In Nomine Amoris

Chapter Ten: The Chosen One

The next day, Harry and Ron were able to go to the Apparition test center and undergo the examination. The Ministry was unsurprisingly crowded, but Percy gained them access an ordinary citizen would not normally have inside the Ministry.

"It's the least I can do," he said, groping his pockets to find a key that would allow them into the back door of the testing facility. "And it'll help me avoid questioning for a minute or two."

And questioned Percy was, at whatever chance reporters from the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and The Quibbler could find. Harry and Ron both passed their tests as quickly as possible, and with great ease-a remarkable feat on Ron's part.

Back at the Burrow, continuous owls were flying through the kitchen, it seemed. They carried Prophet news bulletins and urgent letters form the Ministry, asking if the resident witch or wizard had any knowledge of Rufus Scrimgeour's whereabouts.

The following days were equally as hectic, but the excitement died down by the day of the reading of Dumbledore's will. Harry had, of course, notified the attending parties in advance. Moody insisted on using a secure conference room at the Ministry, which Percy provided for them.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were dressing in their wizarding best for the occasion. "What the bloody hell does Dumbledore want me there for?" Ron asked aloud, fumbling with his tie in front of the mirror.

"I've no idea," the mirror said in a bored voice. "You look a right mess."

"He must have left something for you," Harry replied, ignoring the mirror's words, and checking his breast pocket to make sure Dumbledore's letter was still there.

Hermione rapped her knuckles on the door frame of Ron's room. "Ready to go?" she inquired almost mockingly, having glanced from Harry's ever-untidy hair to Ron's tie mishap.

"Honestly," she muttered, batting Ron's hands away from his neck, and handing Harry a comb from the dresser simultaneously. "What would you boys do without me?" She proceeded to tie Ron's tie correctly.

"Probably die," Harry answered, laughing slightly.

"Let's not joke about that," Hermione warned him. Admiring her work on Ron's tie, she added conversationally, "Ginny's a bit upset she wasn't invited to Dumbledore's will reading."

"There are some things only the three of us are meant to do," said Ron. "This is one of them."

"I suppose," Hermione sighed.

Harry lowered his arms from his head, defeated from the battle with his unruly hair. "We'd better get going."

Each of them Apparated in turn to the Ministry's atrium, where Moody and Professor McGonagall were already waiting for them near the fountain.

"Good," said Moody gruffly. "Now where're Hagrid and Slughorn?"

The two men in question ascended from one of the lifts, Slughorn looking a bit disheveled from being stuffed next to the half-giant.

"On some business," Hagrid explained enigmatically. "All righ' there, Harry?"

"I'm fine," Harry said untruthfully. This is only the beginning of what I have to do...just thinking about it exhausts me.

Everyone having arrived for the hearing, they all filed through one of the doors leading off the atrium into conference room 77. Harry took the seat at the head of the long table, so that all could see and hear him clearly as he read Dumbledore's will aloud.

Harry scanned the room to see if everyone was ready and removed from Dumbledore's envelope the orange piece of paper and cleared his throat.

"Fate is inescapable. Should man try to deny fate, it shall be his downfall. Only courage and perseverance are his redemption. By reading this last will and testament, you are aware of the fact that I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, have passed on. I always dreamed of death as the most exciting of undertakings-do not believe, for one moment, that I have died in vain.

"As an educator, my possessions are fewer than many, but for the sake of clearing space, I must distribute them accordingly.

"To Minerva McGonagall, I give well-wishes as she takes on the role of Headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, succeeding me. I bequeath to her anything of consequence to the future of Hogwarts-as she finds fit.

"To Rubeus Hagrid, I bequeath Fawkes, my dear pet phoenix, should Fawkes continue to reside at Hogwarts-otherwise, let him be freed. And Hagrid-I have always believed in you. I trust you with the future of the grounds of Hogwarts, as I have trusted you with my life. Also, if it has not been done as of my death, please see that Aberforth receives his goat back.

"To Alastor Moody, I bequeath my small collection of Dark Detectors. I also ask that he should supervise the Order of the Phoenix in my stead.

"To Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger: I ask you look after Harry." Harry shifted his eyes from the parchment to his friends, who were looking anxious. He continued, "Make sure he follows my instructions-should he not, the results might be fatal. I shall say nothing else on the matter, for fear of discouraging you from joining him on this quest. You will be going with him; I am certain you would not have it any other way. Remember that you have my blessing as you disembark, and all the time following.

"From my material things, I bequeath to Mr. Weasley my chess set, and to Miss Granger my entire personal library.

"To Horace Slughorn, I give a hearty thank-you. I bequeath to him my apothecary and pre-made potions.

"To Harry Potter," he gulped, "I need say nothing-he knows. I bequeath to him my Pensieve, my silver instruments of intrigue, and the rights to Secret Keeper of both Godric's Hollow and Grimmauld Place.

"I ask that all my robes be donated to the less fortunate of the wizarding world. My socks, though few and far between, should go to the house-elf Dobby, who never could have made it to the hearing of this will.

"I part not with sorrow, but with a multitude of joy. Be mournful not of my decease-be glad of my having passed on to a world of great adventure.

"Signed, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class."

A few moments of silence followed the end of the will. Both Professor McGonagall and Hermione looked teary-eyed. Professor McGonagall was the first to stand.

"There's much to be done," she explained. "The Hogwarts letters are to be sent out today."

"I need to meet with Kingsley at the Auror office," said Moody. "Bloody Scrimgeour, missing-in-action, causing us all extra trouble in the midst of this war..."

