Yayyer! New chappys is up!!! Huzzah and all that.
This is a bit short, but I think it's well written!
This chapter is dedicated to Fred and George Weasley! Happy Birthday guys!!
as always the only thing I own is the computer I type it on! JKR is a goddes and gets mad props yo....O.o
The next couple days passed with Hermione rarely seeing Severus. He was called early in the day and kept at his master's side long after the sun had set. The Dark Lord was planning something big. On the second night Severus has been summoned he came home around two am to see Hermione dozing on the sofa with his recent copy of the Practical Potioneer clutched in one hand. She was wearing that damned wonderful tank top again.
Severus scooped the young woman into his arms and carried her down the hall, earning a small moan for jostling her. After he had laid her gently down on her bed and turned to leave when she grasped his shirt sleeve and pulled him back.
"I'm glad you made it back safely." She said running soft fingertips along the side of his face. "something bad is going to happen isn't it?" He simply nodded in response and she sighed.
"I will be gone before you wake tomorrow." he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She nodded and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, whispering "Be careful." before she curled her self under her blanket and fell back asleep.
Severus backed slowly out of the room and closed the door gently behind him. Instead of heading into his room he walked out the front door, warding it behind him, and apperated.
He appeared on a narrow London street staring up at the dismally familiar Grimmauld place. With much trepidation he entered and was confronted with the morbid phantom moody had placed.
"I killed you Albus." he whispered, as guilt swelled inside his chest. The Dusty form scattered leaving Severus alone in the former Headquarter to find what he had come looking for.
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Evening had fallen on the burrow and it's occupants were Decorating the garden to celebrate Harry's 17th birthday. He and Ron had taken a moment to themselves both feeling Hermione's absence acutely.
"I can't believe she's not here..." Harry said in a rather melancholy mood considering the occasion. "First Sirius, then Dumbledore, and now Hermione and Mad Eye...Ron maybe you shouldn't go with me. Stay here and protect your family."he said with a glance at Ginny who was wrapping a near bye tree trunk with scarlet and gold ribbon."I don't want to put anyone else at risk."
"Mate, I told you before I'll stand by your side no matter what," the Ginger boy replied in a rare moment of clarity. "Hermione made the same choice, we knew what was on the line. Backing out would mean Hermione's death and all the others as well would be in vain because they died knowing someone was still fighting for our cause. If I have to I'll die fighting for our cause, now that can be by your side or not."
"I'd rather you by my side," Harry said after a moment. "I just can't help but worry...about everyone" He said casting another glance at Ginny.
The pair was then distracted by the appearance of Mrs. Weasley and Harry's birthday cake, a large golden snitch. They were further interrupted by the gate crashing of the Minister of magic.
"I need a Private word with Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter." he said with no pretense motion to the two young men. The three walked into the privacy of the small sitting room in the burrow and Scrimgour turned to Harry and said, "If you will wait upstairs I will start with Ronald."
"I'm not going anywhere," said Harry. "You can talk to us both together or not at all."
Scrimgour gave Harry a cold appraising look and said, "Very well; together then." and he motioned for them to sit down. "I am here to discuss the last will and testament of Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore died over a month ago." Harry said rather indignantly "Why has it taken this long to give us what he left us?"
"Isn't it obvious?" a voice called out across the room, before Scrimgour had a chance to respond.
"Cho?" Harry questioned when he saw the Ravenclaw alumni.
"I don't recall inviting miss-" " Chang" supplied Cho ignoring the distaste upon the minister's face. "Miss Chang to join us."
"Mrs. Weasley Invited me, I couldn't help overhearing on my way in,"She said "The ministry wanted to examine whatever Dumbledore left you both," she said her voice trembling slightly, "You had no right!" she directed at Scrimgour.
"I had every right," Scrimgour said defensively, "the decree for justifiable confiscation gives the ministry the power to confiscate the contents of a will-"
"That law was created to stop Wizards from passing on dark artifacts," Cho said "and the ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you trying to tell me that you though Dumbledore was trying to pass Harry something that was cursed?"
"Planning a career in magical law Miss Chang?" the minister asked blithely.
"Actually yes I am." She answered receiving a raised eyebrow from Harry and a chuckle from Ron. "So the 31 days are up, you have to release their bestowals unless that is you found something dangerous?"
"Moving on, "the lion like man growled out. " the minister carried out the reading of the will, Dumbledore had left Ron a deluminator, which had been quite a curious object. Next he left Harry the Golden Snitch, which had been placed in his hand with an air of suspense which had deflated when his fingers closed around it with no response. The third object raised a bit of ruckus when the Minister refused to release it to Harry, The Sword of Godric Gryffindor, "Why do you think-"
"Dumbledore left me the sword?" said Harry struggling to keep his temper, "perhaps he thought it would look nice on my wall."
"This is not a joke Potter!" growled Scrimgour, "Did he leave you the sword because he thought it would defeat the heir of Slytherin? Because he believed you were the chosen one? That you could defeat He-who-must-not-be-named?"
"Interesting theory." said Harry. "Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword on Voldemort? Maybe the ministry should put some people on that instead of wasting time stripping down deluminators or covering up breakouts from Azkaban."
