Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to Eminnis for beta-ing this story.
Chapter Twelve
Magic is Might
"Magic is Might," George read. "Something tells me I'm not going to like that saying."
Mentions that the inhabitants of number twelve were never seen, nor was number twelve itself:
"Well, that's how it's supposed to be, why are they mentioning this?" Sirius frowned.
"I think there must still be Death Eaters watching the house," Remus frowned.
"I don't like that, but at least they can't see the house," Molly said looking more worried than her words had suggested.
Mentions that Muggles thought it an amusing mistake that number eleven sit beside number thirteen:
"Yes, that is highly amusing, much better than most of our jokes," Fred scoffed.
"I was thinking the same thing," Ginny smirked at her trickster brothers. "But it was big of you to admit it yourself."
Fred made a face at his sister but didn't say any more to that.
Mentions the muggles wondering why anyone would wear cloaks in this heat:
"They really should be more careful than that," McGonagall muttered, "they're drawing too much attention to themselves."
"I don't think they care that much," Severus said, "it will be only a matter of time before Voldemort makes a move against the Muggles so he can enslave them."
Mentions on the first day of September:
Hermione let out a sigh without thinking about it. That was one day she was really looking forward to. The first day of her last year of school, hoping to be Head Girl. It was hard to believe that she wouldn't be going, but looking at Harry she knew that she never had a choice. She would never let him go on a mission this dangerous alone. Besides, she wouldn't have been able to go even if she wasn't with Harry, because of that ridiculous Muggle-Born Registration Act.
Mentions there was half a dozen men watching the house:
"Did they actually expect us to go to school?" Ron scoffed. "That we would be stupid enough to just show up at King's Cross Station?"
"Apparently," Hermione said, her tone still holding some of the sadness or her previous thought and Ron looked at her with an apologetic smile.
Mentions it was one of those inexplicable moments when they appeared to have seen something interesting:
Molly gasped, "You must be going in or out of the house then!"
"Don't worry Molly, dear," Arthur said in his soothing voice. "They weren't actually seen."
"I know, but it was close," Molly said and then looked at the trio, "you need to be more careful!"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Harry and Hermione answered as Ron rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Why does it have to be my own son that's inconsiderate," Molly groaned, albeit fondly.
Mentions the man with the twisted face:
All fondness gone, Molly's face became a cross between furious and forlorn needing no more description to know who this man was. Arthur wrapped his arms around his wife, giving her support.
Mentions the jinx goes off and his tongue rolled up for a moment:
"That's annoying, it happens every time you come in," Fred grumbled.
"I suppose," Tonks said. "It's a lot easier and stronger that way. If he tried to make it recognized people that have come there already then someone using Polyjuice Potion could get in without having to face the charms."
Harry says I've got news, and you won't like it:
"You sure do know how to cheer everyone up, Harry," Ginny informed him and the messy haired boy just shrugged in response.
Mentions the kitchen was unrecognizable, every surface now shone:
"What?" Molly gasped in shock. She had tried her hardest to make the place look clean and all she managed to do was 'clean enough'. "How did that happen?"
"Kreacher must be actually doing his duties," Sirius said, looking mildly surprised himself.
Hermione, however, didn't seem to think that this was a good development. The poor elf shouldn't be slaving away in the kitchen after everything that he's been through.
Mentions that Kreacher was now dressed in a snowy-white towel, his ear hair as clean and fluffy as cotton wool:
At this, Hermione smiled, happy at least that the elf seemed to be in a much better condition than he was even in the last chapter.
Mentions that Ron and Hermione were pouring over a sheaf of scribbled notes and hand drawn maps:
Harry chuckled at this, and everyone looked at him curiously.
"Sorry, I just remember the first time I got to Grimmauld Place and Mr. Weasley and Bill were looking at maps or something like it," he explained. "It's odd that we would be doing the same thing just a few years later."
Mentions a picture of a familiar, hook-nosed, black-haired man stared at them:
"Argh, we don't want to hear about the greasy haired slimeball," Sirius made a face. "Well, unless it's saying that he's getting arrested, but I doubt it with how this book is going."
