Harry Potter and the Chest of Death

Chapter 7: Preparations for Celebrations

The Hogsmeade trip had come as expected, and the air was warmer than usual, but it still had its bitter cold. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Michelle all agreed to meet for a butterbeer at noon, so they still had plenty of time before they would have to return to Hogwarts.

Harry immediately went to the candy shop and bought a couple boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. He also picked up some truffles for himself. He exited the store, and the wind blew with a frightening shiver. Harry looked around and saw a new store with a sign that said: "Grotenda's Books & Stationary". He thought this might be a good place to pick up something for Hermione.

There was a woman behind a very old looking register. She had a tag that said "Grotenda". Harry looked around and found something that he thought Hermione would like. It was a small book, and it had the title "Days of Stars and Nights of Sun." It seemed to be about a girl named Laureate who had found out she was a witch, and it completely changed her life. Harry thought it was the kind of mushy girl stuff with deeper emotion that Hermione would enjoy. He continued to wander around the store and found a stationary kit that had flowers all along the edges of the paper and envelopes. The pen had flowers too. They were all pastel shades and Harry was delighted to find out that they smelt real too! He went up to the counter.

"That it dear?" Grotenda said. She was old, but Harry saw that her eyes were sparkling, and she seemed cheery.

"Yep," Harry said as she totaled his purchases. Ten galleons. It seemed like a lot, but Harry paid up, and left the store. He had Ron's gift of the candy, and Hermione and Michelle's as well. He was all set. Harry rushed across the street and entered the Three Broomsticks. No one was in yet, so Harry grabbed a table, and put his bags under his chair. He sat and waited for a while when finally Ron came in. He saw Harry and came over to the table.

"Harry!" Ron said as he sat down, "I can't feel my fingers! It's so cold!" Indeed Ron's hands were a slight bluish color, but as they adjusted to the warmth inside, the tint came back into them.

"I know," Harry responded. "I almost froze outside too. Did you see that new shop?"

"Grotenda's?" Ron asked as he rubbed his hands together. "Yeah. Seems nice. Not the name though. I wonder who would name their kid Grotenda..." Just then Hermione walked in with her arms full of shopping bags.

She sat down and pulled off her gloves. "I had to restock some of my potion's ingredients. Geez, those bags are heavy!"

"Hey Hermione," Ron said as he looked across the room, "isn't that Kevin?"

"O yeah," Hermione said as she tried to fix her hair.

"What's he doing with Fudge?" In fact, Ron was right. Cornelius Fudge was sitting at a table with Kevin. They seemed to be in an intense conversation. Fudge was whispering to Kevin and writing things on a napkin, and Kevin was counting something off on his fingers. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at them in disbelief. What was Kevin doing here with the Minister of Magic?

The door of the Three Broomsticks opened again, and with it a rush of cold air. Someone came in. Harry couldn't see their face because they were carrying so many bags and boxes that the mound completely covered their upper half. A face peeked out of the side, and Harry saw that it was Michelle. She smiled and headed for their table.

"I went a little crazy," she said as she shoved her purchases under her chair.

"Ya think?" Ron said. He was still looking at Kevin. "I wonder what they're talking about."

"I don't know," Hermione said, apparently disgruntled that Kevin hadn't seen her. "We've got to get going anyway." Indeed, they only had a few extra minutes before everyone would have to head back to the school. Harry, Ron, and Hermione each took some of Michelle's bags, and they headed back.

Harry was happy to have reached the castle again. It was warm inside and everyone's cheeks were rosy. They all headed for the common room, when once inside, Michelle took the bags up to the dormitory with Hermione. This gave Harry a chance to talk to Ron.

"Why would the Minister of Magic be talking to a sixth year boy in the Three Broomsticks?" Harry questioned.

"Looks a bit fuzzy to me," Ron said as he scratched his head. "You know, I've seen him go down towards the kitchens loads of times, but he never comes back up when I'm still around. I wonder what he's up to..."

"Hmm," Harry said as he wondered himself. "Ron, what time does he usually go down there?"

"I've always seen him go right after supper's over. Why?"

"What do you say about you and I going down to the Great Hall after supper, and following him?" Harry said. Ron's eyes twinkled.

"But, won't he notice that we're following him?" Ron said.

"Not if we use the Invisibility Cloak..." Ron grinned and Harry did too. Hermione and Michelle came back down and joined them.

"Just ten days until holidays," Hermione said cheerily. "I've gotten all my gifts, just need to wrap them."

"I just hope I don't get another sweater," Ron said. "I don't know why Mom makes me one every year. I guess I wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't always MAROON." Ron said this last word with an air of aggravation, but Harry also detected affection in his voice.

The last meal of the day was finally served, and Harry and Ron both hid under the Invisibility Cloak. They waited until the last person left the common room to eat, and they crept down.

