Chapter Nine

Hermione, Neville, Pansy, Harry, Draco and Daphne sat on Harry's floor packing things in six, small bags, all of which had undetectable extension charms on them.

They were sorting through every book they'd managed to get their hands on, every magical item, every clue that could possibly be of use to them and generally finalising the plans for the coming year.

They still had several hours until dinner, having chosen to have lunch in the room with Harry, making sure they would have time to get finished.

"Muggle camping?" Draco asked, picking up one of the many books, "Pansy."

Pansy caught the book and tucked it in her bag, "Thanking you!"

"You need to remember to get rid of your bag, or at least the spell on it as soon as you can." Daphne reminded her, "Even the small amount of magic from that will be enough to be traced after being in the same place for a few months."

"I know." Pansy smiled, this was not the first time they'd gone over this, "No magic, even useful little things like this. Don't worry, Lily has, had, loads of books on muggle life, healing, cooking everything. I'm almost looking forward to it!"

"And it means you'll get to spend loads of time with William!" Hermione teased, "And I get stuck with these two."

"Thanks, Granger!" Draco said, chucking a chocolate frog at her.

"You know what I mean." Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "I'm not going to be able to write to Vikor for a whole year."

"I'm not going to be able to write to Cho either!" Harry pointed out, "Well, we can write to them… we just can't send them…"

"Oh boo hoo!" Daphne said, rolling her eyes, "Let's call the whole thing off, let You-know-who win, couldn't possibly have you lot struggling by without your daily love letters."

"Ok, OK!" Harry laughed, "We'll stop. Total Defence Against the Dark Arts for Beginners?"

"Toss a coin, either you or us." Neville said.

"You guys take it." Harry said, chucking him the book, "You're going to be dealing with far more beginners than we are."

Over the next few hours they made it through the books, leaving them with a much smaller pile to sort through.

"This is a lot of crackers." Hermione said, wrinkling her nose at the seventeen packets that were next in the pile.

"Yep." Draco laughed, "That's what Winky said when I asked her to get them for me. I figured that we might not be able to shop all that often, and you can't make food out of nothing, but you can make more of it and turn it from one thing to another. Meet our dinners for a long, long, long time."

"That's brilliant!" Hermione beamed, loading the crackers into her bag, "I never thought about that."

"Well none of us are used to going hungry, it makes sense not to force ourselves." Harry shrugged, "Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are in there as well."

Hermione gathered up the little packets of drinks, sugar and dried milk, shoving them into her bag. Harry looked at the two remaining items, the Marauders' Map and the Invisibility cloak.

"You should take the map." Harry said to Neville and Daphne, "You're going to have far more use of it than we will."

"We'll look after it." Neville promised him, slipping it safely away.

"How good are your disillusionment charms?" Hermione asked.

"Pretty good." Daphne shrugged.

"I think they should take the cloak anyway." Harry sighed; he felt like he was ripping out a part of himself handing it over, "In case you need it for anyone else."

Daphne took the soft fabric and nodded, slipping it away.

It seemed very final, sitting in the room with the huge pile that had sat there a few short hours ago all packed away.

"I wish we could stay together this year." Daphne sighed, "It all seems that much more impossible apart."

"I know." Harry sighed, "Me too, but we can't, not really. We need as few families on the run as possible."

"We're really lucky here, with the wards and stuff, but I think even this house would get rather cramped if everyone had to move in." Draco pointed out, "And then we'd have to keep popping in and out… might get slightly suspicious."

"Right," Harry said with a sigh, standing up and tossing his small bag onto the bed.

He walked over and grabbed out several sets of clothes, his new jumper as well as his thickest old one and emptied all but a few pairs of socks and pants into the bag to go with them as well, "Should I take my white robes? I'd never forgive myself if they got ruined or lost…"

"I've not packed mine." Draco said, his ears turning slightly red, "I didn't want to risk it."

Harry nodded, leaving his white robes in the wardrobe.

"I need you to give these to Dobby." Harry said, handing Neville and Daphne the vial of memories, "Don't look to see what they are, please. It's really important. Just give them to Dobby and tell him to put them with the letters."

"What are they?" Daphne asked, "I mean, what's in them?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know. I just remember that it was really important that no one finds out about them but that Danica got them if I couldn't give them to her myself."

"OK." Neville nodded, "We'll do our best."

"Thanks." Harry smiled, fighting his curiosity as much as he could to find out what had been so important that he needed to forget, knowing he would only have to make himself forget again if he gave in.

"Dinner's nearly ready!" Lily called, knocking softly on the door.

"We'll meet you there." Harry said quickly.

