Harry and Hermione -- Their Sixth Year II

Chapter VIII

Tuesday, Christmas Eve, 1996

The twins and the Dumbledores had indeed arrived. Diggle, Figg, and Fletcher were also there for dinner, as were Moody, Remus, Tonks, the Weasleys, the Grangers, and of course Ron, Henrietta, Luna, Ginny, Colin, Dean, Hermione, and Harry. Twenty-two at dinner crowded even the large dining room, although they could have perhaps squeezed in two more.

Harry and Hermione had decided on traditional roast beef. Two large roasts were on the side board, and the table was laden with potatoes, breads, Yorkshire pudding, six kinds of vegetables, bowls of gravy, and an assortment of other items. Since Harry was standing to carve, he merely raised his glass of wine. "To my family!"

"Fred! Get that eyedropper away from the gravy! Put it down, or else I'll skin you alive!"

Everyone laughed, and returned Harry's toast. Dean and Diggle, seated on either side of George, had their hair turn into mistletoe for a minute.

"We'll get it right for next Christmas," Fred stated.

It was a pleasant dinner, although of course Remus and Colin didn't eat much.

Colin and Remus stripped outside the room which would be their prison most of the long winter's night. They slipped on some heavy robes and entered the room, fifteen minutes before local moonrise, which was very early that night. Tonks secured the door, and they heard her walking away, sniffling.

"Pretty shitty year, uh, Remus?" Colin said as he paced.

"Very bad," Remus agreed. "There were still some good points, especially recently.

"A few. We'd both give it all up to have them back though, wouldn't we?"

"That we would."

Upstairs, the party started to break up as soon as Remus, Colin, and Tonks left. As the host and hostess, Harry and Hermione saw Mrs. Figg, Mr. Diggle, and Dung Fletcher off, bade goodnight to the Grangers, the gaggle of Weasleys, Luna, and Henrietta, and made certain that Tonks and Dean, who were planning on spending the night in the kitchen ("Just in case," Dean had said), had a large pot of coffee and some brownies to hold them through the night.

Harry and Hermione stayed in the kitchen and talked for a while. Moody, Tonks, and Remus (and most likely Dumbledore) already knew about the growing house elf colony, and it made for a neutral topic of conversation. Harry didn't have to explain his reasoning to Dean -- Dean knew by now how Harry had been treated by the Dursleys. It was easy to see why Harry would want to help anyone or anything suffering from abuse.

Dobby brought two of the elves in (Trixie and Dilly) to help keep watch of the watchers and the werewolves. Harry and Hermione finally went to their room at little before 10:00. "What's wrong, Angel?" Harry asked as they changed.

"Those elves . . . in some ways, SPEW and ELF and ROMP have been theoretical. But they're going to need something in addition to freedom, aren't they? It's at least as much about preventing abuse as it is gaining their freedom."

"They are going to need more than just their freedom," Harry agreed. "And I wasn't really hiding them from you," Harry hastened to add.

"I know. That was the surprise you were hinting at?"

"One of them," Harry answered, "but the rest waits until tomorrow."

Hermione pretended to pout, but handed Harry a very large something that struck him as 'book-shaped'. "You may open this only on the condition that it NEVER leaves this room without my prior permission."

"Sounds interesting," Harry said with a grin. "I promise." He unwrapped the book, and found it was a large scrapbook. He opened it, and his jaw nearly dislocated.

Harry leafed through the book, very slowly. There were nine (unmoving) sketches, thirty Muggle photos, and nine wizarding photos of Hermione, obviously done between that August and just a few days before. All were not only of Hermione, all were nudes.

Harry was speechless. He looked at Hermione.

She shrugged. "It was a little embarrassing, especially at first. I hope you like it."

"I love it!" Harry had finally reached the blank pages. He started to turn back, so he could see them all again. Especially that one magical photo where Hermione was demonstrating exactly how flexible a certain spell could make the female body. . . .

"Turn to the next to last page."

Harry did so, a little worried. Then Harry blushed. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna looked back at him and waved. "Ron would kill if he knew that existed," Harry stated in awe. "Seamus would likely explode seeing you three naked at once! Maybe I can arrange both at the same time. I wonder if Ron would kill me before Seamus exploded and killed us all? It would probably be worth dying to see that."

"Don't even tease about that," Hermione scolded.

