The Unseen Inheritance

Chapter 13: Threads of Truth

The morning sunlight filtered through the cottage's windows, casting warm patterns on the walls. Harry sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring a cup of tea. Hermione, perched across from him, was reviewing the list they had drafted the night before. The quiet was broken by the soft flutter of wings as a tawny owl landed gracefully on the windowsill, a letter tied neatly to its leg.

Harry frowned. "Another letter?" He untied the parchment, noting the Hogwarts crest stamped in red wax. As he unfolded the letter, Hermione leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.

Dear Mr. Potter and Miss Granger,

It has come to my attention that your recent actions have not gone unnoticed. While I cannot condone open defiance, I urge you to exercise extreme caution. Whispers travel fast, and certain individuals within the Ministry and beyond have taken a keen interest in your growing independence.

Be wary of whom you trust, but know that not all of us are blind to the truth. Should you require guidance, I remain available to provide what support I can. Proceed with care.

Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall

Hermione's eyes scanned the words quickly. "It's vague, but it's something," she said. "She's clearly trying to help without putting herself at risk."

Harry sighed, setting the letter down. "It's good to know she's on our side, but it's also a reminder that Dumbledore's reach is everywhere. Even McGonagall has to tread lightly."

Hermione nodded. "We'll need to approach her carefully if we decide to return to Hogwarts. For now, let's focus on our meeting with Arthur."

Later that morning, Harry and Hermione Apparated to a secluded clearing on the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole. Arthur Weasley had suggested the spot, far from prying eyes and ears. When they arrived, they found him waiting under a large oak tree, his weathered face etched with worry.

"Harry, Hermione," Arthur greeted them warmly, though his voice carried an undertone of tension. He gestured to a small bench conjured beneath the tree. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

As they settled, Arthur clasped his hands together, his gaze shifting between them. "First, I want to thank you both for your courage. Speaking out against Albus Dumbledore is no small thing. Few have the bravery to question his motives."

"It's not bravery," Harry replied. "It's necessity. He's been using me—using my inheritance, my life—to further his own plans. We can't ignore that."

Arthur's expression darkened. "I've suspected for some time that Albus…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "I've seen things at the Ministry, whispers of orders given under questionable pretenses. But to confront him directly… it's a dangerous path."

"What kind of whispers?" Hermione pressed gently.

Arthur hesitated, then leaned closer. "Certain Ministry officials—those aligned with Dumbledore—have been pushing for measures to tighten control over individuals they deem 'unstable' or 'a threat to the greater good.' It's veiled, but the language is troubling. And Percy…"

Harry's brow furrowed. "What about Percy?"

Arthur's face fell. "He's fully aligned with Dumbledore now. He believes that everything Albus does is for the good of the wizarding world. I've tried to reason with him, but he won't listen."

Hermione placed a hand on Arthur's arm. "I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley. That must be incredibly difficult."

Arthur offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Hermione. But it's Ginny I'm most worried about."

Before he could elaborate, a sharp crack signaled an Apparition nearby. The trio turned to see Ginny Weasley standing a few paces away, her expression a mix of anger and determination.

"So this is where you've been sneaking off to, Dad," Ginny said, her voice sharp. She turned her glare to Harry and Hermione. "And here I thought you two would've learned your lesson after the hearing."

Harry stood, his jaw tightening. "What are you doing here, Ginny?"

Ginny crossed her arms, her stance defiant. "I'm here because I deserve answers. You think you can just cut ties with us and throw around accusations without consequences? You're acting like spoiled children."

"Ginny," Arthur began, his tone placating, "you shouldn't be here."

"Why not?" she shot back. "Because I might actually tell them what they don't want to hear? Harry, you're being reckless. Dumbledore has done nothing but protect you. Everything he's done has been for your own good."

Harry's voice was cold. "Using my money without my consent isn't protection. Manipulating my life isn't for my own good."

Ginny's cheeks flushed. "You don't understand what it takes to win a war. Sacrifices have to be made. You're acting like a child who doesn't want to share his toys."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about toys, Ginny. This is about trust, and Dumbledore's betrayed it."

Ginny's gaze darted to Arthur, her voice rising. "And you're just going to let them do this, Dad? Turn their backs on the man who's trying to save us all?"

Arthur's voice was firm but pained. "Ginny, enough. This isn't the place for this conversation."

Ginny hesitated, her expression torn between anger and disbelief. Finally, she turned back to Harry. "You'll regret this," she said, her voice low. With a sharp crack, she Disapparated, leaving an uneasy silence in her wake.

Arthur sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry about that. She's… she's under a lot of influence."

"It's not your fault," Harry said, though his voice was tight. "But she's made her choice."

Hermione placed a calming hand on Harry's arm. "We'll deal with it as it comes. For now, we need to focus on what's next."

Arthur nodded. "I'll continue keeping an ear to the ground at the Ministry. If I hear anything, I'll let you know. And if you need me to testify again, just say the word."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said sincerely. "We appreciate everything you're doing."

As they prepared to leave, Harry turned to Arthur. "Be careful. Dumbledore won't take kindly to anyone siding against him."

Arthur's expression was resolute. "I've faced worse, Harry. Take care of yourselves."

With that, the trio parted ways, the tension of the meeting lingering as Harry and Hermione returned to the cottage to regroup.

Back at the cottage, Harry paced the living room, his expression dark. "Ginny's completely under Dumbledore's thumb. Did you hear the way she talked? Like I'm just some rebellious kid throwing a tantrum."

