Chapter Thirty One – Celebrations?
Harry was holding Hermione close to him as they cried together. They had done it! Voldemort was finally dead and the prophecy fulfilled. They had also discovered that they were truly immortal now as they had both the power of Excalibur running though their veins. Both were a little scared by the implications of this, but equally comforted by the fact that nothing ever would separate them. As they held each other close they became aware that they were not alone. Nimue walked over to the pair and smiled at the pair.
"It is good to see you both alive. I take it you are aware of your full inheritance now?" she asked.
The two teens nodded at her, both too emotional to speak at the moment.
"That's good, as a result my work here is now done and I am free to move on." She said in a singsong voice.
Harry took a second to process her words and he did not like the conclusion he came to.
"Wait, Grandmother, you are not leaving are you?" he asked. He had only just learnt that this woman, the daughter of the Fae was his ultimate maternal grandmother and he wanted to learn more about her.
"I'm so sorry dear one but now that you have absorbed the essence of Excalibur, I have no anchor to this world. I have to move on to my next assignment." She told the sad teenager.
"Don't go, please don't go!" Harry begged.
Nimue smiled sadly at the young man in front of her and rested her hand against his cheek. "I have to, it is my time. Look after him Hermione and remember your work here is still incomplete. You may have won this battle but not the war. Use your gifts wisely and have many children. In the eons that follow, remember how much you love each other, and how much your grandfather and I love you." She told them. Both Harry and Hermione were weeping openly now as Nimue moved away from them. She raised her hands up high and cried to the heavens.
"MERLIN, I am ready!"
With a gold light, a figure appeared next to her. Merlin turned and gently kissed his wife before turning to Harry and Hermione.
"Well done you two, I am very proud of you both. Look after each other as well as your friends." He told them. With a screech Fawkes appeared and alighted on his shoulder.
"Goodbye you two, I have taught everything I can and it is also time for me to leave." He told them.
"We will miss you Fawkes." Hermione told him.
"Ha, no you won't two legs!"
"Mangy Bird!" Harry said with sad smile.
Fawkes briefly flew over to the pair and covered them both in his wings, dripping tears onto both of them.
"For luck!" he said, before flying back to Merlin and Nimue. He once more spread his wings and the trio began to glow every colour that Harry could think of that grew in intensity so much that both he and Hermione had to turn away. When they were able to turn back all three had vanished leaving the two in the middle of the devastated island. The pair just held each other for a long few minutes before Hermione turned to speak to her husband.
"Oh Harry, you did it, he's really gone." Hermione sobbed.
"WE did it Mione, I couldn't have done it without your help." He told her, lifting her face up so he could look into her eyes. He gently kissed her face and lips, kissing away the tears, when suddenly he thought about something.
"Hey what happened to Bellatrix? What was that Bob said about you losing an arm? Merlin, was that stuff we saw with Bob even real?"
"Off course I'm real! Now get on with it!" Came the thought directly into both of their heads.
Both teens looked around in surprise but no one could be seen. Harry shrugged and looked over at Hermione.
"I guess he must have been real, now what about Bellatrix?" he asked.
Hermione grimaced at the question. "She caught me unawares when I felt you die. I stumbled and she caught me with a cutting curse and it severed my arm and shoulder and killed me. When I came too, my arm was back and Bella was gone. I found her looking over at the lake watching you and Voldemort fight. I used the sword of Gryffindor and ...well let's just say she lost her head about something." Hermione told him.
"You mean you..." and he sliced his hand across his neck. Hermione nodded, she felt a little sick at what she had done, but at the time it seemed appropriate.
"Don't feel bad about it love, if she could she would have killed you and everyone you hold dear."
"That's just it Harry, at the time I didn't feel bad, in fact I almost enjoyed it. Does that make me a monster? Am I becoming that which we are fighting?" she asked in an anguished voice, the tears starting to form in her eyes as she contemplated her actions and how she felt about them.
"No you're not, and the reason I know this is because of how bad you are feeling now. If you were evil, you would not be bothered by what you had to do; HAD to do, not wanted to do 'Mione." He said gently as he kissed her face.
"Thank you Harry, I don't know what I would do without you. I suppose we had better get back to the school to see how they are getting on. Do you think they are still fighting?" she asked.
"Only one way to find out." Harry replied taking her hand. With a last look at the island they both faded away. A few minutes after they had left the island began to glow and slowly fade away, never to be seen again.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
The dust had barely settled on the damaged remains of the school before Minerva summoned the healers and medics. They came hurrying onto the battle fields, bags and potions in hand as they treated the injured and moved the dead. The Goblins seemed to have suffered the greatest losses, their dependence on short range weapons a distinct disadvantage over the longer range of a wand. That said Minerva had never seen a happier looking Goblin than Griphook as he and the young Silverfang limped over to her.
"Good fight!" he growled as he held up his son who had lost one arm.
"Sweet Merlin, do you need a healer?" she asked in horror.
"No Ma'am" Silverfang replied with a grin. "I have already seen one and they have cleaned and sealed the wound. Don't worry about my loss; I will be able to sing about this day to my children for decades to come. Injuries like these in such a battle are considered a great honour." He said. Griphook looked at his son with pride; he was a warrior now and would be honoured as such.
"Headmistress, we have need of a place to rest before we return to the bank. I know my father will wish to come and speak to you and Lord Potter when he gets here."
"You have our eternal thanks Warrior Goblin, you may use the main Hall, ask the House elves for any refreshments you may need. You and your clan have fought with honour and skill today and we are forever in your debt." She told him. Upon hearing the word 'debt' Griphook grinned, those were his kind of words.
"The Goblin nation will hold you to that debt, but I believe in Lord Potter and I have no doubt that the debt will be repaid many times over." He told her before the pair of them limped away, grinning like fools as they did. They were followed by the remainder of the Goblin forces; all of whom were looking happy.
She shook her head as she watched them walk away. She would never understand the warrior attitude but she was glad they were there. The losses would have been far greater than if they weren't.
With a sigh she looked over as Poppy Pomfrey walked over. "Well?" she asked.
