Bill sat there with tears in his eyes. Not because of any failure on his part, those tears were for his baby sister as he now understood exactly what she had faced. "Ginny never stood a chance. That thing blasted through my occulemency shields as if they were tissue paper. I've never encountered power like that. An eleven year old witch would be easy prey, and I'm so grateful to you too for making this bastard pay. We've underestimated this task, and need to reconsider the next one. I recommend we cancel the attempt tomorrow."
Amelia was embarrassed at how easily she'd fallen under the thrall of that horcrux and had to agree with Bill. They would have to reconsider everything now, as Harry and Hermione had just snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. "I have to agree with Bill, we simply weren't prepared for today - and it almost cost us. As Sirius so eloquently put it, this was the fucking easy one too. I have no idea how you two were able to resist the compulsions on that."
Harry tried to give all of them an insight on how that feat was achieved. "The night of the dementors, we gave Fudge some information trying to get him on our side - and get Sirius a trial. Dumbledore didn't want that happening so obliviated the Minister, before casting legilimens on me to discover where I got my information from. It felt like he was trying to drive Hermione out of my head, something neither of us would stand for."
Hermione's hand was still in Harry's as she seamlessly took over their story. "Both of us reacted instantly, and blew Dumbledore right into the infirmary wall. Poppy wanted to call the aurors but Dumbledore had already obliviated the Minister, it would be our word against his. Poppy then obliviated an unconscious Dumbledore and Dobby popped him back into his own bed. Our plans to leave Hogwarts and Britain began forming that night."
It was easy to hear the awe in Sirius' voice as he commented on what these two had achieved. "I thought saving me that night was pretty special, then I discovered what else they had been up to. Don't underestimate these two, Amelia, they may be young but already have abilities and experiences way beyond our own."
Harry was almost blushing as he tried to change the subject. "While cancelling tomorrow isn't the worst idea I've heard, all the protections are designed to stop you getting your hands on the horcrux. You could probably wear the necklace for a short while without feeling any different - I wouldn't recommend it though."
Amelia then made the decision for the group. "I think today proved we can't go after these things with only one course of action plotted. We need a few options for getting this horcrux out of that font, and at least half-a-dozen plans to deal with a lagoon full of inferi. Let's take a couple of days to think it over and then see what we bring to the table."
None of them could argue with that, and none of them really wanted to. Harry had written to Ragnok about Bill joining their team, and the curse breaker would be dropping the destroyed ring off at Gringotts before heading for the Ministry and a talk with his father. Amelia had kindly offered to help in her official capacity so Arthur would be getting summoned to a meeting by the Head of the D.M.L.E. His father's answers to the many questions Bill had would see where the Weasley family progressed from there.
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