you find us?" Harry asked.
He pulled out the Deluminator. "I'd always want to come back right?" He put it back and pulled out his wand. He muttered a spell and then some of their things appeared. "I brought stuff, just in case. Clothes, Hermione's books, and such. I also brought Lupin's trunk I figured you'd want to keep looking through it but seeing how everything is here, we might have enough to go through."
"We?" Hermione asked.
"Well you didn't think I'd just let you both stay here alone?" He asked her.
"But your mum…"
"Is acting insane and I reckon she could use a time out." Ron said and looked at her intensely.
"I'm going to go and check on the bedrooms." Harry mumbled before running up the stars, not that he thought anyone would care.
When Harry was out of sight, Hermione went over to Ron and pulled his lips to her.
"Hey." He laughed when she pulled away from him. He ran his hands down her arms. "I missed you too."
"I'm so sorry about everything with your mom." She said quickly.
"Don't worry about she's gone absolutely nuts." He said. "I was more worried about you. I wanted to go after you but mum threatened to kick me out of the house, and I couldn't do that to her."
"But you left anyway." She said.
"Well…" He sighed. "I felt absolutely dreadful while you were gone, even worse that I didn't go after you. All I wanted to do was go and find you, and then I couldn't figure out where you would go. I thought about here but I wasn't sure, and Dad wouldn't let me leave. I don't think he really knows that I'm gone right now. I mean he will when he comes to search for me for dinner. But once I heard the Deluminator again I had to go." He reached down to hold her hand.
She smiled and reached up to kiss him again.
It was a slow and tender kiss. Ron was pretty sure these were becoming his favorite kinds of kisses. They lacked the obvious passion of their other kisses but these kisses were intimate and practically perfect. He could feel every inch of her pressed against him and felt as if they were one person.
The hand that was still holding his reached up to stroke his check, and he let go before wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I love you." He mumbled in between their kisses.
She smiled. "I love you too."
Harry spent most of his night cleaning Sirius' room, which was so destroyed it looked as if a teenage boy still lived there. He only stopped to have dinner, which he ate in the dining room with Ron and Hermione. Who luckily for him, kept their snogging to a minimum.
When he finished cleaning up it was practically midnight. He stared out the window and started thinking about Ginny. He decided he wanted to send her a letter, but without Hedwig it was pretty impossible.
He wondered if the Owl Post Office in Hogsmeade was still open but doubted it. He sighed and realized that he was going to have to buy a new owl and soon.
He walked over to Lupin's school trunk, which he had brought upstairs, and opened it to continue looking inside. He sat cross-legged on the floor and pulled out all of the things he had already gone through.
He noticed something at the top that he hadn't seen before. It was another letter addressed to him with a scratchy hand writing. He slowly opened it and realized that it was from Lupin.
Dear Harry,
I figure if you're reading this I'm dead. I packed this trunk a few months after Sirius died. I know how much his death affected you and I figured should something happen to me that I wanted you to have things to remind you of us, as well as your parents. I gathered up anything that reminded me of them, which unfortunately was just about everything from my schooling experience. I also attempt to rewrite this letter whenever I have some downtime, with all the darkness going on in the world, it's customary to believe that something will happen to me at any moment. With any luck, I'll be able to show you all these things myself but, I don't think that I will. I hope in the future you will be able to show these things to Teddy as well. I want you to do your best to keep me alive for him as I have tried to do for you. I may not have done it effectively but I've tried my best. Please do know Harry that I cared for you deeply, as did Sirius and your parents, and that if anything does happen to me, I'll be glad to know that you are trying to make this a better world for my wife and son. Take good care of Teddy. I know that you'll try your best.
Lupin
Harry slowly put the letter down into the trunk. The letter only reinforced everything he had basically known but it did not make him feel any better.
He still missed them all terribly.
He attempted to distract himself by continuing to go through the things. He was surprised to pull out a flask. It weighed as if there was a liquid inside.
He couldn't imagine that Lupin had left him a drink. He opened the flask and inspected the contents. Inside was a clear, silver, glowing liquid. He instantly recognized it as the form that memories take.
Lupin had left him memories.
"Kreacher!" He called quietly incase Ron and Hermione were asleep.
"Yes Master Harry?" He asked running into his room.
