The Heiress

by MysteriousMagic98

Story 2 to the Half-Blood Princess series With the refusal to accept Voldemort's offer, consequences will occur. Much of the wizarding community is refusing to believe Peri that He is back. She begins to face many challenges of losing trust in the ones she cares about. Her dad, Severus Snape, is there to guide her but can she trust him?

4. Chapter 4: Harry's Return

Chapter 4: Harry's Arrival

In the days following Peri and George's breakup, everyone learned dementors had attacked Harry and his cousin, "I am going to help the Order and bring Harry here," Richard told them as he grabbed his broom.

Cassie stood by Molly as they were making afternoon tea, "I don't know if that is such a good idea. What if you get hurt?"

"Flying to bring Harry here? He is safer here after that dementor attack," Richard looked at Sirius sitting at the kitchen table with Ida doing the crossword in the Daily Prophet. Sirius did not enjoy the crosswords but Ida enjoyed them and he loved more than anything to make her happy.

Sirius looked up from the paper, "Cass, your husband will be fine. He is going with Tonks, Mad-Eye, Kingsley, and other Order members to bring Harry to where he will be safer."

She placed a hand on her growing belly, "What about RJ?"

Richard raised a brow in confusion, "What about him darling?"

"He needs his father."

He sighed softly, handing his broom to Alicia who happily accepted it. Similar to muggle men loving fast, shiny cars this was Richard but with brooms. He had a very impressive collection of the newest and vintage brooms. He touched her belly, "I promise I am not going anywhere. I made a vow to you. For richer or poorer…"

"He just got richer…" Fred and George whispered to one another with a slight laugh.

"...Till death do us part. I am not leaving you until we are old and gray. Each wrinkle will simply tell a story." He cupped her face before kissing her, "I love you very much. I will come back to you."

Tonks poked her head into the kitchen, "Mad-Eye is ready, Richard."

"I'll be right there," he slowly released Cassie, "And I'll be back I promise you."

He turned to leave, "Richard…"

He had reached the doorway taking his broom back from Alicia, "Yes, darling?"

"I love you."

Richard smiled softly at her, "And I love you forever."

He left with Tonks, she turned to lean against a counter as Molly handed her a cup of tea, "I can't imagine losing him."

Molly looked at the table where the kids, Sirius, Remus, Arthur, and Emilie sat. She nodded toward Sirius who stood up moving from his daughter to Cassie, who was his longest-lasting friend. Emilie was incredibly jealous of their relationship but their relationship was nothing more than platonic. Sirius took Cassie's hand leading her to the table and sitting her down in his seat before kneeling at her side, "Cass, your husband is going to be safe. Remus and I will ensure he is safe from any danger when we are fighting for the Order."

She watched her chipped tea ripple from a tear that fell in it, "Mom?" Peri spoke softly.

Cassie raised her head to look across the table at her eldest then a sudden thought occurred to her. She whipped her head to face Sirius, "You! You convinced my husband to join the Order! I lose my husband it will be on you, Sirius!"

Sirius stumbled back a little at her sudden tone, "Cass, I simply told him that Remus and I were rejoining. He wants to protect you and your children."

"The Order is a death sentence."

"It is not!" Sirius argued back.

Cassie stood up angrily as her chair fell back with a crash making the kids jump slightly jump. "Really? Allow me to name a few of them who lost their lives to this. Ann! Patrick! Marlene! Molly's brothers! Your brother! James! Lily! These are just to name a few."

Sirius stared down at his friend, "You are tired. It must be the pregnancy hormones causing you to attack this way."

Molly came to Cassie's side with a bottle of dreamless sleep potion. "Here why don't you go rest? We can make you when Richard returns."

Cassie looked at the bottle being offered to her and then at Sirius, "All of you questioned then why I didn't join?" she glanced at her children sitting at the table wide-eyed as they had never seen their mother raise her voice or become angry. She looked back at Sirius, "I had a daughter who I could not risk leaving alone. Hallie and Holly already lost their parents. Harry lost his parents and for what? A meaningless war."

She popped the top of the potion before drinking the contents, she left the room as the room remained in awkward silence.

Sirius sat down in the empty chair as Emilie took his hand, "She's wrong. Joining the Order is a great honor."

"I didn't think Mom was ever wrong," Alicia whispered to Peri.

