Hogwarts Legacy : A Sixth Year Continuation

Chapter Sixty-Nine : Kitty's Punishment

A note from the author :

This is the longest chapter I've written. I had dithered about splitting it in two however I couldn't find the right place to split this chapter.
There will be one chapter to follow this, then finished with as shorter epilogue.

The House of Gaunt - Ireland

"I'm surprised he's not shown up yet, are you?"

"Who?"

"Father."

"Oh, well, he can't see as far ahead as you. Maybe he's not foreseen it yet?"

"He said he'd keep an eye on me. His ligilimency and his connection to me should mean that he doesn't need to see for himself. He can just use me. I had to drop my Occlumency walls for the exam. I'm certain he knows I'm here."

I gazed at the rooms below from the second floor gallery. It was here somewhere, I could feel it. Ominis produced a small flask and took large swig.

"I don't think drinking is the right thing to do in a time like this."  I snapped , my impatience seeping into my voice. "What if he shows up with a crowd? What if Marvolo comes with people? You'll need to have your wits about you." I said as we bounced back down the steps to the entryway.

"Dutch courage." He said simply as I twitched at the curtains to the front of the house. The gravel path was clear. Only a few magpies pecking at the lawn. I roamed my eyes across to the right. I knew there were groves of fruit trees, I remembered Mammy climbing up one when she'd played hide and seek with Malachi.

"How big are the grounds?"

"Extensive. All the way round the back of the house. A couple of acres. Why? Do you think it could be outside somewhere?"

"I do. I don't think I'd have gone into the house to hide it, now that I think about it. The night I hid it people were home. Back then I don't know if I'd have risked being seen. Disillusionment has never been my strong suit..." I said, raking my mind for any memory of exactly where it would be.

"You can't disillusion yourself?" Ominis said sceptically from beside me.

"I can, I've just never been good at it, have I? You know that." I said turning to him with a grin.

"Oh..well it's not like I can tell can I?" He said with a chuckle , gesturing to his eyes. He dropped his hand and something lurched in my stomach. I glanced down at the hand he'd just dropped. Something wasn't right.

"Everything okay...?" He asked, the same arm I was staring at reached out to stroke my hand. I swallowed hard.

"Yes. Let's go outside."

The Path to Hogsmeade Village

"We can use the Floo in the pub, it is connected to Kitty's cottage in Galway, Ruby, you will need to apparate us to the house from there." Natty panted as she followed behind Sebastian , her mother by her side, Poppy and Ruby bringing up the rear.

"I'll need to take you in groups, I can't side along with the four of you." She puffed.

"Sebastian and My mother can go with you first, then Poppy and I." Said Natty, her mother nodded tight lipped beside her. Ruby turned to Poppy who had scrambled to furiously keep the tears from spilling from her eyes. The picture of determination on her face was badly painted, cracks showing by ways of her tears.

"Poppy, what did Ominis make you promise?" Asked Ruby desperately as they climbed the stone paved hill toward the village.

"I can't tell you. It's part of the vow. Even if I could, nothing can be done about it." She mumbled as they rounded a corner, Hogsmeade was bustling with shoppers. Sebastian elbowed past students and locals as they fought to get to the Three Broomsticks.