Scrimgour's eyed narrowed vindictively and he cleared his throat raising the parchment to read more, "To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of tales of Beedle the Bard with the hope she'll find it entertaining and instructive.... oh, how terribly careless of me," He said coldly at the three people before him, Harry was on his feet and glowering, Ron had taken a step towards the Minister but had been restrained by Cho who stood behind the two with on hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Don't give him an excuse to arrest you Harry!" Cho said as the tip of the minister's wand singed a hole in Harry's shirt.
"I'm not going to play his game," said Harry calmly through the fury etched on his face. "While you sit in your office contemplating Snitches people are dying, "he directed at Scrimgour, "Mad-eye, Hermione, anyone of us could be next. Voldemort chased me across three counties and there's been no word from the Ministry and you still expect us to cooperate with you?"
"You go to far!" Scrimgour growled, "don't forget I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination! You may wear that scar like a crown Potter but it's not up to a seventeen year old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you learned respect!" By the end of his tirade the minister's voice had increased in volume.
"It's time you earned it." Harry said coolly just as Mr and Mrs Weasley had burst into the sitting room. "We thought we heard raised voices." Mr. Weasley said, his eyes flicking back and forth between the Harry and Scrimgour.
"It's nothing," Scrimgour growled, he seemed as though he regretted his loss of temper, "I...regret your attitude." he said looking Harry full in the face once more. "You seem to think the ministry does not desire what you-what Dumbledore desired. We should be working together."
"I don't like your methods," said Harry. "Remember?" and for the second time Harry raised his hand to display the scars that shone white on the back of it, spelling I must not tell lies. Scrimgour's face hardened and he limped from the room without a backwards glance.
The group stood discussing the Ministers visit for some time examining the strange endowments and discussing the reasoning of leaving Hermione a copy of Beedle the Bard.
"It's strange, their just children's stories..." Cho said "I have a copy, Mum would read them to me every night"
the discussion continued until Mrs. Weasley tentatively interrupted, "Harry dear, shall I serve dinner now?"
Dinner was a bit hurried and after a hasty chorus of happy birthday and much gulping of cake the participants meandered of to their respective beds, Hagrid hunkered down in the neighboring field and Cho, who had been invited to stay by Mrs. Weasley shared with Ginny.
The boys found themselves in Ron's room with the light flicking on and off courtesy of the newly acquired deluminator. "Always knew Dumbledore was a bit cracked..."Ron said in the flashing light, "Brilliant; but mental. Leaving you an old Snitch, What the hell was that all about?"
"This is the snitch I caught in my first match remember?" Harry said, the light still flickering on and off, "Mate I'm gonna take that bloody deluminator and shove it up your arse of you don't leave the lights alone for a moment!" Ron stopped. "Now focus, the Snitch? Remember?"
"It's the one you nearly swallowed." the answer did not come from Ron however. It was Cho and Ginny at the door. Cho had supplied the answer and Ginny looked mildly annoyed by her presence.
The girls stepped into the room and Ginny immediately crossed and sat rather possessively on Harry's cot. Cho took a seat beside Ron on his bed.
"Exactly." Harry said, in a tense few moments he pressed the Snitch to his mouth and Ginny called out. "writing! There's writing on it!"surprise was evident on Harry's face as he read engraved upon the smooth surface I open at the close.
Try as they might the group could glean no information from this new piece of the puzzle, they had no choice but to abandon the topic.
"Harry, could you come with me for a moment?" Ginny said suddenly, Harry nodded slightly as she took his hand and led him from the room. Ron rose from his seat on the edge of the bed and glared at the retreating couple. He made to start after them but was once again restrained by a hand, this one clasping his own gently and pulling him back down.
"I have to go after them," he said to Cho as if she were just not thinking clearly. "I don't want him stringing her along! He ended it!"
Cho simply smiled, "No one's stringing anybody. Their just trying to find something to live for."
She had tears in her eyes but the weren't falling, Cho, the human hosepipe strikes again. Ron nodded grimly.
"I guess you really should take the opportunity before it's too late." He sighed, "I'll give them five minutes but then I'm going after them! Harry's my best mate but I still don't trust him alone with my sister."
SsSsSsSsSs
So not so much in the funnies here....I worked hard on this chapter though. It follows the book very very closely. I was going to add more to it, but I said screw that noise!...and decided to post.
I think it may be a chapter or two until we get back into Snanger territory, I don't know yet...we'll see. I'll be making with more funnies soon though. And we'll be seeing a drunk Sevvy-poo soon...
for a personal update. My daughter is six months, and not doing anything...nope...she's the laziest baby ever...lol
and I have made a life changing decision. I am going to carry a baby for a same sex couple. We've talked on the phone a few times and they are wonderful, I can't wait to meet them in person! We just have to work out some insurance issues but after that I will be getting knocked up and I can't wait to be pregnant again! LoL I miss it so much and I know they are on pins and needles wanting a baby!
Anywho! Please review! This chapter took a lot of effort! I have been actually trying here! Okay! Usually I throw down whatever comes to mind but I'm actually caring here! So review! It's the right thing to do!!!!