WILDFLOWER, hermione granger.

oxvii. if the skies were falling

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OXVII. IF THE SKIES WERE FALLING
seventeen

       IVY ENTERS THE SITTING ROOM BEHIND THE GOLDEN TRIO, A STONE COLD MASK ON HER FACE THAT SHE WOULD WEAR IN HOGWARTS. She did have a reputation outside the Order, after all.

So here they were—but instead of being squished in one couch, Ivy stands instead behind the trio. Scrimgeour cleared his throat. "I am here, as I'm sure you know, because of Albus Dumbledore's will."

Harry, Ron, Ivy, and Hermione looked at one another, stunned.

"A surprise, apparently! You were not aware, then, that Dumbledore had left you anything?"

Ivy raised her chin, much like Narcissa Malfoy—like a proper woman of House Black, strong, elegant, and poised. "Even if we were, why would we tell you, given the past history of experiences from your predecessor?"

"A—all of us?" Ron sputters after a moment. "Me, Hermione, and Ivy too?"

"Yes, all of—"

But Harry interrupted. "Dumbledore died over a month ago. Why has it taken this long to give us what he left us?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione interjects, before Scrimgeour could answer. "They wanted to examine whatever he's left us. You had no right to do that!" She exclaimed, and her voice trembled slightly.

"I had every right," Scrimgeour says dismissively. "The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation gives the Ministry the power to confiscate the contents of a will—"

"—That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artefacts," Ivy snapped, "And the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?"

"Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Malfoy?" Scrimgeour inquires, wincing inwardly at the mention of her last name.

"No I'm not," Ivy retorted. "I'm hoping to do actually live long enough from cleaning up after your messes!"

Harry spoke after that. "So why have you decided to let us have our things now? Can't think of a pretext to keep them?"

"No, it'll be because the thirty-one days are up," Hermione replied at once. "They can't keep the objects longer than that unless they can prove they're dangerous. Right?"

"Would you say you were close to Dumbledore, Ronald?" Scrimgeour implored, ignoring Hermione.

Ron looked startled. "Me? Not—not really... it was always Harry who..." From behind him, Ivy nearly face palmed as Ron turned to look at them. Hermione gave him an expression that would clearly translate to stop talking now, but the damage was done.

Scrimgeour swooped like a bird of prey upon Ron's answer. "If you were not very close to Dumbledore, how do you account for the fact that he remembered you in his will? He made exceptionally few personal bequests. The vast majority of his possessions—his private library, his magical instruments and other personal effects—were left to Hogwarts. Why do you think you were singled out?"