"There's Kevin," Ron whispered pointing to a boy standing near the stairs that lead down to the kitchens. Harry and Ron shuffled behind as quietly as possible. Kevin walked past the picture with the green pear, and he kept going. The corridor began to slope downward slightly, and the torches struggled to keep lit in the dampness. Harry and Ron kept behind him for what seemed like nearly two hours, before Kevin finally stopped in front of a painting.

The painting was of a door. It looked almost real, except for the obvious brush strokes. Kevin stood in front of it and said "Al-te-a-goya." The painting fell off the wall, and Kevin set it leaning beside the opening it left. Harry and Ron crept in behind him.

The room in which they entered contrasted a great deal with the corridor outside. The furniture was all of the finest quality, and a massive Persian rug lay in the center of the room. There was an enormous marble fireplace at one end of the room, and Cornelius Fudge was leaning against it, looking into the flames. There were no windows, as Harry guessed they were underground, but the room was aglow with probably a hundred candles hanging from a chandelier, and more still along the walls. Harry and Ron backed into a corner, where they sat side-by-side and tried to remain as quiet as possible.

"Would you like some tea, Kevin?" Fudge questioned him. Kevin nodded in response, and Fudge rang a small silver bell that was on the mantle. A house-elf came in, this one obviously dressed to serve. She had on a miniature maid's uniform. She looked so familiar, and then Harry realized that it was Winky! She poured them each a cup of tea, and left through a very tiny door that was hidden by a rather large painting of a lake.

Fudge sat down in front of the fire, and Kevin did the same. "What can I do for you, Minister?" Kevin asked as he sipped from a delicate-looking cup.

"I've had more reports," Fudge said with a frown. "I need to know what Dumbledore's doing, and especially what Potter's doing."

"I haven't learnt anything new," he said with a sigh. Harry's eyes were open wide. "Dumbledore and Potter are both either not telling anyone, or who they are telling are keeping the secret quite well..." His voice trailed off, and he looked into the fire. "When I ask Granger how they're doing she just goes on about how much Potter and Weasley miss Quidditch, and how Swift was showing her the gifts she bought. It's all juvenile." Harry looked at Ron whose eyes were as large as Harry's were. Ron stared back in disbelief.

Fudge had a disappointed look on his face, "At this rate, Kevin, you'll never get your father out of that jail..." Harry's mouth dropped open, as did Ron's, but Kevin's eyes looked watery.

He spoke in a shaky voice, and Harry could tell that he was on the verge of tears, "Please," he said as Harry saw something run down his cheek, "I'm doing my best. My mother and I both want my father home so badly..."

Fudge looked unimpressed. "Then get me the information I want," Fudge's voice was snappy, if not cold, and Harry felt so bad for Kevin. Fudge waved Kevin away, and he began to rise. Harry and Ron both got up too, and they followed Kevin out of the room.

He was moving considerably slower down the corridor this time, and Harry could hear him trying to stifle tears. When they finally reached the Great Hall, Kevin headed off towards the bathroom, and Harry and Ron journeyed up to their dormitories. Suddenly, the Cloak snagged on a wood splinter, and it came off of Harry and Ron. Harry bundled it up quickly, put it under his robes, and they continued walking. Then, Professor McGonagall appeared from a side corridor and spotted them. Harry and Ron froze right where they were.

"What are you two doing out of the dormitories? It's nearly one!" She looked furious.

"We...um..." Harry couldn't think of anything to say.

"We were getting a midnight snack," Ron blurted out.

"Well boys," she said looking at them, "I'm afraid you can either have a weeks detention, or miss the Summer Dance. You both know that there is a new curfew. Whether you were hungry or not..."

There was no contest in their minds: "Detention." They had said it in unison.

"Very well," McGonagall said, her gaze unwavering. "I will see you both after supper in my classroom every night starting on Monday." They nodded, and managed to make it up the dormitory without getting caught by anyone else.

Harry flopped into bed, and Ron sighed, "I can't believe any of it Harry."

"I know," Harry whispered back. "I can't either." He fell asleep that night dreaming about cleaning out McGonagall's desk, or pickling brains like he had to do for Snape last year. He woke up on Sunday and pulled on his robes.

When he went down the table in the Great Hall, only Ron and Michelle were there.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked them.

Michelle motioned towards the other end of the table, "Over there."

Harry saw that Hermione was sitting with some sixth years, and right beside her was Kevin. He was running his hand through Hermione's hair, and everyone appeared to be laughing from something Hermione said.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea..." Harry said as he sat down himself. He looked at Ron.

"Why not?" Michelle questioned them. Harry and Ron looked nervously at each other, and Michelle's eyes narrowed. "What's going on? What do you two know?"

After making her promise not to tell anyone, Harry and Ron told the story of what happened last night to Michelle. She listened with astonishment in her eyes. They spent the rest of breakfast watching the other end of the table, their food getting cold.

