Harry Potter and The Heirs of The Founders

Chapter Three

Life goes on

Molly Weasley was ecstatic when she heard the news. Arthur Weasley just looked proud.

'I can't believe it George,' Molly said. 'First Percy's news and now you bring great news too. This is marvellous. A fantastic month. A grandchild on the way and another son married, now if only we could find a nice girl for Bill and Charlie. I don't care much for that Veela girl that Bill has found. Ron can wait a while yet.'

'What can I wait for?' said Ron as he made his way down the stairs carrying a single bag which contained only a couple of changes of clothes and some parchment, a bottle of ink and a quill.

'To get married dear,' his mother replied.

Ron gave his mother a look of confusion.

'Rose still has two more years at school and I'm not even thinking about it,' he said.

'Katie and George dear. They're getting married,' she said before she got a glimpse of her son. 'Oh you're ready. I can't believe my little boy's all grown off and going off to training. You will be careful won't you? I don't want some awful wizard from the Ministry knocking on the door and telling me my son's dead. If only you'd work with Fred and George then I wouldn't have to worry.'

'Don't worry Mum,' he said. 'I'll be very careful. You won't even know I'm gone.'

Molly ran over and gave him a big hug, making Ron's cheeks match his hair.

'Yes well I'd best be off,' he said. 'I'll be back in about a month. Don't watch the clock too much.' He added knowing the number of times they had glanced at the clock and seen Ron's hand pointing to Mortal Danger.

He embraced his mother and shook hands with his father.

Ron smiled at his brother and Katie as he walked out the door.

'That's the most grown up thing I've ever heard about you George,' he said as he apparated to the office of Magical Law Enforcement where he would begin his training.

Ron surveyed the room. It was cold, dark and empty. He had no idea what to expect, he had just been told to apparate to this particular office, where he would commence his training by receiving instructions as to what he was to do.. He had no idea who any other applicants were. A man in a black clock entered the room. Ron couldn't see his face.

'Ronald Weasley?' he asked in a deep peculiar voice.

Ron nodded his head.

'Here is your first task,' the man said handing him a piece of parchment.

Ron looked at the parchment, and then looked up and the man was gone.

Glancing back at the parchment, he looked at his instructions.

Say your name.

Ron looked at the parchment and said;

'Ronald Weasley.'

Suddenly words began to appear in front of him.

Welcome to your Hit Wizard training.

Your first task is to locate your partner. You do not know their identity and they do not know yours. Your map awaits you with further instructions in the Old London Gaol. Do not let anyone follow you, Wizard or Muggle. Our agents, on sighting you may hit you with a spell that will cause a coloured spot on your clothing. This symbolises that they had the opportunity to kill you. The number of spots you receive will count towards whether or not you qualify.

Good Luck.

As Ron finished reading the words disappeared.

Old London Gaol, where's Hermione when I need her? I don't know anything about Muggle London. I guess I'm going to have to learn. Quickly.

Ron walked out the door wondering where to go to next.

*~* A few days later *~*

Ginny Weasley made her way onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. It was her final year at Hogwarts, and the last year any of her family would be at Hogwarts. She had followed in the steps of two of her brothers and was Head Girl. She spied Rose Heaney on the Platform.

'Rose,' she called. 'Over here.' Ginny beckoned for her to come over. She saw the smile on her friends face, as she made her way over.

'Ginny,' she said with a smile. 'Isn't it hard to get back to reality after the Cup?' She was full of excitement. 'I don't know how I'll be able to concentrate on anything year. I'm already too busy thinking up Quidditch strategies. We're sure to win the Cup again this year.'

'Just as long as you don't waste too much time writing letters to some Hit Wizard,' Ginny said teasingly.

'Gin, you don't want to imagine me and your brother,' Rose said knowing exactly what kind of reaction she'd get. 'That's just not pretty.'

'Okay, okay,' Ginny replied. 'Let's get on the train.'

They settled into their compartment, as Ginny began to fill Rose in on all the family news that she hadn't already heard from Ron.

Rose was astounded that George and Katie were going to get married. It seemed a rather grown up thing to do, especially for one of the twins.

'I agree,' Ginny replied. 'Mum's so happy. She thinks all she needs to do now is find a nice girl for Bill and Charlie. She doesn't really like Fleur too much either. I think she's wasting time though. They'll find someone when they're ready. They're still fuming about Draco though.' Ginny had finally worked up the courage to tell her parents that she was dating Draco Malfoy, when her older brother Charlie had threatened to do it for her, if she didn't. 'They knew Lucius fairly well I think. Dad didn't lose too much sleep when Lucius was kissed.'

'It's hard to imagine your parents in any kind of situation with Draco's dad,' Rose said sighing. 'Anyhow I think Draco is a far better person than his father.'

On that note they pulled out an old set of exploding Snap cards to fill up part of the journey.

*~*

'You wanted to see me Alastor?' Chrystal asked as she entered the room. Even after all this time she couldn't shake the image she got when she first saw Alastor Moody. And now he was head of her department.

'Your leave is up,' he said brusquely.