His friends nodded, heading out the door. Harry reached under his bed and pulled out the present ribbon. He didn't want it just sitting there for a year. He wouldn't be back for Christmas or Easter in all likely hood, and it felt wrong some how.

Harry quickly walked to Sirius's room. There was a different house elf sitting next to him this time, reading out of a very old book. Harry only caught a few words, something about a bow made out of a rainbow before knocking on the door.

"Can I helps you?" the house elf asked, in a very low voice.

"I just have something I need to put with Sirius." Harry said. Hearing it aloud it sounded rather ridiculous.

The house elf nodded and let him passed.

Harry tucked the ribbon at the foot of Sirius's bed, before moving forward to take his godfather's hand, "Do you remember going back to the house to find all these? Mum always said you were dead set against it, so was Severus. You both said she was too sick still, too weak… She fell over twice… she laughed every time she told me that story, about you and Severus sharing matching eye rolls for the first time. I'm… I might not make it to visit for a while, but don't think that we've given up on you. You still have to buy that iguana for Danica, before she goes off to school…you still need to marry Nikka… she was going to ask you, just after you got hurt… I… I… she… I love you." he leant down and gave Sirius a kiss on the forehead, there was nothing more to say. Everything he wanted, needed Sirius to know, couldn't come from words.

Harry nodded to the house elf and left the room quietly, the sound of the house elf reading again drifting down the hall.

The dinning room was filled with laughter as Harry walked in, everyone erupting in a loud chorus of 'Happy Birthday'.

Harry slid into his seat, Lucius insisting he sat at the head of the table. The table was covered in plain pizza bases with every topping and sauce you could think of.

Excitedly Harry reached for the bowl of fresh sliced tomato, letting everyone else begin as well. Corvus sat, looking at everyone in confusion.

"Here, I'll help." Danica offered, "If you want?"

Corvus gave her a small nod, "Yeah, OK."

Danica showed him how to cover the base with sauce and cheese, giving him sneaky spoonfuls of the sauces to work out which one he liked best.

Once Harry had finished topping his pizza, he gave it to one of the house elves, who fluttered their fingers over the dish, cooking it perfectly.

Harry was just about to take his first mouthful when both Draco and Lucius looked up suddenly.

"Someone's here." Draco said quietly, "Are we due anyone?"

Lucius shook his head, putting down the slice of pizza he'd been trying to work out how to eat, "Stay here." He ordered them.

Lucius drew his wand and motioned for two of the house elves to follow him. He walked cautiously down the path from Malfoy Manor.

"It looks like Scrimgeour." Lucius muttered to himself.

Scrimgeour stood on the other said, looking very much less than happy.

"My Malfoy, you do know it is highly dangerous, not to mention illegal to create wards without Ministry permission and oversight?" Scrimgeour demanded, "I could have been seriously injured."

"I would have been most sorry to have caused you injury, Minister." Lucius said, giving him a small bow.

"Yes well, as I said, illegal." Scrimgeour huffed, "It'll have to come down until you put in an application."

"It is indeed illegal to create new wards, these however, are not new creations." Lucius explained calmly, "Malfoy Manor has had these wards since before the creation of the Ministry. We've simply… spruced them up a little. I can however assure you they are the same wards that have always stood here."

Scrimgeour didn't look impressed, glaring forcefully at Lucius, "Well… I shall drop the issue for now. I need to come in, I have been informed that Harry Potter and his friends are here?"

"They are." Lucius nodded, "But I cannot let you in, not without proof that you are who you say you are."

Scrimgeour glared at him again, "Fine. What do you wish to know?"

"There will be no need for that." Lucius smiled, "My house elves are more than capable of removing any charms or potion effects that are meant to disguise a person."

Luicus took a step back, the two house elves looking fixedly at Scrimgeour.

"He is clean, Master." one of them squeaked.

Lucius nodded, "Excellent. Run back to the dinner hall and inform them that Harry and his friends will need to be spoken to by the Minister."

The two elves nodded and rushed back into the house leaving Lucius and Scrimgeour alone.

"You are aware that it is Harry's seventeenth birthday today?" Lucius asked.

Scrimgeour gave him a brisk nod.

"Just remember that I would so hate for anything to upset him on such an important day." Lucius said coolly.

The Minister glared at him before give another sharp nod. Lucius extended his hand and pulled Scrimgeour across the boundary.

"After you, Minister." Lucius said with a polite smile.

They walked briskly up the path and into Malfoy Manor, Lucius always making sure Scrimgeour was slightly ahead of him, much to Scrimgeour's annoyance.