Hermione nodded, settling into a chair. "She's so focused on defending Dumbledore that she can't see what's happening. I'm worried about how far she's willing to go."

Harry paused, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just her. Dumbledore's influence runs deep. Even Arthur's struggling to manage it within his own family. If Ginny's willing to confront us like that, what's stopping her from going further?"

"We'll need to be cautious," Hermione said firmly. "If Ginny's that entrenched in Dumbledore's plans, she might try to undermine us directly. But for now, let's focus on what we can control."

Harry sighed, nodding. "You're right. And speaking of control, we need to secure the Godric's Hollow property. If Dumbledore's keeping tabs on us, that house could be a vulnerability."

Hermione brightened at the suggestion. "We should do a full ward check, like we did here. Greknor might be able to arrange for Professor Snape to help again. He's experienced, and we know he can handle this kind of magic."

"Good idea," Harry agreed. He moved to the writing desk and pulled out parchment and a quill. "I'll draft a letter to Greknor now."

Hermione stood and joined him at the desk. "Mention that we'll need Snape's expertise for a full assessment. And maybe ask if Greknor has any suggestions for reinforcing the wards even further."

Harry nodded, writing swiftly but deliberately. The letter detailed their concerns about the property's security and requested Snape's assistance for another ward test. He included a question about any additional protective measures they might implement.

Once the letter was sealed, Harry summoned Hedwig. The snowy owl hooted softly, accepting the letter and taking off into the evening sky.

"That's done," Harry said, watching Hedwig disappear into the distance. "Now we wait to hear back. Hopefully, Snape agrees to help again."

Hermione crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "We'll have to be prepared for anything. If Dumbledore's keeping an eye on us, moving between the properties might not go unnoticed. But at least we'll have Snape's expertise to guide us."

Harry offered a small smile. "Whatever comes next, we'll handle it together. One step at a time."

Before they could fully relax, the sound of fluttering wings reached them. Hedwig returned, carrying a response from Greknor. Harry quickly untied the parchment and unfolded it, reading aloud.

"Mr. Potter,

Your concerns are valid, and I have arranged for Professor Snape and myself to meet you at the Godric's Hollow property immediately. We will conduct a thorough ward assessment and provide any additional protections required.

Sincerely, Greknor"

Hermione's expression tightened. "Straight away? I suppose we'd better get ready then."

The two quickly gathered their cloaks and wands, and within moments, they Apparated to the edge of the property at Godric's Hollow.

The sight of the large, timeworn house brought a mix of emotions to Harry, but he pushed them aside as Greknor and Snape appeared almost simultaneously with sharp cracks of Apparition.

Snape's robes billowed as he approached, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Potter. Granger. I trust you understand the gravity of this situation."

"We do," Harry said firmly. "Thank you for coming."

Greknor inclined his head. "Shall we begin?"

The group moved toward the house, Greknor holding a small, rune-covered device that pulsed with faint blue light. Snape drew his wand, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

"The perimeter wards are weak," Snape noted after a moment, his voice clipped. "Whoever maintained them last was either incompetent or careless."

Greknor frowned. "This aligns with our findings. Dumbledore's efforts here have been minimal, likely to keep the property vulnerable."

Hermione's eyes widened. "But why? What would he gain from leaving this place unprotected?"

"Leverage," Snape said darkly. "A place that can be easily breached is a place that can be easily controlled."

The group began their work, with Greknor setting up advanced goblin wards while Snape tested the existing protections. Harry and Hermione watched closely, their wands at the ready in case of any unexpected disturbances.

At one point, Snape's wand sparked as it encountered a lingering trace of Dark Magic. "Curious," he murmured, his tone betraying a hint of unease. "This residue is old, but potent. It's been masked by weaker enchantments."

Greknor examined the spot and nodded. "We will cleanse it and reinforce this section. It's fortunate we discovered it now."

The process continued into the evening, with both Greknor and Snape weaving intricate layers of protection around the property. By the time they finished, the house felt distinctly different, as if enveloped in a protective cocoon.

"The wards are now impenetrable to all but those you explicitly grant access," Greknor said, his tone resolute. "Any attempt to breach them will be met with immediate retaliation."

Snape pocketed his wand, his expression neutral. "This property is secure—for now. But do not grow complacent. Dumbledore will not ignore this."

Harry nodded, his gratitude evident. "Thank you, both of you. This means a lot."

Snape's gaze lingered on Harry for a moment before he spoke. "Be vigilant, Potter. You're treading a dangerous path."

As they prepared to leave, Snape's expression suddenly hardened. He reached for his arm, his fingers gripping his sleeve tightly. "I must go," he said abruptly, his voice low. Without another word, he Disapparated, leaving Harry and Hermione staring at the empty space where he'd stood.

Greknor's eyes narrowed. "A summons. The Dark Lord calls him."

Harry's stomach churned. "Do you think he'll be all right?"

"That," Greknor said gravely, "remains to be seen."

Harry's jaw tightened as he turned to Greknor. "I want to ensure Snape has what he needs. Deposit a large sum into his account—enough to make a difference. And make sure it's hidden, so Dumbledore can't access or even know it's there."

Greknor's eyes gleamed with approval. "Consider it done. The account will be protected with goblin-level secrecy. Only Professor Snape will have access to the funds."

"Good," Harry said firmly. "It's the least we can do after everything he's done to help."

The two stood in silence for a moment before Hermione placed a hand on Harry's arm. "Let's head back to the cottage. There's nothing more we can do tonight."

Harry nodded reluctantly, and together they Disapparated, leaving the now-secure property behind as the night deepened around them."