Poppy sighed. "Well you know about the Goblins, apart from that we lost twenty three students and order members along with nearly all of the Gargoyles. Filius is badly injured but we hope he will be fine in due course but we lost Hagrid and his brother, Colin Creevey, Seamus Finnigan, Terry Boot, Charity Burbage, Michael Corner, Padma Patil..." she continued to read of the list of the dead. As she read, Minerva's head bowed and tears trickled out of her eyes.
"And the injured?" she asked in a whisper.
"Too many to read out, but nearly all are not critical. Fred Weasley lost both his legs but for some reason is still joking and laughing. Keeps going on about being 'legless' when he drinks. Lavender Brown was mauled by one of the werewolves, but we don't think she will be infected, she will however be scarred for life but she will recover. None of the Deatheaters managed to get through our lines within the castle so all the younger years are safe."
"And them?" Minerva asked as she jerked her thumb over her shoulder to the ranks of bound Death Eaters that had been roughly moved over to one of the walls.
"Well they will be fine eventually, but they are all very low on their magic, and they always will be. It seems that He who must...Damm it! Voldemort's mark increased their magical power but now with him apparently gone they have reverted back to the power levels they had before they took it. They are all out cold and will be for hours yet. It could have been a lot worse Min, if they hadn't had collapsed when they did...well it doesn't bear thinking about! What do you think happened?"
"Harry! Harry happened. I think he must have killed Voldemort and when that happened the Dark-Mark took the extra magic from all his followers. The shock must have knocked them out."
"Where are Mr and Mrs Potter, do we know if they are alright?" she asked.
"We haven't seen them yet, but I'm sure that they will be fine, after all if they killed Voldemort, what on Earth can hurt them now?" she replied.
"And what about her?" Poppy asked, pointing at the prone figure of the school, lying on a makeshift cot.
"Well yes, I'm worried about Cassie. She has suffered greatly both due to the loss of life and injury as well as the physical damage to the school. A healer tried to help but ...well she's not human. I think time is the only thing that will help, time and maybe the Potters."
"Well let's pray that they get here soon." Poppy replied. "Come on indoors; let me see to that cut. There is nothing you can do out here anymore. We can bring Cassie with us and make her more comfortable." She told her friend as she examined a deep cut on the headmistresses arm.
Slowly, with a last look at the rows of dead and the bound Death Eaters, Minerva McGonagall followed her friend into the battered school, the floating avatar of the school following behind.
A few minutes later Harry and Hermione silently appeared in the grounds of the school and looked around in shock and horror.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione whispered as she first caught sight of the damage to the school before she gasped out loud at the sight of the covered bodies being slowly moved to a more appropriate place of rest by the healers and some students. A few looked over at the couple but seemed to realise that they both needed a few moments alone.
Harry grimaced at the sight and then glared at the bound Death Eaters. He held his head in his hands and Hermione felt the weight of his guilt pressing down upon him.
"Look at me Harry James Potter; this was not your fault. Voldemort was to blame for this, and we needed to stop him. People were always going to die in this war, but without you and your skills the death toll would have been much - much greater." Hermione told him as she held his face.
"I suppose your right, but look..." he answered whilst spreading his hand over the school and towards the bodies.
"I know, but buildings can be rebuilt and those people died for what they believed in, they died free and that is important."
Harry looked around, lost in thought; that was until he spotted a figure lying with the bound Death Eaters.
"Pettigrew!" he snarled and quickly walked over to the small rat like man bundled in magical ropes. As he got there he wandlessly cast the Ennervate spell to wake the unconscious traitor.
Pettigrew's eyes fluttered open and he groaned in pain. His eyes widened as he saw the very annoyed wizard in front of him.
"Harry! How good to see you..."
"Shut it Wormtail, don't think you can wriggle out of this one. You are on your own now... Riddle, your master is dead!"
Peter's eyes grew large at the news and then narrowed and he took on a calculating look.
"Well done Harry, just as I planned. Your mother and father would be so proud of you." He wheedled.
"DONT YOU DARE MENTION MY PARENTS! You have no right to speak their names; not after you betrayed them." He yelled at the scared man.
"Harry, Harry...Betrayed? No?" he began. Harry leant down and physically hauled the man up by the lapels of his cloak and glared into his eyes. Peter whimpered, his feet dangling in the air. Harry raised one hand and it began to glow, he looked at the evil man in his other hand, dangling in the air. His eyes narrowed and his hand began to tremble with the barely repressed spell. Peter stared at the glowing hand in terror as he contemplated the death that the glowing hand represented. Finally Harry screamed out in frustration but dropped his hand to his side.
"You are an evil man and I should kill you where you stand...dangle! But I am not Riddle, and the law is the law. You will be judged by that law and will be found guilty and spend the rest of your miserable life in prison and I hope you rot in hell! "He finished as he dropped the man to his feet. Peter blanched when Harry stated that he was to spend the rest of his life in prison and so he tried to change to his Animagus form to escape. He scrunched his face up in concentration but nothing happened. He tried once more but soon he had to realise that for some reason he could not bring about the change. He began to wail and tried to grab the hem of Harry's cloak, begging for forgiveness and help.
"Struggling with your magic there Peter? I guess Voldemort took more than your soul when he marked you." He sneered.
Harry lashed out with his foot and caught the man on his jaw sending him flying back to the rest of the unconscious Death Eaters.
"Scumbag!" Harry muttered and cast a stunning spell at the distraught man. He fell back against the sea of bodies and Harry turned away to face Hermione.
"I thought you were going to kill him." She said with a worried look.
"I very nearly did, but then I guess I'm not Voldemort." He said with a wry grin before his visage turned once more melancholic.
"Harry, you are a good man and the Death Eaters will pay for their crimes once we have a good government in place." Hermione told her.
"A good Government... you do know what that may mean to the pair of us don't you?" he asked, worry etched across his face.
"I guess so, but if that's what we have to do then so be it." She replied. "We will be fine as long as we are together." She said.
Harry nodded and once more looked at the damage inflicted upon his school.
"I guess you are right, let's sort out the school building though. It pains me to see her like this."
"You sure you're up to it, you used a lot of magic earlier." Hermione asked.
"Yeah, magically I feel...powerful. I think that is a result of Fawkes 's final gift, you know his tears." Harry told her.
Hermione concentrated on her own power and realised that Harry was right, she felt very powerful indeed.
