The Unbreakable Vow
by
Ash Darklighter
It all belongs to JK Rowling and I thank her for her inspiration – There are no galleons to be made from me. This little story is my first Harry Potter fic. It is AU and of course comments are welcome. My thanks to Tad and Mona for their help.
Part 18
Grimmauld Place
"Hurry up, Ron," Hermione ordered, as she waited for her boyfriend to approach the fireplace, the marble pensive clutched awkwardly in his arms.
"Hold on Hermione," he moaned. "This thing weighs a ton. I can't see why Harry wanted to put this in the Black vault."
"I just did, that's all," Harry replied with a defensive air as he walked into the room.
Ron glared at his friend. Why had he ended up carrying the thing? "It's a pensieve not a valuable, Harry. It should be out of the way in a cupboard."
"That pensieve is valuable, Ron," remarked Harry dryly. "It would cost a fortune to replace if it got stolen."
"You could put a lock on the cupboard," he argued matter-of-factly. "It's really heavy," complained the red headed wizard. "I can't imagine anyone wanting to steal this. I can barely lift it. It should stay in the house."
"My vault in Gringotts is the only place I trust. I want it kept safe," Harry insisted. "It belonged to Sirius."
"But why place it in Gringotts?" Hermione asked. "Won't it be safe in this house?" Harry's answer to everything seemed to be that it had something to do with his dead godfather.
"I don't think so. There are too many wizards wandering though here, even if they are Order members." Harry paused for thought. "Look," he said suddenly, making a split-second decision to give Ron and Hermione some information. It could work in his favour. "I do have my reasons for placing the pensieve in my vault."
"What reasons?" Hermione asked curiously.
"They're good ones," he prevaricated. "Actually, I want to store some memories."
"But you don't need to put the pensieve in the vault. All you need is to store the memories."
"No. I want everything kept secret." Harry gave a heavy sigh. "I didn't want to have to tell you this yet, Hermione, but Dumbledore thinks I should go back to Privet Drive for a few weeks…maybe even months."
"What!" exclaimed Ron. "But those bloody Muggles were horrible."
"I know they were. I lived with them, remember?" Harry shook his head. "Dumbledore just doesn't understand."
Ron frowned. "I've never seen you study so hard. You work harder at the books these days than Hermione did for her NEWTS."
"Hardly," said Harry. "No one works that hard."
"You're still a major part of the war effort." Ron said.
"Of course I am but Dumbledore won't let me do anything constructive. He wants to keep me locked up like he did Sirius…" Harry's voice faltered as he whispered. "Outside people are dying."
Hermione's lips pressed together tightly. "If Dumbledore thinks that you should…" she began.
"Obviously, I don't want to go back there and they'll want me there even less," Harry grumbled. "My relatives won't be any enamoured of having a fully grown wizard under their roof than they were with the childish one. I shouldn't have to go back there now that I am of age – I'm not a child. But for some reason Dumbledore is insisting that I go. He keeps mentioning the fate Neville's parents – keeps treating me like a child."
Hermione had a knowing expression on her face. "Neville's parents were tortured into insanity, Harry."
"I know that," he returned irritably. "It would have been better for them, and for Neville, if they'd been killed. I sometimes think that my parents were the lucky ones."
"They were victims after you destroyed Voldemort," she continued. "Don't you see that Dumbledore's watching out for you."
"And…" Harry fought to keep the cold smile from his face. She'd bought his story.
"Surely you've heard the rumours, Harry?" Hermione said with a frown.
"What rumours?"
"About You-know-who," answered Ron. "They're saying that he's gone."
"Dumbledore never…" Harry stopped, biting back what he was supposedly going to say and tried to look surprised. "For good?" he queried.
"Well, yes," snapped Hermione impatiently. "The Death Eaters are apparently acting very strangely – the known Death Eaters. Some may say that there's an element of panic about their latest movements."
"Like Malfoy," said Ron. "Offering for Ginny."
