Weasley family

I’m back!

Character: Weasley’s

Letter: W

20 year Anniversary of Battle of Hogwarts

(I felt like going one last piece for my Slytherin Raised By Wolfstar series, so I decided to write my version of the Dumbledore's Army reunion. Warning though, if you aren't familiar with my series OR if you haven't read the 1998-2017 notes than you may have difficulty understanding what is going on but it should still be a pleasant read.)

[The stuff I wrote as Rita possess her dramatic tendencies and may not be accurate to the 100% truth of reality.]

Enjoy : )

Tags: @Pervaza972 @CatsAndRoblox @Missy Clara Oswald (love the new profile pic) @SaphireStark @Mega.mind.harry.potter @Interested.me

Friday, July 13th

Graciosa Glamour: Wizarding World's Who's Who Flock to Bola Voador Stadium

By: Rita Skeeter

I'm here to report on those spotted here at the camp near the sun-kissed shores of Graciosa Island: the crème de la crème of the wizarding world! I'm talking A-listers, folks! There are the expected of course, Ministers and Presidents, but this year I am at Bola Voador Stadium to observe and report on those who truly make waves in our society, such as pop sensation Celestina Warbeck making an appearances and sending the crowd into a frenzy. And don't even get me started on brilliant but controversial artist Eris Foxglove - the American's presence has been causing quite the stir! Fans and haters alike are going wild, clamoring for autographs and even resorting to Bridging Charms to sneak a peek at the VIP boxes. It's absolute pandemonium, and I am here for it all!

But when word swept the campsite and stadium that a certain gang of infamous wizards and witches (no longer the fresh-faced teenagers they were in their heyday, but nevertheless recognisable) had arrived for the final, excitement was beyond anything yet seen. As the crowd stampeded, tents were flattened and small children mown down. Fans from all corners of the globe stormed towards the area where members of Dumbledore's Army were rumoured to have been sighted, desperate above all else for a glimpse of the man they still call the Chosen One.

The Potter family and the rest of Dumbledore's Army have been given accommodation in the VIP section of the campsite, which is protected by heavy charms and patrolled by Security Warlocks. Their presence has ensured large crowds along the cordoned area, all hoping for a glimpse of their heroes. At 3pm today they got their wish when, to the accompaniment of loud screams, Potter took his two sons, Sirius and Dobby (Dobs) to visit the players' compound, where Ireland's Captain and Seeker Terence Higgs, and his family, were staying.

About to turn 38, there are a few more streaks of silver in the famous Auror's black hair than there were at the previous Quidditch World Cup, but he continues to wear the distinctive round glasses that some might say are better suited to a tween of the 90s. The famous lightning scar has company: Potter is sporting a nasty bruise over his left temple. Requests for information as to its provenance merely produced the usual response from the Ministry of Magic: ‘We do not comment on the top secret work of the Auror department, as we have told you no less than 514 times, Ms. Skeeter.' So what are they hiding? Is the Chosen One embroiled in a fresh mystery, possibly related to the hushed Calamity, that will one day explode upon us all, plunging us into a new age of terror and mayhem?

Or does his injury have a more humble origin, one that Potter is desperate to hide? Has his wife perhaps injured him? Are cracks beginning to show in a union that the Potters are determined to promote as happy? Should we read anything into the fact that his wife Allison chose a profession that often has her leave her husband and children behind in London to train and compete with the Tutshill Tornados, sometimes for weeks on end? whilst reporting on this tournament? There are rumours that the famous Beater maybe retiring soon, but if she makes her separation away from her family more permanent she may wish to stay with her team for years still to come.

As my longtime viewers will remember, Higgs stole Potter’s first love many moons ago, but apparently there are no hard feelings, as they embraced upon meeting, and Higgs’ triplet daughters come out to greet the three Potters as though they were kin. Potter’s eldest and Higgs two identical daughters then seemingly proceeded to pull a spontaneous prank on the younger two Slytherin’s of the two families, much to the Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs’ delight. (what really happened in that maze? After half an hour's chat, Potter and his sons returned to the campsite where they socialised with the rest of Dumbledore's Army until the small hours.

In the next tents are Potter's two closest associates, the ones who know everything about him and yet have always refused to talk to the press. Are they afraid of him, or is it their own secrets they are afraid will leak out, tarnishing the myth of He Who Could Not Be Named's defeat? To one side is the absentee owner of Borgin and Burkes, werewolf Magizoologist Canini Howling, the adoptive younger sister of Potter who recently has returned from a month long expedition in Bermuda with her daughter. Potter spends a great deal of time catching up with her, as does his three kids with their adoptive cousin. Little is known about this mysterious little sister, as even when Ms Howling resides in the UK she is hard to find as her residence of the Ancient House of Black family home is still unplottable, makes one think what she could be up too.

Don’t have to do much digging however to learn what Potter’s cousin-in-law and former foster brother Theodore Nott is up to these days. There is hardly a day Nott isn’t working on one cure or another in St. Mungo’s Alchemy Room. His greatest success to date came just a few short months ago with his now famous Remus Dreamus. The upgraded Wolfsbane potion has been such a success in fact, that rumours suggest Nott will soon be the recipient of an Order of Merlin Second Class, which would mean he would be receiving his nearly exactly twenty years after his first love, Colin Creevey, posthumously received his. Poor Mr Nott never did seem to get over this loss, as even after marrying someone else he still insisted on naming their first born child after Mr Creevey. I can’t imagine the embarrassment that must have caused for husband Auror Terry Boot.

Just like Potter, these two family members fought during the Battle of Hogwarts alongside the rest of the surviving members of Dumbledore’s army, most of which are also present today. For their great deed they each no doubt deserve the plaudits and awards for bravery heaped upon them by a grateful wizarding world that they have received, but have their twenty years of actions since been as praise worthy?

One of the few whose worthiness isn’t in question isn’t even staying in the VIP camp, but with the staff of the games themselves. Recently appointed Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports Ronald Weasley surely has a chance to claim to be the most occupationally successful Weasley to date. Though his famous ginger hair appears to be thinning slightly, his luck and charisma only seem to grow as he ages. After helping his brother George with the popular wizarding joke emporium Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes for a couple years, Ronald moved on to work for the Games division of the Ministry where he quickly made waves, worked on increasingly memorable events, and now has planned and coordinated what he has promised to be the most spectacular Quidditch World Cup in a millennium.

The same admiration can not be said for his fellow Dumbledore's Army wife, Hermione Weasley-Granger, who has earned quite mixed opinions from all citizens of the UK. Some of her legislation over the the last two decades from her time as both a D.R.C.M.C. employee and now as Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has undeniably been positive (although the positive outcry of her and Minister For Magic Shacklebolt's repeal of the Employee Safety From Lycanthropy Legislation were likely from people to afraid of upsetting the pro-werewolf Potter family), but many of her other deeds have had varying results at beast, such as her nepotism from helping her younger Muggle sister get hired by the Department of Muggle Relations when she turned eighteen, or the recent very controversial ruling that no House-Elf is allowed to be owned by anyone, how ridiculous is that? The only thing going for her is the two kids she shares with Mr Weasley, a Gryffindor daughter, Rose, and a son, Hugo.

The final true Dumbledore's Army celebrity of any note is Hogwarts new Charms Professor, Ireland National Team Seeker's wife, and for Potter girlfriend, Tracey Higgs. Beloved Professor Flitwick finally retired last September after over fifty years of Charms teacher only to be replaced with what has so far unanimously been described as an even more beloved Professor. The nineteen years following the battle of Hogwarts, Mrs Higgs has reportedly only predominately done two main things, study and invent as many charms, jinxes, and hexes as she could, and be a caring mother towards her triplet daughters, and it is this vast knowledge and great empathy that she supposedly brings to her course. It is hard to believe she was once a Slytherin, but it was no surprise that two of her three daughter were sorted into Hufflepuff.

Then there are those members of Dumbledore's Army who receive slightly less publicity than Potter, Howling, Nott, Higgs', and Ronald Weasleys and his wife (are they resentful? Almost certainly). Neville Longbottom, now a popular Herbology teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is here in Patagonia with his spouse Hannah. Until recently the pair lived in an apartment above the Leaky Cauldron in London, but rumour has it that Hannah has not only retrained as a Healer, but is applying for the job of Matron at Hogwarts. Idle gossip suggests that ze and zir husband both enjoy a little more Ogden's Old Firewhisky than most of us would expect from custodians of our children, but no doubt we all wish zir the best of luck with zir application.

Ronald's younger sister Ginerva Corner is also here as a Quidditch Correspondent, but we'll unfortunately be seeing (and worse so hearing) a great deal of Sunday so for now we best move on. Duelist Susan Bones is present with her wife Lily Moon, readers may recall Bones just barely lost first place in a Russian competition three months back, but she is set to compete again on her home turf at the end of this coming October. One late arrival would be Ella Wilkins, as she had to prepare three days worth of enchanted baked goods to sell at this event, which the entire campsite seems to be enjoying.

Last of the ringleaders of Dumbledore's Army is, of course, Luna Lovegood (now married to Rolf Scamander, swarthy grandson of celebrated Magizoologist Newt). Still delightfully eccentric, Luna has been sweeping around the VIP section in robes composed of the flags of all sixteen qualifying countries. Her twin sons are ‘at home with grandpa'. Is this a euphemism for ‘too disturbed to be seen in public'? Surely only the unkindest would suggest so.

Sundry other members of the Army are here, but it is on these few I have mentioned that most interest is focused. Wherever there is a red head one may make an educated guess that it belongs to a Weasley, but it is difficult to tell whether it is George (wealthy manager of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes), Charlie (dragon wrangler, still unmarried, with gossipers speculating he may be an ace in the hole?), Percy (Head of the Department of Magical Transportation – it's his fault if the Floo Network's too busy!), or Bill (who used to be the most recognisable with a disfigured face from a werewolf attack – why was the Employee Safety From Lycanthropy Legislation repealed again – has since taken Nott's cursed scar cure and is now all shiny and new, likely much to his French Veela wife's delight)..)

Word is that we shall see these and other members of Dumbledore's Army in the VIP boxes at the final, adding to the glitz and razzmatazz of a gala occasion. Let us hope that the behaviours of all of their offspring don't embarrass them, heaping shame on those who have previously brought honour to the name of wizard.

