Forbidden Magic 50

Forbidden Magic 50

Chapter 50 - Seven

Hermione’s head was hung low as she dabbed away the tears forming at her eyes. She held onto Ginny’s hand with her other hand as people went up to speak about Dumbledore’s life. Professor McGonagall broke out in tears and she spoke highly about the departed wizard.

Harry was trying his best not to cry, but he lost the battle as the words of Dumbledore’s life spread over the large audience that included merfolk and centaurs. Snape stood in the back of the funeral and Harry was still burning with rage when it was decided that he was going to be the new headmaster. He knew he wasn’t going back to Hogwarts, but it still pained him.

“Albus was most likely the most patient man I had ever met,” Professor Slughorn said with a tear rolling down his face. “He allowed me to teach and he gave me a position just as he had done many times before. Albus Dumbledore, I shall never forget you.” Slughorn burst into tears as he collapsed into Hagrid who carried him away.

Professor Sprout and Flitwick said a few words before Flitwick too burst into tears. Hagrid had to carry him as well. Once the funeral was over, Hermione was in full tears. She and Ginny both paid their last respects to the headmaster in silence. They walked away from the casket and Ginny nearly collapsed into her brother’s arms.

“It’s alright Gin,” Ron said hugging her, “It’ll be ok.” She had been holding back her tears to keep herself strong for Hermione, but she had finally lost it as she cried into his shoulder.

--

Harry was distant days even a week after the funeral and wouldn’t talk to anyone really at the burrow. He continued to apparate until he was ready to obtain his license. Hermione mastered it and obtained her license shortly after the funeral.

“Ron, your seventeenth birthday is soon, isn’t it?” Hermione asked him. He nodded his head, “And I still am missing my eyebrow when I apparate. I’m never going to get it down. Mum is getting stricter too.”

“You’ll get it, just keep trying,” Hermione smiled at him. Harry and Ron were doing their lessons as Hermione walked up the stairs and into Ginny’s room. She was sitting reading a piece of parchment that was in the book of rituals.

“What is that?” Hermione asked. Her voice startled the young Weasley as she jumped. “Oh, I found this inside the book,” Ginny answered. “It’s some secret love letter that I guess was just stored away in this book.”

“What?” Hermione said as she sat down on the bed opposite Ginny. “What do you mean love letter? Where was it hidden?”

“I mean a love letter,” Ginny handed Hermione the letter. “I don’t know who wrote it or who it was intended for but it’s rather sad. Oh and I found it in the chapter about repairing a broken heart.”

“A broken heart,” Hermione’s eyes scanned the letter and noticed that indeed, it had no names on it. The handwriting was clean and small.

To my secret love,

I’m sorry that things had to happen the way they did. I know what you felt for me. This unholy starting of feelings that you couldn’t keep away from me, but I’m afraid that you do not want to see me anymore because of the horror we experienced. I know that I cannot bring her back, neither can you, but please, don’t push me away.

It was his fault you know. It was all his fault that this happened! I don’t know why you decided to stay with him than with me. Is it blood? Perhaps, but I will tell you now that I will go forth and continue to seek what we wanted without you even though it pains me to do so. I’m sorry that you couldn’t be with me in this triumph.

Goodbye.

“Ginny,” she looked up; “I think someone wrote this for Dumbledore.” They looked at each other for a moment before Ginny got up. “Should we give it to Harry?” she asked.

“He’s been so distant lately,” Hermione sighed, “I’m not sure he’s going to be ok with this letter just yet. Then again, we can’t just hide it from him. Oh, I guess we can give it him.”

A heavy knock came at the door. “You won’t bloody believe this,” Ron’s voice came through the door, “come down here now! This is just so fucking stupid!”

Hermione opened the door to see Ron’s blue eyes flared with hate and anger. “What’s going on?” Hermione asked him. He shook his head violently, “it’s been a bloody week since Dumbledore’s funeral and oh, just get down here!”