Hermione glared at Ron. She didn't think talking about Malfoy was a good idea in front of Harry. "It is being said that V…Voldemort's gone. Although, we still have to get rid of the Horcruxes."
"Then he's not gone," said Harry stubbornly.
Hermione hesitated for a moment and then her face fell. "Oh, I see…I suppose you're right, Harry. We haven't destroyed all the Horcruxes, so he's not really gone, has he?"
"If it's true that he has disappeared, it will only be a temporary state of affairs. Any Death Eater with a good Dark Arts collection of books probably has the knowledge to bring him back to life. If he's gone, Hermione, it won't be for long." Harry's eyes narrowed behind his black-framed spectacles. "How do you know he's gone? What proof do you have?"
"There was a report in the Daily Prophet a couple of days ago. It was full of rumours and speculations – there was nothing concrete. No one's come out and reported it openly. I thought you might have known more about it," she said, watching his expression carefully.
"Why would I know more about it?" Harry groused. "No one tells me anything. A report in the Daily Prophet!" he snorted in disgust. "That's not proof."
"Excuse me, a moment. Forgotten my extra galleons." Hermione dashed out the door.
Harry grinned. He would be willing to bet that she was contacting the headmaster right this minute from the small grate in the library.
"Shouldn't you know if he's gone, Harry? You have old whatsisface inside your head," Ron remarked wearily, moving the bulky pensieve in his arms into a better position. "You said he'd been quiet."
"I can sometimes see what Voldemort does if he's experiencing particularly strong emotions like extreme anger or happiness. Neither of which are good. We are connected by my scar. I do not have him inside my head." Harry's voice began to rise."
"Okay mate," said Ron. "Keep your hair on."
"He has been quiet lately, I'll give you that. But I'll only believe Voldemort's gone when someone I trust tells me that officially. He can't be gone," Harry stated firmly. "Hermione's right. There's no way that all the Horcruxes could have been destroyed. We haven't found some of them to destroy them."
Hermione came back into the room breathing hard, her face flushed.
"Did you tell the Order where we were going?" Ron piped up.
"Of course," said Hermione. "I said that I was contacting the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore wasn't too happy about Harry leaving Grimmauld Place but I told him where we were going earlier." She looked a little guilty. "I just now told him why."
"You didn't just tell him what I'd told you about returning to Privet Drive, did you?" Harry asked anxiously. "I'm still hoping to avoid going back there if I can."
Hermione's face fell. "I did tell him, Harry. He asked why you were so anxious to go to Gringotts. I didn't know until you told me. I thought as he was the one insisting you go back to your Aunt's house that…"
"Don't tell him any more of my secrets again, Hermione," Harry bit out through clenched teeth. He had known she would do that. "How can I trust you if you continue to blab everything to Dumbledore? You didn't even wait for your ears to grow cold."
"Harry!" Ron's face reddened with anger. "How dare you speak to Hermione like that."
"I dare, Ron, because she's too ready to report to Dumbledore. I thought you were my friends not my spies."
But Hermione surprised him. She held up her hand stopping Ron from going into a rant and apologised to Harry. "I'm sorry. I didn't think."
"Sure," he muttered.
"I am sorry," she repeated her apology, her face red. She'd been wrong to go straight to inform the headmaster, although he'd been pleased with what she'd told him. Harry had trusted her with his secrets and she'd let him down. "Dumbledore said that we should keep him informed as much as possible. I didn't understand why you wanted to go to Gringotts so badly. It seemed like an unnecessary risk. Now I do."
Harry gave her a brief nod. "We'd better go. Dumbledore will be checking every minute until we return."
"Why would he do that?" Ron asked.
"Because he's Dumbledore and he likes to be in control."
"Harry, you're going to have to get over your issues with the headmaster," Hermione offered cautiously. "Of course he's going to organise protection for you. Yes, he's concerned for your well-being. It's understandable. He's got your best interests at heart."
