Harry Potter and the Rise of Hope

Chapter eleven

Dogs and Spiders

Harry stared at the eggs. Fine cracks were slowly spreading over their sooth surface. The first one to hatch tumbled over the edge of its shell and stumbled over to its caretaker. Watching it Harry noticed that Zabini (the egg's Parent) was trying to divide his attention between the little Acromantula and a small girl. She was tugging on his sleeve and babbling something about a bubble charm. Tugging the Slytherin's wand out of his hand Harry watched as the child shot a stream of golden bubbles in to the air.

The basketball sized spider shot like a bullet underneath Zabini's robes. Gingerly it stuck a long leg out to touch one of the bubbles, it popped and the Acroantula coward further. Harry shifted his attention around the group and noticed Malfoy's egg had also hatched. The Spider had somehow climbed to the top of his head and was clinging to the pale blonde hair. Malfoy was yelling vehemently as Crabb and Goyal tried to pull it off.

Before he could laugh Harry was bowled over by his own hatched egg. "H . . .Hello." Harry said staring in to a pair tiny pitchers. Harry was laying flat on his back with the Acromantula sitting on his chest, unfortunately the spider didn't seem to have the slightest notion of letting Harry sit up.

"Ello?" it mimicked uncertainly among a bunch of barley audible clicks. Ron reached out a trebling hand towards the spider.

"H . . .hello . . .lit . . .little . . .A . . .. Acro," He froze as it reached out a leg and touched his hand.

"Ron that's a perfect Name!" Hermione squealed, bundling the spider in her scarf and setting it in her lap.

"What?" Ron choked. Still flat on his back Harry watched the seine unfold before him.

"You're not going to name him Vicky? You know Long distance relation ships never . . ."

'Victor Krum and I broke up Ron! I told you long distance relation ships never work!" Harry fought back a laugh and Hermione stormed off towards Hagrid still caring Acro.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sirius Black padded his way slowly through the Ministry building. "Out of the way you mut!" Yelping, he leapt to the other side of the hall. Now where was Arthur Weasley? Ah here it was third door on the left. Walking slowly in to the room, Sirius weeded his way around various Muggle artifices and found a spot to sit, directly beside Mr. Weasley's feet. Before he could transform, a large group of Wizards and witches lead by none other than Cornelous Fudge walked in.

"Thank you for the use of your fire Arthur!' Mr. Weasley nodded curtly, "Aliestor I'm terribly sorry to drag you in to this, but after last time . . ."

"Understood Cornels."

"Right. Arabella? What's on the agenda for today?" A wizened old woman stood up from the chair she had been sitting in. Head of the Muggle relations department the old grandmother was in charge of anti-Muggle security, The group, wherever they were going, was not supposed to be seen.

"The Malfoy manor."

"What we can't do that!"

"According to your own orders sir," another Wizard spoke up, "Every Wizarding manor and house is to be searched at least once a year. Today it's the Malfoy's turn!"

"But the Daily Profit!"

"If you're worried about Security," Moody Growled, " you might want to bring an extra Arorer."

"True I," he was cut off as a head popped around the corner.

"Sir there's a reporter here to see you!"

"Ah Marnea Bring her in. And buy the way you will be joining this expedition!"

"What?"

The woman in question was of average height with dark skin and eyes. A long scar ran along her cheekbone on the left side, and there was a rather large chunk taken out of her right ear. Definitely an Arorer Sirius decided. But . . . was this . . .Marnea Gryil? Sirius asked himself. Interested as he was in the raid he cocked his doggy head to one side and studied her further. Yup it was her!

Fifteen years had changed a lot. Three years under himself in school, the girl who had been known always to smile now wore a frown. The waist length hair that she had vowed never to cut was now at her chin. How he would have liked to say something but, Sirius forced himself to realize, now was not the time, nor the place.

Turning his attention back to Fudge Sirius watched as one by one the members of the raiding Party disappeared through the fire.

"I hope we get back in time for dinner," The reported was saying to Fudge, "I promised my Daughter ice cream."

"My dear Mrs. . . .is it Johnson still?"

"It never was."

"Christy long you have . . ." Sirius ducked behind the desk. Did she know? Christy Long had been the name of Lily's best friend in school. Did Christy know he was an anamagis? Had she told? No, he decided, if she had, if she did, he'd be dead already.

Coming out from behind the desk he prepared to transform in order to speak with Arthur. "No!" his friend hissed, "go with them Sirius! There may be a chance to catch Pettigrew!"

The first thing Sirius saw as he left the fire was that he was not in a room, or even a building. A small bonfire had been set in a small clearing to the left of the Malfoy Manor. Moving forward he joined the rest of the group and saw what they were gathered around. A small-overexcited house elf, very near tears, sat at Fudge's feet.

"Please you's is having to help! Bad men is taking over Lucy's house! They is tying up the mistress, and she is not moving like! I is not able to wake her up so I is going to Zabini's house for help! Bad men is paying no attention to Lucy and Zabini's are living only a mile away,"

"Why are you walking?"

"Lucy is not allowed to user her powers without permission, I is not wanting to get in to trouble. Please you is having to help the Mistress."

"Well Arabela," Fudge said, "you were right. Moody, Gryil get down there!"

Sirius followed the two Arorors towards the House, Thankful Moody believed in him enough not to send him away. Almost silently they made it through the door.

"I'll take the upstairs, and you take the down," Moody hissed at his companion, "and keep that dog with you!"

Some minutes latter, in a long whitewashed hall, Marnea spotted a figure laying on the floor, and following her over Sirius saw the face. Narcissa Malfoy lay stunned, bound, and gagged, face down on the tiled floor. Ignoring her, Marnea continued on, and Sirius was forced to jump over the Body.

Abruptly she stopped short grabbing his collar to keep him from moving on. Nealing be hind the doorframe so she wouldn't be seen Marnea pulled him behind her. In the room before them stood about ten robed, unmasked figures, one of the with a silver hand.

"It can't be!" Sirius heard Marnea gasp, "Peter Pettigrew?"