Harry Potter and The Heirs of The Founders

Chapter 27

The Mistakes of Lavender Brown

"Where do we go from here?

This isn't where we expected to be."

(From You Must Love Me, from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita)

Draco waited in the Dungeon's for Snape to arrive. It had been quite a while since he had last been down here. He should have sent Ginny a message. It would be nice to see her. Nice to touch her smooth skin, kiss her lips, run his fingers through her soft red hair.....

'Draco,' Snape interrupted his thoughts. The Potions professor looked at him with an element of surprise in his face. 'Thank you for meeting me. Do you have any idea what's going on here?'

'None,' he replied quickly. 'I think I might be in trouble.' Draco related to Snape the fact that he had "lent" Ginny a piece of his hair. 'I'm not exactly sure what the Weasel was going to do with it, however I have a feeling it might have involved Lavender Brown.'

'So you need a legitimate reason for taking her away?' said Snape thoughtfully. He did not look very impressed at all. 'The Dark Lord will not accept the truth, if we assume that Polyjuice was used. You're in danger Malfoy. That was a stupid, stupid mistake you made. How could you be so stupid?'

Draco clutched at his arm. The pain was immense. He knew he was in great trouble.

'He's summoning me,' he said with a touch of fear in his voice. 'What should I do?'

'Deny it for now,' replied Snape with a snarl. 'If you're not back by tomorrow, I'll put everyone on alert. Make sure you watch your back.'

With great hesitancy Draco walked out of Hogwarts and apparated to his master, hoping it was not the last time anyone saw him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dumbledore walked into the hospital wing. He spied a worried Bill Weasley sitting anxiously over an ill looking Fleur.

'Has there been any change?' he asked carefully. Bill shook his head.

'None for the better and none for the worse,' he replied. 'What do you think is wrong with her?'

'I have an idea Bill, but I'm just not sure yet,' he said. 'Poppy has never seen anything quite like it before, except for late last year when Chrystal Black was sick. Even then it wasn't quite the same as this.'

'We need to know what happened to her,' said Bill thoughtfully. 'It's very important.'

'It's difficult to tell if she hasn't woken,' replied Dumbledore.

'Could Chrystal do it?' asked Bill turning a little red in the cheeks. 'I recall my parents saying something about her family being Celtic. I may be wrong here.'

'No Bill, no you're not wrong,' replied Dumbledore. 'But as far as I am aware, Chrystal has never used her Celtic ability in that manner before. And even if she was willing, and that's a big if, I don't know if she could tell us anything about the past.'

'It's worth a shot though,' he said. 'Anything is if it will give us an answer.'

'For every action there's a price Bill,' said Dumbledore thoughtfully. 'If she were to use that kind of magic it would be like opening Pandora's box without any known way to close it. I can but hope it's a box that has remained closed throughout the recent events.' Dumbledore waited a few minutes before silently leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry received Dumbledore's summons later that day. Almost immediately he knew something was wrong. Dumbledore rarely called for a meeting when there was one scheduled for the next day. Knowing that Lavender was safe, Harry could only assume it meant the worst for Sirius. He couldn't help but get a dreadful feeling in his stomach that Sirius was dead.

He ran upstairs to find Hermione, still lying in bed although it was afternoon.

'Why are you still in bed?' he asked with an element of concern in his voice.

'I'm just not feeling very well,' she replied. 'I'm sure it's nothing but could you try and get Molly to come over anyway?'

Harry ran over towards the fireplace in their bedroom and grabbed some Floo powder. He quickly communicated with the Weasley household and was assured that Molly would be there as soon as possible. Hermione must have been able to sense his concern because she summoned him to sit next to her on the bed and she spoke to him in a soothing voice.

'I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the baby Harry,' she said reassuringly. 'I just feel a little off colour. I read about it, it can happen and it's nothing to worry about. I just want to check everything with Molly.'

'You promise me you'd let me know Hermione?' he asked her.

'Of course Harry,' she said with a smile forming on her face. 'But it's important that you trust me. Now did you come up here to see me, or was it something important? Because the way you stormed in here, I suspect that you have something else on your mind.'

'Dumbledore has organised a meeting for the Order tonight,' he said.

'But there's supposed to be one tomorrow,' replied Hermione.

'I know,' said Harry. 'It can only mean that something has happened. I'm hoping it's not Sirius.'

Hermione was quiet for a while. Harry watched her as she appeared to be thinking.

'I think if it were to do with Sirius, Dumbledore would tell you beforehand,' she said as she began to stroke his hair. 'I don't think he'd let you turn up to a meeting and just dump it on you in front of everyone else.'

