Chapter 12 The three broomsticks
The next few days past without problems or anything interesting happening which Harry found relaxing for once
Harry went to Hogwarts and back to prepare for his first year as a teacher and when he came out at the fire of now Headmistress McGonagall's office on Saturday he saw Sirius standing there waiting for him.
"Hello," he said, "what a surprise. What's up Sirius?"
"Well, I just wanted to see you pup, I hadn't got a change to talk to you for a while and even last Thursday was well chaotic." Sirius said to Harry
"You can say that again," said Harry, "but what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"Well two things to be exact, said Sirius.
"First thing is that I don't need your room now that I have my magic back I can help with the reconstruction with my old house and it will be ready before the first of September. Don't give me the puppy eyes pup, you know I would love the idea of being here but I do need a home of my own." The last part Sirius said with laughter.
"Second I don't know if it's a good idea if I come along on Monday." That last part was said with a lot of regret.
"What!" Said Harry in shock, "You won't come? But why I was so looking forward to finally go shopping with you because we never could and now after all these years we could and now you don't want to?"
"Now Harry but I don't think it is wise because a lot of people would be terrified if they saw me coming down the street." Sirius started explaining. "I don't want to be the main event and course any trouble for you. I really wanted to come you know but when I thought about it I think it is better if I stay at home." Sirius concluded.
"So your scared of what people may think is that it?" Said Harry. "I never thought you to be the scared one Sirius and just want to leave again." After that he ran out of the office.
Harry didn't look back when Sirius called his name but just ran down the stairs and out of the castle.
He walked towards the lake and sat under the tree that he and Ron and Hermione always sat under when they did their homework.
He sat there for 15 minutes when someone walked out of the castle and came towards him without Harry noticing.
"Harry? What's wrong love?" Came the voice of Ginny.
"Ginny what are you doing here?" He asked her, "What's going on?"
"Well Sirius floo-called us after you had run out of the office and didn't return." Ginny said to him
"They looked in your office and the common-room they couldn't find you so he called us. Hermione thought I could find you here and well I am here to talk to you."
She sat beside he and took Harry in her arms.
"I don't know why but Sirius wants to leave me again. I can not go through that again Ginny I just can't." Harry said with tears in his eyes. "I just got him back and now he want's to leave again. "
"But Harry, you knew he would go back to London when the house was rebuild. He just wants to help them so he can finally start over again." Said Ginny. "You of all people should understand what it means to get a chance at a normal life. How many times have you not told me that you wished for the simple fact that you weren't Harry Potter the boy who lived but just Harry Potter. Sirius is getting that chance and you are mad at him for wanting to take it?"
"No I am not mad at him for taking his chance." Said Harry. "I am mad at him because he doesn't even want to come to Diagon Alley on Monday. Thinks he scares the people away or that people will attack him or whatever crap story he comes up with. We could finally go shopping and Mr. I might scare people now doesn't want to. He would have loved to come and shop with me when he was on the run just for the fun of it but now he is a free man he is scared of what the people might do or think."
Ginny started to laugh.
"It isn't funny Gin," Said Harry, "I really was looking forward to this."
"I know love, I know," Ginny said. "but you are here sitting like a little kid crying because he didn't get the toy he wanted for his birthday. Also I talked to Sirius about this. He says that he hasn't been cleared yet so he can't come because people will attack him at sight. He talked about it with McGonagall and she also was shocked he wasn't cleared because the war was over and everybody knew now that Sirius was on the good side and it was wormtail who betrayed your parents."
"Well than they need to clear him on Monday so we can go shopping on Tuesday."Harry said in reply.
"That isn't that simple love." Ginny explaint. "They need at least a month to investigate and stuff and then interview Sirius but than we would already be at school so we need those books by the time he is cleared."
"But how in Merlin's name does he want to help rebuilding Grimauld Place if he isn't cleared."Harry asked Ginny.
"Good point pup I never thought about that one." Said Sirius Ginny and Harry looked up at him.
