Chapter 31 - One Last Chance
Changes to Britain's magical society were normally introduced at a snail's pace, and then only if that introduction couldn't be sidetracked or possibly derailed altogether. The new classes at Hogwarts only affected students in first and second year, with the Christmas holidays being the first chance most parents of those students had to hear about how those changes affected them. Those changes however weren't receiving any attention from parents whatsoever, not when held up against what else was very publicly unfolding in their country.
Citizens who a mere week ago had been cloaked in respectability now had the masks they'd once worn exposed for everyone to see what lurked beneath. Some of the deeds they had performed whilst hiding their identities behind those masks started a public outcry for the death penalty to be their Ministry's final solution to the Death Eater problem, except in one special case.
The mountain of irrefutable evidence against Walden Macnair guaranteed the case against him was airtight, and no sane person anywhere in the country could argue against him receiving the death penalty - right up until the muggle government became heavily involved. They wanted to get their hands on this serial killer so badly that immense political pressure was immediately brought to bear on the ministry. Since a fair few of his victims had been muggle children, that was actually a response the Ministry of Magic certainly understood - though for legitimate security reasons couldn't fully support.
Having discovered by the administration of truth serum exactly how dangerous and deranged Macnair actually was, Amelia dug her heels in and wouldn't shift her position about handing him over to the muggle authorities. Even the slightest chance of this psychopath one day escaping was not something she could put her name to. Eventually a compromise was reached that suited everyone involved, Macnair's opinion not withstanding.
Macnair was sentenced to be kissed by a dementor, and then his soulless husk would be handed over to the muggle authorities. Their government's cover story would be Macnair had suffered an aneurysm in his brain. This aneurysm not only caused his present irreversible condition but lead directly to the discovery of his 'trophies' when the police and ambulance services supposedly arrived at his door. Amelia was satisfied a kissed Macnair would never hurt anyone again and the muggles had a prisoner to publicly pin all those now solved cases on. Everyone was happy with that result, again with the exception of Walden Macnair. He would never feel emotions again.
The Daily Prophet actually ran the story that had been printed in the muggle press about this case - banner headlines on front pages named Macnair as The Beast of Britain - to give their own readers some idea of just how wide and far reaching this wizard's depraved acts had been. Pictures of parents crying because their child's murderer had finally faced justice crossed the magical / muggle divide. Anyone who had a son or daughter couldn't help but feel their pain.
Headline after headline in their own press also couldn't help but emphasise their hidden and perpetually enduring world would simply never be the same again. As more and more details became publicly available about what these wizards and witches had done in the name of pureblood supremacy, people's attitudes became more and more accepting of the previously foreign concept that their world simply had to change.
No one wanted to live in a country where acts like this were allowed to happen, far less encouraged by a select and financially powerful section of their society. While there would always remain those witches and wizards who thought they were better than others, simply from their circumstances of birth, a clear line had rather graphically and forcefully been drawn regarding how far that bigotry could now be taken.
When you had a ministry who were prepared to sentence purebloods to life in Azkaban, a dementor's kiss or even the death penalty, few if any would ever cross that line again. Maintaining your freedom, soul or life was a massive incentive for rapid behavioural modification, and a hell off a deterrent to ensure a group like the Death Eaters would never put roots down in Britain again.
-oOoOo-
Luna was lying in bed considering some of those same headlines, and comparing them unfavourably against the story she was supposed to write for her father. Apart from the fact she was staying with Lord Black, and not in the muggle home of the Grangers, she wondered who would want to read a piece like that now. It certainly wouldn't be the scoop her father had been hoping for.
With muggle shopping trips, seeing a pantomime inside an actual theatre and spending all her time with her friends, Luna had easily been having the best holiday she could remember. The possibility of ending up with a story not worth printing, and seeing her father's disappointment at that, being the only cloud on her horizon.
Today was Christmas Eve, with the Dursleys due to arrive in Grimmauld this afternoon. Tomorrow being Christmas, and also the Longbottom Ball, was then followed two days later by Sirius and Amelia's wedding. She was lying in bed awake because Luna's excitement levels were currently off any scale she had ever used to measure this rare emotion before. The knock at their bedroom door saw Luna sitting up, only to discover Susan had been awake too.
They opened the door to find Harry and Hermione standing there.
"I know it's early but we really needed to talk with you." Seeing the worried looks he was getting, Harry then tried to reassure both girls. "While it's obviously important, nothing is wrong."
As the girls sat on their beds, Hermione deliberately was sitting right beside Luna while Harry now had his arm around Susan's shoulders before telling them why they were here.
"You both saw Professor Dumbledore's ghost in the infirmary. On his deathbed, he gave me a means to contact him if we really needed his help. The same night he gave it to me, I wondered if this 'means' would allow me to contact others who had passed on - it did."
Luna immediately jumped a couple of steps ahead of Harry, having heard stories of what she suspected this 'means' was since being a little girl on her father's knee. "Dumbledore gave you the resurrection stone? Father always suspected the headmaster of having at least one of the Hallows."
Her arm tightened around the little blonde as Hermione spoke to their young friend. "Luna, that's not something we want known - outside our family. Certainly not by someone who publishes a newspaper."
"It's okay, Hermione, I would never tell my father about this. He's been obsessed by the Hallows since well before I was born. If he ever found out Harry had one, you wouldn't get a moment's peace..."
Hermione then let slip something they could all see, but no one had spoken of before now. "He's too busy obsessing over everything going on around him to pay attention to the most important thing in his life. If he did, he couldn't miss the wonderful witch his daughter is growing into."
An embarrassed Luna snuggled into Hermione while Susan moved the attention away from her by asking Harry a couple of questions.
"Resurrection Stone? Hallow? I'm perfectly willing to admit I'm not a morning person but I feel as if I'm still sleeping here. Is this one of those stupid dreams you get, just before you wake up?"
"You're awake and not dreaming, sis. It was Amelia who told us about this, mentioning a children's story about three brothers…"
Susan struggled to believe what Harry was saying. "That's real?"
"Most stories have an element of truth in them. When I was given the stone, you can probably guess who I summoned. It was wonderful, and also very painful. I wasn't prepared to see my mum and dad, far less ready to say goodbye to them again. It was so painful for everyone involved, we all agreed to make it no more than an annual event. I intend to call them tonight, and wanted to offer the both of you the chance to talk with the people closest to you that have been lost..."
A tearful Luna shot out of Hermione's grasp and was soon wrapped around Harry with the seeming intention of never letting go. She appeared incapable of speech so a smiling Hermione answered for her. "I think Luna is saying yes..."
Her head vigorously nodding in agreement saw their attention switching to a shocked Susan. After a few moments of silence, Susan voiced the dilemma she was facing.
"I understand Luna's reaction, and I'm so happy for her. I'm more like Harry though. I'm not even sure if the memories I have of my parents are real, or something I've built myself over years of listening to my Aunt Amelia talking about them. I really don't know what to do. What if they didn't like who I've grown up to be?"
