HP8 (On Hold)

Post Battle

Harry woke to the sound of raised voices coming from the main Headmasters office. 

Putting on his glasses, Harry turned to the other bed, where he saw that Ron was also awake.

 “Wonder what all the noise is about” Harry asked.

 “Dunno” Ron yawned, “But now we are awake suppose we might as well find out”

 From the other side of the curtain, they could hear that Hermione was also getting up.

 All three of them walked through the arch into the main office.

There they found Professor McGonagall, together with Kingsley Shacklebott, the new temporary Minister of Magic. 

Their voices were the ones being raised, and it was immediately obvious why, they were trying to stem a number of others attempting to entering the office, one Harry noticed with a start, was the one person he definitely didn’t want to see or speak to right now.  With her bright robes and acid writing was Rita Skeeter, the gossip columnist of the Daily Prophet, the main wizard paper.  Harry and his friends had all had previously dealings with her, and none of them could expect any niceties involving them to be included in any of her articles.

Spying Harry, she immediately tried to dodge round Kingsley to be the first to question Harry, but luckily he was too quick for her and held her back.

Not to be thwarted, she shouted “Harry, what is your version of last night’s events, are the rumours true that the Dark Lord committed suicide?” 

Due to his previous dealings with Rita, Harry easily spotted the worded trap she had laid, by denying the Dark Lords death had been self-administered she was hoping for a positive quote from him to say that he had been responsible. 

Hermione just let out a Humph under her breath beside him, and luckily Harry was able to forestall Ron’s indignant outburst, by grabbing his arm. Harry turned back to Rita and just smiled at her, he then just turned to Professor McGonagall and said “Good Morning Professor”

“Good Morning Harry, would you like some breakfast” Professor McGonagall responded, which effectively cut off all questions, as everyone was looking at her in amazement, wondering why she was thinking of such mundane things at a time like this. 

Harry looked at his watch it was 10.25.  “Are they still serving breakfast?” he enquired. 

“I’m sure Kreacher will be happy to whip you something up” she replied, turning to the people in the office door, “now if you ladies and gentleman will excuse us, these three students are going to have some breakfast, I’m sure you will be able to catch up with them later.” And she ushered them out of the door, closing it behind them. 

Harry was about to sit down in one of the armchairs, when he spotted that the Pensive, a very powerful magical object was still sat upon the Headmasters desk.  This object allowed you to observe peoples memories as though you were actually present when the memory took place. 

In the Pensive at present were a large number of memories about Voldemort and Severus Snape. 

“Professor, before anyone else comes in here, I think that the Pensive should be placed somewhere secure, there are a lot of thoughts in there which would give someone in the papers a real scoop if they were to get hold of it.” 

“Oh has it, well yes ok then, I will make sure it is taken to a place where its knowledge won’t be divulged.” 

“Actually professor there is somewhere in this office that is ideally suited.” and walking up to one of the portraits, he asked it to open, the portrait inclined his head, and the picture swung out to reveal a hidden cavity behind it. Taking the Pensive from the desk he placed it into the cavity, the picture automatically returning to its normal position.