Redemption For A Monster (Marauder fanfic) Book Three

63- Gifts All Around

Moody's death loomed over the Order in the week that followed.
But the mood couldn't stay low for long, as everyone at the Burrow was preparing for Bill and Fleur's wedding, which was taking place the day after Harry's 17th birthday.
Ever since Dumbledore's death, everyone in the Order had become the Secret Keeper for 12 Grimmauld Place, making it no longer safe to use. So the Burrow was now the official Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.
The Burrow didn't just have to put up with those in the Order coming and going, as Fleur's parents and little sister had moved in a few days's before the wedding.
Meaning that the Weasley's house was so crammed full of people, that it became difficult to move around inside.

Harry was happy to let his birthday get swept under the rug so to speak, but Molly and Sara were not, so they arranged a party for him. And due to the amount of people who would be coming, they would have to eat under a marquee in the garden, as they wouldn't have all fitted in the kitchen.
"Happy birthday Harry" smiled Sara, as she sat down on the sofa beside him, and handed him three square packages.
"Thank you... This one feels like a book" commented Harry, as he picked up the flattest package, and began to rip off the wrapping paper.
"A cooking book?" Continued Harry raising an eyebrow.
"Well you're a man now, so you'll have start looking after yourself, which means cooking your own meals, and it's harder than it looks, trust me. This is book is filled will quick and simple recipies, that I'm sure even you can figure out how to do" explained Sara.

"Thanks. I guess that is useful" admitted Harry, as he began opening the soft package.
"Wow. This coat is beautiful" gasped Harry, when he found out what was inside.
"It's not just pretty, it is very warm inside. Which I have a feeling will be very useful for you in the coming months" Sara said quietly,  looking at Harry in the eye.
The two of them hadn't spoken about Harry leaving Hogwarts, since Dumbledore's funeral. Even though Molly had tried to question Sara about what Harry would be getting up to, to which Sara had feigned ignorence.
"Yes. I will definately be needing this" agreed Harry.
"I thought so. Be careful with this next one, you need to open it with care" warned Sara.

Intriged, Harry began opening the biggest present, which turned out to be a glass tank, containing a small red corn snake.
"Now, I know that snakes are often associated with Slytherin house, but they are actually quite smart, pretty creatures. And this one is red, like Gryffindor, so I thought you might like him, especially since you are a Parselmouth afterall, and will be able to talk to him. I was trying to buy you a pet to replace Hedwig, but all the animals I looked at wouldn't be any good for someone on the run and hiding from Voldemort. I also didn't think that you would be able to stay in touch via letter, which is why I didn't get you a new owl. I saw this little guy, and I thought he would be easy to look after" revealed Sara, as she tried to explain why she bought him a snake.

Harry placed his hand into the tank and removed the snake, which immediately began to slide around his hand and through his fingers, making him smile.
"Thank you. I have always had a connection to snakes, it's true. I accidently set a python loose at the zoo on Dudley's birthday, before I came to Hogwarts" admitted Harry, as he placed the snake back inside the tank.
Sara chuckled.
"Oops. You don't have to worry about this little guy getting that big though, because he won't get that much bigger than this".
"That's good to hear" replied Harry.

Harry recounted the presents he had recieved, as he and Sara made their way outside to the table that had been set up for his birthday meal.
Once they had taken their seats, Molly came out of the house using her wand to hover the giant Snitch birthday cake that she had baked.
"I think we'd better start without Arthur. He must have been held up at- Oh!" Gasped Molly as a bright silver weasel Patronus flew into the marquee.
"The Minister for Magic is coming with me" said the Patronus in Arthur's voice.
"We shouldn't be here. Harry I'm sorry, I'll explain another time" Remus apologised as he immediately jumped to his feet, and began pulling Tonks with him, before vanishing from sight.
Sara felt sorry for Remus, as she knew that he was leaving because the Ministry was being very anti-werewolf, and it wouldn't have been good for anyone there, if Remus had come face to face with Scrimgeour.

