*A/N* I just want to let everyone know that some of you may find this chapter controversial. Hence the name of the chapter. It is not my intentions to offend anyone, and if I do, i am very sorry. It mostly deals with parenting style, moral obligations, and feelings, but the chapter is not to bogged down with these things. I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 19
A Week of Moral Uncertainty
It had been a week since Albus Dumbledore had received the letter from Umbridge, and for a whole week he couldn't help but stare at it. It was Sunday night, and Albus was still at The Burrow, but for the last few days he could only stare at that letter and wonder if he was right.
Could it be? But how? He asked himself for the millionth time. Could Harry really be using the Resurrection Stone? It would make sense after all. Harry has the cloak, and the Elder Wand vanished into thin air. Does he have that too?
"But HOW is it possible!?" Albus yelled furiously, as he stomped back and forth across The Burrow's kitchen.
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" A voice mockingly asked.
Albus wheeled around and pointed his wand at a woman who had suddenly appeared in the kitchen. She had had long brown hair, silver colored eyes, and was wearing the finest and most expensive gold colored silk robes the wizarding world had to offer. However, she shifted uncomfortably and plucked the fine material away from her body. She wasn't used to wearing such…rags.
"Who are you!?" Albus demanded. "You will answer me!"
The woman raised an eyebrow, but gave Albus a condescending smile. "Now, now Dumbledore that is no way to treat a lady. You wanted information about how Harry and his friends had achieved unsupported flight. After all you saw Harry and Tom fly out of the Chamber of Secrets a few months ago, and you used the Quidditch game last Saturday to try and force them to reveal that secret. It didn't work out as well as you planned, did it?" She asked with a mocking laugh.
Albus glared at the woman. "How do you know my motives? How do you know where I am? Who are you?"
"So many questions." The woman said, rolling her eyes and glancing at the ceiling. "And so very impolite. Well you won't get any answers from me that's for certain."
"Then why are you here?" He asked angrily. He was starting to get very impatient with the woman.
"To tell you that your pawn Fudge has been caught. He won't be getting in Harry's way anytime soon, so you might as well go ahead and release him from the imperius curse. I know you can't get the Daily Prophet while running from the Aurors, so I thought I'd stop by and let you know." She said with a sigh, as if the very task was a burden. "Dear Amelia has been named temporary Minister, but she is going to be named the permanent Minister very shortly. She will enjoy taking you and your little…network…down." The woman said with a grin. "Incidentally your little girl Umbridge will be out of commission in a few days due to a stay in the hospital wing. I do believe she will have fainted from fright, but she is a little busy at the current moment so she doesn't have time to send you any owls. After all, planning an Azkaban breakout is hard work." She said with a sickly sweet smile.
"I demand you tell me who you are, and how you know of my plans!"
The woman looked at Albus and laughed. "No. I'm not telling."
"I've had enough of you!" Dumbledore shouted. "Avada Kedavra!"
The sickly green light of the killing curse sailed towards her, but Albus's eyes widened in shock as the unfazed woman just stood there and watched it. His jaw nearly hit the ground when she reached out and plucked it out of the air, as if it were nothing but a green ball that had been tossed at her.
"Thank you Albus. I now have what I came for." She said with a satisfied smile, as she placed the killing curse in her pocket. "I must be going now, but I do have a warning for you." She said, looking right into Albus's eyes. "The dead are watching you."
And with those parting words, the woman in the golden robes simply vanished. She left behind a thoroughly gob smacked Albus Dumbledore, who immediately began shivering from terror.
The woman in the golden robes reappeared seconds later in the middle of the North Sea. She lifted her head in a haughty manner and wrinkled her nose at the sight before her. The almost full moon cast eerie shadows over the tall building in front of her, but she paid that no mind as she walked towards it. Completely oblivious to the crashing and thundering waves around her, she walked on the water as if it were simply an asphalt road beneath her feet. As she neared her destination, she narrowed her silver eyes at the ghastly beings who flew around the building. The dementors of Azkaban suddenly stopped in mid-flight, as they became aware of her presence.
Terror…not simply fear…but sheer terror suddenly struck the area, but it was not coming from the prisoners of the dreaded prison like one would think. Oh no, it was coming from the dementors.
As the woman stepped on the island that housed the prison, the dementors shrank back to give the woman space, as if they were afraid that she would strike them down with a flick of her wrist. The prisoners of Azkaban took notice of the strange behavior of their guards, and the terror began to spread to them. Prisoners on every level shrank back into the darkest corner of their cells, and wondered what could cause the dementors to become so terrified.
When the woman entered the building, she began to make her way up to the highest and most secured area. The place where the most vile and cruelest humans were housed.