"He wants me to defeat Voldemort permanently you mean," Harry snapped. "He's not on my list of favourite people right now." He swung a heavy looking rucksack on his back.
Ron gave the pack a curious look. "What have you got in there, Harry? Another pensieve?"
"Black family junk or, in other words, hideous valuables." He opened the bag and let them see inside. "Some of the stuff is horrible but as you can see, it's gold and silver and encrusted with precious stones. It's worth a fortune but I can't see anyone wanting to buy it and I'm not going to wear any of it. I think that would be stupid. One of the rings tried to spray poison in my face when I picked it up."
"I would suggest before anyone does anything with that little collection of items, Harry, you should get Bill to check them over when he gets back. He might be able to disable most of the curses. In fact, Bill would be very useful in that regard. A curse breaker's views on the contents could be invaluable. Grimmauld Place was after all, the home of a dark family."
"I know that." Harry sighed. Hermione had to state the obvious. "Dung has contacts, Hermione. He could break up the pieces and melt down the metals. He could sell it to an innocent party and seriously injure them. I don't care how horrible it is and I don't want or need it but I'm not leaving it around for Mundungus Fletcher to pilfer with Dumbledore's blessing. It belonged to Sirius."
Sirius again!
Hermione gave a nod and reached out her hand to grab some floo powder. Harry should have been counselled after the death of his godfather. She didn't think that Dumbledore had made many mistakes but leaving Harry to fester in Privet Drive with his uncaring relatives had been a major error. "Diagon Alley," she stated clearly. She guessed why Dumbledore had told her not to let Harry out her sight for longer than necessary. She wasn't considered to be the smartest witch of her generation for nothing. The spectre of the fate of Neville's parents hung over them all. Was he in that much danger if You-know-who had temporarily gone? Probably. Her friend would always need some form of protection.
Harry had yet to admit to either Ron or herself that the Dark Lord was no longer plaguing his thoughts and his dreams on a nightly basis. Did he still dream of the Dark Lord or was he finally finding relief from his nightmares. They hadn't heard him scream in the night since he'd been able to do an adequate silencing spell. Harry wasn't talking about the Dark Lord…to anyone.
Hermione stepped from the fireplace into a private room at the Leaky Cauldron. Dumbledore was taking no chances where Harry's safety was concerned. But her friend had been moody and unpredictable of late and did not seem to appreciate the steps being taken to ensure his safety.
The headmaster hadn't been happy about Harry's wish to leave Grimmauld Place today but the young wizard had insisted on going. He was being kept almost as closely confined as Sirius once had been and that hadn't ended well.
"I need to go to Gringotts. I have financial responsibilities," Harry had said firmly.
"What kind of financial responsibilities. The few galleons you pay Dobby shouldn't need you going to Gringotts every week," Ron muttered.
"The Dursleys," Harry mumbled. "I make sure they're okay."
"What!" Ron was horrified. "But Harry, they treated you worse than a House Elf. They didn't look as if they were short of money."
Harry ducked his head and examined his feet in great detail. "They put up with a lot. You know they don't like anything to do with magic but they still gave me a roof over my head and occasionally fed me enough. My mother would want to know that I'm doing the right thing."
Hermione had never been prouder of Harry and had said so. She'd not known then about the probable return to Privet Drive.
There still hadn't been any sign or word from Ginny. They still didn't know if she was alive or dead. The twins had been combing Diagon Alley and any possible haunt from the Malfoy's past without success. Hermione had managed to get the Twins to meet them for lunch at Grimmauld Place. Harry should be finished with the goblins by then.
The floo rumbled ominously and in a puff of soot Harry stumbled from the fireplace, closely followed by Ron, still clutching the pensieve.
"Let's get going chivvied Hermione. "The quicker we get there, the quicker we can return home."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Everything proceeded just as Harry had hoped. He was able to go off on his own in Gringotts, leaving Hermione and Ron to kick their heels in a private waiting room.
