Chapter 18 – Hogwarts and Rats
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The Hogwarts express was a quiet trip which was unusual. As usual upon entering the great hall we saw the new DADA professor. Professor Johnson was sitting at the head table. Every question of what happened to the old Johnson or what happened to this Johnson was ignored or sent to the round file by Dumbledore. The Marauders map confirmed we were dealing with the real phony Johnson so we just gave up. Classes were there with essays to write and practicing to be done, but as February arrived so came a Hogsmeade Village weekend. The cold was bone piercing but it took a lot to dampen the spirits of a couple of days away from school, studying and some of the teachers. All the quiet and happy spirits was bound to lead to trouble but who cared it was a Hogsmeade weekend. Well almost. Friday after dinner I get another trip to Dumbledore,s office.
"Minerva I must insist that you leave us alone." Dumbledore wasn't going to get me alone if I could help it.
"Come Professor McGonagall I will escort you to your quarters." I got up to leave.
"Harry I must insist that no one know of what we talked about after the tri-wizard tournament."
"What do you mean the prophesy or the horcruxes?
"Harry you cannot believe the damage it would cause if that information got out."
"Professor McGonagall what the illustrious leader is talking about is a prophesy that says I have to kill Voldemort or he has to kill me. He is back alive again over Horcruxes which are soul jars which means he can't be permanently killed and if the Headmaster doesn't get to the point I will give Rita Skeeter an exclusive tomorrow."
"Harry if this got out there will be disasters untold."
"Professor, what he probably means is he will 'Obliviate' you soon but he can't do that with me or he is back to square one with me knowing nothing."
Dumbledore seemed to shrink into his chair but continued, "Harry I believe I have found another one in a cave. I assume you would want to go along to see it destroyed."
"No thank you Headmaster but do have a good time. If you need help you could always take Snape since you trust him with your life. As it stands I have plans for tomorrow at Hogsmeade." I offered my arm to Professor McGonagall which she took and then almost dragged me out of the room.
"You were not serious about Albus 'Obliviating' me for knowing about those things?"
"I am afraid so, he has serious control issues so I might suggest a bit of leave from Hogwarts and the good Headmaster."
/Scene Break/
Morning brought early risers to have breakfast for a timely arrival in Hogsmeade Village. Everyone was bundled up with heating charms liberally applied. The carriages were used by most to hurry to someplace warm in Hogsmeade. Honeydukes was our first stop and gave us a few bags to shrink and store in our robes.
"Harry quit doodling around, we have things to do." Lora scolded.
"What so important that we have to rush?"
"I need to get a supply of dungbombs."
"You do know Filch will confiscate them when we get back."
"Not if you 'flame' them into the castle."
"And why would a sweet girl like you need dungbombs?"
"There are a Slytherin or two who need an attitude adjustment."
I of course would never wish my snuggle partner to become seriously upset with me. I had enough problems not upsetting Lora over things I had no idea why I had upset her. So I smiled and paid for dungbombs in Zonkos. That's when the day got interesting in a very deadly way.
Pops were sounding all up and down the main street of the town. I did a quick assessment and grabbing Lora 'apperated' to the roof of the Cauldron Shop across the street. The place had two huge chimneys and gave some protection from view and possibly some nasty curses.
"Why have you 'apperated', I hate that, it makes me sick." Lea hissed and then stuck her head out and coughed up a mouse. "Meow" came from Tiger who was snuggled in Lora's robe pocket.
Our vantage point was good to view down both sides of the street. The view was full of running, screaming people with Deatheaters causing mayhem and destruction.
"So what are we going to do Harry?"
"Hide here where its safe, there must be fifty to a hundred Deatheater down there and I for one am not that good a fighter."
"Well we should notify someone."
"Right, who is good enough to take on that many Deatheaters? Somebody has already 'floed' the Aurors and they are going to handle this disaster."
"What about the students on the street?"
"You rush down there to save a student and there is going to be two dead students. This is a no win situation. Just stay close so I can get us out of here if the building starts to come down. I want to see if there is anything we can help with before we run."
