Chapter six

Nothing was heard about why Dumbledore ran out of the great hall, or why some of the other teachers didn't end up having dinner. The twins said they tried to find out, but they were spotted. They did say they saw aurors in the corridor leading to the potions room, but not what they were doing. Since no one knew anything, everyone got stuck into his homework. Harry might already know the work and was a bit bored in class, he had to keep up the act that he was a fourth year. Ron ended up doing his homework since he couldn't get Harry to play chess, and the other boys in their year were also doing their work.

The moment Harry got into bed and pulled the curtains around him, he opened the map. He could see many names moving about the dungeons, but he could see Amelia Bones, Rufus Scrimgeour, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, and names of other aurors he knew from the future, all in Snape's office. Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Poppy Pomfrey and Barty Crouch Junior was also in Snape's office.

They knew they had only two days to uncover Crouch if Dumbledore didn't allow his dreams to lead him to the imposter. And the information Megan got from Susan said that the aurors will investigate, which could take days, even weeks. Harry was hoping the aurors would still be here when Crouch was uncovered. In the past Harry remembered what happened to Crouch. Harry might have been in the hospital wing but he heard about Fudge having a dementor suck out Crouch's soul. Hopefully this time someone like Amelia Bones got to question him and hear the truth.

When Harry woke the next morning, he hurried into the bathrooms to shower so he could see Megan before heading into the great hall. He also wanted to see McGonagall about his situation at the Dursley's. He figured now might be a good time, she was distracted with the murder of Snape.

Harry and Megan spent an hour together, mainly talking over their plans. So even though they wanted to get naked, they knew there were more important things to deal with first. There would always be time to make love.

Harry went to McGonagall's office, but she wasn't there. Harry didn't even think to check the map. Now he would have to wait, so he headed for the great hall. He acted surprised to see two aurors standing guard outside the great hall. Harry just hurried past then sat at the Gryffindor table, again he made sure he was facing Megan who was sitting at the Hufflepuff table with Susan and Hannah.

Hermione raced over to Harry, 'What is going on?'

'I don't know, but having aurors here means it's serious. I've been trying to think of what might have happened, all my ideas are a bit too farfetched.'

'Do you think we'll get told?'

'We'd have to, otherwise we'll end up reading in the Daily Prophet. Now there are aurors here, it would be hard to keep whatever this is quiet.'

'Yes, that's true. I hope it doesn't mean classes are cancelled.'

'If they are then we study in the library. You know, we could go into an empty classroom and practice the spells we've already learnt in class.'

'That's against the rules.'

'No, it's against the rules to use magic in the corridors, not in an unused classroom. If we get caught I think the teachers would see we weren't being reckless by using spells anywhere that someone could get hit. Maybe we could see if we can make an official group, like the charms club or gobstones, but we're doing spells from all wand based subjects.'

'I could ask Professor McGonagall, that way we will know if it's allowed.'

'Fine, but it wouldn't hurt to just do it without telling the teachers. We're not really doing anything wrong. We're actually doing our work.'

'Alright, let's just see how we go, but if we get caught I'm blaming you.'

Harry chuckled, 'Deal, I'll take the heat.'

Over the next half an hour all the students and staff ended up in the great hall. After everyone ate, Dumbledore stood and got everyone's attention.

'I have a serious announcement to make,' Albus stared around at all the students, 'Yesterday, Professor Snape was murdered,' students yelled and shouted, some of the Slytherin's were in tears. But some like Harry, Ron, the twins, Lee and many others couldn't stop smiling. No one apart from the Slytherin's like Snape, 'The aurors are here to investigate, they will be questioning everyone, staff and students. You will be notified when it's your turn. Classes are cancelled until further notice.'

Everyone began to talk at once, 'Someone must have gotten sick of the way Snape treated them,' Seamus said.

'I would have liked to punch him in his big nose, but I know he would push to have me expelled,' Harry said.

'I would have liked to hex his mouth so it disappeared,' Ron said.

'I would have hexed his hair clean,' Hermione said.

'Hermione, he was a bastard who picked on all of us. Now come on, tell us what you would really like to do to him if you could get away with it,' Ron said

'Fine, I wanted to hex him so he would have a permanent smile instead of a sneer.'

'That's better even if he deserved more,' Harry grinned.

One by one everyone mentioned what they would have liked to do to Snape. They had no idea all their conversations were being heard by the aurors who had set up listening charms all around the great hall. They were hoping the murderer spoke about why they killed Snape.