"Mr. Potter." Griphook appeared as soon as Harry approached the desk. "This way."
"Thank you," Harry replied politely. "Is there somewhere Ron and Hermione could wait for me until I've finished my business?"
"Of course." The goblin waved his hand at a large oak door. "Mr Weasley and Miss Granger may wait in here. I'll have refreshments sent in."
"Cool," said Ron, brightening at the mention of something to eat. He handed Harry the pensieve. "I would suggest a hover charm, Mate," he advised.
"I'll do that," said Harry briskly, his knees buckling slightly under the weight.
Ron grinned. "I told you, it's solid."
"That it is." He nodded at Hermione. "I'll be as quick as I can."
Harry turned and followed Griphook into his office. As soon as the door closed behind them, he placed the pensieve on Griphook's desk. "Ron's right. It's a solid piece of marble."
"What would you like us to do with the pensieve Mr Potter?"
"Could you transport it to the property in Scotland once it is finished for habitation?"
"That can be arranged. Work has begun on the property I am told."
"Do you know if…?" Harry stopped.
"Do we know the fate of the Weasley daughter?"
Harry nodded.
"No, I do not."
Harry's face fell.
"But do not worry, Mr Potter. The goblins know that she is still being searched for by those who wish you harm."
"Still being searched for… Then that means that she's probably still safe." Harry's face lit up into the first genuine smile he'd managed for weeks. They hadn't found her.
The goblin gave an abrupt nod. "Things are progressing well with the Scottish property, Mr Potter. It will be ready for habitation by the spring at the earliest."
Harry pulled a piece of crumpled parchment from his robes. This is a list of items I would like, along with the pensieve to be transferred there. I found them in one of my vaults. Some of it are pieces of furniture saved from my parent's home at Godric's Hollow. There's not much but…"
"Yes, Mr. Potter," the goblin smiled. "We understand that you want to have your things around you." He picked up a black eagle-feathered quill and made some notes on a stiff piece of parchment. "We have arranged for your finances to come into your Muggle bank account just as a salary would. You will have a regular income."
"That's good." Harry couldn't believe that the goblins were being so helpful. He'd never had his own things around him before. The Dursleys hadn't allowed him anything. "Why are you doing this for me?" he asked suddenly. "This is not adding to the wealth of the Goblin Nation."
"If you live to defeat the Dark Lord, Mr Potter, then you will allow the wealth of our nation to multiply without being in danger of being stolen by those who do not deserve it. If the Dark Lord wins then he will not leave us in peace despite our neutrality. He will want to control everything."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I've have one more request, Sir," he said politely. "Could you make sure that Remus Lupin has a monthly deposit of galleons into his account vault? Not so much that he's suspicious. Just in case he needs anything. He was my father's friend and my father and Sirius would want that done for him.
"Of course, Mr Potter."
Harry was then escorted from the office to the carts which carried him to his vaults, whereupon he collected what he thought he might need and changed it to Muggle currency when he returned to the main lobby.
Ron and Hermione walked towards him just as he was stowing the last of his money away. "Did you get all your papers signed?" asked Hermione.
"Yes."
"Good," she said. "I think we should return to Grimmauld Place now."
Harry nodded, his heart beating heavily inside his chest. "Yeah, let's go," he agreed, his fingers closing around the portkey hidden in the pocket of his robes.
Ron glanced warily at the stern-faced goblin guards as they left the building. "Do we have time for an ice-cream at Florian Fortescues?"
Hermione pursed her lips, her expression anxious. She'd been that way as soon as they had stepped out of the gloomy security of Grimmauld Place. She glanced across the street to see several empty tables outside the little café. "I don't know if that's such a good idea. I'm surprised that he's open."
"He's one of the few," murmured Harry. Diagon Alley was reaping the uncertain climate of the conflict with Voldemort and many of the wizarding establishments remained closed. "Surprisingly enough, Hermione," Harry said. "I agree with you. I don't think we should linger here. It's just not safe enough but I would like to give the man some business."
