AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Im really sorry about the time its taken me to update this story ive been having mass internet problems and im sorry to say that they are ongoing i wont get my internet connection properly going again for another couple weeks! Please be patient and Keep reviewing!
Chapter 19
Things at Hogwarts had gotten much better since the students had returned. Remus was proving a hit with everyone and even the Slytherin students couldn't deny that they were learning an awful lot more than what they ever did with Snape.
"Ok now before I forget I'm going to be starting a duelling club and before anyone protests it will be nothing like the one you had in your second year. How do I know this? Simple I'm actually qualified to teach and cast spells"
A piece of parchment was sent round the class for anyone interested to sign up to the club. Harry and Hermione were the first to put their names down. Remus carried on with his lesson
"Now who here feels up to a little practise duel?" Remus asked rolling his wand through his fingers. Remus was eyeing up Harry who was itching to try but someone else beat him to it.
"I would like to try if that would be ok with you professor" Neville said standing up
Remus smiled. "By all means Neville, up you come let's see what you can do"
Remus set up a duelling platform and they both walked up onto it.
"Disarming only?" Remus asked. Neville nodded in agreement.
"On Three... One...Two... Three... Expelliarmus!" Remus yelled. Neville was quick on his feet and threw a shield up in a microsecond whilst throwing a body bind back at Remus. This was dodged again.
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The moment this happened the beams of magic being shot out of the wands connected with one and other. Everyone was fascinated by this but Harry knew exactly what had happened. Neville and Remus both cancelled the spells with equally confused looks on their faces.
"What was that?"Neville asked
"Wish I knew" Remus could only reply.
"That" Harry said standing up "Was the cores of your wands connecting with each other making it impossible for one to beat the other. The cores of your wands must be connected in some way, what is your core?"
"Unicorn Hair" Both replied at the same time
"The most logical explanation would be that the hair in your wands comes from the same unicorn. Therefore your wands are connected with each other which will mean that you cannot best the other and all spells or decreased dramatically in power" Harry explained.
"How do you know this Harry?" Remus asked examining his wand
"Because I had a similar experience in a graveyard 2 years ago. My wand and Voldemort's wands are connected and thus we can wound but not fatally harm one and other" Harry then sat back down.
"Right. Neville good duel 20 points for to Gryffindor and Harry I must say I am very impressed with your knowledge of wands and for your explanation I award Gryffindor another 10 points"
The class was dismissed soon after and Harry and Hermione both went down to the great hall for lunch. Their they found Hedwig waiting for them. They took the letter from her and both read at the same time.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We would like to thank your help in obtaining any of the items in our previous letter. The horcruxes are set to be destroyed exactly 2 days from now we shall inform you when this process has been completed and we also request that any further horcruxes which are found are sent to us via your house elf and we would be all too happy to destroy them for you
May your gold flow freely
Griphook
"I knew we had forgotten to do something" Hermione said finishing the letter a few seconds before Harry
"I know I just remembered it, we need to talk to Luna about Ravenclaw Diadem"
Both ate their lunch and then went over the Luna who was eating her lunch with Neville
"Luna could we speak to you privately?" Harry asked
"Sure what can I do for you?" She replied in her ever innocent manner
"What do you know about the Ravenclaw diadem?"
"Little, it was made by Rowena Ravenclaw and is said to infuse the wearer with wisdom and the capability for great intelligence. It disappeared hundreds of years ago. The grey lady told me about it. She's Rowena's daughter did you know"
"Whoa! The grey lady is Helena Ravenclaw?" Harry asked shocked
"Like I said Harry Hogwarts a History you will read soon!" Hermione chuckled
"If you want to know more I'm afraid you're going to have to talk to her, but be careful she doesn't like to talk to many people I was lucky that she spoke to me, I was kind and in need of a friend"
"Thanks Luna" They both said before walking off.
"Ok so we know that the diadem is most likely one, Tonks was right Nagini has to be one as Voldemort trusts no one else. Then after they are both dead we can finish him off for good." Harry said feeling optimistic for the first time in an exceptionally long time.
Harry and Hermione both arrived back in their common room but not before noticing the latest trick there little black box had played on Ron and Ginny. Purple hair didn't suit them.
Harry sat down on the settee and had a gentle smile on his face
"Blimey there's something you don't see every day you with genuine happiness in your eyes. Penny for your thoughts?" Hermione joked sitting down with Harry who laughed at the comment
"For the first time in a pathetically long time I actually can see a future. Not one filled with darkness but one filled with light. It's strange when you have the darkest forces conspiring against you and yet you can still sit and imagine a future with the perfect woman".
"The perfect woman eh? Who might that be?" Hermione asked sarcastically.
"Pansy Parkinson who else?" Harry said before bursting out in fits of laughter. This earned him a swat on the arm from Hermione before she joined him in his laughter.
"So what do you see in your future?" Hermione asked after they had calmed down.
"I see you and me living somewhere in the countryside. Maybe a couple of kids running around. You teach them the importance of reading. Whilst I teach them the importance of avoiding reading and flying brooms instead. I see you in a white dress me in a tux. Wedding bells in the air. But the thing that remains constant is that we are happy. Endlessly happy"
They both sat there talking about their futures together until Dobby apparated in interrupting them.
"Dobby is sorry to be interrupting but Dobby be needing to talk to you both" He said panting out of breath
"What's the matter Dobby?" Hermione asked
"Its Professor Dumbledore mistress Hermione. He has been given a trial and you both are being called as witnesses to the proceedings"
"Well that seems only natural" Harry replied. Dobby shook his head though
"Master Harry does not understand, Dumbledore will be tried under truth potion but Professor Dumbledore knows how to counter the effects. He will be able to lie to the courts to be cleared of the charges placed against him"
This got both Harry and Hermione on their feet
"What about all the evidence against him?" Harry asked. Hermione was already into thinking mode
"It's irrelevant, evidence is circumstantial unless the wizard admits it under Veriterserum" Hermione said as she began to pace.
"So basically unless we think of something Dumbledore will get away with everything that he has done to us and get reinstated in Hogwarts" Harry summarised.
"Yeah pretty much"
The next hour was spent trying to figure out a way to show Dumbledore for the fraud that he is. Dobby stayed with them trying to help as best he could
"Isn't there other truth potions that the wizengamot could use?" Harry asked closing a potion book
"Well yes there are but the wizengamot will refuse to use them. Unless it is a wizard made potion it cannot be considered good enough to be used on a wizard. Pureblood supremacy at its peak" Hermione replied bitterly.
"That's it!" Harry said jumping from his seat
"What?" Both Hermione and Dobby asked
"Dumbledore will be put under truth serum and will have to show that he is subservient to its effects. So we ask him enough questions as to prove that he has lied on one of them this will make all of his testimony are null and void!" Harry explained.
"That's doable but remember Dumbledore may be a manipulative fool but he is a very intelligent and clever wizard" Hermione responded. Harry didn't seemed deterred
"Well it's a good thing I know someone who is beyond the knowledge and wisdom of any person that I've ever known" He said smiling at Hermione.
"Hang on you want me to outsmart Dumbledore?"Hermione asked shocked that Harry had that much faith in her.
"If there is any one in the world that could do it Hermione it's you. Our lives are in your hands. So to speak" Harry said embracing her in a hug
Hermione stood there hugging him. She was still shocked that Harry could so easily put her faith into her so easily
"Right then. Let's get to work"