"Okay, but let's do this together." She replied. Harry grinned a sad sort of grin and summoned Merlin's...no HIS staff to him. They held hands and shut their eyes. Concentrating slightly Harry raised his staff and the tower that was damaged seemed to flow upwards and repair itself, followed by the window glass flying up from the ground and back to their frames. Lastly the two massive wooden doors repaired themselves. As they worked Cassie had appeared next to Harry and Hermione and as soon as they finished working she threw herself into their arms sobbing her heart out. She was trying to speak but was crying too hard to get any intelligible words out.
"Cassie, shush." Hermione soothed. "It will be fine, we are here now, and we love you and always will do." She told the traumatised school.
"M-M-M-Mother...look at what they did." She said as she gestured towards the dead. "A-A-A-And so many hurt... it's horrible." She hiccupped into her embrace.
"Cassie, can you tell me who has died please." Harry asked in a hurt voice.
Cassie looked up and slowly morphed from her child persona to her adult one. "Harry, this was not your fault. They would have come here with or without anything that you did. Because you killed him you saved us all. The battle was lost and we were defeated. The Death Eaters were about to kill all the adults and enslave the children when they all collapsed. I know that was when you killed him and without you and Hermione we would all be dead or worse." She told him in a gentle voice, her own grief still evident but her concern for him overriding it.
Harry nodded and sniffled but looked at her with a determined look. "Thank you Cassie I needed to be told that; can you tell me what happened here? He asked her. Cassie began to tell Harry the events of the battle in detail. She ended with telling him about the fate of the Death Eaters.
Harry nodded but there was still something he needed to know.
Thank you for that Cassie but I still need to know who has died."
Cassie sighed and began to recite the list. Both Harry and Hermione gasped at some of the names, especially the ones they knew well such as Dean, Seamus or Colin.
"I'm sorry Harry, so sorry to tell you this but Hagrid also died. Both he and his brother were trying to lure the giants away when they were killed." Cassie told him.
Harry stared at her with an odd expression. The words would not sink in; Hagrid was his first friend, the one who rescued him from his prison. He stood and walked over to the outer edge of the quad with his head down as the words and thoughts ran around his head. Slowly he looked up to the heavens and suddenly he screamed in pain and anguish, not just for Hagrid but for all the dead. The ones that died here today and those that had died before. He screamed for Dan Granger, he screamed for Xeno, Augusta, poor little Colin Creevey and the others. He even screamed for the Dursleys. As he screamed the clouds turned black and thunder and lightning crashed across the sky. Finally, emotionally exhausted he fell to his knees and wept for those lost. He became aware that Hermione was holding him close to her chest and he nuzzled into her breasts for comfort. As she held him the clouds returned to their previous state and the sudden storm abated.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Yeah?" he answered in a broken voice.
"We have company." She replied. Looking up, Harry saw that everyone who was capable had come out to witness the return of their saviours. Even some of the injured had made their way down to the school entrance. Fred was sat in an odd looking wooden wheel chair, grinning like a loon (or due to the medication he was on) with George stood next to him with the rest of the Weasleys. Charlotte was stood hand in hand with Luna in the front along with the remaining teachers. They were all silently watching the pair as they knelt on the ground in grief. Slowly Harry climbed to his feet and aided by Hermione faced the school.
Neville, with Ginny by his side slowly started to clap to a slow beat that was soon joined by others. Within moments the entire school was applauding the pair, cheering and yelling their relief and happiness that the tyrant was gone.
#But I don't deserve this...all those that died?# Harry thought to Hermione, embarrassed by the attention.
#Do you not think they know about the dead, or grieve as much as we do? They need this, and they are aware that if you hadn't of stopped Voldemort when you did, the outcome for them would have been much worse.# Hermione thought back, equally embarrassed by the attention, but more able to contemplate the reasons.
Finally Harry understood, he had killed Voldemort, and he had somehow saved many lives. Sure there were losses, but the losses were not his fault but Voldemort's.
He finally smiled at the group, and this seemed to be the instant many had being waiting for, because suddenly many of his friends rushed forward to embrace and hug the couple.
Luna had run up to them first and was currently attached to Harry's side; Charlotte was holding Hermione's hand and crying her eyes out.
"Hey Lotte, it's okay, we are fine." Hermione told the young girl.
"I-I-I-I was so scared for you, for both of you." She hiccupped at her.
"Shush, it's over for the moment, Voldemort is dead. And you are safe." Hermione gently told her. Harry was comforting Luna and Ginny who had also run up to him. Finally Professor McGonagall walked over to the group.
"Lord Potter...Harry...oh Harry!" she began but the tears beat her and she broke down and cried.
Harry put an awkward arm around his headmistress and tried his best to consol her.
"All those deaths...I'm sorry Harry but I tried to stop them, there were just so many of them." She cried to him.
Harry was amazed. He thought that everyone would blame him. Never did he consider that others would blame themselves. It was something of a cathartic moment for Harry as he realised that.
"Minerva, please don't blame yourself. The outcome could have been a lot worse from what Cassie tells me if you and the rest of the students didn't fight as hard as you did. The only people to blame are Tom and his Death Eaters." He told her gently.
Minerva nodded sadly and smiled at him. She turned and looked at the large crowd behind her and back at Harry with an expectant look on her face. Harry looked puzzled and turned to Hermione.
"Love, she wants you to address the crowd." Hermione told him.
Harry gasped, "I can't do that! I don't have that right." He said.
"Love, these people fought for themselves, they fought because it's right but they also fought for you and me. They deserve to be thanked for that, and I know you can do this." She said.
Harry breathed a resigned sigh and then he stood tall and turned to the crowd. They all went quite as the young man in front of them gathered his thoughts. For a few seconds there was silence as Harry worked out what he wanted to say.