Passing a still emotional Luna back to Hermione, Harry then took the girl who was becoming his sister into his arms. "They won't like you, Susan, they'll love you. As you can imagine I just jumped right into the situation, with no thoughts or preparations whatsoever. As I said, it was one of the worst and best experiences of my life. I can't really give you any advice, but I will say I am so looking forward to seeing them again tonight. I wanted to give both of you that chance, and also some time to prepare."
Taking another few moments to think, Susan could really only come up with one answer. "I actually don't know how I could refuse this offer, though I'm now excited and terrified at the same time."
Harry wiped the few tears that were now running down her cheeks and smiled. "You'll be surrounded by family tonight, a family that loves you. That's what got me through the experience of meeting my mum and dad, and we'll all be there for you and Luna tonight. Let's go and have some breakfast, you can think about what you're going to say to them during the day..."
"How can you even think of food at a time like this?" With comic timing par excellence, Harry's stomach managed a loud growl to answer that question on its own. This had all three girls giggling, and also moving. Susan might not be able to eat anything but she certainly wanted to catch her Aunt Amelia before she headed off to the ministry. Tonight the number of Bones' in the country would, for however briefly, double. Then again, in that same time period, the number of Potters in Britain were going to treble.
-oOoOo-
Dudley never thought he'd be excited about going to school during the holidays. Then again, it wasn't thoughts of school that had him excited. Amanda's father was the school caretaker so had a house on the grounds. It was thoughts of visiting Amanda that were causing Dudley's excitement, an excitement that climbed as the Dursleys drew closer to their destination.
George Ketteridge invited the Dursleys into his home, Amanda had the tea ready while Dudley handled the introductions. Dudley had shown his mother a picture of Amanda but this get-together was the first time they'd met face-to-face, and Petunia was liking what she saw. In a matter of minutes she was able to deduce Amanda was lovely, had manners and was smitten with her Dudley.
Her father was a different matter, though Petunia figured any father of a girl as lovely as Amanda was always going to be protective. The man looked average - height, build, appearance. That was until you took a closer look at those icy blue eyes, eyes that missed nothing. Dudley had mentioned George was former military and you could see that even in the way he manoeuvred the conversation, it felt like a flanking movement.
"I understand you and Dudley had to go and visit your nephew's girlfriend, something about her being attacked? Is she all right now?"
"Oh yes, terrible business. She's fine now though, we're leaving from here to spend Christmas with her family and Harry."
With barely an eyebrow raised at that, George was instantly hunting for more information from Petunia. "Hermione, rather a strange name that. Can't imagine there would be too many of them going about."
"I have to admit I had never heard of it before…" Petunia was halted miid-sentence by George dropping a copy of the Daily Prophet onto the coffee table. It was from a few days ago with Harry and Hermione's picture on the front page as the headlines screamed Hermione had been attacked. While it couldn't have weighed a pound, that newspaper hitting the table was a shock needing the Richter Scale to measure its magnitude.
"The one thing I won't stand for is people lying to me, or to my family."
Seeing the affect this was having on Dudley, his boy was almost in tears, Vernon waded right in to rebut George's accusations.
"If you have access to that newspaper then you must also know the restrictions placed on those who can read it against those who can't. There were no lies told by any of my family. It clearly says there Hermione was attacked, Petunia and Dudley left for Scotland at once. You must also know the restrictions staying in the castle places on those trying to contact anyone supposedly unaware of its existence."
The more he thought about this, the more Vernon's temper climbed. 'You are the one standing there with knowledge we didn't know you possessed, yet you seemingly knew who we were. I want to know exactly what is going on here, before I call for some reinforcements to make sure we get those answers. Our family has already been attacked, we won't let it happen again."
That they were sitting around a comfortable living room and sipping tea seemed so at odds with the conversation they were having. George's eyes were practically twinkling with mischief as he looked over the rim of his cup, there was also a disarming smile on his lips as he then sat the cup down.
"Did Dudley tell you how he and my Amanda became close? No, I didn't think so. Any other lad would be crowing about it but your Dudley can add modesty to his many charms.."
This change of tact had floored Vernon and Petunia, just as George had intended it to. "My Amanda hasn't had it easy, losing her mother at a young age and then being raised in an all male environment. A couple of those Smelting males were trying to chat her up, and being rather insistent about it, when your Dudley intervened. He stood beside my Amanda and told the bigger and older boys to both leave her alone. They weren't inclined to do so and a fight ensued. He stood his ground, and my Amanda has been taught how to look after herself too. These two got enough licks in that the pair buggered off, though I made sure the school punished them for harassing Amanda. Both Amanda and I like your boy, we can see he's the right sort. It's this connection to the magical world that has us concerned, I swore my family would have nothing more to do with them."
Amanda came over and refilled her father's cup, standing behind his chair with her hand on his shoulder. George reached up and held his daughter's hand, knowing this next bit would be painful for both of them.
"I am a squib, born into a family of purebloods. They at least raised me until I was of age to join the army, then I was shown the door. I've never been back, Neither Amanda nor I would be welcome there. It was while I was in the army I met and married my Amanda, with this one here coming along two and a half years later. Life was very good for us, until my Amanda took ill."
Amanda now had her father's hand in both of hers. "The thing is, I knew the magical world had a cure for my wife. I went to St Mungo's pleading for their help, they eventually summoned aurors to remove me from the hospital. I was a squib, my wife was a muggle - we were less than nothing to them. Thanks to your nephew, their war was over but very little had changed. I buried my Amanda, opted out of the army on compassionate grounds and got this job here so I could raise my daughter. The army is no place for a three year old girl without a mother."
She bent down and kissed her father's cheek before returning to sit beside Dudley. George actually smiled at the young couple. "I still have friends in the army who keep in touch, and some of them are squibs too. I started reading about all the changes happening in the magical world in their letters, before picking a copy of the Prophet up for myself. It was hard to believe what I was reading, things like this just didn't happen in a society run by the purebloods. I walked into Gringotts and changed fifty quid into knuts. The witches and wizards in the queue building up behind me were all complaining, which just made the goblin count those coins slower. We now get the Prophet delivered daily. It wasn't hard to work out who Dudley's cousin Harry was, especially throwing in the name Hermione too. We now have to see where we go from here?"
Petunia thought she knew exactly how to answer that, so she did. "For many years I loathed everything about magic, including my nephew who was living with us. I blamed magic for taking my sister away from me, and Lily for letting it happen. Having visited Hogwarts, I now understand Lily didn't have a chance. We are implementing programmes though to put an end to families being torn apart when not all of them are magical. Had Amanda been a witch, you would have been able to visit Hogwarts on our open day and see for yourself how she was fitting into her new life. I say 'our' because I am now a part-time professor at Hogwarts. If that doesn't tell you how much things have changed, nothing will."
"Mr Ketteridge." After sitting quietly and listening, he felt it was time to say something here. All eyes were now fixed on Dudley.
"It was around this time last year I first met Hermione, we didn't hit it off then. During the summer when she stayed at our house with Harry I really got to know her. She and Harry changed my life. Hermione is now more than a friend, she's family. My heart was breaking watching her lying there dying, I don't know how Harry managed to stay sane. This was a deliberate attempt to murder her and Harry, with only a miracle saving us from losing Hermione. Me, my mum and dad will be siting down with the rest of the family over the holidays to figure out what we do next. Is it time for us to leave Britain? Time to let the witches and wizards all deal with their own mess?"