'I put in an application for an extension,' she replied. 'I need an answer fairly soon.'

'I have your application here on my desk,' he snapped. 'I know why you need a reply as well, it's just that now is not exactly the best time for my Aurors to be taking extended leave.'

'Look, I know the climate's not the best it's ever been,' she began, but stopped when she saw the look on his face. He certainly wasn't very impressed at all.

'You haven't exactly helped that at all, taking things into your own hands. I'm down at least one potential Auror, because of your interfering. Additionally, I'm still fending off questions from the powers that be about Lucius Malfoy. He was a very influential man regardless of whether or not he supported Voldemort.'

'I thought I'd explained that, there was no other option! Besides sixteen years ago I was commanded to bring him to justice by any means possible.'

She was angry. If she hadn't set the Dementors on him, Chrystal had no doubt that he would have escaped, or worse.

'Did you want him to kill Harry, or Ron or Hermione? He'd already killed the Hogwarts groundskeeper as well having performed the Cruciatus Curse right before my eyes.'

'What happened to three strikes?'

'I wasn't prepared to wait for the third. Knowing my luck, it would have been me.'

'Calm down my dear,' the old man began. 'I am on your side, but I'm being asked questions. Given your history, they wanted me to suspend you, but I've already talked them out of it. I had no idea at the time that you would want to extend your leave. I can't really grant you leave under the current circumstances. The number of Auror applicants is down. We're not replacing our retiring Aurors, let alone the ones being killed or injured. I just can't let a good Auror go at the moment. Why do you think I'm in here running the show despite having retired? The answer is because they don't want to take some from the field who could be of some use.'

Great, now what am I supposed to do? I'm supposed to be teaching, beginning tomorrow. I don't want to spend all day in a courtroom listening to stupid prisoners.

'However, I have a solution to your dilemma,' he said. 'I know the work you're doing for Dumbledore is important and I'm not referring to the teaching. I don't want to drag you away from this; because I know if it comes to the crunch you'll quit. Besides, I feel the need to have an Auror stationed at Hogwarts, so you will remain there, teach if you like, but if we need you, you will be summoned and expected to return immediately.'

'Okay,' she said slowly. 'Do you think Hogwarts is no longer secure?'

'I have doubts,' he said. 'But I would feel better with a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who actually knows what they're talking about.'

'I understand,' she said. 'I had best be off then, my presence will already be missed.'

'Fine, and remember Constant Vigilance!'

Fantastic, great way to start a year. And I've still got that little matter to discuss with Rose.

That's what she was dreading. She knew the girl had a right to know. But Chrystal wasn't quite sure how to tell her. She almost hoped that Lily was around to do it, however given the fact that she was Harry and Hermione's Secret Keeper, she wasn't around in human form too much, even in the Staff Quarters at Hogwarts it wasn't likely.

*~*

After what seemed like hours the Hogwarts Express reached Hogsmeade station. Rose wasn't sure how she should feel, with everything that had happened over the summer.

She had spent the first couple of weeks before the wedding with Harry, Hermione and Lily. Then after they had disappeared, she returned to what she thought of as home. It hadn't been the best holiday at all. Firstly she was struggling to deal with the fact that the legendary Harry Potter, whom she'd once had a crush on, was her brother and that her parents where not only not dead and had not wanted to give her up. Secondly, the entire time she had been with her 'real' family she felt like she was betraying the only parents she had ever known and vice versa when she was home. Her adoptive parents had been very understanding. But the exchange hurt not just Rose, but them as well. They felt as if she had been taken away from them in a way that they could never recover. It would have been far easier on them if Rose had been abandoned. But they had learnt to expect the unexpected when they discovered that Rose was a witch and they had been counting the days until something like this happened. As a result each were apologetic to the other all summer, and Rose was happy when Molly Weasley had invited her to stay for a week surrounding the end of the European Cup.

Suddenly she felt a nudge. It was Ginny; she must have been lost in thought.

'What were you thinking about?' she asked.

'Look Gin,' she began. 'I don't think it's a good idea for people to know that I'm Harry's sister. If anyone asks about it, just say I know him well because I'm with Ron.'

'Okay.' Ginny replied slowly not really understanding what her friend was getting at.

'It's just not wise Ginny,' Rose said. She hoped she was being sensible. She didn't feel like taking any unnecessary risks. She had been so worried when Ron had been kidnapped last year, and it was all because he was Harry's friend. She shuddered at the thought of what they might do to Harry's sister.

Ginny was a good friend. She was trustworthy. Rose had come to Hogwarts from a Muggle family. She knew no one and had little idea what to expect. Ginny, then in second year had been very friendly to her. Ginny had told her little of the reasons behind why she didn't have many friends in her own year, but despite this, Rose instinctively knew she could trust her.

Soon enough they were in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, watching the sorting, singing the school song before digging into their meal. Rose glanced up at the table and spied her godmother. Rose wondered what Chrystal wanted to talk about. It seemed weird to call her Chrystal, when she was used to calling her Professor Àille. She sincerely hoped she wasn't going to try and mother her. She had all the mothers she needed between her real mother and her adopted mother and didn't need someone to try and make up for the years of neglect that they perceived she had had.