Sirius laughed, "Your mum has been wrong countless times. Right more often than wrong but still wrong."

Molly shook her head going over to the auburn-haired girl placing a biscuit on her plate, "Sirius, I don't think it is appropriate to speak to the children as if they are adults. Alicia is only eleven."

"Alicia is far old enough…they all are to know right from wrong. I knew my parents were wrong from a young age, they should be able to know that too. They are all old enough to make up their minds."

Ida looked at her father, "Can I fight Dad?"

Sirius looked at her, "No. You are too delicate. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. You are my little girl."

She looked at her friends, "How about we go upstairs?" Peri suggested.

They all stood up and went upstairs and went up to Ida's bedroom, "It is unfair!" she went to the window seat. I thought he would want me to fight, I could be around him more."

"He just wants you safe," Peri attempted to comfort her as she offered her a tissue.

She accepted it, "Thank you…I know he wants to protect me, but I want to fight. I am sure he would give Harry anything he wanted."

"We don't know that," Peri said.

"I just want him to want me. Spend time with me, but I keep going back to that moment when he escaped. He chose to find Harry, not me or my brother. He chose him."

Holly shook her head, "We have been over this Ida. He went to prove his innocence to be with you and your brother."

"I don't know…"

That evening noises were heard downstairs, Peri went to the balcony overlooking the foyer where she saw Richard had returned with everyone including Harry. Cassie rushed past her daughters as they joined Peri at the railing, "Richard…"

Cassie hugged him, "I was so worried."

"You are already pregnant, Cassie. Calm down," Mad-Eye grumbled pushing past them as Richard held her close.

Hurried footsteps sounded as Molly came up from the kitchen, "Oh, Harry, it's lovely to see you!" She pulled him into a tight hug, she then held him at arm's length and examined him. "You are looking peaky; you need feeding up, but you'll have to wait a bit for dinner, I'm afraid…"

She looked at Richard and the other wizards behind them, "He's just arrived, the meeting's started…"

Harry looked toward the door where Richard followed with Cassie and the others, he attempted to follow before Molly stopped him, "No, Harry, the meeting's only for members of the Order," she looked up above them at Peri, her sisters, and Ida. "Ah, Ida," Molly whispered in hopes of not waking the portrait of Ida's grandmother. "Harry, Ida will show you where to go upstairs, you can wait up there with everyone until the meeting is over and then we will serve dinner. Your favorite for your birthday."

Ida scoffed, "Precious Harry Potter. Always gets what he wants," she hissed in a low whisper to the other girls before turning to make her way down the stairs. "We have to whisper," she told him.

He looked at her pushing his long, black hair back, "Why?"

"We don't want to wake anything."

"What?"

"We will explain later," Molly ushered him up the stairs, "Girls, show him around. I have to be at the meeting."

Molly then disappeared down into the kitchen. Ida brought him up the stairs, "Come on, Harry," Peri had him follow them to the second landing.

"What is going on here?" he asked as they stopped in front of a door that would be his and Ron's room.

"This is my house," Ida spoke snobbishly towards him.

He gave her a confused look before shaking his head and looking back at Peri, "Ok…but what is going on downstairs."

"Who knows, Molly thinks that Ron and Hermione will know. How can they if we don't know," Peri said opening the door, "But we are glad you are safe after that attack."

The room was gloomy with high ceilings and two twin beds, there was a shriek before Hermione threw herself around Harry in a tight hug nearly knocking him to the ground. Pigwidgeon was flying around the room excitedly.

"Harry! Ron, he's here! Harry's here! We didn't hear you arrive! Oh, how are you? Are you alright? Have you been furious with us? I bet you have, I know our letters were useless — but we couldn't tell you anything, Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn't, oh, we've got so much to tell you, and you've got to tell us — the dementors! When we heard — and that Ministry hearing — it's just outrageous. I thought Peri's custody trial was outrageous but this is entirely more."

Peri scoffed, "Thanks, Hermione," she spoke sarcastically.

"Sorry, Peri but yours is legal. Harry's hearing is not. What are they trying him for? Protecting himself? Professor Sna…your dad wants you which I can understand I would want my child, too. Why he waited this long is beyond me?"

Hedwig whooshed through the room landing on Harry's shoulder, "Hegwig!"

The snowy owl clicked her beak and nibbled his ear affectionately as Harry stroked her feathers.