Severus didn't even bother to respond to this, knowing that was what Black had wanted him to do. Watching Black scowl at him was proof enough that his silence had worked just as well as a sneer would have.
Article headline is Severus Snape confirmed as Hogwarts Headmaster:
"Argh … that's worse than I thought it would be," Sirius groaned.
Severus looked odd about hearing this. He knew it would feel wrong to be headmaster, but in this situation, it was his duty to protect the students as much as he could from Voldemort and whatever Death Eaters he was sure to put inside the school.
"How can they make you Headmaster after you were accused of killing Dumbledore … even if they believe that Harry might have done it now, wouldn't people be afraid to have you as the headmaster?" Tonks asked.
"It might be a little suspicious, however, Severus, as the Potion Master of Hogwarts for the last fifteen years, would be a legitimate choice to becoming the next Headmaster," Dumbledore said.
"I would have thought that McGonagall would be the best choice," Fred said.
"I do not have any aspiration in becoming the Headmistress, I enjoy teaching too much," McGonagall said, though she looked as if she wasn't sure if Severus becoming Headmaster was such a good thing.
"I would also like to add that Voldemort would want someone he, I wouldn't say trust, but at least count on, to run things the way he wanted," Dumbledore said.
"And by making this Death Eater the Headmaster, he'll get that," Sirius said pointing at Severus.
Dumbledore nodded, "which I think is a good thing, for Severus will protect the students as much as he can. This is not a good situation, but I'm glad that at least something has gone our way."
Sirius wasn't sure if he really believed that Snape was on their side or if Dumbledore was putting too much faith in him. So, he wasn't altogether comforted by what Dumbledore had just said.
Article says Muggles Studies teacher, Alecto Carrow and her brother, Amycus, fills the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts:
"Oh crap!" several people said.
"I hope you really can keep those bastards in line!" Sirius turned to Snape. He didn't like to think of what kind of havoc those two will get into at the school. He also didn't like having to put his trust in Snape, but that was the only thing he could do now.
"It looks like I'm not going to have a very safe year either," Ginny observed, which only caused her mum to look at her with apprehension. However, Ginny didn't pay this any attention, she was wondering how bad it was going to be and what she was going to do to rebel against this. For she knew that she wasn't about to lay down and take whatever it was that the Death Eaters threw at her.
Hermione says Snape in Dumbledore's study … Merlin's pants:
"Merlin's pants!" the four Weasleys still in school all said, laughing.
"I never would have expected you to say that," Ron chuckled.
"Well, this is serious," Hermione said, blushing slightly.
Hermione says I'll be back in a minute:
"Argh, what did you figure out this time?" Ron said exasperated.
"Er … I don't know?" Hermione said.
Dumbledore, however, thought he knew what she noticed. It was quite astute of her if it was what he was thinking.
Ron says the other teachers won't accept Snape as headmaster, and who are the Carrows:
"Unfortunately, Mr. Weasley, we won't have much of a choice but to accept this," McGonagall said gravely. "I, and I know my colleagues will agree, would not allow my students to be in more danger than they have to be, and the only way we could protect them is by staying at Hogwarts. However, unless Albus has informed me of Severus duplicity to this extent, which I don't believe he will," here she glared at Dumbledore and he bowed his head slightly, "I would not make it easy on him."
"I wouldn't expect any less from you Minerva," Severus said, though he didn't look pleased by that.
Mentions Kreacher came to the table, whistling between his teeth as he did so.
Everyone that knew Kreacher looked at the book in disbelief at that description. Who knew the elf could whistle?
Mentions that Harry pictured the scarlet steam engine as he and Ron had once followed it by air:
Fred and George sniggered at this as Hermione, Molly and Severus glared at Harry and Ron. The boys in question gave sheepish smiles.
"How did you see it from the air?" Sirius questioned; he had a feeling this was a good story.
"Er … well, we kind of flew to Hogwarts in a car in my second year," Harry said.
Sirius looked at his godson for ten seconds, his mouth hanging open, before he exclaimed, "BRILLIANT! That has got to be a Hogwarts' legend."