"Students, Teachers and Goblins – defenders of Hogwarts. You have all fought bravely today and because of your actions the world is a safer place. Voldemort is dead and his followers are defeated. Many of our friends have paid the ultimate price for our victory; many more are injured or hurt. Our world is in turmoil, we have no real leadership or government but those that fell require us to fight on. We owe it to them to make our world the best it can be and with your help I believe that we will grow stronger and our society will become one we can be proud of. One where any magical being from any background is treated with honour and respect; blood does not dictate magical ability – Tom Riddle thought that and he paid the price for his beliefs. We cannot let the seeds of evil grow again, if we do nothing then another with evil in their heart will come forward. A wise man once said that all it takes for evil to grow is for good men to do nothing. We cannot do nothing, we dare not let that happen. We owe it to our friends and colleagues to make this world a better world, we owe it to the fallen here today and those that fell before. Let us not fall into that trap again. Thank you."
There was a short moment of silence before the crowd erupted in applause and shouting. This carried on for a while before Minerva began to usher people back to the school and Poppy began scalding the injured for leaving the infirmary. Soon all that was left stood outside were Harry, Hermione, Luna, Cassie, the Weasleys and the headmistress.
"Good speech Harry." Minerva said with a proud look on her face.
"Well said Harry, I am so proud of you, well both of you really." Molly said.
"But Fred..." Harry began.
"Harry don't worry about Fred, he's alive and that's all that matters. He may have no legs but he is still my son and I'm sure that the pair of them will come up with something."
Harry nodded and was about to say something when Minerva spoke up. "We still have a lot to do Lord Potter. Jugson and his cronies are still in charge in the Ministry and he will be sure to try something so the Pureblood bigots retain their grip on power. We need to plan our response and soon." She said.
Harry grimaced at the possibilities that presented themselves to him but nodded in acceptance.
"Can you gather our people in the Room of Requirement in a few hours time to plan this? I will ask Dobby to bring the people at the Cottage here. But first Hermione and I need to freshen up and find some food, I'm sodding starving." He said causing a few giggles from the small crowd.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
It was an hour later and Harry and Hermione, now fed silently appeared in their bedroom at the Cottage. They wanted a few minutes of time alone and the school failed to provide that. Everyone was running around either helping to tidy the place up or helping with the wounded. The captured Death-Eaters had all been placed in the expanded cells in the dungeons with the other prisoners. There was an interesting moment when Peter was placed in the same cell as Serverus Snape. Peter's eyes raised and his face filled with hope when he first saw the ex-potions master. But they soon fell when he realised that Snape was a drooling mindless husk, staring into space. The rest of the prisoners'- well the rest that had regained consciousness made the usual threats of retribution and dire consequences, but they all went unheeded. The unconscious ones were placed in the cells and then unbound. They were all searched and any wands found were snapped and any portkey's destroyed. Water and bread was placed with all, but nothing else.
Harry looked around his house, almost silent at the moment, due to the reduced number of occupants present and breathed a deep sigh of relief. He took Hermione in his arms and looked down on her upturned face. She was looking into his eyes and he could sense all sorts of emotions coming from her. Relief that Voldemort was dead, shame at killing Bellatrix, fear of the future – both their absolute immortality and the potential upcoming battle with Ron, tiredness, a small amount of lust and massive amounts of love for him.
"Mione..." he breathed as he took in her scent, a delightful mixture of strawberries and honey. He slowly bent down to capture her lips with his and they had just begun a most delightful kiss when they heard from the door way a noise.
"Ahem!"
Both teens sighed and rested their foreheads against each other for a few seconds before looking up. Stood at the doorway were Emma Granger, Dudley and Lisa along with Andromeda with the small baby Teddy resting in her arms. The traumatised Pansy was stood at the back of the group, her features haunted and scared.
"Well?" Emma asked in an odd voice, afraid to ask the obvious.
Hermione looked at her mother with love as well as sadness as she contemplated the loss of her father once more. She cleared her throat and tried to smile at her, but this soon turned to a grimace.
"We won, but at a price. We lost quite a few friends and colleagues but we won." Hermione told her mother who had tears in her eyes as she looked at the pair.
"Who?" Andromeda asked in a strangled voice.
"Remus and Tonks are fine Andy, Tonks broke her arm when she tripped up but they are both fine. They are helping with the wounded but told me to let you know that they will be back later."
Andromeda sobbed with a mixture of relief and shame, relief that her daughter and son-in-law was fine, but shame that she was so relieved about her family but knowing that others were not so fortunate.
"We lost Hagrid and his brother though, as well as many more." Harry said in a strangled voice, and he recited the list of the dead to the group. Emma had moved over and was holding her daughter, crying with relief as well as some grief for the people who had passed even though she didn't know any of them.
"Mum, it's okay. I'm fine and Voldemort is gone. The battle still however goes on and we don't have long before we need to go back. For now the physical fighting is over, that is until we have to face Ron, but the political fight is just begun. Our world is a mess and the pureblood bigots are still in charge. We need to go back to face them and put a good government in place of the corrupt one we have now. It may mean Harry and me revealing things we don't want to known but if that's what it takes then we will do it." She told her.
"What things love?" Emma asked.
Hermione looked over at Harry and a brief unspoken conversation took place before Harry nodded to her.
"Mum, Harry found out something about his ancestry a few days ago and it affects me because I am his wife. You see Harry is the heir of Arthur Pendragon..." as she spoke Andromeda, Lisa and Pansy gasped and all fell to their knees with head bowed.
"Please you two don't do that, we neither want nor do we deserve this." Hermione told them embarrassed by the actions. Emma and Dudley were looking confused as they gazed at the kneeling witches.
"Hermione, do you mean by Arthur Pendragon – King Arthur as in Merlin and Arthur, the king?" she asked in an awed voice.
"Yes mum, both Harry and I are related to Merlin and his wife Nimue and Harry is related to King Arthur. Harry abdicated, or at least tried to abdicate the rights to the throne, but it seems that we may need to reveal the connection if we are to get things done."
"Wow, so that means you are..." Emma began but trailed of in confusion as she tried to work it out.
"Yes, I am the Princess Hermione Jane Pendragon as well as other titles but it's all rubbish really. I am and always will be just Hermione for you and all my friends." She told her awed mother.
There was a long silence during which Harry gently pulled both Lisa and Andromeda up to their feet. Pansy tried to resist and when Harry did manage to get her to her feet she kept her head bowed and refused to look at him.
"Pansy? Pansy, look at me please." He asked in a gentle voice. Slowly the girl raised her head and demurely looked at him.
"My Liege!" she whispered.