"Do we have a pensive here?"
"We did, but it was one of the stolen items."
Harry nodded. "It's alright Kreacher, I'll try to find one tomorrow, I think I'm going to have to go to Diagon Alley, there are a few things we need."
The next day Harry woke up early so he would be able to go to get everything he needed.
He walked into the kitchen to find Ron and Hermione feeding each other with goofy smiles on their faces.
He made a fake vomiting sound and Ron threw a piece of bread at him.
"Sorry."
"So what's on the agenda today?" Ron asked as Kreacher gave harry a plate of food.
"I was thinking of heading into Diagon Alley, care to join me?"
Ron nodded. "What do you need?"
"Well, I figure I'm going to have to get an owl, had to sooner or later, and I'm going to need a pensive." He said.
"A pensive?" Hermione asked curiously. "Why?"
"One of Lupin's things was a flask of memories." Harry said.
"Well that's wonderful." Hermione said.
Ron agreed and began to talk with his mouth full. "Rat's Really Reat!
"Ron don't speak with your mouth full." Hermione said. "It's gross."
He leaned over to her and held his mouth open so she could see his half chewed food.
She tried to push him away with a disgusted look. Finally when he got away he swallowed and kissed her quickly.
"You're absolutely disgusting." She said but she was still smiling.
Harry rolled his eyes and was very aware of how much he missed Ginny. "Kreacher is there anything we need when I go out?"
"Do not worry about it Master, anything we need Kreacher will get."
"Actually, I want to go Kreacher, just tell me if we need anything." He said.
Kreacher sighed. "Many of things were destroyed by the bad people. Most linens, and this is the only plates Kreacher was able to save."
"So basically buy plates, and all the bed stuff. Got it." Harry said and put his plate in the sink.
Diagon Alley was completely different than it had been the last time they were there.
"Wow." Ron said. "Everything's just back."
"Look!" Hermione cried and pointed. "Ollivander's is back!" She happily ran over to the shop and walked inside and the boys followed her.
"Ollivander." She smiled happily.
"Well hello Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter." He said happily.
There was a hush around the store crowd when all the wizards noticed who it was. Harry sighed but walked up to the counter, such as he had many years before.
"You're looking a lot better than the last time I saw you." Harry said.
"I could say the same for you." He said.
Harry smiled.
"I heard a rumor that you were able to fix your wand. I wonder if you would be willing to tell me how."
Harry laughed. "Maybe one day. Not now though."
Customers waited patiently and Harry noticed a few of them were snapping photos of the three of them.
"I think we've taken up enough of your time." Ron said noticing his discomfort. "We'll see you around."
Ollivander nodded. "Don't hesitate to stop by. Oh and do ask your friend, Luna, how her wand is working for her? Will you?"
They nodded and walked out of the shop.
"Do you ever get used to it?" Hermione asked as Ron slipped his arm around her shoulder. "The people staring?"
"Eventually." Harry mumbled. "I need to go to Gringotts but I'm not sure they'll let me in."
Ron nodded. "Well, we won't know until we try. Plus you gave Griphook the sword."
"More like he stole it and if Neville pulled it out of the sorting hat, I don't believe he has it anymore." Harry said.
"Oh, that makes sense." Ron said. "Well might as well go for it."
"Easy for you to say, they don't have every inch of your life savings at their disposal."
"Well, they can't very well open it without the key can they?" Hermione asked.
"I suppose not." Harry said.
So that's it, I'm not planning to write the trip into Gringotts but the next one is continued in Diagon Alley after. Also, I decided to start answering some of your questions.
To Ghostchicken, I know this wasn't a question but with Malfoy's conviction, they didn't necessarily have to bring him to trial. For example, Sirius was arrested and convicted without a trial.
And to sbmcneil, sorry if you got confused in Chapter 3. What happened was that Andromeda couldn't handle being at the service so Harry and Hermione found her, because they had Teddy and then gave him to her, but she had to come back to get the caskets, and when she came back she gave Teddy back to Harry so that she could apparate with the caskets back to her house.
Ok, thats it. Also I know Molly's resolution wasn't here yet but it will be dragged on for a few chapters. Also if there's anything you guys want to see, let me know. I'll try to add it in. "D
Now REVIEW