"Why would you do that, Harry?" Remus asked, he didn't look as pleased as Sirius was, but not as angry as Molly and Hermione were. "Please tell me it wasn't because you fancied a joyride."
"Of course not," Harry said. "Why would you even think that?"
"Because it's what your father and this git would have done," Remus said pointing at Sirius, who was nodding his head in agreement with everything Remus had said.
"No, I went because Dobby sealed the barrier at King's Cross Station and we couldn't get through it," Harry started to explain.
"Didn't you get a running start when you crashed into the wall?" Fred felt like it was his duty to add.
"Yeah," Harry frowned at him as the room chuckled. "Anyways, we thought we were stranded there, and I didn't know how we were going to get to school."
"And then I suggest that we take my dad's flying car," Ron said.
"You had a flying car, Arthur," Sirius said, smiling, he never realized that he shared something in common with the older man. Arthur nodded his head, though he looked worried. He had every right to, seeing as Molly was glaring at him at the moment.
"Harry, you do realize that you could have just sent Hedwig …." Remus started to say, but Harry cut him off.
"Yeah, that's what McGonagall said, but honestly I didn't think about that," Harry sighed.
"It's okay Harry; you got a brilliant story out of it!" Sirius said to him.
"And that's definitely the important thing," George chuckled before he started reading again.
Mentions Harry was sure Ginny, Neville and Luna were sitting together maybe debating how best to undermine Snape's new regime:
"You better not be!" Molly hissed at her daughter.
Ginny gave her mum the most innocent expression she could give without looking too guilty; all the while knowing that she was doing exactly what Harry thought.
Ron says and what in the name of Merlin's most baggy Y Fronts was that about:
"Ronald, language!" Molly snapped.
"You didn't get angry with Hermione when she said something!" Ron grumbled at his mother.
"Well, Hermione is not my child," Molly said and then added, "and I was too shocked to hear that from her to be able to say anything."
The Weasleys all laughed at this as Hermione blushed slightly again.
Hermione says Phineas Nigellus:
"Oh," Sirius said. "Good thinking Hermione."
"I don't get it?" Charlie questioned.
"Phineas was a Headmaster at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "He …."
"… Was the least popular Headmaster in Hogwarts history," Sirius felt he had to add.
Dumbledore smiled at Sirius before he continued with his explanation, "there is another portrait of Phineas in my office at the moment, though in this book it will be Severus's office. A portrait that is able to travel between any other portrait of his, so you can see how that could be potentially dangerous to Harry and the others. That was nicely spotted, Miss Granger."
"Thanks," Hermione said, blushing at being addressed like this by her Headmaster.
Harry says watched the Ministry entrance, no sign of her, saw your dad, he looks fine:
"You're watching the Ministry?" Molly questioned. "Why?"
"Er … well, Umbridge has the locket," Harry said frowning. "Evidently she's still at the Ministry."
Harry sunk into his chair a little when all the adults looked at him like he was crazy.
"Don't you realize that the Ministry has got to be the most dangerous place for you to go?" Molly demanded.
"What else can I do?" Harry questioned after he paused to think for a moment. "I have to find the Horcruxes, and this is the only clue I have."
There was a general groan at this as everyone realized that he had a point, and they couldn't see what else he could do.
Mentions that they decided not to communicate with Arthur since he was always surrounded:
Arthur understood this of course, but at the same time he knew it would have been nice to know that Ron and his two best friends were okay and safe. Even more, he knew Molly would love to hear that.
After Ron says Dad said everyone from Magical Maintenance wears blue robes, Hermione says but you never told us that:
"Why are you making such a big deal about this?" Ron rolled his eyes.
"Because if we are going to be crazy enough to go into the Ministry when they are trying to arrest Harry and myself, then we need to know every detail possible!" Hermione snapped at him.
"Oh … er … sorry," was Ron's reply.
After Harry says I think we should do it tomorrow and Ron and Hermione's reactions:
"Oh dear, you're not rushing things, are you?" Molly fretted.
Harry says if the plan works, we will have:
"Hm … the intel you have gathered isn't so bad," Severus observed. "But you seemed to be leaving a lot to chance and you haven't address what you are planning on doing once you're inside the Ministry."