"Pansy, I'm nobody's Liege. I am just Harry to my friends, and despite all that has happened I believe that you can be my friend. How are you feeling?"
"Better my Lord, Andromeda has helped with the pain and I am trying to come to terms with what happened to me. My family is dead to me, they helped Malfoy to achieve his goals and it was my father who first placed the Imperius on me. I have no family now and I have no place in the world. I am Pansy Noname..." she wept.
"Not anymore, from today forward you will be Pansy Potter, sister to me and sister-in-law to Hermione, so mote it be!" A flash of light sealed the vow and for the first time in a very long time Pansy smiled a genuine smile as she felt the Potter family magic fill he being.
The rest of the group were watching with smiled on their faces and soon Emma turned back to her daughter, aware that she was not telling her something.
"Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?" Emma asked.
"Err.. Well you know what we spoke about when you and Dad first came here and the two conditions that made us vulnerable. Well they have now gone and we ..." she broke off and began to cry into her mother's arms.
"Mum, we will live forever, maybe even longer than that." She whispered into her mother's ear."
"So why are you crying?" Emma asked her quietly in her ear.
"I don't know, it's just a lot to take in you know. If I didn't have Harry with me I think I'd go nuts, but I do have him and always will." She sniffed.
Emma straightened and smiled. "Come on you two, let's have a drink and you can tell us of your plans. It looks like we have a government to soon topple."
Chapter Thirty Two – How to Topple the Ministry – Part one.
It was early the following day; Harry and Hermione had spent most of the evening with the remaining Order members and their close friends discussing the plans for the reformation of the Ministry. They had talked long into the night and despite a few arguments the plans had been made. A lot depended on Harry and Hermione but they had both assured the group that they were prepared to do what needed to be done. Both Harry and Hermione had decided to go back to the cottage for the night and had taken both Tonks and Remus with them. The reunion with the pair and their son and Andromeda was emotional and it was an exhausted immortal pair that finally fell into bed.
They were awoken by the sounds of a baby crying somewhere in the house. Harry was slightly confused for a few seconds by this unfamiliar noise before his senses kicked in and he realised that it was Teddy. He could hear Tonks get up to see to her infant son and Harry felt very comforted by the very normalness of the situation.
"Hey Harry, do you think that may be us in a few years time?" Hermione whispered in his ear.
"Merlin I hope so love." He replied.
He felt her smile and then she huskily whispered in his ear, "Want to practise?"
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
An hour later, the two showered teens made their way down to the kitchen of the cottage and greeted the few who were up.
Emma Granger looked over at her daughter and recognised the 'glow' of good sex and she sighed with a sad sigh. It was not as if she held it against her daughter but it was times like these that she missed Dan the most.
"Morning you two, you are looking...well." She commented.
Hermione had the grace to blush as she picked up her mother's insinuation but smiled and nodded. Tonks sat with baby Teddy in her arms guffawed loudly as she fed her son. She was discreetly holding the small baby to her breast and seemed very content; her broken arm clearly mended overnight. Normally Harry would have blushed to see Tonks's breast, even just the small amount he could see at the moment, but for some reason he found the sight beautiful and it nearly brought tears to his eyes.
"Wotcha Harry, how are you doing?" she asked. She had a dreamy smile on her face as her son drank his breakfast, his hair colour mirroring his mother's bright pink look.
"Well Tonks, well. You seem happy." He replied.
She looked down and Teddy and then back at Harry with the biggest smile he had ever seen. "I'm sore, shattered and yesterday was awful...but I have never been happier than right now."
Harry walked over and gently brushed the hair of his godson, who glanced at him but did not stop feeding. His hair however briefly turned black and his eyes turned emerald green, before he looked away and carried on his breakfast. Slowly his hair resumed its pink colour.
Harry looked into Tonks's eyes and smiled. He gently kissed her head and walked back over to Hermione who looked at him with a quizzical expression.
"Later." He muttered before turning back to the small group.
"We have to be going, will you be okay here?" he asked.
"Don't you even want breakfast?" Emma asked.
"Yes, but we need to get it at the school. We are expecting something to happen today and if we are right, it will be an interesting breakfast." Hermione told her mother.
"Okay dear, you be careful, and you Harry." She said realising that even if they weren't careful nothing would be able to harm them anyway.
Hermione smiled and kissed her mother on the cheek and then the two faded away.
Remus walked in and looked around in confusion. "Did I just hear Harry and Hermione in here?" he asked, his eyes red from lack of sleep.
"You just missed them; apparently they have a plan and need to be at the school for it to work." Tonks said to her sleepy husband.
"Damm, I wanted to thank them." He muttered and poured himself a coffee...a strong one...a strong black one.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Harry was sat with Hermione at the Gryffindor's table as breakfast was being served. Despite the traumatic events of the previous day there were many students present all talking and discussing the events of the battle. Like all kids, they soon bounced back and whilst there were some tears for lost friends, these were all dealt with compassion and understanding from the other students, teachers and a few of the remaining medics with counselling skills. Most were trying to enjoy their breakfast and the usual strict house table's rules had been relaxed. Friends sat with friends and siblings with siblings. Even some of the Slytherins were been made to feel welcome at other tables. Daphne Greengrass was sat with the Gryffindor's along with Tracey Davis. There were some notable absences with some of the injured still in the hospital wing; Lavender Brown was still recovering but she was being kept company by Parvati.
However amongst a small group, a palpable sense of tension could be felt as they awaited the action to begin. Luna was sat with 'Lotte and they both kept looking towards Cassie who was sat on the top table with the headmistress. Both were nervous as were a number of the teachers. Suddenly Cassie looked up and glanced at the doors to the hall. She nodded to herself and then looked over at Harry and Hermione.
#There here, he and ten marked Aurors and ten unmarked but Imperiused ones have just apparated the boundary of the wards, he has a further fifteen taking up positions around the school. Are you happy to let them in?# she asked Harry silently.
#Yes, we did remember not to add the Dark Mark ward didn't we?# he asked.
#Yes, they will be allowed to pass.#
#Well let them in...Its ShowTime! Make sure Minerva knows# he grinned causing both Hermione and Cassie to glare at him. He just shrugged and nodded at Luna who nodded back. Soon all the ex DA members who had been briefed on the plan knew what was about to occur as well as the guest members of the Order still present at the school.