"I can't come with you but that doesn't mean I don't want to. I really wanted to come pup believe me but I am not cleared yet so people might attack me or call the aurors and than we have bigger problems. When I think of what you just said than you are right to say I can't help them rebuilding my old home but I can stay here for the year, but when I am cleared I will return to my own home deal? Sirius asked Harry
"Deal!" said Harry. His spirit lifted a lot after this and he looked up at Ginny and Sirius and said.
"Well Sirius do you mind if I take Ginny to Hogsmeade for a drink at the three broomsticks?"
"Well pup in fact I do." Said Sirius to Harry's surprise. "You only can go if I can tag along, because did you really think that I would stay inside all day here at the castle, the people in Hogsmeade know I am here and they are good with it." Harry got up and helped Ginny up which was than joked about by Sirius and the three started walking down the grounds to the gate and towards the town.
When they entered Madam Rosmerta looked up and smiled at them.
They ordered 2 butterbeers for Harry and Ginny and a firewhiskey for Sirius.
When she brought them their drinks she smiled once again but this time more directly at Sirius. Harry's keen eye had naturally seen this and when Madam Rosmerta was back at the bar he hummed the the song "Love Is In The Air" from John Paul Young.
Sirius recognized the song and bursts out laughing loudly.
"Well pup," he said," I can't say that you see things that aren't there but well that is a different story."
Harry looked at Sirius and smiled, he leaned over and said in a whisper to him. "What about a double wedding?"
He ducked out of the way fast as Sirius wanted to smack him on the head.
They were laughing and talking for 30 minutes when 2 men and 2 women walked in.
Harry looked at the new comers and recognized 2 of them directly.
He said in a low voice.
"Take out your wands and get ready. Sirius you get Rosmerta out of the way Ginny and I will take care of these four."
"Harry what's going on?" Asked Sirius. "No questions just do it and don't let them see your face" was all Harry said.
Sirius got up and walked over to the bar.
"Rose we need to get to the back NOW!" he said in a low voice. "Harry recognized some of them and I think it will be bad."
"Ok sir I will show you the backroom for the meeting please follow me." Said Madam Rosmerta out loud.
"Sirs and Madams I will be with you in a moment." She told the 4 who entered and she and Sirius walked out of the room.
As the door closed Harry stood up.
The 4 looked and some sneered.
"Well well well, they let everybody enter these days."
"Just sip it Nott." said Harry
Theodore Nott looked angry at Harry. "You put my father in Azkaban Potter for that I will kill you." Nott said
Thorfinn Rowle the man who entered with Nott looked as he saw a ghost.
"Look what a rotter we found Potter." He said with a grin.
"And now we are gonna kill little Harry and the dark lord can come back once more. "
"Sorry to disappoint you there but Voldemort is dead for good this time." Said Harry.
"Liar!" Yelled Rowle "He came back once so he can do it again."
"Sectumsempra" Nott screamed! "Protego!" Harry raised his shield so fast that the spell of Nott wasn't even half way it bounced straight back and hit the woman beside him.
"Cecilia!" Nott cried. He looked at Harry in rage. "AVADA KEDAVRA." He screamed.
Harry pulled Ginny and himself down behind the table he pulled to it's side at the same time. He was just in time because the green steam of the death spell just past over them.
They looked at each other and than both stood up at the same time and shot their spells.
Ginny hit Rowle full in the chest with a stunning spell and Harry blasted Nott back with a Impedimenta curse.
The second woman of the foursome looked at her 2 male comrades and than at Harry and Ginny.
She dropped her wand and raised her hands.
When Harry had bound her with a full body bind spell he walked over to the backroom.
"It's safe for now." He said. "We need healers and aurors here now. Sirius you go back to Hogwarts and tell Minerva that we need her here asap." Harry was directing.
Sirius looked at Harry and saw the anger in his eyes.
He would talk to his god-son later but now he would go as fast as his legs could carry him.
Before he ran out Harry yelled at him that Padfoot would run faster, so as soon as Sirius was outside he changed into the big black dog and ran towards Hogwarts.