'Maybe not,' Harry conceded. 'I guess I feel useless at the moment.'

'In more ways than one,' suggested Hermione. 'I know you have things on your mind.'

'I assume you mean Ron,' he said.

'I meant Rose,' replied Hermione knowingly.

'Isn't it the same thing?' asked Harry. 'Ron told me it was over yesterday morning.'

'You never have really talked about it,' she said. 'About how you feel about it. I can't imagine that it's exactly easy. And I'm not just talking about Ron and Rose being an item. I'm talking about Rose full stop.'

'It's overwhelming,' he said. 'I know everyone was so concerned about Rose and how this was affecting her but no one stopped to think how it was affecting me. Including me. I know that must sound selfish but that's how I feel at the moment. Rose always knew that there was a possibility that she had a family out there somewhere. I didn't. I'm not ungrateful either. It's fantastic that they're all alive and well, if not a bit confused however I'm just not sure how to fit in. I was on my own for so long. Now I have family responsibilities.'

'But you have people who love you and support you as well,' said Hermione.

'I know that,' he replied. 'And it's fantastic. Parents I can cope with. Parents I always wanted. I wasn't expecting a sister. I wasn't expecting a sister who was going out with Ron to be dumped upon me.'

'Now you know how Ron felt when you and Ginny were together,' said Hermione. 'I can guarantee he didn't like that.'

'I guess he wouldn't,' Harry conceded. 'To be honest I didn't like it when they were together. I'm not sure it's any better now that they're not. You know Hermione it's weird; I don't think Ron can make her happy. I don't think he's the right guy for her, yet I think that he's perfect for her. Why?'

Hermione started to laugh. Harry was slightly offended.

'What?' he asked.

'I'm sorry Harry,' she said after she composed herself. 'It's just that Rose is your sister. It doesn't matter if Ron is your best friend; no man is ever going to be good enough for Rose.'

'I don't have a comeback to that one,' he said. 'I guess you must be right. Anyhow Ron asked me to talk to her. He's convinced there's something wrong. There's a Hogsmeade weekend this weekend. I thought I might try and catch up with her then.'

At that moment Molly Weasley appeared at the bedroom door.

'Sorry it took so long,' she said. 'It's just been flat out this afternoon. What's the problem Hermione?'

'I'm just very uncomfortable,' she replied. 'I thought I'd better make sure that everything was fine.'

Harry was pacing around the room. Molly laughed at him.

'Expectant father's are all the same,' she said. 'Always worried.' She turned her attention back to Hermione. 'Okay, so you're about eighteen weeks now?'

'That's right,' said Hermione.

'Are you getting much sleep?' asked Molly.

'No,' replied Hermione. 'It's quite difficult.'

'I know,' replied Molly, who pulled her wand out and cast a few incantations over Hermione. 'The baby's fine Hermione, however your blood pressure is up a little. It's nothing to worry about; we just need to keep an eye on it. Okay?'

Hermione nodded.

'Are you sure everything's okay?' asked Harry anxiously.

'I'm sure Harry,' she said with a smile. 'Oh Hermione, there's something I forgot to mention. It won't be in those Muggle pregnancy books I know you've been reading. Towards the end of your pregnancy, your magic might go a bit funny. A little unpredictable. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it's something to keep an eye on. Are you two going to this meeting?'

Harry glanced at his watch.

'Do we get a nice home cooked meal if we leave now?' asked Harry giving Molly a wink.

'Of course dears,' she replied.

They Flooed to Grimmauld Place. Harry and Hermione made their way towards kitchen and settled in while Mrs Weasley, having refused their offer of help, went about preparing dinner. They were not sitting there long before they were joined by Remus and Tonks. Harry couldn't help but smile when they walked in the room together.

'Harry, Hermione,' said Remus. "It's so nice to see you. How are you?'

'I'd be better if I knew if Sirius was alright,' replied Harry in a friendly manner.

'He's okay,' replied Tonks. 'Dumbledore let Lupin know this afternoon. I'm sure he had a reason for not telling you. Sirius should be here this evening. What are you making Molly? It smells fantastic.'

'Irish stew with dumplings,' she replied. 'It's Percy's favourite. I think he misses my cooking a little bit!'

'How's Reade?' Asked Tonks. Remus came and sat down next to Harry while Tonks and Molly got into deep discussion about how the baby was.

'How's everything going?' he asked. 'Really? I know things have been hard the past couple of weeks.'

'I think I'd be lying if I said it hadn't been difficult but at the moment we're taking each day as it comes, aren't we Hermione?' he replied. Hermione nodded in confirmation.

'We've got important things to focus on,' she said. 'We just have to take it as it comes. The future is so uncertain at the moment that you can't live life worrying about the next day.'

