/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
While the family papers Molly dropped off weren't needed for the original purpose, they did provide an interesting bit or two of information. Information that gave the soon-to-be former students thoughts on how to handle the hallows since the trio of items were too dangerous.
Their plan started with Minerva requesting Kingsley Shacklebolt to visit the school. He did for a couple of reasons. The first was his interest in the stated reason for the request. The second was the note also included the cypher used between members of the Order. His role in the group remained a secret due to his position in the DMLE and the public belief Voldemort never returned.
The Ministry passed off the destruction at Azkaban and all those deaths as an attempted breakout by those aligned with the former wizard. The former wizard who was most assuredly dead and had been dead for well-over a decade. The fact the wizard was sighted by the guards didn't get mentioned in the official release to the Prophet.
"Hello Kingsley, glad you could find some time to help our Defense course." Minerva smiled in a way all students knew was saved for her favorites.
"Of course Minerva. Amelia was quite pleased to release me for next term. She even mentioned, if it is something I enjoy, I might be allowed to remain. Assuming you agree." When Minerva ushered him away from her office, Kingsley's attention started to focus on his surroundings. Following Minerva's lead, he remained quiet. When they entered a surprising dorm, one Kingsley knew to be the head student dorms, he found the room virtually empty except for Harry Potter. "Minerva?"
Harry smiled and answered before Minerva had the opportunity, "Hi Kingsley, thanks for coming. We have a story to tell you and then a favor to ask." As Harry explained he saw Kingsley's disbelief begin to shift to shocked understanding to finally a resigned acceptance. "And the hallows?"
"We have them." Kingsley looked around and not seeing anything Harry shrugged, "Have them in a safe place." Harry smiled in a familiar way when Kings rolled his eyes, "I need you to help me get into the Department of Mysteries. Specifically, I need to get to where the veil is."
"How do you know about the Department of Mysteries and what may or may not be there?" Kingsley seemed shocked the boy would know something so specific about the top secret room.
"The Prewett papers, a couple centuries ago one of the Prewett sons was the head of the department. He didn't talk about much, but did mention how when he neared the veil he heard whispers. He suspected it was the dead trying to reach him. But that's how I know."
The auror sat for a moment, "Why do you think this is the way?"
"The separation between the realms is the thinnest there. Probably wherever that bridge over the winding river is another thin spot. But we don't know that location. We know where the veil is. If we are close, if we are that close, then maybe Death will reclaim what are his. It's a guess on our part."
Looking at Minerva, Kingsley saw her acceptance of the plan, "Let me think on it and see if I can create a reason to be down there. We will have to figure out a way for you to leave after, if he reclaims the gifts, he'll take the cloak with him."
With an indescribably sad expression, Harry looked up, "I know."
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
After completing their NEWTS, Draco and Hermione tried to decide the best way to handle living arrangements. Neither wanted to live without their children and the recent graduates also knew their children didn't want to be apart. It was only answered when Draco thought to ask about where they lived in the future. The home, a family property no one seemed to remember, was part of Narcissa's inheritance from her Grandmother Rosier.
Hermione immediately fell in love with the old Georgian style home and found the symmetry first grabbed her attention. She slowly began to notice how the windows seemed to be perfectly designed to fit the space in both width and hight. Narcissa, loving the idea of Draco living in a Black property, ensured no nasty curses on the place. Her grandmother was known to be a more than a little bit evil and loved cursing things for the sake of cursing them.
Once clean, both from curses and dustiness, the family of four moved into their home. Lyra immediately ran into the house and darted to her room. "Mummy, my room!" Lyra looked and seemed displeased.
"Baby?"
"Wrong color!" Lyra remained quite upset until Kitmu popped into the room. She immediately walked up to the elf with her hands firmly on her little hips. "Kimu, not pink!" Hermione snorted at her daughter's desire at the quintessential color for a bedroom. The elf looked at Lyra and with a smirk he snapped his fingers. Each wall took a different color and the girl studied each with an intensity Hermione easily recognized. After a good stretch of time, Lyra pointed at one, "Top and …" she paused and looked between two walls, "bottom."
Without hesitation, Kitmu waved his hand and all four of the walls started with the palest pink meeting the white crown molding between the wall and ceiling. The color darkened to a deep fuchsia ending at the wide white baseboards touching the newly refinished hardwood floors. Luckily, Narcissa had the floors stained a walnut brown that would match virtually any color and allow for rugs to be added as a further way to bring in color. "Kitmu, would you mind staying and helping Lyra get her room just right?" The elf shook his head and started asking about Lyra's bedroom furniture. It seemed the youngest Malfoy would be busy for a bit of time.