The wounded woman had been taken to St. Mungo's and the other three were taken away to Azkaban to await their trials.
Harry, Ginny, Sirius and Minerva were sitting in the backroom with Rosmerta all with a drink in front of them when Kingsley Shacklebolt came in. He looked as mad as a hipogriff with a morning temper. What is it Kingsley asked Harry.
"Those idiots," he started roaring. "Those bloody idiots. They couldn't keep their brooms straight even if their lives depended on it. What do we need to do to get some decent men for a job."
"Okay what happened." Said McGonagall with a voice that left no room for discussion.
"Nott escaped when they wanted to transfer him to Azkaban. He took the woman with him but left Rowle to his fate." Kingsley said as he sat down.
How? Was all Harry asked.
"He used a portkey. When the guards lifted the bindingcurse so he could walk in the boat to Azkaban he grabt the woman and activated it." Was Kinglesy's explanation.
"Didn't they search him," asked Harry, "because than they would have found it."
"We did but, it wasn't a normal portkey we would normally use. He had made his belt into the portkey." Said Kingsley with a sneer. "We couldn't do anything Harry I am really sorry."
"It is ok Kingsley, but I wondered why he left Rowle to be taken to Azkaban and took the woman with him." Harry wondered
"Well we figured that one out after interagating Rowle" Kingsley said.
"Nott only wanted to hurt you as revenge for his father, Rowle thought that by killing you his old master would return. Nott also believed the woman did not needed to go to Azkaban because she didn't do anything. Our guess is that he took her with him for that reason." Kingsley said still angry.
"Great," said Harry, "will I never have some peace."
"Well Harry," said Ginny, "that is the war of life I guess, but you defeated the darkest wizard of our age so this small war should be a walk in the park for you.
After they finished their drinks they headed back to Hogwarts.
Harry did some work before he and Ginny went back to the Burrow where their friends and family were waiting.
They would go to Diagon Alley soon and Harry hoped that they would not cancel that trip.
Well it wasn't for the lack of Mrs. Weasley trying to go another day after she heard that they were attacked but when Harry told her he would go alone if she would not come it was fine by him.
She looked taken aback at the tone of Harry.
"Look Mrs. Weasley if you don't want to come fine, but I am going." Harry had said.
Mrs. Weasley what happened to Molly she thought.
Was she that unreasonable that he didn't want to call her Molly anymore?
She lay in bed that night thinking over the argument she had with Harry.
He was like a son to her didn't he get that. She only wanted to keep him safe.
She turned on her side again.
"What is it dear?" Asked Mr. Weasley.
"Oh I am sorry Arthur I didn't want to wake you, I just can't sleep. Go back to sleep dear." She said.
"Is it that argument you had with Harry?" He asked.
Sometime she just wondered how it was that her husband knew her so well. Perhaps he used legilimency on her without her knowing it, no that could not be it.
He just knew her that well.
"Oh Arthur I am back to Mrs. Weasley again and I only wanted to delay the trip 1 day so we could use that extra time for some extra guards. Is that so bad?" She cried.
Arthur Weasley turned towards his wife lay his arms around her and said.
"I think it isn't a bad thing that you want all of our kids to be safe Molly, but we need to understand that they are no longer the small children they were a year ago.
When you mentioned to Harry that you wanted guards with us for the trip he became angry at you because he doesn't want to be treated any other way than anybody else. That's why he told the press to leave us all alone from now on. I just hope he knows what he is doing because a lot of people want to talk to him or hurt him."
"Oh Arthur what should we do?"Asked Mrs Weasley with the fear in her voice noticeable for her husband.
"Talk to Harry tomorrow Molly, and ask him why he became so angry." Her husband said.
"Talk with him alone. Not with the rest in the room not even Ginny. Let him say what he wants to say and don't and I mean don't temper him with good intentions. Your love is all he needs Molly just that."
"I will do that." She said. "Thank you for listening to me Arthur. Go back to sleep now dear I will try to get some sleep as well.