The cells of the Death Eaters.
As she stood at the very end of the level, she stared down the long hallway at the cells that lined either side, and took the killing curse out of her pocket. Turning to her immediate left, her eyes fell on a very pale and frightened witch with dark eyes and matted curly hair.
The woman smiled cruelly at her. "How does it feel knowing you're going to die Bellatrix?" She asked with a sickly smile. "Terrifying isn't it? This is for Frank and Alice Longbottom, and all the other innocent witches and wizards you have tortured and murdered over the years."
Bellatrix whimpered in fright as the woman plucked off a small piece of the killing curse that she held in her hand. Trapped in her cell and unable to move because of an unseen force, Bellatrix screamed as she realized what was about to happen.
The woman uncaringly flicked the small piece of the killing curse at the screaming witch, and smiled as she watched the light fade from Bellatrix's eyes. Then she turned to the cell next to Bellatrix's and repeated the same process. Down the row of cells on the left, and up the cells on the right the woman continued to break off small pieces of the curse and flicked them at the occupants.
On that cold November night, one by one the most foul witches and wizards in Britain met their Fate.
Chaos.
On a Monday morning.
That was not how Amelia Bones envisioned her second week as Minister for Magic to start out. The mass murder of all of the convicted Death Eaters at Azkaban had made front page news and everyone was clamoring for answers. She stared down at the list of names in her hand and shook her head as she reread the list again.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Rabastan Lestrange
Rodolphus Lestrange
Alecto Carrow
Amycus Carrow
Dolohov
Gibbon
Jugson
Rowle
Travers
Macnair
Yaxley
Peter Pettigrew
All of them killed by the killing curse.
Amelia shook her head again as she tried to wrap her mind around how this was possible. The papers were demanding answers, and some had already made up their own speculations. Rumors were already spreading and people were whispering that maybe Voldemort had broken in and killed all of his own followers. Amelia didn't want to think that was possible.
Tom was at Hogwarts, wasn't he? She asked herself. Of course he was. Right?
She looked up in desperation as a knock sounded at her door.
"Yes Percy?" She called out.
Percy Weasley stuck his head in the door and smiled at her. "You have visitors Minister Bones."
"Send them in please." She answered.
She watched as Frank, Alice, Mad-Eye, and Tonks entered and made themselves comfortable in the chairs. Her office was still slightly messy due to moving her stuff in, and Fudge's stuff out, but that was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment.
"Do we know anything?" She asked hopefully.
"We do, but it's unbelievable." Frank answered. Since Amelia had become Minister, he had been appointed head of the DMLE. "The magical signature all points to Dumbledore."
Amelia's eyes widened in shock. "Dumbledore? Why?"
"Your guess is as good as ours." Alice said, shaking her head. "We don't know why he did it, but we think it could be to discredit 'Voldemort'. Death did tell you that Albus set loose the basilisks for that very reason."
Amelia nodded. "Yes, he did tell us that, but how did Albus get in? Why didn't the dementors stop him?"
"We don't know." Tonks said. "Mad-Eye and I visited Azkaban this morning. The prisoners said that they didn't see anything, but they remember lots of unusual screaming and feeling nothing but sheer terror. Even the dementors were still terrified and they refused to tell us anything. We did ask Molly Weasley if she saw anything, but she refused to answer any of our questions. She was being defiant. We are confident though, that she didn't see anything either. The answers we got from all the prisoners were all the same."
"They saw nothing, heard unusual screaming, and felt sheer terror." Amelia summed up, and Tonks nodded. "What could cause the dementors to become so terrified?"
"You don't think Death himself had anything to do with this, do you?" Frank asked with wide eyes.
"It's possible." Amelia said with a sigh. "I suppose I better take a trip to Hogwarts to figure out what is really going on."
"There won't be a need for that." A voice said.
Amelia jerked her head up, and stared at a woman in golden robes that had appeared behind Frank, Alice, Tonks, and Mad-Eye.
"I was wondering if you were going to make your presence known." Mad-Eye said gruffly.
Fate smiled and chuckled. "Yes well, unlike my colleague I won't startle a wand happy Auror."
"You knew she was there Alastor?" Amelia asked, and he nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to, but I couldn't." He answered.
Fate chuckled again. "I'm Fate." She said with a smile. "And I am the reason why you are all running around this morning, and I do apologize for that. However, I did what I had to do. Albus was planning on a mass breakout of all the Death Eaters. The result would have had similar repercussions as the last timeline, and I could not allow that."
"Death wasn't involved at all?" Alice asked.
Fate shook her head. "No he wasn't. Contrary to popular belief, Death does not have the authority to take life. As Fate, that is my job. Death got his name because when people die he is the first eternal being that they meet, and the name stuck. He rather enjoys it though." She said with a smile.
