A Potter Secret

Last Wishes and Wedding Disasters

Harry enters, trailed by Ron and Hermione. Scrimgeour gestures the trio to the sofa. Harry eyes Scrimgeour with thinly concealed contempt. "To what do we owe the pleasure, Minister?" Harry says.

"I think we both know the answer to that question, Mr. Potter," Scrimgeour replies. Scrimgeour pitches a cloth bag onto the table before them. The trio regard it curiously, exchange glances.

"And this would be-?" Harry asks.

"Don't be coy, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. Would you say you were close to your former Headmaster?" Scrimgeour questions.

"Dumbledore? And me? I dunno. I reckon I was just another Weasley to him. He was always polite," Ron explains.

"And you, Miss Granger? How would you characterize your relationship?" the minister requests.

Hermione shrugs. "We were friendly, not close like Harry, but-"

"What's this all about?" Harry asks.

"This. Despite the fact that neither of your friends appear to have been particularly close to their recently deceased Headmaster, he saw fit to remember them in his will. Now why do you suppose that would be?" Scrimgeour ponders.

Harry, Ron and Hermione exchange glances again. "No idea," Harry assures.

"Come now, you don't expect me to believe-" Scrimgeour reaches into his cloak, removes a scroll of parchment, and reads, "'Herein is set forth the Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. First, to Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, a device of my own making, in the hope that, when things seem most dark, it will show him the light.'" Scrimgeour removes a small silver object from the bag.

"Dumbledore left this? For me? Brilliant. Er, what is it?" Ron asks. Ron clicks it and all the light rushes from the lamps into the Deluminator, throwing the room into total darkness. He clicks it again and light flies back to the lamps. "Wicked."

"'To Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive'," Scrimgeour continues. Scrimgeour reaches into the bag once again and retrieves a small book, its binding stained and peeling in places.

"Mum used to read me those! The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, Babbitty Rabbity and her Cackling Stump-" Ron smiles. Harry and Hermione stare blankly at him. "Oh, c'mon! Beedle's stories are famous! Babbity Rabbitty? No-?"

Scrimgeour eyes Ron with mild annoyance, continues. "'To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill'," Scrimgeour continues.

Scrimgeour places the tiny golden orb onto Harry's palm, where it glimmers dully. Harry studies it, then looks up. "That's it then?" Harry asks.

"Not quite. Dumbledore left you two more bequests: The Sword of Godric Gryffindor. Unfortunately, the Sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away. As an important historical artifact, it belongs-"

"To Harry! It belongs to Harry! It chose him! It came to him in the Chamber of Secrets when he most needed it!" Hermione insists.

"The sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor, Miss Granger. That does not make it that wizard's property. And in any event the current whereabouts of the sword are unknown," Scrimgeour replies.

"Excuse me?" Harry asks.

"The sword is missing. I won't pretend to be your friend, Mr. Potter. But I assure you I'm not your enemy."

"You'll forgive me, Minister. But it's a little hard to tell the difference these days," Harry says.

"The final bequest," Scrimgeour starts. "There's quite a list of items but you'll find the list in his hand and every item within this bag. He asks that these go to your closest lady but does not list a name." Harry nods.