Mischievous Glint | George Weasley

Chapter 46

Meanwhile inside the Castle, hearing footsteps, an Auror turned and was blasted off his feet as Snape and the others appeared. Bellatrix lagged then stepped to the towering doors of the Hall peering upward and past the floating candles to the vaulted ceiling as solemn as a church. Raising her wand she sent a fiery bolt towards the grand window opposite. As it exploded a blast of cold air sweeped the room extinguishing the candles. Snape turned and looked back. Bellatrix simply grinned like a mad child. As her blast echoed, Ron and Hermione raced side by side in their regular clothes and glanced at one another and dashed on. Filch was on guard and looked up watching the shards of glass spilled from the window like jewels standing transfixed as the fragments lashed his face and drew blood.

Harry and I raced on. We glanced out a window and saw Snape and the others racing across a lower courtyard.

The students came to the windows and peered out at the emerald sky. They looked like ghosts in their nightclothes.

Hermione and Ron pushed through the other students who were confused amd crying. McGonagall appeared and met Ron and Hermione's glance and continued on.

At the middle courtyard, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stood with the staff. They turned and watch the throng of students parted for Harry and me along with Hagrid. Hagrid stopped short and shattered by what he saw. Harry and I pushed on and kneeled beside Dumbledore. His eyes were closed but his face was peaceful. I straightened his half-moon spectacles and wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth and ran the back of my hand gently over the weathered cheek. Then I noticed something lying beside Dumbledore's ashen hand. The Locket.
I took it and handed it to Harry who considered it numbly then began to cry. Great shudders of grief wracking his body. I looked at Hermione who gave Ginny a nudge and she stepped forward dropping beside Harry. At her touch his head fell on her shoulder as she began to stroke him. Ron looked on and understood all. McGonagall lifted atrembling wand to the sky and slowly the tip glowed to life. One after another students and staff dod the same. Lifting their wands in salute. The pinpricks coalesced into one blazing fire. The sky which briefly emerald and turned black once more. The Dark Mark vanished.
The castle sat silent. Back banners flew on the parapets. Silent and Desolate.

    ♤

Moments later at the common room, Harry stood down the stairs and stopped. Hermione, Ron, Ginny and I sat talking quietly. Ginny looked up to me and smiled softly as gave her a ghost smile.

Harry, Hermione and I stood by the ramparts while Ron and Ginny stood further along, just out of earshot. Harry stared into the distance at the ashes of Hagrid's Hut. Hermione toyed with the locket.

"Do you think he would've done it? Draco?"
Hermione asked without looking.

"No. He was lowering his wand. In the end, it was Snape. It was always Snape. Y/N saw it too. And I did nothing..." Hermione studied Harry and takes the locket from the rampart.

"Strange. Thinking this is a piece of Voldemort's soul." Hermione examined the locket.

"Yeah, strange. Only... it's not. It's a fake." I added.

As Hermione reacted, Harry nodded.

"Go on. Open it." Harry told her.

"Hermione pried open the locket and removed a piece of parchment folded in a tight square which read.

'To the Dark Lord' I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.B.'

"R.A.B.?" Hermione looked up.

"Dunno. But whoever they are, they have the real Horcrux. Which means, it was a waste. All of it." Hermione studied Harry's troubled face then glances at me then Ginny and Ron.

"Ron's okay with it, you know. You and Ginny. But if I were you, when he's around, I'd keep the snogging to a minimum." Hermione smiled faintly trying to cheer us but Harry merely nodded and looked away again.

"I'm not coming back, Hermione. Y/N, if you come with me too then you'll end up like me. I can't let that happen."

"Harry, you know you can't go alone. I'm coming either way. We have to take a stand." I claimed.

"We reckoned, Ron and me." Hermione nodded.

"Then we have to finish what Dumbledore started. I'm not sure where that will lead us. but I'll let you and Ron konw where we are when we can.

"I've always admired your courage, Harry." Hermione started. "But sometimes... you're really thick."

Harry turned looking at her in surprise. Hermione gave me knowing look then turned back to him.

"You don't honestly think you can find all those Horcruxes by yourself, do you?" Hermione leaned in whispering. "You need us Harry."

Harry and I just stared at her. She cocked her head smiling and doing her best to coax one out of Harry as I already did. Finally he gave in briefly.

"Yeah. I do. But do me a favor. When I'm around? Keep the snogging to a minimum." Hermione looked stunned and reddened.

"Like that's going to happen." We glanced at Ron and Hermione shook her head.

"Besides, he's barking." Hermione added.

"Funny, he says the same about you." I said.

"Yes, but I'm exceptionally perceptive." Hermione flipped her hair making me giggle as she joined in.

"You're brilliant. You both are." Harry looked off again. Hermione and I followed his gaze. We looked out over the grounds.

"Do you think we'll ever... come back?"

She stopped. Her eyes glisten briefly which she fought back. Gryffindor traits. Harry fought back his own emotion and reaches over and gave her hand a brief squeeze. Then released her.

"I don't know. But we do have a Slytherin with us... they always have a escape plan."

Hermione nodded and Harry's eyes shifted towards me. A ghost of a smile danced on his lips. I smiled back and then he turned to Ron and Ginny. As if sensing his gaze, Ron turned and they exchanged a look.

Something unspoken but true passing between them. Just then a bird soared out from beyond the tallest turret and raised on and began to snitch it's way across the now mournful and haunting air. Ron and Ginny crossed to Harry, Hermione and me. They leaned against the rampart. We all looked to the horizon watching the bird grow smaller while its sang magically and endured. No one said a word but embraced the silence.