Hermione walked to what was apparently Scorpius's room. The boy was resizing another box and pulling things from it. "Did I pack all this?" Hermione didn't think she would have taken the time to pack posters and games.
"No, before we left the house, for the safe house, when you and Dad were working on the library, I packed everything from my room and Lyra's." Scorpius waved to another box on his desk. "Figured after she got Kitmu to redo her furniture, I'd give her those boxes. Her bedding is in one of the boxes. The rest of the boxes are her favorite puzzles and books along with her teddies and dolls. She loved all of the stuffed animals and dolls, so every time someone got her a new one, there was a tea party to welcome the new addition to the family." Hermione wrapped her arms around her son. "Her tea set is there as well, best be prepared to have a welcome home tea party soon."
"You are a good son."
"Thanks Mum."
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
Four weeks after the students left Hogwarts for the summer and three days after the NEWT results were finalized, a group of prospective aurors took a tour of the Ministry. It was the first time the DMLE did this. The head of the department agreed with the suggestion from the auror who would soon be the new professor of the Hogwarts defense course.
The meetings being held that day were an effort to find a better way to vet the incoming auror class and provide those prospective aurors with more insight into the potential the Ministry could provide. Most were fine aurors, but after they finished their career or topped out, some had a difficult time figuring out what else they wanted to do. Most had no idea on all the options once you were an employee of the Ministry.
The group, quite large, was split between Amelia and Kingsley. Through pure happenstance and not any sort of charm to make it possible, Kingsley's group consisted of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger and, to the surprise of Amelia Bones, Draco Malfoy. All were part of the class accepted for the upcoming training academy, however, not all accepted their place. Amelia hoped showing the diversity of the Ministry would help push the remaining to the right decision.
"— I mentioned, —" Kingsley picked up his speech as the doors to the lift opened, "— this is the Department of Mysteries. And as the name suggests, many of the things here are unknown to the better part of the world."
Kingsley waved to a few people and ushered the young adults to the hall. "Obviously we won't be discussing exactly what this group does, but one of the most prestigious places for aurors is within this group. They fall, —" After getting far enough away his voice would only be a murmur, Kingsley changed his focus, "— We won't have a lot of time. Do you know what you want to do?"
"Yeah Kingsley we do." With a quick glance around, Kingsley opened one of the many doors and pointed the others into the large room. The tension increased in Harry when he started to hear the murmurs, the whispers the Prewett relative spoke of. "I hear them." Harry licked his lips suspecting the murmurs were his parents.
Ron, Hermione and Harry stepped forward as a group to the edge of the veil. Feeling the separation thinning was off-putting to say the least. "We want to return what was once yours. What you lost to the brothers and have yet to regain." Ron placed the wand on the ground and stepped back.
"We do not desire nor want the power these objects hold." Hermione placed the stone next to the wand and quickly stepped to Ron's side.
"These belong with their creator, with you." Harry ran his fingers over the cloak one final time before he placed the folded item on the ground. He picked up the other two items individually, placing each on top of the folded piece of shimmering fabric with the wand set on both the stone and cloak. The trio of items touching for the first time. "I miss you Mum & Dad. I'm keeping Sirius in line as much as I can, but he came up with ideas while I've been at Hogwarts. I'm still trying to work them all out." Harry then stepped back to the other two and waited.
A shadow emerged from the veil. "Welcome and thank you." The spectral shape reached and picked up the wand. He snapped it, everyone watched as the magic seeped from the parts. When the silvery aura stopped and the pieces were nothing more than sticks, they dropped to the ground.
The stone floated as if gravity held no dominion over it. When it obviously sat in the hand of the darkness, the stone started to crumble and turn to dust. As the dust dripped from the hand, it floated and dispersed into the air, to appear as if it never existed.
Harry's eyes grew misty as the cloak was raised in the air. The fabric reflected the little light in the room as it was unfolded to its full size. The cloak was pulled tight in four directions and ripped into four equal pieces. Unlike the other items, the four pieces remained floating in the air, suspended and hanging as if they were frozen in place.
