Chapter four

The following day at work, Harry thought he might feel uncomfortable or awkward around Susie, but she acted like she always did, even flirted with all the blokes including him like always, so Harry decided to act like he always did in regards to Susie.

'Ron, we need to go and find Mundungus.'

'Oh blimey Harry, what's he done this time?'

'Selling more things that don't do what he promises. People are ending up in St Mungo's. So we need to see if he's in that same rat whole of an apartment.'

'Okay,' Ron sighed as he stood up, 'Ginny flooed early this morning, she said you weren't home last night when she went over there and it was late before she left.'

'I stayed back to finish some stuff, I hate having to start again the next day,' Harry said casually as he looked at Ron but saw Susie smile as she turned away.

'Yeah, you do seem to want to finish things before heading home. Well she better get used to sleeping alone. Let's go get Mundungus.'

'Hopefully we find him fast,' Harry gave Susie a smile before leaving the office with Ron.

Harry and Ron stood outside the door and a very rundown apartment, Harry cast some enchantments around the place, then he cast charms over Ron and himself before he knocked on the door.

'Who is it?' came the voice from inside.

'I heard you have a Metamorphmagus potion, I need to hide, so I want one,' Harry said making his voice low and gravely.

The door opened a crack as Mundungus Fletcher peered out, 'Who told you?'

'A bloke in the Hogshead, so have you got the potion or not, I've got money.'

'Get in here quick before someone sees you,' Mundungus hurried them inside then shut the door, but when he turned around he's mouth dropped, 'Potter.'

'Look Ron, he remembers me, isn't that nice. You're under arrest Mundungus and don't try to leave, we've enchanted the place.'

'But I needed money, come on guys, let me go.'

'You were given a warning Mundungus, you didn't take it,' Ron pulled his wand and had Mundungus bound, 'Let's get out of here, this place stinks.'

'Yep, let's go,' Harry and Ron kept hold of Mundungus Fletcher and then Harry took the enchantments down before apparated out of the flat and arrived in the atrium's apparition point. They went straight down to the holding cells, locked him up then went back to their office, 'He's locked up boss, how long do you think he'll get?'

'He was given a warning, so at least two years, that's minimum. But I got a message while you were gone, Hagrid found something in the forbidden forest and took it to Minerva. It's a hand of glory and not the one Malfoy had. So she asked for two aurors to check out the forest for more. Now we know Ron can't go because of his fear of Aragogs family, so I'm sending Harry and Susie on this one.'

Harry grinned at Ron, 'This will be the first time at Hogwarts without you Ron.'

'Oh Harry's going to miss his friend,' Susie laughed.

'Shut it Susie,' Harry shook his head, 'You know how big that forest is boss.'

'Yep, so you'll be going back every day, but Hagrid is going to help search, well, when he isn't teaching. Minerva did mention Filch, but we all had the same thoughts about him.'

'I'd rather it take longer than have him near me for too long.'

'That's what I all said, so off you go, she's opened her fire for just you two.'

'Come on Susie and no more wise cracks.'

'And what will you do Harry, glare at me, you just have to put up with me. So move that arse Potter.'

'What am I in for,' Harry grimaced then followed Susie out of the office.

Harry and Susie stepped out of the fireplace into the office of Minerva McGonagall headmistress of Hogwarts.

'Minerva,' Harry grinned then hugged her.

'Harry, it's good to see you, Susie, it's been a long time.'

'Yes it has Minerva, so what's this hand of glory all about?'

'Hagrid found it not far from where you faced Voldemort that night Harry. He said he heard something, but it didn't sound like the spiders or centaurs, so he followed the noise. I'm hoping there are no more dark artefacts in there or it will mean one of the students is bringing them in.'

'There might be a chance that one of them left it there that night, but we take nothing for granted. Where's Hagrid now, I'll need to speak with him before we go in?'

'Teaching, so if you wait until he's finished you can then, you can stay here or go down there.'

'We'll head down now, then have a look around. We'll let you know if we find anything.'

'Thank you.'

Harry and Susie left the office and headed down through the castle and out into the grounds. They saw Hagrid with a group of students so they made their way down then stood at the back, watching.