'That's a good attitude there Hermione,' replied Remus. 'That's how we're taking it.'

'Something smells good in here,' cried out a voice that was either Fred or George Weasley.

'Fred dear,' said Molly. 'If you moved back home you could eat like this all the time.'

'I'll consider it Mum,' he said sounding a little uncomfortable as he entered the room with Angelina, George and Katie as well as Ron and Neville. 'We had a good days sales today. Leading up to the Hogsmeade weekend. Certainly have got the shelves stacked for this weekend.'

'You should see the number of Butterbeer kegs that The Three Broomsticks has gotten in,' added George. 'It's as if they're expecting a weekend like no other.'

'They'd be better off not letting the students off the grounds at the moment in my opinion,' said Molly. 'It's not exactly safe for the students just to wander off by themselves.'

'I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't do it if he didn't think it was safe,' said Remus. 'He's being pretty cautious at the moment.'

'All the same I hope Ginny stays in the castle,' said Molly as Percy entered the room carrying baby Reade.

'Smells good Mum,' he said. 'It's my favourite.'

'I know dear,' she said. 'I wonder where everyone is, it's almost time for the meeting to begin.'

At that moment Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall made their way in, in deep discussion, as well as Kingsley Shaklebolt, Emmeline Vance and Sturgis Podmore. Molly levitated the pots to the table. A fresh burst of steam fogged up Harry's glasses.

'Thank you for this wonderful dinner, Molly,' said Dumbledore as he sat down at the table. 'It's always nice to know that in these times you can always get a nice home cooked meal.' Harry began to dig into his dinner. Worrying about Hermione all afternoon had really taken it out of him

'Smells fantastic,' said Arthur Weasley as he walked into the room. 'Sorry we're a little late.'

'We're?' asked Molly looking at him

'Sirius and Chrystal were with me,' he said looking around. They came through the door not long after.

Sirius looked tired and exhausted. He looked almost as bad as he had that night Harry had first met him in the Shrieking Shack. Chrystal looked worse. Her hair was so pale and her face was covered in bruises. Sirius seemed to be supporting her as she walked. Sirius looked up and saw everyone staring at them.

'It's okay,' he said. 'We're fine, don't worry yourselves. Why don't we get this meeting underway?'

'Draco is not here,' said Snape observantly.

'There are a few people not here Severus,' said McGonagall. 'However I think we should get underway. We have a lot to discuss.'

'I agree Minerva,' said Dumbledore. 'The most important fact being Fleur Delacour. She was dropped at Hogwarts last night with a note saying that she was a present. The Dark Lord has made this war personal now. We have not located all of the missing Muggles. I fear that they are already dead. I fear Miss Delacour has been infected by whatever infected Mr Finnegan. It is important that we get to work on an antidote.'

'I can't believe I am going to suggest this,' said Neville Longbottom. 'If Malfoy and I worked on it, with his knowledge of Potions and mine of Herbology, especially medically related, we might actually get somewhere.'

'That would be good if Mr Malfoy would agree,' replied Snape. 'Any other suggestions given that he isn't here?'

'If this is the same thing as Seamus, we don't have a lot of time to work with,' said Hermione. 'Perhaps Professor Snape, you should assist Neville given your expert knowledge of potions. After all we're all in this together.'

Harry couldn't help but laugh when he saw the look on Snape's face.

'That's a wonderful idea,' said McGonagall with a big smile. 'That way you can use the facilities of Hogwarts and St Mungos. Now if only we had a Healer in the Order we could get an expert in that area.'

'Do we know how it's spread?' asked Ron.

'It was given to her in a potion,' said Snape softly. Harry noticed the defeatist sound in his voice. 'We were all witnesses to it at his last summons.'

'Why Fleur?' asked Arthur. 'She hasn't done anything.'

'Yes she has,' replied Snape. 'She got involved with your son.'

Silence filled the room. A door slammed and everyone turned their eyes towards the doorway to the kitchen.

Draco Malfoy entered the room at that moment. He looked pale and dishevelled. Harry had never seen Draco look so bad, so well ungroomed.

'I've been ordered to kill Rose,' he said flatly.

The room was silent for a minute before utter chaos ensued.

Ron had jumped up with his hands around Draco's neck. He was shaking him vigorously.

'You will not touch her,' he was yelling. Fred and George seemed to be helping Ron and Arthur, Sirius and Lupin where desperately trying to pull them apart, not before Ron had managed to land a punch on Draco's face and Draco had reciprocated.

'What do you take me for you idiot?' he yelled at Ron. 'Of course I'm not going to bloody kill her. I'm sure there are several people in this room who'd kill me if I even contemplated it.' Draco gave Harry a knowing look.