Harry says it's time to act:
"Unfortunately, if Harry is anything like his father, there is no way you can make him listen to your caution," Remus sighed, looking at Hermione. "He's already made up his mind."
Mentions they spied on the official entrance to the Ministry, which Ron had known since childhood:
"You mean the phone booth you took me to wasn't the main entrance?" Harry asked Arthur.
"No, that was the visitor entrance," Arthur said. "I wasn't able to take you to the main entrance because guests have to have a month's notice."
Ron says I think it should just be me and Harry:
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, and Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he wasn't about to apologize for wanting her to be safe.
"I'm surprised you're still alive after a suggestion like that," Ginny informed her brother, "Hermione looks ready to kill you right now."
Ron says all three of us can't fit under the Cloak anymore:
"You were able to fit three people in the same cloak before!" Charlie said.
"You do remember how small Ron was when he first started at Hogwarts don't you," Bill said.
"That's right, he was tiny," Charlie chuckled.
"And he was the biggest of the three," George added. "I'm sure they could have added four more people in the cloak, and it would have been fine."
Kreacher says master has not finished his soup, would master prefer stew, or else the treacle tart to which Master is so partial:
"How does he know that?" Harry said, he didn't remember telling anyone what his favorite dessert, or any other kind of food, was.
"House elves pride themselves in finding out everything they can do to please their masters," Sirius said, remembering Kreacher bending over backwards to get Regulus whatever he wanted, whereas he never got anything he wanted.
"Plus, it's hard not to know that you like treacle tart the best, it's the only dessert that you eat more of than Ron," Ginny added and Harry felt his face heat up a little at the fact that she, too, knew his favorite dessert and that she had noticed something like this.
Mentions a door opened, a laughing woman stood there, her face fell as she looked into Harry's face:
"It's not your face!" Sirius said in a firm voice. "It's Voldemort's!"
"I know that," Harry said, but he also knew that from the point of view he was in right now, it felt like he was actually there … that he was actually doing whatever it was that Voldemort was doing.
Hermione says don't insult our intelligence, we know your scar hurts and you're white as a sheet:
"I don't know why you feel you have to lie," Hermione said.
"Perhaps I wouldn't lie if you didn't make it clear that you wanted me to stop looking into Voldemort's head," Harry said a little harsher than he wanted to. He knew what it was like to see into Voldemort's mind, and it wasn't something he was looking forward to happening again. However, it looked like he didn't have much of a choice and he didn't need someone constantly getting on his case about it.
"I'm just worried about you, Harry," Hermione said biting her lips.
"I know … I'm sorry," Harry said, and he was, he shouldn't have been so short with her.
Mentions Voldemort probably killed her whole family, it was Cedric all over again, they were just there:
Harry sighed as the images of what happened the last summer filled his mind before he could even try to stop them.
Harry says forget Dumbledore, this is my choice and I want to know why Voldemort is after Gregorovitch:
Dumbledore frowned, he was wary of this connection, but he was sure that once again Voldemort didn't know that Harry was seeing glimpses into his mind. He didn't know how that could be, seeing as Dumbledore knew that Voldemort was now aware of this and could only assume that Voldemort had put up defenses against Harry that were now not working. If that was true, it wasn't so bad that Harry knew what Voldemort was planning, but it could still be dangerous.
Mentions that Harry and Hermione glared at each other and to his relief, Ron intervened:
Ron shivered at this, he's never seen Harry and Hermione fight, well except the time Hermione got Harry's firebolt taken away, but this was different. He wasn't sure whose side he should be on. He was now aware that Harry must go through this all the time, because he and Hermione fight at least once a day and sometimes a whole lot more. Heck, even with the firebolt issue he found a way to be angrier at Hermione than Harry was.
Ron says drop it, and if we have to go to the Ministry tomorrow, we should go over the plan:
"Wow, Harry and Hermione fighting and Ron being the reasonable one, the world as gone mad!" Fred exclaimed, causing most of the room to laugh.
Mentions Hermione let the matter rest, though Harry was sure she would attack again:
Hermione grimaced at this, she wanted Harry to be safe and that was the most important thing, but she didn't like that he thought of her attacking him.