One always hesitates to invade the privacy of young people, but the fact is that anyone who even remotely close connected with Harry Potter reaps the benefits and must pay the penalty of public interest. No doubt Potter will be distressed to know that his twenty-year-old godson Teddy Karasu-Tonks – a lanky shapeshifter with bright blue hair – has been behaving in a way unbefitting of wizarding royalty since arriving on the VIP campsite. It might be asking too much that the always-busy Potter keep a tighter rein on this wild boy, who was raised almost evenly by his surviving mother and Potter, but one shudders to think what will become of Master Karasu-Tonks without urgent intervention. Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Bill Weasley might like to know that their beautiful, blonde eighteen year old daughter Victoire seems to be attracted to any dark corner where Master Karasu-Tonks happens to be lurking. The good news is both of them seem to have invented a method of breathing through their ears. I can think of no other reason how they have survived such prolonged periods of what, in my young day, was called ‘snogging.'

But let us not be severe. Harry Potter and his cohorts never claimed to be perfect! And for those who want to know exactly how imperfect they are, my new biography: Dumbledore's Army: The Dark Side of the Demob will be available from Flourish and Blotts on July 31st.

Sunday, July 15th

Commentary by Rita Skeeter and Ginerva Corner

Ginny Corner

--

The stadium is full and the noise is deafening. We await the arrival of both team's mascots, who will put on a pre-match show. The Canadians, of course, bring their celebrated enchanted singing and dancing troupe of Wood Nymph, which constitutes a major reason for the team's popularity. Ireland's Leprechaun have already caused a great deal of mischief so far this tournament but are similarly popular, mostly because of their magical false gold. Security wizards stand by all around the perimeter in case of trouble.

Rita Skeeter

--

The VIP boxes are now full. The Canadian Minister of Magic Estelle Cormier, is chatting to our own Minister For Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, but all eyes are on Box Two, where Dumbledore's Army sit under close guard, to prevent mobbing by an overexcited crowd. The Potter family – including the adoptive sister, second cousin-in-law, and their families – have been given prime places in the front row. All are wearing the green of Ireland except young child Lily-Balance (Lily-Bali), who is seemingly sporting Canadian red and white. This will undoubtedly send the gossips into overdrive – what message is young Lily-Bali sending us all by choosing to support a team other than his father's? A team, lest we forget, that is competing against a friend of her father who is so close they treat like an uncle. Are we witnessing a very public, very ugly display of father-son rivalry? My colleague, Ginny Corner, who is somewhat close friends with the Potters and is sitting close enough to read everything my Quick-Quotes Quill is scribbling, informs me that Lily-Bali is just a great fan of Canadian Chaser Cas Eask. That, of course, would be one possible explanation for this oddly public parade of familial dissent.

Ginny Corner

--

The crowd roar as the gates open and the mascot troupes assemble! First, the Canadian Wood Nymphs, dressed in cheering gowns made entirely of different flowers, and singing a majestic French melody. Their accompanying dance routine is also quite something to behold.

Rita Skeeter

--

Up in the VIP Box something completely unexpected has just occurred. The son of wealthy philanthropist Draco Malfoy, Scorpius has just snuck up from his family’s box a few below and has now entered the Potter and gang box. Potter and Draco Malfoy have a very intense and complicated relationship, one that at times was hostile during their Hogwarts years. I wonder if Draco Malfoy has sent his young son to spy on the Potters, or pull a malicious prank. Scorpius is approaching and…sits down directly next to Potter’s youngest son Dobs. Facilitating, it would appear the two young Slytherins have been able to form quite a bond, one I doubt their fathers approve of.

Ginny Corner

--

And here come the Leprechauns with their Forrest green festive outfits. Gigging, performing acrobatics together, stealing hats from fans and generally creating mayhem, the stadium is greatly enjoying their antics.

Rita Skeeter

--

It is always enchanting to observe young people enjoying the culture and traditions of other wizarding nations. Unfortunately, Master Teddy Karasu-Tonks and Ms Victoire Weasley appear to be far more interested in what they are saying to each other than – I take that back. In what some may see as a somewhat belated show of parental authority, Mr Bill Weasley has swapped places with his now very sulky-looking daughter and is directing her attention to the pitch. It is indeed a terrible waste not to drink in the magnificent spectacle now unfolding before us, with the colours and dancing and whatnot.

Harry Potter is saying something with a smile into his wife's ear.

Ginny Corner

--

The opening ceremony concludes with an interesting Nymph/Leprechaun pyramid formation, with the highest Leprechauns now showering the crowd with their gold. I must say this cooperation between mascots is a great improvement from the first Quidditch World Cup I attended twenty years ago, which ended in an all out brawl and many were maimed.

And here come the two teams – Canada in red, Ireland in green!

Rita Skeeter

--

While I had expected the Higgs family to be supporting Ireland, I had thought there might be some variety amongst the rest of Potters family. Both Nott’s first son as well as his adoptive son, Jason, are decked out with violently green scarves and flags (young Slytherin Colin must feel as though he’s back at Hogwarts), and little Dora Howling is wearing an Irish flag as a blanket as the evening air begins to cool. The only one of Potter's closest companions not in green, other than his daughter, is Hermione Weasley-Granger is not wearing anything to indicate which team she is supporting. Does she hope to portray diplomatic neutrality one might expect of a ruthless careerist whose long-term ambition is undoubtedly to be Minister for Magic?

Ginny Corner

0.00 hours

And they're off! Fourteen players rise into the air for the 428th Quidditch World Cup final!

Rita Skeeter

0.01 hours

Neville Longbottom is already on his feet cheering, even though nothing has really happened yet. Is he drunk?

Ginny Corner

0.05 hours

The Quaffle is in Canada's possession but slick defence from Quigley and Casey has so far prevented them from scoring. Eask, Johnson, Wilson are relentless, ducking and weaving as they try to find a way past the Irish Beaters.

Rita Skeeter

0.18 hours

Luna Lovegood appears to be passing out some kind of snack to her friends in the VIP box. Some might hesitate to accept baked goods from Lovegood, whose schoolgirl nickname, I am reliably informed, was 'Loony'. They'll probably swap it for some of Wilkins' treats when no one is looking.

Ginny Corner

0.32 hours

An excellent intercept by Irish Chaser McFly and Ireland are streaking towards the goal – thrown to Sheriff – ouch! Even the Canadians groaned in sympathy there as a Bludger hit Sheriff hard in the throat. He drops the Quaffle, which is caught by Eask. Canada is back in possession!

Rita Skeeter

0.33 hours

Neville Longbottom is laughing hard at something that Harry Potter has leaned across and whispered to him. What is so amusing? Why such an open display of humour in full view of the public? Surely Potter is aware that everybody in the stadium can see him? Is it not rather elitist to enjoy 'private' jokes with fellow celebrities when people in the cheap seats cannot hear them?

Ginny Corner

0.37 hours

And it's first blood to Canada with a spectacular goal from Eask!

Rita Skeeter

0.38 hours

Lily-Bali Potter has almost toppled out of the VIP box cheering for her favourite Quidditch player. Family friend Tracey Higgs uncle seized the back of her robes and saved her from what would surely have been a death of international significance, spawning news stories across the wizarding world. Brother Sirius is laughing heartily (did he push his sister?). Harry Potter appears completely unconcerned, merely handing his only daughter one of 'Loony' Lovegood's treats.

Ginny Corner

0.42 hours

Quigley and Casey are successfully disrupting the Canadian Chasers, preventing the formidable trio from scoring a second goal, but Ireland is relying far too much on their defence and their last touch of the Quaffle resulted in a drop and fumble by Sheriff. No sign of the Snitch so far.

Rita Skeeter

0.54 hours

Harry Potter, Mrs Potter, and Mrs Higgs is cheering every move the Irish team does, whether they've actually done something worth of cheering or not. Nott's husband, Auror Terry Boot, has just yawned . Whether he intends to convey boredom, or is merely exhausted after Dumbledore's Army's long night of noisy revelry in the VIP section of the campsite, has yet to be determined, but I am sure there will be consequences for this act of blatant rudeness.

Ginny Corner

0.59 hours

Fergus O'Neil breaks through the Canadian defence and equalises! Ten all!

Rita Skeeter

1.10 hours

One of Dumbledore's Army last minute members, Seamus Finnigan, is jumping up and down like a school girl, probably excited that his cousin did something interesting. He is in the further back of the VIP section with most of the other more minor members of Dumbledore's army. Around him I can see Dean Thomas, couple Ernie and Lavender Macmillan, my fellow Correspondent Ginerva Corner's husband Michael Corner, and British National Quidditch team players Adrian Pucey and Scarlett Lympsham, among still many others.t

Ginny Corner

1.23 hours

A sudden burst of quick-fire Quaffle passes has resulted in a brace of goals for Canada, whose Chasers are tearing up and down the pitch. Cas Eask has scored twice more and Sophia Johnson once, taking the score to 40-10. Ireland is making too many careless mistakes and need to take the offensive. Canada looking far the stronger team at this point.

Rita Skeeter

1.31 hours

Charlie Weasley – or 'The "Arrow" That Hits No One' as he is often known - is a burly chap carrying several burns due to his work with dragons. Like his sister-in-law Hermione 'Bored Yawn' Weasley-Granger, he is paying little attention to the match, preferring what seems to be a most interesting talk with Rolf Scamander, husband of 'Loony' Lovegood. How difficult it has been to marry 'into' Dumbledore's Army we can only speculate. Nobody who witnessed it will ever forget the shock on Scamander's face when he saw Lovegood's wedding dress – rainbows, spangles and a tiara of silver unicorn horns, voted 'Most Hideous Outfit of the Year' by readers of my regular Daily Prophet column. While Lovegood and Scamander appear to be holding hands in the VIP box, this might well be because Rolf is trying to prevent his wife from putting on one of her famous Special Event Hats.

Ginny Corner

1.43 hours

THE SNITCH HAS BEEN SIGHTED! With the score standing at 50-20 (following goals one minute apart from Wilson and Flynn) a flash of gold near the Canadian hoops leads LeBlanc and Higgs into a breakneck chase – Beaters and Chasers scatter – Higgs is ahead but narrowly misses a capture – as the Snitch soars upwards, both Seekers look around desperately but it is no luck – the Snitch has disappeared again.

Rita Skeeter

1.58 hours

George Weasley, wealthy owner of joke shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, has only one ear. This disability did not prevent him from marrying his dead brother's ex-girlfriend Angelina Johnson, or from fathering two children with her: Fred and Roxanne. They are putting on a show of family togetherness up in the box. However, few will forget the recent rumours that – in spite of the plentiful gold brought in by such inventions as Puking Pastilles – Angelina has grown restless in her marriage and recently left the marital home to – my colleague, Ginny Corner, has just informed me that Angelina left the marital home to care for her sick father. Many will think that a likely story. Meanwhile, Teddy Karasu-Tonks and Victoire Weasley have taken advantage of their elders' inattention to find their way back into adjacent seats.