'What's wrong Rose?' Ginny asked again. 'You seem to be the total opposite of yourself tonight. Please tell me what's going on.'

'I'm sorry Ginny,' she replied. 'There's just a lot going on at the moment that I need to get used to. It will take some time. Look I have to go and see Professor Àille, oops I mean MacLeod after the feast; I think if you're going to show the first years to their rooms, I'll head up now.'

Rose left the Great Hall and went straight to the girl's bathrooms. She felt like she was going to be sick.

She emerged ten minutes later and slowly made her way up to Chrystal's office. She was going to be assertive. She saw her godmother waiting for her.

'Please don't try and mother me Professor,' Rose said hurriedly. 'I don't need it.'

'Rose,' she replied with a sense of shock in her voice. 'That's not my intention. Please sit down; I've just got a small request.'

Rose sat down hesitantly. She wasn't too keen on sitting in teacher's offices since McGonagall had told her about her mother.

'Look Rose, I've been talking to Lily and we don't think you should tell anyone who you really are, okay? We're very unsure as to who we can trust at the moment and we don't want to put you in anymore danger than you might already be.'

'I'd already thought of that Professor,' she answered quickly. 'In the same way I shouldn't call you or Sirius by your real names either.'

'I hadn't thought of that,' Chrystal confessed. 'I guess that's okay because of your association with Ron, but just watch who hears it okay.'

There was an awkward silence in the room which Rose didn't really care to try and break.

'Rose,' Chrystal said almost pleadingly. 'Tell me what's wrong. How are you coping?'

'Fine,' she lied.

'I know you're not telling the truth,' her godmother said quickly. Rose could hardly hide her surprise. Rose had become very good at hiding her feelings. She thought about what to say and before she knew it she burst into tears. Suddenly everything that was happening to her was just overwhelming to even think about.

'I just don't know what's happening anymore,' she sobbed. 'Everything's all messed up, nobody understands as much as they try to help.'

Rose felt Chrystal come around and hug her. The feeling of the embrace in itself was comforting.

'I'm not going to pretend to know what you're going through,' she said softly. 'But if you ever want a shoulder to cry on mine will always be free for you.'

Rose sat there and sobbed for what felt like hours. The when she had finished shaking, Chrystal handed her a cold face washer.

'Go upstairs and get some sleep,' Chrystal said to her. 'You'll feel better in the morning.

Rose strangely felt better as she made her way up to the sixth year dorms. Her problems weren't solved but at least she felt better for vocalising them. She sat at the window and stared at the sky. She could see fireworks in the distance. It gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

*~*

He was almost there. This was the first one he had done in a while; usually he got his minions to do it. Additionally, he had wanted to wait until the European Cup was over. He liked Quidditch after all, and there would be added security anyhow.

He wondered why he hadn't actually just sent one of his Death Eaters to go and bring her to him. He had entertained the thought more than once however he knew this was something he wanted to do himself. He withdrew the photograph from his pocket and stared at the blonde-haired woman.

'Hufflepuff,' he whispered.

Glancing at the photograph it was easy to see that the girl was pretty. Her blonde hair fell gently and her blue eyes sparkled. She looked nothing like her awful ancestor. Thinking about Helga Hufflepuff gave him a surge of anger. He was a hateful creature with her brown eyes and brown hair. It had been almost all her fault. She had been the cause of the fall of his great ancestor. She and that hateful Gryffindor. Between the two of them they had destroyed one of the greatest wizards that ever lived.

He had not deciphered the Prophecy, however he didn't care. He was going to enjoy destroying the spawn of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. He would enjoy inflicting the most amount of pain possible until they broke. Lavender Brown and Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. He would ensure that the boy who lived became the boy that died at the hands of the most famous wizard ever. But first things first, the girl. Hufflepuff must fall before Gryffindor.

Now was the time to focus on her.

Not only had his servant provided him with a photograph he had given him a fairly detailed description of what the girl did. She spent her day trying to teach the ridiculous subject of Divination. In his opinion Divination was something you could either do or not, teaching it was a waste of time. Then the stupid girl would spend her afternoon marking her stupid assignments before heading to The Three Broomsticks to have a few drinks. As to whether or not she was a Seer he had no idea. It just didn't matter. He was going to destroy her.

He entered the back door of the pub, having got the blueprints from another one of his subjects. He turned the corner and spied Madam Rosmerta.

'Avada Kedavra,' he whispered as he pointed his wand at the hateful creature. She had always been awful to him, treated him like dirt.

He didn't even watch her die, he had already moved on to his next target. He wanted to find this one for himself.

*~*

'AHH,'

He grabbed at his forehead and sat up.

'What's wrong Harry?' Hermione asked groggily.

'Voldemort has attacked the Three Broomsticks,' he said between breaths.

'What do you mean?' Hermione asked.

'He killed Madam Rosmerta,' Harry answered. 'Then he walked inside the pub and asked if anyone knew a Lavender Brown. No one answered so he sent sparks into the ceiling and it came crashing down.'

*~*