"So how does Dumbledore play into all of this?" Mad-Eye asked.
"He cast the killing curse that I used to kill the Death Eaters with." She answered. "I went to visit him last night, and no I won't tell you where he is." She said sternly. "I may have said some things and teased and taunted him a bit, but he finally got mad at me for not answering his demanding questions, and cast the killing curse. I caught it in my hand, stuffed it in my pocket, and made a little trip." She said with a shrug.
"So how are we supposed to react to this news? He didn't actually kill them." Amelia said.
"I know." Fate answered. "I realize that my actions have left you all in a bind, and I really am sorry about that. However, there are several ways that this can be worked. Some of the options are not moral or ethically right, but that is a choice you will have to make." She said with a smile. "For example. Your laws state that under no circumstances should an unforgivable be cast upon any human because the consequences are a one way ticket into Azkaban. Albus thought I was human, and he cast the killing curse at me with every intention of ending my life. Now with that said, you can simply ignore my involvement, take all the evidence, put the blame on Albus, and say that he used his animagus form to sneak in and kill them all."
"That is unethical." Amelia said. "I don't know how I would feel about that."
"I realize that." Fate said. "But there is another way. Albus did cast the killing curse with every intention of ending my life, so you can say that there is evidence that shows Albus cast the killing curse that led to the deaths of the Death Eaters. Which is true." She said, holding up a finger before they could protest. "You don't have to say that he went there and did it himself, but it can be implied and you can let people come to their own conclusions."
"I like that idea better than the first." Tonks said.
"As do I." Frank said. "But then at the trial Dumbledore can deny that he was even there, which would put us back at the other option…letting him take the fall for something he did not do."
"You could." Fate said with a smile. "Or when the time comes and Albus denies it, you let me take the fall for their deaths. I will appear in court and announce that I did it. It makes no difference to me. It's not like they can chuck me into Azkaban. I'm Fate. It's my job to take people's lives away from them, and yes, I will be there should you choose that route. You have my word."
"You would be willing to tell them exactly how you did it?" Amelia questioned.
"Of course." Fate said. "Albus will still go down for casting the killing curse in the first place."
"But what of the proof?" Moody asked. "It's your word against Dumbledore's."
"I know. I will provide proof, but not at this time. I can give you my memories of what happened, but I will not do it right now. Doing so may alert you to his whereabouts."
"Why won't you just tell us where he is?" Alice asked.
Fate smiled softly at her. "It is not the right time. I know that answer is hard to accept right now, but I ask you to trust us. My sister is not done doing what she needs to do."
"Sister?" Amelia asked.
"Destiny." Fate said, still smiling. "Speaking of my sister, I have a message for you from her." She said with a chuckle. "She would like me to let you know that you will not stay temporary Minister for long, but that you will be voted in permanently. Also, she would like me to pass on some information on Umbridge. In her desk, you will find proof of her correspondence with Dumbledore over the last few months. As well as their plans. The Azkaban breakout plan is not in there, but the dementor attack in Little Whinging is. It should be enough to dismiss her as Senior Undersecretary. Destiny thinks it's a good idea to have Alice take Umbridge's place as Senior Undersecretary." She said with a smile, and Alice's eyes widened in shock. "There is also other interesting things that lay in her desk, and you really should look at them. Umbridge felt it was safer for that incrementing evidence to remain here, verses at Hogwarts where it would be shouted out to the roof tops by Miss Luna." Fate laughed, but then she turned serious. "DO NOT however, remove her from Hogwarts. Its better you all know where she is at all times, and so that Miss Luna can keep a watch on her activities."
"Where are the plans for the Azkaban breakout?" Frank asked curiously.
"They have now been owled to Dumbledore, but he will not destroy them." She said with a grin. "When Dumbledore is caught, you will find all the evidence you need."
"What about Fudge?" Tonks asked.
"The contract he signed with Umbridge and Dumbledore the night Albus confunded them is with Albus. Other than taking bribes and listening to Umbridge, there really isn't anything you can get him for. He was confunded and imperiused, and aside from being an idiot, he is pretty much harmless. He is no longer Minister and can no longer cause any harm, so when all of this is over, just send him home."
Amelia nodded and sighed. "I see. Alright. I will need some time to think about all this. It is a lot to take in and process."
"I understand." Fate said with a soft knowing smile. "When you come to your decisions, just keep them firm in your mind. My sister and I will know what you decide and we will act accordingly."
"You won't manipulate us?" Tonks asked in surprise.