Harry kept a knowing smirk to himself as the party exited the conference room. The elder witch and wizards left Harry, Ron, and Hermione near the fountain of the atrium.

"I found it interesting," Hermione said as they stood there, "that Dumbledore cast a Personal Charm on his will."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry, puzzled.

"I could only hear what was addressed to me-not what was addressed to anyone else, though-you could, Harry, but that's because you were reading it. It's a very complicated spell..."

"I noticed that, too," Ron said. "Clever man, Dumbledore."

The threesome stood in a calm silence, which ended as they Apparated to the Burrow once again. A bored-looking Ginny greeted them dully in the kitchen, obviously bitter as Hermione had described her.

"So what did Dumbledore leave you, Ron?" she asked curiously.

"A chess set," Ron replied.

"What was that?"

"A chess set," he said with more clarity.

"Merlin, Ron! If you don't want to tell me..."

"I just did!" said Ron, frustrated.

"No, you didn't."

"Yeah, he did, actually," Hermione said. "But you couldn't hear it-Personal Charm."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fine, you lot can play your little games for all I care."

"We're not-" Harry began. "Oh, never mind."

"So," Hermione changed the subject, "when are Bill and Fleur due back?"

"Now that you mention it, I don't know," Ron replied.

"Mum got a short letter from Bill yesterday," Ginny answered. "He said they're staying another week, because Fleur's 'enjoying the scenery.'"

"Oh," was the collective sentiment issued from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

BANG.

All four heads turned to see that one regal-looking owl had flown into the window. Ruffling his feathers indignantly, he tapped his beak importantly on the glass as three more owls of his nature arrived behind him.

"Hogwarts letters," Harry said automatically, watching Ron open the window to let the owls in.

"Oh, that's right," Ginny agreed, taking her owl from Ron.

Harry received his owl, untied his letter, and unrolled the parchment.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
(Order of Merlin, Second Class)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We regret to inform you that your service as captain of Gryffindor Quidditch team is no longer necessary, as-

Harry's reading was interrupted by a loud shriek of Hermione's. She was staring open-mouthed at her letter.

"What is it, Hermione?" asked Ginny worriedly.

Hermione said nothing, but continued to gape in silence.

"Should we get Ron to bring her out of it?" Harry suggested.

"Ew," Ginny replied, wrinkling up her nose. "Mental images, Harry."

"Sorry."

"It isn't such a bad idea, though."

They looked to Ron, who was gaping at his own letter.

"What's their deal?" Ginny said skeptically.

"We'll find out," said Harry, snatching Hermione's letter from her firm grasp.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
(Order of Merlin, Second Class)

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as Head Girl of Hogwarts 1997-1998 from among many worthy candidates...

Harry did not feel the need to read any further, for the reason for Hermione's temporary lack of speech was now apparent. Seeing Ginny's expression confirmed his suspicions of Ron's reason being similar.

Mrs. Weasley then came bustling into the kitchen with a basket full of dishtowels. "What was that scream I heard a minute ago?" she asked inquisitively, setting the basket down and sorting through it.

"Mum," Ron found his voice, "...I've been chosen as Head Boy."

"What?" His mother looked up, not believing her ears.

"I'm Head Girl!" Hermione finally squeaked out, throwing her hands into the air in euphoria.

"I'm Head Boy," Ron stated again, in a voice of awe and disbelief.

"Oh, Ron!" Mrs. Weasley and Ginny cried happily, nearly crushing him as they embraced him tightly.

"Congratulations, Hermione," Harry said, as no one else but him seemed to have noticed Hermione had good news as well.

Hermione, on the other hand, had not noticed this fact, but the look on her face was that of gloomy comprehension. "It doesn't mean anything, does it?" she said sadly.

"What?" Harry was confused. "You've wanted to be Head Girl from day one-this is huge!"

"No, it's not," Hermione shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "Because we're not going back this time."

These words hit Harry like a ton of bricks. The world seemed to come crashing down on him as the power of Hermione's words sunk into him.

Ron had been released from his mother and sister, and so took the opportunity to grab Hermione's letter.

"I knew it," he said with a smile, pulling her close to kiss her sweetly. In mid-kiss, Ron discovered her tear-stained cheeks. "Why...? Hermione, what's the matter? You're Head Girl!"

Hermione only began to sob harder. "What's going on?" he mouthed to Harry.

"We're not going back," Harry reminded him quietly.

A gasp sounded to Harry's right. Mrs. Weasley looked positively white-astonished to what seemed to be the point of bursting. "What in the name of Merlin are you talking about, Harry Potter?" she asked in a dangerously low voice.

"We're not going back to Hogwarts-me, Ron, and Hermione," Harry repeated bravely.

Mrs. Weasley was speechless for a moment. "I-I-why not? It says in Ron's letter that they will reopen the school if enough people are willing to come back!"

"We have more important things to worry about."

"More important than your education?" she cried incredulously.

"Yes, Mum," Ron confirmed. "Like V-Voldemort."

The entire room fell silent at Ron's use of the Dark Lord's real name.

"And why would you need to worry about him? Yes, he seems to have a particular interest in Harry, but all the same-"

"Mum," Ginny interrupted softly, "Harry has to kill him."

"Oh, posh," Mrs. Weasley brushed her daughter's words off. "If he had to kill You-Know-Who, he'd be-" she stopped abruptly, realization apparent on her face.

"...the Chosen One," she finished in awe.