Ginny Corner

2.03 hours

Moments after Johnson lengthens Canada's lead – 60-20 – Beater Kilabuk hits Terence Higgs hard over the head with her bat. The referee is examining Omniocular footage to determine whether a foul has been committed. The game has been paused.

Rita Skeeter

2.04 hours

A great groan has issued from the crowd, undoubtedly in response to Ronald Weasley flagrantly and openly kissing his wife on the cheek. This piece of disgusting exhibitionism appears to have disgusted spectators – my colleague, Ginny Corner, has just informed me that the crowd groaned because one of the players has sustained an injury. Tracey Higgs looks white as a ghost, so possible it was the Seeker, but it doesn't really matter.

Ginny Corner

2.21 hours

No foul! Azorean referee Hélder Jordão concludes that Elizabeth Kilabuk did not mean to hit Terence Higgs around the back of the skull with her Beater's bat. Higgs signals that he is fit to continue and play resumes!

Rita Skeeter

2.36 hours

Nearly widowed Tracey Higgs has put on a false brave face as she tries to console her daughters who in truth don't look like they need it as they are currently laughing at Allison Potter, one of their godmother's, who appears to be spiritedly describing the precise manner in which Higgs sustained his nosebleed. Mrs Potter has always been a brute, and now her lack of empathy is on full display, even if Mrs Higgs is now joining in on the laughing.

Ginny Corner

2.38 hours

Mere minutes after play resumes, Higgs and LeBlanc are rocketing suddenly upwards - five thousand Omnioculars follow the pair into Graciosa Island's dazzling night sky -

Rita Skeeter

2.39 hours

Dumbledore's Army seem agitated and tense. Has one of them grievously offended the others? Have bitter wounds been reopened here, in front of thousands of people, where everybody hoped merely to enjoy a unique sporting occasion? Ought Dumbledore's Army draw such flagrant attention to themselves when - apparently - something exciting is happening on the pitch? Or are they using this as a cover to air old grievances?

Ginny Corner

2.40 hours

Higgs and LeBlanc are in a breakneck dash for the Snitch, which LeBlanc sighted first – she is four feet ahead of Higgs as both rise almost vertically –

Rita Skeeter

2.41 hours

Everyone is on their feet, including the denizens of the VIP boxes – Harry Potter is shouting – if my lip-reading is accurate, Mrs Potter is swearing –

Ginny Corner

2.42 hours

Higgs is gaining on LeBlanc but will it be enough…?

Rita Skeeter

2.43 hours

Teddy Karasu-Tonks has accidentally punched his girlfriend on the nose as he gesticulates – are we about to witness a breakup, live at the Quidditch World Cup?

Ginny Corner

2.43 hours

Higgs and LeBlanc neck and neck –

Rita Skeeter

2.44 hours

Teddy Karasu-Tonks and Victoire Weasley snuggled up together again – don't they care about Quidditch at all? Should they be taking up valuable space in this stadium, when all eyes ought to be glued on the pitch? When so many poor witches or wizards would simply love to be here?

Ginny Corner

2.45 hours

HIGGS' GOT THE SNITCH! IRELAND HAS WON!

Rita Skeeter

2.45 hours

I can't see the VIP boxes – everyone is jumping up and down –

Ginny Corner

--

The crowds are going crazy – after two and three-quarter hours of adrenalin filled competition, Ireland has won the Quidditch World Cup and Terence Higgs has achieved one of his greatest dreams, of catching the Golden Snitch during the Quidditch World Cup – it looks like he might fall off his broom – tears are streaming down his face – a hugely popular win here in the Bola Voador Stadium – but hearty commiserations to Canada - they led almost all the way, but in the end, it was Higgs the Seeker who defeated them. A stunning display of sportsmanship here, as LeBlanc and Higgs embrace –

Rita Skeeter

--

Ah, that's better – people are calming down, I can now see the VIP boxes – well, Dumbledore's Army seems to approve of the victory, Harry Potter in particular seems emotional – with a determined grin on his face, Mrs Higgs is jumping up and down with her daughters who she is hugging at the same time – all the young Potter cousins are celebrating, even little Lily-Bali who is likely just trying to save face after her loss. The flock of Weasleys are all mingling, with their hair it looks like their waving a Canadian flag instead of Irelands – my colleague, Ginny Corner is approaching me, no doubt with another tedious correc-

Ginny Corner

--

Rita Skeeter has been taken unaccountably ill with what some are calling a jinx to the solar plexus. As celebrations continue here in the Patagonian Desert, we at the Daily Prophet sincerely hope that you have enjoyed our World Cup coverage from Graciosa Island. Next week, the National Gobstones League comes to Birmingham! But in all honesty…don’t bother.

I hate how J.K. made almost EVERY character related in some way. Harry has Charlus Potter, a man married to Ginny's grandparent. Rose and Scorpius are cousins, 3rd or 4th. "Our Teddy. With our cousin". They're both cousins. Tonks is Ginny's 3rd cousin I think and Victoire is her niece. Arthur and Molly both share ancestry DIRECTLY from the House of Black, check it out if you don't believe me. I understand the other pure-blood families like The blacks (Sirius and Regulus' parents are 1st cousins) because they don't want any Half-blood/muggle born ancestry but the "blood traitors" like Harry and others is just pretty disgusting. It adds this *ncest-like theme to the story that I hate. (Unrelated note, I discovered most of the Malfoys aside from Lucius, Draco and Narcissa and Draco's grandparents are actually half-blood due to the muggles and wizards living together prior to the statute of secrecy.)

Today is the 43rd birthday of Ginevra Weasley!

How do you feel

Fill in the blank…

(should I do more of these?)

First half of book:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003829962

Previous Chapters:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003833123

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003838588

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003840013

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003841380

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003842029

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003842653

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003843726

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844089

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844089/r/4400000000017564493

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844352

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844924

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003845391

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003845905

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@SaphireStark @Missy Clara Oswald @CatsAndRoblox @Pervaza972 @Mega.mind.harry.potter

(I have now finished writing the book☺️). I am posting a chapter today, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I’ll post both the final chapter and the epilogue. I am so excited for you all to see the ending I have been working towards for over four years now.)

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Prince’s Tale

Harry remained kneeling at Snape’s side, simply staring down at him, until quite suddenly a high, cold voice spoke so close to them that Harry jumped on his feet, the flask gripped tightly in his hands, thinking that Voldemort had re-entered the room.

Voldemort’s voice reverberated from the walls and floor, and Harry realized that he was talking to Hogwarts and to all the surrounding area, that the residents of Hogsmeade and all those still fighting in the castle would hear him as clearly as if he stood beside them, his breath on the back of their necks, a deathblow away.

‘You have fought,’ said the high, cold voice, ‘valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste.’

Harry knew Voldemort was lying, he had just moments ago witnessed him say how he didn’t care how many died tonight. In fact he had said the more the better.

‘Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.

‘I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour.’

Tracey, Allison, and Theodore all shook their heads frantically, looking at Harry.

‘Don’t you dare do what he says,’ said Theodore.

‘There will be a way for us to succeed,’ said Tracey in false confidence.

‘We-we should get to the castle,’ said Allison, the only one to not directly say he shouldn’t go. ‘We need a new plan.’

The girls turned around to head back, but Theodore hung back for just an extra second where he glanced at Snape’s body. Theodore had viewed the man beneath him as a mentor, a role model, and then as a traitor, and Harry could see many conflicting feelings wash across his face before turning and hurrying back to the tunnel entrance with the girls. Harry gathered up the Invisibility Cloak, then looked down at Snape. He did not know what to feel, except shock at the way Snape had been killed, and the reason for which it had been done…

They crawled back through the tunnel, none of them talking, and Harry wondered whether the others could still hear Voldemort ringing in their heads as he could.

“You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest...One hour...”

Small bundles seemed to litter the lawn at the front of the castle. It could only be an hour or so from dawn, yet it was pitch-black. The four of them hurried toward the stone steps. A lone dog, the size of a small boat, lay abandoned in front of them. There was no other sign of Grawp or of his attacker.

The castle was unnaturally silent. There were no flashes of light now, no bangs or screams or shouts. The flagstones of the deserted entrance hall were stained with blood. Emeralds were still scattered all over the floor, along with pieces of marble and splintered wood. Part of the banisters had been blown away.

‘Where is everybody?’ whispered Tracey.

Allison led the way to the Great Hall. Harry stopped in the doorway.

The House tables were gone and the room was crowded. The survivors stood in groups, their arms around each other’s necks. The injured were being treated upon the raised platform by Madam Pomfrey, Chiara Lobosca, and a group of helpers. Firenze was amongst the injured; his flank poured blood and he shook where he lay, unable to stand.

The dead lay in a row in the middle of the Hall. Harry’s heart plummeted as he saw Fred lying amongst them, surrounded by all the Weasleys. George was kneeling at his head; Mrs Weasley was lying across Fred’s chest, her body shaking. Mr Weasley stroking her hair while tears cascaded down his cheeks.

Without a word, the four turned to the rest of the dead. Harry spotted Canini on her knees crying between the bodies of Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling. Harry had so desperately wanted to comfort his sister earlier, but now he felt numb and as though he couldn’t move. Thankfully she wasn’t completely alone, Susan Bones was hugging her, and as Harry stood rooted in the ground Tracey walked over to join Canini.

Harry suddenly was nearly deafened by a blood curtailing ‘NOOOO!’ from Theodore beside him and looks around to find Dean Thomas and Katie Bell carrying in the body of Colin Creevey.

Theodore attempted to run to his boyfriend’s side, yelling Colin’s name to the body that could no longer hear him, but Harry ran after him and wrapped his arms tightly around his foster brother. He held him still and began dragging him back as Theodore frantically told him to let go. Harry was forced into a memory from two years ago where Remus had done the same for him immediately after Sirius had died, he had hated him at the time, but it was now, as Remus lay still not far away and Harry was doing the same for Theodore, that he finally understood the action his adoptive father had taken. After what felt like an eternity Theodore’s energy gave out and he slumped to his knees.

As gently as putting a baby down for bed, Dean Thomas and Katie Bell lay Colin in front of Theodore and Harry. Even though Colin had grown to become nearly as tall as Harry, he was tiny in death. Sobbing, Theodore ran his fingers through his boyfriend’s mousy brown hair. Allison then came up and kneeled beside him, and a moment later Dennis came running to his brother’s side.