This had Amanda grabbing his arm. "You're leaving Smeltings? Leaving Britain?"
"I really don't know, but my vote would be to stay. If you get the Prophet delivered then you must know how the Ministry of Magic has responded to this attack. Harry and Hermione leaving now would see all those positive changes crumble. Hermione's parents and my mum are the three professors pushing the changes at Hogwarts, Neville's gran too…"
All could see Dudley just had an idea, they didn't have to wait long to find out what it was. "Sir, may I have your permission to show how much things have changed?"
"Just what are we talking about here, son?"
"I need to call a friend first, to check if this is actually possible. Dobby?"
Dudley could feel his hand being squeezed, confirming his friend had arrived but remained invisible. "Dobby, Amanda and her father know about magic. It's okay…"
The elf appeared and an excited Dudley couldn't wait to speak about the idea he'd just had. "Since Amanda knows about magic, could you ask Harry if she could go with us to Augusta's ball tomorrow night?"
As Dobby popped away to speak to Harry, Amanda had a question of her own.
"You were going to a ball tomorrow?" The young girl's tone told everyone the question she threw at Dudley was really 'you were going to a ball - without telling me?'. Amanda's question had Dudley floundering, leaving his mother to answer for him.
"He was originally missing Sirius and Amelia's wedding, because that's when he would be staying here, and that's one event I'm sure there will be no problem inviting you to."
Dudley quickly agreed with his mother. "I would much rather go with you, and I didn't know you knew anything about magic…"
At that, Dobby had returned. "Darla is at the Longbottoms asking for permission but Sirius invited Miss Amanda to his wedding. Hermione wondered if you had spoken to Miss Amanda about dresses, Harry fell about laughing at that…"
Darla appeared and confirmed Amanda would be welcome at the ball, allowing Dobby to offer Hermione's suggestion.
"If your mum and dad drop you and Miss Amanda at the Leaky Cauldron, the gang will be waiting to take you both shopping. Dobby will bring Miss Amanda home, from today's shopping and the ball."
Turning his attention to a gobsmacked George, Dudley was once more confident in himself as he asked an important question. "Sir, may I have your permission to take your daughter to the Longbottom Family Ball tomorrow evening? Lord Black's wedding to Madam Amelia Bones is the twenty seventh of December, we can of course wait until after the ball to make arrangements for that."
While easily seeing his daughter was desperate for him to say yes, George had a lifetime of experiences telling him this was not a good idea. He had trouble believing that the daughter of a squib and a muggle would be made welcome at an event that would see the cream of Britain's magical society attending. "Are you sure Amanda will be okay?"
Dudley couldn't hold his laugh at that, leaving his mother once more having to answer for her son. "This will be a formal occasion, so Amanda's gown - like mine and Emma Granger's - will have the crests of the Potter and Black house on them. My nephew and his intended will also have to wear their Orders of Merlin, First Class. Your daughter will be treated with the utmost respect by everyone at both events. To do otherwise would invite the ire of not only our host, herself a formidable lady, but two powerful houses as well."
George nodding his agreement saw Amanda hug Dudley and then jump into her father's arms. "Thank you so much, Daddy."
"I'll need to go to the bank…" George found himself being interrupted by the most unlikely source. He'd never seen a house elf who acted like this before.
"Dobby is to tell sir that Lord Potter will be meeting all expenses for these events. Miss Amanda is a guest of his family, allowing her to wear those house crests. Everyone is really looking forward to meeting her."
Amanda baulked a bit at that until Dudley took her hand. "They are very nice people who will love you. They may be magical, have titles and medals, but they don't act any different to you or me."
Surprisingly enough, it was actually Vernon who supported his son's point of view. "I can honestly say they are a smashing bunch of kids, and our Dudley has certainly benefited from their friendship. You still wouldn't get me behind Harry on a broom though…"
This had the other two Dursleys laughing, until Dudley explained they had both flown with Harry at Hogwarts. Dudley was also sure Amanda could be added to their group, next time they visited Hogwarts to watch Harry play quidditch. Amanda was still holding Dudley's hand while her father held her other arm, meaning she couldn't pinch herself. It turned out there wasn't time as she now had to head off to be fitted with a dress for a ball. She practically floated out the room and into the Dursleys' car, Dobby once more reiterating his promise to George that he would bring her home when they had finished shopping.
George wasn't sure how today's meeting with Dudley and his family would go. This had worried him since a blind man could see his Amanda was sweet on the lad, a lad he himself liked. Never in his wildest dreams though did he envisage the outcome he'd just witnessed. Time would tell who was right but he had to concede the other people in his house today were more up to date on the current state of British wizarding society than he was. Considering those other people were three muggles, that in itself told a story he was struggling to believe.
-oOoOo-
Stealth was simply not an option for Severus. The hard frost covering everything for as far as the eye could see meant that every step he took was accompanied by a crunch of frozen fallen leaves or brittle blades of grass crumbling below his boots. The frozen forest actually looked beautiful in the weak December sunshine, the clear skies ensuring that the mercury had slipped well below freezing last night. Severus had no time to stand and admire the beauty that surrounded him however, he only had about six hours of daylight in which to search for his master. The frost also brought an advantage to Severus too, the underfoot conditions making it a lot harder for anyone else to sneak up on him.
In the crystal clear air, the smell of woodsmoke was clearly discernible. This was forcing Severus to make a choice. Did he approach whoever had built the fire, or avoid them at all costs? Knowing his master's affinity with snakes, and that any snake would need to either hibernate or find a source of heat in this cold snap, he decided to have a look at this fire.
Severus could hear a couple of voices as he approached, the noise they were making allowing him to get close enough to see without his presence being detected. There was a person lying on the ground, Severus suspected they may be injured but was far more interested in pinpointing the source of the other voice he could clearly hear.
The person was lying alongside a fallen tree, with a small fire in front of him. A pack containing supplies was also close, leaving Severus to wonder just how long this dirty and disheveled person had been in this position. Listening to the voices bickering like children reinforced his initial impression that this was no bounty hunter, rather just someone severely down on his luck. Whilst not being able to spot where the second voice was coming from, Severus didn't get any sense that this situation was dangerous to him. He still approached with caution, and his wand was already in his hand.
The person lying there finally heard his approach.
"Hello? Is anyone there? We need help here?"
"Who's there? Are you shouting at shadows again?"
"Shadows don't make a noise and I clearly heard someone approaching. Hello?"
Severus stepped into view. "Hello, who are you - and where is your friend?"
"Oh am I glad to see you, see anyone…"
"At least you can see, I spend all day staring at this bloody fallen tree. Turn around and let me look too."
"We tried giving you a shot at the front. The fire almost went out and we don't have any matches left."
"It's not my fault, your arms are on backward…"
The man on the ground turned as much as his injury would permit him, allowing Severus a glimpse of the face growing out the back of his head. A glimpse was more than enough for Severus to recognise who it was, and immediately drop to his knees. "Master, what happened to you?"