That's when things got even more interesting. Big Mac's boys showed up with their wands and machine guns and the blood started to really flow. That's when 'pops' were heard behind us. As I turned to blast the bad guys I heard, "Watcha Harry". Tonks and the Aurors had arrived. Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were on our roof. If you looked close you could see other Aurors on other roofs across the town.
Lora of course had a brilliant question which we heard over the machine guns chatter. "Why are you up here and not fighting down there?"
"Sorry Missy but we don't want to get killed, appearing on that street right now is suicide" Kingsley answered.
"Even MadEye is not that crazy; see him over on Honeydukes roof?"
Hogsmeade Main Street is not that wide so missing the bad guys was not really possible if you fired off a curse from the roof. The Aurors were doing what I was dong and just watching. The carnage below was unbelievable and that included people, store founts and students. Some buildings were on fire but the idiots fought on. Between the Three Broomsticks and the Post office was the fun battle Big Mac and Voldemort were dueling it out until Bid Mac got the upper hand and emptied his semi automatic into Voldemort. The Deatheaters took the worst of the beating as their shields were not stopping all the lead from the machine guns. Finally the living Deatheaters decided to fight another day and started disappearing from the street. That's when my Auror badge vibrated and Tonks gave a shout and the Aurors opened up from the roof tops with their cursed on Big Mac's remaining gun toters. When the curses stopped Voldemort's body was gone.
Returning to Hogwarts didn't provide any relief. The injured were everywhere and while we tried to help we were not trained to do much in healing. Snape stormed in and ordered us to the potion class room. Even though I was not taking potions he had Lora and I to mix up a number of cauldrons of potions. They were the simpler of the healing potions.
Morning brought Lora and I dragging into the Great Hall after breakfast but before lunch. The elves had a buffet going as a lot of people were still there. Many there were Aurors or Healers from St. Mungo. They like us were tired and still without sleep picking at whatever we selected not to eat.
"Harry there you are, how are you and Lora holding up?" Hermione asked.
Lora answered, "We got off light; we just sat around and watched the fighting."
"What? The Harry Potter didn't race into battle and Smyth the enemy singlehanded." Hermione was trying to be funny.
"Actually he stopped me, must be growing up." Lora replied.
"Hermione, do you know the death toll?" I mumbled.
"So far five students dead with untold number injured. The town's people pulled a lot of the students into shops. Ten town's people died along with fifty Deatheaters. Big Mac's people lost ten. The rumor is that Voldemort bought it thanks to Big Mac."
We dragged our bodies to bed and finally got to close our eyes for a few hours.
/Scene Break/
We had just sat down for breakfast when Snape wondered by and, "Harry could you please stop by my office at your convenience I need to talk with you." He didn't wait for a reply and just left.
After an indeterminable amount of time we came out of our shock.
"Was that Snape or…" Hermione started.
"Or was that the ghost of Christmas past?" I finished.
"We best see what he wants because he must be terminally ill and will be dead any second now." Lora added.
Lora and I headed down to the dungeons to see…we were not sure what we would see.
"Enter"
"You wished to see me Professor?" Whether Snape could see or not but he had our attention. Lea was peaking out from my sleeve while Tiger peered over the pocket of Lora's robe. We awaited something.
"Mr. Potter, err Harry, you and I hate each other …err…well we don't get along…that is…"
"Professor it appears you have something you wish to ask me so spit it out, and no we have never gotten along."
"There are things taking place that I cannot abide by and I need to ask you both to keep my secrets…this is not coming out right. Look I need your silence about what I ask of you and what I may tell you, can I have at least that much?"
"I believe Lora and I can agree to that. What you say will go no further unless it puts Lora and me in danger."
"What I need is your assurance that you will give me asylum in Grimmauld Place. This will come with an explanation which I hope will forgive me a little but give me the asylum I will need. The explanation needs to be done at Grimmauld."
"You are definitely not my favorite person but you already have access to the lower floors of Grimmaud so can you give me some idea what we are talking about? I don't want to say yes and have you kill half the order and try and hold me to my promise."
Snape was doing a soft shoe around something that most likely very important to ask me of all people for a favor like that.