Unable to handle the grief of all this loss, Harry quietly got up and the Great Hall seemed to fly away, become smaller, shrink, as Harry reeled backward from the doorway. He could not draw breath. He could not bear to look at any of the other bodies, to see who else had died for him. He could not bear to join Canini or Theodore, could not look into their eyes, when if he had given himself up in the first place, Remus, Tonks, and Colin might never have died…

He turned away and ran up the marble staircase. Remus…Tonks…Colin…Fred…He yearned not to feel...He wished he could rip out his heart, his innards, everything that was screaming inside him…

The castle was completely empty; even the ghosts seemed to have joined the mass mourning in the Great Hall. Harry ran without stopping, clutching the crystal flask of Snape’s last thoughts, and he did not slow down until he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the headmaster’s office.

‘Password?’

‘Dumbledore!’ said Harry without thinking, because it was he whom he yearned to see, and to his surprise the gargoyle slid aside revealing the spiral staircase behind.

But when Harry burst into the circular office he found a change. The portraits that hung all around the walls were empty. Not a single headmaster or headmistress remained to see him; all, it seemed, had flitted away, charging through the paintings that lined the castle so that they could have a clear view of what was going on.

Harry glanced hopelessly at Dumbledore’s deserted frame, which hung directly behind the headmaster’s chair, then turned his back on it. The stone Pensieve lay in the cabinet where it had always been. Harry heaved it onto the desk and poured Snape’s memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge. To escape into someone else’s head would be a blessed relief…

Nothing that even Snape had left him could be worse than his own thoughts. The memories swirled, silver white and strange, and without hesitating, with a feeling of reckless abandonment, as though this would assuage his torturing grief, Harry dived.

He fell headlong into sunlight, and his feet found warm ground. When he straightened up, he saw that he was in a nearly deserted playground. A single huge chimney dominated the distant skyline. Two girls were swinging backward and forward, and a skinny boy was watching them from behind a clump of bushes. His black hair was overlong and his clothes were so mismatched that it looked deliberate: too short jeans, a shabby, overlarge coat that might have belonged to a grown man, an odd smocklike shirt.

Harry moved closer to the boy. Snape looked no more than nine or ten years old, sallow, small, stringy. There was undisguised greed in his thin face as he watched the younger of the two girls swinging higher and higher than her sister.

‘Lily, don’t do it!’ shrieked the elder of the two.

But the girl had let go of the swing at the very height of its arc and flown into the air, quite literally flown, launched herself skyward with a great shout of laughter, and instead of crumpling on the playground asphalt, she soared like a trapeze artist through the air, staying up far too long, landing far too lightly.

‘Mummy told you not to!’

Petunia stopped her swing by dragging the heels of her sandals on the ground, making a crunching, grinding sound, then leapt up, hands on hips.

‘Mummy said you weren’t allowed, Lily!’

‘But I’m fine,’ said Lily, still giggling. ‘Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do.’

Petunia glanced around. The playground was deserted apart from themselves and, though the girls did not know it, Snape. Lily had picked up a fallen flower from the bush behind which Snape lurked. Petunia advanced, evidently torn between curiosity and disapproval. Lily waited until Petunia was near enough to have a clear view, then held out her palm. The flower sat there, opening and closing its petals, like some bizarre, many-lipped oyster.

‘Stop it!’ shrieked Petunia.

‘It’s not hurting you,’ said Lily, but she closed her hand on the blossom and threw it back to the ground.

‘It’s not right,’ said Petunia, but her eyes had followed the flower’s flight to the ground and lingered upon it. ‘How do you do it?’ she added, and there was definite longing in her voice.

‘It’s obvious, isn’t it?’ Snape could no longer contain himself, but had jumped out from behind the bushes. Petunia shrieked and ran backward toward the swings, but Lily, though clearly startled, remained where she was. Snape seemed to regret his appearance. A dull flush of colour mounted the sallow cheeks as he looked at Lily.

‘What’s obvious?’ asked Lily.

Snape had an air of nervous excitement. With a glance at the distant Petunia, now hovering beside the swings, he lowered his voice and said, ‘I know what you are.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re…you’re a witch,’ whispered Snape.

She looked affronted.

‘That’s not a very nice thing to say to somebody!’

She turned, nose in the air, and marched off toward her sister.

‘No!’ said Snape. He was highly coloured now, and Harry wondered why he did not take off the ridiculously large coat, unless it was because he did not want to reveal the smock beneath it. He flapped after the girls, looking ludicrously batlike, like his older self.

The sisters considered him, united in disapproval, both holding on to one of the swing poles, as though it was the safe place in tag.

‘You are,’ said Snape to Lily. ‘You are a witch. I’ve been watching you for a while. But there’s nothing wrong with that. My mum’s one, and I’m a wizard.’

Petunia’s laugh was like cold water.

‘Wizard!’ she shrieked, her courage returned now that she had recovered from the shock of his unexpected appearance. ‘I know who you are. You’re that Snape boy! They live down Spinner’s End by the river,’ she told Lily, and it was evident from her tone that she considered the address a poor recommendation. ‘Why have you been spying on us?’

‘Haven’t been spying,’ said Snape, hot and uncomfortable and dirty-haired in the bright sunlight. ‘Wouldn’t spy on you, anyway,’ he added spitefully, ‘you’re a Muggle.’

Though Petunia evidently did not understand the word, she could hardly mistake the tone.

‘Lily, come on, we’re leaving!’ she said shrilly. Lily obeyed her sister at once, glaring at Snape as she left. He stood watching them as they marched through the playground gate, and Harry, the only one left to observe him, recognized Snape’s bitter disappointment, and understood that Snape had been planning this moment for a while, and that it had all gone wrong…

The scene dissolved, and before Harry knew it, re-formed around him. He was now in a small thicket of trees. He could see a sunlit river glittering through their trunks. The shadows cast by the trees made a basin of cool green shade. Two children sat facing each other, cross-legged on the ground. Snape had removed his coat now; his odd smock looked less peculiar in the half light.

‘…and the Ministry can punish you if you do magic outside school, you get letters.’

‘But I have done magic outside school!’

‘We’re all right. We haven’t got wands yet. They let you off when you’re a kid and you can’t help it. But once you’re eleven,’ he nodded importantly, ‘and they start training you, then you’ve got to go careful.’

There was a little silence. Lily had picked up a fallen twig and twirled it in the air, and Harry knew that she was imagining sparks trailing from it. Then she dropped the twig, leaned in toward the boy, and said, ‘It is real, isn’t it? It’s not a joke? Petunia says you’re lying to me. Petunia says there isn’t a Hogwarts. It is real, isn’t it?’

‘It’s real for us,’ said Snape. ‘Not for her. But we’ll get the letter, you and me.’

‘Really?’ whispered Lily.

‘Definitely,’ said Snape, and even with his poorly cut hair and his odd clothes, he struck an oddly impressive figure sprawled in front of her, brimful of confidence in his destiny.

‘And will it really come by owl?’ Lily whispered.

‘Normally,’ said Snape. ‘But you’re Muggle-born, so someone from the school will have to come and explain to your parents.’

‘Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?’

Snape hesitated. His black eyes, eager in the greenish gloom, moved over the pale face, the dark red hair.

‘No,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t make any difference.’

‘Good,’ said Lily, relaxing. It was clear that she had been worrying.

‘You’ve got loads of magic,’ said Snape. ‘I saw that. All the time I was watching you...’

His voice trailed away; she was not listening, but had stretched out on the leafy ground and was looking up at the canopy of leaves overhead. He watched her as greedily as he had watched her in the playground.

‘How are things at your house?’ Lily asked. A little crease appeared between his eyes.

‘Fine,’ he said.

‘They’re not arguing anymore?’

‘Oh yes, they’re arguing,’ said Snape. He picked up a fistful of leaves and began tearing them apart, apparently unaware of what he was doing. ‘But it won’t be that long and I’ll be gone.’

‘Doesn’t your dad like magic?’

‘He doesn’t like anything, much,’ said Snape.

‘Severus?’

A little smile twisted Snape’s mouth when she said his name.

‘Yeah?’

‘Tell me about the dementors again.’

‘What d’you want to know about them for?’

‘If I use magic outside school—‘

‘They wouldn’t give you to the dementors for that! Dementors are for people who do really bad stuff. They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban. You’re not going to end up in Azkaban, you’re too—‘

He turned red again and shredded more leaves. Then a small rustling noise behind Harry made him turn: Petunia, hiding behind a tree, had lost her footing.

‘Tuney!’ said Lily, surprise and welcome in her voice, but Snape had jumped to his feet.

‘Who’s spying now?’ he shouted. ‘What d’you want?’

Petunia was breathless, alarmed at being caught. Harry could see her struggling for something hurtful to say.

‘What is that you’re wearing, anyway?’ she said, pointing at Snape’s chest. ‘Your mum’s blouse?’

There was a crack. A branch over Petunia’s head had fallen.

Lily screamed. The branch caught Petunia on the shoulder, and she staggered backward and burst into tears.

‘Tuney!’

But Petunia was running away. Lily rounded on Snape.

‘Did you make that happen?’

‘No,’ he looked both defiant and scared.

‘You did!’ she was backing away from him. ‘You did! You hurt her!’

‘No—no, I didn’t! No on purpose!’

But the lie did not convince Lily. After one last burning look, she ran from the little thicket, off after her sister, and Snape looked miserable and confused…

And the scene re-formed. Harry looked around. He was on platform nine and three quarters, and Snape stood beside him, slightly hunched, next to a thin, sallow-faced, sour-looking woman who greatly resembled him. Snape was staring at a family of four a short distance away. The two girls stood a little apart from their parents. Harry had never seen his maternal grandparents, not even as pictures at the Dursley’s, it appeared that Lily took more after her dad while their mum looked much like how Petunia would grow up to look. Lily seemed to be pleading with her sister. Harry moved closer to listen.

‘…I’m sorry, Tuney, I’m sorry! Listen—‘ She caught her sister’s hand and held on tight to it, even though Petunia tried to pull it away. ‘Maybe once I’m there—no, listen, Tuney! Maybe once I’m there, I’ll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!’

‘I don’t—want—to—go!’ said Petunia, and she dragged her hand back out of her sister’s grasp. ‘You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a–a…’

Her pale eyes roved over the platform, over the cats mewling in their owners’ arms, over the owls, fluttering and hooting at each other in cages, over the students, some already in their long black robes, loading trunks onto the scarlet steam engine or else greeting one another with glad cries after a summer apart.

‘—you think I want to be a–a freak?’

Lily’s eyes filled with tears as Petunia succeeded in tugging her hand away.

‘I’m not a freak,’ said Lily. ‘That’s a horrible thing to say.’