Good night Arthur."
"Good night Molly."
After this talk with her husband Molly Weasley fell a sleep very fast, and was woken up by the fabulous smell of pancakes.
"Good Morning Mrs. Weasley." Said Harry when she walked into the kitchen.
"Arthur said you had a bad night so I made some breakfast for us all so we could let you sleep."
Still Mrs. Weasley Molly thought to herself. "Where is everybody?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Well Ron and Hermione are taking a walk around the pond, Arthur went to get some work done at the ministry and Ginny is in the shower." Harry told her as he ticked everybody of on his fingers.
"Good." She said.
"Harry can I have a talk with you please?" She asked.
"Sure," Said Harry "about what."
"Morning mom," came the bright voice of Ginny, "what's going on you look like I walked in on you?"
"Well, I want to talk to Harry alone please Ginny." She answered her daughter.
"But I am his Girlfriend." Ginny said with disbelief.
"I know, you are but I want to talk to him alone. Now or you go to the livingroom and stay there or you will be out in the garden." Her mother said.
"And if I don't want to?" Ginny challenged her mother.
"Than you will find your rooms back the way they were and you stuck up there before you can say quiditch and now out of this kitchen." Molly said simply.
Ginny looked at Harry and he shook his head as if he was saying don't push it.
"OKAY, I will leave." She said and walked out the kitchen and slammed the livingroom door shut behind her.
"Sorry about that Harry," said Mrs Weasley, "but I really wanted to talk to you alone."
"It is ok Mrs. Weasley. What was it you wanted to talk to me about." Said Harry.
Molly looked at the boy now young man in front of her and she just felt like she lost another son if they could not make things right between them.
With a big sigh she started talking. She told Harry what he meant to her and that she would from that day always value his opinion because she would not want that they drifted apart because she was over protecting him. She also explaint to him why she always was in her protection mode when she heard about another attack.
"It is just like when I came to my parents house to find my two brothers murdered by death eaters. I lost my brothers and a son to that maniac and I will be dammed if I lose another son. I have six sons and 2 daughters and I won't lose a single one of them anymore."
Harry had listened to her and when she told him about the amount of children she now had he realized that she had counted him and Hermione as her own.
He than felt guilty for giving her so much trouble but he would not go if there would be guards tomorrow.
"Molly?!" He said.
Her breath stopped in her throat he called her Molly.
"Listen Molly I understand at least a big part of how you feel, but I can not live my live in hiding or constant guard. If I did that than I would be so unhappy I better could be dead. I know you mean well and that you love me. I love you as the mother I never had. That doesn't mean that I have to like what you say. When you started on guards for tomorrow I really became angry at you. I understand now where that fear came from but you must realize that when we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow we will be alright. I feel more secure with you and Arthur having my back than some auror. Ron Hermione and Ginny won't let anything happen to us."
Molly listened to Harry and noticed how wise the young man was for his age.
"After our argument last night I spoke with Ginny about it.
We both agreed that we should stick to the plan as we had it before we were attacked." Harry said in the end.
"Why?, what if anything..." Mrs. Weasley started.
"Please hear me out." Said Harry.
"Like I said we both agreed that we should stick to the plan. Why you ask? Well the answer is simple. If we came out with a full guard team I would signal that I was scared of what happened yesterday and after the attack here. If we came just the seven of us we would signal. Come and get it we are not afraid. They can try to hurt me but like I said to the press I won't ever except that they try to hurt you or anyone of this family."
"Oh Harry I really misunderstood you." Molly told him. "I am so sorry about last night. You are right. We will go tomorrow and without any guards."
Harry walked around the table and hugged her.
"I really hated this you know," He said to her, "but when I became so angry last night it didn't feel right anymore for me to call you Molly. Even when I saw how it hurted you I just could not call you by your first name. I am sorry."
"Don't be Harry." She said. "I needed this wake-up call and you were right to give it to me. But please promise me one thing. When in the future we disagree with each other, please always call me Molly." She asked him.
"I will." he said with a big smile on his face.