"That owl of yours is awful," Peri said moving to sit on one of the beds.

Ron nodded in agreement, "Pecked us half to death when she brought your letters, look at this —" He raised his index finger on his right hand, it had a half-healed deep cut.

"Oh…sorry about that. I wanted answers, you know…"

"Believe me we wanted to give them to you. Hermione and Holly kept saying you'd do something stupid if you were stuck all on your own without news, but Dumbledore made us —"

" — swear not to tell me," said Harry. "Yeah, Hermione's already said that."

The room strained in silence as Harry stroked Hedwig, not looking at anyone else in the room.

"He thought it was best…" Hermione said breathlessly. "Dumbledore, I mean."

"It was him who uninvited you from Ida's birthday," Peri said petting Crookshanks.

"Right," said Harry.

"He thought this was the safest…at least that is what Richard said."

"Yeah?" Harry raised a brow at Holly as he examined the others in the room. "Have any of you been attacked by dementors this summer?"

The room was silent before Ron started to speak, "Well, no — but that's why he's had people from the Order of the Phoenix tailing you all the time —"

"So the rest of you got to spend time in the French countryside then the Riveria? While I remained with the Dursleys being watched because it was supposed to be the safest place. Didn't work that well, though, did it?"

"He was so scary," Mallory chirped.

The others nodded, "Dumbledore she means. We saw him. When he found out Mundungus had left before his shift ended. He was scary," Hermione added.

"Well, I'm glad he left," he spoke coldly. "If he hadn't, I wouldn't have done magic and Dumbledore would probably have left me at Privet Drive all summer."

"Aren't you…aren't you worried about the Ministry of Magic hearing?" Hermione asked in a low whisper.

"No. Did anyone bother to ask Dumbledore why he has kept me in the dark?"

The others exchanged looks, "We told Dumbledore we wanted to tell you what was going on," Ron started, "We did mate. But he's really busy now, we've only seen him twice since we came here and he didn't have much time, he just made us swear not to tell you important stuff when we wrote, he said the owls might be intercepted —"

"He could still have kept me informed if he wanted to," Harry spoke shortly. "You're not telling me he doesn't know ways to send messages without owls."

Hermione glanced at the others before speaking, "I thought that too. But he didn't want you to know anything."

"Maybe he thinks I can't be trusted," Harry spoke watching each one of them intensely.

"Don't be thick," Ron said, looking highly disconcerted.

"Or that I can't take care of myself — Hallie is now a famous author at fifteen why is no one paying attention to her? She surely can't take care of herself or anyone. She relies on her elf for everything."

Hallie gasped, "That is rude, Harry! I am very capable of caring for myself. I am a popular author for bringing attention to Cedric, I enjoy the company of Winky."

"No one thinks that about either of you," Hermione said anxiously.

"So how come I have to stay at Dursleys' while all of you get to go on a French holiday and join in on everything here? How come everyone else is allowed to know everything that's going on — including Peri? we were there together but I am the one being shut out."

"We're not!" Ron shouted. "Mum won't let any of you near the meetings. He says we are too young. Sirius won't let Ida or Remy near them because their mum says no but he would let them…well Remy would. Sirius treats Ida like a fragile doll. The mums think we are all too young."

"SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS, BIG DEAL! YOU'VE STILL BEEN HERE OR IN FRANCE, HAVEN'T YOU? YOU'VE BEEN TOGETHER! I'VE BEEN STUCK AT THE DURSLEYS' HOUSE FOR A MONTH! AND I'VE AND I'VE HANDLED MORE THAN ANY OF YOU…" He paused to take a breath to look at Peri on the bed. "Maybe not Peri. I feel we are equal, but —" his voice rose again. "BUT SHE STILL GOT TO BE HERE! AND I'VE HANDED MORE THAN ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER MANAGED AND DUMBLEDORE KNOWS IT — WHO SAVED THE SORCERER'S STONE? WHO GOT RID OF RIDDLE? WHO SAVED BOTH OF YOUR SKINS FROM THE DEMENTORS? WHO HAD TO GET PAST DRAGONS, SPHINXES, AND EVERY FOUL THING LAST YEAR? WHO SAW HIM COME BACK? WHO HAD TO ESCAPE FROM HIM? ME…and Peri with the bits from last year. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS ME!"