As they students ate their breakfast, most blissfully unaware of the impending events, Harry tried to act nonchalant. Suddenly the main doors to the hall were flung open with a crash and in walked Dante Jugson, supposed Minister of Magic accompanied with his twenty Aurors. All had wands drawn and mean looking smirks on their faces.
The headmistress stood and faced the ugly looking man. "Minister, a pleasure to see you here at Hogwarts after yesterday's events. How may we help you today?" she asked politely.
"Headmistress." Jugson sneered at her. "I am here to arrest two murderers and terrorists and to place one dark creature in a place where it belongs, as well as to free some upstanding citizens this school is holding illegally." He said, spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke.
As soon as he spoke everyone went silent and stared at the slightly foaming man.
"Minister those are very serious charges; may I ask who the three accused are?" she grated.
"These people are not accused; they are guilty. Guilty of killing our glorious predecessor, Madam Bellatrix Le-Strange, Lord Thomas Riddle and many others as well as attacking numbers of innocent pureblood witches and wizards. Guards arrest Harry Potter and Hermione..." here he looked down on a fragment of parchment, "...Granger, and place the Dark Vampire known as Luna Lovegood in chains."
"Minister, surly you jest, those men and women were known Death Eaters who attacked this school yesterday, and Riddle was Voldemort..."
"Rubbish, they were upstanding members of our world. They were responding to reports that Potter was holding children captive and came to help when they were attacked in a unprovoked battle." He replied with a mad grin.
As soon as he finished talking he motioned to the Aurors who moved to surround the pair of immortals who were still nonchalantly eating breakfast. Another set moved towards Luna who bared her fangs at them causing them to gulp and step back slightly.
#Idiot! He can't even get my name right!# Hermione murmured in Harry's head. She heard a mental laugh from her husband before he looked up at the men surrounding them in faked surprise.
"Oh good morning gentlemen. How may we help you?" he asked, whilst eating a slice of crispy bacon.
"That's enough of that Potter!" the Auror is charge said as he knocked the bacon from Harry's hand. The man then roughly pulled Harry to his feet and pulled both of his hands behind his back to attach a set of magic suppression cuffs.
"Now for you Mudblood!" he snarled at Hermione, who was also yanked to her feet.
"Oi! Don't you call my wife that!" Harry yelled in a theatrical voice. Both he and Hermione had expected this and were playing to the audience.
"Silence scum!" another Auror shouted, backhanding Harry across the face. This caused Harry to fall backwards, blood appearing on his lip, which his immortality immediately repaired. However he maintained the image of the blood on his face as well as making his lip appear to swell. By now Hermione was also bound with cuffs and being manhandled back towards the Minister. The two covering Luna had bravely conjured silver chains to hold her and she was smiling at them with a very disconcerting smile, her fangs clearly on show. If they listened carefully they would have heard her growl very slightly.
#Silver Chains! Idiots that's werewolves!# Harry heard Hermione mutter. As Harry looked at her with a grin he was pulled by his hair and dragged towards the Minister, causing him to grimace in pain.
"Harry Potter and his Mudblood whore! Well-well, how the mighty has fallen; now common murderers of good honest purebloods." Jugson sneered at him, confident that he had the upper hand. He spat in Harry face, causing the students to grumble angrily. A few had risen to their feet, wands drawn. This was noticed by the Aurors who also raised wands.
"Students! Stand down!" Professor McGonagall yelled. Harry was staring into the dark eyes of Jugson who was smirking at him. Harry just stared at him for even longer and this caused Jugson to begin to worry as he gazed into the green orbs in front of him. For a brief moment of clarity Dante Jugson saw his death in those emerald green eyes before the madness once more reclaimed him. The moment was broken when a small group of Aurors led into the hall a small number of the prisoners from the dungeons, Pettigrew at the head along with the remaining members of the Punishment squad and Alecto Carrow limping with them. All were pale and tired looking; a fact of their reduced magical power even if some of them didn't know it yet.
"Is that is Stebbins? Where are the rest?" Jugson asked in an annoyed voice.
"These are all we could find Sir; we tried all sorts of revealing spells but nothing. The only one we left was Snape. His mind appears to have totally gone sir, no doubt Potters work."
Harry smiled to himself and nodded at Cassie.
#Well done Cassie, make sure the others are kept hidden, we needed to give them something and these seemed the best option.#
#Thanks Father.# Cassie thought back. Meanwhile Jugson was spluttering in rage.
"Where are our other comrades? And what did you do to Serverus Snape?" he asked forcefully at Harry.
Harry just grinned at him, a feral grin that had little humour in it.
"You must have killed them as well, more charges to add to the list! Aurors take them away. Headmistress we will be back for arrest warrants for more of your students as well as yourself. Do not run, we have guards surrounding the school as well as anti-apparition wards in the immediate area." He said in a loud voice. As soon as the Aurors tried to take Harry, Hermione and Luna away, a large number of the students moved to intercept them, wands drawn.
"STOP!" Harry yelled. "This is not the time, don't worry about us, we will be fine!" he shouted in an attempt to allay the potential bloodshed.
"Well said Potter, even so they can do nothing to help you now!" he grinned and the pair were roughly marched away followed by the small group of ex-prisoners. As soon as they left the hall, all hell broke loose with students and some teachers all shouting and yelling at once.
"SILENCE!" Minerva yelled, her voice magically enhanced. "Please everyone calm down. Lord and Lady Potter were aware that these events would happen and have planned for this. Mr Longbottom, is your team ready?"
Neville stood up, with Ginny by his side. "Ready Headmistress." He replied.
"Good, you may begin. Everyone else can I suggest we enjoy what is left of breakfast. There is still a lot of clearing up to do."
Neville, Ginny and other members of the DA all stood and left the room followed by Cassie whilst everyone else slowly sat back down, grumbling as they did.
"Good luck Harry." Minerva whispered to herself.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Harry allowed himself to be manhandled out of the school and out of the grounds of Hogwarts. All the time he was communing with Hermione through their bond checking that she was fine. The magical suppression cuffs, whilst uncomfortable, had no effect on either of their magic but they played along for the moment. Luna was still smiling and this was un-nerving the Aurors. When they got clear of the school, Jugson turned to the crowd of Aurors.