‘That’s where you’re going,’ said Petunia with relish. ‘A special school for freaks. You and that Snape boy…weirdos, that’s what you two are. It’s good you’re being separated from normal people. It’s for our safety.’

Lily glanced toward her parents, who were looking around the platform with an air of wholehearted enjoyment, drinking in the scene. Then she looked back at her sister, and her voice was low and fierce.

‘You didn’t think it was such a freak’s school when you wrote to the headmaster and begged him to take you.’

Petunia turned scarlet.

‘Beg? I didn’t beg!’

‘I saw his reply. It was very kind.’

‘You shouldn’t have read—‘ whispered Petunia, ‘that was my private—how could you—?’

Lily gave herself away by half-glancing toward where Snape stood nearby. Petunia gasped.

‘That boy found it! You and that boy have been sneaking in my room!’

‘No—not sneaking—‘ Now Lily was on the defensive. ‘Severus saw the envelope, and he couldn’t believe a Muggle could have contacted Hogwarts, that’s all! He says there must be wizards working undercover in the postal service who take care of—‘

‘Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere!’ said Petunia, now as pale as she had been flushed. ‘Freak!’ she spat at her sister, and she flounced off to where her parents stood…

The scene dissolved again. Snape was hurrying along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express as it clattered through the countryside. He had already changed into his school robes, had perhaps taken the first opportunity to take off his dreadful Muggle clothes. At last he stopped, outside a compartment in which a group of rowdy boys were talking. Hunched in a corner seat beside the window was Lily, her face pressed against the windowpane.

Snape slid open the compartment door and sat down opposite Lily. She glanced at him and then looked back out of the window. She had been crying.

‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ she said in a constricted voice.

‘Why not?’

‘Tuney h–hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore.’

‘So what?’

She threw him a look of deep dislike.

‘So she’s my sister!’

‘She’s only a—‘ he caught himself quickly; Lily, too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him.

‘But we’re going!’ he said, unable to suppress the exhilaration in his voice. ‘This is it! We’re off to Hogwarts!’

She nodded, mopping her eyes, but in spite of herself, she half smiled.

‘You’d better be in Slytherin,’ said Snape, encouraged that she had brightened a little.

‘Slytherin?’

One of the boys sharing the compartment, who had shown no interest at all in Lily or Snape until that point, looked around at the word, and Harry, whose attention had been focused entirely on the two beside the window, saw his birth father, James: slight, dark caramel skin, black-haired like Snape, but with that indefinable air of having been well-cared-for, even adored, that Snape so conspicuously lacked.

‘Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?’ James asked the boy lounging on the seats opposite him, and with a jolt, Harry realized that it was Sirius. Sirius did not smile.

‘My whole family have been in Slytherin,’ he said.

‘Blimey,’ said James, ‘and I thought you seemed all right!’

Sirius grinned.

‘Maybe I’ll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you’ve got the choice?’

James lifted an invisible sword.

‘“Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!” Like my dad.’

Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him.

‘Got a problem with that?’

‘No,’ said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. ‘If you’d rather be brawny than brainy—‘

‘Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?’ interjected Sirius.

James roared with laughter. Lily sat up, rather flushed, and looked from James to Sirius in dislike.

‘Come on, Severus, let’s find another compartment.’

‘Oooooo…’

James and Sirius imitated her lofty voice; James tried to trip Snape as he passed.

‘See ya, Snivellus!’ a voice called, as the compartment door slammed…

And the scene dissolved once more…

Harry was standing right behind Snape as they faced the candlelit House tables, lined with rapt faces. Then Professor McGonagall said, ‘Evans, Lily!’

He watched his mother walk forward on trembling legs and sit down upon the rickety stool. Professor McGonagall dropped the Sorting Hat onto her head, and barely a second after it had touched the dark red hair, the hat cried, ‘Gryffindor!’

Harry heard Snape let out a tiny groan. Lily took off the hat, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, then hurried toward the cheering Gryffindors, but as she went she glanced back at Snape, and there was a sad little smile on her face. Harry saw Sirius move up the bench to make room for her. She took one look at him, seemed to recognize him from the train, folded her arms, and firmly turned her back on him.

The roll call continued. Harry watched Remus, Pettigrew, and his father join Lily and Sirius at the Gryffindor table. At last, when only a dozen students remained to be sorted, Professor McGonagall called Snape.

Harry walked with him to the stool, watched him place the hat upon his head.

‘Slytherin!’ cried the Sorting Hat. And Severus Snape moved off to the other side of the Hall, away from Lily, to where the Slytherins were cheering him, to where Lucius Malfoy, a prefect badge gleaming upon his chest, patted Snape on the back as he sat down beside him…And the scene changed…

Lily and Snape were walking across the castle courtyard, evidently arguing. Harry hurried to catch up with them, to listen in. As he reached them, he realized how much taller they both were. A few years seemed to have passed since their Sorting.

‘…thought we were supposed to be friends?’ Snape was saying, ‘Best friends?’

‘We are, Sev, but I don’t like some of the people you’re hanging round with! I’m sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he’s creepy! D’you know what he tried to do to Mary MacDonald the other day?’

Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up into the thin, sallow face.

‘That was nothing,’ said Snape. ‘It was a laugh, that’s all—‘

‘It was Dark Magic, and if you think that’s funny—‘

‘What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?’ demanded Snape. His colour rose again as he said it, unable, it seemed, to hold in his resentment.

‘What’s Potter got to do with anything?’ said Lily.

‘They sneak out at night. There’s something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?’

‘He’s ill,’ said Lily. ‘They say he’s ill—‘

‘Every month at the full moon?’ said Snape.

‘I know your theory,’ said Lily, and she sounded cold. ‘Why are you so obsessed with them anyway? Why do you care what they’re doing at night?’

‘I’m just trying to show you they’re not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are.’

The intensity of his gaze made her blush.

First half of book:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003829962

Previous Chapters:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003833123

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003838588

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003840013

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003841380

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003842029

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003842653

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003843726

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844089

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844089/r/4400000000017564493

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003844352

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Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Sacking of Severus Snape

The moment her finger touched the Mark, Harry’s scar burned savagely, the starry room vanished from sight, and he was standing upon an overcrop of rock beneath a cliff, and the sea was washing around him and there was triumph in his heart—They have the boy.

A loud bang brought Harry back to where he stood: Disoriented, he raised his wand, but the witch before him was already falling forward; she hit the ground so hard that the glass in the bookcases tinkled.

‘I’ve never had the chance to Stun anyone except in our D.A. lessons,’ said Luna, sounding mildly interested. ‘That was noisier than I thought it would be.’

And sure enough, the ceiling had begun to tremble. Scurrying, echoing footsteps were growing louder from behind the door leading to the dormitories: Luna’s spell had woken Ravenclaws sleeping above.

‘Luna, where are you? I need to get under the Cloak!’

Luna’s small feet appeared out of nowhere; he hurried to her side and she let the Cloak fall back over them as the door opened and a stream of Ravenclaws, all in their nightclothes, flooded into the common room. There were gasps and cries of surprise as they saw Alecto lying there unconscious. Slowly they shuffled in around her, a savage beast that might wake at any moment and attack them. Then one brave little first-year darted up to her and prodded her backside with his big toe.

‘I think she might be dead!’ he shouted with delight.

‘Oh, look,’ whispered Luna happily, as the Ravenclaws crowded in around Alecto. ‘They’re pleased!’

‘Yeah...great...’

Harry closed his eyes, and as his scar throbbed he chose to sink again into Voldemort’s mind...He was moving along the tunnel into the first cave...He had chosen to make sure of the locket before coming…but that would not take him long…

There was a rap on the common room door and every Ravenclaw froze. From the other side, Harry heard the soft, musical voice that issued from the eagle door knocker:

‘Where do Vanished objects go?’

‘I dunno, do I? Shut it!’ snarled an uncouth voice that Harry knew was that of the Carrow brother, Amycus. ‘Alecto? Alecto? Are you there? Have you got him? Open the door!’

The Ravenclaws were whispering amongst themselves, terrified.

Then, without warning, there came a series of loud bangs, as though somebody was firing a gun into the door.

‘ALECTO! If he comes, and we haven’t got Potter—d’you want to go the same way as the Malfoys? ANSWER ME!’ Amycus bellowed, shaking the door for all he was worth, but still it did not open. The Ravenclaws were all backing away, and some of the most frightened began scampering back up the staircase to their beds. Then, just as Harry was wondering whether he ought not to blast the door open and Stun Amycus before the Death Eater could do anything else, a second, most familiar voice rang out beyond the door.

‘May I ask what you are doing, Professor Carrow?’

‘Trying—to get—through this damned—door!’ shouted Amycus. ‘Go and get Flitwick! Get him to open it, now!’

‘But isn’t your sister in there?’ asked Professor McGonagall. ‘Didn’t Professor Flitwick let her in earlier this evening, at your urgent request? Perhaps she could open the door for you? Then you needn’t wake up half the castle.’

‘She ain’t answering, you old besom! You open it! Garn! Do it, now!’

‘Certainly, if you wish it,’ said Professor McGonagall, with awful coldness. There was a gentle tap of the knocker and the musical voice asked again.

‘Where do Vanished objects go?’

‘Into nonbeing, which is to say, everything,’ replied Professor McGonagall.

‘Nicely phrased,’ replied the eagle door knocker, and the door swung open.

The few Ravenclaws who had remained behind sprinted for the stairs as Amycus burst over the threshold, brandishing his wand. Hunched like his sister, he had a pallid, doughy face and tiny eyes, which fell at once on Alecto, sprawled motionless on the floor. He let out a yell of fury and fear.

‘What’ve they done, the little whelps?’ he screamed. ‘I’ll Cruciate the lot of ’em till they tell me who did it—and what’s the Dark Lord going to say?’ he shrieked, standing over his sister and smacking himself on the forehead with his fist, ‘We haven’t got him, and they’ve gone and killed her!’

‘She’s only Stunned,’ said Professor McGonagall impatiently, who had stooped down to examine Alecto. ‘She’ll be perfectly all right.’

‘No she bludgering well won’t!’ bellowed Amycus. ‘Not after the Dark Lord gets hold of her! She’s gone and sent for him, I felt me Mark burn, and he thinks we’ve got Potter!’

‘Got Potter?’ said Professor McGonagall sharply. ‘What do you mean, “got Potter”?’

‘He told us Potter might try and get inside Ravenclaw Tower, and to send for him if we caught him!’

‘Why would Harry Potter try to get inside Ravenclaw Tower? Potter belongs in Horace’s House!’