Fate laughed, but shook her head. "No my dear, we will not. You are innocent and decent people who have been caught up in an unbelievable situation. The only people who will be manipulated in such a forceful manner will be the ones who deserve it."
"Thank you." Alice said quietly. "For everything."
Fate smiled at the group. "It is our pleasure." She said with a bow, and then she disappeared.
Amelia stared at the spot where Fate had been standing, but then turned her gaze to Frank.
"Well, get a search warrant together for the suspicion of working with a known fugitive, and search Umbridge's desk. Alice, do you want the Senior Undersecretary position?"
"Of course!" She exclaimed with a grin. "That would be a unique opportunity!"
Amelia smiled. "Very well. I can't put you as Head Auror, because that will conflict with Frank being Head of the DMLE. I don't want any problems because you are husband and wife. Not to mention, it's against the rules." She said, and they nodded in understanding. "Alastor, I hate to ask, but you have been helping us a great deal these past few months. Will you agree to coming back as Head of the Auror office?"
Moody sighed, but nodded. "I guess, but then I will retire again once this mess is all cleared up. So have someone in mind for when the time comes."
"I will." Amelia said, before turning to Tonks. "You still have a good many years before you can take that spot, but can I assume you still want to remain with the Aurors?" Tonks stared at Amelia as if she had grown another head, and Amelia laughed. "I'm just making sure." She said, and Tonks grinned at her.
"Ok, final instructions." Amelia continued. "Frank, get that warrant and search that desk. Alice, remain as an Auror for now, but when the time comes be ready to step up into your new position. Alastor, you're in charge of the search for Dumbledore. Do what you need to do. Tonks, report to Potter Manor and get the word out of this new development. Then I want you to help Alastor. Everyone got that?" She asked, and they all nodded. "Very well then, dismissed." She said with a grin.
They all laughed and hurried out the office. Amelia sat back in her chair and smiled. She knew she had some though choices ahead of her still, but she was determined to enjoy this new job. Especially now that she had people that could be trusted in all the right places.
When the owls had delivered the papers that same Monday morning, everyone at Hogwarts was shocked. No one knew what to think about it, until 'Voldemort' starting laughing hysterically when he was given a copy of The Daily Prophet. Then the rumors started.
Harry had heard the whispering all day. Did 'Voldemort' kill his own people? Most people thought he did, however they didn't really care. They were Death Eaters. Killers. Murdered in their cells like animals. No different from what they did to their victims.
Some people, namely Hermione, tried to play the sympathy card and said that they were already paying for their crimes, but no one really listened them. They were Death Eaters! They were going to die anyway! Other people, namely Ron, stressed, and then pointed out that whoever did kill them probably did the Death Eaters a favor. Seeing as now they were put out of their misery, and were away from the dementors.
After that, those sympathy card players went silent.
All that day though, Harry was in fog and really didn't know what to think. On one hand he was glad they were all dead, Pettigrew and Bellatrix in particular, but had a moral issue with how they died. Neville was glad Bellatrix was dead and didn't even try to hide the fact that he was happy over the news. The twins really didn't care one way or the other, but said they deserved what they got. Tom was just glad that he didn't have to put up with them, or even worry about them ever again, so he was quite happy as well. Luna felt much like Harry though. She was disturbed and saddened that they were trapped in their cells, but was glad that they wouldn't have the chance to kill anyone ever again. When the boys asked her what she meant by that, Luna pointed out that Azkaban was capable of being broken out of. They all agreed with her on that point.
It wasn't until later that night when Death told them what really happened and why. After that, there were no more questions or thoughts about the matter. If Fate deemed them a threat and came all the way down here to personally kill them, then who were they to judge how they died.
For the rest of that week though, Umbridge was in a very bad mood, much to Godric's delight.
It wasn't only the Death Eaters that were having a bad week though. Ginny and Ron had their fair share of problems too.
On Wednesday night, just before dinner, she finally managed to brew a perfectly good Amortentia potion. It had taken her longer than expected, but that was only because Tom kept sabotaging her efforts. She didn't know it was him, but he finally let off and let her complete the love potion.
Ginny thought she had finally managed to get it right, and started to put her plan into motion. She was now really certain that the pink haired girl was Harry's girlfriend. Especially after seeing that girl so concerned over Harry after the Quidditch game.
She had just bottled up the potion and was just about to walk out of the room where she had been brewing it, when 'Hogwarts' pretty much nailed her to the wall.
"Miss Ginny Weasley, why do you feel it is so important to brew a love potion for Harry Potter? Do you not care that he has no romantic feelings towards you? Why would you take his free will away from him? If you really cared about Harry Potter, you would let him live his life and be happy. It is pretty sad that all you care about is dating 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' and not really Harry Potter himself. Do you even know the difference between the two? Well I for one feel sorry for you if you don't. Professor Snape, if you turn around and take a left, instead of a right, you will find Miss Weasley and all the evidence in the second room on the left."