Ron says you look terrible, and Harry says not for long:
"What's that supposed to mean?" Charlie questioned.
"Seeing as they mentioned Polyjuice Potion a second ago and they're going somewhere that it wouldn't due to be seen, I think Harry might be looking like someone else soon," Tonks smirked at her friend that was now smiling at her sheepishly.
Mentions Hermione wearing the slightly manic expression that Harry associated with exam review:
"Accepting coffee and hot rolls from a house elf, Mione, I'm stunned!" Ron laughed.
"Shut up," Hermione groaned, she could only imagine how worried she had to be that morning. They didn't usually have time to prepare before they did something dangerous, and the wait must make things even harder on her nerves than normal.
Hermione says Robes, Polyjuice Potions, Invisibility Cloak, Decoy Detonators, you should each take a couple, Puking Pastilles, Nosebleed Norgat:
"What are Decoy Detonators?" Ginny questioned, looking at the twins.
The twins looked at each other blankly.
"We're not sure," Fred said.
"But we'd like to find out," George said smiling.
"It will probably be a good invention," Fred added.
"If the trio are using it." George finished.
Ron says bless him and when you think I used to fantasize about cutting off his head and sticking it on the wall:
"Ronald!" Hermione snapped at him. "That's horrible."
"That's one of my favorite fantasies," Sirius laughed and Hermione glared at him.
Ron says I thought we were supposed to open the door before she got here and Hermione squealed:
"No squealing Mione," Ron smiled smugly, "just because you forgot something, and I had to remind you of …."
"Seriously, I'm not sure this book is real," Fred said. "What with all the mad things that have been happening in this chapter …."
"Oh, shut up," both Ron and Hermione huffed.
Mentions stunning the witch ending with Ron rummaging through the handbag:
"You know, this is for a good cause, but I think it's bad that it would be that easy for someone to sneak into the Ministry," Tonks frowned, as an Auror, she took something like this a little personally.
Ron says she's Mafalda Hopkirk:
"That's the person that gave me the warnings for using magic," Harry pointed out a little surprised. It was odd that of all the people that they could run into it was someone that he could recognize, if only in a small way.
Mentions Hermione aggressively offering the wizard pastilles and he looked alarmed as he took one:
"Subtlety has never been your strong suit, Hermione," George informed her.
"I didn't have time to be subtle," Hermione snapped. "He couldn't get to the end of the street."
Mentions the wizard started vomiting and Hermione yanked a handful of hairs from him:
"And you're welcome for the help," Fred said. "And Mum said that our products were a waste of time."
Molly grimaced at this, she still didn't think it was a good idea to open a joke shop (it was just too unstable of a job, if it didn't work, they wouldn't have anything to turn back on). However, she had to admit that this had come in handy at the moment.
The wizard says no, I must … today … must go:
"Merlin, this guy must really be keen if he still wants to go to work," George said, he couldn't imagine it; he knew exactly how sick the man was feeling right now, having tested the Puking Pastille plenty of times.
Mentions the wizard collapsed but still tried crawling towards the main street:
Arthur raised an eyebrow at this, he didn't know anyone in the Maintenance department that would want to go to work this much. What is going on here?
Ron says I still think a pile of unconscious bodies would have drawn more attention:
"That's true … and the puddles of sick will stop people from investigating the alleyway too closely," Remus said with a smirk.
Ron says I'm Reg Cattermole, according to the label in the back:
So, it's Reg, Arthur thought to himself, why would he want to go to work that badly … and why wasn't he wearing his uniform? Arthur had always liked Reg; the man actually knew a lot about Muggle things because his wife was a … Oh Merlin that was it! Arthur looked at the trio sadly, they weren't going to be happy to know this, and he wasn't about to break it to them.
Hermione says we don't know who he is:
"That's not good," Bill frowned. "If someone calls to you and you don't answer, they might find it suspicious."
Another wizard says, who are they expecting to turn up, Harry Potter:
Several people laughed at that.
"Nah, Harry Potter would never be stupid enough to show up there!" Sirius teased.