The house elves had done as they were asked, meaning that Corvus had already disappeared up to his room. Tonks and Remus had also popped off, they didn't want any extra trouble for Harry as the Ministry was very anti-werewolf at the moment. The house elves had also sealed the room Sirius was in, the door from the library perfectly blended into the wall so it was like the room was never there.

Lily smiled stiffly at the Minister, "What can we help you with?"

"I am here to see Miss Greengrass, Miss Parkinson, Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, Mr Malfoy and Mr Potter." Scrimgeour said quickly, "It will not take long but I will need to talk to them all in private."

"Anything you have to say to us can be said here." Hermione said firmly.

"I must insist." Scrimgeour hissed back.

"You may go through to the Ladies' parlour." Lucius told him, earning him a glare from Lily.

Harry and his friends stood up together.

"One at a time." Scrimgeour insisted.

Harry rolled his eyes, "You said it wouldn't take long. It'll take ages one at a time."

"Confidentiality must be maintained." Scrimgeour said, a heartless smile on his lips.

"We wave it." Harry and his friends said at once.

Scrimgeour glared at them and walked to the small neat sitting room off the dinning room.

It was a very lacy room. Narcissa hadn't been very interested in redecorating when they had moved in. Parlours and the women going off after a meal always seemed slightly old fashioned to her and there were other rooms that had more light and a view of the garden that she used when needed.

It meant that the official Ladies' parlour hadn't been redecorated since Lucius's mother had been made lady of the house, meaning it was tasteful but rather outdated.

There was a large, four seater sofa a few feet from the wall across from the fire that Harry and his friends managed to squish onto, Neville and Hermione half sitting on the thin arms, but none of them wanted to have to sit alone. Scrimgeour all but rolled his eyes at them before settling himself in a lavender, velvet settee.

"What can we help you with, Minister?" Neville asked, when Scrimgeour didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"I am here to deliver the contents of the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Scrimgeour said formally, reaching for his large bag.

Harry felt his blood run cold, "I don't want it." he said quickly.

Scrimgeour looked shocked, narrowing his eyes, "Well I must admit that was not what I was expecting. However, legally I must give you your property. What you do to it afterwards is up to you."

Harry clenched his fists, Neville reaching out a calming hand.

"You are happy for me to continue with you all present?" Scrimgeour asked, trying once again to separate them.

"Yes." they said quickly.

Scrimgeour sighed, "To Neville…"

"Why has it taken you so long to give us these things?" Harry asked quickly, interrupting Scrimgeour.

Scrimgeour gave a rough cough, "Well, checks needed to be preformed."

"It's been a month." Harry countered.

"It's a law, they can keep things for thirty one days to check for Dark Magic. Took us forever for us to be allowed to move in here when grandfather died." Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"I assume you didn't find anything?" Hermione frowned, shaking her head making her frizzy hair fly around her face.

"We did not." Scrimgeour said, clearing his throat again.

"You should be ashamed you know." Hermione snapped, "That law is for Dark Magic and known Dark families! And you're meant to have proof! Not just being nosy for the sake of things!"

"Hey!" Draco said, turning to her and pretending to be insulted.

"You know what I mean." Hermione sniffed.

"It's becoming a habit Granger, insulting my noble house." Draco smirked.

"May we please continue?" Scrimgeour growled, "Or I will have to insist on seeing you all one by one."

The six of them fell silent, but continued to glare at Scrimgeour as he once again cleared his throat and turned back to his list.

"To Neville Augustus Harfang Longbottom, I leave you my Deluminator, I hope that it shows you light in the darkness." Scrimgeour read, handing over the small, lighter shaped object.

Neville looked it over, holding it carefully between two fingers, "Umm… thank you."

"To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave you my copy of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'. I hope you find it both educational and entertaining."

Hermione took the very old, battered book and smiled.

"To Pansy Maria Tamara Jane Parkinson, I leave you my childhood copy of 'The basics of Survival Magic'. I had many exciting camping trips with its aid when I was younger."

It would have been difficult to tell if Pansy or Hermione had gotten the more battered and used book, but she took it gratefully and gave Scrimgeour a quick smile.

"To Daphne Amanda Greengrass and Draco Abraxas James Malfoy I give my two favourite mirrors, so you may always see a face that is forever on your side."

He handed over two, plain looking mirrors in metal frames. Daphne and Draco looked at one another highly confused before taking the mirrors from Scrimgeour. Draco's had a corner of the metal frame missing, letting the mirror wobble slightly in the frame.

"And finally, to Harry James Potter, I leave you the snitch you first won at Hogwarts, to remind you to fight even when you are broken." Scrimgeour smiled, looking closely at the snitch, "Well go on! Take it."

