To Have and to Want

D.A. meetings continued regularly throughout October. Harry taught the entire club Muffliato, but didn't risk showing anything else from Snape's book. Ron continued coming to meetings, but didn't talk to him. Harry missed Ron, but the few times he tried to talk about the club, Ron quickly changed the subject to the key issue, and Harry got even more frustrated. Ron's attitude made no sense to him at all.

Harry spent Halloween at Hogsmeade with Parvati and returned to the feast rather happy, and not entirely sober, either. At the same time, Hagrid and McGonagall went out of the way to increase the festivities, despite the gloom. It seemed to work--the students were rather cheerful. Even he could almost forget about Voldemort on a night like this. Almost.

Unfortunately, he had a reminder in front of him throughout the feast. The Head Boy, Blaise Zabini, appeared especially cheerful, and that didn't bode well. Nott and Greengrass, sitting across from Zabini, each gave Harry a somber nod and kept watching their fellow Slytherin and his admirers. When Hermione asked him what that was about, he shrugged.

The feast was nearly finished when Harry got a very odd feeling. He couldn't really explain what happened afterwards. Something, some force he couldn't resist, made him jump up. A moment later, an enormous snake fell to where he was sitting.

Harry pushed Parvati, who was closest to the snake, out of the way. Parvati nearly yelled at him, but then she saw the monster, almost seven feet long, black, with clearly visible poisonous fangs. Half the Gryffindor table screamed.

Harry recognized the snake. He had seen it at the graveyard, in his visions, and had once been it. This was Nagini, Voldemort's pet snake, and according to Dumbledore, possibly a Horcrux.

More people screamed. Harry saw the snake crawl onto the floor and towards the Hufflepuff table. It was about to lunge at Zacharias Smith, who was paralyzed with fear, when Harry yelled, "STOP!", hoping it would come out in Parseltongue.

The snake paused and turned towards him. Harry raised his wand. The first spell he could think of came out of his mouth.

"Avada Kedavra!" he yelled.

A flash of green light flew out of his wand and hit the snake. Nagini dropped still.

And then, searing pain like he hasn't felt for over a year hit his scar. Voldemort's anger was beyond anything he felt before, and Harry knew that the snake, indeed, contained a Horcrux--nothing else would cause Voldemort's such fury. The pain passed and Harry found himself on the floor, clutching the scar.

Parvati approached him, but McGonagall's booming voice stopped her. "Potter!" the Headmistress shouted. "My office, now! And take that with you!"

Harry understood what "that" referred to. He flung the snake over his shoulder and walked to the door. Students threw strange looks at him. Harry, after thinking for a moment about what he'd just done, couldn't blame them.

McGonagall said nothing until they entered the office that Harry knew so well. The room has already changed, Fawkes the phoenix was gone, and Harry got a reminder of his situation in the form of Dumbledore's enormous portrait that hung on the wall, right behind McGonagall's desk.

McGonagall closed the door. "Just what were you thinking, using that spell in the hall? If that snake had moved--"

"The only way it would move is towards me. And this snake had to be killed."

"Why?"

"It's a Horcrux."

"A living Horcrux, Potter?" McGonagall asked skeptically.

Harry shrugged. "Dumbledore thought so. You can--"

"There is no need, Minerva," Dumbledore's portrait said from the wall.

McGonagall sat down in her chair and turned towards the painting. "Albus?"

"I have indeed believed that Nagini was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes. Hello, Harry," the portrait said.

"Hello, sir," Harry replied.

"What happened?"

"I killed the snake." He paused. "I used the killing curse."

"Harry, do you think I never cast that spell? Or that Professor McGonagall hasn't?"

McGonagall looked shocked. "Albus--"

"I will ask that you not inquire about the details of that incident. But as you no doubt already learned, Professor McGonagall is far more familiar with the Dark Arts than she lets on. But the central question here is why you did what you did. Why is that, Harry?" Both Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at him.

"Because... because I felt like there was nothing else I could do. I couldn't let the snake get away--"

"And you were quite right. Snakes can't be stunned, as you well know, Minerva."

"I knew that," Harry said. "Hermione must have mentioned it once or twice."

McGonagall smiled. "Since you saved students' lives, there will be no punishment. But you will have to deal with any student reaction yourself."

Harry nodded. As long as Hermione, Parvati, and Ginny stayed by him, and as long as this didn't affect his chances of making up with Ron, he didn't care.

"Professor," Harry said, not sure whom he was talking to, "when I killed the snake, my scar burst with pain. Why would Voldemort--"

"I believe," Dumbledore's portrait said, "that Voldemort was so angry that he lost mental control--and as you are well aware, Occlumency under these circumstances is impossible. He lost a Horcrux and he also learned that you are capable of using an Unforgivable curse. In his mind, that makes you a serious enemy. This is to your advantage, Harry, since that will make him more likely to miss your real strength."

