Chapter 19 – Is that true?
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Forget what you saw and don't believe the rumors because Voldemort was back and he made himself quite visible. Most of his attacks were of course in muggle villages but he did use hit and run strikes in Diagon alley to show his triumphant return. His picture actually made the front page of the Dailey Profit.
Lora got another piece of parchment which stated that the next Order meeting would be the coming weekend. That of course ment Snape and I could have a talk about asylum. There was one great looming problem, NEWT testing. Lora talked me into taking all of them and I like an idiot agreed.
Hermione was in overdrive insanity with studying to pass the NEWTs. I decided, after Lora's insistence, that all I could do is fail something and who cared? I was the rich boy on the block and if someone didn't want to hire me I'd buy the company. Lockjaw said my monetary foray into the muggle world had gotten a few very lucrative offers to Lockjaw's human representative. The offers could make us an obscene amount of money and that sent me back to Lockjaw with some ideas and some purchase approvals.
"So there is the rough floor plan; what do you think and what changes do you wish to make?"
"If I didn't know better I would have thought this was Hermione and not Lora. Lora went into research and do it proper mode. That paperwork got sent back to Lockjaw. If I thought that that ended that I was very much mistaken, Lora was almost possessed with everything being just right. The whorl wind Lora was running strong.
FlashBack:
The order meeting was a screaming match. Molly Weasley was yelling that everyone was too young to be part of the Order. Other members stated otherwise and I could care less as I was there to see Snape. I had Dobby change the wards to let Snape into the third floor but I had both elves on alert to send him to the North Sea if he tried something. Of course when he come up and had a seat in our living room…well if I was him I wouldn't have done anything stupid either, I wasn't alone in the room.
Snape sat down in the large squishy chair across from Lora and I on the couch. Lea was supporting her ten foot upright position by leaning on one of the chairs. Tiger large was next to Lora getting a scratch. I would think that we presented an impressive group.
"Harry this is going to sound insane but I think the Headmaster is just that. To start with he wishes me to kill him in the very near future. I cannot continue this insanity because it will lead to my death. I have no wish to die so if you are stupid enough you will listen to my story and let me have asylum. I say stupid in the fact that you are so entwined in his plotting that you will die with me either way you or I turn."
"Start at the beginning as this is making no sense."
"That is my point. Albus wanted me to kill him so I get his legendary wand. This is supposed to get me a favored status with the Dark Lord. The Dark lord has other plans on how Dumbledore will die and you don't cross the Dark lord and exspect to live. Dumbledore has a message that he wants you to have much later which he has not given me yet. Also you are to die to save the wizard world but first you must prove yourself by finding all the clues with Miss Granger like some scavenger hunt. Again he will not tell me what you will be hunting or where. Dumbledore feels that his plans and his death will bring the Americans into the war on the side of the light. Since I refused to continue in this insanity he wants Johnson the American to kill him but Dumbledore is going to make it look like a Deatheater killed both him and Johnson. To do all this he is going to let Deatheaters into the school to carry out all this deception. Dumbledore stated that Johnson has no idea what is actually going on but with Albus and his memory charms everybody is always suspect. When I said no he rambled on about making Johnson part of his modified plan and then tried to 'Oblivate' me. My shields were up full and his attempt failed."
"This is insane." Lora gasped.
"Beyond insane, so you wish to hide when this all hits the fan?' I asked Snape.
"You really need to ask? Oh just for keeping the cauldron boiling, guess who Bid Mac is?"
"Don't tell me Dumbledore?" Lora asked.
"NO but close, Big Mac is Dumbledore's new professor, Johnson."
"I am getting a headache." I groaned. It didn't make any sense but it was Dumbledore thru and thru, just a little insanity with a twist of twinkle.
POP
"Harry Potter headache potion Sir."
"Thanks Dobby. What do you think of all this?"
"Dobby be a good elf and not listen to Masters Conversations."
"Right Dobby you are a good elf and a good elf listen to help masters, right? So what do you think?"
"I thinks big bad nose is needing help. I thinks you should give that help but he must help the great Harry Potter with his potions."
"A very astute Dobby, Thank You."
POP
"If I provide the materials will you provide the potions?"
"You know I am in the dragon dung up to my neck, so yes I will brew whatever potions you ask for my room and board."
"Sneaky Slytherin are you not? You asked for asylum and not room and board. Yes I agree asylum and room and board for your potions." I laughed. Snape appeared to be upset at being caught doing a Slytherin twist but just nodded.
The next morning at breakfast in Hogwarts Great Hall, "Hermione how many people do you know that won't run to the Headmaster or start screaming at bad news?"
"A few Harry, why do you ask?"
"Bring them to the room of requirements after dinner at six, I have an announcement."
The next people I asked were Luna and Neville followed by Susan Bones. Zambi was the last.
The room of requirements was full of squishy chairs and couches arranged in a circular way for a talk. There was enough for everyone to have a comfortable seat.
"I want to say first off that this is not to be spread around as it could cause a lot of deaths. Further, if you are planning to run to the Headmaster or Voldemort the parchment that Hermione is passing around for you signature will cause you a lot of pain if you violate the agreement. I was surprised that everyone signed the parchment without further questions.