Harry, Neville, Tom, and the twins were in the common room studying when 'Hogwarts' made her announcement, but now they were doubled over laughing. Ron was scowling and getting red in the face, and Hermione hung her head and shook it. However, the rest of the common room decided to follow Harry and the others example, and were also laughing.
"I suppose you all think it's funny that my sister has been humiliated!" Ron shouted.
"She's our sister too, and yeah we think she deserves it!" George laughed, while Fred agreed by falling out his chair and laughing even louder.
"Think about Ginny and how she feels right now!" Hermione yelled at them.
"Think about Harry and how he feels right now!" Tom shouted back at her.
Harry was actually thankful that he was laughing so hard, because no one could tell if his face was red from laughing, or because he was embarrassed, which was actually the case.
"Who cares how the famous Harry Potter feels!?" Ron yelled.
"And who cares how the over obsessive, googley-eyed, silly little girl feels?!" Tom yelled back. "Personally, I find it disgusting that anyone would use a love potion on someone else! Hogwarts is right, it takes away a person's free will! It is no better than the imperius! Your sister is disgusting!"
"SHUT UP AND DON'T TALK ABOUT MY SISTER THAT WAY!" Ron bellowed, and shot a curse at Tom.
Tom blocked it, but unfortunately for Ron, he was standing in the middle of the common room. Over ten people simultaneously hit Ron with different hexes, and the end result reminded Harry of the time when a bunch of different people hexed Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle on the Hogwarts Express. Ron looked like a cross between a slug, and some kind of weird slimy creature with red hair sticking out all over its body.
"RON!" Hermione shouted frantically. "Someone help me! Please!"
No one made a move, and everyone just stood there in shock staring at Ron.
"Professor McGonagall, Merlin, and Madam Pomfrey, your help is need in Gryffindor Tower. Apparently an argument broke out, and Ronald Weasley tried to curse Tom Ringo. Mr. Weasley now looks like one of Professor Hagrid's cross breeding experiments gone wrong."
"Well at least he doesn't look like a Blast-Ended Skrewt!" Seamus shouted, and everyone burst out laughing again.
Fred had disappeared up the stairs to the dorms, but everyone could hear him howling with laughter. He returned a minute later with the mirror, and was talking to someone. When Fred turned the mirror around, Harry noticed Arthur was looking over the scene, but then he disappeared from view, and reappeared in the common room a few moments later via Fawkes.
Tom was sitting in a chair trying to hold himself together in a dignified way, but was failing miserably. Hermione was sobbing over Ron, Harry was in shock over everything, and Neville and George were laughing along with everyone else.
The portrait door burst open and McGonagall, Merlin, Madam Pomfrey, and Salazar came rushing in. Everyone backed away and their eyes fell on Ron. Madam Pomfrey immediately ran over to Ron, McGonagall looked extreamly angry, Merlin began asking questions, but Salazar snorted loudly.
And that was the last straw for Harry. He burst out laughing and didn't stop for almost three full minutes.
"Who did this?" McGonagall asked glaring around.
Harry somewhat managed to get ahold of himself and answered. "Actually almost everyone Professor. Tom threw up a shield charm to defend himself and everyone attacked Ron all at the same time."
"It was several spells that hit him Minerva. No one person did this on their own." Madam Pomfrey confirmed.
"Will he be all right?" Arthur asked.
She nodded. "Yes, but it will be a few days before he recovers. I need to get him to the hospital wing."
They levitated Slug Ron, and left with Hermione trailing behind them, but Arthur stopped just before exiting and turned to look at McGonagall, who looked ready to spit fire at the next person who dared to laugh.
"Minerva, if my son threw the first curse, then he deserves what he got. I'm serious about that. He needs to learn not to be so hot headed. Fred told me that this started because Hogwarts caught Ginny brewing a love potion for Harry. Harry says Tom defended himself, and I fully believe that. Don't punish the others for protecting one of their own from an attack. Please."
McGonagall took a deep breath and nodded. "I will honor your wishes Arthur, if it is proven that is what happened because I will be looking at memories in a pensieve."
"Thank you." Arthur said, and ran to catch up with Madam Pomfrey and Hermione.
"Would you like me to help you collect the memories and study them?" Merlin asked.
She nodded, and they collected memories from Harry, Dean, Lavender, and Angelina, while Salazar checked the last spell of Tom's wand by using Prior Incantato. It, of course, checked out, and then he told everyone they should go to the great hall for dinner, because there was going to be an announcement made.
