Life Debt
"God…Why did it have to be her?" Ron muttered.
It was quite the shocker to learn Dolores Umbridge ended up with the locket and that was even if she still had it. Chances are that she did.
"Because that's just our rotten luck." Hermione mumbled. "Harry? What do we do?"
"There's really only one thing we can do. Go get it." Harry said.
"Harry…You're talking about breaking into the Ministry of Magic. I remind you that's illegal!" Alastor scolded.
"Even to stop Voldemort?" Harry asked. "I'm sure as hell not waltzing into the Ministry to ask the toad to give it to me. I think we're past legal courses of action, Moody."
"He's got a good point." Kingsley shrugged. "We could just look the other way on this. Our work in the Order has nothing to do with being aurors."
"What exactly is your plan, Harry?" Tonks pushed.
"Drawing the least amount of attention to myself, obviously." Harry remarked.
"I sense the use of your invisibility cloak coming into play." Draco stated.
"You know me so well, Dray," Harry nodded. "I enter under the cloak, I find Umbridge and chances are I find the locket. Then I get out."
"I don't like the idea of you going alone, Harry…" Severus mentioned. "Someone should go with you."
"It would be too risky with extras under the cloak. I can be quick. You have to trust me, Sev." Harry assured. "I'll go after the wedding. If what I do catches attention, we'll need to be ready to leave…Immediately."
"We'll be ready, pup." Sirius stated. "If you can't get out of the ministry, get to the atrium and you can apparate out to here."
"Noted." Harry nodded. "Kreacher, you can take Mr. Fletcher back wherever you found him."
"Kreacher lives to serve," The elf grabbed Mundungus and they were gone.
"Right then. See, on a good path to getting another horcrux and we haven't even left yet." Harry stated. "Back to partying?"
Who could argue? Harry seemed like he was in a good mood and they did get some good leads on the locket horcrux. It would get harder, obviously, but this was a nice start. They figured out who R.A.B was, Sirius's brother, Regulus.
Thanks to Kreacher, the Black Family elf; it was discovered that the real locket ended up stolen from Grimmauld by Mundungus Fletcher and he ended up giving the necklace away to Umbridge, who threatened to haul him off to prison. Now, they had to get the real locket from Dolores, and Harry's plan was to use his cloak to sneak into the ministry and steal it back. It was dangerous, but Harry was right, legal methods were out. It was war and sometimes, you had to play dirty to win.
. . .
The party was a good time, Harry couldn't deny that. Maybe it had been what he needed? The teenager had the weight of the world on his shoulders to defeat Voldemort, and he was dealing with losing Albus, someone he'd seen be killed. Still, it wasn't all bad. The group was one step closer to getting the real locket of Salazar Slytherin, it just involved going to the ministry and stealing it from Dolores Umbridge. Harry didn't want to deal with her, but the horcrux was more important and needed to stop Voldemort.
Harry had his plan set, and after the wedding was over, on August 2nd, he was taking his cloak and going to the ministry to retrieve the item. After that, there were just four more to find. Two were known to everyone in the Order, the cup of Hufflepuff and the Diadem of Ravenclaw. Harry, though he hadn't told the others, knew that Nagini had to be one. Why else would Harry be able to connect with her, see through her eyes? Nagini had to be a living horcrux, it also explained why Voldemort kept her so close to him.
Harry didn't want to reveal this to the others yet, but it had been quietly spoken about between Harry and Albus. It was him who mentioned Nagini might be one too and Albus advised saving her for last as it would be hard to get her away from Voldemort. That was fine, it just meant there were three more horcruxes to find then.
The party ended about 9:30 pm, everyone went to their own places, except for the Malfoy's, who were living at Grimmauld for the time being. Hermione obviously left with the Weasley's, and Harry went home with his husband. The time now was 9:45 or so as the males ensured their bags were ready for the mission by the fireplace, and their clothes laid out in the master bedroom for tomorrow's wedding.
"Did you have a fun birthday?" Severus asked Harry.
"It was nice." Harry nodded. "Thank you, for dragging me out."