"Harry, at this time all I can say is that everyone and I mean everyone will be after my head because I will not do what is being asked of me. I don't want to die and I will be dead as sure as you are standing there if you do not grant me asylum in Grimmauld."
"Alright, you have your asylum based on an explanation of what's going on." Snape just nodded his head. Returning the nod we left him to whatever he was up too. Telling any one what just happened would not be believed so it was an easy promise until Hermione showed up. We did keep our promise of silence we made to Snape but took a verbal assault from Hermione's never-ending questioning.
Dumbledore is now in an avoid Harry Potter mode. Even when I ask a direct question I get nothing. The list of questions is now growing. What is really going on with Johnson? Did you find Voldemorte's Horcux in the cave? Why are you avoiding me and what's up with Voldemort? Was Professor McGonagall going to come back from emergency leave? At least the Dailey Profit gave us a listing of all the dead in the Battle of Hogsmeade, Lucius will not be leading another raid for Voldemort."
Finally March charged in with better weather, well rain was better that snow and two very important things happened. One was another Hogsmeade Village weekend and a formal dinner that turned into a Donnybrook. It all started with a letter from Lockjaw.
"Lockjaw are your chests overflowing with gold?"
"Thanks to your accounts they and yours are doing quite well."
"So what calls me to Gringotts?
"You remember that in your lordship training that you are of English nobility?"
"I remember but we skipped over most of that section for more pressing areas."
"Indeed Lord Potter and I call you Lord based on your magical peerage. There is however that which purebloods call muggle Peerage, Nobility and Imperial immediacy."
"Huh?"
"In 1337 Edward III created some peerages one of which was Duke and while his younger sons are "lords" and all his daughter "Ladies" there was an exception made for your line Duke Potter since it predates their history. Marquis is the second order of the British peerage which is also with an exception Marquis Black."
"What does all that have to do with me?"
"There is a formal dinning being held which if completed will give us a large contract with the Queens military. We will handle all the technical details but you and your lady must attend as Duke Potter and Marquis Black of England."
"Must I attend this dinning?"
"I'm afraid so as a political necessity and if you wish the contract which is substantial. We will insure you and your lady are properly attired and only have to attend the function. Our representatives will handle all the negotiations and paperwork."
/Scene Break/
"You what and we have to what?" Lora was not overly happy but then I was not either but money is money and in the end power.
This quiet discussion was in the Three Broomsticks during March's Hogsmeade weekend.
"Harry this is a great honor to even be there." Hermione stated with certainty.
"Yes but you don't have to dress up and parade around like a dodo." I added.
"Ok, I don't care, lets get to Zonkos I need some more dungbombs."
"No I have a better idea, let's 'flame' to Diagon Alley and let the twins arm you with revenge weapons." That got me a gigantic kiss and hug from Lora.
/Scene Break/
Now normally we would have to ask for permission to leave Hogwarts or I would just do it to piss everyone off. This time the Ministry directed the Headmaster to make the time and us available. They must have not told Dumbledore why because we got an invitation to meet with him in his office. Since our head of house was on leave we declined. He was not happy. Snape slipped Lora a piece of parchment saying that Dumbledore had ordered Snape to bring us to him. Snape requested that we avoid him and the Headmaster for the next two days at which time the absence from school was to take place. We studiously complied.
It seemed that several Trust Schools had taken up the invitation to tour the House of Lords and dine there with one of their parents, as a guest of Lord Fartbottom. One such school was Smeltings. They were given a tour of the House of Lords in Westminster which is rarely open to the public. This tour was of course from the grandeur of Westminster to the 'Corridors of Power'.
After the prayers in the House of Lords session of business for the day Duke Potter and the Marquis of Black in perpetuity was introduced.
The three course meal in the remarkable Peers' Dining Room in the company of Lord Potter Black was a close up view of the new Duke with his fiancée Lady Lora Jones.
"What are you people? You're all Freaks? That freak had ruined my family from the day he landed on my front door step." Clunk.
It seemed that within these halls the guards were more dress and ceremony so the closest guard used his ceremonial Halberd to excellent use on the obese trouble maker's head.