Everyone stood there with mouths half-open, Hermione appeared to be on the verge of tears.

"BUT WHY SHOULD I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY SHOULD ANYONE BOTHER TO TELL ME WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?"

"Harry, we wanted to tell you, we did —" Hermione began.

Harry cut her off instantly, "CAN'T'VE WANTED TO THAT MUCH, CAN YOU, OR YOU'D SENT ME AN OWL, BUT DUMBLEDORE MADE YOU SWEAR —"

"Well, he did —"

"FOUR WEEKS I'VE BEEN STUCK IN PRIVET DRIVE, NICKING PAPERS OUT OF BINS TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON —." Harry quieted himself as he turned to look at Peri and her sisters, "I am sorry though, for the loss of your grandfather, he was well-known in the muggle world as well for his real-estate endeavors. But this does not change the reason why no one —." Harry's voice rose again, "SHOULD BOTHER TO TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!"

"We wanted to —"

"I SUPPOSE YOU'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL LAUGH, HAVEN'T YOU, ALL HELD UP HERE TOGETHER AND IN FRANCE!"

Peri moved Crookshanks to the side before standing up, "Harry, we would have told you anything and everything but we were not allowed to. We were told the Dursleys were not allowing you to leave to come to France. Although I think that is not true."

He looked at her, "They were looking forward to me being gone actually and became highly disappointed that I was staying. I was disappointed, too. I have never seen the beach."

"It was alright, mate," Ron shrugged. "Too hot. I got burned so many times not sure how since Hallie was in the sun way more than any of us."

"It is called sunscreen, Ronald," Hallie flipped her hair over her shoulder.

Harry's breathing was still deep as he glared at all of them. He began to pace up and down. Hedwig hooted glumly from the top of the wardrobe. There was a long pause, broken by the mournful creak of the floorboards below his feet.

"What is this place anyway?" he shot at them.

"Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix," said Ron at once.

Ida scoffed, "It is our home. We live here, my dad just allows the Order to have meetings here."

"Is anyone going to bother telling me what the Order of the Phoenix —?"

"It's a secret society," Peri answered quickly looking at the others around them. "Dumbledore's in charge, he founded it during the first war."

"It is the people who fought against You-Know-Who last time and those who want to this time," Holly spoke with a shuddered breath, "Like our parents were then."

Harry looked at her, "Our parents?"

She nodded looking at the ground as a blonde curl fell over her face.

"Who's in it? Now?" he asked as he came to a halt with his hands in his pockets.

"Quite a few people —" Hermione started.

" — we've met about twenty of them," Ron continued, "but we think there are more…"

Hallie spoke up, "Richard joined…it has upset Cassie greatly. The baby is alright though, Molly is keeping a close eye on her. Juniper is always close to her."

Harry glared at them, "Well?" he demanded as his eyes flipped back and forth between them.

"Well, what?" Ron asked nervously.

"Voldemort!" Harry said furiously, causing everyone in the room except Peri to flinch. "What's happening? What's he up to? Where is he? What are we doing to stop him?"

"Nothing," Peri and Ida groaned before exchanging looks.

Peri continued, "They won't let us in the meetings. So we don't know the details."

Hermione spoke up nervously, "We got a general idea."

"Fred and George have invented Extendable Ears, see," said Ron. "They're really useful."

"Extendable —?" Harry questioned.

"Ears, yeah. Only we've had to stop using them lately because the mums found out and went berserk. Fred and George had to hide them all to stop Mum from binning them. But we got a good bit of use of them before Mum realized what was going on. We know some of the Order are following known Death Eaters, keeping tabs on them, you know."

Hermione nodded continuing, " — some of them are working on recruiting more people to the order."

Holly added more, "Sirius recruited Richard and that has been a daily argument between him and Cassie. She has to be given a calming potion or dreamless sleep if Richard is not around her. She is terrified something will happen to him."

"Some of them are standing guard over something," said Ron. "They're always talking about guard duty."

"That was Harry," Peri told him.

"Oh, yeah."

Harry snorted as Peri rolled her eyes taking her seat on the bed again, "Not much is different here than any other summer or from the past school year. Hallie is now a published author, Papa…Richard is now the richest wizard in the world and is now supposed to have some ceremony or something like that because his family comes from Merlin."

