Chapter five

'Did Hermione tell you who I see when I disappear?' Harry stared at Ron to see his reaction.

'I never mentioned anything about what we spoke about Harry,' Hermione said.

'Thanks Hermione, but I wouldn't mind if you mentioned that bit.'

'What are you two on about?' Ron asked.

'I have a girlfriend Ron, but we are keeping it quiet for now. I know what would happen if everyone found out. It would be on the front page of the Daily Prophet. I want to protect her from all the scrutiny of being the girlfriend of the-boy-who-lived. I never told Hermione who it is, just that's where I disappear to, I go to see her and spend some time together.'

'Um, well, I suppose we're all getting to that age now. To be honest, I was kind of hoping you would take an interest in Ginny. You know she's liked you for ages?'

'She's not my type Ron. But I explained to Hermione that I see Ginny and imagine how my sister might have looked like if my parent's hadn't died. I could never be interested in her, or any girl with red hair. I do the same with Susan Bones, I see a girl that my sister might have resembled. I know my mother had dark red hair, but I still see red. My girl though, we're perfect in every way. Her parent's went missing around the same time as mine died. We don't have any siblings. I might be raised by an aunt but I don't think of her or them as family. She was raised by a great aunt but she's old so my girl doesn't really spend time with her. We both would like to be healers when we finish here and maybe if we end up married with kids, then when they have grown up we both have the idea of returning to Hogwarts to teach. It's amazing how much we have in common, even quidditch. She would have liked to play, seeker, but the team already had a great seeker.'

'Just tell me she's not a Slytherin.'

'No, but that's all I'm saying. I couldn't date a Slytherin mainly because I wouldn't know if I could trust them. I know not all are like Malfoy and his lot, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take. I had a thought about the Slytherin's though, well the four houses really. With the way Snape acts and treats all of us from the other houses, he's actually making us more divided. I told you the hat was going to put me in Slytherin, I met Malfoy the day I went shopping with Hagrid. I knew then that I didn't want anything to do with him so I kept saying not Slytherin. But I could have ended up in that house. We know how Snape treats everyone in Gryffindor, I found out he's the same with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Dumbledore always goes on about uniting and being friendly, yet he allows Snape to act like a bias bastard which keeps us from even trying to find out if any are worth knowing.'

'You've made a good point Harry. He is making the situation worse. Maybe Professor Dumbledore doesn't know how he acts in the classroom,' Hermione said.

'He's got to know, I'm sure many students have complained. I would even bet they wrote to their parent's. I know many trusts Dumbledore, but many wouldn't care so they would still write about how their kid is treated,' Ron said.

'You make sense Ron. Dumbledore would have to know. That's going to be my main problem for my chance of becoming a healer. I need an O in the three of the five main core subjects, and E in the others will allow me to take the aptitude test for healers. I know this might shock you mate, but I'm not going to skive off work anymore. I have to make sure I get O in every subject next year when we take our O.W.L.s. Also, I've dropped divination and going to be joining the third years in ancient runes. I found out that healers will sometimes have to break through enchantments that has been placed on something like a ring that is stuck to a person, so they will need to be able to understand runes. It's not a requirement, but it would help.'

'Well, I get that you want to get good grades, just as long as you don't spend all your time in the library.'

'No, but I will be studying a lot more than normal.'

'Okay, so you don't need ancient runes to be a healers, what about aurors?' Ron asked.

'No, you don't, I asked Susan some questions, her aunt is the head of the department of magical law and she was an auror. I only spoke to her as I was undecided about healer or auror, but I know I'm meant to be a healer.'

'I actually been thinking about aurors, or hit wizards,' Ron said.

'The N.E.W.T.'s are more. O in the five core classes, E in the others. I don't need an O in defence or transfiguration, but aurors do.'

'We're in the same boat. It will depend on potions. You've done okay when Snape doesn't go on about your dad or…snuffles. I just don't like potions. Maybe I can get mum to help during the holidays. It's not like I would get in trouble when I'm not using wand cast magic.'

'I usually practice some potions during the holidays. Dad cleared out one end of his shed for me then moved all the flammable substances to the small shed.'

'See, this is why I hate staying with the Dursley's. I can't practice potions, but they don't even allow me to have my books so I can read through the lessons we will have the following year. You know, maybe I can speak with McGonagall about that. I get bad marks because I can't do any of my holiday assignments yet it's not my fault it's there's.'