Rufus Scrimgeour sat in the living room of the burrow with a sack of objects and a piece of rolled up parchment. Once again Hermione asked, “What’s going on?”

“Now is when they decided to read Dumbledore’s will,” Harry answered in an outrage. Hermione nearly lost her temper as she looked down on the minister. “Why so late? It’s been at least a week!”

“Miss Granger,” the minister took a deep breath, “the ministry had to examine what was left to you.”

“Are you telling me that you wanted to examine what was left to us? You had no right to do that! The law was created to stop wizards passing on dark artifacts, and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you trying to accuse Dumbledore of trying to pass us something cursed?” Hermione was breathing heavy as she peered into the eyes of the minister who had a smile across his face.

“You know the laws well Miss Granger,” Rufus smiled, “are you planning on pursuing a career in law?”

“No! I’m not,” she frowned, “I’m hoping to do some good in the world.”

Harry’s nostrils flared, “get to it then! What are these items you had to examine anyway?!”

“Well, I shall start with Miss Granger,” the minister looked at the brunette with a smile as he handed her a book. She looked down at it and read the title to herself. She was moved to the point of tears at this act of friendship towards her as she held the book close to her chest.

“Ronald Weasley,” the minister held up what looked like a lighter to Hermione, “His Deluminator.” He handed it to the confused redhead who was just happy to have something that belonged to Dumbledore. He held on to it and felt his eyes water up but he pushed it away.

“Ginny Weasley,” the minister handed her a small box; “this is for you.”

She held on to the box and slowly opened it up to reveal Dumbledore’s glasses. She was shocked as she looked at the box. “H-he left these to me?” she asked as she looked down at them. The minister nodded his head, “Mister Potter.”

Harry was handed a golden snitch. He looked down at it with a confused look on his face. Everyone else received something personal and he only got a snitch. “Why this?” Harry asked.

“Snitches have flesh memory you know,” Hermione said. Harry and Ron exchanged bewildered looks as Ginny laughed softly. “There’s a reason you got that, now stop complaining.”

“I should be going,” Rufus stood up and started for the door, “enjoy the gifts.” He walked out the door as Molly came out of the kitchen holding on to a plate. “I couldn’t bear to be here during that,” she told them, “lunch is ready.”

--

The days seemed to pass with full speed and Harry’s birthday was nearing. Ron had acquired his license for apparition finally on his second try. Harry was growing more impatient as he knew his birthday was going to mark a horrible time in his life. He learned of the blood magic at work at his Privet Drive home. His mother wanted to protect him.

He had to go to Privet Drive with everyone because the magical seal that was going to break on his birthday. He had convinced his aunt and uncle to leave much to their unhappiness.

Hermione had slight tears in her eyes as she leaned against a wall in the kitchen. The rest of the Order and D.A. were in the living room as Ginny came in through the door. “We are getting ready to take the juice,” she told her. “Are you alright?”

“My parents Ginny,” Hermione sucked her breath, “when I went to see them, I had to clear their memories and send them away. I-I can’t believe I did it.”

“They would have been in danger, you remember how many muggles have died,” Ginny held her crying lover in her arms as she ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s going to be fine, you and me can make it and you will see them again. You can reverse the spell.”

Hermione hugged her tightly, “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Moody was at the door with a smile but it quickly faded as he remember what they had to do. “Alright you two, come on then, we have to get Harry out of here you know,” he told them. They walked into the room with him as the Order stood around Harry.

“Here,” Lupin handed them polyjuice potion. Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ariana were all holding on to the polyjuice potion as Moody walked in front of them with a bag of clothes. “We are going to spilt up to confuse the death eaters,” he told them, “each of you are going to be Harry Potter and you will be protected by a member of the Order.”

They nodded their heads as they all took the potion. Hermione nodded her head as she finished the juice with a smile, “you taste great Harry.”