'Settle down everybody,' said Dumbledore in a way that only he could. 'Did he give you a reason why?'

'When the Dark Lord commands you don't ask why,' he replied sarcastically. 'You just do or be killed. If my father ever taught me anything that was it.'

'It would appear then that your usefulness as a spy has come to end of its lifespan,' said Dumbledore. 'You'd best consider going into hiding.'

'If he goes into hiding that will put Ginny in danger,' George said after a few seconds of contemplation.

'She will still be at Hogwarts,' replied McGonagall.

'I don't think that necessarily means that she will be safe any longer,' said Chrystal. 'After all who knows what connections the Death Eaters have at Hogwarts.'

'I think it is reasonable to consider that Ginny will be safe until the end of the year,' said Dumbledore. 'After all it is only another few months. And her brother Charlie is there to keep an eye on her. After then she may consider her options. She will be of age by then.'

'Oh dear,' said Molly who began to pace the floor nervously.

'Mr Malfoy, I would suggest you go and make the arrangements,' said Dumbledore. 'I wish you the best of luck.' Malfoy made his way out of the room looking solemn. Neville followed him, which caused Harry to raise his eyebrows.

'We are not making progress,' said Lupin. 'We have not been able to find these Muggles, we have not been able to decipher Voldemort's plans and we have no idea what he is going to do next.'

'It's just like the old days,' said Sirius. 'It's just like the old days.'

'We need to campaign for Zabini,' said Kingsley Shakelbolt breaking the silence. 'Bagman would make a laughable leader and having a Death Eater in power would be unacceptable. Fred, George, have you heard anything from that friend of yours?'

'Lee?' asked George.

'We've heard nothing,' said Fred. 'We haven't seen him for months.'

'He went to Europe with Blaise,' said George. 'Haven't heard from him since.'

'Went to work on her father's business,' said Fred.

'Went to have a nice holiday with the girl if you ask me,' said George.

'That will be enough thank you George,' said Molly. 'You don't need to go around spreading people's dirt.'

'The Wizengamott had a very hard time,' said Dumbledore with a sigh. He looked old. Harry had never really noticed this before. 'They didn't follow my suggestions at all; otherwise we'd have Kingsley as a candidate.'

'Seth Zabini is a very well respected man,' said Ron, only a little calmer than he had been earlier. 'In all my digging I've found nothing and nor has Kingsley or Tonks.'

'I've found nothing either,' said Chrystal. 'I think he's clean.'

'Blasie was always a well spoken, polite girl,' said McGonagall. 'Very unusual for a Slytherin. It signifies good upbringing.'

'We had better begin campaigning for Zabini then,' said Dumbledore reluctantly. 'I must go and check on Fleur. Severus, if you could see to Mr Malfoy, it would be greatly appreciated. Try to make sure he doesn't do anything rash. I've been away from Hogwarts too long. I must go.' He stood up and left the room.

'I can't believe he went after Fleur,' said Arthur.

'I'd watch my family if I were you Arthur,' said Snape. 'He specifically referred to her as the eldest Weasley's. Your daughter may be in more trouble than even Dumbledore would like to acknowledge.'

'Thank you for the advice,' he said. 'I shall take it I think. Percy, don't let Reade out of your sight. I'd hate to loose my first grandchild.'

'I'll keep that in mind Dad,' said Percy as he picked up Reade and made his way upstairs. 'I'll warn Penny as well.'

The meeting quickly dissipated after that. Ron rushed off and Harry did not feel compelled to follow him. The world was changing quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny walked silently into the room that Draco had led her to. She knew something was wrong. It was unlike Draco to turn up to Hogwarts unannounced. He was always so careful about covering his tracks. She watched as he hurriedly closed all the doors and windows. He turned and faced her. He looked so lost. She had never seen him like this before.

'I'm sorry,' he said softly.

'What for?' she asked innocently hoping against all hope that her world was not about to disintegrate.

'I've screwed up Ginny,' he said apologetically. 'I've made a huge mistake. I have to go. I'm sorry.' Ginny stood there dumbfounded for the next few minutes before Draco finally spoke again. 'He wants me to kill Rose. I can't do that and if I don't he'll kill me.' The words were beginning to form meaning for her. She knew he was going to leave. 'If I stay he will kill me. If I run he will find me. I'm going away Ginny. I can't tell you where. I know this endangers you honey, however I don't know what will happen. I don't know if they'll come after you. I can only hope that Dumbledore can protect you.'

'Please Draco,' Ginny began as tears began to roll down her face. She didn't know what to say. How could she make him stay?