"I didn't force you, Harry. I just made a light suggestion to come out and have some fun, spend time with friends. With all the seriousness as of late, I thought you could use a little time to…Still be a teenager who celebrates turning seventeen and becoming a full adult." Severus said.
Harry chuckled as he wrapped his arms around his husband and gave him a peck on the lips. "Even though I've been considered an adult since January when we consummated the bond?"
"Well, now we can call it more official with your seventeenth birthday." Severus replied.
"I think I needed it, so thank you. I'm sorry I've been distant and quiet since Albus died…"
"No. No, you've nothing to apologize for, Harry. Albus may have had…Questionable moments when he left you with the Dursleys, and ignored when you asked for help with Sirius…But he thought he was doing what was best for you, in the end he loved you like a grandson and kept you safe on that tower." Severus said.
"But no one blames you for needing some time and grieving the loss. We all miss him. Truthfully, despite your quietness…I'm proud of you. When Albus passed, you didn't lock away into the room I made for you and you didn't lose control of your emotions."
"You ate all three meals, slept next to me every night, and just stayed quiet. You even used the time to decide what you would do next, which was foregoing your final year of school to hunt horcruxes." Severus lifted Harry's chin up. "You handled it…Beautifully, Harry. And that…Is extraordinary progress in your recovery. That is having control over the depression. Taking your time to grieve, but not letting it overpower you."
"I think a lot of that came from what you and I talked about…That I'd be selfish after Voldemort was gone." Harry admitted.
"Doesn't matter, you managed yourself." Severus told him. "You're managing your priorities while still giving yourself the time you need for you. You watched Albus die, but you went after the people you could. Rage-driven or not, you subdued five Death Eaters on your own. Only Gibbon, Bellatrix, and Pettigrew escaped. Voldemort is losing followers, and we're getting closer to finding the destroying the pieces of his soul to get rid of him. You took your time to mourn through the funeral and some days afterward. You still slept the best you could, ate your meals…And I didn't have to drag you to the meeting to discuss what happened. You still allowed yourself some fun tonight at the party." He revealed. "I would not have done anything differently if it were me."
"It's going to get harder, you know…When we set out to hunt down the other horcruxes," Harry told him.
"And I will be with you the entire time, so will your friends, Sirius, and the Malfoy's." Severus promised. "It's why we didn't want you to go alone, we promised you that you were not alone anymore and you don't have to tackle everything on your own." He paused. "But I won't lie that I really don't like this idea of you going to the ministry alone to get the locket from Umbridge. She's dangerous, Harry…"
"I know that all too well," He looked down at his hand, seeing the words carved into it. It didn't matter what he used, there would always be scarring from that situation. "But she couldn't beat me before, Sev, and she can't now. I'm older. I'm stronger and far more determined." Harry reassured. "It'll be with her or in her office, no doubt. It's a founder's property, and it belongs to me. If anything starts, I can claim she stole it from the rightful lord. I've got the ring to back it up. I can do this, babe. You have to trust me."
"I trust you, I just worry and you can't hold that against me." Severus stated.
"I never would," Harry smiled as he caressed Severus's cheek. "How about we make a deal…?"
"I'm listening," Severus invited.
"The rest of tonight and all of tomorrow and the day after that…We don't worry anymore. About the hunt, the dangers, anything. We enjoy tonight because it's my birthday, tomorrow for the wedding and we'll take one more day on the 2nd for our anniversary. We'll use the 3rd to make sure all is ready and then we'll start everything on the 4th? Okay? I'll let the others know. But for the next two days and rest of tonight…No more worrying, alright? Unless things go extremely downward spiral in mortal peril, we just try to have a couple normal days?" Harry suggested.
"Okay, I will agree to that." Severus nodded.
"Alright then…Let's tell the others." Harry said.
"No, let's just enjoy the night. We can tell them tomorrow at the wedding." Severus suggested.
"We'll tell them tomorrow, then," Harry agreed. "So…What did you have in mind for this…Private birthday celebration?" He wondered curiously.