Ginny nearly fainted, “what?!” Hermione closed her eyes as she changed into Harry as she realized what she said. “I mean,” she opened her eyes to see Ron, Ariana and Harry laughing at her, “I meant that well, you know, Crabbe, Goyle and that cat all tasted horrible you know, and well, Harry doesn’t taste bad! He’s clear and oh bother.”

“I see how it is,” Ginny snorted, “Harry you are so lucky I like you.” Before long, seven Harry Potters stood in the living room. Hermione and Ginny turned to look at each other with a laugh. They all started to take off their clothes and Harry jumped.

“What are you doing?” he asked in horror. “Nothing,” Hermione said with a laugh, “I don’t think you want us to be you in girl’s clothing, right?”

“You know it’s disturbing enough that you sound like Hermione in my body but you are going to get naked too?” Harry covered his eyes.

“Oh relax,” Ginny said, “it’s your body anyway.”

“For me to see, not you!” Harry snapped. Tonks couldn’t hold back from laughing, “relax Harry we need to do this.”

Ron snorted while he laughed and the whole room looked at him. He had taken a pair of Harry’s glasses and put them on. “No offense mate, but you are blind,” Ron told him.

“Are you all done having a go at me?” Harry sighed, but that only made the room laugh more as they all looked like a Harry army. Moody gave out instructions and sent off each of the Potters with an Order member. Ginny was separated from Hermione and she could feel sadness coming from her lover.

Be careful, please, Hermione thought as she was taken away from her. Ginny was paired up with Tonks while Hermione was paired with Kingsley. Ginny and Tonks both rode on brooms as they were the first team to blast off into the direction of Tonk’s family house before landing at the Burrow. Hermione was to go straight to Burrow.

Up in the sky, there seemed to be no problems at first with Ginny and Tonks, but that didn’t last long as a blast of red passed near Tonks’ head. She spun on her broom as she took out her wand. Ginny ducked close to her broom as she took out her wand. Another blast went over Ginny’s head.

Remembering lessons that Ariana had given her, Ginny pointed her wand at a death eater and silently said the curse in a hoarse, "soffocare!" A blast of silver shot from her wand and hit the death eater square in the chest.

He started to gasp for air as he fell off his broom and straight down. Tonks looked at Ginny with a raised eyebrow as they hurled away from two more death eaters. “Bollire Sangue!” Ginny shouted as a dark red jet flew and hit the death eater behind her before he could utter a spell.

Her temper was horrible and back at Privet Drive as Hermione was taking off, she could feel anger rushing through her body. She griped her heart and knew that Ginny was under attack. She mounted the Thestral with Kingsley and took off into the sky.

--

Meanwhile, Ginny’s anger got the best of her as struck a death eater with a stunning spell. As the mask flew off him, she saw the face of Stan Shunpike looking at her with blank eyes. Ginny knocked her broom into his as Tonks sent a stunning spell towards him. They were close to the ground as Stan was knocked unconscious.

Fear gripped Ginny’s stomach as they ran to Tonk’s home which was set up with spell after spell for protection. Hermione, who was getting attacked by two death eaters, could feel surprise followed by fear. She tried to ignore it as fear ran through her as she fought off the death eaters with Kingsley.

She casted the Conjunctivitus Curse on one of the death eaters causing him to lose sight and fall off his broom. She held on tight as she waved her wand to stun the other death eater. Ginny who was running for her life from three more death eaters could feel her fear mixed with Hermione’s.

“Soffocare!!” she yelled at one of the death eaters who collapsed on the floor as if he were choked by invisible hands. Ginny let her wand go when she saw his body go limp; Tonks took care of the other death eater by binding him with an impedimenta spell.

They made it safely inside and miles away when Hermione was being chased by yet another death eater, she felt relief. However, Ginny’s sigh of relief was run out by fear when Lord Voldermort himself came after her. She closed her eyes and the wave of fear hit Ginny so hard, she fell over on the floor of Tonk’s family home. Hermione, what’s going on!