'I'm sorry,' he said as he wiped the tears from her face. 'I just can't risk it. Think of me. Don't forget me. Remember that I will always love you Virginia Weasley, no matter what. I love you.'

'I love you too,' she stammered as he leant to kiss her goodbye. Then she watched tearfully as he vanished from the room. She had never felt so alone in her entire life.

Ginny slumped to the floor, in a ball and began to bawl her eyes out. Damn him. Damn him to hell. How could he do this to her? She had sacrificed so much for him, and yet she couldn't help but think of all he had sacrificed as well. Nothing was certain anymore. She had lost everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Snape hurried after Draco who was creeping through the corridors at Hogwarts. He caught up with him finally in the Potions Dungeons at Hogwarts.

'I'm sorry for bringing you into this,' he said. 'I should never have encouraged you to spy like this.'

'If you hadn't I would have been forced to do this by my father anyway,' Draco replied hastily. 'I've said my goodbyes to Ginny. Don't feel too sorry for me.'

'You will need an appropriate Secret Keeper Draco,' said Snape. 'I would offer to do it however I would be one that they would suspect.'

'Never mind Severus,' replied Draco. 'I have a Secret Keeper they'll never suspect. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. And do me a favour; tell Granger she's got the Arthimancy for the founders all wrong will you.'

Draco rushed out of the dungeon with a flask under his arm. Snape was so worried about the boy that he hadn't even noticed that he had called him Severus.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Neville Longbottom ignited the lamp in the Greenhouse at St Mungos. He carefully selected a large variety of herbs from his large collection. He wanted to get to work on a remedy straight away. He had seen Seamus as he had lain in St Mungos. Neville couldn't help but feel that somehow he was suffering. It wasn't right for someone to suffer like that before they died. It was almost better in Neville's opinion to have no idea what had happened to you, although from experience he knew the toll that took on close relatives.

He collected his specimens and made his way into a closed laboratory, a little surprised to find Hermione's cat, Crookshanks following him. He leant over to give the cat a pat.

'There there Crookshanks,' he said. 'What are you doing here? Why don't we get inside and I'll let Hermione know where you are.'

Neville closed the door behind them and then stood in awe as Crookshanks transformed into Lily Potter.

'Hi Neville,' she said with a smile on her face. 'I know you're a bit shocked. I'm Harry's mother Lily. Professor Snape said you might need some help with a potion.'

'But you're,' began Neville.

'I know I'm supposed to be dead,' she said interrupting. 'But I'm not. We don't have time to get into it now. We have to work on an antidote. You know I was quite good at potions in my younger years.'

Neville watched in amazement as Lily got stuck into the herbs.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lavender sprinted out of the castle. She couldn't stand it any longer. She had accepted what she was going to do. She knew it was her fate. She just hadn't counted on the guilt that accompanied it. Why she had to feel so guilty she just couldn't understand. It wasn't like she'd done anything terrible was it? Her thoughts kept plaguing her as she made her way off the grounds of Hogwarts.

As soon as she was far enough away from Hogwarts the apparated to Parvati's new place of residence, Laugharne Castle, South West Wales, where she had resided since her marriage to Healer Augustus Pye earlier that year. Lavender didn't like the castle, it seemed far too pretentious for someone like Parvati and she had only visited once.

Lavender banged on the door and was not surprised when it was opened by a butler.

'How can I help you mam?' he asked in a stiff British accent.

'I need to speak with Parvati, I mean Madam Pye immediately,' she said quickly. 'Tell her that it's Lavender Brown.'

'Yes mam,' the butler said closing the door as the rain began to pour. The door opened quite a while later by a flustered Parvati wrapped in a delicate silk wrap with far too much makeup on.

'You picked a good night,' she said. 'Augustus is working the night shift. Come in, it's pouring out there.' Parvati lead her into a cosy sitting room and dried off her clothes. 'I was so sorry to hear about Seamus. Was his funeral nice?'

'I don't know Parvati,' she replied. 'They held it before I could get back.'

'Oh,' said Parvati. 'You should come around here more often. It gets quite lonely while Augustus is at work. But you should let me know first.'

'I made a mistake,' said Lavender.

'No you didn't,' replied Parvati. 'It's so lovely to see you.'

'I didn't mean that,' said Lavender. 'That's why I'm here. I made a big mistake. I gave a false prophecy to the Dark Lord, because I was jealous of Harry and Hermione and now I think that it was a huge mistake. I've put their unborn child at risk.'

'You gave a false prophecy to my Lord,' Parvati said as she rose out of her chair in anger. Suddenly Lavender felt as if her life had never been in more danger.