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FOURTH YEAR – The return of evil
Finding the Unexpected - Part 2
"And you want to see that?" said Harry after hearing about George and Estella and Hermione's plan to continue spying on them. Ron gave Hermione a look that clearly indicated he agreed with Harry.
"Off course not! But, she said they would be talking and working on charms and potions! What if she is teaching him about special charms and what if she tells him about the Black Hand. They are obviously close" she said and Ron snorted at the "close" part. Both boys continued to look apprehensive about her plan.
"Fine I'll go on my own!"
"No! I'm coming!" answered Ron and followed by muttering "bloody stubborn" to himself
"I just think it would be better if we followed my parents or Malfoy. You are the one that started everything last year by making us follow my parents and this being obsessed with Estella now makes no sense" said Harry coolly.
"You are right Harry, it's just that, well I don't want to interfere with your parents anymore. Your mum was really unhappy with me about that parchment and made that clear when she took it away and during our detentions. Plus we have no way of following them once they go in their chambers or their office and Malfoy is in Slytherin right now and we can't get in there, so I thought…"
"Alright, let's get the cloak and go" Harry said unenthusiastically.
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They arrived at the potions classroom and soon were hidden in their spot. George arrived and began laying out items on a table until Estella came in and imperturbed the entire room.
"It's good to see you are ready" she said a she got closer to the table he was in.
"I reckon I would impress you and maybe get a reward" he said as her moved to hug her and claimed her lips. After a few minutes she put distance between them.
"Maybe you'll get a reward, but after we finish. So, which one is the detonator?" she asked and George resignedly pointed to the black horn-like object.
"How far have you gotten with it?"
"Fred and I got it to bang and give out black smoke. But we want to be able to drop it and have it run away for a good distance before it goes off. What good would it be to try to use it as a decoy for Filch if it's right next to you? We tried a variation of the locomotor spell, but it didn't work." They moved on to discuss and try spells to improve the decoy detonator. Once they got that to succeed they began working on several potions and drinking others. They turned into canaries and then cats and other birds and back into themselves, laughing and kissing often. Then one of the potions exploded and a bluish powder invaded the air. Estella and George laughed hysterically and coughed until they heard a sneeze that came from a corner of the classroom. Estella quickly pulled out her wand and George pulled out a piece of parchment and said "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good". Estella and George looked at the map and clearly found three dots showing the location of Harry Snape, Ron Wesley and Hermione Granger. Ella ran to the spot and pulled the invisibility cloak. George, Estella and the trio stared from one to the other for a few seconds until Estella asked "how long have you been following us?"
Everyone remained quiet. "If you don't tell me I will gladly practice my skills in legilimency on you and get to see all you little secrets" Estella said looking straight into Ron's eyes. Her eyes were fierce and she looked downright scary.
"Since the Hogwarts Express" whispered Ron.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione clearly annoyed at his big mouth
"Bloody little git…" George said but was quickly interrupted by Estella. "George, could you please leave me alone with this lot?" she asked.
"What? No I don't…" but she grabbed his arm and pulled him far away enough so the trio couldn't hear what they whispered to each other. After a few minutes of discussion she gave him a peck on the lips and George packed the contents from the table and left while Ella vanished the potions. She soon returned to talk to the trio.
"So, why did you do it?" she asked.
"Do what? We did nothing wrong, we simply didn't want to get caught in this classroom so late and hid in that corner when we heard people coming. Seeing you and George was completely accidental" said Hermione very convincingly.
"Right. You are good. I might have even believed you, but I know you started following me since the train." Estella said clearly enjoying the undermining of Hermione Granger. Hermione was livid. "Oi Ron! Melting like a fool at her! Condescending, arrogant Slytherin!" she thought.
"If you answer my questions maybe I can answer some of yours"
"We followed you in the Hogwarts Express because we were suspicious of the meetings our parents had in Norway and then after that we knew you and Malfoy were onto something" said Harry. This made Hermione even angrier.
"Are Hermione and the Grangers in the list of attacks that the Black Hand is planning?" asked Ron aggressively surprising everyone in the room and making Hermione let go of her anger towards him.
"Yes" she answered making Harry, Ron and Hermione pale. Hermione felt a bit dizzy and leaned on Ron as Harry patted her arm.
"Why?" asked Hermione quietly.
Estella sighed and proceeded to answer. "You and your friends got their plan to fail last year. Draco found out that the Black Hand would like to take revenge on you and Christa Moyne, Leah McDowal and Sam Roberts. They are also targeting the muggle families of witches and wizards that worked on the Muggle Protection Act and Equal Rights for the Muggle Born after the last war. That's why the killed the Turners. The rest of the muggles in that cafe were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. How did you three find out about the list?"