Harry knew he would have to take the small, golden ball. He also knew that you could store things inside a snitch and a snitch would only open for the person who first touched it. In this case, that was Harry. It was a random thing Sirius had told him, many years ago, he hadn't told Harry however, if you could get around it.

Harry took a deep breath and reached out his hand, the snitch was cold against his skin and he felt the slightest roughness move under his palm as the snitch touched his skin. He was sure it was going to open, and then it stopped.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Scrimgeour, "Sorry were you expecting anything?"

Scrimgeour glared at him, "You caught it during your first game at school?"

Harry nodded, "Yep."

"It says to remind you when you're broken to keep fighting?" Scrimgeour sniffed, "What does that mean?"

"Harry was hurt." Daphne said, "He broke his leg and then Lockhart accidentally removed his bones. There was a foul bludger but we still won."

"What she said." Harry smirked.

"I see." Scrimgeour glared down at his list, "He also left you, Harry, the scram sax of Salazar Slytherin."

"Well where is that?" Harry asked, frowning at the now empty bag. It seemed like the one obviously useful item Dumbledore had left them.

"The scram sax was not Dumbledore's to give away." Scrimgeour snapped, "It is a highly valuable magic artefact and therefore belongs to the Ministry."

"It was left to Harry." Draco pointed out.

"You're abusing laws again!" Hermione snapped.

"How dare you!" Scrimgeour snapped back, "You don't know what you are talking about you stupid little girl!"

Hermione and Scrimgeour glared at one another for a moment before Scrimgeour turned his attentions back to Harry, "It seems strange he would have left you such an important and valuable item. Why?"

"Why what?" Harry frowned.

"Why would he leave you such a thing?" Scrimgeour rephrased.

"I don't know." Harry shrugged, "We'd been having private lessons together. It had emerald in it, maybe he thought it matched my eyes?" he fluttered his eyes dramatically.

Scrimgeour frowned, narrowing his eyes, "Mr Longbottom, you weren't close to Dumbledore, were you?"

"I… I think we were, as much as any student and teacher." Neville said, as honestly as he could.

"Dumbledore had few requests after his death, it seems strange he singled out you six." Scrimgeour said firmly.

"If you say so." Harry said, not wanting him to have anything to twist against them.

"Minister, please just say whatever it is you wish to say and then leave so we can get back to dinner." Pansy said, politely but firmly, "It's getting late and you said this wouldn't take long."

Scrimgeour looked over them again, "I need to know what, everything, that Dumbledore told you."

"I can't tell you that." Harry said, glaring at his hands and reminding himself over and over again that it wasn't Dumbledore he was going this for, it was his family.

Scrimgeour glared angrily at Harry, "Look here boy, I know you seem to have some fascination with your loyalty to Dumbledore-"

"I don't." Harry told him firmly, "It's just the situation is far more complicated than you know."

It had clearly been a while since Scrimgeour had been told he wasn't allowed to know something and the effect was immediate, "How dare you?! I am Minister for Magic! If the situation is complicated then explain it! We are meant to be on the same side you know."

Harry looked down at his hand, the lines Umbridge had forced him to write standing out strongly white against his slightly tanned skin, "We are." He said, forcing himself to stay calm, exploding wasn't going to help, "But I don't like your methods."

Harry stood up to leave, his friends following suit.

"Goodbye Minister." Harry said, with a sad smile, "Look after yourself."

Scrimgeour grabbed his shoulder and forced the tip of his wand into Harry's chest, "If we lose this war, it will be your fault!" he hissed.

Harry let out a gasp of pain as the burning wand tip reached his skin. The door to the parlour bust open and Scrimgeour flew backwards into the fireplace, that was thankfully unlit.

"How dare you!" Scrimgeour all but screamed at Lily who had her wand still fixed on him, "Harry is an adult-"

"Harry was born at nine fifty three in the evening, he's not technically an adult until then and until then I have every right to defend him." Lily spat.

Scrimgeour stood, straightening his robes, "I think we're done here."

"Excellent idea." Lucius glared, "Winky will show you out."

Scrimgeour swept passed them, ignoring the hand Winky offered to him.

"Harry are you all right?" Lily asked, hurrying over, "My gods what did he do to your top?"

Harry let her fuss for a moment before pushing her away, "I'm fine. I've had a lot worse. Besides, I thought there was meant to be cake." he smiled, trying to put the focus back on his birthday rather than its ruin interruption.

They made their way back to the long table and sat down. Harry looked over the snitch while the others filled in Lucius and Lily about what Scrimgeour wanted.

It hadn't started to open when he'd touched it, instead there were now five words engraved in the smooth metal.

I open at the close

Harry didn't know what that meant but currently, he didn't care.