"See, I have a name. Master is so much better than that Hubert you were calling me."
"You sounded like a Hubert to me."
"What does a Hubert sound like?"
"You!"
"Yet you think you're a Troy? How did that come about?"
"Could someone please tell me what happened here?" Severus found himself having to use his professor voice. This entire situation was surreal, it was like dealing with a couple of squabbling first years.
"I don't really know. I woke up here and it was getting dark, I don't like the dark."
"Terrified of it, more like."
"Then I met Hubert here..."
"Master."
"...and invited him to keep me company. I don't know what happened after that but we ended up like this."
Almost growling now, Severus asked again. "Who are you, and how did you come to be lying in this forest?"
"I told you, we don't know. We don't know who we are or how we got here. Can you help us, please?"
From kneeling, Severus was now sitting back on his haunches with his head in his hands. Through his fingers he spotted the burnt end of a wand at the edge of their fire. This offered a glimmer of hope, at least this imbecile must be a wizard. Severus using his wand to scan for injuries had this wizard almost crawling under the fallen tree, much to his passenger's indignation.
"What are you doing?"
"What the hell are you doing? I just got a face full of bark."
"Quiet, both of you. I'm trying to help."
That at least shut them up, though what his wand was telling him left Severus even more confused. 'Troy' had been bitten by something that had injected venom into his leg. While that leg was dead and nothing could be done with it, how the poison didn't kill this person was a mystery. He could only surmise the dark lord's affinity to snakes had inadvertently staved off that outcome, his joining with this host however wasn't nearly enough to save the leg. The fallen tree had provided the pair with some shelter from any wind or rain. The longish branch used to draw firewood to them had not only kept them alive, it had wiped out any signs and hope of Severus discovering what might have happened here.
One thing was sure though, whatever happened had happened very close to where they lay. No one would be able to travel far on that leg. It would also appear both had been obliviated to the point where they couldn't even remember their own names. Severus had never seen the spell used to such a powerful degree, and on the dark lord too.
From their mannerisms and tone as they answered his questions, Severus suspected some of the food or drink they had been consuming could be tainted with truth serum. Since veritaserium was colourless, tasteless and odourless, he had no way of checking whether their responses were chemically or environmentally produced. They were strangely calm considering their current dire situation. Lying here, seriously injured in the cold, was certainly no Sunday picnic.
While picking up pieces of wood from outwith their reach to build up the meagre fire, Severus was also trying to gather his thoughts. Since the dark lord who had previously terrorised countries, and was supposed to be Severus' protector, couldn't remember his own name, a part of him thought to build the fire up and just sit back waiting to be captured. The current weather conditions were conjuring an apt analogy for Severus. He was stranded on thin ice, with cracks now reaching toward him.
What kept running through his mind though was one particularly disturbing thought, it wouldn't give him any peace. If he hadn't attacked Potter and his mudblood, Severus Snape would now be a free wizard. Dumbledore was dead and the dark lord no more than a mindless scab on the back of this moron's head.
Any physical or spell damage to a person's memory was usually irreversible, Potter being a recent case in point. With practically all of those memories which make us who we are apparently lost to both residents of this body, the chances of Lord Voldemort ever returning were for all intents and purposes nil.
When two wizards used a wand as firewood, rather than a means of summoning wood and setting it alight, what hope was there left? Even killing this body and dragging it back to Britain wouldn't do him any favours. The best he could hope for when dealing with Bones would be spending the rest of his life in Azkaban.
Severus had diligently done his homework and mapped out a ritual to return his master to the dark lord's former glory. Even his master's current host's interference in those plans could be discounted. Severus was always going to have to find a host to get his master's spirit back to Britain, and he couldn't see any way 'Troy' would have the strength of will to influence the dark ritual in any way whatsoever.
Sitting staring into the flickering flames, while tuning out the constant drivel coming from the forest's diametric version of Laurel and Hardy, Severus gradually distilled his future down to two possible choices. He could spend whatever was left of his short life running and hiding, or he could go for the long shot gamble of hoping the dark ritual would repair his master's mind while supplying a new body.
Since Severus knew he would eventually be caught, there were fifty thousand golden reasons why the hunters would never stop their pursuit, he was now clutching at the flimsiest excuse to lean toward the other option. No wizard had ever cheated death before, surely his master could overcome this small setback? His mind finally deluded into thinking this ritual was a sure thing, Severus now had to figure out a method of smuggling a two-headed one-legged man from here to Britain.
Casting a stunning spell at the unsuspecting 'Troy', Severus welcomed the silence. That leg would have to come off and, just in case his master did regain his memories, he thought it prudent to cast a stunner before the severing charm.
He would have to move quickly, and not just while amputating this leg. He was hoping the holidays would see a degree of laxness seeping into the people they had to sneak past. Severus hoped they would be so full of good cheer, hangover potions would be required the following day.
-oOoOo-
George had to concede the little elf was as good as his word, bringing home a wide-eyed and hyper excited Amanda. His daughter was talking a mile a minute, describing what she had seen and the people she'd met.
"Oh daddy, they couldn't have been any nicer. Hermione, Susan and Luna were really friendly to me, and I'll meet more of their friends at the ball. Wait until you see my gown, it's beautiful!"
Seeing his little girl standing there holding an exquisite gown in front of her actually had tears welling in the corner of the old soldier's eyes. "It's not just the gown that's beautiful, my little girl is growing up so fast..."
Sitting her gown down on the sofa, Amanda sprang into her father's arms. "Daddy, thank you so much - for everything. I understand why you left that world behind but you should have seen it. Everyone knew who Harry and Hermione were. Just by being in their company the rest of us were instantly accepted. They were being treated almost like royalty yet both are as down to earth as we are. I was certainly being stared at, but it was more like the people doing the staring wanted to join us - not throw us out of there."
"The Dursleys seem like nice people, and you know I like Dudley. That was why I agreed to you attending the ball. I think your mother's necklace would look good with that gown..."
"The one your mother gave you?"
"It was meant to be worn on occasions like this, and your mother would certainly approve of you wearing it to your first ball." George felt his daughter's arms tighten around him as his heart swelled with how much he loved this girl. He loved her so much George was prepared to do something he swore he never would, give Britain's magical society one last chance.
-oOoOo-
Luna knew there were wrapped presents nestling below the large Christmas Tree with her name on them but nothing could ever compare to this gift. Emma's arms were wrapped around her as she tried to speak through the tears to her mother.
The woman Luna adored thanking her daughter for making those last few moments of her life as pleasant as they could possibly be released a pain she'd been carrying around ever since the accident. Luna knew there were other conversations going on around the room but all her attention was focused on the spirit in front of her.
There were also lots of tears being shed all around but she hoped her friends were experiencing the same positive feelings as her. These were cleansing tears Luna was crying - right up until her mother said it was time for her to leave. Luna now understood exactly what Harry had meant, this was both the most wonderful and yet painful experience of her life. She would certainly do it again, though just not for a while.