Shortly after dinner started, Godric came in looking none too pleased, with Arthur, Ginny and Hermione following behind him. Hermione looked like she had been crying, Arthur looked really angry, and so did Ginny. She had a look of defiance on her face, and glared at anyone who looked at her.
Godric took his place at the head table, Ginny and Hermione sat at the very end of the Gryffindor table, but Arthur came up to Harry and pulled him aside.
"Harry, I know this situation with Ginny has embarrassed you, and for that I am very sorry."
"It's ok Mr. Weasley. It wasn't your fault."
"In a way it is. I should have kept her childhood adoration for you under control, and should have discouraged Molly's encouragement after Ginny met you. It seems that Molly actually encouraged Ginny to get you to notice her." He said with a sigh. "Ginny seems to think that you belong to her, and her only. Godric is going to make her publically apologize to you, then make the 'love potions are banned' announcement, but I don't actually know what Ginny plans to say. It could be anything, so I wanted to warn you."
Harry nodded. "Thank you for warning me. Is Ron going to be alright?"
Arthur smiled. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey was able to isolate each of the spells and reverse them, but it will be a few more days until he is completely back to normal. It was actually iffy there for a while, and she was about to call for Tom. If Tom couldn't help, then Ron would have been sent to St. Mungo's, but like I said, she got him sorted out."
"Ok good. I know we aren't friends anymore, but I still don't want to see him permanently damaged."
Arthur chuckled. "You have a good heart Harry. You really do."
"Sometimes it's a curse though." Harry said with a laugh. "Are you going to be staying?"
"Yes, I will. I fully agree with Godric making her apologize, but not necessarily publically." He said with a knowing look. "But Ginny is my daughter, and I want to make sure she does what she is told to do."
Harry nodded. "Ok sir." He said taking a deep breath.
"You go back and finish your dinner." He said with an encouraging smile, but Harry could tell that he was still stressed over what was happening.
Arthur went to sit down in a guest chair Merlin had conjured for him, and Harry told the twins, Neville, and Tom what Arthur had said. Fred and George just shook their heads and glared at Ginny, who glared back at them.
After Godric finished eating, he stood up and cleared his throat.
"Miss Weasley, you know what you're supposed to do, come on." He said motioning for her to come forward.
She got from her seat with a defiant look in her eyes. She tossed her long red hair over her shoulder, stomped up to the head table, and faced the rest of the students. Harry knew this was not going to be good.
"I'm supposed to apologize for making a love potion for Harry, but I'm honestly not sorry." She said, while standing there with her hands on her hips. Harry saw Arthur bury his head in his hands. "My Mum always said that Harry can belong to me if I want, and I always get what I want. I feel bad for Harry's pink headed girlfriend, but Harry belongs to me!" She shouted.
It took Harry a second to wrap his head around what she said, but Neville, Fred, George, and Tom's collective 'WHAT!?' brought him around.
"Pink headed girlfriend?" Harry stood up and asked. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"Your pink haired girlfriend." She said.
"Are you talking about Tonks?"
"I don't know her name." Ginny said with a shrug.
"She's the only pink haired person I know, but she's not my girlfriend. She's twenty-six, or something like that, and is like a big sister to me. She's engaged to Remus Lupin. You remember Professor Lupin? That's who she's dating, not me."
Harry could tell right away that he should not have said that, because Ginny smiled brightly.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Then you and I can go out with no problems!"
Harry shook his head frantically, and backed up a few steps. "That's not going to happen. I don't like you, so stay away from me. Please."
"You belong to me Harry Potter!" She yelled. "My Mum said so!"
"Your Mum is crazy!" Harry yelled. "You're crazy! Stay away from me, or I will hex you."
"I could give you some tips about avoiding crazy arse witches Harry!" 'Voldemort' said loudly. "Bellatrix used to say the same thing about me. Apparently she thought I belonged to her too, and she was married!"
This declaration proved too much for Tom, who was trying to not make that comparison, but he burst out laughing. Ginny on the other hand rounded on 'Voldemort'.
"I am not like her. She was a Death Eater!"
"In this case it does not make a difference!" Harry shouted, then he stood up on the Gryffindor house table. "Ok, everybody listen up. I know most of you women don't care about me and don't want to go out with me, and for those that think that, I thank you. However, for those that do, I just want to say that I am not interested. In my opinion women are completely nuts, and I have plans to stay a bachelor for the rest of my life. You can all thank her!" He said, pointing at Ginny.
"You saved my life in my first year Harry!" Ginny yelled. "You and I belong together! I will make sure of…"
"STUPEFY!" Arthur yelled. The curse hit Ginny in the back, and she fell face forward.