Now for the squeamish of the lot I thought.
"Dumbledore has arranged for Deatheaters to enter the castle so that they can kill him."
The outcry took a bit to subside.
"I have this information on the best of authority. If you don't believe me you may leave but you will not be able to tell anyone about what I have said. Please believe me your friends could be hurt if this happens and it will happen if Dumbledore has any say."
After a moments pause I continued, "The bottom line is if you want safety within the castle and you have friends that will sign this security parchment then we must prepare for an invasion. We must be alert and ready for when they arrive. Dumbledore had arranged that they will only kill him to make him a martyr, Johnson is involved to further Dumbledore's plans. I ask who among us trusts a Deatheater to only just kill Dumbledore and not kill our friends?" I lied a bit but who was going to believe Dumbledore was bad. "Why you may ask is he doing this, look to his hand, the one that's black, he is dying and it has clouded his judgment. He wants to die quickly and not from the curse that's on his hand."
It worked and I now had squads of students that would look out for Deatheaters in the castle. I then thought of training them to fight those same Deatheaters if we had the time. Hermione put up a schedule for the perfects for night surveillance and a means to allert others when the attack occurred. Later after everyone had gone.
"Nicely played dark lord Potter." Lora joked.
"I will rule the universe." I replied and we both laughed.
/Scene Break /
Laughing was now part of the past as NEWTs became the primitive problem. Not only was McGonagall back overlooking our lives but we were required to write a long intelligent response to the written questions. We also had to do a practical application of the spells. I had nothing for half of the written tests but the application of spells, curses and transfiguration was a different story. Potions wasn't that hard with someone other than Snape sneering down your potion. Finally what seemed like an eternity of tests, NEWTs testing was finally done. While Hermione was looking up every question in the library I was exploring the different parts of Lora's body. The no grab rule was slowly fading into the hormones of youth.
June the 2nd arrived and the end of year feast would bring good food and the awarding of the House cup. Come the following morning the train would return Hogwarts students to Kings Cross station and their loved ones. Where the Deatheaters came from one could only guess. They did not attempt to kill Dumbledore as a priority but tried to kill everything in Hogwarts. They had a bit of a problem. Whether in the halls or exiting the common rooms some of the prepared students were there and ready and throwing some respectable curses. Voldemort figured that twenty Deatheaters were enough to surprise and suppress the student; the idea was found to be faulty. Even if my parchment signing students only threw fourth-year spells, it inspired twenty others to send what they could at the Deatheaters. Twenty different third year spells colliding on one Deatheater produced some interesting results.
When everything settled down they found Dumbledore dead grasping a tin locket with the letter S inscribed on its face. The rumor was that Draco Malfoy had sent the killing curse that ended Dumbledore's life. I was not so sure, Draco might have taken out a willing Dumbledore but I didn't think that Johnson would just forget his deal with Dumbledore and disappear.
"What got you so quiet?" Lora asked as the Hogwarts Express speed to Kings Cross."
"I was wondering which would fall first, Hogwarts or the Ministry."
"You can't be serious Harry." Neville choked out.
"I think he is very serious Nevy dear. Who is defending Hogwarts right now, Filch and his broom?" Luna stated.
"But the wards…" Hermione started before I cut her off.
"The ward will only delay and protect for so long before they will collapse. How long do you think the front gates will stand against a couple of giants?"
"Surely the Aurors would protect the school?" Hermione continued her belief of a safe school.
"I'm sure they will but how many of the Aurors are as good as MadEye? How many will it take to defend the school against…let's say two giants, werewolves, and a hundred Deatheaters? While that's going on who is going to protect the Ministry, Umbridge, Percy, and the other Fudge types?
"What do we do then?" Hermione huffed.
"Well Headquarters has gotten a new 'Fidelius' charm and secrets keeper. I have already provided the Twins with enough port-keys to headquarter for the Weasley's and here is Neville's, Luna's and yours Hermione. Your parents are of course invited. The activation code is on the parchment in the box with your port-key and the new address so you all can come and go as need be."
"Haven't you forgotten someone, Mr. Potter?" Lora looked a bit put-out.
"Not at all dear as your port-key is in this necklace." When I got to a point of breathing again from the thank you kiss I added a few words to those present. "I of course don't have to tell you to burn the address after you memorize the password and address?" Lora was still admiring the necklace. Girls always liked gold, diamonds and emeralds.
The mood shifted again to the danger we all faced. "Harry what are we going to do if one or both fall to Voldemort?"
"I for one will start my own hit and run team. If they wish to play rough they had best be prepared. If the Ministry or Hogwarts falls the public will panic, hide, and leave the country. In all the confusion law enforcement will break down. It will be a country of kill or be killed but none of that will be happening, right? We all are going to enjoy our summer and return to Hogwarts for our final year of care-free studying, right?"
Just before we left Kings Cross station Lora asked, "Harry you don't think things are going to get that bad do you?"
"Lockjaw has already been moving Potter and Black vaults from England. They are making plans on closing shop here when Voldemort turns on them."