"Apparate back to the Ministry where we will deal with these two with a fair trial under a modified Wizengamot." He told them sniggering at the word 'fair'. He was looking exhausted and was swaying on his feet. The rest of the marked Wizards and Witches were not looking any better, only the Imperiused ones were looking well. They soon apparated away just leaving the marked Death Eaters.
One by one they tried to apparate away, some managed it, others failed completely; One left his arm behind which hung in the air for a few seconds before falling to the ground with a squelch.
"Come on, you can do better than that!" Jugson yelled and one by one they vanished until only Jugson was left with Harry and Hermione and their own guards as well as Luna and her two guards.
"You will have to side-apparate them." Jugson told the guards. The one holding Harry groaned and tried to side-apparate them both. Harry grinned to himself and resisted the move. The Auror stood there stupidly and blinked a few times.
"Having trouble?" Harry asked politely, only to receive a cuff to his head for his trouble.
"Well that's rude, I was only asking. Well carry on." He said in an insulting tone. Hermione was grinning; her guard was having just as much trouble apparating as Harry's was.
They all stood for a few more moments whilst the Aurors struggled to move them.
"Need a hand?" Harry asked, jingling the cuffs behind his back.
"Shut up you!" the Auror snarled.
#I think that's enough don't you love?# he thought to Hermione who nodded imperceptible at him.
Harry released his hold on the area and this allowed the two holding onto Luna to vanish. The remaining two Aurors and Jugson tried once more and with a loud 'pop' all five of them vanished. In fact Harry and Hermione had to provide most of the power used, so weak were the marked Aurors. With a loud noise all five appeared in the main foyer of the Ministry. Both Aurors and Jugson fell over in a sprawl leaving Harry and Hermione stood grinning over them. Luna was giggling from her spot a few paces away, her own guards just managing to get up after their own trip.
"You guys okay?" Harry asked the Guards and Jugson innocently causing Hermione to giggle a little. Jugson hit him cleanly in the face snapping Harry's head back. Harry glared at the man and spat out some blood.
"You need to watch your temper, Minister. Voters don't like a hot headed leader." He snarled.
Jugson stared at him for a few seconds before he spoke back.
"Let's see how a few hours in a cell cool your humour Boy! We may have to play with you for a while as well as your delightful Mudblood whore! We will leave your tame Vampire chained up with her to watch our comrades play with your whore." he snarled, Harry grinned back; although the grin had little humour in it and they were then roughly dragged through the Ministry to the holding cells where they were both thrown into separate cells and the doors slammed shut.
Harry looker around his new surroundings and wasn't impressed. The cell was dark, damp and cramped with little in the way of comfort. There was a rough wooden bed with no bed clothes or even a mattress. There were no toilet facilities except for a small grate in the floor and the room was freezing cold. He grimaced as he looked around "Well isn't this nice." He muttered, to himself. As he continued to take in his new accommodation he spotted in one corner of the room an opaque glass ball hovering and buzzing like an angry egg. It was humming slightly and he recognised it as a recording globe. It would be relaying images and sound of him to his cell keepers. Smiling to himself he turned away from the globe and silently cast a spell that fooled the instrument into relaying an image of him sitting desolately on the rough wooden bed and sobbing slightly. This done he turned back and with a clank the suppression cuffs fell to the floor. He warmed the room up and threw a glowing ball of light into one corner to illuminate the room better. With a silent thought he conjured a comfy armchair and sat in it to await the next event.
#Harry, you okay?# he heard Hermione say in his head.
#Yeah, just warmed the place up a bit and made myself comfy. You?# he thought back.
#Same, got rid of the cuffs and made myself a nice sofa. Did you have a recording globe in your cell?#
#Yeah, I charmed it to show me weeping on my lovely bed in here. How's Luna?.#
#Hungry! I've removed the chains and fed her, so she's a little happier now. I charmed the globe to show me weeping on the bed and Luna struggling to free herself.#
#Good, how long before they come for us do you think?#
#Not long I imagine, you do know they will try to torture you and try to rape me don't you?# came the thought.
#I know, I will play along with the torture but what about you?#
#Don't worry about me, They won't be able to lay a finger on me.# she thought back. #How long do you think it will be before they put us on trial?#
#A few hours at the most, they will need time to pull the Wizengamot together. We know that nearly all of the Wizengamot is either corrupt, a Death Eater or greedy. There are a few good people but most have fled. We need to remove them and then we can act.# he said.
#Yes but we also need to find those good ones that have fled. We want a democracy not a dictatorship don't we?# she asked, she heard Harry laugh back at her.
#Crikey yes, I don't fancy having to run this crazy world any longer that we have to.#
He heard her sigh in his head and felt her settle down to wait. With a wry grin he conjured a cup of tea and waited himself.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Neville and his team cast the last of their spells as the last Auror that was left to guard the school fell. Neville bound him and Cassie vanished him to the dungeons to join his companions.
"Okay Cassie, that the last of them, you can raise the Death Eater wards now and we need to be ready for Harry." He said.
Cassie concentrated and everyone felt the wards alter around the school. The small group slowly walked back to the main building where they could see a small group of Goblins appear. Getting closer they saw Griphook and Silverfang bow to a tall but old looking Goblin.
The older Goblin nodded in return and they could tell that he was asking a question. It as obvious that he did not like the answer and they heard him yell.
"They did WHAT? And YOU LET THEM TAKE PRINCE PENDRAGON AWAY?!"
Cassie looked at Neville and Ginny and they all broke into a run.
"My Lord Goblin, it is not how it looks." Cassie yelled as she skidded to a halt in front of the annoyed Goblin.
"Sorry for the interruption, let me introduce myself. I am Cassiopeia or Cassie. I am the sentient representation of Hogwarts. This is Neville Longbottom and his promised Miss Ginevra Weasley."
"Lord Ragnok at your service. May I ask what is going on? I was here to congratulate Prince Pendragon only to be told that the idiot Jugson has apprehended him and the Princess." He asked in a worried voice.