"Go Dad!" Fred and George cheered.
Arthur sighed loudly, levitated his daughter, and began walking out of the great hall. About halfway through though, he stopped and looked at Harry.
"I don't really know what to say Harry. I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm going to do with her, but until I figure it out, Tom, please watch his back. Fred, George, and Neville same goes for you three."
The boys all raised their goblets in acknowledgement, and Arthur left with Ginny. Harry turned towards the head table.
"Hey Voldyshorts, about those tips. What are they?"
'Voldemort grinned at him. "We will talk later."
"On a good note though, at least everyone knows she's crazy." Tom snorted.
"Mum and Dad should have just stopped at us." George said, and Fred nodded in agreement.
The entire great hall was whispering by now. McGonagall looked mortified, Godric was clearly angry, Salazar, Merlin, and even Snape looked concerned. Umbridge was smiling sweetly for some unknown reason. Harry on the other hand, felt like sinking into the floor.
"If I may be so bold. Perhaps it would be best if Harry Potter did not sleep in Gryffindor Tower for the time being. I could provide a room for him and his friends if need be."
Godric stood up. "An excellent suggestion Hogwarts. Thank you. Harry, you and your friends see me after dinner. Until then, try and finish your meal son."
"Yes sir. Thank you." Harry said with a nod.
"On another note, Love potions are here-by banned from Hogwarts. From now on if anyone is caught brewing, using, or even bringing one into the castle or grounds, they will be expelled. Hogwarts, are there any other love potions on the premises?"
"Yes Godric, there is. Do you wish me to name the people who have them?"
"No Hogwarts, not at this time. For those of you who do have love potions, you have twenty-four hours to dispose of them, and not by giving them to the intended victim. There are plenty of sinks and loos in the castle where the potion can be dumped out. If you do not comply, you will be named by Hogwarts, and forced to publically confess and apologize. Love potions take away the victims free will. They are no better than using the imperius curse for nefarious purposes. You are not creating a lover, you are creating a slave. Think about that. You all have twenty-four hours."
Again whispering broke out in the great hall, and Harry still felt like melting into the floor.
"Godric are you sure about this?!" Harry asked in astonishment.
They were all seated in the Headmaster's office. Luna wasn't there though because she had homework to do, but they knew she would be listening.
The office looked vastly different from when Dumbledore lived there. Godric had moved a bunch of his things from his old living quarters into the office. Weapons hung on the walls, books were scattered everywhere, and a bunch of Dumbledore's old stuff was piled into the corners. Apparently Madam Bones came in and searched everything to see if she could find something, which she had, but no one would say what it was. The only thing that remained the same was the old Headmaster portraits, which were thoroughly disgusted with Dumbledore and ecstatic that Godric Gryffindor himself was now the Headmaster.
"Yes, Harry I am. We have all talked about it, and we actually think you are in danger. Miss Weasley is crazy, for lack of better terminology."
"So I have a choice in where I can live?"
Godric nodded. "The Chamber of Secrets, if Salazar can find the spell Rowena used for the Room of Requirement. That option is actually the easiest in my opinion. The second easiest is the ROR itself with Merlin and Death, but I don't know how that would work out for the long term. My old living quarters, but they need to be updated because they have been sealed and hidden away for so long, and there is no plumbing in there. You can also stay in some unused rooms in the dungeons, which can be fashioned into a common room and sleeping quarters, but that could take a while."
Harry took a deep breath and sighed. Then he looked at his friends. "What do you guys think? The Chamber?"
"Harry, we actually would like to stay in Gryffindor Tower. That is where our clientele is, if you know what we mean. As long as we can still visit though, we really don't have a preference. It's your choice." George said.
Harry nodded in understanding. "Tom, Neville. Help me out here."
"Well honestly, I'm all for the Chamber of course." Tom said with a laugh. "I worry about Nagini though. I don't know if she would be able get in and out easily."
"I like the Chamber too. If the same spell for the ROR is put on the Chamber, we can create tunnels to pretty much anywhere." Neville said. "We can make a snake sized tunnel just for Nagini."
"Tunnels?" Harry asked.
"Don't tell me you forgot Harry!" Neville gasped. "Remember in our future past life when we had to make a tunnel into Hogsmeade? You came through the Hogs Head pub."
"Oh yeah!" Harry exclaimed, smacking his forehead.
McGonagall gave them a stern glare. "I don't know if this is such a good idea."
"We do!" Fred and George exclaimed with grins.
"Imagine George, our dear Head of House wakes up and finds her bedroom painted in green and silver!"
"Oh the horror!" George exclaimed dramatically.