Hagrid turned around and spotted Harry, he smiled hugely, before making his way over to the two aurors.

'Harry,' Hagrid hugged him.

'Hi Hagrid, it's good to see you, but you're hugs are getting tighter.'

'Ah Harry,' Hagrid grinned, 'Are ya here for what I found?'

'Yep, so finish you're class then we can talk.'

'Okay,' Hagrid patted Harry's shoulder, making him sink then went back to his class but the whole class was staring at Harry.

'More stares Potter,' Susie whispered.

Harry shrugged, 'It happens,' Harry looked back over at Hagrid who had brought out a hippogriff, a familiar hippogriff, Harry couldn't resist, so he walked over and bowed to Buckbeak, 'Hi Buckbeak, how you doing boy?' Harry gave him a pat.

'He's missed ya Harry.'

'Yeah, I've missed him too, but you're happy here aren't you Buckbeak, I have no room to keep a hippogriff,' Harry gave him another pat, 'Sorry to interrupt, but I had to see him.' Harry gave Buckbeak another bow then walked back over to Susie.

'He seems to like you.'

'I own him, but I leave him here with the other hippogriffs, like I leave my house elf here, he stays with the other house elves. I never liked the idea of owning them, but Kreacher is old, so he's happy here.'

'More things I don't know about you.'

'There's probably a lot Susie,' Harry folded his arms as he stared at the students but mainly watched the Slytherin's, 'There's one there who's nervous.'

'Yeah, I noticed, he hasn't stopped looking back at us and keeps rubbing his hands down his pants.'

The two aurors stood there staring at the students but mainly watched the Slytherin without him knowing he was being watched very carefully. When the class finished all the students stared at Harry as they walked passed except the Slytherin who hurried away before Hagrid walked over.

'Let's get in there Hagrid and you can tell us what you heard.'

'I'll just get my crossbow,' Hagrid went to his hut, grabbed his crossbow then followed Harry and Susie into the forbidden forest. He explained what he heard and how it led him to the area that Harry faced Voldemort.

The three of them stepped into the clearing, but all Harry did was stared at the spot, he didn't even move.

'Are you okay Harry, you're very pale?' Susie asked.

'Um, yeah, it just all came back to me. Forget it, let's look around.'

The three of them looked all over the clearing and all around it as well but they never found anything. Then Harry walked over to another spot and bent down running his hands over the ground. He spotted a couple of footprints and to Harry it looked like someone had stopped here. Harry kept looking around then sucked in a breath before picking up a stone. He quickly put it in his pocket before standing back up.

'Doesn't look like anything else, but we should keep looking. Hagrid, we're fine here if you want to go back, I'm sure you have another class.'

'Okay Harry, but ya don't look well.'

'I'm fine Hagrid, I just wasn't expecting the memories to hit so hard. We'll be fine and I'll come see you before we leave.'

'Okay Harry,' Hagrid smiled then walked off.

'Someone is up to something here and I think I know what. But you need to keep this private and we just tell the boss, no one else unless it's absolutely necessary.'

'Alright, you sound serious, so what's going on?'

Harry swallowed then pulled the stone out of his pocket and showed Susie the markings. 'Does that symbol mean anything to you?'

'No, it doesn't, but it does to you, I can tell.'

'Yeah, it does. In the story of the three brothers, the second brother was given a stone to bring back the dead, you know it right?'

'Yes, my mother read me that story.'

'This is the stone Susie, I used it that night. I dropped it here hoping no one would ever find it especially anyone dark.'

'Blimey, it's real, do you think whoever had the hand of glory was looking for that to bring back Voldemort?'

'That would be my guess, unless they lost a parent, it's one or the other, a death eater or Voldemort. Now only Ron, Hermione, Minerva and Kingsley know about this stone and that it's real.'

'Well the other aurors are honest and trustworthy, but I agree, the less people that know the better.'

'I just wonder how this kid found out about it.'

'I can answer that Harry Potter,' a voice said from behind the thick trees as Harry and Susie turned and saw a centaur step out and walk towards them.