"Sorry," Harry said.

"Turn the page."

Harry took a deep breath and did so. Colin, at full attention in every respect, grinned and smiled back.

"I didn't have to see that!" Harry informed Hermione, closing the scrapbook.

"But Colin thought you did, and since he shot me, I got to shoot him."

"Fair is fair, I guess," Harry said doubtfully.

"He certainly is your 'little' brother," Hermione said with a giggle.

Harry snorted, then laid the book aside and stood to embrace Hermione. Then Harry stiffened, managed a faint groan, flung his hand to his scar, and collapsed into Hermione's arms. Hermione fell on the floor, with Harry on top of her.

She managed to hold Harry as he writhed on the floor for perhaps twenty long seconds. Hermione's mind raced, wondering what to do.

"It's over. Help me get to Dumbledore's room," Harry said from the floor a few seconds after he had stopped struggling.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I have it contained."

Dumbledore opened the door. Obviously, Moody had told the Dumbledore brothers who was approaching. "What has happened, Harry?"

"I just caught a flash. It felt like Voldemort was feeling so triumphant, he let his guard down. I know," Harry said, holding up a hand, "he could be sending a false vision. But you decide."

Dumbledore nodded. "What was the vision?"

"There had been some kind of fight, in a huge, fancy room, like a ball room. There were bodies and blood all over. My impression was it was Malfoy Manor. Voldemort was ecstatic, because Snape had been captured and was being brought before him by Bellatrix and Wormtail -- I didn't know he had escaped! Now, you tell me, is Snape at Malfoy Manor?"

"He is," Dumbledore said. "And a few of the Death Eaters escaped in early October, although that was not made public. Still, I should have informed you. Many of the unarrested Death Eaters and the children of Death Eaters are, or were, meeting at Malfoy Manor to work out a policy to oppose Voldemort. Alastor was just getting to leave on patrol, but I think he and I must alert the aurors. Aberforth will notify the appropriate Order members."

The old men hadn't changed for bed yet. They were instantly ready to go.

"Should I tell anyone else here?" Harry asked.

"Not tonight, although you may wish to alert your elves to be alert. Take a quarter dose of the dreamless sleep potion, both of you. Have the elves wake you up at Six. Tell everyone as they awake. If it is a false alarm, we will leave a note. If it is not, we will not be back by Six."

"Tonks and Dean are sitting up," Hermione reminded the Headmaster.

"Very well. Inform Tonks, and tell her not to leave the house."

Christmas

By 7:30, everyone was awake and had had a scanty breakfast. By 8:00, everyone was getting more than a bit anxious, but just sat, staring at their cups.

"I think we should open our presents," Arthur finally said. Each guest had woken up and found a stocking awaiting them on their fireplace. In each stocking were Muggle and magical candies, fruit, and a coffee mug (Harry had seen an advert for an office supply store the previous July, offering personalized items -- these were light gold, embossed with what Hermione had identified as the Potter coat of arms). Mugs like these were common for Muggles (the Grangers used the same firm for their office supplies and office gifts), but a treat for the magical (especially Arthur Weasley).

No one seemed interested in tackling the pile of presents under the tree, however. "We'll feel even less interested later," Arthur went on. "We put in a lot of effort into the presents; we might as well get a little enjoyment out of them."

Everyone was as pleased with their gifts as they could be under the circumstances. Dean was especially happy with the equipment which would allow him to set up a nice studio area in the attic. The Weasley twins had distributed a wide range of test products. Hermione and Remus had both given a wider range of books. Everyone present, including the Grangers, sported Weasley jumpers.

Harry had sent Dobby a wide-range of socks, Winky a scarf, and had had small smocks sent to the elves. As everyone looked glumly (and guiltily) at their presents, Harry cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention.

"There is one other thing," Harry said. "It's not really a present; what's in there is more of a loan." Harry pulled the chest he'd brought home Sunday out from behind the Empire sofa, and set it in front of Hermione.

Just as she was about to open it, however, the doorbell rang. A few moments later, Aberforth Dumbledore came in.

"Bad?" Arthur asked.