"We could get an ice-cream and take it with us," suggested Ron. "We don't need to sit outside advertising our presences to any dark wizards that care to stroll past."
"Well…" Hermione looked at the hopeful expression on Ron's face.
"Oh, go on, Hermione. We'll be really quick." Something caught his eye and he jerked his head to the side a couple of times. "Isn't that Tonks?" he hissed.
"Where?" Hermione tried to discreetly stare over Ron's shoulder.
"She just tripped over a pile of cauldrons outside the hardware store," Ron murmured quietly. "She's wearing a green robe…"
"Yes, it's Tonks. She's been with us since we arrived in Diagon Alley," Harry said with a shrug. He glanced around him and was unsurprised to see another Order member observing them - a pair of dark eyes glittered malevolently from the door to the apothecary's. "She's not the only one watching us." Harry gave a wry grin but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Snape's here, too."
"Harry…" Hermione's voice tailed off.
"He's not my professor now, Hermione. Oh…!" Harry's face darkened as he bit off a rude word. "That's all we need. "Stick close together and keep your hand on your wand."
"What!" Ron swivelled around sharply and blanched, his freckles standing out against his pale face. Just a few feet away from them, marching grim-faced towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was Percy Weasley and with him were Lucius Malfoy, the Auror Dawlish and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Maybe they haven't seen us," whispered Hermione.
"And maybe Voldemort is nice to old Muggleborn ladies," Harry snapped.
"I don't think they have seen us," Ron exclaimed in an excited whisper. "Well, not yet they haven't but they soon will. We are currently standing right in the middle of Diagon Alley. I have no desire to have a conversation with Percy. I might just hex him instead." He looked at his friend. "Harry, have you got your Invisibility Cloak with you?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. I never go anywhere without it these days. Something about a Dark Lord and a prophecy and…"
"I think this might be a good time to put in on," the red head said urgently. "Now, before they do see you."
Harry nodded and pulled the fine silvery cloak from a deep pocket inside his robes and threw it over his head. Suddenly, Harry could no longer be seen.
There was a flurry of activity as several wizards exited from Flourish and Blotts and headed towards Percy who was pacing backwards and forwards in front Madam Malkin's. The Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic glanced over at Florian Fortescue's, his gaze alighting with displeasure on Ron and Hermione.
"More Aurors," Hermione said.
Ron's face paled even further. "It's not just extra Aurors. That's Crabbe and Goyle's fathers with them. They're just Death-Eating thugs," he muttered. "I don't think they're any brighter than their sons are. Goyle could barely read." His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's Percy doing with those kinds of wizards?"
From underneath his invisibility cloak Harry could see the two hulking men and recognised their resemblance to the brutish Slytherin boys that had accompanied Draco Malfoy everywhere at Hogwarts. "Don't know," Harry said.
"I knew he was a prat but I didn't think he'd speak to Death Eaters like Crabbe and Goyle."
"He's pretty friendly with Malfoy," murmured Hermione with a worried glance at the group. "If I were to make a guess, they're protection for Lucius. Crabbe and Goyle junior shadowed Draco everywhere at school."
"But what are they doing now?" asked Ron.
"They must be trying to re-enact Ginny's disappearance," Hermione said slowly.
"Like Crimewatch," Harry muttered beneath his cloak.
"Like what?" asked Ron.
"Crimewatch," Hermione said with an exasperated sigh. "You won't know anything about it."
"Why won't I know anything about it?" Ron queried, hurt shining in his blue eyes. "Are you suggesting that I'm thick?"
Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, of course not. I don't expect you to know anything about this because it's a Muggle police programme. Police are similar to our Aurors."
"Oh." It clearly meant nothing to Ron. "I know what policemen are," he said.
Hermione began to explain "They, the police, go back to the scene of a crime and they…"
"Ron! Hermione." The quiet voice came behind them unexpectedly.
