Chapter 16 : Sleep-over !
"Remus! Come, sit down and hear all about the fracas at the Ministry . . . seems you, Mad-eye and I will again be the cavalry, charging in to do battle, but Severus will take Sirius' place, as he's been given another assignment," Tonks spouted the short version, as she patted the seat next to her, indicating where he should sit.
"Well, as long as you two don't get hurt this time around, " he replied, taking a seat and looking over at Mooney, who shrugged.
"Don't really know what'll happen, do we? " Mad-eye grumped, blue magical eye swiveling around to keep an ever constant vigilance on the whole house.
"Ah, but this time, you have the advantage," injected Emma.
"Two advantages, actually," Remus informed the group. "Severus has been tasked with preparing some "Felix Felicis', so everyone will have a bit of luck, too."
"Brilliant!" Hermione beamed. "I've read about that, but you can't use too much, too often."
"Yes, I'm sure that the doses and usage will be carefully monitored, Hermione," Emma assured her.
"Perhaps we could have a few more of the Order join us, since we won't be caught unaware this time . . . perhaps Bill or Arthur Weasley," Remus suggested.
"We'll discuss that with the two of them later . . . as you all are up against eleven Death Eaters, it would even the odds a bit . . .good thought, Remus." Mad-eye nodded.
"How did your meeting go, Remus?" Tonks turned to the man sitting next to her. "Did everyone stay relatively calm?"
"It was an eye opener for Severus, who has taken everything he's learned rather well, actually. Sirius told me he's already decided, well, was forced to admit, that he had to be the first to bury the hatchet about the old days. And, if Severus does the same, it looks like we'll have at least a start toward an understanding and forgiveness from both sides of that story. Then they'll be able to work together to help Harry," Remus informed them. "If we do all survive this time around, it would be better to become, if not friends, at least acquaintances who get along rather well . . . true friendship takes time after all these years of animosity. . . . shame James isn't here to do the same."
"He'll know, as will Harry's Mum," Luna stated. "They're still with Harry, in spirit, so they know this is for the best."
"Well said, Luna," Neville gave her shoulder a squeeze, as she smiled up at him.
X X X
"We need to discuss the Horcruxes, Headmaster; what and where they are and how you all will retrieve them during the coming months. After we view the next movie, the one in which you die, we'll start talking with everyone about how the two story lines will split and what will happen in Harry's sixth year and beyond. . . what can be changed and what must happen, if Voldemort is to be defeated."
"But, if I understood you it seems my misguided, foolish desire to see my sister Arianna again causes a curse to be unleashed on my hand and it would have brought about my death, even without Severus having to kill me, correct?" Albus asked.
"Correct. We need you to retrieve that ring, but whatever your motive, you must not put it on, Headmaster. Tempting as it is, the resurrection stone will not work properly while still a part of that cursed ring. The ring will have to be destroyed, of course, but the stone is saved and used by Harry just before his confrontation with Voldemort. I don't think Tom realized it was one of the Deathly Hallows; it was just a relic of Salazar Slytherin's that made the ring important to him," Dan added.
"Do I see my folks . . . did I see . . . it's weird, talking about something that's happened , but hasn't, yet . . . anyway, do I?" Harry shook his head as if trying to shake the timeline into the right order.
"Yes, your Mum, Dad, Remus and Sirius are there with you . . . as your Mum says, they've never left you, Harry," Dan answered him. "I think, Headmaster, if we do this in the correct order, you would be able to hold the stone and see your sister, and Harry, your parents. However, after that, I think the Resurrection Stone should be placed in the Department of Mysteries for safe keeping, don't you agree?'
"Perhaps that would be a better resting place for such a rare item," agreed Albus, as Harry nodded.
"Right," Dan started, checking his notes. "The list of Horcruxes . . . Tom Riddle's diary; found and Horcrux destroyed by Harry with the Basilisk fang's poison. The Gaunt family ring - you'll retrieve that for us Headmaster, from the ruin of their house near Little Hangleton." Albus nodded. "The Locket we have," continued Dan. "The Ravenclaw diadem is in the Room of Requirement, so perhaps the two of you could sneak in there and grab it without Dolores finding out."
Harry and Albus looked at each other and grinned.
"Can I trust the two of you to behave? You've got that 'Fred & George' look on your faces." Dan looked back and forth between the two, slightly alarmed.