Salazar and Snape laughed, but McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Don't forget, it goes both ways. I see red and gold in your futures." She said looking at both Slytherins, who frantically shook their heads no.
"An excellent idea Professor!" Fred laughed.
Merlin chuckled. "Minerva, I'm honestly not worried about the boys making trips into Hogsmeade or even apparating to Diagon Alley. They are technically grown men after all. However, if your studies slip because of those trips, I will discourage them in the future. Use your heads please."
The boys all nodded in understanding, but McGonagall sighed. "I do suppose your right Merlin. However Mr. Longbottom, while I know you are mentally eighteen years old, your body is still physically fifteen years of age. I will need your parents to sign a permission form, and I ask you all to give us a courtesy heads-up if you plan to leave the castle. Miss Lovegood, that applies for you as well." She said looking at the ceiling.
Godric nodded. "That is a sensible request, and I expect you all to follow it closely."
"Yes, sir." They all said with excited grins.
"Can Luna see into the Chamber? I mean, if we need help for some reason and can't get back to the main part of the castle, would she be able to send help?" Neville asked.
Suddenly Dobby popped in with a loud crack. "Miss Luna asked Dobby to come and tell you all that she can see into the Chamber of Secrets, and that she will also ask for permission to leave school grounds. Dobby also wants to remind Mr. Harry Potter that elves can apparate into the Chamber as well. If you need help Mr. Harry Potter, Dobby will be there." He said with a firm nod.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry said with a grin.
Dobby smiled, hopped from one foot to the other, bowed, and popped back out.
Merlin chuckled at Dobby's antics, but then he turned to Death who had been silently listening to the conversation. "What about you old boy? What are your feelings about all this?" He asked.
"For tonight, I think the boys should stay with us in the Room of Requirement. Miss Weasley is very irate at the moment, and is lying in wait for Harry to return to the common room so she can 'talk some sense into him'. I have said it before, the girl is not stupid. She is very smart, but yes, she is crazy."
"Should we expel her Godric? I am at a loss on what to do with her." McGonagall said desperately. "I've already given her detention, but never in all my years have I had to deal with a situation like this."
"Where would she go Minerva? Home? She can't. She's underage and can't be left alone. Even if Molly was there I wouldn't suggest it, because Molly might make it worse. Miss Weasley certainly can't go to Potter Manor either. However Harry, if you decide to visit Gryffindor Tower, which I'm sure you will do from time to time, just be very careful."
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yes sir. I will be careful. I promise." Then he turned to Tom. "Was Bellatrix really this bad?"
Tom also sighed. "Yes, and no. She was obsessed with me because of my power and abilities, but she was never this vocal about it. She knew I would not tolerate it, and she would more than likely find herself subjected to the Cruciatus if she tried anything."
"Well I can't torture Ginny, that's for sure."
"Arthur told me he is looking into ways of curing her obsession. He can't legally obliviate her, and the Ministry won't send the Obliviators to do it for him. A confundus charm will wear off eventually, so he is trying to come up with something else." Salazar said.
"I'll look into the Dark Arts." Tom said. "Nothing that will hurt her of course, but I'll see if I can't find something."
Harry smiled at his brother. "Thanks."
"In the meantime Harry, watch yourself." Death warned.
"I will."
Godric sighed and rubbed his forehead. "All right, it's settled then. Salazar, see if you can find the spell Rowena used for the Room of Requirement. Boys and Miss Luna, I expect you all to follow Minerva's expectations, but if you need help, let us know."
"I also want to add something." Salazar said, and everyone turned to him. "Let us know where any tunnels you create are. That way we are aware of their locations."
"Yes sir." They all said.
"And if I find one tunnel leading into my quarters, you will regret it." Snape said, and they all started laughing.
Harry was starting to think that this might not be a bad thing after all.
*A/N* Again, I hope i didn't offend anyone, and if I did, I am very sorry. I also want to say that it actually wasnt my intention to write Ginny this way. I had originally planned to have her embarrassed, crying, and really apologizing, but then i thought better of it. I think this Ginny kind of fits my story better. We haven't really seen a lot of her, but i have been dropping clues about her obsessiveness and i think this fits better. Also, with Ginny being this way and Harry having to move out of the tower, it gives the boys and Luna more areas to play in. After all the twins have to get to Diagon Alley to buy their shop somehow, dont they? :) I assume that in cannon they left school grounds without permission, but now they have it! LOL! Anyway Im sorry for the long note. I want to thank everyone who has F, F, & R'd! It does mean a lot to me you guys!
Also, I have received several PMs and Reviews about Slash. This story will not be slash at all. For my story purposes, Harry will either stay single, or have a wife in the epilogue. (I haven't really decided yet.)