Mentions Harry heard the sound of flushing and booted feet climbing into the toilet next door:
"Are you telling me the Ministry worker have to flush themselves down a toilet?" Sirius said and then started laughing along with most of the room. "The Ministry literally has gone down the drain!"
Another wizard says out of the way, can't y – oh, sorry, Runcorn:
"Good, now you know who you are," Bill said.
"And that you're someone that's somewhat important," Remus added, noting how the other person had reacted to Harry.
"I'd say," Arthur said scowling. "He's not a bad person for you to impersonate, Harry."
"Er … is he a bad person?" Harry questioned the uncharacteristic dark look in Arthur's eyes.
"He's not bad," Percy said, scowling at his father, there was nothing wrong with Runcorn, so he put a lot of stock in blood purity and though Percy didn't necessarily agree with it, it wasn't wrong.
"I won't call him bad," Arthur admitted, and then stared at his son with almost disapproval, "he's just not someone that I agree with."
Harry looking at the new statue ending with pressed together to support the weight of the handsomely robed wizard:
George read this passage with obvious disgust as everyone in the room looked revolted.
"How could anyone stand to look at that thing?" Molly voiced what most of the room thought.
"How could there still be people in the Ministry that don't believe that Voldemort took over if that is the first thing, they see every day?" Draco said, he looked disgusted, but not nearly as much as the others. He was raised to believe that this was the Muggles' proper place after all.
Mentions that someone called 'morning, Yaxley,':
"That was lucky," Remus mumbled, it would not be good if they didn't know the Death Eaters name when it was clear they should. Still, they were in a dangerous position, seeing as they were interacting with someone that was obviously going to talk about things they couldn't know.
Mentions Ron gave a nervous laugh and Yaxley's eyes widened:
"Don't laugh … not in front of a Death Eater!" Charlie groaned.
"Well, I don't know he's a Death Eater, now do I?" Ron grumbled, though he was feeling sick knowing he was endangering his friends right now.
Yaxley says I am on my way to interrogate your wife ending with be sure the marry a pureblood next time:
Ron's eyes flashed at that. "There's nothing wrong with marrying someone that's not a pureblood."
This had the whole room smiling for a second before they, especially Ron, realized what was just said.
"His wife is on trial … for being a Muggle-born!" Ron groaned miserable. What would he have done if Her … er … his wife was on trial, and he was feeling sick. Yes, he would have crawled on hands and knees to be there for her.
There was nothing anyone could say to make Ron, nor Harry and Hermione, feel any better for what they had done, so George decided he should read again.
Yaxley says if my office is not completely dry, then your wife's Blood Status will be in even greater doubt:
"Great, how am I supposed to fix that!" Ron groaned.
"Don't listen to him Ron, Mary's status isn't going to change because you make his office stop raining," Arthur said glumly.
Ron, however, bowed his head lower at Arthur's words; he could tell his dad must know who the Cattermoles were and that they were decent people.
Ron says you two find Umbridge, I'll go and sort out Yaxley's office, but how do I stop it from raining:
"I don't like this, Harry is right, you need to stick together," Molly said, starting to panic again.
"And like Ron said they don't have time," Fred said.
"I wish the Ron in the book could know that he didn't have to fix the office," Ginny sighed. She knew her brother would never let someone suffer like that when he could do something to help him.
Someone says Dirk Cresswell, nice one, Albert, I'm pretty confident I'll get his job now:
Arthur frowned as he heard the name of another Muggle-born. He also wondered why this man had said 'nice one' to who he thought was Runcorn.
Hermione says actually Harry, I think I'd better go after him, I don't think he knows what he is doing:
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Hermione, "Ron grumbled, he knew he was going to be rubbish at those spells, but it didn't help to hear her say that.
"Ron, I didn't mean it like that," Hermione said. "I just wanted to help you."
"Sure," Ron said moodily, "whatever."
Mentions a squat, toadlike witch wearing a velvet bow in her short hair:
"Well, it looks like you found Umbridge easily enough," George said. "And that's the end of the chapter … who wants to read next?"
"I will," Molly said. George handed her the book.