"We've been decontaminating this house! So many chores!" Hallie shrieked. "I thought we paid people to clean."

"This is what we get for having a spoiled princess," Peri told them.

Harry laughed as Hallie narrowed her eyes at her sister. Suddenly there were two loud cracks Fred and George appeared in the room. Fred pulled Hallie close to him and spun her around.

"Fred!" she squealed wrapping her arms around him.

"So that hasn't changed…" Harry started as the room grew awkward feeling as this was the first time that Peri and George were physically in the same room with one another since their breakup.

"Well one thing has changed…" Ron started.

Peri stood up with a huff, "We broke up. People break up. We shouldn't have, but we did because someone chose to believe papers instead of his girlfriend."

George glared at her, "You had a picture across multiple publications that showed you in Malfoy's arms!"

"It meant nothing! I fell!"

George scoffed, "Yeah right. I have eyes, Peri!"

"Stop doing that!" Hermione fussed at them and the twins.

The three of them looked at her.

"You two stop fighting. You broke up, alright. Move on. Fred and George stop apparating everywhere."

"Hello, Harry," George said as he beamed at him. His eyes still glared at Peri though. "We thought we heard your dulcet tones."

"You don't want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry, let it all out," Fred spoke as he had his arms wrapped around Hallie while he beamed as well, but his eyes were more pleasant and relaxed. "There might be a couple of people fifty miles away who didn't hear you."

"You two passed your Apparation tests, then?" Harry asked grumpily.

"With distinction," said Fred, "Although Cassie got very upset with me when I tried to apparate into Hallie's room."

"Want to join the bet?" George whispered to Harry, "We are betting to see when they will end up pregnant?"

"We are not getting pregnant!" Hallie fussed at them, "No time soon that is. Rain is not coming any time soon."

"Rain?" Harry questioned.

"The name they chose if they ever have a girl which simply confirms they are wanting a baby," George teased.

"Will you drop it?" Fred asked. "It doesn't bother me but it bothers Hallie greatly."

George looked at Hallie who was looking down at Fred's hand that was wrapped around her protectively as if his embrace could protect her from the words.

"I'm sorry, Hal."

She looked up through her long, dark lashes "It is alright, George."

Fred placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, "Now shall we have some fun with the Extendable Ears?"

"Yes!" Alicia squealed.

The group laughed as Fred and George popped away taking Hallie with them.

"To the hall," Peri hopped off the bed and was the first of the remaining group to leave Harry and Ron's bedroom.

"You could have walked," Ron said, "It would have taken an extra thirty seconds."

"Time is Galleons, little brother," said Fred keeping an arm wrapped around Hallie as he had a very long, flesh-colored string. "Anyway, Harry, these are Extendable Ears. It was Alicia here who gave us the idea, the sneaky devil."

"What can I say? I am cute and tiny."

They laughed quietly not wanting to get caught.

"They hold that piece of string over the landing and we can hear what is downstairs," Peri told him. "It is truly helpful…they are trying to come up with a version for my trial so they can listen in."

"And we are getting there," Fred told her.

"You must be careful," Ron said as he stared at the ear. "On both parts now and then. If Mum sees one of them again…"

"It is worth the risk, that is a major meeting they are having."

The door opened and Ginny approached them, "I thought I heard voices out here." She spotted Harry, "Oh, hello, Harry!" She turned towards Fred and George with the Extendable Ears, "It's a no-go with the Extendable Ears, she's gone and put an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door."

"How d'you know?" George asked, appearing crestfallen.

"Tonks told me how to find out. You just chuck stuff at the door and if it can't make contact the door's been Imperturbed. I've been flicking Dungbombs at it from the top of the stairs and they just soar away from it, so there's no way the Extendable Ears will be able to get under the gap."

"Shame," Fred sighed deeply. "I fancied finding out what old Snape's been up to."

"Snape?" Harry said quickly. "Is he here?"

Peri went wide-eyed, "My father?"

George glanced at her briefly, "Yeah…" He carefully closed the door behind them and took a seat on one of the beds. Fred sat next to him pulling Hallie into his lap with Ginny sitting on the other bed. "Giving a report. Top secret."

"Git," Fred said idly.

"He's on our side now," Hermione reminded.

Peri shook her head, "Yet he is trying to steal me away from my parents."

"That's right, Peri." Ron agreed.