"You may go, Potter," McGonagall said after a long silence.

"Good luck, Harry," Dumbledore's portrait said.

When Harry opened the door, he came face to face with Mr. Weasley. He was followed by Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, who was using a cane, Fred, George, and Ron. Only the twins gave Harry a smile.

"Good evening, Professor McGonagall," Mrs. Weasley said. "May we see our daughter?"

XXX

Harry knew what was happening. He stepped outside and bumped into Parvati. "Harry, I--"

"Find Padma and Ginny," he said.

Parvati nodded. Harry headed to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione met him. "Harry, the Weasleys--"

"I know," Harry replied.

"Did you get punished?"

He shrugged. "Not officially. But people will talk--"

"I don't care."

"Hermione--"

"Neither does Parvati. I asked her. Although... I hope you don't mind..."

"What, Hermione?"

"I told her and Ginny the snake was Voldemort's pet and that it's important for his plans." Harry knew he'd have to tell them something like that himself, so it didn't really bother him. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked.

"I'll see how I can help Ginny."

"Harry, I don't--"

"I'm not sitting here, waiting for the outcome." He left.

Hermione followed. "They're not going to let you in--"

"Trust me, Hermione." Harry increased his pace.

At the entrance to McGonagall's office, they found the Patil twins. Padma sat quietly on the stairs, with her sister's arms around her shoulders.

Harry headed up the staircase. "Wait here," he told Padma. "If all goes well, they might even want to see you."

He opened the door and found himself witnessing a strange scene. Fred, George, Bill, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood one side of the room. Ginny, supported by Charlie, were on the other. McGonagall stood behind her desk, sternly looking at everyone. The family was engaged in a heated discussion.

"Minerva, how can you--"

"I don't consider these matters any business of mine. I am busy enough running--"

"A bit unfair, don't you think?" Harry said. "Five against two."

"Harry, this is not--" Mrs. Weasley begun.

"You showed me, a complete stranger, kindness far beyond what I deserved. I don't understand why you would do this to your own daughter."

Mr. Weasley raised his voice. "You know nothing about raising child--"

"What I know about how not to raise children could fill a library. I've experienced such treatment firsthand, so don't tell me that it is acceptable to be cruel to child because she's different from you."

"We just want what's--"

"What's best for her. Shouldn't she have a say? I've had people deciding things for me for sixteen years. It's not fun."

"You're being unreasonable," Bill said. "Our--"

"No, you're being unreasonable! What has the failure to accept t his brought you? Nothing but problems!"

"What problems?" Ron asked.

"The problems between you and Hermione, for starters," Harry said.

Ron blushed, but couldn't find a reply.

"What happened to the way you pined for Harry?" Bill asked Ginny.

"I never pined for him. Not much has changed. I love Harry," Ginny said, and Harry, not expecting this, looked at her in shock. "As a friend," she added.

"The time for arranged marriages is over, Dad," Charlie said.

Fred and George, who ignored the discussion so far, moved towards Ginny, Charlie, and Harry. "We support our sister," they said in unison.

"You what?!" Ginny demanded. "That was a dirty trick!"

Fred turned to George. "With that welcome, maybe we should reconsider--"

Ginny drew her wand. George shook his head. "we wouldn't live if we did, not with that temper."

"Ginny," Mr. Weasley attempted another track. "What you're doing is dangerous."

"How?" Ginny demanded. "How's loving Padma dangerous? Right now, no offense, it's a lot more dangerous to love Harry, which, as I have gotten clearly enough from you, no one here opposes." She looked at Harry, and he smiled back. Ginny was of course right, and he didn't know if he himself would be brave enough to do what Parvati has done.

Mr. Weasley sighed. "I thought the same way," he said. "I never told this to anyone." Mrs. Weasley stared at her husband. "My older brother," he said. "Alexander Weasley."

"But Dad, aren't you the--"

"We never told you about him. Well, Molly knows he existed, but nothing else. He was killed in mysterious circumstances--there were even suspicions that he was a Death Eater--" the family looked shocked at the very idea-- "before we were married."

"And why--" Ginny began.

"Because he was..."

"Gay?" Harry supplied. Everyone looked at him. He shrugged. Mr. Weasley nodded. "That's why he was killed. So yes, it's dangerous--"

"We're not hiding from Voldemort, so I don't see any reason to hide from--"

"Ginny some of them may be on our side--"

"If they're going to go over because of this," Harry said, "we shouldn't depend on them. Let's stop playing politics with people's love lives."

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked. "Harry--"

"Molly, I'd like to meet this Padma."

"What?!" Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Bill yelled.

"I'd certainly like to meet any boy who'd try to date my daughter," Mr. Weasley said. "I don't see why it should be any different here."