"We'll behave with utmost propriety, have no fear, Daniel," replied the Headmaster, but both Harry and Dan saw him put his hand behind his back, with his fingers crossed, causing Harry to giggle and Dan to roll his eyes and shake his head.
"Heaven help the Room of Requirement . . . Moving right along . . . Nagini, the snake, which is already being dealt with," muttered Dan, looking again at his list. "The Hufflepuff Goblet, Cup, Chalice . . whatever it's called . . . THAT one will be a bit of a trick." Dan let out a sigh.
"Why, precisely?" asked Dumbledore.
"It's in Bella Lestrange's vault in Gringott's," Dan informed them.
"Blimey!" Harry gasped.
"I see." Albus frowned. "How was it retrieved the first time, if I may inquire?"
"Polyjuice Potion, Invisibility Cloak, Griphook and a dragon," Dan replied, watching Harry's mouth drop open and Albus' eyebrows rise.
"Bloody Hell!" Harry gasped.
"In this case, I quite agree," added Albus, nodding. "How did this adventure come about?"
"I'll give you the short version, as it'll be more fun to watch it happen in the movie. By the way, we know that Severus went to Bella's vault sometime before our break-in and that the Sword of Gryffindor in her vault is a fake,. . . perhaps he could grab the Cup during that trip. As you, Harry, are not going to go through the adventures that landed you with Bella in Malfoy Manor."
"Too right we don't want to get near her, or Malfoy Manor!" Harry agreed wholeheartedly.
"Severus placed a replica of The Sword of Gryffindor in Bella's vault? Why did he do that?" Albus asked, frowning, then he held up a finger and nodded. "I believe I just thought of the reason for his actions. . . this was after I had died, correct? And Severus was Headmaster when this occurred?"
"I believe so, Albus," Dan answered. Harry and he watched the Headmaster closely, as he sat back to think for a few moments. Sitting upright he smiled. "Tom has collected and used a relic from each of the founders of Hogwarts, correct?"
"Yes . . . .except," Harry started to reply.
"For Godric Gryffindor," finished Dan. "And it was your portrait that told him to do just that, so with the Sword, he has a complete set!"
"That's how it would appear to the Death Eaters, as they don't know anything about the Horcruxes." Dumbledore agreed. "And he doesn't think he needs another Horcrux, unless . . . he's planning to use the Sword for a final one, when he gets a chance to kill you, Harry."
"Too late," muttered Dan, which caused Harry to look at him sharply and Albus to frown.
"Daniel," Dumbledore said, in a warning tone.
"No . . . sorry Headmaster . . . he has to know, now, so he can get his mind wrapped around the idea, if you'll pardon the irony of that concept."
"I'm not sure I want to know," Harry sighed, "but I get the sinking feeling you're going to tell me anyway . . . so, out with it, Dan . . . what do I need to know?"
"'Harry . . . . okay, straight out . . . when Voldemort killed your Mum, he accidentally made a seventh Horcrux . . . you. Before that murder, he'd already split his soul six times and it split once more, and attached itself to you, but what was left of him wasn't enough to stay in human form. So that bit that was left just took off and went into hiding, surviving until Quirrel stumbled across it, five years ago. That's why you can speak Parseltongue. And, unfortunately, now that he has a body back, he can connect his mind with yours."
"Bloody Hell!" Harry whispered, shaking his head, staring at the far wall, as Dan and Albus watched him closely. After a minute, he turned to them and smiled, which was a little surprising, to say the least. Albus and Dan looked at each other and then turned to Harry, who laughed. "I'm actually relieved, to be honest with you two . . . it means I'm not insane! I'm just a bloody Horcrux !"
"Yes, that's true, Harry . . . but . . . there's one tiny hiccup with this bit of news," Dan said quietly, as Albus took a deep breath, knowing what was coming next.
"What's that?" Harry asked, suddenly sobered by the looks on their faces.
"You and your friends are going to be collecting and destroying all of his Horcruxes . . ." Dan started.
"'Yeah, I got that bit, but he doesn't know I'm one of them! So, no problem . . . or is there?" Harry realized Albus was looking down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them on his lap. "Headmaster . . . . Dan . . . what . . . oh . . . that means . . . oh . . . . " Harry's face drained of color, and he drew in a ragged breath. "That means I have to die?" He looked back and forth at the two sitting with him for conformation.