"This cloak can no longer hide from Death, but the rest of its properties, its ability to remain invisible for all these generations remains. In compensation for losing one ability, another has been added. This one may be more useful." The torn edges began to repair themselves to match the original sides of the cloak. As the final edge of each piece finished, one was placed in front of Harry, Hermione and Ron. The fourth piece remained floating in front of the dark mist. "But that is not all, you wish to ask about something else. Mr. Longbottom?"
This was not part of the plan. As Neville slowly walked forward and next to the other three, none noticed what was occurring behind death, happening on the other side of the veil. The murmurs, the dull hum heard by the living, was getting louder. One would almost say it sounded excited, like a crowd before a quidditch match, "We are wondering if you know what Albus Dumbledore used to escape you. Used to keep his spirit alive in his attempt for immortality." Death let a deep laugh escape his mouth.
"I do and so do you. Or you have all wondered." Death lifted the two pieces of yew and held them up. The pieces began to float again as he started to move his spindly finger in a circular motion. The two pieces began to slowly spin, "It seemed once learning how to remove the piece of his soul, he plotted on how to do it. Finding the rat of a man, he used the fact no one would notice the death. When the soul ripped, the evil spell was cast and the power of this wand drew the soul fragment to it."
As Death spoke, his finger began to move faster. The pieces of yew continued to mimic the action, as they turned faster more of the whispers were heard. They grew louder and louder by the second as the pieces continued to spin faster and faster, "This is why none of you wished to hold the wand, the reason you felt reluctant. The darkness wasn't the wand and the power I placed on it, but part of Albus Dumbledore's soul."
The pieces of the wand spun so fast they become a blur to those watching. As those standing in the dark room continued to try and focus on the wands, they noticed when something began to leak from the broken item. But unlike the magic which was shimmery almost like mercury pouring from a jar, this was very different. It was a dark mist, something that seemed to promise pain and suffering. Something that should never be trusted let alone exist.
As the moments passed, the dark mist soon started to take shape. "I thank you all, you have given me what should have been mine before now." When the shape finally coalesced, it took the form of the former headmaster. With a rather cheery voice, Death turned, "Hello Albus, I believe there are others who have been waiting for this moment, waiting for you. Many have been waiting for decades to see you punished for all your actions against them and others." The darkness flicked the spirit to the wall, all watched as it screamed and disappeared to the other side of the veil.
Death disappeared only to have two shapes appear a moment later. "Harry love." Looking up, those in the room all saw what they almost expected. A spirit with red hair and green eyes standing next to a man with messy black hair and glasses. Not wanting to get too close, Harry spoke to his parents about a great many things. Finally James looked up, "Kingsley!"
The tall man walked forward and stood next to the son, "Good to see you again James. I apologize for not being there or being able to help Harry." James waved him off.
"You wouldn't have been able to do anything, Albus planned for a night he knew we'd be alone. He also would have killed you if you tried to interfere. He will, —" James cast a look over his shoulder and behind the veil. A smile crawled along his face, "— Well is currently getting his. And will continue for the eternity yet to come, I believe Death has been planning for this moment for quite some time. Others have been providing suggestions."
James shrugged and most in the room suspected he and the woman next to him were included in the group of others with ideas. The look on Lily's face certainly reflected a bit of smug pleasure when she glanced over her shoulder. James let out a sigh, "But, enough about him, it's up to you to make sure Sirius and Remus make up. It's killing me to watch them right now. I've been doing what I can, but there's only so much we are allowed." Kingsley chuckled a deep and warm laugh.
"Of course. Although it seems Sirius's young cousin has a crush on Remus. It may cause a bit of a struggle between the two Blacks. Remus is most embarrassed as I understand it." James laughed, a light and happy sound, one Harry would remember. "I shall endeavor to fulfill your request. As much as I wish, —" Kingsley stopped at James's hand.
"I know you have to go so Amelia does't realize what happened. Neville, this final piece of the cloak, it's for you. Each will grow to the size needed. The downside of the original cloak was it only really worked when we were small." Kingsley chuckled again and James threw him a knowing look with a haphazard shrug. "Draco, good job with Lucius, Death seemed pleased when the blond menace showed up." Draco gave the man a bow and smile. "Harry, I love you son. Remember that. And know we are around, you might not see us, but we are there. Lils?"
Harry and his mother both wiped tears from their eyes. "I love you both." The forms of his parents melted back into the veil and only the six who entered the room remained. Picking up their pieces of cloth, the four folded them and stuffed them into their pockets.