Cassie looked at Neville before answering the Goblin leader. "Don't worry sir, it is all part of Harry's plan. He knows that we need a strong Ministry now and this was his way of getting inside the building and flushing out all the Death Eaters and supporters of Voldemort in one go. He knew that Jugson would try to arrest him as a way of putting them both out of the way and continuing with the power play that he is in. Harry wanted us to make sure the school was free and that we are ready to help him if needed. He wants to hold elections for the new Minister, elections open to all over seventeen regardless of blood status but we need to take control first. He asked me to give you this letter explaining it and requesting the help of the Goblin nation. When he takes control he will need military help until we can train more Aurors and gain a new government."
Ragnok nodded at the words and took the letter. He knew that Harry would hate the publicity but his sense of what was right, not what was easy would kick in. He sliced open the letter with one sharp claw and read its contents silently. As he got to the end his face was lit up with a massive, and none too friendly grin.
"Well then the Goblin nation better stand ready to help Prince and Princess Pendragon." He said with his grin getting wider.
I.Y. I.Y .I.Y.
The cell door was flung open and three wizards entered the cell, wands drawn and evil grins on their faces. Harry recognised one of them as Philip Parkinson, father to Pansy but the other two were unknown to him.
"So Potter, not so clever now are you? None of us really believe you killed the Dark Lord. He will be back once more and when he returns you will not be around to get in his way. Time to get what's coming to you...CRUCIO!" Parkinson yelled. The sickly yellow light shot from his wand and impacted on Harry's chest. Unknown to the attackers, Harry had heard and felt them coming and had vanished the chair he was lounging on and mentally prepared himself for the curses. He had also created an illusion of the magic suppression cuffs back in place on his wrists. Despite this, the curse did hurt and it took very little acting on Harry's part to play the role of agonised victim. Falling to the floor he screamed in apparent agony causing the men to laugh as one by one they each added their own curse to Parkinson's. Finally they stopped and Harry lay panting on the floor, his muscles aching in protest briefly before his immortality stopped the pain. However Harry played along and tried to look at them in agony.
"That's just the beginning Potter, we will be back and just to let you know, your Mudblood whore is in the cell next door, the walls are thin and you will be able to hear her screams as we rape and torture her." Parkinson laughed as he shut the door.
"NOOOOOOO!" Harry yelled before suddenly standing and moving back to the newly conjured chair. He then conjured a glass of water and took a drink.
#Harry? You okay?# Hermione thought.
#Yeah, it hurt a bit but compared to Tom's Crucio it was nothing I couldn't handle. Mione, they are coming for you next.# he warned.
#Yeah I'd guessed that, don't worry I'll be fine.# came the reply. Harry felt the link break as Hermione heard the cell door open. The three men walked into her cell and grinned at her. The grin however faltered as they saw Hermione sat on a leather sofa with her own smile, Luna lounging on another chair in the corner delicately sipping from a glass of warm blood.
"Hello boys!" Hermione drawled as she wandlessly cast a memory charm on the three making them believe that they had raped and tortured her, whilst hurting Luna with the application of burning crucifixes' and dousing her in Holy water.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Harry grumbled to himself as he 'saw' how Hermione dealt with the idiots, feeling more than a little embarrassed.
Hours later and after numerous attempts to attack the pair which they both now fought off with memory charms, the cell door burst open once more, but this time a set of clean robes was thrown at Harry.
"Get dressed, it's time for your trial." The Death Eater smirked. "And don't worry, despite your friend's attempts at the school we have still managed to find a Dementor eager for your company when you are found guilty. We have also a nice shape axe for the Vampire." And with a laugh he slammed the door shut and left.
#Mione! It's Showtime!# he thought as he dressed in the robe.
Half an hour later the trio were dressed and being escorted through the Ministry towards the courtroom. There were nearly ten Aurors escorting them, wands drawn and the route was lined with workers jeering at the pair. As they walked they could see other workers prompting the jeering so it seemed that some if not all were being coerced into the public display of hatred. Before long they were taken into court room number ten. As they entered they were aware that the courtroom was full of witches and wizards, most looking gleefully as they awaited the show to begin, but there was a small but significant number looking horrified. The pair were roughly pushed into the two chairs set up in the centre of the room and as soon as they sat, rough metal chains snaked their way over the pairs bodies and held them tightly in place. Metal gags also magical appeared over their mouths to prevent them from talking. Luna was taken and roughly chained to a metal post that was sticking out of the ground.
Standing in the corner was the dark cloaked figure of a Dementor, the protective wards around it twinkling in the dim light.
Dante Jugson stood and looked around triumphantly, his eyes gleaming with madness.
"I call forth this emergency session of the Wizengamot to bring to trial and justice two murderers. Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger are both accused of the murder of Lord Tom Riddle, Lady Bellatrix Lestrange, my predecessor Minister Pius Thicknesse, as well as the suspected murder of Deloris Umbridge and Lord Lucius Malfoy. They are also charged with the deaths of nearly a hundred purebloods during a fight at Hogwarts school yesterday where they were aided by this dark creature stood here and persons yet to be charged at the school. Other charges include the attacking numerous loyal Witches and Wizards as well as the death and torture of hundreds of Muggles. Due to their un-natural ability to charm people with their lies they have been rendered unable to speak for your protection. Assembled members I personally put my own safely at risk to hear their pleas and both have made guilty pleas. These pleas have been entered into the records and both have therefore been found guilty of their crimes."
Upon hearing this, a few of the members started to angrily protest, but the rest of the assemble applauded and cheered and so the cries went unheeded.
"I can understand your anger of the crimes and deception these two have perpetrated and share your horror at the enormity of their crimes and your pleasure that they have been brought to justice. It is with these thoughts in mind that I have no hesitation in sentencing them both to death. Harry James Potter! Hermione Jean Granger! You have both been found guilty by your peers and I hereby sentence you to death by Dementors kiss. The creature that was known as Luna Lovegood, you are an evil dark creature and you also are to be destroyed. You will have your head removed by axe and your body destroyed by fire. Sentence will be carried out immediately and may Merlin have mercy on your souls. Guards! Release The Dementor and executioner destroy the Vampire!"
A man with a black hood on walked towards Luna, a large shape axe in his hands whilst the Auror guards grinned and extended the wards around the Dementor to include the two prisoners. With a snarl the Dementor began to move towards the pair.