"'Bad' doesn't begin to describe what happened," the old Hogs Head barkeep answered, sadly. "In a nutshell, fifteen current Slytherin students who were children of Death Eaters, nine adults who had been Marked, and twenty-seven other relatives of various Death Eaters met last night around Nine. About forty-five minutes later, all the werewolves Voldemort had collected or had had created attacked, followed by trolls and dementors. While perhaps all the werewolves were killed, most of the people were killed or Kissed. At that point Voldemort and his remaining Death Eaters showed up. As best we can tell, two of the students and four of the relatives had betrayed the others. No doubt he would have tortured the other survivors, but Snape pointed out that he had felt Voldemort's pleasure, and Harry here had no doubt felt it and understood it as well. So the other survivors were quickly killed, except for Snape and young Malfoy."

"What happened to Snape and Malfoy?" Ron asked after a moment of stunned silence, since no one else wanted to.

"They were . . . eviscerated." Molly, Arthur, and the Grangers all turned pale. Harry looked stunned. Hermione closed her eyes and threw herself into Harry's arms, crying.

"They were what?" Ron and Fred demanded.

"They were gutted," Harry answered.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"It used to be how the English Muggles punished traitors. They were hung until they were partially senseless, then they ripped out their intestines and burned them in front of them."

"You mean . . . Professor Snape and . . . Draco. . . ?" Henrietta fainted. Ron caught her, and Hermione and her mother went to revive her.

"I'm afraid so, or at least most of their internal organs, other than the heart and lungs, were cut out of them. They were left alive, but dying slowly."

"But. . . ." Mister Granger objected.

"Wizards have stronger constitutions than Muggles, plus Voldemort cast several strengthening and anti-shock spells," Aberforth explained, his face drawn with tiredness and emotion. "They were still alive when I left, a little after Six this morning. They are probably dead by now. If you'll excuse me? I need some rest. My brother will no doubt be here in the early afternoon."

"I doubt if anyone is in the mood for a formal lunch or dinner. I'll speak with Dobby," Harry told Dumbledore and the rest of the group. "We'll set up a buffet in either the dining room or breakfast room by Eleven and we'll keep food there until late tonight. There'll be a fire here and in the sitting room on the first floor if you don't want to be alone. I'll ask Winky to move your presents." Harry left.

All the adults looked at each other, yet again surprised at how mature Harry was acting.

When Harry came back ten minutes later, the ground floor was deserted. He picked up the unopened chest, and mounted the stairs up to his room. It was empty so he sat in the rocking chair and rocked. He needed to meditate and practice his Occlumency.

Hermione came in about twenty minutes later. She still looked pale. "Everyone . . . get settled?" Harry asked.

"Henrietta is laying down with a cold towel, Ron has been banished to the twins' room so they can make morbid jokes, Mister Weasley and Tonks have left for the Ministry, Ginny is crying and Mrs. Weasley and Luna are with her. My parents have been introduced to fire whiskey by Remus, and are simply sitting in their room, giggling. I'm not certain where Remus, Colin, or Dean are" She stood in the center of the room, swaying from foot to foot.

Harry stood and embraced her. "I understand. Malfoy treated us like dirt. Snape hated me and was unfair to all of us. Still, I wouldn't want anyone to die like that."

Hermione hugged Harry back. "Ron is almost . . .gloating. Especially about Draco."

"Just remember, Draco died on the right side for the wrong reasons. Maybe, if Draco had lived, he would have seen the light, but he didn't oppose Voldemort because Voldemort was doing evil, he opposed Voldemort because he was a half-blood doing what Draco thought was right."

"True," Hermione admitted. She sniffled a little, but looked into Harry's eyes. "What was it you were saying about that chest?"

Harry walked her over to the strongbox, which was set next on the foot of the bed. "These aren't yours, but they are yours to use."

"What's in here?"

Harry smiled. "Why some of the Potter family jewels. I thought you should see them, at the least. They were in my vault."

Hermione opened the box, which was some three feet long, two feet wide, and eighteen inches deep. "Oh my!" It was crammed full of bracelets, necklaces, broaches, and earrings. Diamonds sparkled, and emeralds, rubies, and other jewels shone. There were even two tiaras.

"There are actually eight more boxes just like it," Harry said. "There are six more that I inherited from the Blacks -- Tonks got nine. There's a ledger with most of the Potter stuff listed. We can go through it some day and decide if we want to keep it all. Most of it is likely just jewelry, but some might have historical value, even if it's just for the family."

Hermione said nothing, but led Harry to the bed for some comfort and joy.