Harry made sure that he was securely underneath his cloak, scarcely breathing lest he was discovered. He wouldn't be able to help his friends magically, but he had a good right hook.
"And Harry," the voice lowered. "I take it, Ron, that Harry is with you?"
With a sense of relief, Harry finally recognised the voice.
"Bill?" said Ron incredulously. "I wasn't expecting you until…" Ron moved thankfully to his eldest brother who threw an arm about him and hugged him tightly. "Merlin, Bill! I'm glad you're home. Yes, Harry's with us. He's under his cloak. Where's Fleur?"
Bill Weasley, dressed in a dark blue cloak, his long red hair caught into a ponytail smiled at the thought of his French, part-Veela wife. "She's safe at Headquarters. I went there to find you but you weren't there. Dobby said that you'd gone to Gringotts and as I needed to check in with the goblins…"
"Any news?" Bill asked Ron, his blue eyes tired, his face looking older than they'd ever seen it.
"No," said Ron. "Nothing. It's as if she never existed. She visited Mum at St. Mungos a couple of hours before she vanished. Tonks thinks that Ginny told Mum something important but that conveniently Mum can't remember it."
Harry's mouth tightened. "We know that Ginny existed and she was sold to the Malfoy's by…by…" His gaze grew dark and Percy must have sensed something because he turned and stared the little group.
Bill lifted his head and the gaze he levelled at Percy was one of pure loathing. "What are they doing?" he asked as a couple of the Aurors began performing a series of intricate wand movements.
"As I was saying earlier," Hermione said. "I think they're going over the scene of the crime, so to speak. That's where Ginny was last seen. They're looking for clues."
"Oh." Bill's blue eyes narrowed. "Are we being kept informed by the Ministry?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not really."
Ron snorted dismissively. "Percy isn't currently speaking to the family. He didn't tell us what he had planned for Ginny. She found out when the Malfoys arrived at The Burrow."
"I think Tonks and Shacklebolt have been keeping Dumbledore informed," Hermione murmured thoughtfully. "Now that you're home I would expect you, as the eldest son, to be notified of all developments. You are head of the family, after all."
Bill's mouth flattened and he gave a curt nod.
"I don't believe it, "Ron said incredulously. "Percy's coming over here."
And he was. Percy had glanced covertly at his two brothers several more times and had then must have come to some sort of decision. With a quick word into the ear of one of the Aurors accompanying him, he began making his way towards them.
"Harry I suggest you move out of grabbing range," Hermione hissed in a fierce undertone.
Reckoning that his bushy-haired friend was right, Harry began to edge further away from the group. As he did so, he could see Shacklebolt move closer to Lucius Malfoy. So Percy did have some self-preservation after all - unless Kingsley was doing this for the Order.
It suddenly occurred to Harry that this was an opportunity not to be wasted. The unregistered portkey would take him away from here and his fingers sought the object. The he began to think. It was a failing of his and he knew it that he often acted on instinct. It had kept him alive but it had also led him places he shouldn't have been. The magic of the portkey would eventually be traced. It was likely that the Twins would get into trouble if it was discovered that they had made the portkeys – although Harry would be very surprised if they were revealed as the culprits.
It was possible, he thought with amazement. It was actually possible. If he moved now, he could just walk out of the wizarding world underneath his Invisibility Cloak and no one would be any the wiser. He assessed the situation. All the wizards were watching intently as Percy advanced towards Bill. Nobody was remembering right now that Harry was hidden underneath his Invisibility Cloak.
"Bastard!" gritted Bill furiously, his wand appearing in his hand.
Ron moved behind his eldest brother his hand on his arm, ready to haul him back if necessary even though Bill was doing exactly what Ron wanted to do to Percy.
"William," returned Percy coldly. The two Aurors behind him shifted nervously.
"You had no right," Bill snapped. "No right at all. You sold Ginny to the Malfoys. You always were a self-righteous prig. But I didn't think that you'd go as far as to join the Dark Lord's services."