"How can he be on our side when at the end of the Tournament, Voldemort tried to steal me to be on his side and my father is known as Death Eater."

"Former Death Eater," Hermione reminded her.

"How do we know that?"

"Dumbledore trusts him."

Peri rolled her eyes, "No! I don't trust that."

"What? You don't trust Dumbledore?" Hermione questioned in shock.

She shook her head, "No. My mom does not. She respects him and I am grateful for him allowing us to transfer to Hogwarts but I do not respect him."

"Bill does not like Snape either but your mum is the only one to not trust Dumbledore," Ginny said.

Harry sank onto the bed that Ginny sat on, "Bill is here? I thought he was working in Egypt?"

"He applied for a desk job so he could come home and work for the Order," Fred started. "He says he misses the tombs, but," he smirked as he twirled a piece of Hallie's chestnut hair around his finger, "there are compensations…"

Harry raised a brow, "What d'you mean?"

"Fleur," Peri answered.

Ida nodded, "She got a job at Gringotts to improve her English. She was telling me at my birthday, she has improved actually."

" — and Bill's been giving her a lot of private lessons," sniggered Fred.

Hallie glared at him, "Don't be rude, Freddie. Fleur is my friend and Bill is your brother."

"Sorry, love," he kissed her cheek. "Je t'aime."

Hallie giggled, "Je t'aime."

The two shared a kiss.

"Can't you two get a room?" Ron groaned.

George shook his head continuing, "Charlie's in the Order too, but he's still in Romania. Dumbledore wants as many foreign wizards brought in as possible. So Charlie's trying to make contacts on his days off."

"He tried to pull in my mum, but Dad said no. Not that Mum wanted to anyway, Mum is a little too high class still to get her hands dirty. She has better values and respect for those who are not but she still rather stick to her piano and needlepoint," Ida said, "But Uncle Remus is providing some names he knows of those who could join in France."

"Couldn't Percy do that? Help with finding foreign names?"

As the words escaped Harry's lips the room stiffened, "Whatever you do, don't mention Percy in front of Mum and Dad," said Ron to Harry in a tense voice.

"Why not?"

"Because every time someone mentions Percy's name, Dad breaks whatever he's holding and Mum starts crying," Fred said.

"It's been awful," Ginny said sadly.

"I think we're well shut of him," George added.

"Percy and Dad had a row. Never seen Dad have a row with anyone like that. It's normally Mum who shouts…" Fred started

Ron nodded agreeing with him as he continued, "It was the first week after term ended. Peri and her sisters had already gone to France. We were about to go there and meet them. Percy came home and told us he'd been promoted."

"You're kidding."

"We were all surprised," said George, "Because Percy got into a load of trouble about Crouch, there was an inquiry and everything. They said Percy ought to have realized Crouch was off his rocker and informed a superior. But you know Percy, Crouch left him in charge, he wasn't going to complain…"

"So how come they promoted him?"

"That's exactly what we wondered," said Ron, "He came home really pleased with himself — even more pleased than usual if you can imagine that — and told Dad he'd been offered a position in Fudge's own office. A really good one for someone only a year out of Hogwarts — Junior Assistant to the Minister. He expected Dad to be all impressed, I think."

"Only Dad wasn't," Fred said grimly. Hallie ran a comforting hand through his hair, he gave her a weak smile.

"Why not?" asked Harry.

"Well, apparently Fudge has been storming around the Ministry checking that nobody's having any contact with Dumbledore," said George.

"Dumbledore's name's mud with the Ministry these days, see," said Fred. "They all think he's just making trouble saying You-Know-Who's back."

"Dad says Fudge has made it clear that anyone who's in league with Dumbledore can clear out their desks," said George.

"Trouble is, Fudge suspects Dad, he knows he's friendly with Dumbledore, and he's always thought Dad's a bit of a weirdo because of his Muggle obsession —"

"But what's this got to do with Percy?" Harry asked, confused.

Peri spoke up, "Papa and Arthur believe Fudge only wants Percy in his office because he wants to use him to spy on us. Specifically the Weasleys, Papa is above the Minister in the eyes of the world. He simply may work beneath Fudge but in social terms, Papa is above him."

"Bet Percy loved that," Harry commented.

Ron laughed in a hollow sort of way.