Hermione came over after the group had left, "Hi," she said to them all.

"Did he ask you anything about us?" Ron immediately asked.

"Who? Kevin? Yeah. He always asks how everyone's doing and such," she looked at them all. "Why?"

"No reason," Harry said before Ron could snap back an answer.

"Okay," she said with her eyebrows raised. "I heard you two got detention. What happened?"

"Nothing, just getting a bite to eat from the kitchens and McGonagall saw us, that's all..." Harry's voice trailed off.

"That wasn't very smart, with the curfew and all," Hermione said. "Honestly, if you two get expelled before the New Year, I won't be surprised."

Harry shrugged, and he could see Ron gripping the table.

"O well," Michelle said waving her hand. "If they do, it doesn't affect us that much. Don't worry about it, Hermione." Hermione seemed to agree with this statement, and the weekend passed by without another mention of Kevin.

*

"Something tells me," Professor McGonagall said as she unlocked the door to her office, "that you boys were doing more than going out for a midnight snack." She looked at Harry and Ron, but neither of them were going to talk. "Very well," she said with a sigh, "whatever you two were doing, don't think I won't find out sooner or later... Ah, here we go." They were in her office now, and McGonagall was pulling out a large box from under her desk. "Your job for detention is to write out these ballots for Summer King and Queen."

"Summer what," Ron asked as he took a few of the pale yellow cards.

"We'll be having a vote for who should be the Summer King and Queen. The teachers will take nominations, so we don't have to worry about that, but what you'll be doing is filling out the cards. Here's what they should look like:"

Ballot for Summer King and Queen

Vote for King:_____________

King's house:______________

Vote for Queen:____________

Queen's house:_____________

*Reminder: The King & Queen must be Fifth years

or higher to be eligible. Votes for non-nominees will not be accepted. *

"I want it to look just like this," McGonagall said sternly. "Do your best to get the handwriting to look the same. Now, I'll leave you to your work. You should get at least two hundred done today." With that she left the room, and Harry grabbed a stack of cards for himself.

"This is going to take a while," Ron said as he began to carefully write out the cards. "I wonder who'll win..."

"Hmm," Harry said. "I'd bet a thousand galleons that Draco gets nominated..."

"That'd be a laugh," Ron said as he put his first finished card aside. "Though, I do suppose that he'd make a good Summer Queen..." They both laughed.

About an hour into work, something was tapping against the window. Harry opened it to see Hedwig fly in. "Hey," Harry said as he pet her gently. He untied the letter that was fastened to her leg, and read it out loud to Ron:

Dear Harry,

I hope that Hogwarts is treating you well. I'm sorry that I

haven't had a chance to write sooner, but I've been very busy...

This letter is really just to put you at ease. As I can imagine, you

must be very worried.

Dumbledore has done a great job of organizing a group to

track Voldemort. So far he's laying low, but we're watching him

closely, and I didn't want you to worry. Don't write back, I'm in a

secret location...I can't say anymore now.

Sirius

Harry folded the letter up tightly and stuck it in his pocket. "Well, it's good to have some news, even if it's not really news at all," he said as he continued with his work.

"Yep," Ron said looking at Harry with wide eyes. Ron finished his card and slammed it down on the large pile next to him. "I think we're done," he said to Harry. "If fact, I think we've done a little extra..." They tied up all the completed cards with a piece of string, and put them on McGonagall's desk. Harry's heart felt lighter.

"We can't leave yet though," Ron said as he looked at the clock. "Detentions are supposed to be 2 ½ hours for what we did, we'll have to wait a little while longer."

"That's okay," Harry said as he rubbed his hand. "It'll give me a chance to get feeling back in my arm..." Ron chuckled softly. "Hey Ron," Harry began, "what did you get Hermione and Michelle for Christmas?"

"Um," Ron said as he looked towards the window, "for Michelle I got a ruckshack that they had on sale in the Vintage Closet. I found some patches that had 'Dave Matthews Band' on them, and she's always talking about them- whatever they are, so I got that too..."

"And for Hermione?"

"For Hermione I got some..." Ron mumbled something that sounded like 'horse radish'.

"You got what?" Harry asked.

"Some jewelry okay? I got Hermione some JEWELRY! Honestly Harry, do you have to badger me so much?

"What?" Harry asked. "Badger you? What are you talking about, Ron?"

"Nothing," Ron said as his ears turned pink. "Sorry about that Harry...Just, I didn't want you to tease me about getting Hermione something like that..."

"Ron, you should know I wouldn't do that."

"I know, I'm sorry, Harry."

"It's okay. I won't say anything either. I want to see this jewelry first..."

"I knew you'd say something," Ron said as he looked at the clock again. "We can go now, but I swear Harry, if you say so much as a word, I'll turn your underwear into poison ivy." He laughed after saying this, and Harry started to itch just imagining it.