"Come on, let's head to my office. Amelia needs to believe I gave my best effort to get Hermione and Draco to agree to the academy." Kingsley waved toward the door.
"Kingsley, how did you know my dad?"
"I was the fifth roommate with the marauders. A silent partner of sorts to their hijinks. Seems I have a bit of work to do with two of them." Harry gave the man a look that told him he had another Potter on his side. "You look like your father like that. He liked to plot but most of the time his plans fell apart and Remus had to save their asses."
The rest laughed and joked about how similar the two Potters were then. Kingsley shook his head at the number of things he heard they did at the school. He didn't mention he agreed to join the staff as the new defense professor or his pleasure at knowing neither the map nor cloaks would be available to his students.
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
While the recent graduates took a tour of the Ministry, Minerva and some of the Regents began the process of clearing out more secrets. In addition to the recent death of Lucius Malfoy, a few of the other Regents took their leave of the board. The group responsible for managing the old school now had a new members who all agreed it was time for the school to progress in what was taught and what types of courses were offered to the students.
In addition to Minerva McGonagall, three of the Regents, namely Molly Weasley, Augusta Longbottom, and Nigel Peakes, sorted through various stacks of parchment shaking their heads at what they read. Wiping their eyes at seeing names of family or friends Dumbledore ensured died. Pages and pages of him admitting to deaths, destruction and plans to rule the wizarding world.
It was in the middle of Molly ranting about something else atrocious when it happened. Suddenly the headmaster's portrait started to shriek in pain. The four in the office watched as the portrait's face contorted into expressions of sheer agony. Not that they felt any pity, in fact they all enjoyed the show maybe a bit too much.
Suddenly the portrait froze and then was gone. Minerva began to cast a number of detection spells on the now empty frame to only find no results. "What happened?" A voice then floated, as if from the frame itself, and the background shifted from what it was to what appeared to be a cavern. Minerva's head tilted at the new image. Before she started teaching, she worked for the Ministry and one of her jobs was in the Department of Mysteries. Given what she knew was occurring, she wondered what her former students achieved.
"I thank you all, you have given me what should have been mine before now. Hello Albus, I believe there are others who have been waiting for this moment, waiting for you. Many have been waiting for decades to see you punished for all your actions against them and others."
Those in the office shuddered involuntarily as the voice faded and a shriek echoed off the stone walls of the office. When the scream stopped, the portrait returned to the generic background that once housed the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. As final evidence to the lack of magic, the frame started to crack and the canvas tore. Using her own magic, Minerva sent the remains to the burn pile.
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
George and Fred Weasley listened to their nieces and nephews, by blood and not, tell them about all their favorite Weasley Wizard Wheezes products. Most of the items hadn't been perfected yet, in fact a few of them weren't even on the list of things to do. But that didn't stop the twins from getting as much information as they could from the children.
The brothers, thinking they were pulling something over on the children, didn't notice the expression on the oldest child. Scorpius Granger-Malfoy sat on the couch and watched the display in amusement. He hadn't expected to get the chance to see the twins so soon. However the boy was taught by many individuals, including the two red heads trying to interrogate six overly excited children, to never let an opportunity pass.
When Fred finally looked up, he noticed the expression on the boy's face. "Scorpius? Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Fred appreciated the way Scorp's eyes glittered. Dead giveaway Fred though, George saw it as something different. Something more sneaky and held off on drawing any conclusions.
"Maybe, there are quite a few things I may have been able to bring with me." Scorpius shrugged.
George knew that nonchalant move and it reeked of Hermione Granger. "It seems my dear brother, little Scorpius here is more Gryffindor than Slytherin." Fred looked to his brother and then back to Scorpius, the twin's eyes lit in understanding.
"I think I see it. More like a lioness if you will."
Scorp smiled a bit blandly, that was his father's move, but it only confirmed what the brothers suspected. "Tell your Uncle Georgie what you have with you."
Lyra blew her brother's plan, "Tell Uncle Georgie!" When she balled her hands and crossed her arms over her chest, the brothers saw Hermione shining through. "I want my lolli!" Scorpius chuckled at the outburst and bowed to his sister.
"Lyra does get what she wants." Scorpius handed over the battered and crinkled magazine. Unknown to the twins, it was the last one published before the future went to shit. Scorpius wasn't going to tell them that, he just wanted to make sure the children got some measure of their lives back. For Lyra that included the hair-changing lollis.