"'Harry, my boy . . . " Dumbledore started, but stumbled to a stop, his blue eyes filled with tears as he faced the young wizard. "It's true . . . and it's, unfortunately, essential that Voldemort be the one to kill you . . . I'm so sorry, Harry . . . there's nothing . . . I . . . "
Harry just sat there, but then Dan touched his arm, making him jump and swing around to face the young actor.
"That was the bad news . . . the good news is . . . Voldemort hits you with the 'Avada Kadavra' but only kills the part of his soul that's in you . . . you survive and then you kill him . . . . otherwise, how would I have been sent back here, by you, if you hadn't survived and wanted to save your friends."
"So, I'm not going to die?" Harry gasped, then sank back in his chair, relief evident on his face.
"Oh, you'll still have to let him kill you, Harry, but you'll know what's going to happen." Dan informed him.
"Well, that's alright then; if we know I don't really die, I can do that, I suppose." Harry shrugged, sounding relieved.
"It's not as simple as that, I'm afraid; that is one thing you must get straight in your mind, in order for this to work properly, Harry . . . you must come to the realization, deep within your own soul, that you are totally willing to stand there and give up your life so that those you love will live . . . you must be totally willing to die like your Mum did, without hesitation or reservation or, in this case, any trace of smugness that he can't kill you . . . you must be totally sincere in your desire to give your life for your friends . . . out of your love for them."
Harry sat there, trying to absorb all that Dan was saying, thinking that he had indeed, felt a bit smug that he wouldn't die . . . what if he did die, because of his cocky attitude? Dan was right, he had to be totally sincere in his commitment to this act of love, or they were all lost. It was a sobering thought, but, in reality, he had no choice. It was a matter of just how he'd face that moment, mentally. He looked up to see both Albus and Dan regarding him sadly, so he picked up his head and smiled.
"Everyone will know, when we watch the movies, won't they?" he asked.
Dan nodded. "It will all make sense, in the end . . . your Mum and Dad dying, Severus' loyalty, Albus' trying to shield you from your fate as long as possible; but in the end, being there for you, even though he's dead, too. And, if this works, so many others will still be here, alive and your world will be rid of Voldemort and we can all get on with our lives."
"Maybe watching you be me in the movie will help me a lot, too. Seeing is believing, eh?" Harry smiled.
"Yes, but the aftermath of the battle is different than in the book . . . we'll read over that later," Dan advised. "It has to do with the Elder Wand; it's totally different than the movie, although I think the movie ending was a better solution, but that will change, too, so . . ."
"More reading? Miss Granger will love that!" teased Dumbledore, as the two boys laughed, nodding their heads in agreement.
X X X
Hermione's group had descended to the kitchen and were being brought up to speed about the raid planned for the night of the Battle at the Ministry. Fred, George and Tom joined them, still making lists and planning their triumphant exit from Hogwarts; Molly didn't seem too pleased. Emma assured her it was for the best and the twins really had finished their schooling and their future success at the shop in Diagon Alley was something of which she and Arthur would be proud. They all settled down as the topic of Severus' role at the Ministry was discussed.
"Severus, you'll be going to the Ministry to fight instead of staying at Hogwarts, as Albus ordered you to do originally, which means you'll have an airtight alibi when Voldemort gets home . . . make sure you assist Bella to escape, without making it too obvious, although everyone will know what's happening and keep the other Death Eaters busy." Rupert assured him with Remus, Tonks and Mad-eye nodding agreement.
"I believe that coming to the scene with the Headmaster will also make it seem as if I'd been brought along with him to help. I'll single out Bella and make sure she gets out of the Veil Chamber and makes her way to the Atrium. But, does . . . Harry . . . have to follow her and go through that confrontation with the Dark Lord?" Severus asked.
"Yes, unfortunately he does, and the longer Voldemort can be kept at the Ministry, the better. As it is, we'll have fifteen minutes, at the most, to capture Pettigrew and kill that snake. Minerva and I will be watching the house from as close as we dare go, in our Animagus forms, so we'll know exactly when he leaves for London," stated Sirius. "It's going to be a tight time table, this is."
"How will you know when to signal Narcissa?" Hermione asked. "Would the coins we use for the D.A. help?"
"That's brilliant, Hermione," Rupert grinned. "'Narcissa can have one and when it alerts her, she can 'Apparate' to the hideout and then "the game's afoot" as Sherlock would say."
"Who?" half a dozen voices asked.
"Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Robert Downey, Jude Law? Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce? Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman? No?" Rupert shook his head.