"He went completely berserk. He said — well, he said loads of terrible stuff. H said he's been having to struggle against Dad's lousy reputation ever since he joined the Ministry and that Dad's got no ambition and that's why we've always been — you know — not had a lot of money, I mean —"

Fred nodded looking at Hallie sadly as she looked at Ron as he spoke, "He told me I would never be able to take care of Hallie. Said she deserved someone more here level and I could never make her happy."

"What?" said Harry in disbelief, as Ginny made a noise like an angry cat.

Hallie whipped her head to look at Fred, "You never told me that…Fred, no one could ever make me happier. I told you I don't need a lot of money to make me happy."

Peri laughed, "Have we fallen into a different dimension? Because last I checked Hallie you love fancy things."

Hallie glared at her sister, "True wealth is not in the pocket but in the heart. Sure having money is nice but it will never make you entirely happy. I am happy. I already started my career, in a different direction than originally planned but I have started it. I am adored by my amazing boyfriend and I am surrounded by friends and family. I am happy, but if Fred and I did end up with a lot of money that would be nice. I am also content to live in our tree house near The Burrow and The Cottage while I care for our children with Winky's assistance."

"Anyway…" Ron started. "It got worse. He said Dad was an idiot to run around with Dumbledore and that Dumbledore was heading for big trouble and Dad was going to go down with him, and that he — Percy — knew where his loyalty lay and it was with the Ministry. And if Mum and Dad were going to become traitors to the Ministry he was going to make sure everyone knew he didn't belong to the family anymore. And he packed his bags the same night and left. He's living here in London now."

Peri heard Harry swear under his breath. She had never actually met Percy except for seeing him from afar at the Tournament, but he was the least likable of the brothers. Although he was typically respectful of his parents. She couldn't imagine him saying either of those things to Molly or Arthur.

"Mum's been in a right state," Ron said. "You know — crying and stuff. She came up to London to try and talk to Percy but he slammed the door in her face. I dunno what he does if he meets Dad at work — ignores him, I s'pose."

"But Percy must know Voldemort's back," said Harry making Hallie and Holly wince at the name. "He's not stupid, he must know your mum and dad wouldn't risk everything without proof —"

"Yeah, well, your name and Peri's got dragged into the row," said Ron, shooting them both a furtive look. "Percy said the only evidence was both your words and…I dunno…he didn't think it was good enough."

"Percy takes the Daily Prophet seriously," Hermione said tartly, and the others nodded.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked as he looked around at everyone.

"Haven't — haven't you been getting the Daily Prophet?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Yeah I have!" shouted Harry, making Ginny jump slightly becoming startled by his sudden voice rising.

"Have you — er — been reading it thoroughly?" Holly asked, sounding equally anxious.

"Not cover to cover," said Harry defensively. "If they were going to report anything about Voldemort it would be headline news, wouldn't it!"

Everyone flinched at the name this time, except Peri. Hermione hurried on with the conversation, "Well, you'd need to read it cover to cover to pick it up, but they — um — they mention you a couple of times a week. Peri avoids the papers because Richard has managed to prevent any negative words about her…mostly that is."

"But I'd have seen —"

"Not if you've only been reading the front page, you wouldn't," said Hermione, shaking her head. "I'm not talking about big articles. They just slip you in, like you're a standing joke."

"What d'you —?"

"It's quite nasty actually," said Hermione as she forced her voice to remain calm. "They're just building on Rita's stuff."

"But she's not writing for them anymore, is she?"

"Oh no, she's kept her promise — not that she's got any choice," Hermione added with satisfaction.

Peri raised a brow in confusion. What did she mean by that?

"But she laid that foundation for what they're trying to do now."

"Which is what?" asked Harry impatiently.

"Okay, you know she wrote that you were collapsing all over the place and saying your scar was hurting and all that?"

"Yeah," said Harry.

No one could forget those awful stories if they were written about themselves. Peri certainly couldn't forget the ones written about her and Draco. Even the one Rita wanted to write about her and George at the New Year's Ball to make her appear to be cheating on Draco. Although the press still made her appear to be cheating just the other way around.

"Well, they're writing about you as though you're this deluded, attention-seeking person who thinks he's a great tragic hero or something," said Hermione rather quickly. "They keep slipping in snide comments about you…occasionally Peri but as I said Richard has kept her out of the papers. About you though, it was some far-fetched story that would appear as if they were saying something like 'a tale worth of Harry Potter', and if anyone has a funny accident or anything it's 'let's hope he hasn't got a scar on his forehead or we'll be asked to worship him next —'"

"I don't want anyone to worship —" Harry began hotly. "Hallie maybe."