'It's worth a shot mate. Even if she can't do anything she might be able to explain to the other teachers that you can't do your assignments.'

'I think Ron's right, I'm sure she will do something so you don't get marked down,' Hermione said.

'I hope so, I might speak to her after our next transfiguration class. Anyway, I want to see my girl before curfew, then I'm getting stuck into my homework.'

'Before you go, did you notice that Dumbledore barely sat down before he got up and left?' Hermione asked glancing at the staff table.

'I wasn't really paying any attention to the staff. It might have something to do with the students from the other schools, or the tournament,' Harry said, but he did glance up at the staff table, 'McGonagall's not there either, nor is Moody or Pomfrey. But noticed the others, they look worried.'

Ron and Hermione stared at the staff table while Harry smiled over at Megan who smiled back, before she got up and left.

'If we need to know what is going on then I'm sure we'll be told at breakfast tomorrow morning. We'll see you in the common room later Harry,' Hermione said as she stood up.

'Yeah, but if I know the twins, they might find out what is going on sometime tonight. Anyway, I'll see you in a couple of hours,' Harry grinned then hurried from the hall. He slipped his cloak over himself then headed straight for the seventh floor then slipped into the room of requirement.

'Normally I would keep any trouble inside Hogwarts. I can't keep silent about this. Minerva would you contact the auror office please. Tell them what we found but make sure they know none of us have touched anything nor moved anything.'

Moody and Poppy continued to stare down at Severus' body, 'Who do you think did this Albus?' Alastor asked.

'I wish I knew. Severus had many enemies, even including many of the students.'

'You don't think a student could do this, do you Albus?' Poppy asked.

'No, I don't, but we can't rule it out and I doubt Madam Bones will rule it out. Alastor, did you noticed any student acting suspiciously during dinner?'

'No, nothing out of the ordinary. I might wander around, you never know, I may hear or see something relating to this.'

'We'll meet later in my office. Poppy and I will remain to make sure no one tries to tamper with any evidence that might be here.'

Harry and Megan lay in each other's arms. They always needed to feel each other whenever they had to take care of a problem like Snape. They had killed many before they returned, but before they met and got together. Both had tried to deal with their feelings of killing by themselves. Now they had each other, so they would talk while wrapped in each other's arms.

'As we've both said many times love, he needed to die.'

'I know Harry, if he was truly on the side of light then we could have worked on some other plans. But we saw how he enjoyed torturing and killing, especially muggleborns.'

'It all stems from his feelings for my mother. If he didn't allow his temper to get the better of him they might have remained friends, maybe more than friends. I might not like thinking about my mother being with any other man apart from my father, but we know it could have happened. All I got out of Sirius was my mother dated two other boys before she began dating my father.'

'We're back now Harry, you should be able to speak with Sirius when you meet up with him.'

'I will ask him more questions this time, just not the first time we meet up in the cave. I should get Dobby to get that camping equipment so Sirius will be warm and comfortable. He'll be able to leave the clothes we bought him in the tent, along with the wands.'

'Call him tonight once everyone is asleep. We've only got another half an hour before curfew. We should deal with the cabinet while we're in here.'

'Even though I would rather spend all my times wrapped in your arms, we have to stick to the plans.'

Harry and Megan reluctantly got up and headed for the vanishing cabinet. When Harry explained to Megan how Draco Malfoy had repaired the cabinet during their sixth year which allowed the death eaters inside, she agreed it should be destroyed straight away before Malfoy or anyone else could use it. Megan had her wand ready to cast the shield charm around them to keep them protected, then Harry pointed his wand at the cabinet then sent a powerful reducto at it. The cabinet smashed into tiny pieces, sending those pieces in every direction. Harry waited until Megan removed the shield before he summoned every piece and setting them alight in one of the old cauldrons they found in the room.

Now another big problem was taken care of. But they knew they had many more problems to work on over the next few months. They had dealt with Snape, they had dealt with the cabinet. They had the basilisk venom that they used on the horcruxes. They had dealt with the diadem, the locket, the ring, the cup, and the snake. They had dealt with the bones of Tom Riddle. There was no soul inside Harry anymore and the diary had been destroyed when Harry was twelve. Soon they would deal with Marcus Flint, Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. They had a plan for them, one that wouldn't point to Harry, Megan or anyone else. The aurors would investigate but they wouldn't find anything.