A few seconds later the Minister came towards the group, with Arthur at his side.
"Sorry to intrude. Especially as I can see that I'm gatecrashing a party... Many happy returns" said Scrimgeour.
"Thanks" muttered Harry.
"I require a private word with you. And also with Mr Ronald Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger, and Miss Sara Burne" announced Scrimgeour.
Unsure of why they were all being summoned, Sara and the others all followed the Minister into the Burrow, and towards the lounge.
Although he initially wanted to speak to them individually, Harry told him that this was not going to happen.
"I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dumbledore's will" he revealed, as the group all sat down on the sofa, opposite him.

Sara's eyes flicked to the others, who also seemed to have not expected to have been left anything from Dumbledore's will.
Scrimgeour removed the will from his pocket and began to read it allowed.
"To Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it... To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard, in the hopes that she will find it entertaining and instructive... To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perserverance and skill... To Sara Burne, I leave my copy of the book, The 28 Sacred Family Trees, in the hopes that she understands where she came from".

Scrimgeour handed them all the items that Dumbledore had left them, and Sara stared in confusion at a book that she had never even heard of before.
She couldn't understand why Dumbledore thought that she would need a book on Pure-bloods, since she already knew that her father Leo Fawley, was a Pure-blood.
"Is that it then?" Questioned Harry.
"Not quite. Dumbledore left you a second bequest, Potter. The sword of Godric Gryffindor" revealed Scrimgeour.
"Where is it then?"
"Unfortunately the sword was not Dumbledore's to give away".

"It belongs to Harry. The sword chose him in the Chamber of Secrets" announced Hermione.
"According to historical sources, the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor. That does not make it that wizards property, whatever Dumbledore may have decided. Why do you think he wanted to give it to you, Mr Potter?" Questioned Scrimgeour.
"I don't know. Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall" shrugged Harry.
"This is not a joke Potter. Did he wish to give it to you, because he thought it might help you defeat Voldemort?"
"Hmm. Interesting theory. Has anyone tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should try, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators and covering up breakouts from Azkaban. People are dying Minister, I was nearly one of them. Voldemort chased me half-way across the country, and killed Mad-Eye Moody, but there's been no word from the Ministry, has there? And you still expect us to co-operate with you".

"You go too far!" Shouted Scrimgeour as he stood to his feet.
Harry copied him, and Sara, Ron and Hermione did the same, backing Harry up.
Scrimgeour limped forward and jabbed his wand into Harry's chest, singing a hole in his T-shirt.
Sara removed her own wand and raised it at Scrimgeour, who then turned his wand on her.
"Something you'd like to say Miss Burne?" He mocked.
Sara frowned and lowered her wand, as she knew it wouldn't be good for her to attack the Minister for Magic.
"I didn't think so" continued the Minister, before turning back to face Harry.

"You may wear that scar like a crown Potter, but it is not up to a 17 year old boy, to tell me how to do my job. It's time you learned some respect" spat Scrimgeour.
"It's time you earned it" Harry shouted back.
Sara grabbed hold of Harry's arm, to stop him from doing something stupid.
The floor trembled beneath their feet, and suddenly the door burst open, as Molly and Arthur entered the room, looking out of breath.
"We thought we heard raised voices" admitted Arthur, who looked alarmed at how close Harry and Scrimgeour were standing to each other, as well as the burned hole on Harry's shirt.
The Minister took a couple of steps back, and seemed to regret his loss of temper.
"It was nothing... I regret your attitude. You seemed to think that the Ministry does not desire what you- what Dumbledore desired. We ought to be working together" he said.

"I don't like your methods, Minister. Remember?" Asked Harry, as he raised up his fist, showing the Minister the scars on the back of his hand, that read, I must not tell lies.
Scrimgeour's expression hardened, and he marched out of the room, without saying another word.
"Are you alright?" Whispered Sara, as she flicked her wand at Harry's T-shirt, mending it easily.
"I'm fine... What about you?" Harry asked.
"I'm O.K"
"Good. But you shouldn't let him intimidate you like that"
"It's easy for you to say, you're not a Maledictus, and ex-wanted criminal. One word from Scrimgeour, and I end up spending the rest of my life as a dragon in Scotland, or worse, Azkaban. I can't afford to lose my temper around him. And you shouldn't either, since he's a dangerous man to cross".