Chapter 32 - Christmas Cheer
The ship's steward thought he'd seen everything in his nine years working aboard ferries, he was wrong. Christmas Eve in Rotterdam was a new first. The basketweave bathchair looked as if it should be in a museum. Then again, its occupant and the person pushing this forerunner to the modern wheelchair wouldn't have looked out of place as exhibits in the same museum display.
The confundus charm on their documentation ensured they passed muster though so he showed them to their cabin, informing them they could ring for cabin service if they didn't want to make their way to the dining area. He couldn't see any way that antique chair would fit around any of the tables upstairs, it nearly didn't fit in the cabin.
With thanks, but certainly no tip, the steward was dismissed.
Severus was sure his use of the confundus charm would not be picked up, it was too innocuous for any ministry to scan for. By comparison, he had cast the imperius on his charge just before apparating them away from the forest. His master's host, Severus refused to call him Troy, now missing a leg necessitated the transfiguration of the chair. Their clothes too had been transfigured to more muggle appropriate attire.
Casting a sleeping charm on the chair's occupants, Severus then stretched out on the cabin's bed. While time-consuming when compared to magical methods, the muggles had refined travelling to an art form. The cabin was very comfortable and they would get a meal delivered later.
The increased vibrations running through the ship indicated the ferry was getting ready to depart, and the crossing to Hull would take twelve hours. They would be arriving in Hull at around eight on Christmas morning. Severus didn't think there was any chance whatsoever of the Ministry having Hull ferry port watched, especially not for incoming traffic. Severus Snape returning to Britain was utter madness, and he was counting rather heavily on that fact above everything else so there would be no reception committee on the dock.
While confident the Ministry wouldn't be there, he had to hope there was no bounty hunters who had taken a gamble on him doing something crazy like this though. His disguise as an old muggle pushing an invalid friend around should stand up to everything except the most severe scrutiny. Severus would just have to be extra vigilant and not give himself away.
-oOoOo-
The atmosphere inside number twelve Grimmauld Place on Christmas morning was certainly a lot merrier than anything the Black residence was used to. The experience of meeting their family spirits last night had been a positive one for all involved. Luna was practically bouncing off the walls with happiness, Petunia wore a wide smile that nothing was going to shift and Susan was currently wedged between Amelia and Sirius. Susan's parents had actually approved of Sirius becoming the father figure their daughter needed, giving the marauder another reason to smile - not that he needed one. Compared to previous Christmases, the only one that came anywhere close to being as good as this was Harry's first.
When presents were being handed out and unwrapped, the party atmosphere just increased in intensity. Dobby popping away and returning with a regal owl caught everyone's attention, as did the seal on the letter it was carrying.
"The owl would not let Dobby remove its letter, only Harry can remove and open it."
Leaning forward, Harry untied the letter and offered the magnificent bird an owl treat. Its acceptance of both acts saw Dobby taking it back to the owl delivery point of number twelve. In the silence that had developed, the sound of the Gringotts wax seal being broken was clearly heard. As was Harry's intake of breath as he read the letter.
"Harry, is everything okay?"
Harry's voice was barely above a whisper as he answered. "No, Sirius. Things are not okay, they're bloody fantastic!" Harry handed the letter to his godfather before reaching for Hermione.
It wasn't long before Sirius let out a whoop of delight, grabbing Amelia and Susan while dancing about like someone had dropped a live crab down his trousers. He soon announced to the entire room why he was so happy.
"The goblins found one and it's gone - they're all gone!"
This really did kick the party into high gear until Sirius noticed Susan and Luna didn't have a clue why everyone was so happy. He tried to tell them what had just happened, without giving too much away.
"I know these two trust you both, but this is a massive secret that can't be spoken of except with the people currently in this house. The reason Voldemort didn't die when he attacked baby Harry, and again at the summer in Hogwarts, was because he had carried out dark rituals to anchor himself to this plain of life. These two had been working with Dumbledore to destroy them, and the goblins just finished the job for us. Next time Voldemort becomes a wraith there's no road back for him - it'll finally be all over."
While madness was breaking out all around her, there were even two house elves kissing under the mistletoe, Luna's gaze fixed on her best friends. Like a rock jutting out from a raging torrent, the madness seemed to pass over or around them without any visible affect. Even Dudley patting both on the back to congratulate them didn't appear to break the bubble of calm that surrounded the couple. They were oblivious to everything and everyone around them.
Hermione was sitting on Harry's lap, their foreheads touching. The enormity of what they had achieved was crashing over them, blocking out everything but the person in their embrace. Both had tears forming in their eyes as they spoke softly to each other.
"'You're sure that's the last one?" They had gone over this many times but Harry just wanted confirmation. Hermione saying yes once more would be good enough for him.
"Albus was certain. All the research he'd done in the years he had studied this problem pointed to that being the last one. If we can't trust that to be right, then we need to head to Black Island before the New Year. I have nothing else, Harry. I just can't believe we've pulled it off."
"Do I still need to fight Voldemort?"
"With no anchors left, I think his spirit will cross over. If he's currently possessing something or someone, the next time he leaves should be the end of Voldemort. I want him to die alone and unmourned, and not just for revenge. If that happens then we have a chance at a semi-normal life. If you have to fight him, the Ministry will be coming up with a new award to present you with. The Noble Order of the Harry?"
The absurdity of that suggestion, and the possibility there could even some truth in it, actually had him smiling. "If they called this supposed award after you, I would gladly accept it and proudly tell the world why. After all, you are by far the bravest person I've ever known. While we can't broadcast the real reason, the amount of lives you've changed and people you've saved deserve you to be recognised in some way…"
"I'm not looking for recognition, Harry, never have been. All I ever wanted was to be able to spend the rest of my life with the person I love, anything other than that is simply a bonus. If you publicly become the boy-who-conquered, none of us will ever get a moment's peace again."
An exuberant Emma finally intruded into their private little world. She had her arms wrapped around both of them and the tears she was crying were clearly happy ones. She and Dan had spent many an evening discussing this exact situation with the pair, they were well versed on what they thought the outcome would now be. The mere suggestion that Voldemort could be gone, without Harry having to fight him, was the reason for her tears of relief. Everyone in the room understood Hermione would be right beside Harry if that fight ever took place. The relief Emma was feeling that neither of them might have to face that awful outcome was overwhelming.
The crowd from Grimmauld would be attending the Longbottom Ball tonight in the mood to celebrate.
-oOoOo-
Sitting in the Hogwarts Great Hall, surrounded by professors, was not how Draco had envisaged spending his Christmas morning. Looking at the two older Slytherin students though, he wasn't for complaining. They had left on the Hogwarts express, only to be met on platform nine and three quarters by aurors. Since their parents had been arrested, and no one had come forward to take them in, the Ministry had eventually returned them to Hogwarts. Their tuition was paid until the end of the summer term, giving them, the school and Ministry of Magic some time to sort out what happened next.
His mother had been relentlessly harping on at Draco, reiterating at every opportunity how much things were changing. Given the evidence presented daily in the Prophet, and the two Slytherins left with nowhere to go bar Hogwarts, Draco's arguments against his mother's constant rants were crumbling like a sandcastle on a beach left facing an incoming tide.