Percy stiffened, his wand flying into his hand. The Aurors behind him did the same. "How dare you!"
"I dare because you know the true loyalty of Lucius Malfoy and yet you continue to hope that their dirty money will put you into power. Not a hope, Percy. You don't have what it takes."
"I am the Undersecretary to…"
"We know," said Ron snidely. "And we're not impressed."
"Where's Potter," demanded Percy, looking around.
"Harry?" said Bill, looking confused. "I haven't seen him." Which was the truth.
"He's not here," said Hermione. "He's at home."
"Oh but he is," Percy asserted stiffly. "I spotted him standing with you when I first arrived and now, he has miraculously disappeared. But there were no apparitions or portkeys from this spot, so he still has to be here."
Harry fingered the portkey in his pocket again and drew his hand away. They could tell that he'd not apparated away? It was something to think about.
"He'll be under that Invisibility Cloak of his," Percy continued, his anger showing through every word he uttered. "Oh, I knew all about it. All through school he used it to break rules and Dumbledore let him get away with it."
"Harry was right about Voldemort and you were to wrong to believe Fudge," spat Ron aggressively. "Fudge fell from power because he was a fool."
"Harry Potter is dangerous, Ron. He encouraged you, Hermione and Ginny to follow him on various stupid escapades and on several occasions nearly got you all killed." Percy gave Hermione a look that said that she should have known better.
"Harry was right in the end, Percy," said Hermione. Some of the things Harry had done had been reckless but that was just his way. He'd never had a proper adult role model to look up to. The Dursleys had treated him appallingly and Sirius, after twelve years in Azkaban hadn't been fit to raise a troubled teenager. Harry went with his feelings and if he didn't do that then he wouldn't be the Harry they loved.
This forced return to the Dursleys would perhaps keep Harry safe but it would not facilitate a return to a trusting relationship between him and the headmaster. Hermione could see difficult battles ahead and that was without the Dark Lord being involved. Had Dumbledore really thought things through? He must have done. Hermione's belief in the headmaster up until now had been absolute but she couldn't help feeling some doubt.
"I know Harry Potter is here. I saw him." Percy was adamant.
"Mr. Potter needs to answer questions owing to the disappearance of Ginevra Molly Weasley," grunted one of the Aurors.
"He's already done that?" said Ron. "On several occasions. Aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt both questioned him more than once. They found him to be innocent of any wrong doing where my sister was concerned."
"She's my sister, too," Percy stated.
"Pity you didn't remember that when you sold her to the Malfoy's," Ron returned, his face reddening with anger. "Harry's worried about her."
Percy snorted disbelievingly. "He needs to be taken down a peg or two. Just because he's the Boy-Who lived…"
"I think someone else needs that more than Harry does," declared Ron loudly and furiously as he took a step closer to Percy.
"Ronald!" moaned Hermione. Percy was proud of his position and was quite set on showing up the family who'd never, in his opinion, supported him.
"I'll forget you said that," said Percy stiffly.
"He's right. You overstepped your authority. You are not the head of the family. I am," snarled Bill. "And it's not because I wanted the position. If the Ministry had been doing their jobs they might have prevented the Death Eater raid that got our father killed."
"You were out of the country," returned Percy, ignoring the words about his father, although the jibe hit home. "What were you doing?"
"Business," Bill snapped.
"Dumbledore's business?" Percy asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"Gringott's business," snapped Bill. "I work for Gringotts, remember."
"Ginny will be found and then the marriage to Draco Malfoy will take place. She will be safe from the likes of Potter. If she doesn't return soon and fulfil the terms of the contract…" Percy smiled, leaving the threat hanging.
Bill could fill in the blanks, as could Ron and Hermione. The charms on the marriage contract could have all sorts of unpleasant consequences for Ginny. It was imperative that she be found. With a scream of rage the curse-breaker forgot he was a powerful wizard with a wand and launched himself at Percy, fists flying. "You did this…"
"No!" screamed Hermione. "Don't."