‘We was told he might come in here!’ said Carrow. ‘I dunno why, do I?’

Professor McGonagall stood up and her beady eyes swept the room. Twice they passed right over the place where Harry and Luna stood.

‘We can push it off on the kids,’ said Amycus, his piglike face suddenly crafty. ‘Yeah, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll say Alecto was ambushed by the kids, them kids up there’—he looked up at the starry ceiling toward the dormitories—‘and we’ll say they forced her to press the Mark, and that’s why he got a false alarm…He can punish them. Couple of kids more or less, what’s the difference?’

‘Only the difference between truth and lies, courage and cowardice,’ said Professor McGonagall, who had turned pale, ‘a difference, in short, which you and your sister seem unable to appreciate. But let me make one thing very clear. You are not going to pass off your many ineptitudes on the students of Hogwarts. I shall not permit it.’

Pride in McGonagall’s words warmed Harry’s heart.

‘Excuse me?’

Amycus moved forward until he was offensively close to Professor McGonagall, his face within inches of hers. She refused to back away, but looked down at him as if he were something disgusting she had found stuck to a lavatory seat.

‘It’s not a case of what you’ll permit, Minerva McGonagall. You time’s over. It’s us what’s in charge here now, and you’ll back me up or you’ll pay the price.’

And he spat in her face.

Harry pulled the Cloak off himself, raised his wand, and said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that.’

As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted, ‘Crucio!’

The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor.

‘I see what Bellatrix meant,’ said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, ‘you need to really mean it.’

‘Potter!’ whispered Professor McGonagall, clutching her heart. ‘Potter—you’re here! What—? How—?’

She struggled to pull herself together. ‘Potter, that was foolish!’

‘He spat at you,’ said Harry.

‘Potter, I—that was very—very gallant of you—but don’t you realize —?’

‘Yeah, I do,’ Harry assured her. Somehow her panic steadied him. ‘Professor McGonagall, Voldemort’s on the way.’

‘Oh, are we allowed to say the name now?’ asked Luna with an air of interest, pulling off the Invisibility Cloak. This appearance of a second outlaw seemed to overwhelm Professor McGonagall, who staggered backward and fell into a nearby chair, clutching at the neck of her old tartan dressing gown.

‘I don’t think it makes any difference what we call him,’ Harry told Luna. ‘He already knows where I am.’

In a distant part of Harry’s brain, that part connected to the angry, burning scar, he could see Voldemort sailing fast over the dark lake in the ghostly green boat…He had nearly reached the island where the stone basin stood…

‘You must flee,’ whispered Professor McGonagall. ‘Now, Potter, as quickly as you can!’

‘I can’t,’ said Harry. ‘There’s something I need to do. Professor, do you know where the diadem of Ravenclaw is?’

‘The d–diadem of Ravenclaw? Of course not—hasn’t it been lost for centuries?’ She sat up a little straighter. ‘Potter, it was madness, utter madness, for you to enter this castle—‘

‘I had to,’ said Harry. ‘Professor, there’s something hidden here that I’m supposed to find, something to stop Voldemort, and it could be the diadem—if I could just speak to Professor Flitwick—‘

There was a sound of movement, of clinking glass: Amycus was coming around. Before Harry or Luna could act, Professor McGonagall rose to her feet, pointing her want at the groggy Death Eater, and said, ‘Imperio.’

Amycus got up, walked over to his sister, picked up her wand, then shuffled obediently to Professor McGonagall and handed it over along with his own. Then he lay down on the floor beside Alecto. Professor McGonagall waved her wand again, and a length of shimmering silver rope appeared out of thin air and snaked around the Carrows, binding them tightly together, and finally she muttered, ‘Mimblewimble,’ which Harry knew would keep the two Death Eater siblings from speaking.

‘Potter,’ said Professor McGonagall, turning to face him again with superb indifference to the Carrows’ predicament, ‘if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named does indeed know that you are here—‘

As she said it, a wrath that was like physical pain blazed through Harry, setting his scar on fire, and for a second he looked down upon a basin whose potion had turned clear, and saw that no golden locket lay safe beneath the surface—

‘Potter, are you all right?’ said a voice, and Harry came back. He was clutching Luna’s shoulder to steady himself.

‘Time’s running out, Voldemort’s getting nearer. Professor, I’m acting on Dumbledore’s orders, I must find what he wanted me to find! But we’ve got to get the students out while I’m searching the castle—It’s me Voldemort wants, but he won’t care about killing any kid who gets in his way, especially not now—‘ not now that he knows I’m attacking Horcruxes. Harry finished the sentence in his head.

‘You’re acting on Dumbledore’s orders?’ she repeated with a look of dawning wonder. Then she drew herself up to her fullest height. ‘We shall secure the school against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named while you search for this—this object.’

‘Is that possible?’

‘I think so,’ said Professor McGonagall dryly, ‘we teachers are rather good at magic, you know. I am sure we will be able to hold him off for a while if we all put out best efforts into it. Of course, something will have to be done about Professor Snape—‘

‘Let me—‘

‘—and if Hogwarts is about to enter a stage of siege, with the Dark Lord at the gates, it would indeed be advisable to take as many innocent people out of the way as possible. With the Floo network under observation, and Apparition impossible within the grounds—‘

‘There’s a way,’ said Harry quickly, and he explained about the passageway leading into the Hog’s Head.

‘Potter, we’re talking about hundreds of students—‘

‘I know, Professor, but if Voldemort and the Death Eaters are concentrating on the school boundaries they won’t be interested in anyone who’s Disapparating out of Hog’s Head.’

‘There’s something in that,’ she agreed. She pointed her wand at the Carrows, and a silver net fell upon their bound bodies, tied itself around them, and hoisted them into the air, where they dangled beneath the blue-and-gold ceiling like two large, ugly sea creatures. ‘Come. We must alert the other Heads of House. You’d better put that Cloak back on.’

She marched toward the door, and as she did so she raised her wand. From the tip burst three silver cats with spectacle markings around their eyes. The Patronuses ran sleekly ahead, filling the spiral staircase with silvery light, as Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Luna hurried back down.

Along the corridors they raced, and one by one the Patronuses left them; Professor McGonagall’s tartan dressing gown rustled over the floor, and Harry and Luna jogged behind her under the Cloak.

They had descended two more floors when another set of quiet footsteps joined theirs, Harry, whose scar was still prickling, heard them first. He felt in the pouch around his neck for the Marauder’s Map, but before he could take it out, McGonagall too seemed to become aware of their company, She halted, raised her wand ready to duel, and said, ‘Who’s there?’

‘It is I,’ said a low voice.

From behind a suit of armour stepped Severus Snape.

Hatred boiled up in Harry at the sight of him: He had forgotten the details of Snape’s appearance in the magnitude of his crimes, forgotten how his greasy black hair hung in curtains around his thin face, how his black eyes had a dead, cold look. He was not wearing nightclothes, but was dressed in his usual black cloak, and he too was holding his wand ready for a fight.

‘Where are the Carrows?’ he asked quietly.

‘Wherever you told them to be, I expect, Severus,’ said Professor McGonagall.

Snape stopped nearer, and his eyes flitted over Professor McGonagall into the air around her, as if he knew that Harry was there. Harry held up his wand tip too, ready to attack.

‘I was under the impression,’ said Snape, ‘that Alecto had apprehended an intruder.’

‘Really?’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘And what gave you that impression?’

Snape made a slight flexing movement of his left arm, where the Dark Mark was branded into his skin.

‘Oh, but naturally,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘You Death Eaters have your own private means of communication, I forgot.’

Snape pretended not to have heard her. His eyes were still probing the air all about her, and he was moving gradually closer, with an air of hardly noticing what he was doing.

‘I did not know that it was your night to patrol the corridors, Minerva.’

‘You have some objection?’

‘I wonder what could have brought you out of your bed at this hour?’

‘I thought I heard a disturbance,’ said Professor McGonagall.

‘Really? But all seems calm.’

Snape looked into her eyes.

‘Have you seen Harry Potter, Minerva? Because if you have, I must insist—‘

Professor McGonagall moved faster than Harry could have believed: Her wand slashed through the air and for a split second Harry thought that Snape must crumple, unconscious, but the swiftness of his Shield Charm was such that McGonagall was thrown off balance. She brandished her wand at a torch on the wall and it flew out of its bracket. Harry, about to curse Snape, was forced to pull Luna out of the way of the descending flames, which became a ring of fire that filled the corridor and flew like a lasso at Snape—

Then it was no longer fire, but a great black serpent that McGonagall blasted to smoke, which re-formed and solidified in seconds to become a swarm of pursuing daggers. Snape avoided them only be forcing the suit of armour in front of him, and with echoing clang, the dagger sank, one after another, into the breast—

‘Minerva!’ said a squeaky voice, and looking behind him, still shielding Luna from flying spells, Harry saw Professor Flitwick and Sprout sprinting up the corridor toward them in the nightclothes, with the enormous Professor Slughorn panting along at the rear.

‘No!’ squeaking Flitwick, raising his wand. ‘You’ll do more murder at Hogwarts!’

Flitwick’s spell hit the suit of armour behind which Snap had taken shelter: With a clatter it came to life. Snape struggled free of the crushing arms and sent it flying back toward his attackers; Harry and Luna had to dive sideways to avoid it as it smashed into the wall and shattered. When Harry looked up again, Snape was in full flight, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout all thundering after him. He hurtled through a classroom door and, moments later, he heard McGonagall cry, ‘Coward! COWARD!’

‘What’s happened, what’s happened?’ asked Luna.

Harry dragged her to her feet and they raced along the corridor, trailing the invisibility Cloak behind them, into the deserted classroom where Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout were standing at a smashed window.

‘He jumped,’ said Professor McGonagall as Harry and Luna ran into the room.

‘You means he’s dead?’ Harry sprinted to the window, ignoring Flitwick’s and Sprout’s yells of shock at his sudden appearance.

‘No, he’s not dead,’ said McGonagall bitterly. ‘Unlike Dumbledore, he was still carrying a wand…and he seems to have learned a few tricks from his master.’

With a tingle of horror, Harry saw in the distance a huge, batlike shape flying through the darkness toward the perimeter wall.

There were heavy footfalls behind them, and a great deal of puffing: Slughorn had just caught up.

‘Harry!’ he panted, massaging his immense chest beneath his emerald-green silk pajamas. ‘My dear boy…what a surprise...Minerva, do please explain...Severus...what..?’

‘Our headmaster is taking a short break,’ said Professor McGonagall, pointing at the Snape-shaped hole in the windows.