Draco had heard from Pansy too, and that letter brought those changes home like nothing else before it. Her father had been arrested and aurors had escorted Pansy from the platform to a Ministry holding cell that contained her mother. She had spent a couple of hours there before they were both released. Her father had already confessed under truth serum to crimes that would see him spend the rest of his life in Azkaban.
Everyone who had been convicted also had their Gringotts vault frozen while the Ministry deliberated on imposing fines against them too. The Parkinson mother and daughter weren't having a very merry Christmas either.
All in all, Draco had to concede that he had a lot less reason to complain than most of his friends. His mother's job had at least allowed her to buy him a gift for Christmas, and they would both sit down together to a sumptuous Hogwarts feast later. His father's behaviour over the last year meant that neither Draco or Cissi missed his presence today, or any other day for that matter. Compared to most of the darker purebloods, Draco thought he and his mother were actually doing quite well.
-oOoOo-
With a corsage in his hand, Dudley took the elf express to pick up Amanda for tonight's ball. His first sight of his girlfriend though had Dudley's brain closing down.
"Miss Amanda, Dobby thinks you look lovely tonight. Dobby is sure Dudley thinks that too, and will say so soon."
That Dobby's elbow then dug into Dudley's thigh started Amanda giggling. it was this, more than the dunt from Dobby, that finally rebooted Dudley's brain.
"I certainly do think you look lovely tonight, you took my breath away." Dudley then kissed Amanda on the cheek, wished her a Merry Christmas and offered his corsage for her wrist.
George watched this scene with a mixture of pride and apprehension. He let his pride show, saving his apprehension for when they both left. He really wouldn't settle until Amanda was back home safe and sound.
-oOoOo-
Severus was starting to actually believe he was going to pull this whole improbable thing off. He'd wheeled his charge straight through the meagre muggle authorities' presence in Hull, they were barely given a second glance. Slipping in between two parked large lorries hid them from sight long enough for the portkey to do its job and whisk them to their final destination. Trying to enter the country illegally by this method would set off all sorts of alarms and see the D.M.L.E. trying to track them. A portkey leaving Hull Harbour for another part of England wouldn't even raise a ministerial eyebrow, especially on Christmas Day.
Discovering the potions ingredients Severus had previously prepared and hidden, along with all the equipment needed, undisturbed and waiting on him was another major worry that could be crossed off his list. Severus had carefully considered the 'blood of an enemy' problem and was quite pleased at his proposed solution. He was ecstatic that getting his hands on the wizard he'd chosen to represent the enemy had proven to be child's play, leading to his current state of heightened optimism.
Now if only he didn't think a silencing charm would interfere with the ritual, Severus might actually be looking forward to this.
The memoryless Lockhart had still been terrified while being wheeled through an old graveyard in the pitch darkness. The only source of light visible appeared to be a fire they seemed to be heading for. He was appalled though at hearing what he was required to do next. "You want me to take ALL my clothes off? Are you mental - it's bloody freezing!"
"It's not that bad…"
"Shut it, Hubert. It's my bits that will be dropping off with the cold."
Severus keep thinking this must be what having twin toddlers was like, he tried to humour them as such. "I've set up a large hot bath for you. It has special potions that will help heal your stump. I'm then going to try some magic that will hopefully get your memories back too, and get master a body of his own."
"A hot bath - why didn't you say so. Wheel me right to it."
"Just remember I'm back here when you're soaking in the tub. I don't want to drown while you're washing the little hair you've got left."
After levitating the now naked host into a giant cauldron full of gently bubbling potion, Severus did his best to tune their banal banter out. He had a ritual to concentrate on.
"BONE OF THE FATHER, UNKNOWINGLY GIVEN, YOU WILL RENEW YOUR SON!"
"What did you say? Bloody Hell - that grave is opening. Don't put that shit in here - are you crazy?"
"What's going on? Turn round so I can see…"
Gilderoy did turn around, there was no way he wanted to watch what was happening in front of him. The soil covering an old grave had erupted and a bone shot out the hole that had been created. For some reason Gilderoy recognised the bone as a humerus but there was certainly nothing funny about this situation as it splashed into the hot water. He spun away from what he was seeing and, firmly gripping the rim of this rather strange tub, began to vomit over the edge. This now gave his visitor on the back of his head a perfect view of exactly what else was happening.
Severus had spent many, many hours carefully considering this next section of the ritual. While he was willing to sacrifice a bit of himself to see his master return, he really didn't want to sacrifice a bit that he might actually need. Sacrificing a hand was out of the question, he certainly needed both of his to brew even the simplest of potions. He drew the sharp knife from its sheath while steeling his resolve.
"FLESH OF THE SERVANT, WILLINGLY SACRIFICED, YOU WILL REVIVE YOUR MASTER."
The face growing out the back of Gilderoy's head was now wishing that he could turn away. Voldemort's voice became higher and shriller as he witnessed Snape deliberately mutilate himself.
'What are you doing with that knife? Oh no, he is crazy. The silly fool just deliberately cut off his own ear. Don't put that in here…Aggh…"
Gilderoy really didn't want to ask the question but also needed to know the answer. "Is…is there now an ear floating in here with us?"
Voldemort couldn't take his eyes off the ear that was now floating on the bubbling water. The panic in his voice was unmistakeable. "YES! And I can't use your hands to get it out of here. You need to turn around…"
Gilder's eyebrows shot toward his receiving hairline. "You want me to turn around and scoop his ear out of here - not a bloody chance. We need to get ourselves out of this tub but I can't seem to get anything to work…"
The pain he was experiencing from cutting off his ear was a lot more intense than Severus had expected, and he wasn't impressed with the ritual's reaction to his sacrifice either. The ritual should at least have shut these two up by this point. He had no other option however than to see this through to the end. Severus made his way over to collect the final ingredient.
"BLOOD OF THE ENEMY, FORCIBLY TAKEN…" Severus wondered if cutting his ear off had a far more severe reaction that he thought possible, since an impossible voice just stopped his knife before it reached the figure on the ground.
The loud and angry command rang around the graveyard. "Severus Snape, don't you dare touch him."
-oOoOo-
Amanda was having a wonderful time, she actually felt like a princess in a fairy tale. The 'house' this ball was being held in would easily qualify as a mansion in any description Amanda would later give of it. What house had its own ballroom?
She met a lot more of their friends and every single one had greeted her with a smile. They all knew Dudley and being introduced as his girlfriend was all it took to be instantly accepted. Amanda was a smart girl and soon noticed the family keeping an eye on her. That this was purely to ensure she had a good time, and therefore her father's worries would be groundless, allowed her to relax and really enjoy herself.
Amanda was actually dancing with Harry, further enhancing those fairy tale notions. Here was she, little Amanda Kettering, dancing with a handsome Lord with his society's highest award for bravery pinned to his stunning robes. Again though, just being Dudley's girlfriend had Harry as interested in her as she was in him. Amanda smiled as her own price danced past with his mother when the evening began its journey to hell in a hand basket.