"Well…It sort of involved sending Ivy down to the fireplace to enjoy the heat, us staying in our room here and maybe we enjoy some intimate alone time?" Severus stated gently.
"You know, Sev, you can just call it sex." Harry teased.
"It sounds so…I don't know, unappealing, to call it that." Informed Severus.
Harry leaned closer as Ivy took the queue to slither away from the room, using her tail to close the door. Severus blushed a little as Harry's lips brushed his own. "We could always call it something more intimate?"
"Such as?" Severus questioned.
"Making love…" Harry tempted.
"Yes, I like that a lot more," The potions master whispered.
"Very well then. We'll stay here in our room and enjoy making love." Harry finally connected their lips and Severus melted into the action.
It didn't take very long for Harry to push his husband against the door, deepening the action until they were making out, then the two of them ended up falling onto the bed with Harry on top and lightly pinning the man's arms above his head.
. . .
It had definitely been a good night for Harry and Severus, the two made love until they were both spent and fell asleep in each other's arms. The next morning left them doing it again, then a shower where they both just got off while bathing together. Quite the pleasurable evening and morning before getting downstairs for breakfast. The wedding wasn't until later on, but Harry and Severus were going over to the Weasley's to help set things up. So around noon, the two apparated over, meeting up with Sirius and the Malfoy's to walk into the protections together.
Once the greetings were over, and lunch was eaten, everyone got to work setting up the large tent where the ceremony and reception would be held. Harry, of course, informed those coming with him that they were moving the departure date to Monday, the 4th, of August because Severus and Harry planned to enjoy their one-year anniversary of being married/bonded on the 2nd. The 3rd would be used to meet up at Grimmauld and make sure they had everything they needed for however long this might take.
However, what no one expected was an unexpected guest to arrive and easily pass the wards. Coming up the path was Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. He was initially Head Auror before that, but when Fudge was sacked for trying to hide the truth about Voldemort returning, Rufus took over the position.
"Minister Scrimgeour, to what do we owe the honor?" Arthur asked.
"I need to see Miss. Granger, Mr. Ron Weasley, and Mr. Potter-Snape." Rufus informed. "I believe you three know what for…"
"Albus Dumbledore's will reading…" The three teenagers realized.
Rufus nodded. "May we speak in private?"
"You can use the house," Molly offered.
Severus held Harry's hand gently. "I'm okay." Harry promised before he kissed the man's hand and let go to get inside the house with his two friends and the minister.
Once inside the house, and taking a seat on the couch, the minister sat across from them and pulled out the neatly folded parchment from inside his suit and let it magically unfold in front of them. "First, to Ronald Bilius Weasley. I leave my Deluminator. An invention of my own design in hopes that when things seem most dark; it will show him the way." Rufus handed the item over to Ron, who held it up.
"What does it do?" Ron asked.
"I do not know, Mr. Weasley. I am only handing over what is left to give." Rufus said.
"Well, Deluminator would suggest it…Un-lights things, perhaps?" Hermione offered.
Ron held it up and clicked it as the lights of the room quickly flew into the object, then Ron clicked it again as the lights returned. "Cool." Ron held the item gently.
"Second, to Miss. Hermione Jean Granger…I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle Bard, and hope she will find it entertaining and instructive." Rufus gave the book to Hermione from his bag.
"W-Well, he knew I liked books. Thank you." Hermione said to the minister.
"And lastly…To Mr. Harry James Potter-Snape. I leave the snitch he caught at his first Quidditch match in Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill." Rufus stated, carefully handing the item over to Harry. The teenager was silent as he inspected the object, memories flooding back of when he caught it.
"Right. Thank you…" Harry stated. "Is that all then?"
"There was a second bequest, but unfortunately, it was not Albus's property to give away. However…Albus states he left you the sword of Gryffindor, Mr. Potter-Snape." Rufus remarked.
"Of course it belongs to Harry," Hermione protested. "Just like Harry inherited everything from Salazar Slytherin for being his heir, and now the Lord of Slytherin line. The sword came to Harry, it's his."
"The sword came to him when he needed it most, down in the Chamber of Secrets." Ron added.