The twins sat at the kitchen table whispering over items and giving each other high fives as they found one item or another that currently caused them issues. Lyra curled up with her brother and gave him a kiss, "Thank you Scorp."
"You're welcome Lyra. I love you." As Lyra fell asleep, Scorpius saw his future, a little different but still the same. Everyone he loved was back. He knew the future was safe. Maybe he'd get another sibling out of the deal too.
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
A few weeks later, after listening to George and Fred debate how they did this or that, Scorpius decided he allowed them to suffer long enough. "I don't know what you know. What Mum or Dad has told you." The twins looked at the young boy and gave their own version of the non-committal shrug. "So they told you something."
"A little, I think your mum was trying to not influence the future. You know how she is."
"Yes, probably better than you do. But did anyone mention some of the items I brought back for them?" At the nods Scorp smiled. "Good, see we weren't the only ones in the house." Fred realized what Scorp was saying first and took a sharp breath.
Seeing the realization in Fred's eyes, Scorp smiled a bit sadly. Draco started to teach him how to occlude the painful memories, the signs of which every adult knew. So when Scorp closed his eyes and took deep, calming breaths the twins didn't interrupt him. "Thanks, sometimes the memories are a bit stronger than others. But there were things of yours that I didn't want to get lost."
Scorp pulled two shrunken boxes from his pocket and set them on the table. Waving his wand over them, they resized and the twins tore into them. Not wanting to see their reactions to some of the items, Scorp stepped outside and decided to join the other children. Today was flying practice for Ells and Lyra, while the rest of them played quidditch.
"Don't worry Mum, Lyra is a little demon. Dad said she takes after him." Scorp jumped on his broom and zoomed straight up, much to his mother consternation.
"She's never going to like you doing that Scorp." Jimmy flew next to Scorp and the two boys went through seeker drills.
"I know. But it's fun." Jimmy looked back at his aunt and only saw the woman who did everything she could to save them. That included breaking laws of the ministry and nature to ensure they had a chance. He would do anything for his family too. "Come on Jimmy, you know the forfeit if I catch the snitch." Scorp took off and Jimmy leaned into his broom in an attempt to catch the older boy.
"I never agreed to that Scorpius Richard Granger-Malfoy!"
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
George and Fred both read the letters they left for themselves and the ones Hermione wrote to them. It seemed the woman was quite involved in their research and development in the future. She provided them a bit of help in how to get the current Hermione on board.
"She set herself up, I wonder why."
"Probably she knows how she is going to react and that will mean we are hexed or something before she agrees."
There were also a few memories, mostly hints they left for themselves on some missteps to skip. With the information from themselves, the twins sidestepped quite a few failures. By the time the next summer started, Weasleys Wizards Wheezes had almost an entirely new catalog of items. Their customers included seven children clambering for their favorites until they existed in this time.
/*\\*/ /*\\*/ /*\\*/
Years down the road, Scorpius held a small bundle wrapped securely in a blue blanket. The baby, a boy with red hair and cornflower blue eyes, opened them and giggled at the young man holding him. "Hey Hugo," the baby smiled and Scorp saw something he thought he'd not see again. "So I don't know if it's really you, but you have to know I'm not going to let that happen to you again."
The baby cooed and his eyes drifted shut.
"You'll be a great godfather Scorp."
"Thanks Mum." Hermione sat on the couch and watched her baby, who wasn't, as he swayed Hugo Weasley in his arms. Hermione sighed and rubbed her own baby bump. "It's going to be odd if the baby is a boy. Like, is it me?"
"No honey, you're you and completely special." Hermione stood next to her son and placed her hand on his cheek. She looked at her belly and smiled, "This little one will be his or her own person. You and Lyra and the others will see that. Now don't be too long, Minerva allowed you time away for Severus and Rosmerta's wedding but you're the head boy and need to get back to school soon."
"I think it'll be fine if I'm missing for a bit longer, but I won't be too long." Hermione kissed Hugo's forehead and then her son's cheek. "I'll come home before I head back." Hermione winked and left to return to the home she shared with her family.
"Ok Hugo, you be good. I'll see you in a month when it's Yule holiday. I have the best gift for you." Scorp set the now sleeping baby in his bed and quietly left the room. "He fell asleep Aunt Lavender so I set him in his cot." Lavender hugged the boy.
"Thank you Scorp. Go on now, you have things to do." The boy waved and stepped into the floo.
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A/N - And that does it. Thanks to everyone who read, I appreciate each one of you.