An angry Dobby popped onto the dance floor, right beside Harry, and wasn't too bothered who else heard his message.
"The trap has sprung, it's Snape. Dobby needs to take you there quickly before he gets away. Snape attacked Dobby's family, Dobby want's him caught and punished."
Hermione had been dancing with her father but has instantly made her way toward Harry. "Dobby, can you change my dress to something less conspicuous…"
A snap of the elf's fingers saw Hermione's light blue dress become black jeans and a roll neck sweater. Her high heels were now black trainers and Hermione's Order of Merlin was rather emotionally handed to her mother for safekeeping. Harry's was also handed over to Emma while Dobby changed his white shirt to black as more of the family joined them.
Sirius and Remus were also transfiguring their clothes to something more suitable for sneaking up on someone, Amelia was doing the same as she asked a quick question. "I'm assuming I don't have time to call for backup?"
Harry was every bit as angry at Snape as Dobby, he wanted there to be no chance of the bastard getting away tonight. "Amelia, we have the chance to end this entire thing tonight. It's a chance that will only be available for a moment or two. Once Snape discovers he's been played…"
No more needed said, the death eater would be out of there as quickly as he could. Hermione and Harry were more than ready to end this tonight.
"There will be five of us, and our secret weapon. This will only work if we go now - and stick to the plan."
The dance had of course stopped as all the guests were now watching what was unfolding in the middle of the floor. There wasn't even time for hugs from their family, a few pats on the back for encouragement and support having to do for now - though Harry spotted Neville next to them.
"Nev…"
Harry didn't need to say any more to their best friend. "It's Snape, go! We'll take care of your family."
As the five cast disillusionment charms on themselves, Darla popped in to help Dobby take the five of them away to the graveyard.
This seemed to leave a hole in the middle of the ball as Augusta began to get things back under her control. Basil thought this was his opportunity, probably the only one he was going to get. Approaching Amanda, he asked his question.
"Excuse me, Miss. I hope you don't mind me asking but where did you get that necklace?"
While neither Lords Black or Potter were present, Basil was still not going to have an easy time of it. Augusta was not about to let one of her guests be harassed, especially since she had some idea what the group who had just left were trying to do.
"Basil Ketteridge, I want to know why you're asking one of my guests a question like that. I'm telling you now, I'd better like your answer."
"Forgive me, Madam Longbottom. I only wished to enquirer why this lovely young lady was wearing one of my family's heirlooms around her neck."
A faint smile tugged at Augusta's lips as she provided the information that was being sought here. "Perhaps, Basil, had you asked to be introduced you might have saved yourself the embarrassment of putting your foot right in your mouth. Basil Ketteridge, may I introduce Amanda Ketteridge."
While fingering her necklace, Amanda answered the man's original question. "My father gave me this necklace, he said his mother gave it to him as a keepsake..."
It seemed to hit both of them at the same time. Basil held out his hand and Amanda cautiously took it, only to have her hand gently turned around and her knuckles kissed. "That necklace deserves to be worn by a beautiful girl, you, Miss Amanda easily do it justice. Could you please tell your father that his Uncle Basil said hello. George was always one of my more sensible nephews. Actually, he is the only nephew I have left. Those that brought disgrace to the family by following a certain madman have been disowned. Please also tell him I'm now head of the family, and I couldn't be happier with the company his daughter is keeping."
Releasing Amanda's hand, Basil returned his attention to their host. "Madam Longbottom, I hope you understand my enquiry and will forgive my breach of etiquette. In my defence I will say that those house crests Miss Ketteridge is proudly wearing are intimidating enough, without Lords Black and Potter actually being here. I don't know where they've gone but I'm delighted and relieved not to be the person they're targeting. Those were some pretty intense individuals who just left..."
Basil had trailed off as the group had just been approached by a pair of aurors.
"Excuse me, Madam Longbottom, is Madam Bones here?"
"She just left. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Looking at the Longbottom matriarch, the lead auror's stomach fell. He had hoped his boss would pass on this terrible news. "I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, Madam Longbottom, especially on Christmas Day, but St. Mungo's security has been breached. While your daughter-in-law is fine, your son is missing - presumed taken by persons unknown."
Neville let out a croak more akin to Trevor before his knees appeared to give way. His arm had been around Parvati and she struggled to keep him upright until Dudley and Vernon grabbed an arm each. Parvati led the group over to a chair where they got Neville settled.
Dan, Emma and Petunia were trying to comfort Augusta, seeing her grandson in such distress though pulled her back from any form of breakdown. She led all of them over to Neville.
"Gran, we just saw them this morning. How could this happen? Why would anyone want to take my dad? Haven't they suffered enough?"
Those were the final clues that allowed Dan to be the first to put it all together. He was well aquatinted with the trap that apparently had just been sprung, and the components needed for the ritual that was obviously being attempted. "Oh shit, Snape!"
That name alone was enough to galvanise Parvati into action, she was now kneeling in front of Neville. "Nev, listen to me. If Snape has your dad, he'll soon be back with you. We know what Harry and Hermione can do, and this time they have plenty of experienced help. Whatever Snape has planned, they're already a step ahead of him. He's going down and your dad will be safe..."
It was actually Augusta who sought reassurance from that. "Are you sure..."
Neville replied as he drew Parvati up and onto his lap. "Gran, if Snape has dad then Harry and Hermione will bring him home. And here was me thinking I couldn't hate that greasy bastard any more than I already did."
Augusta wrapped both in a hug, thinking more and more that Neville chose his friends and girlfriend well.
Basil made himself useful by passing the news that Frank Longbottom had just been kidnapped from St. Mungo's around the guests. While a few of her close friends made a point to stop and offer Augusta their support, everyone accepted that the ball was now over and made their way home.
Augusta sat with their group around her as they offered support to each other, it was now a waiting game. They could only wait on the rest of their group returning safely, and hopefully with some very good news too.
-oOoOo-
A single rivulet of blood had negotiated its way from Severus' mutilated ear, worked under his collar and was now running down his back. It was strangely spreading warmth as it went along, strange because Severus thought that voice had chilled his blood to ice. Turning his head, there was the only woman he'd ever loved - standing with her hands on her hips and a grade one Evans scowl on her face.
"Lily?"
"Don't you 'Lily' me. What were you thinking, using an unforgivable on my future daughter-in-law's parents to try and murder Harry and Hermione. If that wasn't bad enough, you're standing there with a knife ready to attack poor, helpless Frank. What the fuck happened to the boy who used to be my friend?"
Severus really had only one answer to that. "You left..."
He never said another word as seven stunners slammed into the death eater from all different directions - one actually passing right through Lily. Dobby and Darla soon had Snape disarmed and trussed up so tightly he could barely breathe.
Remus checked on Frank while Sirius and Amelia responded to the pleading cries of help that were coming from the giant cauldron. Harry and Hermione took the time to thank Lily for helping.
"That was great, mum. We could have rode in here on the backs of elephants and Snape wouldn't have noticed."
"I am just glad of any opportunity to help you both..."