"Way to go, Dad," Charlie said quietly.

"I don't like this," Mrs. Weasley said. "But I'll stay and see."

Ron and bill looked at her. "Well, I'm not," Bill said. "My wife certainly won't approve--"

"Then go back to her!" Ginny yelled.

"Ginny!"

"I'm going too," Ron said, and, throwing Harry a dirty look, as if this was all his fault, did so.

"Ginny, can--"

"There's no need, Mr. Weasley," Harry said. "She's waiting outside the door."

Harry left the office. "Where's--"

"Ginny's okay," he informed Padma. "I told you they'll want to see you. Go on."

"Good luck, sis," Parvati said. "Harry, what did you do to the snake?"

"It's in my dorm. Why?"

"I'd like to have it."

"What would you want with a dead snake?" Harry asked. He might have expected this sort of request from Luna, but not from Parvati.

"Not much. It's dead, you killed it. Why--"

"You can have it. Just don't display it for everyone to see. I don't want to remind people of--"

"I wouldn't think of it. Your dorm?"

"My dorm. Right under the bed."

Parvati gave him a tiny kiss and left.

Harry found himself alone in the corridor with Hermione's, who looked the way she usually did these days--calm, but without happiness. Harry knew why, but couldn't do anything. Ron proved among the most stubborn members of his family.

He was about to try to console her when someone bumped into him, and he tripped and fell on top of that person.

"Watch where you're going, Potter!" Zacharias Smith demanded. "You nearly killed me--"

Harry didn't listen. On a long chain hung around Smith's neck was a tiny golden cup--a miniature replica of Helga Hufflepuff's cup Harry saw in the memory Dumbledore showed him.

"Sorry. Where did you get this?" he asked hopefully.

"None of your business, Potter. Let--"

Something clicked in Harry's mind. "Are you related to Hepzibah Smith?" he asked.

Zacharias looked shocked. "My great-great-great Aunt. Why?"
"Hermione, come on," he said.

"What're--"

"Not here." He opened an empty classroom. Hermione entered first, Harry nearly pushed Smith in and closed the door.

"Potter, what's wrong--"

"A real cup, like the one on your medallion, exists."

"How do you know that? It's a family--"

"Hepzibah Smith had no wish to give it to your branch of the family, is that correct?"

"How--"

"Later. Yes or no?"

"Yes. But it didn't matter, since the cup wasn't found among her possessions after she died. Only this medallion. How do you know--"

Harry ignored the question. "The official story is that Hepzibah was poisoned by her house-elf by accident--the elf was, after all, very old. Few knew about the cup, and another unique artifact she owned and those that did--your ancestors--didn't want to spread the word. No one knows what happened to the cup."

"You said 'the official story'. Are you implying that that's not what happened?"

"I'm not implying. I'm stating that as fact. Two days before her death, Hepzibah Smith was visited by a young man named Tom Riddle and showed him her treasures, including the cup. Her house -elf witnessed the encounter, and, years later, provided a memory of it to Dumbledore."

"Why would Dumbledore bother with an old house-elf--"

"Because," Harry said, "Tom Riddle is better known to the world by another name."

"Voldemort," Hermione explained.

"And why should I believe you? I only have your word--"

"Listen. It's imperative for the defeat of Voldemort that we locate the cup. The real cup."

Smith paused. "I only have this replica. How would I know where You-Know-Who hid--"

"There replica must have been made for a purpose," Hermione reasoned. "It may--"

"All right," Smith said reluctantly. "It has a tracking charm on it, supposedly set to the cup. Many of my family tried to use the charm to recover it."

"And?" Harry asked.

"They all left and didn't come back," Smith said.

"Hermione?" Harry said. "You--"

"I'm going with you."

"It's my family relic. I'm coming, too."

Harry shrugged. "Hermione, find Neville, and head to the Three Broomsticks." He left the classroom and headed downstairs.

"Wait, when I said I'll be going, I didn't--"

"I'm not going to wait. You're coming now, or you're not coming at all."

Smith followed. Neville and Hermione met them at the pub. "What's going on?" Neville said, sleepily.

"Neville, I'm leaving you in charge of the D.A., and responsible for the school defense if anything happens."

"What?" Neville asked in surprise.

"Trust me. You're the best choice--"

Neville shook his head. "If--"

"If everything was fine between me and Ron, I'd take him along, as still leave you in charge. Take this to McGonagall." He handed Neville a note. "Good luck, Neville. Everything will be fine."

He turned to Smith. "Ready?"

The Hufflepuff nodded, took out the medallion, and cast a spell on it. "Okay..."

"Did you ever side-along Apparate anyone?" Hermione asked.

"No. Is it so different from Apparating alone?" Smith replied, and, letting Harry and Hermione hold on to him, cast the spell.