"We'll make a list of books for you all to read, at your leisure, so our Muggle references will make sense," replied Emma, with a smile towards Hermione. "That saying means 'the adventure begins'."
"Ah, 'The Hound of the Baskerville's' is a particular favorite of mine," added Dumbledore as Harry, Dan and he entered the kitchen. "What have all of you been planning? Something to annoy Tom, I'm presuming?"
"Oh, he'll be WAY past annoyed when he gets home from the Ministry raid, Headmaster," Rupert informed him. "Dead snake and missing rat about sums it up, really."
"Ah, taking advantage of Tom's absence are we? A little murder, a little kidnapping?" Albus looked around, rubbing his hands together, almost gleefully, as not a few at the table nodded and smiled at him. 'Excellent!" He chuckled, then shook his head. "Gracious, if I can make fun of such subjects, I must be getting tired . . . how are we going to work out the sleeping arrangements?"
"You mean we're not going home tonight?" Draco asked, then slapped himself on the forehead. "Forgot the 'Stop Time" bit . . . sorry . . . okay, so, where are we all going to sleep?"
"We discussed that just before we came down here, Headmaster . . . Draco," Hermione informed them. "We can enlarge the bed rooms and sort everyone out. Where did I put that list?" Ron elbowed Rupert and they grinned at each other. "Don't be rude Ronald," Hermione chided him.
"You're not even looking this way!" Ron gasped. "How does she do that?" He asked Rupert.
"She just knows you, mate . . . better get used to it!" Rupert advised him.
"Ah-ha!" Hermione waved a piece of paper triumphantly. "Let's see, Mrs. Weasley, Professor McGonagall, Madam Malfoy and Tonks will share Walburga's room. Ginny, Luna, Emma and I are in Regulus' room."
Emma, Ginny and Luna looked at each other and chorused, "Sleep-over!" and dissolved into giggles.
"Right, where was I . . oh, yes, Fred, George, Draco and Tom are in the back guest room on the 3rd floor. Remus, Sirius, and Severus are in the Sirius' room, Professor Dumbledore and Mad-eye are in the Master's Bedroom. Last, but not least, Rupert, Ron, Neville, Dan and Harry have the front 3rd floor bedroom. Dobby, you can join them if you wish, it's up to you."
"Might I stay with Harry Potter, sir?"
"Of course you can, Dobby," Harry assured him.
"You're spoiling him, you realize," Tom muttered to Harry, as he stood, displaying a watch he'd pulled from his pocket. "According to my watch, it's 11PM . . . let's meet down here for breakfast at . . say . . 8AM? Then we can watch the next movie and have another planning session, as one group, afterward. The plan is to keep rhythm with our inner/biological clocks. However, we will time it so when you go back to Christmas afternoon, around 1 PM or whatever the exact time was, you will actually have gained two or three extra days of holiday to go through. You'll only have missed a few seconds of time . . . call it a Christmas Holiday bonus!"
'Wicked!" declared the twins, with everyone laughing and nodding agreement.
"Emma, Rupert, Dan and I brought knapsacks with us, but I'm sure you all can transfigure or conjure some PJ's for tonight, can't you?" More nods and smiles.. 'That's the ticket! Well, I think we've all got a lot to think about, but let's try to get some sleep, shall we?" Tom motioned to the stairs, effectively shooing the group to the upper floors.
As the different 'roomies' started the ascent to their assigned sleeping quarters, Severus walked over to Remus and Sirius, who were talking quietly by the stove. They turned to him as he stopped and regarded them solemnly.
"There will be no short sheeting, warm water bowls, shaving cream deposits, tickling of noses with feathers or other juvenile, night time pranks. Do I make myself clear?" he intoned, in his best quelling tone.
"Severus, you wound me to the quick!" Sirius held his hand over his heart. "I would NEVER do something so childish, as it might jeopardize our new found understanding and budding friendship!."
"Liar."
"Well . . . truthfully, I might try one of those old tricks on you . . .but only if I got really bored." Sirius snapped his fingers. "I know! How about we sneak in and have some fun at Fred and George's expense?" he whispered, checking to make sure the twins were out of earshot.
Severus looked thoughtful. "They certainly wouldn't suspect me of pulling any kind of foolish prank . . . this could be quite amusing . . . what can I do to help?"
Sirius grinned from ear to ear, Severus smirked and Remus rolled his eyes and muttered, "Merlin help us, the Marauders ride again!"