"Harry, Hermione, you need to see this." Sirius' shout had Lily tagging along to see what had gotten the marauder so excited. The Riddle bones had been replaced so there was never any danger of the ritual actually working. They discovered a wizard they both still recognised sitting leaning against a headstone while wrapped in a conjured blanket.
"How did Lockhart get mixed up in this?"
"Wait, Hermione, it get's better." Sirius' words had barely been spoken when he was interrupted by an unseen voice.
"Stop hogging the front. I want to thank our rescuers too."
As Gilderoy turned around, they got a look at Voldemort.
"Thank you so much. That nutter was throwing bits of body in beside us, and even cut off his own ear to do the same with. He was approaching that other gentleman with that vicious looking knife, you got here just in time. I heard you say Lockhart, do you know us? My sharing friend here called me Hubert while that nutter called me master. Do you know who we are? Please say if you do, we can't remember anything."
A shocked Harry managed to get a few words out. "Your name is Tom..."
"Tom? Really? Oh I like that so much better than Hubert. What about him, I assume it's not Troy?"
Again it was Harry who answered, everyone else was too busy savouring the delicious irony of Tom liking his name. "Close, but no. It's Gilderoy."
At that, they were then faced with the king of the obliviators who was grinning like a loon. "Gilderoy, oh I like that. Hi Tom, I'm Gilderoy."
They took a few steps back while the two faces sharing one head chatted away to each other.
"Is this for real?"
Harry's question hung there until Hermione attempted to answer. "Obliviate was the only spell Lockhart could really do, but he was also incredibly good at it. He actually managed to wipe every memory he ever had when trying to cast the spell with a broken wand. Those memories were lost forever."
Shaking his head Harry voiced their problem. "I could end this just by touching Tom. To be honest though, right now that would feel like I was murdering someone who was helpless. Please give me some other options because we can't walk away from here without them."
Knowing this was really aimed at her, Amelia did her best to ally their genuine concerns. "First, we get this checked to see if those memories are really gone. Second, sharing a body like this is unsustainable for any prolonged measure of time. There's no way we'll be feeding unicorn's blood to Riddle so they can maintain this. Any research will be to see if they can be separated, sparing Lockhart's life. Personally I think this problem will solve itself in at most a couple of months."
"Neither can live while the other survives, I can live with a solution where my son doesn't have to murder someone..."
Hermione had been wound tighter than any watch from the instant that Dobby had appeared at the ball. Hearing Lily say 'she could live with' started a bout of giggling that soon was out of control. While joining in the laughter, Sirius caught Lily's eye and realised she'd done that deliberately to ease the tension. He made the gesture of doffing his hat to Lily while she concentrated on the young couple currently wrapped in each other's arms.
Remus led a shuffling Frank, now also wrapped in a blanket, over to them as Lily sighed. "Sometimes I think James and I got the better of the bargain. We're together, can talk with our family and I got to help them tonight. My time is up though so I need to go. I hope to see everyone next Christmas so have a good year.
As Lily faded away, it was time to get down to business.
"We're taking Snape in, and really need to take the memory-less twins with us. Frank should really go straight back to St Mungo's..."
Harry wasn't happy with that last bit. "Amelia, I think we should take him back to Augusta and Neville, just in case he's been reported missing. I would also like to thank Remus for being here tonight. I was so angry my stunner missed Snape. Good shooting, Moony."
Catching on immediately, Hermione confirmed her stunner had missed too.
The big smile Dobby wore was in complete contrast to what he was saying. "House Elves would be in great trouble if the ministry discovered they had fired spells at a wizard. Dobby and Darla hope no one is going to say they hit Snape with stunners..."
Trying to hold back his laughter, Sirius added to the conspiracy. "Really well done, Moony. There's no way I could have held myself to just a stunner, I would have taken Snape's head off. That's why I didn't fire any spells."
Amelia then gave what would become the official version of tonight's events. "I certainly hit Snape with a stunner. As Head of the D.L.M.E. however, I must disqualify myself from any reward. I was only doing my job. That leaves Remus John Lupin as the capturer of the wanted death eater, Severus Snape. I will put his name forward for the corresponding reward..."
"What..." Sirius and Harry slapping Remus on the back and offering their congratulations had Remus almost growling. "This is bullshit..."
Hermione logically tore that to shreds. "None of the rest of us can claim it, it has to be you. Harry and I have had quite enough of being held up as the heroes, it's someone else's turn. While this is not an Order of Merlin, Remus, fifty thousand galleons can certainly change your life."
"Moony, this is not charity. Both Harry and I would have been happy to see that money go to anyone who captured Snape, we're delighted to see it go to you. We saw Susan's parents, Luna's mum, James and Lily - if that doesn't tell you life is short then I don't know what will. Take the gold and live the life you want..."
With the decision made, Remus would need to accompany Amelia and Sirius back to the ministry with their two prisoners.
Dobby and Darla took their charges and Frank back to the ball.
-oOoOo-
The group left in Longbottom Manor were sitting conversing in whispers, if at all. Time seemed to move very slowly until a couple of house elves arrived bearing very welcome guests.
With a shout of 'Dad!', Neville flew out his seat and was the first to reach them. His arms were wrapped around his father and Neville didn't seem to be for letting go anytime soon.
While hugs were being exchanged, Harry made straight for Susan. "Everyone is fine. They're taking the prisoners to the Ministry, that's why they didn't come back with us. It's over, Susan. Snape and Voldemort are now in a Ministry cell."
Augusta led them all through to a comfortable sitting room, not quite managing to hold back the tears as she sat her son in his once favourite chair. Neville approached his two best friends and pulled both of them into a hug. "Guys, there aren't any words that can say how much this means to me..."
"Nev, your dad was taken because the ritual Snape was trying required an enemy of Voldemort. Even in his current condition, your dad still qualifies. That's what the name Longbottom means, and we're proud to have you as our friend. We had an idea of how his followers could bring Voldemort back. We made sure it couldn't happen and Dobby had elven wards up to warn us if someone attempted it. Tonight, we ended it."
As they were now all sitting, Harry and Hermione began to tell the story of what had happened tonight. They had an attentive audience until a gasp from Amanda alerted them something was wrong.
"Look at the time, my dad will be starting to worry..."
Dobby immediately offered to take her home, with Dudley saying he would accompany his girlfriend. After their goodbyes, a Luna who had sat quietly listening offered a suggestion.
"We all know Harry and Hermione hate the limelight. Everyone who was at this ball tonight saw them rush away, people will put those facts together to paint whatever picture they want. What if we painted a different picture?"
Now that she had everyone's attention, Luna pitched her idea. It was greeted with total silence, right up until Hermione burst into a fit of giggles for the second time that night. As more and more laughter joined Hermione's, suggestions embellishing Luna's original idea kept being put forward. Darla eventually supplied the little blonde with parchment and ink to note the best of these suggestions down. Figuring out what the best suggestions were was rather easy, they were greeted with howls of laughter.
Her father was expecting Luna to write a story about spending Christmas with Harry and Hermione. Instead, she intended to give him one that would rock magical Britain to its very foundations - and sell every copy he could possibly print. All this, while helping her friends too, would make this a great Christmas for Luna.