"Is today attack Hallie day? Did I miss the memo?" Hallie asked becoming offended.

Fred rubbed her back to calm her.

"I know you don't," Hermione answered quickly, appearing frightened. "I know, Harry. Sorry Hallie we will try to stop picking on you like that. But you see, Harry, what they're doing? They want to turn you into someone nobody will believe. Fudge is behind it, I'll be anything. They want wizards on the street to think you're just some stupid boy who's a bit of a joke, who tells ridiculous tall stories because he loves being famous and wants to keep it going."

"I didn't ask — I didn't want — Voldemort killed my parents!" Harry spluttered. "I got famous because he murdered my family but couldn't kill me! Who wants to be famous for that? Don't they think I'd rather it'd never —"

"We know, Harry," Peri told him.

"We do," Ginny said earnestly.

"I would fame, but not because my parents died," Hallie said.

They looked at her, "You are famous because of your book," Harry reminded her, "And you did lose your parents which placed you in Cassie's care and later Richard's."

"And of course, they didn't report a word about the dementors attacking you," said Hermione. "Someone's told them to keep quiet. That should've been a really big story, out-of-control dementors. They haven't even reported that you broke the International Statue of Secrecy — we thought they would, it would tie in so well with this image of you as some stupid show-off — we think they're biding their time until you're expelled, then they're really going to go to town — I mean, if you're expelled, obviously, you really shouldn't be, not if they abide by their own laws, there's no case against you."

Peri attempted to try and find another topic but she honestly felt more relaxed to not have the idea of her own trial being the main topic of conversation or the whispering behind her back about her breakup with George or the fact she heading to the dark side herself by going into a relationship with Draco. Which was something she had no plans to do again, it became too messy last year. The conversation was saved by the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Uh-oh."

Fred tugged heartily on the Extendable Ear; there was another loud crack with him vanishing with George and Hallie. Seconds later, Molly appeared in the bedroom doorway.

"The meeting's over, you can come down and have dinner now, everyone's dying to see you, Harry. And who's left all those Dungbombs outside the kitchen door?"

"Crookshanks and Diamond," Ginny said unblushingly. "They love to play with them."

"Oh," said Molly. "I thought it might have been Kreacher, he keeps doing odd things like that. Juniper and Winky keep asking him to stop, but it does not good. Now don't forget to keep your voices down in the hall. Ginny, your hands are filthy, what have you been doing? Go and wash them before dinner, please…"

Ginny grimaced at the others and left the room, "Where is Hallie?"

"With Fred," Alicia said.

Molly huffed, shaking her head. "Fred! Hallie!" She turned from the room leaving the others in the room alone again.

"Look…" Hermione muttered, but Ron shook his head.

Peri took charge, "We knew you'd be angry, Harry. None of us blame you for that, but you do need to understand that we did try to convince Dumbledore."

"Yeah, I know," he said grudgingly. The conversation shifted as Harry asked, "Who's Kreacher?"

Ida groaned, "The annoying house-elf who lives here. Adores my mother, but can't stand my father or anyone else really."

"Nutter. Never met one like him," Ron said.

Hermione frowned at him, "He's not a nutter, Ron —"

"His life's ambition is to have his head cut off and stuck up on plaque just like his mother," Ron told her irritably. "Is that normal?"

"Well — well, if he is a bit strange, it's not his fault —"

Ron rolled his eyes.

Holly looked at the group, "It actually really is not uncommon depending on how they were raised. Look at Winky, she found the Crouch family to be this perfect family that deserved to be on a pedestal. Even after she was sacked, Hallie cares for her kindly and Winky adores Hallie."

"But Winky is free."

"Yes, but she still lives to serve Hallie."

"Hermione still hasn't given up on spew —" Ron started.

"It's not 'spew'!" said Hermione heatedly. "It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, and it's not just me, Dumbledore and Richard says we should be kind to Kreacher too —"

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said. "C'mon, I'm starving."

Alicia left the room first with the others following her onto the landing, "Wait!" Peri grabbed her arm pulling her back. "They are in the hall still, we might be able to hear something —"