Harry took a deep breath and began to edge even further away from the group as Ron joined in. He wouldn't like to meet Bill Weasley in a duel, the man looked positively feral. It was time to go before the wands were remembered and then hexes went flying everywhere. He straightened and began walking without looking back. He passed both Snape and Tonks who had drawn their wands and were approaching the fight.
The confrontation didn't last long. Percy, his robes crumpled and ripped, rubbed at his split lip. Bill and Ron were both being held by Aurors who had finally stepped in to stop the conflict
"Well, well, well," said a drawling voice coldly. "If it isn't the brothers of my daughter-in-law to be behaving in a way that's frowned upon amongst the best wizarding families. But then the Weasleys never have mixed in the best circles."
"Lucius," said Bill, strangely formal, despite being held firmly between two Aurors. "I don't think you are the first example of a member from the best wizarding families that I would think of. Where is she? Where is my sister? What have you done with Ginny?"
"You think that I know where she is?" Malfoy sneered. "I am heading the search to locate and return my property. I want to know where you have spirited her off to."
"Ginny is not property," shouted Ron furiously, twitching in Kingsley's grasp.
"Ron, calm down," the dark-skinned Auror instructed in a low voice. "This is not helping."
"I wasn't the one who attacked Percy," Ron said, sending a half-glare, half-admiring glance at his eldest brother. "But I wanted to."
"Do you want to press charges, Undersecretary Weasley?" asked Dawlish.
"Let them go," snapped Percy. "It would hardly look good to see the head of the Weasley family up on charges of assaulting his own brother."
"You are not my brother," growled Bill. "A true Weasley would never have betrayed Ginny like that."
"Tell Harry Potter, I will see that he is brought to account for what he is guilty for against the wizarding world."
"I think it will be the other way around," Hermione said bravely.
"Let them go," Percy's face paled as he turned away. "Lucius! A word."
Lucius opened his mouth to say something; he was a Malfoy, not a half blood commoner. How dare the Blood traitor order him around. But Lucius wasn't stupid; the rest of the family were standing glaring at him. He decided against a complaint and swept grandly after Percy.
"I'm sorry," said Bill, hanging his head, blood congealing at the corner of his mouth. "I shouldn't have gone at him like I did but he made me so angry."
Hermione shook her head. "It's only a few days from the full moon. You can't help that your emotions are nearer the surface."
Bill had been attacked by a Werewolf during one of the battles between members of the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters a year or so earlier. He had not been bitten but had suffered scarring to his face. During the full moon, he did not transform like Remus Lupin did but he did feel an affinity for his brother wolves.
"We'd better get back to Grimmauld Place," said Bill. "You shouldn't be out here any longer. It's not safe."
"You and Ron need to get those cuts and bruises looked at. Your wife, Bill, is not going to be pleased with you."
"If she was here, Hermione," Bill said with a rakish grin. "my petite French flower would have smacked Percy first."
Ron moved to where Harry should be and called softly. "Harry, we're going back. Harry?"
There was no answer.
"Hermione, Harry's not answering." Ron looked at the witch in dismay.
"He's probably gone back to Grimmauld Place," Hermione suggested, hoping that she was right.
"Problems?" Nymphadora Tonks said casually as she walked past.
"We can't find Harry," whispered Ron. "He was under his Cloak."
"Yes, I saw him pull it over his head. He'll be around here somewhere," she said reassuringly. "Don't worry. There's been no Death Eaters grabbing at the air around you." She glanced across the alley and spotted Severus Snape. "Go back to headquarters and contact Dumbledore. Unless of course, Harry's there already. Which he probably is. Severus and I will do a sweep of Diagon Alley just in case."
But Harry Potter was nowhere to be found. Just like Ginny Weasley had done seven days earlier, Harry Potter vanished from the wizarding world.
17