"We followed you when you met your aunt and uncle by the Hog's Head and then we went in there" said Harry.
"How many people are on that list?" asked Hermione stepping away from Ron and taking a strong stance.
"Eighteen families… no, sorry, it's seventeen now." Hermione looked at her expectantly pleading with her eyes to get all the information on the list.
"Alright Granger" Estella said as she moved to grab some parchment and began to write. "I'll make a copy of the list of people that are being targeted. What you saw in Hogsmeade was the first meeting of the Order of the Phoenix with the addition of my cousin. The order was a secret society founded by Professor Dumbledore during the last war to fight against the Dark Lord and his death eaters. He is reassembling the order now and he has assigned order members to protect the people on the list. You and your family should be safe."
"Were the Turners being protected by the order?" asked Ron.
"Yes"
"Well then they didn't do much good, did they?" Ron said clearly frustrated.
"They had fewer members then. I reckon that Prudence Turner's death has helped in getting more to join and help protect the people in danger." She handed them what she had written and they read it quickly.
Allen – relation to Jacob Allen - KS
Anderson – relation to Toby Anderson - KS
Anderson – relation to Earlene Anderson - KS
Baker – relation to Angus Baker - AM
Clark – relation to Sophie Clark - AM
Clayworth – relation to Banagher Clayworth- AM
Granger – relation to Hermione Granger – S&S
Hill – relation to Isaac Hill - RL
Hughes – relation to Dallin Hughes - DD
Lewis – relation to Abigail Lewis- HJ
McDowal – relation to Leah McDowal – S&S
Moyne – relation to Christa Moyne – S&S
Roberts – relation to Samuel Roberts - S&S
Silsbury – relation to Kaiv Silsbury- HJ
Snape – relation to Lily Snape – S&S
Turner – relation to Prudence Turner - DD
Young – relation to Dylan Young- RL
Wright – relation to Grace Wright -DD
"My mum!" screamed Harry. He felt his head pounding and as angry as he had been with his parents this year, all he wanted to do right now was run to his mother and hold on to her to make sure she was safe.
"Shush" said Estella signaling for quiet by placing a fair against her mouth. "Yes, you mum was one of the people that worked on the Muggle Protection Act and Equal Rights for the Muggle born. I reckon she might have been one of the original authors. She only came to teach at Hogwarts once she knew it would be passed by the Wizengamot. How much more do you three know about the Black Hand?"
"We know about the enlistment scroll and the list" said Hermione.
"What about me?" asked Estella. The trio looked at each other in confusion. "How much more do you know about me?"
"We know you and Malfoy are spying in Slytherin and that for some reason you are being protected by that order and have been since birth" said Harry. At this Estella's eyes grew big.
"And that you snogg with my brother" added Ron, which made Estella relax and snort. Then she sat by a nearby table and called them to join her.
"Look it's not safe for you to be out here this late. Use that cloak and go back to Gryffindor. We can talk more in the future. "
"So, you'll tell us everything?" asked Harry.
"I'm just as sick of these secrets as you are. And I'd rather tell you all I know than have you sneaking around and risking yourselves, especially you Harry." Estella could tell that they were all anxious.
"Don't worry; both of your families have the best people in charge of organizing your protection. The Snapes and my aunt and uncle are among the most powerful witches and wizards I know." She seemed like a completely different person, her unemotional features were gone and she even moved to touch Hermione's hand to comfort her. "Meet me in the greenhouses tomorrow at 7:00 PM. I'll bring Ely to explain everything, and don't tell anyone about what we have talked about or show anyone that list." The trio nodded in agreement. "Oh, also I would appreciate if you keep what you saw between me and George quiet, especially in front of my cousin. When you see George let him know you won't say a thing" she said in a pleading tone.
"You two seem good together. Why don't you want to tell people you are going out with George?" asked Hermione not meaning any harm.
"Well, we're not really going out. I mean we don't call it that, it's complicated. I'm not supposed to get involved with anyone that way anyways and then Ely, he's like an overprotective brother and would go off the handle. Plus it wouldn't be fun for George or me if this got out. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin, come on"
Hermione nodded and they all agreed to not say anything. Then they stood and departed.
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6:30 PM the next day arrived, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat uneasy in the common room knowing that they would have to depart for the greenhouses soon. Harry had gone to spend time with his parents for while, but didn't talk to them about what he knew; he just needed to see his mum safe. Ron kept glancing at Hermione to make sure she was ok, but she looked fierce reading the list in the library and looking for books about the Muggle Protection Act and the last war. Her whole attitude had changed, she would do everything in her power to know more and stop the Black Hand from hurting her family. The day dragged painfully slow, but they were now close getting answers.