‘Professor!’ Harry shouted, his hands at his forehead. He could see the Inferi-filled lake sliding beneath him, and he felt the ghostly green boat bump into the underground shore, and Voldemort leapt from it with murder in his heart—

‘Professor, we’ve got to barricade the school, he’s coming now!’

‘Very well. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is coming,’ she told the other teachers. Sprout and Flitwick gasped; Slughorn let out a low groan. ‘Potter has work to do in the castle on Dumbledore’s orders. We need to put in place every protection of which we are capable while Potter does what he needs to do.’

‘You realize, of course, that nothing we do will be able to keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely?’ said Professor Sprout.

‘Thank you, Pomona,’ said Professor McGonagall, and between the two witches there passed a look of grim understanding. ‘I suggest we establish basic protection around the place, then gather our students and meet in the Great Hall. Most must be evacuated, though if any of those who are over age wish to stay and fight, I think they ought to be given the chance.’

‘Agreed,” said Professor Sprout, already hurrying toward the door. ‘I shall meet you in the Great Hall in twenty minutes with my House.’

And as she jogged out of sight, they could hear her muttering, ‘Tentacula, Devil’s Snare. And Snargaluff pod…yes, I’d like to see the Death Eaters fighting those.’

‘I can act from here,’ said Flitwick, and although he could bare see out of it, he pointed his wand through the smashed window and started muttering incantations of great complexity. Harry heard a weird rushing noise, as though Flitwick had unleashed the power of the wind into the grounds.

‘Professor,’ Harry said, approaching the little Charms master, ‘Professor, I’m sorry to interrupt, but this is important. Have you got any idea where the diadem of Ravenclaw is?’

‘—Protego Horribilis—the diadem of Ravenclaw?’ squeaked Flitwick. ‘A little extra wisdom never goes amiss, Potter, but I hardly think it would be much use in this situation!’

‘I only meant—do you know where it is? Have you seen it?”

‘Seen it? Nobody has seen it in living memory! Long since lost, my boy!’

Harry felt a mixture of desperate disappointment and panic. What, then, was the Horcrux?

‘We shall meet you and your Ravenclaws in the Great Hall, Filius!’ said Professor McGonagall, beckoning to Harry and Luna to follow her.

They had just reached the door when Slughorn rumbled into speech.

‘My word,’ he puffed, pale and sweaty, his walrus mustache aquiver. 'What a to-do! I’m not at all sure whether this is wise, Minerva. He is bound to find a way in, you know, and anyone who has tried to delay him will be in most grievous peril—‘

‘I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great hall in twenty minutes, also,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistance or take up arms against us within this castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill.’

‘Minerva!’ he said, aghast.

‘The time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties,’ interrupted Professor McGonagall. ‘To follow Potter's example, or the Death Eaters'. Go and wake your students, Horace.’

Harry did not stay to watch Slughorn splutter: He and Luna ran after Professor McGonagall, who had taken up a position in the middle of the corridor and raised her wand.

‘Piertotum—oh, for heaven’s sake, Filch, not now—‘

The aged caretaker had just come hobbling into view, shouting, ‘Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!’

‘They’re supposed to be here, you blithering idiot!’ shouted McGonagall. ‘Now go and do something constructive! Find Peeves!’

‘P–Peeves?’ stammered Filch as though he had never heard the name before.

‘Yes, Peeves, you fool, Peeves! Haven’t you been complaining about him for a quarter of a century? Go and fetch him, at once!’ Filch evidently thought Professor McGonagall had taken leave of her senses, but hobbled away, hunch-shouldered, muttering under his breath.

‘And now—Piertotum Locomotor!’ cried Professor McGonagall.

And all along the corridor the statues and suits of armour jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, Harry knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same.

‘Hogwarts is threatened!’ shouted Professor McGonagall. ‘Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!’

Clattering and yelling, the horde of moving statues stampeded past Harry, some of them smaller, others larger, than life. There were animals too, and the clanking suits of armour brandished swords and spiked balls on chains.

‘Now, Potter,’ said McGonagall, ‘you and Miss Lovegood had better return to your friends and bring them to the Great Hall—I shall rouse my Gryffindors.’

They parted at the top of the next staircase, Harry and Luna turning back toward the concealed entrance to the Room of Requirement. As they ran, they met crowds of students, most wearing traveling cloaks over their pajamas, being shepherded down to the Great Hall by teachers and prefects.

‘That was Potter!’

‘Harry Potter!’

‘It was him, I swear, I just saw him!’

But Harry did not look back, and at last they reached the entrance to the Room of Requirement. Harry leaned against the enchanted wall, which opened to admit them, and he and Luna sped back down the steep staircase.

‘Wh—?’

As the room came into view, Harry slipped down a few stairs in shock. It was packed, far more crowded than when he had last been in there. Kingsley and Chiara were looking up at him, as were Gemma Farley, Adrian Pucey, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, Dennis Creevey, Terence with his arm around Tracey, Bill and Fleur, and Mr and Mrs Weasley. Then, he heard a pleasantly familiar voice.

‘Harry, what’s happening?’ said Remus, meeting him at the foot of the stairs, Canini by his side.

‘Voldemort’s on his way, they’re barricading the school—Snape’s run for it—What are you doing here? How did you know?’

‘We sent messages to the rest of Dumbledore’s Army,’ Fred explained. ‘You couldn’t expect everyone to miss the fun, Harry, and the D.A. let the Order of the Phoenix know, and it all kind of snowballed.’

‘What first, Harry?’ called George. ‘What’s going on?’

‘They’re evacuating the younger kids and everyone’s meeting in the Great Hall to get organized,’ Harry said. ‘We’re fighting.’ There was a great roar and a surge toward the foot of the stairs, he was pressed back against the wall as they ran past him, the mingled members of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore’s Army, and Harry’s old Quidditch team, all with their wands drawn, heading up into the main castle.

‘I’m glad you’re here,’ said Harry to Terence as he began to pass him, he still wore a small emerald locket that matched Tracey’s. ‘You were my first friend I made here who convinced me Slytherins could be good.’

Terence patted Harry on the back, ‘I wouldn’t miss this, it’s a battle worth fighting for. I’ll see you out there.’

‘Come on, Luna,’ Dean called as he passed, holding out his free hand; she took it and followed him back up the stairs.

The crowd was thinning: Only a little knot of people remained below in the Room of Requirement, and Harry joined them. Mrs Weasley was struggling with Ginny, surrounded by Mr Weasley, Fred, George, Ron, Bill, and Fleur. Remus appeared to be having a similar conversation with Canini.

‘It was a mistake to let you convince me you could come, you should go back to the pub, someone will help you get back to Andromeda, or Tonks—‘ began Remus.

‘If you think for a second Tonks isn’t already on her way here you don’t know her at all, just like how you don’t know there is nothing that could make me leave now,’ protested Canini.

‘Cani, my precious daughter, you aren’t just barely underage, you still got nearly two full year to go. The boys I can’t stop, but you…I can’t lose you…’

‘You won’t lose me, dad. I know how to fight, you and Dumbledore’s Army taught me, and this isn’t my first—‘

‘I am very proud of you, but Dumbledore’s Army is a teenagers’ club!’

‘A club where all its members are currently gathering to fight him, something no one else has ever dared to do head on!’ chimed in Harry.

‘Harry,’ sighed Remus in deep frustration. ‘Don’t encourage her, tell your sister to go home.’

‘I won’t, she is the most loyal person I know and she has fought by my side, I can’t turn someone like that away,’ said Harry. ‘In truth I don’t want you, her, Theo, or Tonks here tonight, I also feel like I can’t lose any more family, but if we’re going to win tonight we’re going to need all the help we can get. Canini stays.’

Before anything else could be said there was a loud noise, someone else had clambered out of the tunnel, overbalanced slightly, and fallen. He pulled himself up on the nearest chair, looked around through lopsided horn-rimmed glasses, and said, ‘Am I too late? Has it started? I only just found out, so I–I—‘

Percy spluttered into silence. Evidently he had not expected to run into most of his family. There was a long moment of astonishment, broken by Fleur turning to Harry and saying, in a wildly transparent attempt to break the tension, ‘So—what ‘appended to Muriel’z tiara?’

‘Oh, we’re very sorry Fleur,’ said Tracey who was standing next to Allison. ‘We tried very hard to get it back, but it was stolen.’

‘Oh, it iz ok, not important right now,’ she began.

‘We might eventually get it back actually,’ said Harry absentmindedly. ‘I think the goblin who stole it was killed, so it’s probably still at Gringotts and as long as Muriel lives those that survived need to return it.’

‘I was a fool!’ Percy roared, so loudly that the outsiders couldn’t pretend not to be listening. ‘I was an idiot, I was a pompous prat, I was a—a—‘

‘Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron,’ said Fred. Percy swallowed.

‘Yes, I was!’

‘Well, you can’t say it fairer than that,’ said Fred, holding out his hand to Percy.

Mrs Weasley burst into tears. She ran forward, pushed Fred aside, and pulled Percy into a strangling hug, while he patted her on the back, his eyes on his father.

‘Er, ‘ave you seen Nymphadora’z baby?’ Fleur asked Remus and the others at this awkward little moment.

‘Last we saw him yesterday Teddy was a tiny little baby with a tuft of bright turquoise hair,’ said Allison.

‘I’m sorry, Dad,’ Percy said.

Mr Weasley blinked rather rapidly, then he too hurried to hug his son.

‘What made you see sense, Perce?’ inquired George.

‘It’s been coming on for a while,’ said Percy, mopping his eyes under his glasses with a corner of his traveling cloak. ‘But I had to find a way out and it’s not so easy at the Ministry, they’re imprisoning traitors all the time. I managed to make contact with Aberforth and he tipped me off ten minutes ago that Hogwarts was going to make a fight for it, so here I am.’

‘Well, we do look to our prefects to take a lead at times such as these,’ said George in a good imitation of Percy’s most pompous manner. ‘Now let’s get upstairs and fight, or all the good Death Eaters’ll be taken.’

‘So, you’re my sister-in-law now?’ said Percy, shaking hands with Fleur as they hurried off toward the staircase with Bill, Fred, and George.

‘I’m fighting,’ said Canini, in an end of discussion tone as the Weasley’s headed towards the exit of the Room of Requirement.

‘Alright,’ Remus relented, ‘but you’re to stick by my side all night.’

And she nodded.

'I thought you'd be with Terence, I saw him as he left the room,' said Harry to Tracey.

'I do want to, but I made a promise to you that I'd be by your side until all the Horcruxes are destroyed and that job isn't done yet, Terence knows this and even after all this time apart he knows it is something I must do,' she responded.