'I'm going to try and speak with McGonagall about my holiday assignments. I'll meet up with you lot later and work on where we're going to practice,' Harry said and hurried from the great hall before anyone could stop him. This time he was lucky, McGonagall was in her office.

'Did you need more information Potter?'

'Um, no Professor. This is about something I normally don't like to talk about. But after I told you how I need to get stuck into my work I realised there was something else that I would need so it would help with my grades. I know it's not the best time for you right now, but I need to work this out.'

'Any time you need to speak with me about your education is the right time Potter.'

'Okay,' Harry had to act like he was embarrassed and he was feeling awkward about what he was going to say.

'I've been given bad marks because I don't do my holiday assignments. What none of you know is that the Dursley's won't allow me to have my Hogwarts things with me. They lock up my trunk so none of them are near my freaking things. I know we can use magic in emergencies, but they also make sure my wand is in my trunk which is locked in the cupboard. They don't care if I fail. When I was younger and brought home good grades, I was punished because I did better than Dudley. I learned from a young age to skive off work to stop being punished. It's part of the reason why I allowed Ron to distract me from my work. I did manage to smuggle the odd book into my room when I could, but they keep me working until I ended up too exhausted to read it. When Sirius offered me a home, apart from being with someone that actually wanted me, I thought I could finally read my books and be prepared for the following year. Even though he had to go into hiding, I wouldn't care if I was hiding as well, as long as I had a decent home. As far as I'm concerned, that place isn't a home, it's a jail. If Sirius didn't have to leave quickly I would have suggested we stay at Crescent Fields.'

'We will get to all this in a moment. But how do you know about Crescent Fields? And from what I heard, the house was destroyed.'

'I found the information in my vault, this was before third year. During the last holidays, the Dursley's were going away for a few days. They never take me anywhere so I have to stay with the mad cat lady in the next street. She had plans on one of the day I was there, so she allowed me to remain at the house while she went out. I decided to go see my family's ancestral home. I thought it was destroyed as well when I got there since that's what it says in one of those books that mention the night my parent's died. The wards allowed me through. The house and grounds are perfect and there are still house elves there, caring for it. I asked about the wards and who would be able to get through them. They showed me the ward book, Sirius is keyed into the wards. I would have told him to go there but I have to be careful what I write in my letters in case someone gets hold of them. The house is beautiful Professor. I got to see pictures of my parents, grandparent's and all my ancestors.'

'From what I know the manor is around seven hundred years old. From the time it was built, the Potters always lived in or around Godric's Hollow.'

'Yeah, I went to the cemetery to say goodbye to my parent's, I got to see all the other family headstones. Anyway, why I brought this up is to ask if there was a way I could skip my holiday assignments and maybe do it over the first couple of weeks back? I don't want the Dursley's to be the cause of getting bad grades. I know I will be leaving that house the moment I turn sixteen, but I could have two extra years of holiday studying if something can be done.'

'We will work on something Potter. But tell me, have you heard from Sirius at all?'

'Um, yeah, he sends me letters. Normally he doesn't tell me where he is in case his letter is intercepted. But he wants to see me, so he's worked it out how we can see each other safely for the first Hogsmeade weekend. All I know right now is he's back in this country, but hidden.'

'Then I will try to speak with him or at least get a letter to him. Tell me though Potter, if you could leave the Dursley's but you could not live with your godfather, would you consider being placed with some other family?'

'I don't trust most adults Professor, I've have a lot of reasons not to, so no, I would rather put up with the Dursley's for two more years if I had to.'

'What about the Weasley's?'

'No, sorry. There's a few reasons, one is Ginny's obvious crush on me, it makes me uncomfortable. The main reason is the way Mrs Weasley yells. I've been yelled at my whole life by the Dursley's and usually when they do yell it means punishment. I really don't like it when someone yells. I couldn't put up with others doing it. I'm used to the Dursley's now, I know how to avoid there punishments, most of the time. If you could just see if I don't get marked down at least my grades won't suffer.'

'I will see what I can do Potter. I'll let you know.'

'Thanks Professor,' Harry sighed but he had to keep up his act. He might have gone a little further than he intended but he knew if they allowed him to leave the Dursley's it would mean going to the Burrow with the Weasley's. Harry couldn't and wouldn't put up with Mrs Weasley's yelling, but it would cause too many problems. Some problems would be caused by Ron, if he saw Harry buying new clothes or items, and Ginny who might begin trying to get Harry to notice her. No, Harry would not go to the Weasley's or anywhere else. He would go to Crescent Fields without anyone knowing. He just hoped he could with Sirius, whether he ended up free or not.