Harry and Hermione decided they couldn't stay in bed all day, although they wished they could. They came down stairs a little after 11:00, and saw that the first floor sitting room was empty. The ground floor parlor just had Remus sitting in front of the fire.

"Everyone else still upstairs?" Harry asked.

Remus nodded.

"Are you hungry?" Harry asked.

Remus and Hermione both wrinkled their noses. Harry shrugged and went back to the dining room, where he rang the bell.

"Mister Harry?" Winky answered, popping next to him.

"I see you're handling the food. Any problems?"

"No problems, Mister Harry. Perhaps Order people will come through and eat the nice food?"

Harry smiled. "Perhaps. Thank you."

Winky bowed and disappeared. Harry made six sandwiches, and fixed a mug of coffee for himself and tea the way Hermione and Remus liked it, and rolled it all in on a tea cart that was sitting in one corner. Hermione and Remus drank the tea, but while Remus managed to eat one sandwich, Hermione only managed half of one. They sat until they heard the doorbell a little after noon, and Dumbledore came into the room.

"They're gone?" Hermione asked in a sorrowful voice.

Dumbledore nodded. "Almost four hours ago. I had many errands to run. Could you please go get Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley? I have to speak to the five of you."

Hermione did as she was asked, while Harry fixed Dumbledore some coffee and sandwiches.

"Thank you, Harry. Good afternoon," he added to Ginny and Luna. "I'll get straight to the heart of the matter. I am rather tired, and part of this needs to be handled soon. Professor Snape and Mister Malfoy were very lucid, up until they died. I know, for I was with them the entire time. Both made out wills. Miss Granger, Professor Snape left you most of his library at Hogwarts, and a thousand Galleons. Remus, he left you a note." Dumbledore handed it to Remus.

"Mister Malfoy's will was more complicated. Apparently, in the time between Voldemort's leaving and our arrival, Mister Malfoy expressed his dismay that his line would die out. Apparently, Miss Granger had acquainted Professor Snape with her maternal uncle's profession."

"What's he do?" Ginny asked, puzzled.

"He runs a fertility clinic," Hermione said, puzzled.

"In short, Mister Malfoy's . . . essential fluid is being . . . harvested. He has turned a third of the estate over to his closest Malfoy cousin. The other two-thirds will be held in trust for up to thirty years. You three ladies will receive a stipend of a thousand Galleons a year for that period. If one of you has Mister Malfoy's child by these Muggle methods, that child will inherit. There are other incentives, but that sums it up. You may also recruit a Pure-blood witch, but the incentives are less for that If no such child is born, then the Malfoy cousins inherit after thirty years."

The four teens looked at Dumbledore, stunned. "Yes, yes, it will take some time to digest. Miss Weasley, he also left you his broom. Miss Lovegood, he left you nothing more. Miss Granger, your additional inheritance is more complicated, and the reason why this cannot wait."

Dumbledore clapped his hands. Nine house elves popped into existence. "Mistress!" they chorused.

"What!"

"Mister Malfoy has left you all the house elves associated with the Malfoy estates. Three were assigned to Malfoy Manor, one each to Lucius and Narcissa, and one each to other houses. They are yours, on the condition you do not free them for six years."

"FREE! NO!" the elves screamed, cowering.

"What am I going to do with nine elves!"

Harry hid his smile. "Are any of them from houses given to the cousin?" he managed to ask.

"Spiki is," one elf with a voice higher than any other Harry had ever heard said, raising her hand.

"Was much damage done to Malfoy Manor?" Harry asked.

"Nothing too extensive, other than the blood, except for the ballroom, why?" Dumbledore asked.

"Then these eight ought to go back to the houses they were assigned to and keep things in order, and also they should take an inventory of everything," Harry said. "Someone has to act as caretakers, and an inventory has to be made."

"But. . . ." Hermione protested. Harry signaled her that they could talk later.

"Spiki should go back to the Manor and help them clean there. Who would be the senior elf?"

"Spool, Master," a male elf answered. "Spool has served the Malfoys his whole life."

"Spool and the others can report to Doli, or to someone Professor Dumbledore here assigns, in case of a break-in or any other problem."

"That sounds reasonable. What do you say, Miss Granger?"

"I guess that would work."

"You are the new mistress? Mistress Granger?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes, I'm Mistress Granger."