"The sword will present itself to any worthy Gryffindor, but that does not make it theirs to possess, Miss. Granger. At any rate, we do not know where the sword is." Rufus said he folded the will up and set it in the bag. The teenagers led Rufus out to the yard so he could leave. "Ah, I almost forgot." Rufus faced the teens. "I know of your adventures over the years, you three…I expect no problems in the near future. Now, I do not know why these items were left to you…"
"But I can only advise that you do not get yourselves into any trouble with them. Dark times lay ahead. And Mr. Potter-Snape…I do not know what you're up to, but research shows you're the leader of the group and drag the others along to dangerous things. I'm warning you to stay out of trouble and let us handle it. You cannot fight this war on your own. He's too powerful."
"Maybe for you, Minister Scrimgeour…" Harry remarked calmly. "I'm the one prophesied to destroy him, and I am marked as his equal. I won't fight this war on my own because I am never alone."
"Must you make everything a challenge, Mr. Potter-Snape? We're trying to protect the people." Rufus sighed.
"Yeah?" Harry questioned. "Where were you when Voldemort came back in 1995? Hell, where were all of you trying to protect the stone? The attacks at the school and the chamber being reopened? No offense, Minister Scrimgeour…But you aren't doing anything, except making the same mistake as Fudge. Telling everyone it will be alright when it's not. False sense of security."
"Albus Dumbledore is dead and Voldemort is gaining power. If you're not going to do anything about it, I will." He stated. "How about you sit back and let me do what I've been foretold to do? It's never stopped the ministry before to let a teenager do their job for them."
"Watch yourself, Potter. Remember you're not at school. Remember that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination. You may wear that scar like a crown, Potter, but it is not up to a seventeen-year-old boy to tell me how to do my job! It's time you learned some respect!" Rufus demanded.
"It's time you earned it." Harry countered. "Maybe you can explain why it's taken nearly two months for the will to be read and its instructions carried out. I'm sure anyone here will confirm that it is supposed to happen within the first two weeks of someone's death?" Rufus was quiet.
"That's what I thought. You wanna sit here and give me rules to follow, how about you follow some of your own, then preach it to others. Respect is not given, it is earned. Just like trust and forgiveness. It's also a two way street like communication. Now, if you don't mind…We're busy preparing for a wedding. Have a good day, Minister."
Rufus stared Harry down a moment, but then he turned and apparated away.
"Are you alright?" Severus asked his husband.
"Just fine," Harry kissed the man's cheek.
"Bold move, Harry…Challenging the minister of magic," Lucius pointed out.
"I refuse to bow down to a hypocrite." Harry stated. "Who the hell does he think he is telling me to stand down? I meant what I said. He has no right saying the ministry will deal with it when they haven't dealt with anything else properly. They weren't down below the school protecting the stone from Voldemort; that was Hermione, Ron, and me. I was, respectively, eleven. Ron and Hermione were twelve. Dealing with…Devil's Snare, the real life Wizard's Chess game, the flying keys. That was us."
"Children. The ministry wasn't investigating the petrified students, nor down in the chamber fighting a sixty-foot Basilisk. That was me, at twelve years old. Do I need to keep going? Who fought Voldemort in 1995 during the tournament. Me and I was technically fourteen. The battle at the ministry to protect Sirius was Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Ginny and me. We were between fourteen and fifteen. The ministry hasn't done anything but try to tell everyone there was no danger at all."
"You think they're gonna go out and find the horcruxes. Definitely not because they can't sense or hear them. Do they have a Basilisk's fang to use to destroy them? No. I won't bow to a hypocrite like Scrimgeour, the very same I won't bow down to Voldemort." Harry added.
"My line of thinking and planning may be Slytherin, but let's not forget I'm still a Gryffindor. Bold and brave is what we do. Now, let's not worry about the minister. We've got our own plan and we'll see to it that Voldemort is destroyed. Together. For the rest of today, like I told Sev…Let's just cast worries aside and enjoy the event. Yeah?" He asked.
"Right on." Arthur nodded with a smile.