Harry, Canini, Remus, Allison, and Tracey started heading for the stairs in the wake of the Weasleys, but then Harry finally noticed an absence.

‘Where’s Theodore?’ asked Harry. ‘And Colin, I didn’t see either of them with Dennis earlier when he passed me.’

‘Theo said something about a bathroom, it was really loud then and he ran off before I could ask him what he meant,’ said Tracey.

‘A bathroom?’

Harry strode across the room to an open door leading off the Room of Requirement and checked the bathroom beyond. It was empty.

‘You’re sure that he said bath—?’

But then his scar seared and the Room of Requirement vanished: He was looking through the high wrought-iron gates with winded boars on pillars at either side, looking through the dark grounds toward the castle, which was ablaze with lights. Nagini lay draped over his shoulders. He was possessed of that cold, cruel sense of purpose that preceded murder.

I don’t like the Weasley

Bill Fred and George are cool

BUT RON AND GINNY ARE SO ANNOYING. There are literally people who edit the Harry Potter movies so we don’t have to see them.

Harry, Hermione, and Fleur can be added

Put down the info

Your gender:

Weasley you want to be assosiated with:

House:

S/S:

Personality:

Where are the places you want it to be:

Romantic or just freinds :

Harry: FINALLY we’re here

Hermione: i’m just ready to get in the ocean it’s like a million degrees out here

Ron: i’ll get in the water with you guys in a second i need to put on my 20 layers of sunscreen

Harry: WHAT THE FU-

Fred: we’re all

George: redheads what

Fred: do you expect

Harry: but still don’t you think that’s a bit much

Bill: harry do we have to tell you the story of when fred only put on 10 layers of sunscreen and not 20-

Harry: I DON’T WANNA HEAR ABOUT IT-

Bill: geez man

Ron: ok done i’m coming

Harry: finally

Ginny: imma build a sand castle lol

And thats all i have for now my brain left i cant think of anything else so imma make a part 2 soon

(A lot of plot reveals this chapter, can't wait for you all to read it.)

Previous Chapters:

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003768423

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003769317

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003770117

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003771789

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003772695

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003774876

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003775746

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003776170

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003776958

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003777821

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003778655

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003779874

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003781975

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003784137

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003786670

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003788477

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003788958

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003789922

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003790766

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003792515

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003794298

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003794299

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003795416

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003796242

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003796873

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003797451

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003798336

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003798337

https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003799052

(I have finished writing Raised By Wolfstar: Slytherin Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, final chapter will be out sometime Wednesday)

Chapter Thirty: The Phoenix Lament

‘C’mere, Harry…’

‘No.’

‘Yeh can’ stay here, Harry…Come on, now…’

‘No.’

‘We should go,’ said Tracey, her voice shaking. Her arm around him had lost its grip.

‘No.’

He did not want to leave Dumbledore’s side, he did not want to move anywhere. Hagrid’s hand on his shoulder was trembling.

Then another voice said, ‘Harry, you’re hurt, come with me.’

A much smaller and warmer hand than Hagrid's had enclosed his and was pulling him upward. He obeyed its pressure without really thinking about it. Only as he walked blindly back through the crowd did he realize, from a trace of Aloe Vera scent on the air, that it was Allison who was leading him back into the castle. Incomprehensible voices battered him, sobs and shouts and wails stabbed the night, but Harry and Theodore walked on, back up the steps into the entrance hall. Faces swam on the edges of Harry’s vision, people were peering at him, whispering, wondering, and Gryffindor rubies glistened on the floor like drops of blood as they made their way toward the marble staircase.

'We’re heading towards the hospital wing,' said Allison.

'I’m not hurt,' said Harry.

'...Harry you're bleeding,' said Allison in as sturdy of a voice as she could. 'Anyway, injured or not we're going, McGonagall has ordered everyone from the battle there. Luna, Neville, and nearly your entire family is there, including Remus—'

Fear stirred in Harry’s chest again: He had forgotten the inert figures he had left behind.

'Allison, who else is dead?'

'Someone else on our side died?' said Allison, genuinely confused.

'But the Dark Mark—Malfoy said he stepped over a body—'

'No one else is dead Harry, don't worry,' said another voice right behind them, probably Tracey if she had followed Harry and Allison. 'The body Draco probably thought was dead was Bill Weasley's, but he's alive and should recover.'

There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew meant there was more to the story.

'Are you sure?'

'Yes...he just now will share come facial features with Remus and Canini...' said Tracey really hesitantly.

'Greyback mauled him,' said Allison bluntly. 'Because its not a full moon and he wasn't transformed Bill won't turn into a werewolf, but Madam Pomfrey still had to treat his injuries with silver and dittany which shouldn't be the case. Its like Greyback has managed to be partially transformed all month long...but the point is he's alive.'

'But the others...There were other bodies on the ground...'

'Neville and Professor Flitwick were both hurt and knocked down, however Madam Pomfrey healed them right away' said Allison. 'The only one dead other than...other than...Its a Death Eater. One Death Eater, the big blonde guy, missed his target and hit him instead. He missed everyone in fact, I think Theo was wrong about Felix Felicis, that potion is a miracle worker and we'd probably all be dead without it, so thank you.'

'Yes, thank you Harry,' agreed Tracey.

They had reached the hospital wing. Pushing open the doors, Harry saw Neville lying, apparently asleep, in a bed near the door. Ron, Ginny, Colin, Theodore, Terry Boot, Susan Bones, Terence, Luna, Tonks, Canini, and Remus were gathered around another bed near the far end of the ward. At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up.

Theodore and Canini ran to Harry and hugged him; Remus, more hesitant, slowly made his way over to Harry and hugged him to and than spoke.

'Are you all right, Harry?'

'I’m fine...How’s Bill?'

Nobody answered. Harry looked over Remus’ shoulder and saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill’s pillow, so badly slashed and ripped that he looked grotesque. Madam Pomfrey was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment. Harry remembered how Snape had mended Malfoy’s Sectumsempra wounds so easily with his wand.

'Can’t you fix them with a charm or something?' he asked the matron.

'No charm will work on these,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'I’ve tried everything I know, but there is no cure for werewolf bites.'

'But he wasn’t bitten at the full moon,' said Ron, who was gazing down into his brother’s face as though he could somehow force him to mend just by staring. 'Greyback hadn’t transformed, so surely Bill won’t be a—a real—?'

He looked uncertainly at Remus and Canini. Canini subconsciously touched the scars on her own face.

'No, I don’t think that Bill will be a true werewolf,' said Remus, 'but that does not mean that there won’t be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely ever to heal fully, only close, and—and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on, although I can't be sure.'

'Dumbledore might know something that’d work, though,' Ron said. 'Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore’s orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can’t leave him in this state—'

'Ron...' said Ginny, but she choked up.

'Dumbledore is dead,' Allison finished for her.

'No!' Remus looked wildly from Allison to Tracey to Harry, as though hoping the latter might contradict her, but when Harry did not, Remus collapsed into a chair beside Bill’s bed, his hands over his face. Just over a year ago Harry had never seen Lupin lose control before, but in the last six months alone he'd seen him now break down twice; he felt as though he was intruding upon something private, indecent. He turned away and caught Ron’s eye instead, it seemed that Ron to had to look at Harry before he could believe the news.

'How did he die?' whispered Tonks. 'How did it happen?'

'Snape killed him,' said Harry. 'I was there, I saw it. We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower because that’s where the Mark was...Dumbledore was ill, he was weak, but I think he realized it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up the stairs. He immobilized me, I couldn’t do anything, I was under the Invisibility Cloak—and then Malfoy came through the door and disarmed him—'

Tracey clapped her hands to her mouth and Canini groaned. Luna’s mouth trembled.

'—more Death Eaters arrived—and Greyback—and then Snape—and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra.' Harry couldn’t go on.

Madam Pomfrey burst into tears. Nobody paid her any attention except Ginny, who whispered, 'Shh! Listen!'

Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows.

How long they all stood there, listening, he did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning, but it felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward. Like all the rest, she bore marks of the recent battle: There were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped.

'Molly and Arthur are on their way,' she said, and the spell of the music was broken: Everyone roused themselves as though coming out of trances, turning again to look at Bill, or else to rub their own eyes, shake their heads. 'Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he—when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some—'

'Snape killed Dumbledore,' said Harry.

She stared at him for a moment, then swayed alarmingly; Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have pulled herself together, ran forward, conjuring a chair from thin air, which she pushed under McGonagall.

'Snape,' repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair. 'We all wondered...but he trusted...always...Snape...I can’t believe it...'

'Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens,' said Remus, his voice uncharacteristically harsh. 'We always knew that.'

'But Dumbledore swore he was on our side!' whispered Tonks. 'I always thought Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn’t...'

'He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape,' muttered Professor McGonagall, now dabbing at the corners of her leaking eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief. 'I mean...with Snape’s history...of course people were bound to wonder...but Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape’s repentance was absolutely genuine...Wouldn’t hear a word against him!'

'I’d love to know what Snape told him to convince him,' said Tonks.

'I know,' said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. 'Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn’t realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he’d done it, sorry that they were dead.'

They all stared at him.

'And Dumbledore believed that?' said Remus incredulously. 'Dumbledore believed Snape was sorry James was dead? Snape hated James...'

'And he didn’t think my mother was worth a damn either,' said Harry, 'because she was Muggle-born..."Mudblood," he called her...'

Nobody asked how Harry knew this. All of them seemed to be lost in horrified shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth of what had happened.

'This is all my fault,' said Professor McGonagall suddenly. She looked disoriented, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands. 'My fault. I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us! If I hadn’t alerted Snape to what was going on, he might never have joined forces with the Death Eaters. I think he knew they were there before Filius told him, I don’t think he knew they were coming.'

'It isn’t your fault, Minerva,' said Remus firmly. 'We all wanted more help, we were glad to think Snape was on his way...'

'So when he arrived at the fight, he joined in on the Death Eaters’ side?' asked Harry, who wanted every detail of Snape’s duplicity and infamy, feverishly collecting more reasons to hate him, to swear vengeance.

'I don’t know exactly how it happened,' said Professor McGonagall distractedly. 'It’s all so confusing...Dumbledore had told us that he would be leaving the school for a few hours and that we were to patrol the corridors just in case...Remus, Bill, and Nymphadora were to join us...and so we patrolled. All seemed quiet. Every secret passageway out of the school was covered. We knew nobody could fly in. There were powerful enchantments on every entrance into the castle. I still don’t know how the Death Eaters can possibly have entered...'